"For whatsoever is born of God overcomes the world: and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith."1 John 5:4

In 2nd Samuel Chapter 9 we read of the story of King David and Mephibosheth. Mephibosheth was the son of Jonathan and the grandson of the first king of Israel, King Saul. After Jonathan's death, David went forth to show kindness to Saul's house. Mephibosheth had become lame at the young age of five -- he had lived his entire life as a cripple. When David calls him forth, Mephibosheth replies "What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?" His identity was completely based on his disability, when in fact he was the grandson of a king! He had forgotton his royal lineage and was wallowing in self pity. Yet David looked beyond his disability and recognizing who he was, offered him a place at the King's table. How much time do we spend wallowing in our own self pity, groaning about things with which we struggle daily...so much so that it becomes who we are! The enemy would love nothing more than to keep us focused on our disabilities so that we are distracted from the calling of God on our lives. He wants us to have a "victim mentality". But let's not lose focus of the reality of who we are. In Jesus we are a chosen generation, part of a royal priesthood, and the King has offered us a place at His table! We are heirs of His great throne!! In Him, we should have a victor mentality! Press forward -- know who you are in Him and take your rightful seat at the King's Table.

"And there was a famine in the land, beside the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went unto Abimelech king of the Philistines unto Gerar. And the LORD appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of:" Genesis 26:1-2

In the days of Isaac, there was famine in the land of Israel. It appeared then, that the right thing to do was to go to Egypt where there was plenty. But the Lord instructed Issac not to go, and instead cling to the promise that He made with His father, Abraham. It was probably hard for Issac to trust that God was truly speaking to him, but he did it. He obeyed the Word of God and stayed put where God told him. And what happened because of his obedience in the midst of a famine? He was blessed a hundredfold! (Genesis 26:10) Let's prepare ourselves to obey the Lord, even if it's difficult! There are blessings to be received -- but it all begins with obedience!

"All things work together for good to them that love God" Romans 8:28

How is your day going? Perhaps you can't honestly answer that it's going so well. Perhaps you started out with good intentions for this day, but something got in the way...traffic, a conflict with a co-worker, an unexpected confrontation, bad news, hurtful words, or a heavy burden. I'd like you to stop and consider that this is the day that the Lord has made.... He MADE it, and has placed it before you. Whatever is happening in this day, the Lord has brought it about for your good ("all things work together for good to them that love God" Romans 8:28), and he desires that you will rejoice in this day, and be glad while you are in it! (Psalm 118:24). Whatever you are experiencing this day, Jesus Christ is with you, there is no place where you can go that He will not be ("will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." Hebrews 13:5) Whatever your circumstances are, give this day a chance.

"The way of the wicked is like darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble"Proverbs 4:19."

Solomon gives us instruction as to how to escape the fate of the lovers of evil who want one more night with the frogs. Solomon says, "Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of evil. Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn away from it and pass on (Proverbs 4:14-15)." There is a better way to live. You do not have to live with the frogs! As Solomon describes that better way, ".the path of the just is like the shining sun, that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day (Proverbs 4:19)." Don't spend another night with frogs! Ask the Lord to take those frogs away today and step onto the path that "shines ever brighter unto the perfect day."

"Hear now, O heads of Jacob, and you rulers of the house of Israel: is it not for you to know justice? You who hate good and love evil; who strip the skin from My people, and the flesh from their bones."Micah 3:1-2

Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, "Entreat the Lord that He may take away the frogs from me and from my people; and I will let the people go, that they may sacrifice to the Lord." And Moses said to Pharaoh, "Accept the honor of saying when I shall intercede for you, for your servants, and for your people, to destroy the frogs from you and your houses, that they may remain in the river only." So he said, "Tomorrow." And he said, "Let it be according to your word, that you may know that there is no one like the Lord our God. And the frogs shall depart from you, from your houses, from your servants, and from your people. They shall remain in the river only." - Exodus 8:8-11. Some have developed a love of evil. They hate what is good and love the bad. Solomon speaks of this in the Book of Proverbs where he writes: "Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of evil. Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn away from it and pass on. For they do not sleep unless they have done evil; and their sleep is taken away unless they make someone fall. For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence (Proverbs 4:14-17)." There are some who love what is bad and only live so that they can do more evil. How did the evil lovers become what they are? How did they end up in this condition? Maybe it was because they wanted one more night with the frogs.

"Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?"1 Corinthians 15:55

The writer of Hebrews asks: “How shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation?” There is no escape from the endless W-H-Y feedback cycle outside of Jesus Christ. None. We will see an endless media barrage. But the world will not be able to provide real answers. How do I know this to be true? Because the next time a terrible human tragedy occurs, the question will remain the same. A time such as this is time to tell hurting people to, in the words of Jesus Christ, “take heart!” God loves people, and that is why Jesus has already “suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.” (Hebrews 2:9) Jesus Christ is the only savior who has experienced every pain, heartache, trial, and temptation you, I, or anyone else will ever endure. “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Hebrews 4:15-16

“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”John 16:33

The massacres which are happening has millions around the globe asking the same question every human tragedy almost universally evokes: “Why?” Why. It seems there is a built in need for humans to understand the reasons why someone would coldly murder people they, the murderer, don’t even know. People also want to know why this killing wasn’t prevented in the first place. Even God, after witnessing the first murder recorded in Scripture, asked a question of the killer. In Genesis 4, The Lord asked Cain: “What have you done?” In the first verse I quoted, Jesus declared--promised--two things, the first: You WILL have trouble. From the day Adam first sinned, to the world’s first murder, and throughout all of our world’s turbulent history, this statement is proven self-evident. And this is where the world outside of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ gets hung up. Hopeless people see violence, brutality, tribulation, and trouble all around them and find themselves locked in the endless loop of W-H-Y. However, the second declaration in John 16:33 provides the answer, the freedom from endless doubt and worry: “But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Such simple yet powerful truths are contained in this tiny snippet of the Bible!

"When he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers to sing to the Lord and praise Him in their holy [priestly] garments as they went out before the army, saying, Give thanks to the Lord, for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever!" 2 Chronicles 20:21

Praise precedes victory! You can see a graphic example of that in 2 Chronicles 20. There, the Bible tells us that a multitude of forces were marching against Israel. The army of Israel was so outnumbered, they literally didn't know what to do. So they fasted and prayed until they received a word from God. "Be not afraid or dismayed at this great multitude; for the battle is not yours but God's." READ: 2 Chronicles 20:1-22

"I have sinned against the LORD. And I have sinned against the LORD. And The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die". 2 Samuel 12:13

When confronted with his sin of murder and adultery - David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die. How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered! I acknowledged my sin to You, And my iniquity I did not hide; I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD"; And You forgave the guilt of my sin. Psalm 32:1,5. Thanks be unto God for His wonderful gift: Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God is the object of our faith; the only faith that saves is faith in Him. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:7-9

"And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground." 1 Samuel 3:19

The scriptures tell us that the WORDS the Prophet Samuel spoke, that GOD honored them, and they ALL came to pass... That is what it means to have POWER with God. That is what it means to KNOW WHO you are in God ! That is what it means to KNOW WHERE you are WITH God ! (in relationship with God) Samuel KNEW God was WITH HIM. Samuel KNEW God was going to honor what he spoke. Cause Samuel KNEW God ! He walked with him.talked with Him, and Samuel didnt lie regarding Him. Samuel didnt PRESUME to speak for God. Samuel ONLY spoke what GOD told him to speak ! So of course HIS WORDS came to pass, cause they were GODS WORDS. Now days, I believe many PRESUME to hear from God, and speak "faith words " HOPING God will honor them and they fall to the ground, words without the ANOINTING,words without POWER,Empty words spoken by HOPE, Not KNOWING

"Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses." 1 Timothy 6: 12

When we think normally of fighting, we think of a struggle to overcome something or someone. So it is also with the fight of FAITH. We are struggling to over sin, temptation, error, anything that keeps us from Gods perfect will in our lives. So many erroneously think of being a Christian as a pacifist way of life.......just shrugging and giving in to what ever comes our way......... no "resistance" But that is the farthest thing from the Truth. Being a Christian means 24/7 being on guard for our souls sake. To be aware of our enemy's (all three....... .the devil, the flesh, and the world) out to destroy us and take us to eternity unlost. And to be prepared to FIGHT to protect our salvation, at all costs ! JESUS said : Matthew 10:22. "And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved". If we couldn't "turn away" He wouldn't of said he that ENDURED to the end.......shall be saved....... ... King Saul was Gods "anointed" but he turned away from following and worshiping God. And the kingdom was taken from him, and given to David. He made wrong choices..... ....he CHOSE to do HIS OWN THING....... instead of OBEYING what thus saith the Lord. When he was tempted..... .he gave in, instead of trusting God. His flesh gave in to "pleasing the people" instead of pleasing God. We all have choices to make everyday. That is what the "good fight of faith " is all about. Making GOD choices..... ..instead of doing "our own thing" ! That fight can come in many forms....we need to be able to "recognize" it when it does come.