Five Stones

Yesterday I finished my Facing Your Giants book by Max Lucado. It was great! I got used to his style of writing and it launched me into a memorization habit without even trying to! Yesterday I read this great chapter called Take Goliath Down! It talks about the five answers that are revealed in the story of David, represented by the five stones he chose. You use your five fingers to remind you of the five stones you need to face down your Goliath. Paraphrased, it said:

Let your thumb remind you of . . .
1. The Stone of the Past
David remembered how he killed the bear and the lion as he was facing Goliath. When you face a Goliath, remember how God has helped you do amazing things in the past. Remember how he has fought your enemies and given you victory.

Write today's worries in the sand. Chisel yesterday's victories in stone.

Pick up the stone of the past. Then select . . .
2. The Stone of Prayer
Note the valley between your thumb and finger. To pass from one to the next you must go through it. David fell before he got up. Eph. 6:18 says "Prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long."

Peace is promised to the one who fixes thoughts and desires on the king.

Invite God's help. Pick up the stone of prayer. And don't neglect . . .
3. The Stone of Priority
Let your tallest finger remind you of your highest priority. God's reputation. David jealousy guarded it.

See your struggle as God's canvas. On it he will paint his multicolored supremacy.

Announce God's name and then reach for . . .
4. The Stone of Passion
Once David hit Goliath, he didn't run from the giant, he ran towards him. Do the same! What good has problem-pondering gotten you? You've stared so long you can number the hairs on Goliath's chest. Has it helped? No.

Let your ring finger remind you to take up the stone of passion. One more stone, and finger, remains:

5. The Stone of Persistence
David didn't think one rock would do. He didn't gather 5 stones because he thought God couldn't do it with one. He gathered four more because of the four relatives of Goliath's that also needed to be taken down. David gathered five stones. You do likewise. Past, Prayer, Priority, Passion and Persistence.

Next time Goliath wakes you up, reach for a stone. Odds are, he'll be out of the room before you can load your sling.

We'll probably be back to This Little Church Went to Market on Wednesday. I have one more thing to share from the Giants book tomorrow. Blessings to you on this mid 90's day!

New Books

Greg asked me to order a book for him last week called Found Faithful. It's about great Christian throughout history, that despite the huge obstacles in their lives, have been found faithful. It's a book that gives so much hope and encouragement. I can't wait to read it.

The I felt that I needed to read the book Oprah keeps promoting, A New Earth. I feel a need to know what it says, so I can accurately respond to it. Kind of like when the Da Vinci Code came out. Greg said okay, but as long as I read Hank Hanegraaff's book written in response to Eckhart Tolle's book called Paradise Still Lost in a New Earth at the same time. It can be ordered here.

Fun Summer Reading. I'm still reading Facing Your Giants by Max Lucado. I'm learning more and more about the life of David. I was at our local Bible bookstore yesterday and there is even a yearly flip daybrightener (like a devotional) on the book with excerpts from the book. Cool.

Anyway, time to get ready for our prayer walk. We look forward to anticipation of what God will speak to us today! Have a blessed weekend!