Month: April 2018

The Deal

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Hi Peeps,
Today’s Quote
“Improve your character flaws by allowing God to teach you how to deal with them more effectively, efficiently, and honestly.” ~ Jon Barnes

Cards

We are all dealt a hand of cards to use, exchange, and play out. These choices will bring about success or failure.  Your honest play is always the best choice since the dealer already knows what is in your hand before you play your card to make your move.  God is simply measuring your character, movement, and choice of actions in the cards that you play.  

Cheating

Cheating, stealing, and stacking the deck is forbidden and your every move is being watched, used, recorded, and documented. Your character flaws will improve based on your true belief in God and measure of faith.  People will notice the good work, steady focus, and positive cards that you play in your hand. breaking the rules is evil and a distraction to others that follow your lead, in which you will pay the great price.

Verdict

Judge yourself by God’s standards to make corrections in your faith and actions, before He judges you. Your last breath is your last card. Do not be a fool and wait until the last second, with dishonest intentions to trick God! It will not work. God will allow you to develop these burning, dishonest thoughts with your verdict in hell, along with your personal flaws of evil works and lack of faith and losing hand.
Today’s Question
Do you lack the faith in God, because you have no deal, connection, work ethic, and Godly experience? 
Enjoy The Reading

2 Samuel 4 

The Murder of Ishbosheth

4 When Ishbosheth,[a] Saul’s son, heard about Abner’s death at Hebron, he lost all courage, and all Israel became paralyzed with fear. 2 Now there were two brothers, Baanah and Recab, who were captains of Ishbosheth’s raiding parties. They were sons of Rimmon, a member of the tribe of Benjamin who lived in Beeroth. The town of Beeroth is now part of Benjamin’s territory 3 because the original people of Beeroth fled to Gittaim, where they still live as foreigners.
4 (Saul’s son Jonathan had a son named Mephibosheth,[b] who was crippled as a child. He was five years old when the report came from Jezreel that Saul and Jonathan had been killed in battle. When the child’s nurse heard the news, she picked him up and fled. But as she hurried away, she dropped him, and he became crippled.)
5 One day Recab and Baanah, the sons of Rimmon from Beeroth, went to Ishbosheth’s house around noon as he was taking his midday rest. 6 The doorkeeper, who had been sifting wheat, became drowsy and fell asleep. So Recab and Baanah slipped past her.[c] 7 They went into the house and found Ishbosheth sleeping on his bed. They struck and killed him and cut off his head. Then, taking his head with them, they fled across the Jordan Valley[d] through the night. 8 When they arrived at Hebron, they presented Ishbosheth’s head to David. “Look!” they exclaimed to the king. “Here is the head of Ishbosheth, the son of your enemy Saul who tried to kill you. Today the Lord has given my lord the king revenge on Saul and his entire family!”
9 But David said to Recab and Baanah, “The Lord, who saves me from all my enemies, is my witness. 10 Someone once told me, ‘Saul is dead,’ thinking he was bringing me good news. But I seized him and killed him at Ziklag. That’s the reward I gave him for his news! 11 How much more should I reward evil men who have killed an innocent man in his own house and on his own bed? Shouldn’t I hold you responsible for his blood and rid the earth of you?”
12 So David ordered his young men to kill them, and they did. They cut off their hands and feet and hung their bodies beside the pool in Hebron. Then they took Ishbosheth’s head and buried it in Abner’s tomb in Hebron.
Love,
Jonathan

Copies

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Hi Peeps,
Today’s Quote
“Your life is an original copy of which you can learn and do by studying from the Master, God!” ~ Jon Barnes

Ability

The ability you develop from being focused and obedient is part of the reward system and building of your love, faith, and work ethic. Balancing your abilities, talent, and common sense can be a challenge when you are copying the wrong things, based on intellect only. God teaches you how not to be greedy. Copy God’s qualities.

Execution

As your light shines, execute the fundamentals of faith, not the flashy, flickering, fake motions of attention seekers. Let the message and actions of God’s light teach your DNA to follow and copy God’s teaching style and soothing answers. When properly executed, peace and joy will follow your mature execution of God’s standards in His Spiritual Education in your life.

Exaltation

Your health, opportunities, and decisions will look like God is walking with you. Your choices and your faith will get the work done to maintain who you are in God. Let your light shine to exalt the love of God in all things you do and copy His perfect Will with obedience and trust. Find ways to help with kindness, forgiveness, and quality work ethics of faith in God, while copying the Original Author of our Faith. Read to copy and exalt God in all of your ways.
Today’s Question
When you shine a light on people, do they see your darkness instead?
 
Enjoy The Reading

2 Samuel 2 

David Anointed King of Judah

2 After this, David asked the Lord, “Should I move back to one of the towns of Judah?”
“Yes,” the Lord replied.
Then David asked, “Which town should I go to?”
“To Hebron,” the Lord answered.
2 David’s two wives were Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal from Carmel. So David and his wives 3 and his men and their families all moved to Judah, and they settled in the villages near Hebron. 4 Then the men of Judah came to David and anointed him king over the people of Judah.
When David heard that the men of Jabesh-gilead had buried Saul, 5 he sent them this message: “May the Lord bless you for being so loyal to your master Saul and giving him a decent burial. 6 May the Lord be loyal to you in return and reward you with his unfailing love! And I, too, will reward you for what you have done. 7 Now that Saul is dead, I ask you to be my strong and loyal subjects like the people of Judah, who have anointed me as their new king.”

