When Eliab, David’s oldest brother, heard him speaking with the men, he burned with anger at him and asked, “Why have you come down here? And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the wilderness? I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is; you came down only to watch the battle.” 1 Samuel 17:28

The Bible does not give us the time lapse between David’s anointing by Samuel as Israel’s future king and the scene that took place in the Valley of Elah. We know, however, that David split time between his anointing and the battle against the Philistines between his father’s sheep farm and the king’s palace, where he played the harp to soothe Saul’s tormented heart.

Jesse’s three oldest sons –Eliab, Abinadab and Shammah, had left the farm and enlisted in Saul’s army. Their father was concerned with his sons’ well-being and sent David to check on them and bring them food. As we read on, we watch David arriving at the camp, just to find an entire army trembling in fear at the sight of its powerful enemy, led by a nine-foot-tall giant who dared shout blasphemies against Israel’s God.

They had forgotten Who led their army.

“Whenever the Israelites saw the man, they all fled from him in great fear.” 1 Samuel 17:24

David wanted to know more. So, he asked around for details of what was happening and how on earth Israel intended to stop the affront.

“Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?” (v.26)

Eliab – Jesse’s firstborn – was standing nearby, looking at David contemptuously. Anger burned within. “What on earth is this arrogant brat doing here?” – he must have thought. He then took a step forward and decided to stop the nonsense.

“What are you doing here? Where did you leave the sheep? Why are you not doing your job? I know you think you are all that and your heart is wicked. You just want to watch us get a whooping, don’t you?”

You’ll see that my paraphrasing is pretty accurate if you read his words. There’s no question David is not Eliab’s favorite.

But, wait a minute. Think about it.

Jesse’s handsome firstborn had been close to becoming king. When Samuel visited their farm, Eliab was the first son paraded in front of the prophet. Samuel thought he was it. You can picture the prophet’s face light up when he saw the strong-looking, handsome man. Eliab almost felt the first drop of oil fall on his head when Yahweh stopped the prophet in his tracks, redirecting his attention to the next son. And then the next. And the next…

Seven times was Samuel instructed to look on… until his eyes fell upon little David.

To say Eliab resented David is an understatement. The anger in his words says it all. And David’s answer tells us more about this family conflict:

“Now what have I done?” said David. “Can’t I even speak?” (v.29)

What David really meant to ask was… “what have I done NOW?”

It certainly was not the first time Eliab showed dislike for his little brother. Likewise, by the way that their father almost dismissed David during the King selection process and Eliab’s disdain, there’s no question David was overlooked, underappreciated, and even scorned by his own.

Can you relate?

Have you ever felt unappreciated, neglected, underestimated, perhaps forgotten even? Have you ever thought… If I did not wake up tomorrow, would anyone even miss me? Does my opinion even matter? Will I ever be noticed?

Have you ever felt unappreciated, neglected, underestimated, perhaps forgotten even? Have you ever thought… If I did not wake up tomorrow, would anyone even miss me? Does my opinion even matter? Will I ever be noticed?…
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At work, school, and even at home, so many people live daily feeling like no one sees them.

They may be the last player chosen on a team, get passed over for a promotion, or sit alone at a lunch table at school. They may live in a house full of people… and yet, feel hopelessly alone.

They may walk the hallways of our churches, longing for someone to care. Wishing someone would see past their cordial smiles and into their broken lives. Within their hearts, a longing grows as they feel less and less connected to the world around them.

For some… the longing turns into depression, and the depression turns into despair.

“Will anyone ever see me? Listen to me? Want me?”

Can I tell you something?

If today you feel neglected, forgotten and unappreciated, you are in good company. The only character in the Bible who God called “a man after His own heart” (Acts 13:22) was overlooked, persecuted and underestimated too.

If today you feel neglected, forgotten and unappreciated, you are in good company. The only character in the Bible who God called “a man after His own heart” (Acts 13:22) was overlooked, persecuted and underestimated too.…
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He was small in stature, and that’s what the world focused on. He was plain in looks, and his profession was not glamorous. And still, Someone more important than his family, his friends and foe alike, saw him.

He.saw.him.

And that was enough for David.

David knew his limitations. He knew he was indeed not “all that.” But he knew the One he loved with all his heart was. And that’s what he anchored his mind and heart on every time the world turned against him.

Yes. That was David’s secret to victory. Whenever despair, persecution, or loneliness haunted him, he invited Yahweh to fill the void.

