Bible Study for the Biblically Challenged Anyone?

Kay-kay, welcome and thrilled to see you here!  I so hope that this thread will be able to offer you the peace you so desire.  We welcome everyone here and encourage all to participate in learning God's word.

It is very say that many times biblical discussions cause controversary as that is not what Jesus is about.  We have done a pretty good job of staying focused on the study and away from unnecessary "bickering" and that alone will bring peace into your life.

I am getting ready to post the next study on David and I so hope you will read and even join in the discussion.  We have taught each other so much here.  I may be the one posting the actual study, but I am a student here learning from others how God speaks to them.

I pray God's love, healing, and peace on you and your family!

In Christ,

Karen  

David and the Philistines......AGAIN!

  1 Sam 19:8  "And there was war again; and David went out and fought with the Philistines, and struck then with a mighty blow, and they fled from him."

This is the THIRD time David has had to fight the Philistines.  It is also the THIRD time he has defeated them.  Three represents "Divine perfection" in the Bible!

Oh goodness how much this scripture speaks to me.  It amazes me sometimes just how many things we can take from one piece of scripture and grow from it! 

So lets look at David's victories so far:  He has defeated single handedly (with God of course) a lion, a bear, a giant, and multiple attacks from Saul himself.  He led his army to victory twice over the Philistines! 

There is no indication whatsoever that he ever whined or complained, nor did he ever seem fearful of his battles.  I believe he took on everyone of them with his head held high, confident that his God "had his back", confident that his God would never forsake him.  I don't think he ever even thought "why me?" or "what have I done that God wants to punish me like this?" or "I must have done something bad for God to make me fight all these people."

I believe that if this were the case, the Bible would say so.  God's word tells of plenty of times when David DOES have the "woe is me" attitude, and times of his personal suffering over bad choices.  But during all of these battles, his confidence is high and his faith in God is matchless!

I believe that David understood that these battles were merely PART of his journey, not his WHOLE journey.  What I mean is David must have believed that God had bigger plans for him and it was his responsibility to seek God's will for his life.  I believe that David KNEW God was his sword and shield rather than "hoped" He was.

We all must KNOW that God is our sword and shield and not just "hope" He is.

1 Sam 20: 1 - 42 Jonathan's loyalty to David deepens

David was now hiding in Ramah with Samuel, but decides to go find Jonathan and get the low down on why Saul is so determined to kill him.  The story is of great detail and I so urge you to take a few minutes and read it.  I promise it will keep your interest to see how it ends.

Sharon,  we all extend warm open arms to you and so glad you found us!!  Reading your post put a smile on my face and "awwwwww" in my heart! 

Patoo, you are so right!  My uncles do not have a relationship with the Lord, and used to tease my family relentless because we did.  I am so fortunate that my parents were strong and didn't care what they said!

Kay-Kay,  I would venture to guess that any survivor of a life threatening situation is going to sometimes feel afraid. Afraid of the unknown.  We dont know if our cancer will go into remission, or return after remission.

The entire time I was going through that initial dx and the tx's I never feared the outcome.  I had an internal peace that God had already taken care of any and every cancer cell.  However, since tx's have ended,  I now find myseld fearing recurrence.  I don't mean to, as I MUST continue in the comfort that God has healed me, but that fear still tends to sneak in every now and then.

I was at my daughters dance academy tonight, where I learned that a fellow bc sister died this past April.  She was dx'd the same time I was, but hers was more advanced.  She has two young daughters ages 9 & 13.  This news has put my tummy in knots.

So I found myself telling God that I didn't want to die, I want to stay here with my children.  We are not suppose to love anything more than we do God, and I truly do desire to keep God first in my life, but I would prefer to live here on earth with my family than to go ahead and receive my eternal reward. 

God knows my heart and He knows I trust Him, I sometimes have to remind myself that I trust Him. 

David and the Holy Bread 1 Sam 21 - 22

David flees to Nob, the city where many priests lived.  He goes to Ahimelech, a high priest, and asks for some bread and some weapons.  He lies telling the priest that he is on a private mission for the king. 

So Ahimelech only has Holy bread and Goliath's sword, but gives them to David, thinking he is being loyal to the king......