Ishbosheth Proclaimed King of Israel

8 But Abner son of Ner, the commander of Saul’s army, had already gone to Mahanaim with Saul’s son Ishbosheth.[a] 9 There he proclaimed Ishbosheth king over Gilead, Jezreel, Ephraim, Benjamin, the land of the Ashurites, and all the rest of Israel.
10 Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, was forty years old when he became king, and he ruled from Mahanaim for two years. Meanwhile, the people of Judah remained loyal to David. 11 David made Hebron his capital, and he ruled as king of Judah for seven and a half years.

War between Israel and Judah

12 One day Abner led Ishbosheth’s troops from Mahanaim to Gibeon. 13 About the same time, Joab son of Zeruiah led David’s troops out and met them at the pool of Gibeon. The two groups sat down there, facing each other from opposite sides of the pool.
14 Then Abner suggested to Joab, “Let’s have a few of our warriors fight hand to hand here in front of us.”
“All right,” Joab agreed. 15 So twelve men were chosen to fight from each side—twelve men of Benjamin representing Ishbosheth son of Saul, and twelve representing David. 16 Each one grabbed his opponent by the hair and thrust his sword into the other’s side so that all of them died. So this place at Gibeon has been known ever since as the Field of Swords.[b]
17 A fierce battle followed that day, and Abner and the men of Israel were defeated by the forces of David.

The Death of Asahel

18 Joab, Abishai, and Asahel—the three sons of Zeruiah—were among David’s forces that day. Asahel could run like a gazelle, 19 and he began chasing Abner. He pursued him relentlessly, not stopping for anything. 20 When Abner looked back and saw him coming, he called out, “Is that you, Asahel?”
“Yes, it is,” he replied.
21 “Go fight someone else!” Abner warned. “Take on one of the younger men, and strip him of his weapons.” But Asahel kept right on chasing Abner.
22 Again Abner shouted to him, “Get away from here! I don’t want to kill you. How could I ever face your brother Joab again?”
23 But Asahel refused to turn back, so Abner thrust the butt end of his spear through Asahel’s stomach, and the spear came out through his back. He stumbled to the ground and died there. And everyone who came by that spot stopped and stood still when they saw Asahel lying there.
24 When Joab and Abishai found out what had happened, they set out after Abner. The sun was just going down as they arrived at the hill of Ammah near Giah, along the road to the wilderness of Gibeon. 25 Abner’s troops from the tribe of Benjamin regrouped there at the top of the hill to take a stand.
26 Abner shouted down to Joab, “Must we always be killing each other? Don’t you realize that bitterness is the only result? When will you call off your men from chasing their Israelite brothers?”
27 Then Joab said, “God only knows what would have happened if you hadn’t spoken, for we would have chased you all night if necessary.” 28 So Joab blew the ram’s horn, and his men stopped chasing the troops of Israel.
29 All that night Abner and his men retreated through the Jordan Valley.[c] They crossed the Jordan River, traveling all through the morning,[d] and didn’t stop until they arrived at Mahanaim.
30 Meanwhile, Joab and his men also returned home. When Joab counted his casualties, he discovered that only 19 men were missing in addition to Asahel.31 But 360 of Abner’s men had been killed, all from the tribe of Benjamin. 32 Joab and his men took Asahel’s body to Bethlehem and buried him there in his father’s tomb. Then they traveled all night and reached Hebron at daybreak.
Love,
Jonathan

The Pusher

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Hi Peeps,
Today’s Quote
“Our experiences and God’s Word are used to prepare, push and provoke the growth of our faith and work in the Kingdom of God, not your agenda, pride, or ego.” ~ Jon Barnes

Pushes

People who place priority on the plans of God are pushed forward into their dreams and realities of God’s Purpose for their lives. They push themselves up the steps of righteousness to show others how to climb. These stories also show what it is like to fall down the steep steps of God when you are selfish, disobedient, and careless about God’s directions and commandments.

Posts

The bible posts these wonderful stories so that you push through your personal experiences, to visualize your character and actions within God’s Word, Stories, Psalms, and Lifestyle. Help people in your family to develop their faith by not being a hypocrite with the Word of God.  Let the simplicity of your movements be full of God’s purpose and peeks of love.

Peeks

Push to the peeks of your faith to show, share, and teach the steps in your work and perks of obedience, due diligence, and delivery of God’s methods. Peek the interest of your loved ones by doing good things with your faith, allowing them to see, imitate, and believe the handy work of God. Develop, manage, and push your time, actions, and faith as a blessing and not a curse.
Today’s Question
Are you using or pushing your talent into a blessing or a curse?
Enjoy The Reading

2 Samuel 1 

David Learns of Saul’s Death

1 After the death of Saul, David returned from his victory over the Amalekites and spent two days in Ziklag. 2 On the third day a man arrived from Saul’s army camp. He had torn his clothes and put dirt on his head to show that he was in mourning. He fell to the ground before David in deep respect.
3 “Where have you come from?” David asked.
“I escaped from the Israelite camp,” the man replied.
4 “What happened?” David demanded. “Tell me how the battle went.”
The man replied, “Our entire army fled from the battle. Many of the men are dead, and Saul and his son Jonathan are also dead.”
5 “How do you know Saul and Jonathan are dead?” David demanded of the young man.
6 The man answered, “I happened to be on Mount Gilboa, and there was Saul leaning on his spear with the enemy chariots and charioteers closing in on him.7 When he turned and saw me, he cried out for me to come to him. ‘How can I help?’ I asked him.
8 “He responded, ‘Who are you?’
“‘I am an Amalekite,’ I told him.
9 “Then he begged me, ‘Come over here and put me out of my misery, for I am in terrible pain and want to die.’
10 “So I killed him,” the Amalekite told David, “for I knew he couldn’t live. Then I took his crown and his armband, and I have brought them here to you, my lord.”
11 David and his men tore their clothes in sorrow when they heard the news.12 They mourned and wept and fasted all day for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the Lord’s army and the nation of Israel, because they had died by the sword that day.
13 Then David said to the young man who had brought the news, “Where are you from?”
And he replied, “I am a foreigner, an Amalekite, who lives in your land.”
14 “Why were you not afraid to kill the Lord’s anointed one?” David asked.
15 Then David said to one of his men, “Kill him!” So the man thrust his sword into the Amalekite and killed him. 16 “You have condemned yourself,” David said, “for you yourself confessed that you killed the Lord’s anointed one.”

David’s Song for Saul and Jonathan

17 Then David composed a funeral song for Saul and Jonathan, 18 and he commanded that it be taught to the people of Judah. It is known as the Song of the Bow, and it is recorded in The Book of Jashar.[a]
19 Your pride and joy, O Israel, lies dead on the hills!
    Oh, how the mighty heroes have fallen!
20 Don’t announce the news in Gath,
    don’t proclaim it in the streets of Ashkelon,
or the daughters of the Philistines will rejoice
    and the pagans will laugh in triumph.
21 O mountains of Gilboa,
    let there be no dew or rain upon you,
    nor fruitful fields producing offerings of grain.[b]
For there the shield of the mighty heroes was defiled;
    the shield of Saul will no longer be anointed with oil.
22 The bow of Jonathan was powerful,
    and the sword of Saul did its mighty work.
They shed the blood of their enemies
    and pierced the bodies of mighty heroes.
23 How beloved and gracious were Saul and Jonathan!
    They were together in life and in death.
They were swifter than eagles,
    stronger than lions.
24 O women of Israel, weep for Saul,
for he dressed you in luxurious scarlet clothing,
    in garments decorated with gold.
25 Oh, how the mighty heroes have fallen in battle!
    Jonathan lies dead on the hills.
26 How I weep for you, my brother Jonathan!
    Oh, how much I loved you!
And your love for me was deep,
    deeper than the love of women!
27 Oh, how the mighty heroes have fallen!
    Stripped of their weapons, they lie dead.
 
Love,
 
Jonathan

Painting

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Hi Peeps,
Today’s Quote
“When every cell in your body is absorbing and responding to the holy painted pen of faith in the scriptures from the bible, your house of prayer communicates with God and meditates on His Will, from a subatomic, physical, and spiritual level.” ~ Jon Barnes

Life

Your prayer life is the sum total of faith in actions from your obedience to God and not just saying empty words without meaning. Lies, greed, evil thoughts, lust, sin, and selfish actions have no spiritual content, value, meaning or hope in God. Your life becomes humbled when you think about God, His Commandments, stories, and lifestyle.  As a result, your faith works and evil troublemakers are rebuked.

Faith

You must believe that all things are known and perceived by God and you must have the faith to live by humility and prayer so that your motives are focused, heard, felt, and connected by your faith in God. Your lack of focus to take the time in reading and studying the scriptures paints a weakness in your faith and effectiveness to share the love with others. Be prepared, because you will always be tested.

Mercy

May God give us mercy and grace to read, listen, hear, do, and pray His Will, blessings, and purpose into our lives and into the world. Mercy helps us to care about the person next to yourself and your actions are the direct answers to their prayers. If you connect your mind and mouth to God in prayer as you speak and do things for people, Enjoy the fruit of your actions. This grace is active faith in prayer, pure mercy without ceasing.
Today’s Question
Did you finish your painting job or is your heart falling apart?
Enjoy The Reading
 

1 Samuel 31 

The Death of Saul

31 Now the Philistines attacked Israel, and the men of Israel fled before them. Many were slaughtered on the slopes of Mount Gilboa. 2 The Philistines closed in on Saul and his sons, and they killed three of his sons—Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malkishua. 3 The fighting grew very fierce around Saul, and the Philistine archers caught up with him and wounded him severely.
4 Saul groaned to his armor bearer, “Take your sword and kill me before these pagan Philistines come to run me through and taunt and torture me.”
But his armor bearer was afraid and would not do it. So Saul took his own sword and fell on it. 5 When his armor bearer realized that Saul was dead, he fell on his own sword and died beside the king. 6 So Saul, his three sons, his armor bearer, and his troops all died together that same day.
7 When the Israelites on the other side of the Jezreel Valley and beyond the Jordan saw that the Israelite army had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned their towns and fled. So the Philistines moved in and occupied their towns.
8 The next day, when the Philistines went out to strip the dead, they found the bodies of Saul and his three sons on Mount Gilboa. 9 So they cut off Saul’s head and stripped off his armor. Then they proclaimed the good news of Saul’s death in their pagan temple and to the people throughout the land of Philistia. 10 They placed his armor in the temple of the Ashtoreths, and they fastened his body to the wall of the city of Beth-shan.
11 But when the people of Jabesh-gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul, 12 all their mighty warriors traveled through the night to Beth-shan and took the bodies of Saul and his sons down from the wall. They brought them to Jabesh, where they burned the bodies. 13 Then they took their bones and buried them beneath the tamarisk tree at Jabesh, and they fasted for seven days.
Love,
Jonathan

Error

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Hi Peeps,
Today’s Quote
“Error messages pop up from God all of the time, but if we do not listen, read, or look at the lessons and solutions to our problems, we continue in error in our hearts.” ~ Jon Barnes

Message

God gives us solutions in our messages and circumstances. When we pay attention to the lesson plan, our answers are plain and simple. Following Gods plans are rewarding and complete, which builds up our faith, love, and service in the Lord. Read, practice, listen, and perform the work needed along with your faith and reduce the number of error messages in each day.

Programming

Follow God’s programming and watch the channels he provides naturally in your life. There is no need to watch TV and computer programming all of the time. Minimize your distractions and enjoy the hand of God upon your work.

Corrections

Gently give information, corrections, and words of wisdom, as we share God’s error messages and program formats. Consider when you made silly mistakes and errors as a babe in Christ.  Mature people are needed to share real experiences and winning solutions that have been battle tested with works of faith. Do not pass on your errors as facts to be a stumbling block for others.
Today’s Question
Did you read and fix all of your error messages from your Bible reading?
Enjoy The Reading

1 Samuel 30 

David Destroys the Amalekites

30 Three days later, when David and his men arrived home at their town of Ziklag, they found that the Amalekites had made a raid into the Negev and Ziklag; they had crushed Ziklag and burned it to the ground. 2 They had carried off the women and children and everyone else but without killing anyone.
3 When David and his men saw the ruins and realized what had happened to their families, 4 they wept until they could weep no more. 5 David’s two wives, Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal from Carmel, were among those captured. 6 David was now in great danger because all his men were very bitter about losing their sons and daughters, and they began to talk of stoning him. But David found strength in the Lord his God.
7 Then he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring me the ephod!” So Abiathar brought it. 8 Then David asked the Lord, “Should I chase after this band of raiders? Will I catch them?”
And the Lord told him, “Yes, go after them. You will surely recover everything that was taken from you!”
9 So David and his 600 men set out, and they came to the brook Besor. 10 But 200 of the men were too exhausted to cross the brook, so David continued the pursuit with 400 men.
11 Along the way they found an Egyptian man in a field and brought him to David. They gave him some bread to eat and water to drink. 12 They also gave him part of a fig cake and two clusters of raisins, for he hadn’t had anything to eat or drink for three days and nights. Before long his strength returned.
13 “To whom do you belong, and where do you come from?” David asked him.
“I am an Egyptian—the slave of an Amalekite,” he replied. “My master abandoned me three days ago because I was sick. 14 We were on our way back from raiding the Kerethites in the Negev, the territory of Judah, and the land of Caleb, and we had just burned Ziklag.”
15 “Will you lead me to this band of raiders?” David asked.
The young man replied, “If you take an oath in God’s name that you will not kill me or give me back to my master, then I will guide you to them.”
16 So he led David to them, and they found the Amalekites spread out across the fields, eating and drinking and dancing with joy because of the vast amount of plunder they had taken from the Philistines and the land of Judah. 17 David and his men rushed in among them and slaughtered them throughout that night and the entire next day until evening. None of the Amalekites escaped except 400 young men who fled on camels. 18 David got back everything the Amalekites had taken, and he rescued his two wives. 19 Nothing was missing: small or great, son or daughter, nor anything else that had been taken. David brought everything back.20 He also recovered all the flocks and herds, and his men drove them ahead of the other livestock. “This plunder belongs to David!” they said.
21 Then David returned to the brook Besor and met up with the 200 men who had been left behind because they were too exhausted to go with him. They went out to meet David and his men, and David greeted them joyfully. 22 But some evil troublemakers among David’s men said, “They didn’t go with us, so they can’t have any of the plunder we recovered. Give them their wives and children, and tell them to be gone.”
23 But David said, “No, my brothers! Don’t be selfish with what the Lord has given us. He has kept us safe and helped us defeat the band of raiders that attacked us.24 Who will listen when you talk like this? We share and share alike—those who go to battle and those who guard the equipment.” 25 From then on David made this a decree and regulation for Israel, and it is still followed today.
26 When he arrived at Ziklag, David sent part of the plunder to the elders of Judah, who were his friends. “Here is a present for you, taken from the Lord’s enemies,” he said.
27 The gifts were sent to the people of the following towns David had visited: Bethel, Ramoth-negev, Jattir, 28 Aroer, Siphmoth, Eshtemoa, 29 Racal,[a] the towns of the Jerahmeelites, the towns of the Kenites, 30 Hormah, Bor-ashan, Athach,31 Hebron, and all the other places David and his men had visited.
Love,
Jonathan

Relief

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Hi Peeps,
Today’s Quote
“It is a pleasure to see the fruits of your hard work in progress ripen with maturity, patience, sweat, and tears when no one is around to see you doing the work!” ~ Jon Barnes

Tension

As your muscles flex they become tense so that you can engage in the work needed for your assignment.  This daily exercise pushes you forward with plans and assignments to complete. Tension and release are required to maximize efficiency and balance, whereas laziness is constantly at rest, looking at everyone else doing the work.

Effort

There are many ways to apply good effort and it is up to you to find which application fits your work ethic. Something positive must be accomplished by your hands if you want to grow, develop, and mature. When no effort is applied, your muscles shrivel up and die. Work time is not relaxation time and too many people are doing careless work, wanting to get paid for bad service and quality.

Relaxation

People who love God and their work will live by faith and not by their talent and money. Relax in the joy of the Lord and your work will seem like playing at the park.  God always supplies the equipment and means to work in his fields. Be relieved that God is just and true to His Work and honors His Laborers with ripped fruit.
Today’s Question
Are you a Laborer or a Liar?
 

1 Samuel 29 

The Philistines Reject David

29 The entire Philistine army now mobilized at Aphek, and the Israelites camped at the spring in Jezreel. 2 As the Philistine rulers were leading out their troops in groups of hundreds and thousands, David and his men marched at the rear with King Achish. 3 But the Philistine commanders demanded, “What are these Hebrews doing here?”
And Achish told them, “This is David, the servant of King Saul of Israel. He’s been with me for years, and I’ve never found a single fault in him from the day he arrived until today.”
4 But the Philistine commanders were angry. “Send him back to the town you’ve given him!” they demanded. “He can’t go into the battle with us. What if he turns against us in battle and becomes our adversary? Is there any better way for him to reconcile himself with his master than by handing our heads over to him? 5 Isn’t this the same David about whom the women of Israel sing in their dances,
‘Saul has killed his thousands,
    and David his ten thousands’?”
6 So Achish finally summoned David and said to him, “I swear by the Lord that you have been a trustworthy ally. I think you should go with me into battle, for I’ve never found a single flaw in you from the day you arrived until today. But the other Philistine rulers won’t hear of it. 7 Please don’t upset them, but go back quietly.”
8 “What have I done to deserve this treatment?” David demanded. “What have you ever found in your servant, that I can’t go and fight the enemies of my lord the king?”
9 But Achish insisted, “As far as I’m concerned, you’re as perfect as an angel of God. But the Philistine commanders are afraid to have you with them in the battle.10 Now get up early in the morning, and leave with your men as soon as it gets light.”
11 So David and his men headed back into the land of the Philistines, while the Philistine army went on to Jezreel.
Love,
Jonathan

Painful

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Hi Peeps,
Today’s Quote
“It can be painful for a teacher to allow students to learn and discover the truth with hands-on experience and supervised practical applications.” ~ Jon Barnes

Process

Listening to how others learn, process, and develop God’s information is a blessing that goes beyond intelligence. Students often teach teachers new concepts and methods to teach with, since we all keep learning new things every day, as lifelong learners. God gives us the opportunity to read, pray, and play with these concepts, stories, and commandments all the time, when we have a relationship with Him.

Developmental

Good relationships are developed over time and the work involved can be enormously rewarding when all parties are working, living, and loving together in one accord. Problems arise when there is an evil person in the camp who wants to lie, cheat, and steal everything for themselves. Wicked people are interested in developing evil slaves and good people are interested in developing good, lifelong friendship and relationships.

Deliverance

God helps me to remove my selfish thoughts, as a stumbling block to myself, so that I may give to help others in need. Then God supplies me with opportunities and blessing to feed my family above and beyond my expectations and desires. I am blown away by His Mercy, Grace, and Kindness. I just show up to the playground each and every day to hang out with God, who is there waiting for me.
Today’s Question
Who are you playing with at the playground or are you painfully hiding in darkness?
Enjoy The Reading

1 Samuel 28 

Saul Consults a Medium

28 About that time the Philistines mustered their armies for another war with Israel. King Achish told David, “You and your men will be expected to join me in battle.”
2 “Very well!” David agreed. “Now you will see for yourself what we can do.”
Then Achish told David, “I will make you my personal bodyguard for life.”
3 Meanwhile, Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him. He was buried in Ramah, his hometown. And Saul had banned from the land of Israel all mediums and those who consult the spirits of the dead.
4 The Philistines set up their camp at Shunem, and Saul gathered all the army of Israel and camped at Gilboa. 5 When Saul saw the vast Philistine army, he became frantic with fear. 6 He asked the Lord what he should do, but the Lord refused to answer him, either by dreams or by sacred lots[a] or by the prophets. 7 Saul then said to his advisers, “Find a woman who is a medium, so I can go and ask her what to do.”
His advisers replied, “There is a medium at Endor.”
8 So Saul disguised himself by wearing ordinary clothing instead of his royal robes. Then he went to the woman’s home at night, accompanied by two of his men.
“I have to talk to a man who has died,” he said. “Will you call up his spirit for me?”
9 “Are you trying to get me killed?” the woman demanded. “You know that Saul has outlawed all the mediums and all who consult the spirits of the dead. Why are you setting a trap for me?”
10 But Saul took an oath in the name of the Lord and promised, “As surely as the Lord lives, nothing bad will happen to you for doing this.”
11 Finally, the woman said, “Well, whose spirit do you want me to call up?”
“Call up Samuel,” Saul replied.
12 When the woman saw Samuel, she screamed, “You’ve deceived me! You are Saul!”
13 “Don’t be afraid!” the king told her. “What do you see?”
“I see a god[b] coming up out of the earth,” she said.
14 “What does he look like?” Saul asked.
“He is an old man wrapped in a robe,” she replied. Saul realized it was Samuel, and he fell to the ground before him.
15 “Why have you disturbed me by calling me back?” Samuel asked Saul.
“Because I am in deep trouble,” Saul replied. “The Philistines are at war with me, and God has left me and won’t reply by prophets or dreams. So I have called for you to tell me what to do.”
16 But Samuel replied, “Why ask me, since the Lord has left you and has become your enemy? 17 The Lord has done just as he said he would. He has torn the kingdom from you and given it to your rival, David. 18 The Lord has done this to you today because you refused to carry out his fierce anger against the Amalekites. 19 What’s more, the Lord will hand you and the army of Israel over to the Philistines tomorrow, and you and your sons will be here with me. The Lord will bring down the entire army of Israel in defeat.”
20 Saul fell full length on the ground, paralyzed with fright because of Samuel’s words. He was also faint with hunger, for he had eaten nothing all day and all night.
21 When the woman saw how distraught he was, she said, “Sir, I obeyed your command at the risk of my life. 22 Now do what I say, and let me give you a little something to eat so you can regain your strength for the trip back.”
23 But Saul refused to eat anything. Then his advisers joined the woman in urging him to eat, so he finally yielded and got up from the ground and sat on the couch.
24 The woman had been fattening a calf, so she hurried out and killed it. She took some flour, kneaded it into dough and baked unleavened bread. 25 She brought the meal to Saul and his advisers, and they ate it. Then they went out into the night.
Love,
Jonathan

Maturity Matters

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Maturity
Hi Peeps,
Today’s Quote
“When you allow God’s Will and purpose for your life to override your own personal feelings of selfishness and entitlements of choice, blessings will flow from you to others you meet, especially your family.” ~ Jon Barnes

Fruitful Few

God’s love flows through you and what you do for others is a spiritual blessing that can last for eternity. The fruitful few that will be allowed into Heaven will do the Will of God by following the instructions and commandments of Love. Understanding is made clear each time you step into God’s presence of love, peace, and joy. 

Biblical Battle

The spiritual battle of the heart, body, and soul supernaturally regulates and rules the physical steps in our lives.The hand of God is guiding you at every turn and you count all of your experiences as joy, because of God’s hand, not your own hand. Count your obedience as joy, because God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek His ways, wisdom, and works of faith to implement into their daily lives.

Self-Deception

It is better to die standing up with God in your faith than to stand against God in your foolishness and lies.  Many people will believe their own lies and not the Word of God, allowing their self-deception to take them to hell. The truth of love is simple, direct, truthful, and honest when we live by faith and not by sight.
Today’s Question
Can others see and follow the flow of God’s hand on your mature lifestyle of obedience and simplicity in God?
Enjoy The Reading
 

1 Samuel 27 

David among the Philistines

27 But David kept thinking to himself, “Someday Saul is going to get me. The best thing I can do is escape to the Philistines. Then Saul will stop hunting for me in Israelite territory, and I will finally be safe.”
2 So David took his 600 men and went over and joined Achish son of Maoch, the king of Gath. 3 David and his men and their families settled there with Achish at Gath. David brought his two wives along with him—Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail, Nabal’s widow from Carmel. 4 Word soon reached Saul that David had fled to Gath, so he stopped hunting for him.
5 One day David said to Achish, “If it is all right with you, we would rather live in one of the country towns instead of here in the royal city.”
6 So Achish gave him the town of Ziklag (which still belongs to the kings of Judah to this day),7 and they lived there among the Philistines for a year and four months.
8 David and his men spent their time raiding the Geshurites, the Girzites, and the Amalekites—people who had lived near Shur, toward the land of Egypt, since ancient times. 9 David did not leave one person alive in the villages he attacked. He took the sheep, goats, cattle, donkeys, camels, and clothing before returning home to see King Achish.
10 “Where did you make your raid today?” Achish would ask.
And David would reply, “Against the south of Judah, the Jerahmeelites, and the Kenites.”
11 No one was left alive to come to Gath and tell where he had really been. This happened again and again while he was living among the Philistines. 12 Achish believed David and thought to himself, “By now the people of Israel must hate him bitterly. Now he will have to stay here and serve me forever!”
Love,
Jonathan

The Clog

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Hi Peeps,
Today’s Quote
“Sin clogs the spiritual arteries in your heart and prevents God from saving your soul from hell, based on your behavior of choice.” ~ Jon Barnes

The devil

The devil didn’t make you do anything. You are your worst enemy with wicked ideas and evil intentions. Your nasty behavior is what gives satan power against your life. Own up to your personal choices, since, the blame game doesn’t work and your heart, life, and mind are your own to choose the destination of your soul. The devil would prefer that you spend the remaining time of eternity with him, by not choosing heaven as your home with God.

Unclog

Unclog your heart with the Holy Spirit and you will walk with God in Spirit and in truth.  Your actions will line up with justice, equality, purpose, and freedom.  The liberty of choice is a gift from God as is the solution of repentance with the salvation of the resurrection of Christ. The blood of Christ unclogs the and replaces the sinful ways blocking faith and good works in your life.

The Flow

Enjoy the flow of freedom to follow righteousness into eternity, because of your obedience and willingness to do what God asks. Death is not a sentence, it is a reality.  Heaven and hell are eternal realities that only God can judge and place upon your final resting place. Flow with God and He will flow with you. Reject God and He will reject you!
Today’s Question
Do you think you can “by-pass” medical terms for salvation?
Enjoy The Reading

1 Samuel 26 

David Spares Saul Again

26 Now some men from Ziph came to Saul at Gibeah to tell him, “David is hiding on the hill of Hakilah, which overlooks Jeshimon.”
2 So Saul took 3,000 of Israel’s elite troops and went to hunt him down in the wilderness of Ziph. 3 Saul camped along the road beside the hill of Hakilah, near Jeshimon, where David was hiding. When David learned that Saul had come after him into the wilderness, 4 he sent out spies to verify the report of Saul’s arrival.
5 David slipped over to Saul’s camp one night to look around. Saul and Abner son of Ner, the commander of his army, were sleeping inside a ring formed by the slumbering warriors.6 “Who will volunteer to go in there with me?” David asked Ahimelech the Hittite and Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother.
“I’ll go with you,” Abishai replied. 7 So David and Abishai went right into Saul’s camp and found him asleep, with his spear stuck in the ground beside his head. Abner and the soldiers were lying asleep around him.
8 “God has surely handed your enemy over to you this time!” Abishai whispered to David. “Let me pin him to the ground with one thrust of the spear; I won’t need to strike twice!”
9 “No!” David said. “Don’t kill him. For who can remain innocent after attacking the Lord’s anointed one? 10 Surely the Lord will strike Saul down someday, or he will die of old age or in battle. 11 The Lord forbid that I should kill the one he has anointed! But take his spear and that jug of water beside his head, and then let’s get out of here!”
12 So David took the spear and jug of water that were near Saul’s head. Then he and Abishai got away without anyone seeing them or even waking up, because the Lord had put Saul’s men into a deep sleep.
13 David climbed the hill opposite the camp until he was at a safe distance. 14 Then he shouted down to the soldiers and to Abner son of Ner, “Wake up, Abner!”
“Who is it?” Abner demanded.
15 “Well, Abner, you’re a great man, aren’t you?” David taunted. “Where in all Israel is there anyone as mighty? So why haven’t you guarded your master the king when someone came to kill him? 16 This isn’t good at all! I swear by the Lord that you and your men deserve to die, because you failed to protect your master, the Lord’s anointed! Look around! Where are the king’s spear and the jug of water that were beside his head?”
17 Saul recognized David’s voice and called out, “Is that you, my son David?”
And David replied, “Yes, my lord the king. 18 Why are you chasing me? What have I done? What is my crime? 19 But now let my lord the king listen to his servant. If the Lord has stirred you up against me, then let him accept my offering. But if this is simply a human scheme, then may those involved be cursed by the Lord. For they have driven me from my home, so I can no longer live among the Lord’s people, and they have said, ‘Go, worship pagan gods.’20 Must I die on foreign soil, far from the presence of the Lord? Why has the king of Israel come out to search for a single flea? Why does he hunt me down like a partridge on the mountains?”
21 Then Saul confessed, “I have sinned. Come back home, my son, and I will no longer try to harm you, for you valued my life today. I have been a fool and very, very wrong.”
22 “Here is your spear, O king,” David replied. “Let one of your young men come over and get it. 23 The Lord gives his own reward for doing good and for being loyal, and I refused to kill you even when the Lord placed you in my power, for you are the Lord’s anointed one. 24 Now may the Lord value my life, even as I have valued yours today. May he rescue me from all my troubles.”
25 And Saul said to David, “Blessings on you, my son David. You will do many heroic deeds, and you will surely succeed.” Then David went away, and Saul returned home.
Love,
Jonathan

Refuse

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Hi Peeps,
Today’s Quote
“Refuse to do evil or behave wickedly, since God can see and hear your every thought and deed.” ~ Jon Barnes 

Wicked

Use kind words and good works to change your own wicked behavior and you will learn how to help others improve their own problems. Being right with soft and humble answers is as important as an evil person repenting for their sins. By the grace of God, we all go, live, breath and have our being and intellect, which allows our hearts and thoughts to have an opportunity and method of repentance.

Talk

Your talk, faith, and walk with God will inspire others each day when you pour your own life into the hands of God with all you have. Then God will heal your family and people all around you because of your obedience and not your intellectual sacrifices. Spiritual talk and walk require humility, long-suffering, meekness, kindness, love patience, fairness, and justice from God, through your heart, life, mouth, hands, and work. Indeed, God will bless you with honor and rewards in heaven, forever.

Indeed

You will have your honor and rewards here on earth as a show before people, which will profit you little. Praying in your closet, doing the Will of God, and keeping your mouth closed will move the hand of God and help the lives of many people. After listening, reading, thinking, and meditating,    God will show or tell you what to do. Your honest efforts and motives will become reality in your daily practice of love and devotion to your faith, good work, and commitment to God. Refuse wicked talk and selfish deeds.
Today’s Question
Have you stepped out of line with God?
Enjoy The Reading

1 Samuel 25 

The Death of Samuel

25 Now Samuel died, and all Israel gathered for his funeral. They buried him at his house in Ramah.

Nabal Angers David

Then David moved down to the wilderness of Maon.[a] 2 There was a wealthy man from Maon who owned property near the town of Carmel. He had 3,000 sheep and 1,000 goats, and it was sheep-shearing time. 3 This man’s name was Nabal, and his wife, Abigail, was a sensible and beautiful woman. But Nabal, a descendant of Caleb, was crude and mean in all his dealings.
4 When David heard that Nabal was shearing his sheep, 5 he sent ten of his young men to Carmel with this message for Nabal: 6 “Peace and prosperity to you, your family, and everything you own! 7 I am told that it is sheep-shearing time. While your shepherds stayed among us near Carmel, we never harmed them, and nothing was ever stolen from them.8 Ask your own men, and they will tell you this is true. So would you be kind to us, since we have come at a time of celebration? Please share any provisions you might have on hand with us and with your friend David.” 9 David’s young men gave this message to Nabal in David’s name, and they waited for a reply.
10 “Who is this fellow David?” Nabal sneered to the young men. “Who does this son of Jesse think he is? There are lots of servants these days who run away from their masters. 11 Should I take my bread and my water and my meat that I’ve slaughtered for my shearers and give it to a band of outlaws who come from who knows where?”
12 So David’s young men returned and told him what Nabal had said. 13 “Get your swords!” was David’s reply as he strapped on his own. Then 400 men started off with David, and 200 remained behind to guard their equipment.
14 Meanwhile, one of Nabal’s servants went to Abigail and told her, “David sent messengers from the wilderness to greet our master, but he screamed insults at them. 15 These men have been very good to us, and we never suffered any harm from them. Nothing was stolen from us the whole time they were with us. 16 In fact, day and night they were like a wall of protection to us and the sheep. 17 You need to know this and figure out what to do, for there is going to be trouble for our master and his whole family. He’s so ill-tempered that no one can even talk to him!”
18 Abigail wasted no time. She quickly gathered 200 loaves of bread, two wineskins full of wine, five sheep that had been slaughtered, nearly a bushel[b] of roasted grain, 100 clusters of raisins, and 200 fig cakes. She packed them on donkeys 19 and said to her servants, “Go on ahead. I will follow you shortly.” But she didn’t tell her husband Nabal what she was doing.
20 As she was riding her donkey into a mountain ravine, she saw David and his men coming toward her. 21 David had just been saying, “A lot of good it did to help this fellow. We protected his flocks in the wilderness, and nothing he owned was lost or stolen. But he has repaid me evil for good. 22 May God strike me and kill me[c] if even one man of his household is still alive tomorrow morning!”

Abigail Intercedes for Nabal

23 When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off her donkey and bowed low before him. 24 She fell at his feet and said, “I accept all blame in this matter, my lord. Please listen to what I have to say. 25 I know Nabal is a wicked and ill-tempered man; please don’t pay any attention to him. He is a fool, just as his name suggests.[d] But I never even saw the young men you sent.
26 “Now, my lord, as surely as the Lord lives and you yourself live, since the Lord has kept you from murdering and taking vengeance into your own hands, let all your enemies and those who try to harm you be as cursed as Nabal is. 27 And here is a present that I, your servant, have brought to you and your young men. 28 Please forgive me if I have offended you in any way. The Lord will surely reward you with a lasting dynasty, for you are fighting the Lord’s battles. And you have not done wrong throughout your entire life.
29 “Even when you are chased by those who seek to kill you, your life is safe in the care of the Lord your God, secure in his treasure pouch! But the lives of your enemies will disappear like stones shot from a sling! 30 When the Lord has done all he promised and has made you leader of Israel, 31 don’t let this be a blemish on your record. Then your conscience won’t have to bear the staggering burden of needless bloodshed and vengeance. And when the Lord has done these great things for you, please remember me, your servant!”
32 David replied to Abigail, “Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, who has sent you to meet me today! 33 Thank God for your good sense! Bless you for keeping me from murder and from carrying out vengeance with my own hands. 34 For I swear by the Lord, the God of Israel, who has kept me from hurting you, that if you had not hurried out to meet me, not one of Nabal’s men would still be alive tomorrow morning.” 35 Then David accepted her present and told her, “Return home in peace. I have heard what you said. We will not kill your husband.”
36 When Abigail arrived home, she found that Nabal was throwing a big party and was celebrating like a king. He was very drunk, so she didn’t tell him anything about her meeting with David until dawn the next day. 37 In the morning when Nabal was sober, his wife told him what had happened. As a result he had a stroke,[e] and he lay paralyzed on his bed like a stone. 38 About ten days later, the Lord struck him, and he died.

David Marries Abigail

39 When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, “Praise the Lord, who has avenged the insult I received from Nabal and has kept me from doing it myself. Nabal has received the punishment for his sin.” Then David sent messengers to Abigail to ask her to become his wife.
40 When the messengers arrived at Carmel, they told Abigail, “David has sent us to take you back to marry him.”
41 She bowed low to the ground and responded, “I, your servant, would be happy to marry David. I would even be willing to become a slave, washing the feet of his servants!” 42 Quickly getting ready, she took along five of her servant girls as attendants, mounted her donkey, and went with David’s messengers. And so she became his wife. 43 David also married Ahinoam from Jezreel, making both of them his wives. 44 Saul, meanwhile, had given his daughter Michal, David’s wife, to a man from Gallim named Palti son of Laish.
Love,
Jonathan