Expecting Nothing In Return

A few weeks back our family spent an afternoon together in Downtown Disney in Orlando, Florida. It’s typical in most families to see the husband carrying the bags waiting patiently outside for the wife, repeatedly looking at his watch and counting the merchandise she gathers. Not my husband, he loves to shop! He takes his time browsing through the stores picking up every piece that catches his eye to sample it more closely. I on the other hand, would much rather be outside sitting on a bench-observing people. You could say, I enjoy “people watching”, if that is a correct description.

On this particular sunny day, a young boy captivated my attention. He was about fifteen years old and pushing middle aged woman in a wheel chair. It was obvious she was handicap, maybe Multiple Sclerosis, both her feet and hands curled under, she was unable to use either.  He made his way over towards the large oak trees where many of us were already seated, trying to find refuge from the scorching sun. In his hand he had an ice cream sundae and a few napkins.

I assumed the ice cream was for him, since there was only one. But my assumption was wrong.  For the next ten minutes I watched him feed this woman who obviously couldn’t feed herself. Each small scoop of ice cream he positioned just right into the handicapped woman’s mouth, being careful not drip any on her. After every bite he gently wiped her face with a napkin and from where I was sitting I could hear him ask her “Are you okay?” I alleged his concern was because she had trouble swallowing and he wanted to make sure she was ready to continue with the next bite. His pleasant gestures toward the young woman made her smile. You could tell he wasn’t there out of obligation or duty, his loving kindness towards her proved he was there willingly.

The sun was beating so hard even I was uncomfortable where I sat in the shade under the big oak tree. Sweat drops were dripping from the boy’s forehead as he continued to do his best to feed her, in the midst of hundreds of rude people bumping and pushing him. I couldn’t believe I hadn’t already thought of offering him my seat, so I got up and asked him to sit in my place, but he refused politely, “No thank you, I have to stand to feed her.”

What made this young boy so different? Why wasn’t he cruising around with his friends, or skateboarding down the middle of Down Town Disney like the other teenagers his age? What held him there, unselfishly giving to someone who couldn’t give anything in return?

The unselfishness and compassion of this young man to care for his handicapped friend touched me so deeply I quickly grabbed for my sunglasses to hide the tears streaming down my face. What about me? Would I be willing to do the same? Could I give unselfishly, expecting nothing in return? Not just today but everyday. Not just for a pat on the back or recognition, but when it’s unappreciated. Not just when others are watching, but when no one notices at all.

Matthew 25:40

"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

Reflection

Every day we are given opportunities, to help someone who cannot return the favor.  Not for recognition, or even a thank you, just because. Often I have had to ask God to forgive me for the motives behind my serve. To keep my heart pure and my mouth quieted from complaining. It’s easy to turn serving into a duty with the wrong attitude. Look for an opportunity to serve this week, it will be there. Just open your eyes and notice the need and then reach out and do something for someone without expecting anything in return.

My Prayer

Lord,

I am selfish, self-seeking, and lack compassion.  Please forgive me. I am blessed beyond measure by your goodness, yet I continue to serve myself more than I serve others. Open my eyes to see opportunities to help others. Give me a heart of compassion to serve not for public recognition or reward, but because you have already given me so much! May my life be more about You and less about Me.

I Love you Lord,

Polly

Nicaragua 2011

Imagine with me for a moment that you are standing deck-side on your boat, life preserver in hand attempting your best throw to the human being overboard paddling to save his/her life and they are screaming your name for help! As you quickly prepare to toss the Life Preserver to the wearisome helpless soul, you say a prayer asking God to direct your aim that it be good enough for the individual overboard to reach it and save their life!

Oscar & Rosibel (Directors of Sobre Las Alas Del Aguila)

I had the same feeling as I watched a courageous young man named Oscar Corea in his country of Nicaragua rescue thousands of children from empty stomachs. I wasn't observing deck-side from a boat, or shoreline from a peer, I was observing first hand at the feeding centers of Sobre Las Alas Del Aguila. I remember the second day of our trip seated on the bus approaching the next feeding center our driver blew the horn alerting the children to our arrival. They began to appear from the edges of the villages, overflowing into the bumpy dirt road. Hundreds of heads bopping up and down running as fast as their little legs could carry them toward our bus. Waving as they ran, you could see a glimmer of "hope" in their eyes. Hope of being rescued and the hope of a warm cooked meal...they knew we had Life Preservers on board and they weren't going to miss it!

