What’s your favorite month of the year? Why?
What’s my favorite month of the year? That is a difficult prompt in my opinion. Every month is unique and offers some sort of celebration. I prefer spring and fall over winter and summer, but to pick just one as my favorite, I don’t think I can. It would be unfair.
Welcome back to another in-depth Bible study. Let’s dive into God’s Word together, seeking understanding and insight. May His spirit guide us as we explore Scripture.
II Samuel 11
1 And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem.
2 And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king’s house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon.
3 And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?
4 And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house.
5 And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, I am with child.
6 And David sent to Joab, saying, Send me Uriah the Hittite. And Joab sent Uriah to David.
7 And when Uriah was come unto him, David demanded of him how Joab did, and how the people did, and how the war prospered.
8 And David said to Uriah, Go down to thy house, and wash thy feet. And Uriah departed out of the king’s house, and there followed him a mess of meat from the king.
9 But Uriah slept at the door of the king’s house with all the servants of his lord, and went not down to his house.
10 And when they had told David, saying, Uriah went not down unto his house, David said unto Uriah, Camest thou not from thy journey? why then didst thou not go down unto thine house?
11 And Uriah said unto David, The ark, and Israel, and Judah, abide in tents; and my lord Joab, and the servants of my lord, are encamped in the open fields; shall I then go into mine house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? as thou livest, and as thy soul liveth, I will not do this thing.
12 And David said to Uriah, Tarry here to day also, and to morrow I will let thee depart. So Uriah abode in Jerusalem that day, and the morrow.
13 And when David had called him, he did eat and drink before him; and he made him drunk: and at even he went out to lie on his bed with the servants of his lord, but went not down to his house.
14 And it came to pass in the morning, that David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah.
15 And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten, and die.
16 And it came to pass, when Joab observed the city, that he assigned Uriah unto a place where he knew that valiant men were.
17 And the men of the city went out, and fought with Joab: and there fell some of the people of the servants of David; and Uriah the Hittite died also.
18 Then Joab sent and told David all the things concerning the war;
19 And charged the messenger, saying, When thou hast made an end of telling the matters of the war unto the king,
20 And if so be that the king’s wrath arise, and he say unto thee, Wherefore approached ye so nigh unto the city when ye did fight? knew ye not that they would shoot from the wall?
21 Who smote Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? did not a woman cast a piece of a millstone upon him from the wall, that he died in Thebez? why went ye nigh the wall? then say thou, Thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.
22 So the messenger went, and came and shewed David all that Joab had sent him for.
23 And the messenger said unto David, Surely the men prevailed against us, and came out unto us into the field, and we were upon them even unto the entering of the gate.
24 And the shooters shot from off the wall upon thy servants; and some of the king’s servants be dead, and thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.
25 Then David said unto the messenger, Thus shalt thou say unto Joab, Let not this thing displease thee, for the sword devoureth one as well as another: make thy battle more strong against the city, and overthrow it: and encourage thou him.
26 And when the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she mourned for her husband.
27 And when the mourning was past, David sent and fetched her to his house, and she became his wife, and bare him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD.
That concludes our lesson for today. Come back tomorrow as we continue right along in the Bible. Have a great day and God bless!
What is your favorite place to go in your city?
What is my favorite place to go in my city? My home of corse! I am a hermit and prefer to stay home if I can, surrounded by all my comforts.
What is fear? Fear is a fundamental and powerful emotion that is embedded into every living creature on this earth. It is designed to be triggered by the perception of immediate danger or harm. Fear not only creates an emotional response, but a physiological and hormonal response as well. Once the brain perceives that it needs to be fearful, the amygdala triggers the release of adrenaline and cortisol. Pupils dilate, heart rate and blood pressure increase, breathing quickens, and blood flow is redirected to vital organs.
All these natural processes happen autonomously in order to give us the best chance of survival. While fear may be a crucial and necessary part of life, how many times has it hindered progress or stopped it altogether? How many times has fear squashed an idea before it can even be attempted? Fear was designed to be a means of life preservation, not to be a source of life hindering aspirations.