Now David heads to see Achish, the king of Gath and a Philistine.  What I don't know is if David knew they were Philistines.  If he didn't he certainly figured it out quickly when Achish's  servants recognize him as the one whom the women had sang "Saul has slain thousands, and David has slain his ten thousands."  

So when this happened David changed his behavior and pretended to be mentally insane.   1 Sam 21: 13 - 15 "So he changed his behavior before them, pretended madness in their hands, scratched on the doors of the gate, and let his saliva fall down on his beard."  It worked too because the king believed it and David was able to get away again.

In the meantime though, Saul learns that David had gone to Nob and heads there to find him.  Saul finds out that Ahimelech had supplied David with food and the sword and orders him killed.  But not only did Saul have Ahimelech killed, he ordered a complete "wipeout"  1 Sam 22: 19 "Also Nob, the city of the priests, he struck with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and nursing infants, oxen and donkeys and sheep with the edge of the sword."   

Luckily Abiathar, one of Ahimelech's sons, was able to escape.  He found David and told him about Saul's bloody revenge.  David felt horrible and told Abiathar to stay with him and he would protect him from Saul because David knew that Saul's men would be looking for him.

1 Sam 22:23 "Stay with me; do not fear.  For he who seeks my life seeks your life, but with me you shall be safe." 

Right now they are hiding in Judah (1 Sam 23:3)

misspell,  I just praise God that you indeed listened to His call.  Praise God you are a child of Christ!!!  What a smile you put on my face sharing this!!!  Thank you so much!!! 

I am going to wait another day or so before I post the next part of David's life. Things have slowed down here and I don't want to get too far ahead.  Unless you guys are waiting for the next one, in which case let me know. 

1992

 

Why is it I never think to thank God for people He brings into my life?  I thank Him for those who bless me, I thank Him for those I can bless, but I've never thanked Him just because I know them. I've never considered doing so until just this moment as I write about the year 1992.

Job 42:10-11 "And the Lord restored Job's losses when he prayed for his friends... all his brothers, sisters, and acquaintances, came to him and ate food with him in his house; and they consoled him and comforted him for all the adversity that the Lord had brought upon him"

March 1992 Karen Smith was the aerobic director for NEGMC's "Fit-For-Life" fitness center.  The gym I had been teaching aerobics at had closed and I had an interview with her for a position in their program.  There are really only two things I remember about my meeting with her: one, she hired me (yea!); two, she never stopped smiling.  She smiled when she talked, she smiled when she listened.

It wasn't long after I had been at Fit-For-Life that Karen and her husband, Scott, had decided to take full-time positions with Eagle Ranch.  Tears streaming down her face, she smiled as she shared with all of us how they knew God was calling them to do this, and though they were afraid, they were fully trusting in Him and moving forward.  This meant she had to leave the gym and her position as the director.  I LOVED teaching for Karen, so I cried too [but I wasn't smiling].

We kept in touch sporadically over the next nine years through various fitness events.  In 2001 God opened up another opportunity for me to work with Karen again at a gym in Gainesville while I was preparing to open my own personal training studio.  Just as in 1992, she was still smiling.

I opened my business in Flowery Branch in August of that same year, so I left that gym.  However, our paths crossed again when our sons ran cross country and played soccer together at Davis Middle School.  I will never forget a cross country meet when Kyle, her son, came out of the wooded part of the trail in the lead!  I thought Scott had been stung by a bee; he was jumping up and down, flailing his arms, screaming all kinds of happy.  He joined in the race with Kyle and ran with him all the way across the finish line!  She and I were laughing and cheering them both on!  I'm not sure who Karen was more proud of, Kyle or Scott!

December 2007, just a few weeks before Christmas, Karen was diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer.  It had metastasized to her bones and was so advanced that it had caused her hip to shatter.  Her prognosis was grim.  Here it was Christmas time - a time for celebration and joy - but Karen and Scott were faced with telling their three children their mom had cancer.

I was in total shock and deeply affected by her news as well.  Though we weren't "close" friends, she was my friend and I had so much respect for her.  The mere mention of her name would bring to mind her smile.  I just couldn't believe she had terminal cancer.  Moreover, I couldn't imagine how difficult it was going to be telling her children, especially at Christmas time.  My heart literally ached and many tears flowed as I lifted them up in prayer throughout the holidays.