Yes. That was David's secret to victory. Whenever despair, persecution, or loneliness haunted him, he invited Yahweh to fill the void.
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It may be that you feel small today. Unwanted. Alone.

King David, the shepherd boy who knew rejection, loneliness and persecution, sings from the pages of Scriptures, reminding your broken heart today:

The One who made you and knows your heart… NEVER forgets you. And there will be times in life when knowing that truth must be enough.

LINKUP PARTY opens on August 17 at 6 am!

Christian Bloggers, come share your Blog with our audience below:

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2. Visit the blogger before or after and encourage them with a comment.

3. Share on social media. Click below to share on Twitter that you are joining us! We would love to have you follow the ministry on Twitter and Facebook as well: Soaring with Him FB Page

LINKUP is open. Today, I share encouragement for those who feel invisible and forgotten as David did before becoming Israel's great king. Join us and share your blog!
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The post Rising Above Rejection, Contempt & Betrayal {Recharge Wednesday LINKUP} appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.

You’re the pastor’s wife? You’re not what I expected.

Have you ever been anyone’s “not what I expected”? 

If you’ve lived any amount of time on this earth, it’s highly likely. And this certainly wasn’t my first rodeo for not meeting someone’s expectations, and it wouldn’t be my last.

The Wrong Definitions

Because all the wrong ways others attempt to define us, or we attempt to define ourselves, have circulated for countless ages. Really, these false dictionary-attempting claims started in the beginning and in our beginning.

So, let’s look at 4 things, 4 R’s, that never define who we are.

With each one, we discover how God defines who we are from the book of Truth.

(1.) Roots never define who we are.

Plants have roots. Those of us who color our hair have roots. People have roots from childhood and family experiences.

Although I started going to church in elementary school, I didn’t have a spiritual upbringing or grounding in God’s Word. So when my parents divorced, I felt unseen and unheard and unloved.

But when I accepted Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior at sixteen, and later had mentors in college and as a woman, I began to grow spiritual roots.

Our root-system in Christ most accurately describes us: loved, chosen, forgiven, and redeemed. 

If your childhood was cut off from a secure source of parents or family. If decisions in your teen and young adult years caused root-damage. Or, if your marriage feels dried up instead of nourishing, the Lord is your source of nourishment for healthy roots, now. 

As we walk closely with the Lord, we become rooted and established in the faith (Colossians 2:6-7).

Jesus establishes our correct identity in Him. 

Jesus establishes our correct identity in Him. @FridayKaren #identity #blog
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(2.) Rejections never define who we are.

Perhaps, like me, rejection yanked the rug out from under your fragile heart too many times.

And rejection leaves a hole in our soul wider than the Grand Canyon. Yet, we make the mistake of equating actions done to us as a title to wear. The actions of others should never pen the labels we stick on ourselves.

Rejection is an action, not a person. Rejection does not make me a reject. 

On the flip side, acceptance is not only an action, but also a living being—God.

Patterned in the image of my Creator accurately describes me: accepted, valued, and precious.

Declare these statements out loud: God wants me. The Lord pursues me. God stays intimately connected to me. The Father never disowns me.

(3.) Roles never define who we are.

As a pastor’s wife for eighteen years, I never met everyone’s ideals of how they defined the role. People are naturally fault-finders in the various roles of life we each step into, especially in the church and among believers.

Why is that? The enemy!

Satan enjoys it when we back-bite, criticize, and tear other Christians down instead of speaking life over each other.

The enemy throws a party of darkness when we speak death and negativity to others instead of encouraging other co-workers, leaders, wives, husbands, moms, dads, siblings, and so on.

Seriously, we hear various opinions on the right way to do just about everything—spiritually and otherwise.

But what if I started weighing criticism from people against who God says I am? Because the scales always tip toward “in Christ” where I’m a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17).

What if I started weighing criticism from people against who God says I am? Because the scales always tip toward “in Christ” where I’m a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). @FridayKaren #identity #blog
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And what if I took my cue about who I am from the Great I AM? 

Because my “roles” are blessings from the Lord. God never meant for roles to define me.

I’m fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14). This is who I am.

(4.) Ruins never define who we are.

Like ruins from a natural disaster, many of us have times when personal ruins try to highlight the biographies of who we are.

