David - a man after My own heart

David - a man after My own heart

IMPRINTS #4

If you wanted a kitten and had to choose between Pebbles (the calico) or Bamm Bamm (the yellow tiger); which one would you choose?  Which kitten looks to be the most loveable, friendly and over all nice kitty?

So often we choose by “looks” what the outside package has to offer.  We base a first impression by what we see and many times bypass a diamond in the ruff.

When the prophet Samuel was sent by God to choose a King from among the sons of Jesse the Lord told Samuel; God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.  The Lord did not want Samuel to just look at the outside appearance.  The next King would truly need to be a man after God’s own heart.  Saul had been the people’s choice a man of physical stature and he failed miserably (1 Samuel chapter 8, 1 Samuel 9:2).

David even as a young man had the imprints of God in his life and because of his heart the Lord would anoint him as king (1 Samuel 16:13, 1 Samuel 17: 34-36).  In fact the Bible says in Acts 13:22(NKJV) And when He had removed him, He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I have found David  the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.’  

What was it about David that set him apart?  … a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.’  Not only did he have a heart that sought the Lord, the Lord could trust him to do the will of the Lord!  David just seemed to be multitalented; he was an incredible musician who led the people musically (1 Chronicles 13:8), a fierce warrior and as King a great leader.  I truly believe it all goes back to what is said about him in Acts 13:22.  If we as a people would apply; Matthew 6:33(NKJV) But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 

Oh, by the way FYI - Bamm Bamm is the nice kitty.

IMPRINTS #3

Since the creation of this world, there has been an undeniable imprint upon the people of God.  Regardless of circumstances or the evil which tries to rear its ugly head …

“Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid nor dismayed before the king of Assyria, nor before all the multitude that is with him; for there are more with us than with him. 
With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the Lord our God, to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people were strengthened by the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.  2 Chronicles 32:7-8(NKJV) (also Read 2 Kings 18:16-2 Kings 19:1-19)

Battles are waged every day.  They are physical, mental or spiritual and mostly all three woven within each other. Regardless of the intensity of these battles the Lord God is with us and the enemy only has an arm of flesh.   In 2 Chronicles chapter 32 and 2 Kings chapters 18-19; Hezekiah makes a decision and that is to trust in the one true God who is mighty to save.  The King of Assyria endeavored to pose a great threat against King Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem. 

Hezekiah prepared physically for battle but he knew the real strength would come only through the Lord God and he knew the enemy could not stand against the one true God.  Hezekiah literally takes a letter that the King of Assyria wrote against the Lord God and spreads it out before God; a powerful imprint or encounter transpires as he states his case before the Lord (Isaiah 43:25-26).  Unstoppable faith arises and the prophet of the Lord (Isaiah) pays him a visit and confirms; because he prayed and sought God Almighty, He (God) heard and according to 2 Kings 19:35-37 … on a certain night an angel of the Lord went into the camp and killed the Assyria army.  Then the kings own sons killed Sennacherib (the Assyrian King) while he worshipped a foreign god (idol).

I am sure this was one imprint that King Hezekiah never forgot!

The same one true God Almighty is willing and able to go to battle for us…PTL!

IMPRINTS part #2

And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.” Genesis 2:18(NKJV)

Wow, the Lord knew Adam would be lonely and He created all these animals for Adam to care for, nurture and keep him company but none would be found comparable to Adam.  So the Lord pays Adam a holy visitation and an imprint is brought into his life which I am sure he never forgot!  You see a true imprint can never be washed away or forgotten.

And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. 
Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man.
And Adam said:      “This is now bone of my bones     And flesh of my flesh;     She shall be called Woman,     Because she was taken out of Man.” Genesis 2:21-23(NKJV)

Then God Himself performs the first wedding ceremony!!

V 24-25 Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.

From the very beginning of time the Lord instituted a covenant that affects us all in one way or another.  Whether we are the off-spring of this covenant or we are married.  Nothing will ever remove the marriage union, not man, Politian or times.  The Lord set forth this covenant and no amount of man’s doings will ever abolish it.  Oh, yes they will try but I am telling you it will endure.  You see even in Biblical times those people tried to pervert it but Jesus said;

Mark 10:3-9(NKJV)
And He answered and said to them, “What did Moses command you?”
They said, “Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce, and to dismiss her.”
And Jesus answered and said to them, “Because of the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept. 
But from the beginning of the creation, God ‘made them male and female.’  
‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, 
and the two shall become one flesh’; so then they are no longer two, but one flesh. 
Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.”