Nicaragua

Kids running to meet our bus

We exited our bus and were greeted by the most precious smiles on the face of the earth. Every feeding center reflected a different scene, but one constant remained, there were hundreds of hungry children all needing our help. Their ages ranged from infants to teens and their smiles I shall never forget.

Marta! Oh she stole my heart.

Oscar and our team began to follow off the bus with the mission of "saving lives" on the forefront of our minds. Some on the team were assigned to play with the children while others like myself, were given the privilege to bless the feeding center volunteers with a much needed manicure and hand massage and as you can see from above, some of the little ones were excited to get their nails painted too.

Feeding Center - they were waiting on us!

Feeding Center one line of many...

The Team preparing meals.

Prepping the meals

On the opposite end of the center, others from our team prepped the food, chopped vegetables and gathered wood for the fire to prepare a nutritional meal for the hundreds who waited. Every day (several feeding centers per day) I was amazed how the single pot of rice and chicken would multiply, feeding every child in line. It reminded me of the story in Matthew when Jesus took the five loaves and two fish and fed the multitudes. I am still amazed at what God can do with "just a little". Life Preservers ------ I saw them everywhere!

Oscar giving kitchen utensils to the Pastor of this feeding center.

So thankful for a larger bowl and supplies which helps this Pastor feed more kids.

Life Preservers in the form of new cooking pots, plastic bowls, spoons and kitchen utensils which better equipped centers to feed more children from the community.  Life Preservers  in a hug, a handshake or a simple smile that extended from one mother to another. The language barrier could not and did not prevent the love of God's children one for another. A Life Preserver in the form of a warm bowl of chicken soup and rice, lovingly made, poured and distributed to everyone who came hungry. Saving lives, giving hope, filling empty stomachs ----the mission was being fulfilled.

Quickly I grabbed for my sunglasses to hide my tears. I was overwhelmed by the realization of knowing we held the Life Preservers in our hands and today we had the ability to save another life.

Chicken and rice meal

No kitchens, refrigerators, or stoves -- just some firewood a large pot and a few utensils!

A few days later our trip came to an end and we had to leave Leon, Nicaragua, the kids at the feeding center, Oscar, Rosibel and their team. We boarded the bus headed to the airport and arrived back in the USA within a few hours. After talking with my team-mates on the trip home, it's accurate to say we left a part of our hearts in Nicaragua. There is no way to experience such a fulfilling moment and not carry that experience with you forever. I guess that's what the Lord meant when he conveyed to his disciples that it was "more blessed to give then to receive."

Our American Team Nicaragua 2011!

Some feeding centers they are still without supplies. (Spoons, bowls, utensils, pots etc.)

Lining up the bowls.

I'll never forget these smiles!

Oscar's Team!

Empty stomachs!

What a monumental task one man and one women, feeding 10,000+ children a day! A burden carried by a courageous warrior named Oscar and his sweet wife Rosibel, who daily give of their lives to save others. Tears flow down my eyes and onto my cheeks even now as I type my blog, because I recognize their burden. Even with their vast efforts, still so many children in Nicaragua will go to bed tonight hungry, loosing hope that anyone will hear their cry to be rescued. God help us to recognize we hold the Life Preservers in our hands. We have the ability to save lives, to feed empty stomachs and empty hearts. May we stop trying to protect our own lives by holding so tightly to our Life Preserver, and instead may we be willing to toss them overboard to save another.

This experience has made me reflect on my own life and ministry. I must admit that I have repented on numerous occasions over the last week for my ungratefulness, my lack of compassion to the needs of others, my unwillingness to be concerned about the things the Lord is concerned about and most importantly my idea that what I do for the kingdom is enough. My mere sacrifices are small in comparison to what Oscar and Rosibel give on a daily basis and only heaven will accurately reflect the cost. They truly are heroes in the Kingdom.

Oscar and Rosibel -- True heroes of God's work. I love you both!

I am motivated by their sacrifices, for what matters to God should matter most to me. Lord I thank you for this experience, may I make it more about you and less about me.

If you are interested in giving to help Oscar and Rosibel continue their ministry in Nicaragua you can visit Honoringthefather.org for more details or you can connect with me on my website at www.moms4him.com  No amount is to small or insignificant. Every contribution helps! Thank you!!!!


