choices are for the Living

Choices are for the Living

1 Samuel 10:20-22, “When Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel near, the tribe of Benjamin was chosen.  Then he brought forward the tribe of Benjamin, clan by clan, and Matri’s clan was chosen.  Finally Saul son of Kish was chosen. But when they looked for him, he was not to be found.  So they inquired further of the Lord, “Has the man come here yet?”  And the Lord said, “Yes, he has hidden himself among the baggage.”

The first king was chosen by casting lots, flat stones carried by the high priest.  This might sound like Saul was chosen merely by happenstance but on the contrary, the Lord himself had instructed the Israelites to make the lots to determine decisions, so therefore God was taking the decisions out of their hands and putting in His own hand. What was really fascinating to me Readers, when I read the story in 1 Samuel 10:1, “Then Samuel took a flask of oil and poured it on Saul’s head and kissed him saying, “Has not the Lord anointed you leader over his inheritance?”  Then Samuel went on to say in verse 2 thru 7, “When you leave me today you will meet two men near Rachel’s tomb, at Zelzah on the border of Benjamin.  They will say to you, ‘The donkey you set out to look for has been found.  And now your father has stopped thinking about them and is worried about you.  He is asking, “What shall I do about my son?” Then you will go on from there until you reach the great tree of Tabor.  Three men going up to God at Bethel will meet you there.  One will be carrying three young goats, another three loaves of bread, and another a skin of wine.  They will greet you and offer you two loaves of bread, which you will accept from them.  After that you will go to Gibeah of God, where there is a Philistine outpost.  As you approach the town, you will meet a procession of prophets coming down from the high place with lyres, tambourines, flutes, and harps being played before them, and they will be prophesying.  The Spirit of the Lord will come upon you in power, and you will prophesy with them; and you will be changed into a different person.  Once these signs are fulfilled, do whatever your hand finds to do, for God is with you.”

Wow! Readers, how many of you heard the Lord calling you to do something powerful in His name?  He has sent sign after sign like he did for Saul a goat, bread, wine, prophets and even a band.  The Lord has told you where to go and what to do. He has anointed you King over that assignment, but where can you be found? Is it among the baggage?  You see Saul knew he had already been selected to be the king but when they called for him he was hiding among the baggage.

photo credit - rachellegardner.blogspot.com

Readers, can I be so bold to suggest that many of you are hiding behind the baggage of your past; your past mistakes, past failures, past hurts, and present fear.  God has already called you my friend according to Ephesians 2:10, “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”  2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old is gone, the new has come!” Samuel said, once these signs have been filled, do whatever your hands find to do because God is with you. Have you been hearing harps and flutes?  Samuel gave Saul many signs, what sign has God given you?

 I wonder how many times we have missed being an answer to someone else’s prayer due to our own insecurities coupled with excuses.  Did you notice God knew exactly where Saul was when someone asked in 1 Samuel 10:22, “Has the man come here yet?” And the Lord said, “Yes, he has hidden himself among the baggage.” You might be hiding from everyone else but you are not hidden from God. Once Saul came out, faced his fear he was generously accepted. What are you waiting for; today is the youngest you will ever be, today is the day to obey. Stop hiding behind the baggage of your past, you are so much more than what you were before Christ because you are a new creation, created to do good works prepared in advance for you to do.
Choices are for the living…Live among the baggage or step out and move on.

Today is the day to obey.

Stepping out and moving on.

Michele Davenport

For questions or prayers please email me at my new email address fbmin02@gmail.com

To order my book, “Ripened on the Vine” a story of survival and God’s grace or to listen to my teachings on audio visit our web page at  www.fbministries.com

choices are for the Living

Choices are for the Living

2 Corinthians 5:11-14 (Message Bible), “That keeps us vigilant, you can be sure.  It’s no light thing to know that we’ll all one day stand in the place of Judgment.  That’s why we work urgently with everyone we meet to get them ready to face God.  God alone knows how well we do this, but I hope you realize how much and how deeply we care. We’re not saying this to make ourselves look good to you.  We just thought it would make you feel good, proud even, that we’re on your side and not just nice to your face as so many people are. If I acted crazy, I did it for God; if I acted overly serious, I did it for you.  Christ’s love has moved me to such extremes.  His love has the first and last word in everything we do.”