Things appear dark out there in regards to marriages; it is time to turn our hearts back and reestablish solid foundations for marriages to be built upon and take part in a Holy union that is a reflection of Jesus Christ and the Bride…that is without spot or wrinkle!

To be cont’d…imprints



IMPRINTS

I would define an imprint as; a deep undeniable encounter, THAT IS FOREVER ECTHED IN YOUR MIND.  Those Kodak moments par say good or bad that take up permanent residence.  Webster partly defines “imprint” as to fix firmly in the mind, a lasting influence or effect[i].

Of course I would absolutely prefer to only have those good moments be highlighted in the store house of my mind.  For now let’s just focus on the good.  What are the imprints in your mind that you can recall every so clearly even from childhood?  What is your favorite imprint?

I remember the first time Dan ever kissed me and the “imprint” that it left.  I remember the place, the time and what I was wearing.  Like yesterday I recall him gently placing his hand on the back of my neck and thinking he is messing up my hair.  As we said our vows on our wedding day I know the exact moment he said “I do” and the thoughts that raced through my mind. 

Not only do we have “physical imprints”; we also have “spiritual imprints”.  The first time I realized the Lord was speaking to me I had just dropped my youngest daughter off at pre-school.  I returned home, sat down in the rocker recliner and proceeded to do my devotions.  At this time in my life I was diligently seeking the Lord so desiring to grow spiritually but frustrated that I just did know what to do next.  I began to pray and said; “Lord I am not leaving this chair until I hear from you”.  Wow - the Lord paid me a visit that day and a journey began as He taught me the Holy Word (Bible).  You see I did not have a mentor to show me or teach me how to live for God so the Lord told me what to look up in Bible and gave me understanding of that scripture.  That “imprint” or encounter forever changed my life as a young wife and mother…but it did not stop there.

Since summer has hit I have neglected my blog (sorry) I will try to do better even if sunshine and waterfront is calling my name!

We will be taking a look at some Biblical examples of “imprints”…so check back, until then try to recall the most impacting “imprint” of your life and how it shaped your life.

A true imprint can never be washed away! 

[i] Webster Dictionary and Thesaurus. Nichols Publishing Group, 1999.,421

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LEFT BEHIND

After the celebration was over, they started home to Nazareth, but Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents didn’t miss him at first, because they assumed he was among the other travelers. But when he didn’t show up that evening, they started looking for him among their relatives and friends. When they couldn’t find him, they went back to Jerusalem to search for him there.  Three days later they finally discovered him in the Temple, sitting among the religious teachers, listening to them and asking questions. Luke 2:43-46(NLT)

Have you ever wondered as a parent how is it possible that Joseph and Mary left Jesus behind?  After all they were entrusted to raise and look after the Son of God. They of all the couples living on the earth at that time were chosen by God for a reason.  The Bible calls Joseph a righteous man (Matthew 1:19) and Mary was called highly favored one and blessed among women (Luke 1:28).

There was a time in my life as we raised our daughters where I did wonder about this scripture; thinking how is it possible that they lost track of Jesus and He was left behind.

There was a season when Dan and I drove to church in separate cars because of the different responsibilities of serving at church and the time frames involved.  Our daughters would sometimes ride to church with one of us then ride home with the other parent.  After one of our daughters was left behind twice at church we had to make a rule that was unbreakable.  Whoever you rode to church with – you will ride home with and no exception to the rule.  It was a 15 minute drive home from church and a 15 minute drive back and this was before cell phones so thank God for a very patient and understanding Sunday school teacher.

Before this issue of Jesus being left behind the Bible tells us in Luke 2:39-40(NLT), When Jesus’ parents had fulfilled all the requirements of the law of the Lord, they returned home to Nazareth in Galilee.  There the child grew up healthy and strong. He was filled with wisdom, and God’s favor was on him. 

Notice, Joseph and Mary fulfilled the requirement of the law of the Lord, they had lived their lives holy before the Lord and raised Jesus according to the Word.

We are given a promise in Psalms 112; if we live “rightly” it will carry promise for our children.

I encourage you to read this passage slowly and mediate on the message of what our responsibility is and if we live accordingly, what the outcome will be.