Fear is an unavoidable part of life. How we react to it is what sets us apart. I do not mean how well we handle life threatening situations. I mean all the other scenarios we face that our body tells us we should be falsely afraid. Making a career change, moving to an unfamiliar city, trying something new, anything that pushes us out of our self-created comfort zone, provokes fear and anxiety. Oftentimes, this flood of emotion kills ambition and motivation. You have the power to take control of fear and transform it into a usable asset.
First ask, am I in any potential danger? Most likely, the answer is no. Then, make a list of your fears. Be specific and provide as much detail as possible. For example, if I was wanting to move to a larger city, but the idea seemed scary and too overwhelming, I would start by breaking it down as below.
1. No support system close.
2. Packing and unpacking is exhausting.
3. Unfamiliarity is uncomfortable.
4. Resources could be hard to find.
Third, list what can be done to alleviate those fears.
1. Become familiar with the area. (Join local hotspots and social media groups.)
2. Locate essential resources. (Find food, gas, clothing, medical faciliteis and pharmacies.)
3. Make new friends. (Plan a visit to the.)
4. Higher moving help.
Now that you have a list of fears and ideas to manage them, take each one and create realistic trackable goals.
1. Plan a weekend visit.
2. Find the local grocery store.
3. Go to a local hotspot.
4. Find one pharmacy.
5. Locate the hospital.
6. Try one local cuisine.
7. Make one new friend.
8. Get quotes from three moving companies.
Each goal that is accomplished builds confidence and fuels ambition.
Then, the crucial question. What do you have to lose? Make a list just like before but this time, list what you could potentially lose by taking the leap. Finally, make a list of what you could potentially gain. This is the final step in the process. More often than not we will find that the potential gain far out weighs the potential loss.
By putting each and every fear on paper it helps properly analyze them and essentially reduces them to manageable problems. Oftentimes, when the concern is in black and white, the enormity shrinks before our eyes, giving us strength and wisdom. Once control is established the perception of fear is extinguished and failure seems unlikely. Without failure, what is there to fear?
Fear is the pure central emotion intended to fuel the flight or fight mode. A compound reaction that affects every part of the body. The issue is, sometimes our brain confuses change or unfamiliarity for a survival situation triggering irrelevant information to be relayed. It is important to recognize these dumps of false information and see it for what it is; raw and unfiltered sentimental reaction. A reaction that can be observed, analyzed and regulated. If moderation is not established the body is left to do what it does naturally; react. Which more often than not, leads to inaction.
By taking a hard, honest look at our fears we can take a proactive approach to regaining control and peace of mind. Breaking each one into micro-concerns shifts the situation from an overwhelming mess to a clear organized action plan. I use the example of moving to a new city, but this technique can be applied for any non-life threatening situation. Audit your fear. Transform your life.
I thought of my children several times while writing this article. I can look back on my life and see countless times that fear froze me in place. Missed experiences, friendships, jobs and opportunities all because I was afraid. I never want that for my children. I want them to be bold, brave and courageous. I want them to feel the unsettling swirls in their bellies, their hands and knees shaking and choose to leap anyways. I want them to look fear in the face and laugh at it. We are our children’s first example. Through us they learn how to make decisions, regulate emotions and problem solve. If they see us use fear as an excuse instead of seeing it for what it is, a normal reaction, we risk fostering a dynamic mindset dependent on complacency. A dangerous mindset that impedes intellectual emotional analytical and systematic growth. The ability to evaluate and control one’s own fear is rarely talked about but one of the most important skills a child could learn.
Welcome back to another in-depth Bible study. May you have listening ears and eyes that see. Join me as we dive into Father’s word.
II Samuel 9:7
7 And David said unto him, Fear not: for I will surely shew thee kindness for Jonathan thy father’s sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually.
8 And he bowed himself, and said, What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?
9 Then the king called to Ziba, Saul’s servant, and said unto him, I have given unto thy master’s son all that pertained to Saul and to all his house.
10 Thou therefore, and thy sons, and thy servants, shall till the land for him, and thou shalt bring in the fruits, that thy master’s son may have food to eat: but Mephibosheth thy master’s son shall eat bread alway at my table. Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.