Blessings, Polly

I'm Not Gonna Bow!

About four years ago my husband and I were faced with a situation that didn't go to well in our favor. It was a set-up by the enemy to wreck havoc in our lives. We were confronted with the decision to choose on the side of righteousness or rebellion, there was no way to escape this public escapade. I remember sitting on the couch one night with him as he explained that as much as it hurt to see people behave so ridiculously, we were going to always side with righteousness, regardless the cost. Although we were in complete agreement to obey the Lord that day, we knew we would be risking a lot by doing so.  We grabbed hands and prayed a prayer of protection over our family as we stepped out in faith to proclaim to the enemy that like Daniel, "WE WOULD NOT BOW".

Although this decision took place almost 1,460 days ago the enemy has been relentless in making us pay for our unwillingness to bow.

I hear from friends everyday who have made the choice to side with righteousness and as a result have suffered the same attack. Truth is the enemy has no intentions of bothering those who remain complacent because they're not a threat to him. He attacks those who are moving forward to posses the land, the dream, the call God has predestined them to fulfill. Adversity is the enemies' reaction to your progress. He launches an all out attack when we publicly and fearlessly take a stand. The problem is too many good hearted, God fearing Christians back down at the least level of resistance from a big mouth enemy. Yet no where in the scriptures do I find God giving the land, the dream or the vision to those who passively wait for it to drop in their laps. On the other hand, I see men and women who "fought the good fight", who "waged war against the enemy", who "moved forward to possess the land". In everyone of these testimonies their fulfillment of God's promise was delivered through struggle and often times a fight to survive! (Joseph, Daniel, Jonah, Esther, Ruth, Noah, Paul, John are a few examples and the list goes on.)

God is calling a remnant of believers who have what it takes to possess the land. Like little David the shepherd boy who wasn't intimidated by vocal harassment from a giant size enemy or Esther who knew she had a purpose to fill and so chose to cloth herself in the power of the Holy Spirit to save her people and like Daniel who was provoked publicly to bow before the enemy but instead remained standing in faithfulness to his God and saw the deliverance of His Lord.

Friend, no matter what threats the enemy launches at you today (a pit, a giant, a lions den) make your resolve to NOT BOW to evil, complacency, or rebellion. For you and I can be confident, we have the assurance that God gets the final say and the enemy looses in the end. (Doing my happy dance in the face of the enemy.)

Picture below taken from Canyon Hills.com

Distractions!

Isaiah 26:3 "You will keep him(her) in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee, because he(she)trusts in you!

Just this week my neighbor's daughter, who is new behind the wheel, was backing out of the driveway when a tiny bee flew into her car and began swarming around. The young teenager was so distracted by the bee, she forget she had her foot on the gas and ended up backing into the neighbor's mailbox behind her.  The irritant bee, tiny in size, yet so effortlessly was able to distract her to the point of destruction. Thank goodness it was only the destruction of the mail box and a dent to her car.

Life throws us many distractions, some are tiny as a bee but have the ability to irritate us to the point we see them as an elephant in size. Other distractions sneak up un-noticed, seemingly insignificant at the time but when focused on can detour us down a one way street we wish we had never taken.

The enemy loves to use distractions to keep us focused on the problem rather than the Provider. He is cunning and sly, using desperate measures to detour our attention, savaging our emotions, and depleting us of any physical or spiritual strength to even want to turn around. It's during these times we need to press in closer to our Lord and be determined to stay focused on Him. The scripture says, "He will keep him(her) in PERFECT peace whose mind is stayed on thee, because he(she) trusts in you."

The word PERFECT means:

1. Excellent or complete beyond practical or theoretical improvement.
2. Exactly fitting the need in a certain situation or for a certain purpose. 

Did you hear that? Excellent and complete peace, what more could you ask for?

God can and will keep us at peace and appropriated on the right course if we keep our focus sustained on God and His word. Oh yes He is that faithful, He just desires us to be.

So roll up the window (shut out negative & critical voices), close the door (separate yourself from the enemy), STAY FOCUSED on a God who is omnipotent, all powerful and has a good plan for your life.

Blessings,

Polly

The Pink Envelope that Motivated Me!

