Great Expectations: To Build

I want my one and only life to count, don't you? I want to live it for a cause greater than myself and leave ripples that will continue to expand outward long after I'm gone. The cool thing is that that is what God wants for my life, too…and yours! That's why he invites us, no matter what we do for a living, to partner with him in building something that can be amazing--his church. Skeptical? I don't blame you. The church isn't always what it could be or should be. But that's where you and I come in!

Great Expectations: To Believe

Hello, friends! Thank you for stopping by my blog! If you struggle to believe or trust God, or would like to have a clearer understanding of what it means to have faith in Jesus, maybe this video message I gave recently will be of some help. Just know that we all struggle to have faith. And the fact that you may have doubts is so natural and common for all of us who take our journey through life with God. Doubts don't mean that you don't know God or that he will reject you. He is patiently calling us to trust that he is for us and not against us. In the struggle of life, belief can grow. If you want to skip over the music, drag the video slider to 19:45.

Christ the King

Hello, my friends! We are doing great here in Peoria, Illinois. The kids have adjusted and are enjoying the beginning of a fun summer full of activity. I am enjoying my ministry at Richwoods Christian Church and God has continued to work in and through me. If you would like, you can watch a video of a sermon I preached this weekend, as long as it remains online.

Update on the Workmans

Hello to all of you! Wow, it has been a very busy couple of weeks full of major transition for me and my family. We are somewhat settled in Peoria now, although most of our belongings are still in storage, awaiting our moving to a more long-term housing situation. Thank you for your patience during this time. I intend to restart the blog with regularity as the opportunity presents itself. There is still a lot of household business that requires my attention at this time.

For now, I'm homeschooling the kids. I intend to do this through the end of the semester...that is, if I don't lose my sanity first! No, they are great students. It just requires a lot of time figuring out what to have them work on. My mom was here with us for the first week and was a great help.

We had our first worship time together at our new church yesterday! It's called Richwoods Christian Church. I started work with them last week. Right now I'm working just half-time overseeing their home-based small groups ministry. There are 24 groups, if I remember correctly. Each has a leader, and there are several coaches who each mentor a number of leaders. I will be supporting the coaches primarily and orchestrating the big picture. Please pray for me in this role that I will be effective and insightful and faithful.

I haven't yet determined what I will be doing to supplement my income. That is a big concern for me right now, and I also need your prayers for that.

It is great being here with Michele and getting to spend time with her on a daily basis! God has blessed me with her love. The kids are doing well and adapting nicely, though missing their friends. My house is up for lease now and Michele's is still up for sale. They are both needing some new people who would like to live and love beneath their roofs.

Even though the blogging may be scarce for a while, I hope that you keep up your conversations with God by staying in his Word. He has so many things to reveal to you there! May he bless you and guide you today.

Take All Things to God

Good morning to all and happy Wednesday! Please join me today as we continue in 2 Samuel.  Please read verses 2:1-3:1. There's lots of great info here but I'm going to focus on the beginning of the chapter this morning.

This is what jumps out at me as I read:

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. (v.1)

Now that Saul was dead David knew that he would be crowned king of his home territory but he didn't just automatically move to Judah. No, Lord, instead David consulted you first. At this time in his life it seems as if he didn't do much without coming to you first. David counted on you to guide his every step and he wanted to make sure he was in your will.

In reading this verse it appears as if you instantly verbally answered David without him having to wait for you to answer. I can't help but think of the many times that waiting has been in your plan for me. Did you really just instantly answer David or was there some waiting involved that we don't know about? For me it's hard to tell. And, did he truly audibly hear your answer? There are many times I've wished you would literally speak to me so I know, without a doubt, what you're saying to me. Lord, you aren't limited in the ways you speak to your children and you certainly could make your voice audibly heard if you so chose. This conversation seems so simple as I read this verse. Maybe David was just so in tune to your voice due to his deep relationship with you. Maybe he chose to trust you completely and not listen to the many other voices in his life. This is one thing that the Bible isn't always clear on. The one thing that is very clear, Lord, is that David knew what you wanted from him and he followed.

And the anointing that occurred privately so many years ago came true publicly as a result.

Then the men of Judah came to David and crowned him king over the people of Judah. (v. 4)

All because he came to you, Lord, for guidance and chose to be obedient.

Please share any feedback that you have with us. We would love to hear from you!