Ruins are inevitable. Eventually our walls tumble. Buried beneath the rubble, we are unable to dig ourselves out. We need a Rescuer. One who promises to dig us out of the rubble and rebuild our lives.

Declare these promises out loud:

When my ruins are wounds, God heals me.

And when my ruins are imprisonment, Christ sets me free. 

When my ruins are losses, the Lord comforts me.

And when my ruins are brokenness, Jesus makes me whole.

Christ lifts me from the rubble and sets me on the stable Rock—Himself.

Who You Are

Reflect on ways you have let roots, rejections, roles, and ruins define you. Where can you change your perspective to line up with God’s Word?

LINKUP PARTY opens on Wednesdays at 6 am!

Christian Bloggers, come share your Blog with our audience below:

1. Add your Link.

2. Visit the blogger before or after and encourage them with a comment.

3. Share on social media. Click below to share on Twitter that you are joining us! We would love to have you follow the ministry on Twitter and Facebook as well: Soaring with Him FB Page

LINKUP is open. Join my friend @FridayKaren to discuss how we often let others and even ourselves wrongly define who we are. Discover how God defines who we are from the book of Truth. Share your blog! #blog
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Featured image courtesy of Adobe Spark.

The post 4 Things That Never Define Us {Recharge Wednesday LINKUP} appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.

When Eliab, David’s oldest brother, heard him speaking with the men, he burned with anger at him and asked, “Why have you come down here? And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the wilderness? I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is; you came down only to watch the battle.” 1 Samuel 17:28

The Bible does not give us the time lapse between David’s anointing by Samuel as Israel’s future king and the scene that took place in the Valley of Elah. We do know that between his anointing and the battle against the Philistines, David split time between his father’s sheep farm and the king’s palace, where he played the harp to soothe Saul’s tormented heart.

Jesse’s three oldest sons –Eliab, Abinadab and Shammah, had left the farm and enlisted in Saul’s army. Their father was concerned with his sons’ well-being and sent David to check on them and bring them food. As we read on, we watch David arriving at the camp, just to find an entire army trembling in fear at the sight of its powerful enemy, led by a nine-foot-tall giant who dared shout blasphemies against Israel’s God.

They forgot Who led their army.

“Whenever the Israelites saw the man, they all fled from him in great fear.” 1 Samuel 17:24

David wanted to know more. So, he asked around for details of what was happening, and how on earth Israel intended to stop the affront.

“Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?” (v.26)

Eliab – Jesse’s first born – was standing nearby, looking at David with contempt. Anger burned within. ‘What on earth is this arrogant brat doing here?’ – he must have thought. He then took a step forward and decided to stop the non-sense.

“What are you doing here? Where did you leave the sheep? Why are you not doing your job? I know you think you are all that and your heart is wicked. You just want to watch us get a whooping, don’t you?”

If you read his words, you’ll see my paraphrasing is pretty accurate. There’s no question David is not Eliab’s favorite.

But think about it. Jesse’s handsome firstborn had been close to becoming king. When Samuel visited their farm, Eliab was the first son paraded in front of the prophet. Samuel thought he was it. You can picture the prophet’s face lighten up when he saw the strong-looking, handsome man. Eliab could almost feel the first drop of oil fall on his head, when Yahweh stopped the prophet on his tracks, redirecting his attention to the next son. And then the next. And the next… seven times was Samuel instructed to look on… until his eyes fell upon little David.

To say Eliab resented David is an understatement. The anger in his words says it all. And David’s answer tells us more about this family conflict:

“Now what have I done?” said David. “Can’t I even speak?” (v.29)

What David really meant to ask was… “what have I done NOW?”

It certainly was not the first time Eliab showed dislike for little brother. By the way their father almost dismissed David during the King selection process and Eliab’s disdain, there’s no question David was overlooked, underappreciated and even scorned by his own.

Can anyone relate?

Have you ever felt unappreciated, neglected, underestimated, perhaps forgotten even? Have you ever thought… If I did not wake up tomorrow, would anyone even miss me? Does my opinion even matter? Will I ever be noticed?

At work, school, and even at home, so many people live every day feeling like no one sees them. They may be the last player chosen on a team, get passed over for a promotion, or sit alone at a lunch table at school. They may live in a house full of people… and yet, feel hopelessly alone.

They may walk the hallways of our churches, longing for someone to care. Wishing someone would see past their cordial smiles… and into their broken lives. Within their hearts, a longing grows, as they feel less and less connected to the world around them.