A few years ago I went to my mailbox to retrieve the mail. I don't even know what prompted me to, usually my husband is home before I am and he delights in getting the mail. (inside joke) Opening the door to the mailbox buried beneath the pile of bills, magazines, and coupon advertisements a pink envelope solicited my attention! I love the color pink, so naturally leaving the other mail inside the box, I reached for the pink envelope first.  I quickly flipped the envelope over and to my delight the envelop was addressed to me and written in the most beautiful calligraphy penmanship I have ever seen. In the top left corner the out of state return address was written in the same penmanship, but I didn't recognize the address or who it was from. My curiosity was heightened and naturally I couldn't wait to see what was inside so without delay standing in the middle of my driveway I opened the envelope. The inside flap was decorated with beautiful black & white velum paper meticulously decorated with pink, black and white glimmer jewels. It sparkled in the sun! The penmanship continued as the note read:

April 28, 2011

Dearest Polly,

You may be surprised to receive this letter from me, but I just couldn't resist. I guess I could have just as easily sent my message through Facebook or email, but I knew God was prompting me to hand write this for you. I will take the credit for the color choice and design of the card (I hope you like it and I hope your favorite color is still pink.) however the message is inspired by God. 
     
Polly, your love for God is strong, unwavering and contagious. Yet it makes you a great target for the enemy. In my prayer time today I was drawn to find this quote for you. I had to dig a little deep to locate it but I am so glad I did. I have penned it below. Reading it again for myself, it brought strength to my soul and joy to my heart. I hope it will do the same for you. 

     
Remember God has a great plan. My husband and I are praying for you, Torrey, and the children. No matter what you face today, don't every stop dreaming, don't ever stop trying, don't ever stop obeying, don't ever stop speaking....your destiny awaits. 

Love,

(Mrs. -------)

 Quote by Theodore Roosevelt

It’s not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the door of deeds could have been done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat.

Deuteronomy 1:21

 "See, the LORD your God has given you the land. Go up and take possession of it as the LORD, the God of your fathers, told you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."

(Polly adds)
The pink envelope was a word in season. God always knows what we need and exactly when we need it. I hope this quote inspires you to keep moving forward. Many who jump on the ban wagon to criticize those who are actually in the arena, are only doing so because of the lack of determination and motivation they have within themselves.

Those who compare become critical. I have since learned people who are intimidated by you, will talk about you in hopes that others won't find you so appealing.....even so TALK GOOD ABOUT THEM! You will sow a harvest of good.

I am so thankful for my dear friend's letter to me penned with God's message. I hope it encourages you. Don't give up  my friend. You may be tired, weary and worn, but you are still in this journey and He hasn't forgotten about you.

Challenge: even through your struggle take a moment and send a note of encouragement to someone else. You will see even in its simplest form you are sowing good seed and you just may be the words of encouragement they need to take another step.

Blessings,

Polly

Everybody Needs a Time Out!

I recently polled one of our 4 year old students who attends the daycare at the church where we serve. I asked him the following question: "What does it mean when Mrs. Barbara or another teacher tells you to go sit in Time Out?" His response, "You get to go sit on the bench in the hallway and think about it." Folding his little arms across his chest and twisting back and forth he then added, "And I like sitting on that bench, it's quiet and my teachers are noisy!" Who couldn't laugh at that definition?

There's another kind of Time Out that happens within most sporting events. Coaches sometimes will specifically call a Time Out to gather their team in a huddle to call a new play, give direction or word of encouragement. Coaches also use Time Outs for the purpose of allowing team players to quench their thirst with a quick squirt of H20 with the attempts to get the team refocused and on the same goal.  Although only seconds in length that Time Out can sometimes be the much needed refreshment to get those team mates through the next quarter and playing at their best.

Time Outs are necessary because often times life can leave us feeling frustrated, overworked, depleted and unfocused.  It's important to step back from the day to day activities and refocus.  In America, we could refer to that as a vacation. Most everyone I know takes a vacation. Whether it's 1 day or 14 days you may have the privilege to enjoy, getting away for an intentional Time Out will result as productive and essential for you and your family.

My family and I just returned from our Time Out (vacation) in North Georgia. Our plan was to get away, relax, have fun, refocus and make memories together and ------- well, that's just what we did. We decided to do away with schedules and alarm clocks for an entire week and wow, did we ever loose track of time. One morning we laughed so hard because none of us could remember what day it was. We had to turn on our cell phone and check the calender to make sure we were on track.

