Before We get started on one of the main purposes of this blog....
Please answer:

Q #1- Do you have a regular Bible reading routine?
Q #2- Would you be interested in starting one here?

I was wanting to start in the Gospel of John, and (in addition to the other posts) post a brief passage or two from each chapter... one a week... an let us all share what we personally get out of it, and either how it encourages us... or what it encourages us to do.
(The Bold in heart can also confess struggles and ask for prayers)

If you like this idea... please include that in your response to this post. I mean... I'm probably going to do it whether you like it or not... but the support will at least make me feel good about myself.

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Also, I wanted to start a prayer chain and answered prayer praise list. SOON, I want to have us all pick ONE person we want prayed for and list them by name. (preferably to convert) I then want us all to pray for each person on this list daily.

The fun part is... as God does, what God does.... I want us to list it and praise him as we all get to stand in awe of the power of prayer. we can all also encourage each other in how we can impact those we are praying for.


I hope to encorporate these things into this blog.

BUT-
WE STILL NEED MANY OTHERS ON HERE !

So please invite your friends.

Take time to read the posts below too, if you have not.
My hope is that you will find them encouraging.

BW


***** UPDATE ********

Starting this Monday- December 1st- We will begin our New Testament Reading with John chapter one.
A fresh look at the Gosel account with the discussion, thoughts, and input of others will be very refreshing for us.

I'm looking forward to it.

We will most likely start the prayer Chain in January.

BW

1 Sam 16:1-23
For most of us, we are overlooked by the people in our lives, just as David was
But God has picked you out from the foundations of the earth, and he has had his eye on you all along
We read about what he said to Jeremiah: Before I formed you in the womb I knew you

But look what he says to us!
Romans 8:28-31-
God- has had his eye on you for a long time.
He has been shaping and forming you since before you were born
He even shaped you during the dysfunction you had to go through, and the trials and heartaches…
And he did all of this so he could get you to the place he had prepared in advance for you.
So he could pour himself into you, and reflect his glory on the earth.
Eph 1:11-12
In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him
who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.

David wasn’t even “called in” the day Samuel came- he didn’t even cross his father’s mind-
But God had his eye on him- and he was anointed before all of his brothers, to show that he would be the future king.

So here in front of all of them he is singled out... and what does David do next?
Does he stand in the mirror and practice his king wave?
Does he go to tiffanies and get fitted for his crown?
NO.
Look at what he does.
He goes back and forth to tend sheep and to serve Saul.
1 Sam 17:12-15-
Now I wonder- how many of you feel that way even now in your life.
All of David’s brothers were on the front lines of the battle. They were where the action was.
But all David did was what?... (Go back and forth….. and….tend sheep)

How many of you at your job, or at home, feel like others are in the place of honor,
Others are in position to really impact, But not you.
You go back and forth to your “not enough income” job.
You go back and forth dragging your kids where they need to go
You go back and forth in the same routine
Doing something you can not wait until the day you can stop doing it.

But you forget- the day is coming soon, when you will get your crown.
And, for those of us who feel like what we are doing doesn’t matter…
We need to understand- nothing is insignificant in your life if it is done for the cause of Christ
1 Cor 10:31
whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

Colossians 3:16-17-
If God has placed a calling on your life (and he has)
And you are in that “Just going back and forth” time in your life…
Take courage, and serve with wholehearted intensity in the task God has called you to now…
If you are faithful with little... God will entrust to you- MUCH!

Get out of the box…. do what you do well.
Dream big dreams- And remember David- called to be the next king of Israel
Going back and forth and being faithful in what God had given him

1 Sam 17:17-24-
The only reason David was even able to hear Goliath- and bring about his moment of glory-
Was that he served where he was, and simply obeyed his father.
He got up early, he ran to the lines... and he was eager to serve.

What if each of us was eager to do the little we can?
What if each of us was eager... Running forward to do what we are asked?
What if we had that zeal in greeting people when they walk in our doors?
What if we had that heart to follow up and get involved?
These are things we all can do- and do easily…If we’d just use what we have.

God does have a great plan for your life... and he has anointed you…
And you will make a huge difference.
But that all does not happen one day when you get some huge spiritual blessing

It starts today as you use what God gave you now, and spend yourself fully for his service.
And for those of you who are serving in small ways and think it doesn’t matter…
It does matter.
- You parents with younger kids, that wake up tired and go to bed tired-
Yet you keep on- and give them your very best… it does matter.
- You who pray faithfully…it does matter.
- You who teach our children, it does matter.

You may not be on the front of the battle lines in your mind…
But your acts of service and obedience matter.
Each of you. You matter!
You get to be involved in things that will change lives forever-
If you choose to live them in a way that is life changing.

Because one day you will hear your calling.
A giant will defy you, a battle will come your way, and you will need to stand up-
And then God- God…in all that he has prepared for you and trained you for…
Will work a miracle with a stone and a sling, and you will slay that giant
And you will give courage to all those around you
1 Samuel 17:45-52-

Satan has been fighting us for far too long-
It is time we get on the offensive and take back the territory that belongs to our King.
Sound the battle call.
Together we can accomplish this.


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You all have been very witty and encouraging so far.
Please please pass this blog on to all that you feel need to join in the fight.

I am honored to be able to post these things for the writers.
But I will probably need some help on the finer points of making this successful.

Feel free to read the posts below as well, and please let me know of any groups that would be uplifting that I can join.
as I said...
Pass this on to your friends,
TOGETHER we are going to do something awesome here.

BW

2 Sam 9:6-8
When Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, he bowed down to pay him honor.
David said, "Mephibosheth!"
"Your servant," he replied.
"Don't be afraid," David said to him, "for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan.
I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table."
Mephibosheth bowed down and said, "What is your servant, that you should notice a dead dog like me?"

Hello, Pleo-World-
I’m happy to be able to join your little family.

I’m not really into the big debate thing- the heart of the scriptures are pretty clear.
The rest is for people to debate, argue about, and fight over to justify themselves as they refuse to share the heart of the scriptures.
My hope is that I can share with each of you my heart. And my hope is that I can help encourage you to realize, and embrace, and rejoice in God’s heart for you.

Just think of poor Mephibosheth.
Crippled in both feet. A forgotten dead dog of a man. Just like me.
Just like we were.
And then God invited us to sit at the King’s table.

I would guess that Mephibosheth did not consider his new position an outlet to disperse his wisdom, or a soap box to stand on to tout his understanding.
My guess is also that he did not see his new position as a justification for him to decide who else could and could not eat at the table.

I would say he probably spent the rest of his days rejoicing.
The Bible said he was by David’s side for the rest of his days.

My prayer is that we cling as closely to our King.
That we live our days rejoicing and sharing, and drinking deep of all that the King has to offer.
None of us deserve to be at this table.
But he sought us out, gave us position, and helped us to see grace.

Praise God for his amazing gift to us!
We have been given both life… and the opportunity to share life.
And as we do, we give honor to the King who invited us to HIS table.
And like Mephibosheth…
Our King will come and wait on us. (Luke 12:37)

Let those emotions well up in you,
And overflow on all you come in contact with.

I do not know any of you,
And would really appreciate some faithful friends.
Some who will build up, and not tear down,
People with vision, and hope- who understand their calling.
Those with a cross on their backs, but a smile on their faces.

We can seek out the dead dogs like us and invite them to the King’s table.
If you know others like this... please link them to my blog.


****** Edit *******

I have had many try to guess my name (odd that three people have guessed the same person... kind of creeps me out), and others ask why I added the friends that I did.

I was referred to Pleo a while back and was asked to read a few blogs. I then started clicking the links, groups, and friends of those listed on their blogs. I have invited as friends those that I found encouraging/inspiring/ or interesting.

If I have invited you, I hope you take it as a compliment.
I hope to be inviting many many more as the days go on. This is my first day with this blog. I doubt if many / any of you know me personally. I noticed many people on Pleo refer to each other by real names. I tend not to do that. I hope no one finds this offensive. I merely want to protect the privacy of the people I associate with.
(as much as you can on the world wide web... lol)
The writings on here will not be coming to me from any one individual. I am merely posting them for those who wish to remain anonymous.

Please feel free to link this to all of your friends.
I do want to develop a good community of encouragement and inspiration online. Hopefuly I will be a source of encouragement and vision for each of you.

As listed in my name... Impacting souls with the life giving message of Christ is my passion. He has done so much for me...
I believe as he gave his life for us.... that we in turn are called to give no less than all of our lives for him.

I believe the scriptures show this as one of the greatest rewards on this earth- to live like Christ.