Just a few days into the New Year, I called Karen to offer my love and let her know I was praying for her.  She shared with me the events that had lead up to her diagnosis.  The troubling fact was there was no "Houston, we have a problem" until she had a problem!  Here's what I mean:  as fitness people, we tend to abuse our bodies at times, so aches and pains are periodically the "norm", and typically resolve themselves without professional intervention.  So when Karen's hip began to hurt, she didn't think too much about it.  It wasn't until she could hardly walk that she sought medical attention.   Cancer is sheepishly quiet until it has wreaked its havoc, often making it difficult to defeat.

John 10:10 "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.  I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."

January 4, 2008 I was in my office praying for Karen and her family.  My thoughts began like this:  "Fortunately for me, breast cancer doesn't run in my family, so I have nothing to worry about." (Karen's mom and sister's were all survivors)  My mind continued to wander "I haven't been to the doctor in two years.  Well, I'll go in April during spring break, when most of my clients are out of town, so I won't have to reschedule anyone.  I hate having to reschedule people." 

I was settled with waiting until April when what happened next had to be God intervening.   I found myself holding the phone and listening to the receptionist at my doctor's office!  "The doctor is out of town the week of spring break" she was saying, "but he has an opening on January 18th if you'd like that one."   A bit puzzled how the phone ended up at my ear yet happy for the opportunity to check this off my "to do list", I accepted that appointment.

Two weeks later, Friday, February 1, 2008, Mark and I found ourselves telling our own children I had cancer.  It is totally by the grace of God and the mere fact that I knew Karen Smith that my diagnosis was made while I was stage I.  Karen and I had the same type of cancer too.  It was hormone receptor positive, fueled by a protein (HER2-neu in case you're curious) which made it very aggressive.  My oncologist explained it by saying "this protein is an ‘on' switch telling the cancer cells to ‘go, go, go' " 

Had I not been so moved by Karen's situation, I know without a doubt, I wouldn't have motivated to make that appointment when I did.  Knowing her literally saved my life and not waiting until April turned out to be a fateful decision.

Over the next three years we encouraged and comforted each other.  I saw her a few times, but mostly our communication was through phone calls and texting.  The first thing she'd say to me was "How are YOU doing."  She was still so full of hope and joy, and that was because Karen was determined to live every day for God and her family, not for her circumstances.

Habakkuk 2:4 "but the just shall live by his faith."

The older I get and the more I experience the more I'm convinced that nothing happens by chance, which includes every person I meet.  February 1, 2008 I became very aware of just how true this was and it wasn't until then that I thanked God, with every ounce of my being that I knew Karen Smith.  The year 1992 turned out to be a pivotal year to getting me where I am today. 

This past May Karen's cancer had progressed to the point that any further treatments would be futile.  Friday, June 10, 2011 at 2:45pm Karen lost her battle with cancer, but she ran with endurance her race right into the waiting arms of Jesus. 

Hebrews 12:1 "let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith"

She and I had been on the same train, God just stopped it long enough for me to jump off for a while longer.  What if in the future God chooses to use me to save someone else's life?  That would be as mind blowing as it was for Him to use Karen to prolong mine. No matter what, I want to run my race smiling as Karen did.

I believe if Karen could speak to her family and friends now, she would say these words from Mark Harris' song "Wish You Were Here"

I wanted to tell you how closely I've kept the memories of you in my heart
And all of the lifetimes that we've had to share live even though we're apart
But don't cry for me 'Cause I'm finally free

To run with the angels on streets made of gold

To listen to stories of saints new and old
To worship our Maker that's where I'll be when you finally find me

Now don't you be weary cause waiting for you are wonders that you've never known
Just hold on to Jesus, reach out for His hands and one day they'll welcome you home
And that's when you'll be finally free

I wish you were here
 
And all of the dreams that you treasure will soon come together
And that's when your sorrow will find tomorrow
And you will rise again 

To run with the angels on streets made of gold

To listen to stories of saints new and old
To worship our Maker that's where I'll be when you finally find me