11 Then said Ziba unto the king, According to all that my lord the king hath commanded his servant, so shall thy servant do. As for Mephibosheth, said the king, he shall eat at my table, as one of the king’s sons.
12 And Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was Micha. And all that dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants unto Mephibosheth.
13 So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem: for he did eat continually at the king’s table; and was lame on both his feet.
II Samuel 10
1 And it came to pass after this, that the king of the children of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his stead.
2 Then said David, I will shew kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father shewed kindness unto me. And David sent to comfort him by the hand of his servants for his father. And David’s servants came into the land of the children of Ammon.
3 And the princes of the children of Ammon said unto Hanun their lord, Thinkest thou that David doth honour thy father, that he hath sent comforters unto thee? hath not David rather sent his servants unto thee, to search the city, and to spy it out, and to overthrow it?
4 Wherefore Hanun took David’s servants, and shaved off the one half of their beards, and cut off their garments in the middle, even to their buttocks, and sent them away.
5 When they told it unto David, he sent to meet them, because the men were greatly ashamed: and the king said, Tarry at Jericho until your beards be grown, and then return.
6 And when the children of Ammon saw that they stank before David, the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Bethrehob, and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand footmen, and of king Maacah a thousand men, and of Ishtob twelve thousand men.
7 And when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men.
8 And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the entering in of the gate: and the Syrians of Zoba, and of Rehob, and Ishtob, and Maacah, were by themselves in the field.
9 When Joab saw that the front of the battle was against him before and behind, he chose of all the choice men of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians:
10 And the rest of the people he delivered into the hand of Abishai his brother, that he might put them in array against the children of Ammon.
11 And he said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, then thou shalt help me: but if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee, then I will come and help thee.
12 Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people, and for the cities of our God: and the LORD do that which seemeth him good.
13 And Joab drew nigh, and the people that were with him, unto the battle against the Syrians: and they fled before him.
14 And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled, then fled they also before Abishai, and entered into the city. So Joab returned from the children of Ammon, and came to Jerusalem.
15 And when the Syrians saw that they were smitten before Israel, they gathered themselves together.
16 And Hadarezer sent, and brought out the Syrians that were beyond the river: and they came to Helam; and Shobach the captain of the host of Hadarezer went before them.
17 And when it was told David, he gathered all Israel together, and passed over Jordan, and came to Helam. And the Syrians set themselves in array against David, and fought with him.
18 And the Syrians fled before Israel; and David slew the men of seven hundred chariots of the Syrians, and forty thousand horsemen, and smote Shobach the captain of their host, who died there.
19 And when all the kings that were servants to Hadarezer saw that they were smitten before Israel, they made peace with Israel, and served them. So the Syrians feared to help the children of Ammon any more.
That concludes our lesson for today. Come back tomorrow as we continue right along in the Bible. Have a great day and God bless!
What’s the first impression you want to give people?
What’s the first impression I want to give people? The first impression I want to give versus the first impression I tend to give are usually very different. I am an introverted person that cherishes peace and happiness, so naturally I keep to myself. My “watch and observe” personality tends to be perceived as snooty and stuck up. I want to give a good first impression but usually my awkwardness is received in the opposite manner.
What book are you reading right now?
I am usually a very active reader but lately I have been focusing on my writing. Because of this, I started this book at the beginning of the year and have yet to finish it. I am looking forward to reading Darling Asylum and it appears to be a very fascinating book from what I have read so far.
Join me as we dive into Father’s word.
Welcome back to another in-depth Bible study. If you’re just not stopping by I highly recommend going back to the beginning, Genesis 1:1. This is an in-depth Bible study that follows chapter by chapter, verse by verse, Genesis to Revelation.
II Samuel 8
1 And after this it came to pass, that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them: and David took Methegammah out of the hand of the Philistines.
2 And he smote Moab, and measured them with a line, casting them down to the ground; even with two lines measured he to put to death, and with one full line to keep alive. And so the Moabites became David’s servants, and brought gifts.
3 David smote also Hadadezer, the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his border at the river Euphrates.
4 And David took from him a thousand chariots, and seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen: and David houghed all the chariot horses, but reserved of them for an hundred chariots.
