Can you imagine what you would be thinking if you witnessed a small-framed shepherd boy bringing a rock and a sling to an auditorium to fight a very large giant of a man with a sword?

In the Bible is a man named David, a man after God’s own heart, who stood tall and confident, knowing that ‘God’s got this.’

Have you ever been in David’s shoes? Not literally, of course. But, have you ever faced a challenge, maybe physically, maybe mentally, and instead of being afraid, you faced it head on? Did you stand strong and confident, knowing that God will fight the battle? You realized in your own strength you will lose, but with God on your side, victory is not far at hand.

Who or what giant(s) are you facing today? Do you feel ready for battle? Does God know you’re scared, but trusting Him in this?

We all face our giants daily. Be prepared for the battle, and if all you have is a rock, no worries, trust God.

1 Samuel 17:45 - "Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.”

Harvesting is the process of gathering a crop from the fields.

I’ve heard that there is a lot that goes into planting and harvesting a crop. But, one of the most important tools needed for harvesting is patience.

A farmer needs to know the right time to plant; the right time to harvest. As the crop is growing, he ensures it gets enough sun and water, in order for it to grow to the maturity level needed.

In my opinion, the farmer has to wear many hats. He needs to know the soil, the strategies of watering, especially when the rain doesn’t come.

So it is with Christians. Whether we are sowing seeds through a ministry, facing an unseen storm, or serving others in need. We need patience.

Ecclesiastes 11:6 - “In the morning sow your seed, and at evening withhold not your hand, for you do not know which will prosper, this or that, or whether both alike will be good.”

It doesn’t matter when and where we sow spiritual seeds. It’s not our job to keep the seeds nourished and growing. That’s God’s job. He’s using each of us (if we allow Him), those who accept the challenge, to sow the seeds and be patient while God grows the crop.

We also have to accept the fact that we many not be around to see the harvest. But, that’s ok. We’ll see them in Heaven some day.

What would you do if someone deliberately hurt you, whether it was physically or emotionally? Would your thoughts immediately go to ‘revenge?’ Would you want to do the same thing back to them? That’s called revenge. And, if you’re a Christian, I hope that instead of thinking revenge, you would be thinking MERCY.

I’m not saying to just let the accusations go, and let someone walk all over you. It’s ok to be angry.

But, as a Christian, revenge shouldn’t even be a thought. Sometimes you have to forgive, then re-forgive, again and again.

After all, this is what Jesus did and aren’t we striving to be more like Him?

Instead of thinking revenge the next time someone hurts you, think mercy.

After all, who knows what kind of day or week they’ve had. Mercy may be all they have left to hold onto.

Forgive and re-forgive. Show mercy.

Romans 12:19 - “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”

A true conversion starts with the heart. Unless you’ve been born again, you will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

Some may think that they’ll give their life to God when they’re old or have done all the things they want to do. They may think that they’re not ready to be a ‘good’ person right now.

No one, not one human on earth is good enough to be a Christian. We’re all sinners. Don’t wait until it’s too late. Don’t wait until you’re good enough. God wants you to come as you are; broken, hurting, lonely and hopeless.

But even after you’ve given your life to Christ, this doesn’t mean that all of a sudden, you’re this ‘golden child of God.’ On the contrary. We all face sin and live with sin every day. But, thank God that He’s already died for all of our sins; He’s paid the price for all our past sins, or the sins of our future.

That’s why it says in the Bile that we have to die to self every day. This means laying down the old life and living for Jesus.

None of us will be perfect in this life, but we can serve the one perfect God, who will make us all perfect one day when He takes us home to Heaven, for all eternity.

Isaiah 12:2 - “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid, for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.”

In Luke 15, Jesus tells a parable of the prodigal son. He tells of a time when one of a father’s sons shows disrespect to his father, and then leaves home to ‘find a better life.’

In most cases of the above scenario, the son would be disowned, disinherited from his father’s estate.

But that’s not the case in this story. On the contrary. The dad’s reaction to his son’s return home is remarkable. He goes against everything that would have been expected in society. He welcomes him home with open arms.

This gracious, forgiving father represents God.

I’ve been the prodigal daughter. I shut God out of my life in my early 20’s and was determined to live life ‘my own way.’

How’d that work out for me? I was miserable. I kept wondering why bad things kept happening, while others around me flourished or seemed to be having a fun and easy life.

It wasn’t until I was at the end of myself, broken and damaged, that I turned to God and asked for help.

I’ll admit I thought I had blown it. I thought I had done too many bad things for God to ever forgive me. But, just like the prodigal son, God took me back with open, loving arms and I’ve never b been the same since.

The prodigal daughter is home.

Luke 15: 3-7 "- “So he told them this parable: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.”

Pride can be a dangerous thing. The opposite of being prideful is being humble. Are you too proud to ask for help?

Proverbs 16:5 - “Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the Lord; be assured, he will not go unpunished.”

I can remember my own kids, more specifically, my daughter, as she was a, let’s just say ‘active’ toddler. As her strong-willed character began to blossom, I became more aware of what I needed to do to enable her character to submit to my will. Often times her stubborn pride won, but over time, she learned to obey and learn from my teaching.

God hates pride and prideful people. These people often use power and authority to destroy other people’s lives, sometimes even their own life.

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you needed help, but was too proud or embarrassed to ask for it? Did you assume that you could ‘do it yourself?’ How did that work out for ya?

All you have to do is ask God for help. He’s closer than a text, email or phone call away.

If you’ve ever helped someone in need, you know the feeling you get of sheer joy! Take that and increase it one hundred fold, and that’s how God feels when we ask him for help.

If you’ve been a Christian more than 24 hours, then you can’t deny that your faith has already been tested.

Moments after my conversion to Christ, the devil was trying to tell me, “that didn’t work, you’re not saved.”

Testing our faith is one way that God determines our authenticity. God knows our heart already, He just wants to bring it out in our character.

I’ve had my faith tested many many times over the years. Most of the time I failed the test. But, the wonderful thing about God is that He kept testing me because He knew that He would use me for His glory some day. And, thank God, those days are here.

If someone would have told me 20 years ago that I would be going on mission trips, I would have said they’re crazy. But, true to His promises, God has placed me in the mission fields and I’m loving serving people and being a part of God’s great commission.

If you’re a Christian and you tell me you’ve never had your faith tested, then personally, I would question your faith. But, that’s not up to me to decide, is it?

Are you trustworthy in your walk with God? Have the trials you’ve gone through shown your authentic faith in God?

Trust God in everything, always, in every circumstance, in every trial.

James 1:2-4 - “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

Everywhere you go, you’ll see someone taking a picture of themselves, a selfie. I’ll admit, I’ve done it. But some people take it too far. They take selfies when they’re eating their favorite food, or standing in front of a famous landmark.

Does it sound like we’re obsessed with ourselves? Are we solely thinking of ‘me’ all the time?

Philippians 2:3 - “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.”

The Bible clearly states to not merely look at our own personal interests, but to look at the interests of others.

Often people will build themselves up while tearing others down.

As a Christian, our pure desires and motives should be to give to others, not expecting to receive anything in return.

The opposite of selfishness is love. Love is focused on pleasing others, while acting in ‘selfie’ mode is pointed to satisfying the flesh.

See how long you can go without taking a ‘selfie.’ You may be surprised that the more you take your mind off of yourself and look to the needs of others, the longer you stay focused on what matters.

Serve others before serving yourself.