Psalms 112:1-10(NLT)
    Praise the LORD!   How joyful are those who fear the LORD and delight in obeying his commands. Their children will be successful everywhere; an entire generation of godly people will be blessed. They themselves will be wealth, and their good deeds will last forever. Light shines in the darkness for the godly. They are generous, compassionate, and righteous. Good comes to those who lend money generously      and conduct their business fairly. Such people will not be overcome by evil. Those who are righteous will be long remembered. They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the LORD to care for them. They are confident and fearless and can face their foes triumphantly.  They share freely and give generously to those in need. Their good deeds will be remembered forever. They will have influence and honor. The wicked will see this and be infuriated. They will grind their teeth in anger; they will slink away, their hopes thwarted.

And here is another promise we can count on:

Psalms 92:13-15(NLT)
    For they are transplanted to the LORD’s own house. They flourish in the courts of our God. Even in old age they will still produce fruit; they will remain vital and green.
    They will declare, “The LORD is just!      He is my rock!     There is no evil in him!”

Joseph and Mary are great example of Godly parents for the Bible says:

Luke 2:46-52(NLT)
Three days later they finally discovered him in the Temple, sitting among the religious teachers, listening to them and asking questions. 
All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 
His parents didn’t know what to think. “Son,” his mother said to him, “why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been frantic, searching for you everywhere.” 
“But why did you need to search?” he asked. “Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?” 
But they didn’t understand what he meant. 
Then he returned to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. And his mother stored all these things in her heart. 
Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people. 

If by accident one of your children were “left behind”, what would they be found doing?

PLAN A

How many times have we said; “if Plan A does not work we will go to Plan B”?  If we had a dollar for every time that was said we would all be rich!

There were times in life where I have had only Plan A and there was no back-up plan (Plan B) to be had and that is where trust must come in.  Dan and I raised three daughters two years apart.  We came to this time in life where for seven years – three girls were in college and three weddings took place.  One of our daughters wanted an outdoor wedding on Labor Day weekend.  We rented the park and began to make all the arrangements for the grandeur event to take place.  During this time one on my friends said; but what if it rains?  My budget was extremely skinny due to the fact of three in college and we had paid for a wedding two years earlier.  I looked at my friend and replied there is no Plan B, we will trust the Lord.  My mind began to mull realizing the budget would not afford us a wedding tent or an alternate location but I pushed that aside and trusted the Lord.  By the way not only was the wedding beautiful on the skinny budget the weather was absolutely perfect!

There have been times where I sought the Lord for an answer asking Him should I do this or should I do that.  No answer came…I struggled with this  and more than once I have sensed the Lord say; Penny, I am going to bless you no matter what you decide to do in this…but Lord only you know the future and I do not want to miss your “plan” for us.  Penny, I am going to bless you no matter what you decide to do in this.  Yes, there will be many times when we do not get a direct answer to a prayer, but understand this as long as you are not sinning (because that is against God’s will and His Word), He always has you covered. 

If we obey the Lord through the guidelines that are laid out in the Word (Bible); Psalms 31:15(NKJV) My times are in Your hand; Deliver me from the hand of my enemies, And from those who persecute me.

Having thus taken to the best resource by trusting in Jehovah, and having made the grandest claim possible by saying, “Thou art my God”, the Psalmist now stays himself upon a grand old doctrine, one of the most wonderful that was ever revealed to men. He sings, “My times are in thy hand.” This to him was a most cheering fact: he had no fear as to his circumstances, since all things were in the divine hand. He was not shut up unto the hand of the enemy; but his feet stood in a large room, for he was in a space large enough for the ocean, seeing the Lord had placed him in the hollow of his hand. To be entirely at the disposal of God is life and liberty for us.

The great truth is this — all that concerns the believer is in the hands of the Almighty God. “My times”, these change and shift; but they change only in accordance with unchanging love, and they shift only according to the purpose of One with whom is no variableness nor shadow of a turning. “My times”, that is to say, my ups and my downs, my health and my sickness, my poverty and my wealth — all those are in the hand of the Lord, who arranges and appoints according to his holy will the length of my days, and the darkness of my nights. Storms and calms vary the seasons at the divine appointment. Whether times are reviving or depressing remains with him who is Lord both of time and of eternity; and we are glad it is so.  “My Times Are In Thy Hand”

A SERMON
(No. 2205)

Delivered on Lord’s-Day Morning, May 17th, 1891, by
C. H. SPURGEON,

At the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington

You can count on the fact; Psalms 16:6(NKJV) The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Yes, I have a good inheritance.