5 And when the Syrians of Damascus came to succour Hadadezer king of Zobah, David slew of the Syrians two and twenty thousand men.
6 Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus: and the Syrians became servants to David, and brought gifts. And the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went.
7 And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.
8 And from Betah, and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, king David took exceeding much brass.
9 When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had smitten all the host of Hadadezer,
10 Then Toi sent Joram his son unto king David, to salute him, and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer, and smitten him: for Hadadezer had wars with Toi. And Joram brought with him vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and vessels of brass:
11 Which also king David did dedicate unto the LORD, with the silver and gold that he had dedicated of all nations which he subdued;
12 Of Syria, and of Moab, and of the children of Ammon, and of the Philistines, and of Amalek, and of the spoil of Hadadezer, son of Rehob, king of Zobah.
13 And David gat him a name when he returned from smiting of the Syrians in the valley of salt, being eighteen thousand men.
14 And he put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom put he garrisons, and all they of Edom became David’s servants. And the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went.
15 And David reigned over all Israel; and David executed judgment and justice unto all his people.
16 And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder;
17 And Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, were the priests; and Seraiah was the scribe;
18 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over both the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David’s sons were chief rulers.
II Samuel 9
1 And David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may shew him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?
2 And there was of the house of Saul a servant whose name was Ziba. And when they had called him unto David, the king said unto him, Art thou Ziba? And he said, Thy servant is he.
3 And the king said, Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may shew the kindness of God unto him? And Ziba said unto the king, Jonathan hath yet a son, which is lame on his feet.
4 And the king said unto him, Where is he? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he is in the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, in Lodebar.
5 Then king David sent, and fetched him out of the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, from Lodebar.
6 Now when Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, was come unto David, he fell on his face, and did reverence. And David said, Mephibosheth. And he answered, Behold thy servant!
That concludes our lesson for today. Come back tomorrow as we continue right along in the Bible. Have a great day and God bless!
Welcome back to another in-depth Bible study. May you have listening ears and eyes that see. Join me as we dive into Father’s word.
II Samuel 7:15
15 But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee.
16 And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.
17 According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.
18 Then went king David in, and sat before the LORD, and he said, Who am I, O Lord GOD? and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?
19 And this was yet a small thing in thy sight, O Lord GOD; but thou hast spoken also of thy servant’s house for a great while to come. And is this the manner of man, O Lord GOD?
20 And what can David say more unto thee? for thou, Lord GOD, knowest thy servant.
21 For thy word’s sake, and according to thine own heart, hast thou done all these great things, to make thy servant know them.
22 Wherefore thou art great, O LORD God: for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.
23 And what one nation in the earth is like thy people, even like Israel, whom God went to redeem for a people to himself, and to make him a name, and to do for you great things and terrible, for thy land, before thy people, which thou redeemedst to thee from Egypt, from the nations and their gods?
24 For thou hast confirmed to thyself thy people Israel to be a people unto thee for ever: and thou, LORD, art become their God.
25 And now, O LORD God, the word that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant, and concerning his house, establish it for ever, and do as thou hast said.
26 And let thy name be magnified for ever, saying, The LORD of hosts is the God over Israel: and let the house of thy servant David be established before thee.
27 For thou, O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, hast revealed to thy servant, saying, I will build thee an house: therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer unto thee.
28 And now, O Lord GOD, thou art that God, and thy words be true, and thou hast promised this goodness unto thy servant:
29 Therefore now let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue for ever before thee: for thou, O Lord GOD, hast spoken it: and with thy blessing let the house of thy servant be blessed for ever.
That concludes our lesson for today. Come back tomorrow as we continue right along in the Bible. Have a great day and God bless!
If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?
If I could live anywhere in the world, where would it be? I would want to live in a location free of most if not all people. Far from the hustle and bustle of the city and its degrading lights. Far from the need of a clock to set my pace and direct my steps. Some tucked away with trees as my friends and animals as my trusted neighbors. Simple, worry free, emersed in a time and space of tranquility. Filled with an abundance of resources and overflowing with potential. This place, I have not found on this Earth through I have searched far and wide. Perhaps I will find it when Father returns.
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