Precious

I was watching a movie called "Precious" and it made me think about love... The movie takes the main character, named Precious, from a place of pain, despair and hardship to determination, relationships and love... From a life lived with no notion of love, she discovers that healthy relationships can make a difference in someone's life.

The things we do for love... the things we do to be a part of something bigger than ourselves... the things we do to belong. They don't always make sense, they don't always feel right, they are the choices we make.

Love means to put myself out there, love means to make mistakes, love means to admit that I don't have it altogether. Love means to remember that I am precious. Are you?

EED

Just a few notes...

Just a couple of notes and questions from the second book of Samuel...

2 Samuel 3:39- King David? Scared? Weak? "Where does my help come from?"

2 Samuel 5: 10- What is power? How do you get power? Can you ever get be truly powerful without having the Lord on your side?

2 Samuel 6: 22- Humility and worship from the King of Israel to the Higher power... Kind of answers my previous questions in reference to verse 2 Samuel 5:10

2 Samuel 7: 18- Who am I to receive such blessings from the Lord?
David then turns around, shares "God's kindness" with Jonathan's son, and gets asked the same question in 2 Samuel 9: 8. Yes, David made a pact with Jonathan, but I really think this is what happens to people after they personally experience God's touch: they turn around and extend the same touch, kindness, love to others...

EED

Begging for a new king

Interesting that my reading of the Old Testament led me to the book of Samuel as these uncertain times (at least uncertain for us, not for our Heavenly Father) unfold...

After years of fully relying on God (with some major and memorable bad decisions), the Israelites decided, or actually demanded to have a human king reign over them. Before the Israelites demanded their king, there were a few mentions in the book of Judges that God was the supreme authority, and the Israelites did NOT need a king to rule over them.

"In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit" Judges 21:25

Yet, they insisted, pleaded, cried and begged Samuel to ask God for a king!

[Before I move any further, I need to mention that Samuel is one of my heroes... Conceived as a response to Hannah's constant and faithful prayer, he was destined to be a servant to the Lord. I try to remember the following verse when I struggle with hearing the voice of the Lord:
"Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD : The word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him." 1 Samuel 3:7
Note to self: need to dedicate an entire post to Samuel...]

Now, back to the Israelites begging for a king... They were given fair warning... "Are you sure this is what you want?". This sounds a lot like me, trying to "make it happen"... So many times, I tried to run ahead of Him, thinking I could make it all by myself. It's easier to give myself credit for good things, than to thank God for everything He does for me EVERY single day. Hopefully, I am getting better at listening to warnings, especially when they are as specific as this one:

- "[When that day comes,] you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, and the LORD will not answer you in that day" 1 Samuel 8:18

Of course he answered the Israelites, of course He listened to their cries, of course He cares for me... Always cleaning up after me.

Thank you, Father.

EED