Wow! Readers, What an awesome statement of truth; “If I acted crazy I did it for God, if I acted overly serious I did it for you.  Christ’s love has moved me to such extremes.”  I do believe this is what we need in the body of Christ, a move of extreme love, a crazy kind of love that moves us to be as serious about death as we are about life.  We spend much time preparing to live, planning, doing, and going, but what about death?  I  can hear some of you now getting all theological on me,” Michele you know as believers we really don’t ever die.” What I mean about death is the transition from this life to the next. Do we really care about the people who might not be going vertical?  Love must compel us it must move us to extremes.  When was the last time you told someone about Christ that was not already attending church?  When was the last time you acted crazy for your God? I don’t mean straight jacket crazy I mean out of your comfort level crazy. What might be crazy for me might not be crazy for you.  For an example I just finished teaching a bible study, “Outlive your Life,” by Max Lucado, the main focused was on the footprints we’re  leaving behind, and doing all things unto God. The point of our life is to point to His.  One of the examples in the book was; go to your local laundry mat and pay for people’s laundry, and fellowship with those we call strangers but whom the Lord calls His children. The mission is called, “Laundry Love.” “If I acted crazy, I did it for God.”  Church, isn’t it time we get a little crazy for Christ? Isn’t it time we get serious about Heaven?  You might be saying I am serious about heaven.  I have been serving God most of my life.  I mean get serious about other people going to heaven.  I mean letting Christ’s love move you to extremes.   

photo credit storypoint.info

Some of you are waiting on a word from God before you step a foot in the Jordan. Joshua 3:8 "When you reach the edge of the waters, "GO" and stand in the river." According to the NKJV God has told you 1487 times to "GO"!! What are you waiting on? When you start to "GO" the waters will stand in a heap. You don’t think this was crazy?  It was the rainy season, the Jordan was swelled high above the normal river size, but the priest obeyed. As they stuck one foot in the water the water stood up on its head. Wow!  What a great example of what God will do if we will pick up the ark of the covenant, which represented God’s presence and ,”GO”.  Love crazy for God, get serious about Vertical faith, and let Christ’s love move you to the extremes. Choices are for the living.

Michele Davenport

Dipping my toe in the Jordan expecting a miracle.

For prayer or praise reports please email me at my new email fbmin02@gmail.com

To order my book, “Ripened on the Vine,” true stories of my life or to listen to my teaching on, “Vertical Faith,” go to our web page www.fbministries.com

Choices are for the Living

Choices are for the Living

Luke 8:22-25, “One day Jesus said to His disciples, “Let’s go over to the other side of the lake.” So they got into the boat and set out.  As they sailed, he fell asleep.  A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger.  The disciples went and woke Him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!”  He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. “Where is your faith?” he asked His disciples.  In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this?” He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him.”

As I was pondering the scriptures above I noticed some obvious facts. The first fact I noticed was Jesus gave the disciples a word in verse 22, “Let’s go over to the other side of the lake.” The second fact that caught my eye was, they obeyed. “So they got into the boat and set out.”  But it was when they got into the boat their faith was challenged, “As they sailed He (Jesus) fell asleep.  A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger.”  Readers, sometimes its right after we make a decision to obey we find our greatest challenge.  After they were in great danger I noticed in verse 24, their faith was perishing, “The disciples went and woke Him saying, “Master, Master we’re going to drown.” Wow!  In the middle of their challenge they panic.  Jesus got up rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm fell asleep and all was calm according to verse 25.  Then Jesus looked at them and asked, “Where is your faith?” Still in verse 25, “In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the wind and the water, and they obey Him.”

photo credit - deafministries.com

 “Who is this?”  Remember they said this after Jesus had cast out a demon, heals Peter’s mother in law, provides a miraculous catch of fish, heals a man of leprosy, heals a paralyzed man, and heals a man’s hand that was shriveled up.  I know that Jesus didn’t pick the twelve until Luke 6 but they were certainly a witness to the astonishing acts of Jesus.  Then Jesus teaches about loving your enemies, criticizing others, fruit, and building your house.  Now I could leave it at this and it would be enough but there is more. After Jesus’ incredible teaching He raised a widow’s son from the dead, eases John’s doubt, teaches about the four soils, describes His true family, which is those who hear God’s Word and puts it to practice.  Lastly, Jesus calms the storm and its right after this when our eyes fall upon those famous words, “Who is this?”

  I remember a time when the doctors came to my husband and I and told us our oldest daughter had a rare blood disorder, that her blood was the blood of a dying child.  The Lord gave us a word through the prophet Isaiah, “And by His wounds we are healed.”  Then we stepped into the boat.  But as life would have it our faith was challenged, the doctors kept performing one test after another, but we refused to panic because our mentality was not “Who is this?”   Our mentality was we know who our God is He is Johavoah Jirah; my provider, Johovah Rapha; the Lord that heals, El Elyon; the most high, Johovah Shalom; the Lord is peace, Johovah Mekoddishkem;  the Lord who sanctifies you and Johovah Shammah; the Lord is there.   Listen Readers, we better know who God is and the power He carries through His name.  Many of you are going through your own trails even as your reading my column, but may I say to you; “Get a word from God, get in the boat, refuse to waiver, don’t panic, and watch your God calm the storm".

 Choices are for the Living

Hanging my red cord out the window so others can be saved

Michele Davenport

If you have a prayer request or questions please go to my new email fbmin02@gmail.com if you want to order my books “Ripened on the Vine”, a true story about my life, or “From My Heart to Yours Devotional” go to www.fbministries.com