1 Samuel 15-16, John 8:1-20, Psalms 110:1-7, Proverbs  15:8-10

What God said to me – A coincidence is defined as a remarkable concurrence of events or circumstances without apparent causal connection – I was just talking about you and here I run into you at the airport – I was craving something sweet, and you brought me cookies.  The thing is, for My children there is always an “apparent causal connection” for the things that happen in your life – Me!  “I AM” at work in every area of your life, working all things together for your good and for My glory.  “I AM” at work carrying out My plan in your life as well as in the world, even though they don’t realize it or understand it.  Look at how I introduced David into the politics of Israel.  I chose him to be king, but he was an insignificant young man who rose up out of “nowhere”.  He had nothing to do with the governing of Israel and yet somehow, out of hundreds of thousands of men in Israel, he ended up in the court of King Saul, as a musician of all things.  Just as I was sovereign in David’s life and in the nation of Israel, “I AM” sovereign in your life and in the world today.  So, don’t worry or fret about your life or your family or the chaos in the world.  Trust My sovereignty.  Trust My plan.  “I AM” at work for your good and for My glory.

1 Samuel 14, John 7:31-53, Psalms 109:1-31, Proverbs 15:5-7

What God said to me – There is an old song “Little Is Much When God Is In It”.  It was inspired by the account of My Son, Jesus, feeding more than five thousand people with five loaves and two fish.  However, there are many stories in My word along the same lines – the widow who fed Elijah all during the drought with a handful of flour and a little oil that never ran out – My Son turning the water to wine – the prophet’s widow whose creditors were coming to take her sons and Elisha took a small bottle of oil and filled enough vessels to pay the debt and support the family.  “I AM” able to do exceedingly, more abundantly than you can think or ask and I don’t just mean taking a few things and making them into many.  When Saul’s son. Jonathan, was going over to confront the Philistines with just his armor bearer, he said, “the Lord is not restrained to save by many or by a few.”  He understood the truth that if he was following Me that two could be as successful as an entire army.  Now think of this in terms of your life and ministry – you don’t have to be charismatic or talented or articulate for Me to do great things through you.  You just have to be surrendered to Me.  You could be a greeter at church or a childcare worker or serve food at a fellowship – there is no small ministry when I call you to it – like a stone tossed in a lake, the ripple effects go beyond what you can see – little is much when “I AM” in it.

1 Samuel 12-13, John 7:1-30, Psalms 108:1-13, Proverbs 15:4

What God said to me – Patience is hard, but impatience can be costly.  In a recent racing movie, F-1, the veteran driver working with the rookie on his team sets him up to win.  When the rookie gets into second place, the old timer tells him to wait until he hits the straightaway and then pass for the win.  But the rookie sees an opportunity on the curve and zooms past the front runner only to go airborne and crash.  His impatience not only cost him the race, but his injuries caused him to sit our several more races.  When Saul was king of Israel and was facing the Philistines in battle, he was instructed to wait seven days for Samuel to come before he went into battle.  When the seventh day arrived and Samuel was not there, Saul decided he couldn’t wait any longer, so he usurped the duties of the priest and offered the sacrifice himself.  As soon as he had finished, Samuel showed up.  Saul’s impatience and subsequent actions revealed a heart that didn’t trust My plan or My sovereignty and it eventually cost him his kingdom.  I promised that I would instruct you and teach you in the way you should go.  So, when things are not happening in the way or in the time you think they should, stop and seek Me.  My timing is perfect.  My plan is perfect.  When you try to force something to happen or manipulate the circumstances, you are revealing a heart that doesn’t truly trust My sovereign plan.  They that wait for Me will renew their strength.  Trust My plan.  Trust My timing.  Trust My love for you – and wait.