166th Week, Christmas Day, II Samuel Intro - Chapter 3 (Click on Title for video Introduction)

 Click on Title for Video Intro

Monday, MERRY CHRISTMAS

Today is the day to share the Christmas Story with family and friends.  Last week prepared you for the Christmas Nativity.  I encourage each of you to share it with your family today by telling it in your own words.  Ask your family which part of the story they liked best, what character would they be good at playing, favorite scripture reading, what Christmas song does it remind you of, what part increases your faith, what gift would you bring to the baby Jesus, have you ever thought about your reaction if you had been Mary or Joseph, use your nativity and add the characters as  you share the story.  

Sing a favorite Christmas Carol or two.

Close your time with prayer including a Time of Gratitude.  Everyone can share what they are most thankful for. 

Most important - don't forget Christ!!  HE IS THE SAVIOR OF OUR WORLD.  PRAYING THAT SOMEDAY EVERY KNEE WILL BOW AND EVERY TONGUE CONFESS THAT JESUS IS LORD OF LORDS AND KING OF KINGS.  

Tuesday, II Samuel Introduction

II Samuel Intro

Jane Jones

PRAISE TO GOD!!
I look forward to sharing the start of II Samuel with you this week. We will continue to learn about the life of David. It has been stated that David was “a man after God’s own heart”.

Our Senior Pastor at Orchard Hill Church, Pastor Ed, loves David. Pastor Ed teaches many Sundays by using some of David’s characteristics, his stories, and his actions. David’s life teaches us to have compassion for all people, including those whose sinful nature leads them into sinful acts. David was a good man, but He also sinned. From that sin he had to suffer the consequences.

David not only committed adultery and murder, but he neglected to discipline his sons when they got involved in rape and murder. David was a man of IRON but had feet of CLAY. We are all vulnerable. We are all sinners. We all fall short. We all suffer the consequences... but we must never quit. David continued to be “a man after God’s own heart”. Let us do the same as we enter into the book of II Samuel. Let’s strive this week to be a person after God’s own heart.

PRAYER

Lord, we look to You on this Sunday evening for direction for the upcoming week. I’m sure there are some things that we will experience because they are the consequences of our actions and our deeds. Please help deliver us from these and lead us into Christ-like actions and deeds. This week we offer You our minds, our wills, our emotions, our spirits, our bodies, our attitudes, our tongues, our motives, our dreams, our goals, our past, our present, our future, our family, and our careers. Please start this very moment to make us anointed servants of God.  AMEN

Wednesday, II Samuel Chapter 1

II Samuel 1

Verse 26b

Jeanie Boldt

Verse 26b: I grieve for you, Jonathan my brother, you were very dear to me.

THOUGHT

Loyalty is one of life’s most costly qualities; it is the most selfless part of love. To be loyal you cannot live only for yourself. Loyal people not only stand by their commitments, they are willing to suffer for them. Jonathan is a shining example of loyalty. Sometimes he was forced to deal with conflicting loyalties, to his father, Saul, and to his friend David.  What guided the loyalty for David was truth. The source of the truth was God.

Jonathan was loyal to Saul because Saul was his father and the king. He was loyal to David because David was his friend. His loyalty to God guided him through the conflicting demands of his human relationships. This relationship was like a brotherhood for both men. David grieved for his loss. His heart was broken.

The conflicting demands of our relationships challenge us as well. If we attempt to settle these conflicts only at the human level, we will be constantly dealing with a sense of betrayal. But if we communicate to our friends that our ultimate loyalty is to God and His truth, many of our choices will be much clearer.  The truth in His Word, the Bible, will bring light to our decisions. Do those closest to you know who has your greatest loyalty?

PRAYER

Father God, thank You for friends. I pray that by knowing You, our friendships will be stronger and demonstrate qualities of loyalty, faithfulness and trust. I pray that reading about David and Jonathan’s

friendship, we can be a better friend. AMEN

Thursday, II Samuel Chapter 2

11 Samuel 2

Verse 1b

Jane Jones

Verse lb: ... David asked, “Where shall I go?”...

THOUGHT

This question stuck in my mind the entire time I was reading this chapter. David had been to so many places, had traveled many miles, knew that he would be king, and yet, yes yet, still asked God for direction on where he should go. How often do we feel lost and perplexed wondering where our life is taking us, where we should go, what we should do?  David just asked and received the answer. He trusted God for the answer and believed. He did what was spoken to him.

It goes to show that we can turn to Jesus with our questions for direction at any time. Jesus is touchable, approachable, reachable, and what’s more, He is ordinary. If He were here today, you probably wouldn’t notice Him as He walked through a shopping mall.

‘Just call me Jesus,’ you can almost hear Him say. He’s the kind of fellow you’d invite to an Iowa Hawkeye game or a BIG RED game (Well, Maybe... HEE, HEE, HEE).  He’d wrestle on the floor with the kids, doze on the couch, and cook steaks on your grill. And when you spoke, He’d listen to you as if He had all the time in eternity.

So starting today, let’s go to Him for our direction on “Where shall I go?” He will speak to us on His timetable. The Lord gave us two ears and one mouth. Is that a sign we need to listen twice as much as we talk?

PRAYER

John tells us in Chapter 15, verse 5, that “Apart from Me you can do nothing.”  Lord, how long does it take for us to learn this?  Forgive us our shortcomings and forgive us our sins. Speak to us, Father. Tell us where to go at this very moment. Maybe You are telling us, and we choose not to listen.  May we be receptive to change and direction in our lives and go where You lead us. For we know, Lord Jesus, You make everything beautiful in Your time. Today may we strive to listen twice as much as we talk. Speak to us, Dear Jesus. We love You forever and ever. AMEN

Friday, II Samuel Chapter 3

II Samuel 3

Verse 11

Jane Jones

Verse 11:   Ish-Bosheth did not dare to say another word to Abner, because he was afraid of him.

THOUGHT
Ish-Bosheth may have been right to speak out against Abner’s behavior regarding the concubine, but he didn’t have the moral strength to maintain his authority. This lack of moral backbone became the root of Israel’s troubles.
 
There have been times when I have not had the strength to stand up for what I believe is right. Once in a while at work, there are situations that I am put in with my job that I stay silent instead of speaking up for the right moral decision. I must be of courage to let management know exactly who I am and what my moral backbone is according to what I believe in. Sometimes in a dismissal of an employee, I believe wrong was done. Is it my place to express my moral conviction? Should I stand the chance of losing my job? Have I been there long enough that they would respect my moral backbone?

I know that it takes courage and strength to stand firm in your conviction and to confront wrongdoing in the face of opposition. When you believe something is wrong, do not let yourself be talked out of your position. We must firmly attack the wrong and uphold the right.

PRAYER
We pray for brave hearts tonight, Father. We pray that our courage will be that of David’s when slaying Goliath. We know that You will be with us, Father, every step of the way.  We pray that we may all have a courageous day tomorrow. We love You, Jesus. AMEN