We visited Helton Creek Falls and the Ocoee River:

Helton Creek Falls on our way up!

God's creation is absolutely breath-taking!
You will NEVER convince me there is no God.

We spent time on Lake Chatugue:

We even found a rope swing off Gibby Island:

and we spent time relaxing, playing uno, exploring the area and having some fun:

One of our favorite parts of the trip was the day we travelled up to our Alma Mater, Lee University! We were surprised to see how much the campus has changed. Torrey showed the kids our favorite places to eat, where we worked while attending Lee, where we lived as students and even where he proposed. (Awwweeeee!) It was a great day.

Hudson showing Noah & Karson the Student Center.
 It was amazing, especially compared to the previous one.

Lee University - Home of the Flames!
(Our Alma Mater)

I don't think we could have planned a better trip... to sum it up: PERFECT!

Are you jealous? Well maybe it's been too long since you have taken a Time Out for yourself. You should make plans today to enjoy a Time Out soon. Even if you can only get away for the day, it will be so worth it.

Thank you Lord for Time Outs, this one was very much needed. We came away refreshed, renewed and certainly refocused. You are an amazing God who knows exactly what we need and you are never late. We thank you for the provision to make this trip. Please bless the family who so graciously opened their "home away from home" to us. May they experience the blessing in return one-hundred fold and may their home continue to be a place of rest and enrichment, filled with your love and abiding peace for all who enter.

Amen

Rightfully Dividing God's Word

My husband and I were talking recently with a few Elders who serve with us at our local church regarding the decline of morality in the modern day church.  "Many choose to justify their sinful behavior as excusable. They distort God's grace believing He is merciful beyond measure. We need to rightfully divide the word of God, keeping those under our care on the right track." (Pastor Torrey) 


Rightfully dividing the word means we not only need to talk about God's grace but we must also include His judgment. It has become popular in this day for ministers to selectively choose what scriptures to preach leaning on the side of grace, leaving our congregations empty handed to defeat the enemy of deceit in their lives. As a result there is a generation who is rapidly being persuaded that sinning is excusable (change is not necessary), neutrality is affirming peace (peace at all cost), and conformity is Jesus' way (accept all religions and beliefs).

The word of God is the only infallible truth and it must be rightfully divided. It is our only hope for a lost and deceived generation. Without the truth rightfully divided, we are encouraging many to continue in their sins and damning them straight to hell. If God did not spare the angels when they continued to sin but sent them to eternal judgment, He will have to keep His promise and do the same for you and I. (2 Peter 4)

I beg you to consider the words of the Lord, to Jeremiah! If you serve in ministry as a leader among your community of believers, take a stand and rightfully divide the word of God. God didn't call you to be a man pleaser, He said if they rejected Him they will certainly reject you. Further more you are not doing any favors to those under your care by declaring "peace and we are safe" (Jeremiah 6:14). You are only tainting the true word of God and helping to assist the enemy in his cloud of deception, holding yourself liable for the many you lead astray. (Zechariah 10:2-3 and Acts 20:27-31)


Jeremiah 7 - New International Version
The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: "Stand in the gate of the Lord's house and proclaim there this word, and say:

Hear the word of the Lord all men(women of Judah) who enter these gates to worship the Lord. Amend your ways and your deeds and I will let you dwell in this place. Do not trust in these deceptive words: "This is the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord." For if you truly amend your ways and your deeds, if you truly execute justice one with another, if you do not oppress the sojourner, the fatherless, or the wide or shed innocent blood in this place and if you do not go after other gods to your own harm, then I will let you dwell in this place and the land that I gave of old. Behold you trust in deceptive words to no, avail. Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, make offerings to Baal and go after other gods that you have not known, and then come and stand before me in this house which is called by my name and say, 'We are safe and delivered!' Only to go on doing all these abominations? Has this house which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, I the Lord have seen it myself. Go now to my place that was in Shiloh, where I made my name dwell at first and see what I did to it because of the evil of MY people Israel. Now, because you continue to do all these things and when I spoke to you persistently you did not listen and when I called you you did not answer, therefore I will do to the house that is called by my name, and in which you trust and to the place that I gave to you as I also did to Shiloh. And I will cast you out of my sight as I cast out all your kinsmen and all the offspring. As for you do not pray for this people, or lift up a cry or prayer for them and do not intercede with me, for I will not hear you. Do you not see what they are doing in the cities (of Judah) and in the streets (of Jerusalem).

