King David, my kinda guy

Dear Reader,
This week I have been reading all about King David - far from flawless (a murderous adulterer actually)He was perhaps the greatest King of Israel, once called "a man after [God's] own heart" (1 Sam. 13:14). From the most meek of beginnings and by faith alone he killed the giant, led his nation in battle and ruled Judea. He was the standard by which all Kings of Israel would be measured, even though he was a corrupted man. His faith made him a hero.(2 Sam. 5:1-3; 22:2-51, 1 Kgs. 15:3-5, 11) It is through David's line that the Messiah of the world would be born. (Mark 12:35; Luke 1:32; Rom. 1:3) 


A soldier, politician and musician, David was not a perfect leader or a perfect man, but his years alone with God, humbled and crumbled in the dark, developed the soul of a legendary philosopher-king, and forged a legacy that endures to this day.


Just when I think I am not good enough for God, I remember those on whom His favor has rested - those who the almighty creator has decided to have work for Him, its a surprising bunch.
Do not wait to be worthy, approach the throne boldly, have faith - like David.

The 23rd Psalm

The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
He leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul:
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name' sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil: For thou art with me;
Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies;
Thou annointest my head with oil; My cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the House of the Lord forever.

-- KJV

WHERE: The valley of the shadow of death
WHO: He prepares a table before me in the presence of my enemies
WHAT: I shall not want
WHEN: I will dwell on the house of the Lord forever

A life already lived before

The Highwayman - Stevie Nicks

Alas he was the highwayman
The one that comes and goes
And only the highway-woman
Keeps up with the likes of those
And she in all her magic
With hands as quick as light
Took him to be a challenge
And went into the night


And he in all his glory
Was far ahead of her
But she was never sorry
For wishes that would burn
Enter competition
She chases beneath the moon
Her horse is like a dragonfly
She is just a fool


And she wonders is this real
Or does she just want to be Queen
And he fights the way he feels
Is this the end of the dream


And then he sees her coming
Heartbeats on the wind
Considers slowing down
But then...he could never win
And she...out in the distance
Sees him against the sky
A pale and violent rider
A dream begun in wine


And she wonders is this real
Or does she just want to be Queen
And he fights the way he feels
Is this the end of the dream


A dream as the thunder wakes her
And her highwayman disappears
on a life already lived before
In eyes welled with tears


Today and still today they ride
Will they ever win
He the glory...
She the love...
Still they try again
He the glory...
She the love...
Still they try again
He the glory...
She the love...
And still they...try...again

King Davids story, as sung by KD

I've heard there was a secret chord
That David played, and it pleased the Lord
But you don't really care for music, do you?
It goes like this
The fourth, the fifth
The minor fall, the major lift
The baffled king composing Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

Your faith was strong but you needed proof
You saw her bathing on the roof
Her beauty in the moonlight overthrew you
She tied you to a kitchen chair
She broke your throne, and she cut your hair
And from your lips she drew the Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

Baby I have been here before
I know this room, I've walked this floor
I used to live alone before I knew you.
I've seen your flag on the marble arch
Love is not a victory march
It's a cold and it's a broken Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

There was a time when you let me know
What's really going on below
But now you never show it to me, do you?
And remember when I moved in you
The holy dove was moving too
And every breath we drew was Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

Maybe there’s a God above
But all I’ve ever learned from love
Was how to shoot at someone who outdrew you
It’s not a cry you can hear at night
It’s not somebody who has seen the light
It’s a cold and it’s a broken Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

You say I took the name in vain
I don't even know the name
But if I did, well really, what's it to you?
There's a blaze of light in every word
It doesn't matter which you heard
The holy or the broken Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

I did my best, it wasn't much
I couldn't feel, so I tried to touch
I've told the truth, I didn't come to fool you
And even though it all went wrong
I'll stand before the Lord of Song
With nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah

My heroes have always been cowboys

My Grandma Mahota, a cowgirl in her own right, encouraged us to have cowboys as our heroes - she would say "there's no truer example of the American spirit than a cowboy".
Brave and bold,
reckless and careless,
wild and free,
rough and ready,
tough to tame and hard to handle -
God bless us all who have that spirit within ourselves...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMko5LelBdA

PS, Mahota also offered the advice that its better to BE a cowboy than to try and love one!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngbcsxFET68
Cowboys ain't easy to love and they're harder to hold.
They'd rather give you a song than diamonds or gold.
Lonestar belt buckles and old faded levis, 
And each night begins a new day.
If you don't understand him, an' he don't die young,
He'll prob'ly just ride away.