TRUST

FATHER'S DAY TRIBUTE

This Sunday we celebrate Father’s Day.  I encourage all of us to study our Fathers. Find out something about them that you never knew.  When you study for a test, a job skill or hobby; time and effort is put in to make sure your best can be done.  I can assure you the time and the effort you put into learning about your Father will reap rewards for a lifetime.

Recently I asked my grandchildren what was their favorite thing about their Dad. 

Family #1:

8 yr. old girl:  He tickles us.

5 yr. old boy:  He takes me to the movies and plays with me.

3 yr. old boy:  He plays basketball with me.

The Mom:  He is a hands on Dad.

Family #2:

8yr. old girl:  He is always there for me.

3 yr. old girl:  He takes me fishing.

The Mom:  He plays with the girls on their level.  Now this daughter also responded and wanted to tell her favorite thing about her Dad (Dan):  He taught me never to give up, to go down fighting and swinging. (Oh, by the way that was not a literally statement…Dan did not teach the girls how to box!!)

A common thread runs through those responses and it is time.  Dad's your kids love you to spend time with them!

January of 2006 my Father passed away.  I was amazed at the things I learned about my Dad at his funeral.  I was also shocked to see there was not even standing room left at the funeral.  Unfortunately I did not realize how many lives my Dad had impacted while here on this earth. I wished I had taken the time while my Father was alive to learn those things about him, the priceless stories people told me at his funeral.  You see Kenneth (my Father) was a carpenter by trade and he had invested in countless young men teaching them the trade and giving those young men their livelihood.  Kenneth also attended every military funeral within Branch County and beyond. A bus was used to bring former military to attend Dad’s funeral.  However, active military attended also.  The funeral director made mention that Ken’s funeral was the largest military funeral they had ever had. Yes, my Dad was extremely patriotic.    My husband Dan delivered the message that day and I had the opportunity to also speak.  Below is what I presented at Dad’s funeral.

Kenneth Stamp my father was a carpenter.

 One of the things I admired most about my father was, his God given talent to take wood and turn it into something beautiful and useful.  In his younger years constructing commercial buildings, houses, house additions and remodeling projects-to his retirement years of making toy boxes for our children. If you were to go to my parents house right now into the basement or garage you will find unfinished projects.  Many times I wish I would have inherited his talent in carpentry; especially when I endeavor to fix something myself.

This last week as we watched my father slowly pass away; I watched the many times my mother would pick up my Dad’s hands and say “these hands have done a lot of work and made many things”  Thursday when we were with my mother as she picked out Dad’s casket, she was drawn to this casket.  She said it reminded her of my Dad and something he would have built.  I agree.

My father was a carpenter and I love him.

There is another carpenter who I love more than life itself.  His name is Jesus Christ.  Yes, Jesus was a carpenter on this physical earth that is how he made his living.  But that is not why he came to this earth.  My old pastors of 17yrs. use to say for every thing in the physical; there is a spiritual application.  Just as a carpenter takes a piece of wood and uses it to fashion, shape and build, Jesus came to build fashion and shape lives.

When a carpenter builds a house he must make sure the foundation is solid.  The foundation is the strongest part of the house and must be to with stand storms, wind and rain.  In Matthew 7:24-27 is the story of the house built on sand and the house build on the rock.  Just as the foundation of a physical house must be strong; so must the foundation of our lives.  If we have a solid foundation built on the Rock of Christ Jesus we will be able to with stand the storms of this life.

I would like to give you an opportunity to ask Jesus to be your savior. If you have never made a commitment to Jesus or would like to renew your commitment to the Lord Jesus, we will take a moment now.   My husband has already quoted many scriptures in reference to eternal life.  The one we are most familiar with is John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 

There is only one way to the Father in heaven and that is through Jesus.

If you will repeat this simple prayer today your name will be written in the Lamb’s Book of life and you will be heaven bound. 

Dear Heavenly Father,

I come to you in Jesus name.  Your word says all have fallen short of the glory of God.  I ask you to forgive me of my sins and wash me white as snow.  I recognize Jesus Christ is the Son of the one true living God.  I invite him into my heart to be my savior. I desire a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.  Thank you Father for today my name has been written in the Lamb’s Book of Life and I am Heaven bound.  Amen

If you prayed that prayer for the first time or are renewing your commitment to Jesus I encourage you to do three things to start your life anew in Jesus

• Pray everyday
• Read your Bible everyday
• If you do not have a Bible believing church to attend I encourage to find one

FATHER'S - the leader of the pack!!