“I cannot go in these,” he said to Saul, “because I am not used to them.” So he took them off. Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine. 1 Samuel 17:39-40 NIV

David was not afraid of the battle. He knew that he was fighting for God. His confidence was not in his armor, or in his ability. His confidence was in where it should be, in God.

David told Goliath, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel.”

“All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”

David didn’t run from the battle. David ran to the battle. David reached into his bag and took out a stone, and he slung it at Goliath. The stone sank into Goliath’s forehead and he fell facedown on the ground. Dead.

David was successful because he relied on the Lord to use the talents he had already developed to defeat the enemy. God used what David had in his hand. David had five stones, and a sling. Read More

Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keeps the law, happy is he. Proverbs 29:18 (KJV)

We need to have vision in our lives to go forward. Our vision will keep us going, even when the going gets tough.

Jesus had a vision of His Bride that helped Him endure the cross. We need a vision of Jesus, our eternal Groom, to help us to endure all that we encounter.

Jesus, be thou my vision today!

And Saul armed David with his armour, and he put an helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail. And David girded his sword upon his armour, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him. 1 Samuel 17:38-39 KJV

Saul’s armor didn’t fit David. Maybe you know how David felt. People may have dreams for you that don’t fit. They may want you to become something different than what you are created to be.

You have a spectacular destiny. But it may look different than what others define as success. They may imply that to be a success you need to be President, or a CEO, or win an Oscar, or pitch in the world series. It’s like trying to dress you up in armor that doesn’t fit.

Your destiny is unique to you. What matters is not that you are doing something that other’s see as grand, but that you are doing what you are passionate about. That you are fulfilling YOUR Vision.

Vision doesn’t mean that you have to own the company, or make millions of dollars. It simply means that you are fulfilling your personal destiny.

Your vision may be to be a stonecutter in a rock quarry, who understands that he is helping to build the grandest cathedral in Europe. You are doing what God created you to do. You have a vision for what it is that God wants you to accomplish and you do it your way.

It takes everyone doing their part for God’s work to get done. You just need to understand what your part is in the big picture vision of what God is doing. Read More

Photo by Buddpaul CC3.0

Then Saul dressed David in his own tunic. He put a coat of armor on him and a bronze helmet on his head. David fastened on his sword over the tunic and tried walking around, because he was not used to them. “I cannot go in these,” he said to Saul, “because I am not used to them.” So he took them off. 1 Samuel 17:38-39 NIV

This week has been the world cup soccer finals in Brazil. It seems that the whole world has been watching, which brings to mind a soccer story from a friend of mine…

My friend was about nine years old. He was on his soccer team at school, and wanted to help his team win. But he had a big problem. Literally. The soccer shorts that were assigned to him were way too big. He didn’t realize it until the first game when he put on his uniform. His shorts were so big that he had to bunch up the waist and hold them up with his hand.

Have you ever seen someone trying to play soccer while holding up their soccer shorts? He said it was hilarious.

The crowd held their breath as they watched, for they knew  Read More

Then a champion named Goliath, from Gath, came out from the Philistine camp. He was nine feet, nine inches tall and wore a bronze helmet and bronze scale armor that weighed 125 pounds. His spear shaft was like a weaver’s beam, and the iron point of his spear weighed 15 pounds. In addition, a shield-bearer was walking in front of him. 1 Samuel 17: 4, 5 & 7 HCSB

Intimidation. It is one of the enemies favorite ploys. He loves to try to show us how BIG he is. He wants to impress us. He comes at us standing nine feet nine inches tall, and wearing armor of 125 pounds. He shows us his 15 pound spear. that he threatens to throw at us.

We always must remember that our God is much bigger! He is the creator of the universe. Read More