New thoughts-->new deeds

4:49 p.m. Today's project was to welcome four new ladies to our home Bible study, Theresa's sister Kathy, Debra, Marty and Laura. What a blessing to see the Lord add to our number, especially ladies who are strong in the Word and readily able to share with one another!

Whenever I teach this book of history, I Samuel, I pose the question: "What will your I Samuel history be?"In studying this book we see ourselves. With an open mind to the Spirit, we allow the Lord to show us our own hearts and character.

The beauty of I Samuel is in the people the book portrays: Samuel, the stern spokesman for God, the prophet and priest who judged Israel before God told him to anoint a king as the people demanded; Saul, Israel's first king, an insecure, hot-headed leader whose fears and impetuousness cost him the kingdom; Jonathan, a courageous and godly young man, the king's eldest son; David, the shepherd whom God chose to rule over His people after Saul's downfall. Shakespeare couldn't have created better characters!

The supporting cast includes the sons and daughters of Saul, David's brothers, the Israelite army, Goliath, and ever-present enemies surrounding the land.

Sounds like the cast of trials and problems our enemy Satan throws at us, while attempting to lie to us and about us! Revelation 12:10 says about Satan's inevitable demise,

Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, "Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of the brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down."

Speaking of the kings of ancient Israel, the picture above represents the second time in a month that I have been named "Queen of Sales" for our Laurie's Legacy unit of Mary Kay. It's pretty hilarious to me, being that I just decided to get serious about my 4-year-old business again, this January. Why? The Lord told me to, simple as that, and I am now obeying!

I admit to getting bogged down mentally last year by telling myself, "You're too old to become a Sales Director;" "You don't have time;" "Too many issues with Steve;" "You'll have to give up: teaching Bible studies/gardening/time with Steve/writing your next book/the blog, etc., etc." Wonder where the source of all that discouragement was? The pit of hell, where else? The enemy doesn't want a Christian woman to have a business where she can have fun, fellowship, and encourage other women, any more than he wants a Christian man to find the joy God has prepared for him in his career calling!

And by the way, God has given us all approximately 16 hours a day to organize constructively!

Tonight's meeting was full of laughter and cheering one another on, but tomorrow begins another week of stepping up and working hard to build on the foundation God has laid down. I will still occasionally find myself listening momentarily to the devil's accusations, but I'll give God the glory for bringing me scriptures of encouragement that I might excel and not settle for less than what He wants me to accomplish--in all areas!

Let's all remember Proverbs 23:7a:

For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.