Jeremiah 7 --- The Message Version

Stand in the gate of God's Temple and preach this message. Say, Listen all you people (Judah) who come through these gates to worship God. God of the Angel-Armies, Israel's God has this to say to you:

Clean up your act, the way you live, the things you do, so I can make my home with you in this place. Don't for a minute believe the lies being spoken here --"This is God's Temple, This is God's Temple, God's Temple, God's Temple!" Total nonsense! Only if you clean up your act (the way you live, the things you do), only if you do a total spring cleaning on the way you live and treat your neighbors, only if you quit exploiting the street people, orphans and windows, and no longer take advantage of innocent people on this very site and no longer destroy your souls by using this Temple as a front for other gods. Only then will i move into your neighborhood. Only then will this country I gave your ancestors be my permanent home, MY TEMPLE. Get smart! Your leaders are handing you a pack of lies, and you're swallowing them! Use your heads! Do you think you can rob and murder, have sex with the neighborhood wives, tell lies nonstop, worship the local gods of pleasure and money, and buy every novel religious commodity on the market and then march into this Temple, set apart for My worship and say, "We are safe!" thinking that the place itself gives you a licensee to go on with all this outrageous sacrilege? A cave full of criminals! Do you think you can turn this Temple, which has been set apart for my worship, into something like that? Well think again! I've got eyes in my head, I can see what's going on, declares the Lord. Take a trip down to the place that was once Shiloh, where I met my people in the early days. Take a look at those ruins, what I did to it because of the evil ways of my people. So now because of the way you have lived and failed to listen or change, even though time and again I took you aside and talked seriously with you and because you refused to change when I called you to repent, I'm going to do to this Temple, set aside for my worship, this place you think is going to keep you safe no matter what, this place I gave as a gift to your ancestors and you, the same as I did to Shiloh. And as for you, I'm going to get rid of you in the same way I got rid of those relatives of yours around Shiloh, your fellow Israelites in that former kingdom to the north. And you Jeremiah, do not waste your time praying for this people. Don't offer another petition on their behalf or intercessions. Don't bother me with them. I'm not listening. Can't you see what they're doing in all the villages and in the streets?

Psalm 37-God's Got This.

We had an overwhelming response of contacts this week, asking for the scripture passage quoted by Pastor Torrey in the opening of (June 26, 2011) Sunday morning's service. Pastor Torrey concluded by saying,  "The enemy may appear to be getting away with his plans and schemes, but you can be assured, God's got this."

Psalms 37: 1-13

Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong;  for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away. Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: 

He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun. Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;do not fret—it leads only to evil. 

For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land. A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found. But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy peace and prosperity. The wicked plot against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them; but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he knows their day is coming.

David the little boy who killed Goliath, wrote these passages. What I find so amazing is God chose a little shepherd boy to take down the Philistine Giant and save his people. If God can use a little shepherd boy, He surely isn't limited in taking down the giant set against you, your family, your church, your community, your nation!

The enemy would like you to think otherwise, that's why he continues to make threats, just as Goliath did to the armies of Israel. John Hagee said about enemies, "A magnified enemy is one who likes to run his mouth alot, but in reality he can be defeated by one stone!" So do not be intimidated by the enemies threats. His public & private attempts to gain allegiance to his cause, are futile in God's eyes. 

All God needs is one little Shepherd boy who is willing to:

• Put down another man's armor and use his own.
• David told Saul he didn't need his armor. Which lets us know God had equipped little David with all he needed to slay the Giant. You don't need the armor of man when you have the armor of God? 
• Label the enemy.
• David had no problem labeling the enemy. As a matter of fact that's how he addressed him. He called him an "Uncircumcised Philistine"!  (T.D. Jakes said, He makes no apologies in labeling his enemies, because it's God's requirement for defeating them.) When engaged in spiritual warfare, call it what it is and make no apologies. The enemy doesn't like to be exposed -- You can count on it! 
• Pick up your sling and a few stones.
• Be ready to move forward when God says move...but not a minute before.

It's so exciting to be on God's team. Let Him position you on the field anyway He chooses; even if it is to move mountains, slay giants, and free nations! Don't doubt Him, He knows what He's doing.