Another New Year

          Happy New Year everyone!!! As I was contemplating what to write in this post, I really couldn't come up with any ideas, until one night when I was falling asleep an idea hit me. But of course, I would have to get busy and then sick, resulting in the *ahem* late congratulations on the new year. All that aside, I hope you all have had a great start to your year! :)
And now....to the contemplative thoughts. ;)

As I was thinking of the new year, and years past, I realized that where I was now and where I thought I'd be years ago was very different in some ways than I had imagined. I never thought I would go to college, yet here I am. I never imagined all the heartaches and trials that I would go through in the past couple years, or the joys that the years have brought, as well. Through it all, God has brought me back from a place of darkness, death, and pain to a place where there is healing, joy, and hope. And I can't stop thanking Him enough for that. As I was thinking about my own life, David came to mind. David was a shepherd boy, the youngest in a large family, and probably whom most people considered a "nobody". I'm sure David had dreams, just like we do. In the long, starry, cold nights and long, humid days of endless grassy plains and sheep, I'm sure David thought of his future. "When I grow up I'm not going to let my brothers pick on me. I'll be a man of honor and integrity. I'll marry a nice girl, have a family and teach my children in the ways of Jehovah. Maybe I'll even become a prosperous shepherd, and become like father Abraham of old. Maybe then my father will finally be proud of me..." Now, we don't know if that is what David's dreams were, but we can be certain that David's relationship with his father wasn't exactly the best. And David probably never dreamed about becoming king. That would be "impossible", wouldn't it? But not so. When the prophet Samuel arrived at Bethlehem, the sleepy little town with a lot of people considered as "somebodies" and a lot of others considered as "nobodies", he came on a quest for not a merchant, not a noble, but a king. Wouldn't it had made sense for Samuel to have chosen an already esteemed man from the town, or a rich man, or even a popular man, but instead he picked David. The last and very least, a nobody, who had no riches, popularity, or esteem, yet was considered highly favored by God.
"When they arrived, Samuel took one look at Eliab and thought, "Surely this is the LORD's anointed!" But the LORD said to Samuel, "Don't judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The LORD doesn't see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." Then Jesse told his son Abinadab to step forward and walk in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, This is not the one the LORD has chosen." Next Jesse summoned Shimea, but Samuel said, "Neither is this the one the LORD has chosen." In the same way all seven of Jesse's sons were presented to Samuel. But Samuel said to Jesse, "The LORD has not chosen any of these." Then Samuel asked, "Are these all the sons you have?" "There is still the youngest," Jesse replied. "But he's out in the fields watching the sheep and goats." "Send for him at once," Samuel said. "We will not sit down to eat until he arrives." So Jesse sent for him. He was dark and handsome, with beautiful eyes. And the LORD said, "This is the one; anoint him." So as David stood there among his brothers, Samuel took the flask of olive oil he had brought and anointed David with the oil. And the Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon David from that day on."
 1 Samuel 16:6-13

David had his plans, but God had other plans. Aren't we all glad that HE did! God wants to take our dreams and make them into HIS. You can rest assured that His plans for our life are much bigger than we could ever have dreamed or imagined. We may not always like everything that comes along with them, as David himself had to run for his life and live as a wanderer in the wilderness for many years until He finally became king. But GOD was with him. So dear fam, those words that God has spoken over your life, those things He has whispered to you in the quiet place, He will do it. If God has said He will, then He will. It can be hard to give our dreams and plans of our future over to Him, but when we do we can be sure that something more wonderful than all our imagination could conjure up will be accomplished in us through the One who has made us for such a time as this.... So in the New Year let us give our plans and hopes for the year over to God...and let His dreams become our dreams.

In the New Year we will face many challenges, but with God we can defeat them. After David was anointed as king, he went back to being a shepherd, until he was later called on to slay a giant. Now, David didn't think he was going to slay a giant, what he was really doing was obeying his father Jesse and taking some food to his brothers who were fighting the Philistines with Israel's army. When he saw Goliath making fun of Israel's army, blaspheming God, and terrorizing the camp, David was filled with a righteous anger. He asked about the giant, and his brother Eliab heard him and said,
    "What are you doing around here anyway" he demanded angrily. "What about those few sheep you're supposed to be taking care of? I know about your pride and deceit. You just want to see the battle!"
"What have I done now?" David replied. " I was only asking a question!" 1 Samuel 17:28-29
Even David's brother thought he was nothing, and was probably jealous that God had chosen David over himself. But God was with David. When David went to the king  he said,
"Don't worry about this Philistine. I'll go fight him!" "Don't be ridiculous!" Saul replied. "There's no possible way you can fight this Philistine and possibly win! You're only a boy, and he's been a man of war since his youth." But David persisted...."The Lord who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine!" Saul finally consented. "All right, go ahead," he said. "And may the LORD be with you!" 1 Samuel 17:32-37
David was called by God and he obeyed. All he had was five smooth stones and a sling. He had fought no battles except against lions and bears, and had no real weapon. He was small...he was only a boy. But He went willingly, because God had called him. How many times in our own lives has God called us to do what seems the impossible? And how many times, just like the men in Israel's army, have we ran away and hid? My dear peeps, it is time for us to come out of hiding, to throw off our insecurities,worries, fears, and excuses and fully embrace what God has called us to!
"For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline." 2 Timothy 1:7
        Can't you imagine it? The Philistine army laughing at the absurdity of a small boy with no armor or weapons coming to fight their biggest, best warrior. Can you imagine the sneer on Goliath's face, the look of conceit and contempt. Can you also see David, a small boy, dwarfed to an even smaller size by the mighty giant in front of him. The slight breeze blowing his un-helmeted curly hair, his young, callused hands gripping tightly his sling. The Israel army, holding their breath, fearing the worst. The loud noises, the clashes of metal against metal, the shouts and jeers of thousands of men...and fear filling the atmosphere. David's deep breaths, and silent prayers to Jehovah for strength. Goliath's piercing, evil eyes staring maliciously at him, tearing him apart bit by bit with his hard look. Can you imagine Jesus walking with David, whispering in his ear,
"You are mine, and you are precious to me. I am with you. Trust me. I love you. I will never let you go. Obey me, follow me. You will conquer. Have faith in Me." Now can you see the resolve on David's face, the Light and power of the Most High streaming out of his very being, and the courageous stance he takes against Goliath.
   "Goliath walked out toward David with his shield bearer ahead of him, sneering in contempt at the ruddy-faced boy. "Am I a dog," he roared at David, "that you come at me with a stick?" And he cursed David by the names of his gods. "Come over here, and I'll give your flesh to the birds and wild animals!" Goliath yelled. David replied to the Philistine, "You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of Heaven's Armies- the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. Today the LORD will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head. And then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God is Israel! And everyone assembled here will know that the LORD rescues His people, but not with sword and spear. This is the LORD's battle, and he will give you to us!"
As Goliath moved closer to attack, David quickly ran out to meet him. Reaching into his shepherd's bag and taking out a stone, he hurled it with his sling and hit the Philistine in the forehead. The stone sank in, and Goliath stumbled and fell face down on the ground. So David triumphed over the Philistine with only a sling and stone, for he had no sword. Then David ran over and pulled Goliath's sword from its sheath. David used it to kill him and cut off his head. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they turned and ran." 1 Samuel 17:41-51

All the trials and challenges in our lives can be overcome by the One who has overcome the world, and now lives inside of us. With God, ALL things are possible. In this New Year, let us stand courageously for Christ, obeying him even when it's hard and doesn't make sense...trusting that He will take care of us...in every situation...even if it means facing a giant.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!