David, young, handsome, simple shepherd.  How is it that he was able to kill Goliath?

You’ve heard the story, yes?  How all the Israelites cowered in fear toward this Philistine giant, Goliath.  The bible says he stood six cubits and a span.  That’s somewhere between 9′ and 11′ tall!  For this 5’3″ gal, that’s pretty tall!!

Every day as they went to battle, this defiant giant who called out against them and the one true God, tormented and terrified them.  They all retreated in fear and defeat.  For 40 days they did this!  I don’t know about you but cowering in defeat for 40 days is a long time.  I hesitate to think that these Israelites ever thought they would win this battle against these Philistines as long as Goliath was around.

But David…

In response to Goliath’s bold statement, “This day I defy the armies of Israel! Give me a man and let us fight each other.” ~ I Samuel 17:10 …David stepped up to say, “Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him.” ~ I Samuel 17:32

“Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep.  When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth.  When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it.  Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.” ~ I Samuel 17:34-37

What in your life is your Goliath?  The battle looming in front of you that seems like such a giant to you? Trust in the Lord your God, the maker of Heaven and Earth.  Believe on the Lord Jesus and all that He did at Calvary for YOU.  Then you can face any Goliath, any giant, any battle…and You Can Have Victory!

The Lord who rescued David from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear…the Lord who rescured you from (fill in the blank from your life), will rescue YOU from the hand of this (fill in that thing that is still standing in your way of victory).

Believe it!  Stand on it!  Thank God for it!  Then GO GET YOUR VICTORY!!  Don’t let your Goliath keep you from it any longer.

I love this picture of my husband standing in the water at Still Pond, located off the Sassafras River and the Chesapeake Bay.  We had taken an excursion and anchored overnight at this beautiful spot and enjoyed being able to stand in the water.

It’s a very interesting place with a lovely breeze by day and stillness by night!  Much stillness, and pretty stuffy sleeping below in the cabin on a hot summer night, unless you have a generator and run your AC!

After our trip, we had posted this picture on Facebook to see what caption our friends might give it, and we got a variety of ideas.  Our favorite, however, was Peace Be Still!

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What’s in a name? The Bible says that God knows our name. Do you find that comforting? I sure do!

When I was growing up with an unusual name, I found that people had trouble spelling it and pronouncing it. I used to dread the first day of school, wondering just how this new teacher would butcher the pronunciation of my name.

One time in particular really stands out to me. It was 6th grade. I already had a complex about my name because almost everyone got it wrong, and this teacher was no different. He kept calling me Janine. I have a cousin named Janine and have no problem with her having that name, but don’t call me Janine! That’s not my name!!

As a young girl, I got so tired of being called Janine, among other things. It was so very rare that anyone would say Janan the correct way. Juh-Nan. I absolutely despised being called Jan too!  Mostly I was called Jan-in (like the a in ran) and sometimes Jan-Ann.  Also NOT my name!!

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I stopped into Wawa this morning to get a latte’ and when checking out I told the lady behind the counter that I always enjoy seeing her smiling face, to which she responded, “Oh, thank you! You just made my day!”

Wow Lord, thanks! That in turn made my day!

Go out there my friends and make someone’s day. All it takes is a kind word.

Show the love of Jesus to someone you rub shoulders with today. It will make your day too!

The boys snickered as I sat there in class with my dress falling over my knees. Why, Mom, why do you make me dress like this when everyone else wears their dresses shorter than mine? Why must I be the subject of ridicule by all the boys in my class?

Shyness developed in me at a very young age. Rejection and pain were covered up by solitude, retreating into myself, and pulling away.  Shame called my name!

Then in high school, I would roll up the waistband of my dress until the hem would be just to my fingertips when I put down my arm, and off I’d go into my day.  I was not going to be ridiculed about the length of my dress any more!!  Have you ever done anything like that when you were growing up?  I’m sure I’m not the only one!

But God!!!

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No matter where you find yourself today my Internet friend, trust in God and He will lift you up!!

Psalm 139:9-10 ~ If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there Your hand will guide me, Your right hand will hold me fast!

Cling to these promises today my friend!

How often when we are hungry do we say, “I’m starving!?” I know I’ve said it. I know I’ve heard my husband say it, and I’ve heard others say it too. But, the Lord reminded me that there are people in the world who truly ARE starving. People who don’t have enough to eat, who don’t know where their next meal will come from, or even when they will have something to eat again. We’ve all seen pictures of the starving children with the extended bellies, dying from lack of nourishment. Breaks our hearts to see them, doesn’t it?

But we can still be starving even when our bellies are filled. We can be starving for love that God alone can give. Have you read His word today my friend? Have you gotten your fill of truth for your life today? Have you met with Him in prayer? Be still before your Heavenly Father and bring your requests to Him. He promises to meet ALL your needs.

Psalm 107:9 : for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.

John 6:35 : Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

John 4:14 : but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.

Revelation 7:16 : Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst.