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Apr 23 - Jun 18, 2017
What Men What More of and Their Struggles
June 18, 2017 • Dr Charles Kyker
Solomon started out well when he first became king of Israel. Solomon honestly acknowledged his inexperience in leading God’s chosen people, a nation so great and numerous they could not be counted. So when God appeared to him at Gibeon in a dream and asked the young ruler: “What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you” (1 Kings 3:5), Solomon asked for wisdom. The Lord was pleased to answer his request. Not only did God give Solomon wisdom to lead, He gave him much more. In fact, no king in all the world could be compared to him.
Respect
June 11, 2017 • Trent Jones
Toward the end of David’s reign, David commanded a census be taken of God’s people. It took his commander, Joab, nine months and twenty days to complete the pain-staking task of counting the number of capable warriors ‘from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south’. David wanted to know how many were in Israel and he found out that he had over a million capable men ready for war. “But after he had taken the census, David’s conscience began to bother him” (2 Samuel 24:10a). Why was David convicted? At one point, David himself penned these words: “Some nations boast of their chariots and horses, but we boast in the name of the LORD our God” (Psalm 20:7). Why was David now seeking numerical figures when the Lord alone deserved his focus? David didn’t need to count on a mighty army to defeat the Lord’s battles. He knew that God had given him the victory in the fiercest of times. Like David, in our quest for more, we sometimes forget that everything we have achieved, accomplished, and yes, avoided is because of God’s mercy and power.
Fulfillment
June 4, 2017 • Dr Charles Kyker
David was a warrior with a shepherd’s heart. Because he was a strong leader, he attracted valiant men to fight the Lord’s battles. Second Samuel 23:8-39 names the “Three” and the “Thirty” –mighty men who specifically fought alongside king David in fiercest times. These verses give a few examples of their heroic feats and exploits. We must remember that although the Lord had given Israel this land, they were surrounded by enemy nations, and the threat of occupation was nearly constant.
Sex
May 28, 2017 • Dr Charles Kyker
God lifted David, a shepherd from Bethlehem, to rise up and shepherd God’s sheep, the nation of Israel. David was blessed with victories, protection from enemies, wives, children, an incredible army, a lasting dynasty. But one afternoon in a weak moment, when healthy boundaries were ignored, David fell sway to sensual desire. King David stole another man’s wife while that man was on the battlefield fighting on behalf of David and Israel.
"What Happens When We Give"
May 21, 2017 • Joe Sangl
Everything belongs to God. We probably don’t think about it often enough, but we are here for just a little while. Our lives are a gift and each day is a gift. It is important that we learn to honor the Lord with everything we have. God has entrusted us with a wealth of resources—time, relationships, gifts and talents. Will we be generous with what the Lord has so graciously given us?
Balance
May 14, 2017 • Dr Charles Kyker
Saul, the first king of Israel, looked good on the outside. He was a tall, handsome young man. But although he looked the part, his character flaws surfaced as he lived for the approval of others rather than the Lord. As Saul’s fame spread, he lost sight of who God had called him to be. In order to stay balanced, king Saul should have learned what we all need to learn: that our value, our worth, our true purpose is from God. Putting confidence in the flesh, our appearance, titles, positions or past victories – anything other than God – we too run the risk of spiraling down.
Purpose
May 7, 2017 • Dr Charles Kyker
We only have one life to live and each day is a gift. Deep down most of us want to believe the world is a better place because we are here. “For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-2). The pages of your life are being written now. Are you satisfied with what you are writing? Have you discovered your purpose or are you living into your shadow mission, spending your talents, gifts, and energies on yourself? Living only for ourselves leaves us looking for more.
Peace
April 30, 2017 • Dr Charles Kyker
What does your desire for more look like? Sadly, in our quest for more we drift from our God-given purpose. God has a plan for each one of us and He calls us to join Him in a greater mission, to live beyond ourselves and in the light of His presence. But too often we think it’s not enough. We look to the things of this world to satisfy us and our search for our more gets us distracted with insignificant things. In an attempt to find peace and purpose, many of us venture off-path and weigh ourselves down with needless stress and worries. Others of us are lured in the wrong direction climbing the ladder of success. Some are merely looking for the next adrenaline rush. Whatever our more looks like, the quest may drive us for a while, but it will leave us empty. And certainly we will never find peace through self-absorbed pursuits.
From Walker to Walker
April 23, 2017 • Dr Charles Kyker
Aging, none of us are exempt. And death, it is on the calendar for every one who has ever lived. In Psalm Ninety, the only psalm attributed to Moses, he says the Lord sweeps “people away like dreams that disappear” and that people “are like grass that springs up in the morning. In the morning it blooms and flourishes, but by evening it is dry and withered” (Psalm 90:5-6). But in this psalm Moses also recognizes that from the beginning and through it all, God is our home—our place of safety and refuge. He alone is the ultimate Father who loves us and cares for us.