I'm so glad you are here! I hope during your visit you get a glimpse of God's heart for we become what we are gazing at. I want to be a blessing to you so I've made these Resources available to you and have the Missional blog tab for practical ideas of how to live on mission right where you are. Currently I am writing my way through Judges sharing glimpses of God's heart and character for a weekday devotional. To check out the entire series so far head on over the the Judges Devotional. Strength through a Bone"As he approached Lehi, the Philistines came toward him shouting. The Spirit of the LORD came upon him in power. The ropes on his arms became like charred flax, and the bindings dropped from his hands. Finding a fresh jawbone of a donkey, he grabbed it and struck down a thousand men. Then Samson said, "With a donkey's jawbone I have made donkeys of them.With a donkey's jawbone I have killed a thousand men." Judges 15:14-16 Doesn't it seem like God likes to wait till the last minute to come through. This is a last minute if I ever saw one. Philistines coming toward Samson shouting, within earshot, wanting to kill him. I wonder if he could smell their leather and see the sweat on their faces? What would you be thinking and feeling if this was you? If you were being carried by 3,000 of your own people bound with rope to be delivered to people who wanted to kill you. I think I would be so scared I wouldn't be able to talk or move. But at the last minute God comes through and shows Himself able, shows Himself powerful and strong. It is super clear Samson's strength is not what defeated 1,000 people, it was the Holy Spirit. And seriously, what in the world did the 3,000 Israelites think? What would you think and feel? The guy they just handed over to the enemy breaks free and kills all 1,000 of the enemy right in front of their eyes, by himself, with a bone. Shocked, scared, confused? But what is super awesome is that this is the same Holy Spirit that lives in the believer, the person who has submitted their life to the Lord. The very same strength that is available to us. "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and self-discipline." 2 Tim. 1:7 Though we feel weak and unable, the Lord is not. Do you feel unable, weak, inadequate? The Lord is not and is able to strengthen you. He is looking throughout the whole earth to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is fully committed to him. 2 Chron.16:9 and really we are not adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God. 2 Cor. 3:5 God uses the weak to profound the wise and does really incredible things through people who are submitted to Him, yielded to His strength. Have you seen the three circles diagram? I believe this is one of the most important concepts a believer can really grasp and be able to explain to others. It literally is life changing. And what does God use to defeat 1,000? A donkey's jaw bone... a jaw bone! God doesn't need us to be anything spectacular to be someone He can use. Seriously, if He can use a jawbone, surely He can use a living, submitted, believer, who desires to please Him. He used a few fish and loaves to feed 5,000. He used a donkey to correct and speak truth. He can use you and me for His purposes. How encouraging is that! The Lord can, and will show Himself to be strong and powerful through our little vapor lives. If you've enjoyed this post will you share it? (The buttons at the bottom of the post make it super easy.) And PS, sorry about the picture of the jawbone. Kinda gross, but it helps give a visual that's for sure. And there was just not many beautiful, flowery jawbones online pictures available to choose from. ;) Faith Filled Friday Blog HopWe exist to glorify God, to display His heart and character. And I just love how we are all uniquely built to do that. So every Friday I want to give you, uniquely designed by God, an opportunity to link up your thoughts on God, devotionals, ministry as well as art, baking, photography, parenting or marriage thoughts and more if they tie into or display the the Lord somehow. So go ahead and link up below by clicking the link below and following the prompts. I just humbly ask that you please let your readers know by including a link at the bottom of your post (or somewhere on your side bar) or put my button code (found on my side bar or the Faith Filled Friday Tab) so they can find these other great people glorifying God and we can continue to grow as a community. Thanks! And why not tweet or tell your bloggy friends on facebook to join us? I'm linking up with Spiritual Sundays
45 Comments
3/15/2012 01:05:00 pm
Love you post Laura! I love the picture too. I need pictures and a visual reader. Have a blessed day!
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This made me think about when Samson's wife was threatened a few days ago and you discussed how things would have been different if she'd come to him and said they'd threatened to kill her family instead of being deceitful. I bet Samson could have done something like this then to those threatening his in-laws, and it would have stopped there instead of escalating to this.
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Isaiah 54:17 - the power of God in action, literally. I'm blessed enough not only to read about these amazing stories of God's mighty deliverances in the Bible but to hear them in the pulpit every week - in this time and age. For if they don't happen anymore as some people believe, has God changed over the ages?
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3/15/2012 11:23:16 pm
Love the photo illustration! Makes the lesson come alive!
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Thank you for this post Laura. I love knowing that "God doesn't need us to be anything spectacular to be someone He can use." I feel so unworthy sometimes when He asks things of me, but like you said, if He can use the jaw of a donkey, why can't I believe He can use me, His very creation? Great words to ponder on. Thanks again!
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3/16/2012 12:40:30 am
Hi Laura!
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Margaret! That is so awesome about birds making the nest uncomfortable! Wow, I didn't know that! That reminds me so much of the church in Acts. After awhile they started experiencing persecution and that is what actually caused them to scatter and take the message of the gospel to the world. God shaking's are a beautiful blessing arnt they!
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3/16/2012 05:19:11 am
Great post, Laura! He made man from a handful of dirt, but once we are indwelled by His Holy Spirit, we have access to all His power, glory, wisdom, and capacity for infinite love! Now, if we could only die to self and our sin nature, we could tap into all that completely. In the meantime, Praise God that He uses us just as we are!
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Ok seriously amazes me! That He is able to take dirt and make it a life giving. Wow.
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3/16/2012 06:12:47 am
There are times when God asks us to pick up something that appears gross, or harmful, but when we obey it turns into something beautiful and useful.
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3/16/2012 09:52:53 am
What is that in your hand? Often that is what God asks us to deal with.
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3/16/2012 06:17:55 pm
There's so much here that blessed me, Laura. So much God has already shown me in my life but of which my heart needs reminding. Like "The Lord can, and will show Himself to be strong and powerful through our little vapor lives." Like how He intervenes at that last minute (making clear that the victory is His alone). Etc. And you brought this alive so well. Thanking God for your love for His word and all you do here to share from it!
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JOSEPH
3/16/2012 06:53:00 pm
i cant tell you how much i have enjoyed this whole series on judges. thank you so much. just outstanding.
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3/16/2012 11:06:45 pm
Hi Laura! Bless you! I needed to hear this Word this week! Feeling not quite the deal to accomplish what is before me as I'm embarking on a new venture that only Faith Filled Seven Days a Week - and then some - will do. And, your jawbone photo is not gross - it is to the point. We are gross - and through God's Grace can anything of beauty and purpose be accomplished. For me, it is returning to my roots in Biblical Principle Approach Education starting a home school resource network called Constellation Academy - www.constellationacademyhsrn.blogspot.com. God birthed this work in my last fall after realizing that the bushel placed over my light in public education was quite welded in place. I can't remain in such a place when there are those fleeing the system and in need of what I know God has trained in me. It's a venture - but - this jawbone will do just fine wielded by the Lord for His purposes. Thanks so much for hosting - and your consistently sweet spirit.
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Hi Laura - This is Kathy from The Writer's Reverie posting my husband's devotional this week. I haven't given him the blog tutorials yet so he doesn't know the ins and outs of commenting and clicking the right places. All things in their time - I'm just thrilled that he decided to publish his musings in the Lord.
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