For some… the longing turns into depression, the depression turns into despair.

“Will anyone ever see me? Listen to me? Want me?”

Can I tell you something?

If today you feel neglected, forgotten and unappreciated, you are in good company. The only character in the Bible who God called “a man after His own heart” (Acts 13:22) was overlooked, persecuted and underestimated too.
Click To Tweet

He was small in stature, and that’s what the world focused on. He was plain in looks and his profession was not glamorous. And still, Someone more important than his family, his friends and foe alike, saw him.

He.saw.him.

And that was enough for David.

David knew his limitations. He knew he was indeed not “all that.” But he knew the One he loved with all his heart… was. And that’s what he anchored his mind and heart on, every time the world turned against him.

Yes. That was David's secret to victory. Whenever despair, persecution or loneliness haunted him, He invited Yahweh to fill the void.
Click To Tweet

It maybe that you feel small today. Unwanted. Alone.

King David, the shepherd boy who knew rejection, loneliness and persecution, sings from the pages of Scriptures… reminding your broken heart today: The One who made you… and knows your heart… NEVER forgets you.
Click To Tweet

The post Rising Above Rejection, Contempt & Heartache (Lessons from a King) appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.

 A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. (Proverbs 17:22)

Discrimination, which is a form of rejection, includes the emotions of loneliness, unacceptance, unforgiveness, fear, anger, and guilt. These emotions, left unchecked, can manifest into both mental and physical health issues for those who experience them, as documented in a recent APA study called Stress In America – The Impact of Discrimination.

The latest bandaid that Americans have come up with to fight discrimination is diversity management.  Political in nature, diversity management promotes racial and behavioral unity through communication and understanding of feelings, terminology, promotion of policy to enable minority advancement, and education/exercises in tolerance to accept certain behaviors as normal. Diversity management is seen in many corporations, public education institutions, and now we are even seeing it in churches and Christian education institutions.

While this sounds wonderful on the surface, because it does give minorities more opportunity and a voice, it promotes division by concentrating on differences instead of what unifies us as the human race.  Guilt is frequently used as a tool for change, which is very unhealthy.  As well, these programs do not teach the new generations about the power of forgiveness.

As Christians, we are called to live counter to our culture and handle stress of any kind through the truth of the Word of God.  Romans 12:2: Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.  When we do this, our body and our mind are in a state of gratitude to the Father above for releasing us from this stress and this allows us to live in peace and harmony on the inside with everyone, which in turn brings us better mental and physical health.

As ambassadors for Christ living and working in the world among those that have embraced cultural coping mechanisms, God encourages us to love, and minister to those in need. Philippians 2:3-4: Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. This is much different from the acceptance taught in Diversity 101 because sometimes this means having hard conversations with people about their life.  We should love people enough to want their internal healing more than we want their approval or acceptance.

Geneva College states on their web page entitled,  A Christian View of Diversity that “Multicultural diversity, then, is not to be spurned by the Christian community. Rather, Christians and Christian communities have a special obligation to demonstrate the reality of Christ’s culture-transforming love. In obeying the twin mandates of the Cultural Mandate and the Great Commission, we will discover more and more of the creational blessedness of multicultural diversity as human beings who are reconciled to God and to each other because of Jesus Christ our Lord.”  I tend to agree.

Christian to Christian, when it comes to stress caused by stereotypical comments, racial slurs, jokes in poor taste, or a complete unawareness of actions due to learned behavior, we are to confront and not cower.  We must go to our brother and/or sister in Christ and use scripture to admonish and teach. 2 Timothy 3:16: All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.

Likewise, when we hurt someone intentionally or unintentionally with our words and actions, we should feel convicted and humble ourselves at the foot of the cross, apologize, and ask for forgiveness. Ephesians 4:32: Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. James 5:16 :Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

If you are experiencing mental or physical health issues that stem from the pain of discrimination/rejection in your life or if you have participated in this sin and feel guilty, God wants to heal your emotional pain!  Remember always that He is the great Physician and the great “I Am”.

1 Peter 2:24: He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.

It’s LinkUp Day at Soaring with Him!

Share your Blog with our audience below:

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I'm Recharging! LINKUP today with @PatHolbrook @stepheewilkins at #RechargeWednesday. Join us?
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The post Discrimination and Stress {Recharge Wednesday LINKUP} appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.