A Different Kind of Character

Good morning. I woke this morning to the sound of the birds chirping. Such a beautiful sound and evidence that spring is here!! Are you ready to hear from God today? I am. I, Michele, will be writing today and tomorrow for you as Chris continues getting ready for the move. Today we are moving forward into the first chapter of 2 Samuel. The story continues after Saul's death.

Keep in mind as you read this chapter how Saul had died by taking his own life (1Samuel 31:3,4). In the beginning of this chapter David has no idea that Saul is dead until a man from Saul's camp comes to inform him. But, he has a different story to tell about how Saul died. He lies because he wants to get praise from David for killing Saul. Little does he know that David has a different kind of character than he suspects. And this is actually how David responds:

"Why were you not afraid to kill the LORD'S anointed one?" David asked.
Then David said to one of the men, "Kill him!" So the man thrust his sword into the Amalekite and killed him. "You have condemned yourself," David said, "for you yourself confessed that you killed the LORD'S anointed one." (v. 14-16)

Certainly NOT what the Amalekite expected from David! It doesn't make sense does it? Saul had been David's enemy for a very long time and he isn't jumping for joy that he's dead?? But, it wasn't about Saul for David. It was all about God. David may not have had a lot of respect for Saul but he had an amazing amount of respect for God. After all, God had anointed Saul and saw him fit to be king. Who was David to dispute that? So David respected Saul as the king. Keep in mind that David had many opportunities to end Saul's life himself and chose not to. Such a contrast in character between David and the Amalekite man.

This is what it looks like to put God first in our hearts. Even when David's greatest enemy died and it looks as if he had come out on top, he didn't gloat. David continued to show respect for Saul as king because of his relationship with the true king. What an example for us to follow. Our allegiance should be always to God first regardless of the situation or who has authority. We are called to honor those who God has given authority to and David did just that. And ultimately David was blessed.

God, I want to follow David's example. I want to let my enemies know that you hold the highest seat in my heart, not them. Please don't allow my heart to become full of the desire for revenge. I want my heart to be full of your Spirit. I will put you first and daily submit to your authority over me. I am yours! Amen.

To Obey or Not to Obey?

Happy Monday and welcome to a new week and the last chapter of 1 Samuel. Please read 1 Samuel 31. It's only 13 verses long. Saul's life has come to an end and we will learn how. Thank you for letting me, Michele, be with you this morning as we wrap up 1 Samuel.

I read this a couple of times and both times my focus remained on verse 4. This is what it says:

Saul groaned to his armor bearer, "Take your sword and kill me before these pagan Phillistines 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.

Why would Saul ask his armor bearer to kill him, Lord? It sounds as if Saul was trying to escape some sort of torture. I hear you telling me something about both Saul and his armor bearer in this verse. First of all, the armor bearer refused to kill Saul. Why? Saul was king and he should have obeyed, correct?? Not necessarily. The king was telling his armor bearer to do something that was morally wrong. When we are faced with moral dilemmas we always need to follow your ways regardless of who's giving the order. There is only one set of standards for moral issues and they are yours, God. So, the armor bearer made the right decision and chose your way, not Saul's. That time. Too bad he didn't continue on that same path. (v. 5)

Second of all, I hear you continuing to tell me about Saul's character, or lack there of. Saul was afraid of what the Phillistines may do to him if they got a hold of him so he opted for what he saw as an easier way out. He commanded his armor bearer to kill him in a "not so brutal" sort of way. Much to his dismay, his armor bearer chose not to follow through on Saul's command. So Saul decided to take matters into his own hands like he had done for much of his life. He didn't even turn to you, Lord, and ask for your guidance or direction. He did the next thing that would bring about the result he wanted and that was to kill himself. You may have chosen to help him if he just would have asked.

There are so many in this world who desperately need you but just don't get it. They think they can only count on themselves and ignore you, the God who spoke this world into existence. What a lonely and dark world we live in without you, Lord. And how do we face moral dilemmas if we don't understand your standards?

Help us, dear Lord, to take the higher road because, in the end, we will be on the right path. Give us hearts that only want to be obedient to you when we're given bad direction from someone in authority. You are the only judge and you will protect us when we do what's right. We want to be an example for those who don't know you so they will someday understand your ways and your love. Help them to see you when they see us. Amen.

Maybe this isn't the verse that spoke most to your heart. Maybe you have additional thoughts. Let us know! We would love to hear how this chapter spoke to each one of you. Have a blessed day and thank you for letting me spend another morning with you.