Looking On Hearts

 

I look upon
the heart

and open up
the eyes

until the unseen
is seen

and what’s important
is magnified.

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You establish how to see.

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“Samuel took one look at Eliab and thought, ‘Surely this is the LORD’S anointed!’ “.

“But the LOtD said to Samuel, ‘Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The LORD doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.’ “

1 Samuel 16:6-7

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Image from The Greatest Gift by Ann Voskamp, page 121.
Title from The Greatest Gift by Ann Voskamp, page 122.

Arise

“And when the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul,
all the valiant men arose and traveled all night, and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth Shan . . .”  1 Samuel 31:11-12

Not too long ago, Larry Who started another blog called Remember the Prisoners because the conditions in North Korea are horrific.

Lord, please help us to rise up and do the right thing as you lead us today.  And here’s a simple poem . . .

Rise Up

The news is horrific
you want to plug your ears

to close off your mind
but I need you to hear

to arise my Spirit led children
to take action and not fear

to do the right thing despite oppression
to be the body that I steer.

Recovery

“So David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away, and David rescued his two wives.”  1 Samuel 30:18
“And nothing of theirs was lacking, either small or great; sons or daughters, spoil or anything which they had taken from them; David recovered all.”  1 Samuel 30:15

As a confirmation of what He would restore to me, God once returned 3 items within a week that I thought were lost for good.

Lord, we cry out like David and his men, that all the enemy has taken be returned and restored to us. And here’s a simple poem . . .

All Will Be Returned

What has been taken
I will return to you

in full measure
it will be restored

for I’m in the business
of recovering

all that’s been lost
to thief and by force.

What Are We Doing Here?

“Then the princes of the Philistines said, “What are these Hebrews doing here?”  1 Samuel 29:3

David had escaped Saul by going into Philistine.  When the Philistine army gathered, David had gone forward to fight against Israel too.

Lord, you know the places we are in and the corners we get backed into.  We desire to stay true to You and trust You for a way out. And here’s a simple poem . . .

God’s Good Will

Forced into a situation
that puts us contrary to You
how do we move forward
and still stay true?

Those are the exact moments
Your miracles shine through
making a way and assuring us
of Your good will and pleasure too.

Apart From God

“Then immediately Saul fell full length on the ground, and was dreadfully afraid. . .”  1 Samuel 28:20

There was nothing more Saul could do.

Oh Lord, thank You that through Jesus Christ we don’t have to stay in the painful place of being separated from You.  And here’s a simple poem . . .

The Jesus Connection

Saul fell face down
and couldn’t rise
God was no longer
at his side

but God sent His Son
so we can forever be
forgiven, connected
purified and holy.

Speedily Escape

“There is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape to the land of the Philistines; and Saul will despair of me, to seek me any more in any part of Israel.  So I shall escape out of his hand.”  1 Samuel 27:1

Sometimes the best thing for me to do is to speedily run away from a dangerous temptation.

Lord, we thank You for always making a way for us.  Please help us discern the times when we are to flee and when we are to resist.  And here’s a simple poem . . .

Better

The best thing to do
might just be to run
to save our lives
and protect our daughters and sons

though we don’t want to go
there will be another day
for God is still with us
and is working out His ways.

Valued

“And indeed, as your life was valued much this day in my eyes, so let my life be valued much in the eyes of the Lord, and let Him deliver me  out of all tribulation.”  1 Samuel 26:24

We don’t always value life the way we should.

Thank You, Lord, for valuing us so much that You died for us when we were yet soaked in sin.  And here’s a simple poem . . .

 

Evaluation

When we get
to the point of feeling
there is no value
to our lives
then Jesus can come
and change around
the economy
of our insides.

 

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! God bless you!

Nothing Missing

“Now one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal’s wife, saying, ‘Look, David sent messengers from the wilderness to greet our master, and he reviled them’.”  1 Samuel 25:14

“But the men were very good to us, and we were not hurt nor did we miss anything as long as we accompanied them, when we were in the fields.”  1 Samuel 25:15

Good was done to Nabal, even though he was unaware.

Lord, thank You for Your hand that guides others to care for my family and I,  even when I’m not aware of it. I desire to be more and more generous and gracious in this life.  And here’s a simple poem . . .

Beholden

I want to say thank you
more and more each day

to all those who help me
along this narrow way

who guard me with prayers
strengthen me with faith

I may not know all the names
but my heart beholds the grace.

Not Against You

“Let the Lord judge between you and me, and let the Lord avenge me on you.  But my hand shall not be against you.”  1 Samuel 24:12

The power of mercy is immeasurable.

Lord, please teach us to love mercy and trust You to judge and avenge.  And here’s a simple poem . . .

When to Wait

Praying if I had the chance
to retaliate

against someone who’d hurt me
I would hesitate

and let God be the judge
of what should be done

remembering the mercy shown to me
on the cross, by His Son.

Strengthened In God

“So David saw that Saul had come out to seek his life.  And David was in the wilderness of Ziph in a forest.”  1 Samuel 23:15
“Then Jonathan, Saul’s son, arose and went to David in the woods and strengthened his hand in God.”  1 Samuel 23:16

Wilderness times can make us feel vulnerable.

Lord, thank You for showing us David’s time in the wilderness and how You were still with him.  And here’s a simple poem . . .

Sending Strength

Feeling a little shaky
out in the wilderness

small and bewildered
sort of valueless

then You send someone in Christ
to strengthen our hands

to remind us that You are near
and You understand.