When you read the title of today’s message you probably felt a hint of familiarity. We’ve all come across someone who is difficult to get along with and when possible, we avoid them and steer clear of their path. But how do you handle that type of person when it’s your husband? Abigail was married to a man named Nabal and he was a difficult man. His name means fool and he lived up to that definition. His servants described him as being such a wicked man that no one can talk to him. (1 Samuel 25: 17) Abigail couldn’t avoid crossing his path so she learned how to live…

For the last few weeks I have been studying 1 Samuel 25. It is the story of a woman named Abigail. Her names means “Cause of Joy” and she was a shining example inside and out, of a Proverbs 31 woman. Sometimes when I think of what a Proverbs 31 woman is like I think of a woman who has it all together and can do anything; the ideal wonder woman. At times I compare myself and I never fail to find areas that I’m lacking, but I’ve learned that there is no joy in comparison. When we compare ourselves to others, we are only seeing the surface of their…

After a busy work week we headed out of town to attend my nephews wedding. It was the first time my granddaughters had spent the night in a hotel and they were so excited. I told them that we had a secret door between our rooms and they were very surprised to see grandpa on the other side of the door when they knocked. We had some fun girl time as we put on our dancing dresses and prepared to celebrate. Throughout the evening we visited and reconnected with family while dining and dancing. It was a very enjoyable event. Bright and early the next morning it was a race…

Politics are one of my least favorite things. There are so many different points of view and agendas. I do believe it is good to be informed, but I also believe that our freedom of speech is often taken to the extreme. As I was reading 1 Samuel 24 this week it was very clear on how we should handle our freedom of speech. David was being hunted by King Saul and was hiding in a cave with his small army of men when the king entered the cave to relieve himself. David’s men saw it as an opportunity from God to end Saul’s life; but it was really a…

How would you describe a true friend? What qualities would that friendship have and why would it be something you would want to be a part of? The bible tells us what a true friendship is like and what qualities make it a real treasure. It’s told in the story of David and Jonathan and is found in 1 Samuel From the first time these two met they were destined to become best friends. David had just killed Goliath and Jonathan was there to congratulate him and honor him. The word says that they “became one in spirit and he loved him as himself.” (1 Samuel 18:1) Jonathan and David…

I was watching the evening news the other day and the weather man said that the following day’s forecast would be sunny and bird’s would be singing. What a perfect forecast! It made me smile and excited for the next day. About 5:00 am the next morning I could hear the birds singing. They sounded so pretty that I laid in bed for a while just listening. There were several different songs they sang and so many different types of birds. The sun was just starting to rise above the mountains and the colors of the sunrise were golden. It was quite a site to see. One of those moments…

Last week my husband and I went on a small hike to go fishing. The place that we were going would require climbing a hill and then descending down a steep bank to the edge of the water. It was a place that we had fished the year with great success because we were able to access it from the opposite side due the river being low. The river is high this time of year so the only access is by the cliffs. As we were descending to the water our little dog slipped several times on the narrow path. I had worn flip flops, not a good choice, and…

I came across a question in my bible study on 1 Samuel 22 this week that made me stop and think. It was, “What kind of people do you attract?” David was on the run from King Saul and people began to gather around him. “All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their commander. About four hundred men were with him.” (1 Samuel 22:2). It paralleled the kind of people that gathered around Jesus; tax collectors and sinners. (Matthew 9:11) Why were these people drawn to Jesus and David? Because they understood and provided a place of acceptance. Both of them…