Cowboys like smokey old pool rooms and clear mountain mornings,
Little warm puppies and children and girls of the night.
Them that don't know him won't like him and them that do,
Sometimes won't know how to take him.
He ain't wrong, he's just different but his pride won't let him,
Do things to make you think he's right.

Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys.
Don't let 'em pick guitars or drive them old trucks.
Let 'em be doctors and lawyers and such.
Mamas don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys.
'Cos they'll never stay home and they're always alone.
Even with someone they love.

He sees it all...

Dear Reader,

Sadly what comes around doesn't always go around. Bad things happen to good people, seemingly undeserving folks do real well while the kindest get the short end of the stick. Young children suffer, we lose those we love, life is commonly unfair. In spite of this, many continue to do good for others, unseen - without reward. Fight the good fight everyone, darkness is only the absence of light - not an entity unto itself. Let your little light shine, He sees everything :)

Hebrews 6:10

The Message (MSG)

 ^9-12I'm sure that won't happen to you, friends. I have better things in mind for you—salvation things! God doesn't miss anything. He knows perfectly well all the love you've shown him by helping needy Christians, and that you keep at it. And now I want each of you to extend that same intensity toward a full-bodied hope, and keep at it till the finish. Don't drag your feet. Be like those who stay the course with committed faith and then get everything promised to them.

Luke 12:6-7; Matthew 10-29-31
Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies?
Yet not one of them is forgotten by God.
Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTB0Ej9bV00&feature=fvsr

True meaning?

Luke 2:1-20: The "Real" War on Christmas? - The Huffington Post

This little light of mine....

^{WHY HANUKKAH? Hanukkah is not mentioned in the Old Testament, only in the NEW!} 

^{It is a celebration of NON-ASSIMILATION about freedom and faith.} 

^{Do you feel like Christmas has been hijacked, are you having trouble finding CHRIST IN CHRISTmas?}

^{WELL, THAT IS BECAUSE HE IS SMACK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HANUKKIAH :)}

Light the lights, celebrate the miracle & help prepare the world for the coming of Messiah.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfIGDIaiN0Y

^{John 10:22} It was now winter, and Jesus was in Jerusalem at the time of Hanukkah, the Festival of Dedication. ²³ He was in the Temple, walking through the section known as Solomon’s Colonnade. ²⁴The people surrounded him and asked, “How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”

 ²⁵ Jesus replied, “I have already told you, and you don’t believe me. The proof is the work I do in my Father’s name. ²⁶ But you don’t believe me because you are not my sheep. ²⁷ My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. ²⁸ I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, ²⁹ for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else.^[a] No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand. ³⁰ The Father and I are one.”

 ³¹ Once again the people picked up stones to kill him. ³² Jesus said, “At my Father’s direction I have done many good works. For which one are you going to stone me?”

 ³³ They replied, “We’re stoning you not for any good work, but for blasphemy! You, a mere man, claim to be God.”

 ³⁴ Jesus replied, “It is written in your own Scriptures^[b] that God said to certain leaders of the people, ‘I say, you are gods!’^[c] 35 And you know that the Scriptures cannot be altered. So if those people who received God’s message were called ‘gods,’ ³⁶ why do you call it blasphemy when I say, ‘I am the Son of God’? After all, the Father set me apart and sent me into the world. ³⁷ Don’t believe me unless I carry out my Father’s work. ³⁸ But if I do his work, believe in the evidence of the miraculous works I have done, even if you don’t believe me. Then you will know and understand that the Father is in me, and I am in the Father.”

 ³⁹ Once again they tried to arrest him, but he got away and left them. ⁴⁰ He went beyond the Jordan River near the place where John was first baptizing and stayed there awhile. ⁴¹ And many followed him. “John didn’t perform miraculous signs,” they remarked to one another, “but everything he said about this man has come true.” ⁴² And many who were there believed in Jesus.

A holiday of non-assimilation? I'm in.

http://ohr.edu/yhiy/article.php/1327

MV

http://www.susanbranch.com/marthas-vineyard-love-letter
great site!