Hello everyone...I mean probably no one! I heard an incredible sermon this morning on my long run and felt God telling me what He may have wanted me to learn from this whole (short) blog experience...BLOGGING IS NOT FOR ME! So, I officially end this blog, albeit early, and am moving on with what works for me...congrats to all you bloggers who love it! Maybe - if anyone is out there - we'll meet some day...face to face...preferrably on a run!

Running without Shortcuts

Saul's son, Ish-Bosheth - who is leading the kingdom of Israel as it's slowly taken over by David - hears of the death of Abner, his commander. Since Abner was truly the one leading behind the scenes, Ish-Bosheth loses heart and all of Israel with him. When they see their leader distraught and unable to lead, some in the Israelite army decide to act. Part of Ish-Bosheth's army was made up of raiding bands led by two men who choose to take matters into their own hands and kill him in his sleep. They cut off Ish-Bosheth's head and take it to David, expecting him to be grateful for their "help" in making him king over both kingdoms. David again responds with horror toward their shameful murder of Saul's offspring. He orders that they be killed and then holds a proper burial for Saul's son. With each small step in David's rise to fulfill God's promise that he will be king, David focuses on not acting out of character. He is confident God will do as He said -that he will become king - so he keeps running will that goal in mind but without taking shortcuts or changing direction. I pray for the focus of David...to be so in step with God that no one can deter me from the race ahead.

Leading and Following

The war between the house of Saul and the house of David continued, with David growing stronger with each battle. Meanwhile, Saul's ex commander Abner is strengthening his influence on Saul's side but abruptly turns his loyalties to David when he has a run in with Saul's son, Ish-Bosheth. Abner contacts David and promises to join him in taking over land for Judah, as well as bringing David his betrothed wife, Michal. Abner promises David at a feast that he will bring all of Israel under his rule, then leaves to do so. When David's commander Joab returns from battle, he hears of Abner's proposed alliance and is angry with David because he feels Abner is deceiving them to find out battle plans. The truth behind Joab's anger is he is still holding bitterness against Abner because he killed Joab's brother in battle. Joab sends men to bring Abner to him, then kills him without David's knowledge. When David finds out, he makes it very clear to all the people that he had nothing to do with the murder. David and all the nation mourn Abner's death, realizing the potential Abner had in uniting the two kingdoms under David's rule. The one ironic twist in the story is the absence of David's discipline toward Joab. Apparently he does not reveal Joab's part in the murder - Joab is part of the mourning of Abner - nor does he publicly punish him. David, I'm sure, is trying to find his place as leader and slowly embracing the responsibilities of being king. As all leaders, he must choose when to act and when to wait. Scriptures do not record him inquiring of the Lord as he had done so many times in the past. Today I pray for humility to ask for God's wisdom in areas of my life that I am asked to lead. I pray for the courage to act when I must, and the patience to wait when I am unsure. Above all I pray for the wisdom to be quiet enough to hear His voice in order to know the difference.

Not Running for Time

I love the way the Scripture this morning begins..."in the course of time, David inquired of the Lord." From the time David was annointed as a boy to become king of Israel one day, he has patiently waited on God's timing and not tried to rush the process. He finally hears from God that it is time to assume his calling and become king, so he and his men - along with their families - settle in Hebron and David becomes king over the house of Judah. The house of Israel, however, follows Abner - the son of Saul's ex army commander - and Saul's son Ish-Bosheth. Eventually Abner and his troops and David's commander with his troops meet in Gibeon. They decide to each choose 12 men to fight in hand to hand combat to decide who will gain some unclaimed territory in the region. The small combat turns into an all-out battle in which David's men gain the victory. Over the course of time, David continues to grow stronger and stronger in the region as Saul's legacy becomes weaker and weaker. Today I pray for the wisdom of David to pursue God on His terms. His purposes - fulfilled in His time - need to be the focus on the journey. I pray for the patience to inquire of Him for the sole purpose of knowing Him, not to be granted whatever I desire. I pray for the wisdom to remember - as my fears creep in -that I would not want a God so small that I could manipulate Him or put on Him my time restraints. I would want a God over all things that works outside of time and my small world and can be trusted...and that is what I have.

Running with Passion

2 Samuel begins with an Amalekite man arriving at David's camp. The man tells David that the Israelites fled in battle and that Saul and his sons are dead. David asks the man how he knows all this and he states that he happened upon Saul, who was mortally wounded, and that Saul asked him to end his life. The man says he did, and that he then brought the king's crown and arm band for David. Since Saul in fact died by piercing himself with his sword, it is probable that this man was actually just looting the bodies after the battle, happened upon Saul and thought he would be rewarded by David for bringing the king's things to him. David is crushed upon hearing the news and he and his men fast. He then asks the man why he was not afraid to lift his hand against the annointed - then punishes him by death for doing so. David then writes a song of mourning to honor Saul and Jonathon. It at first seems ironic that David would be so devoted to Saul when he knows God Himself has turned from Saul and that He desires David to become the next king. I think David is honoring the strength and grace Saul started out with - the vision he had when God annointed him king. Saul began with a passion and love for the people of Israel - the same passion and love that burned inside of God for His people. David is mourning the sad end to a king who slowly turned from God and began trusting in himself. I pray today for the passions God has put inside of me. The beauty is that I have nothing to do but trust in Him; my own struggle to birth those passions would only result in my own gratification and pride. If I focus solely on Him and believe in His love and grace for me, the passions of my life will overflow in serving others.

Running for One

As David and his men are safe at home with their families, Saul and the Israelites are still battling it out with the Philistines. As predicted, Saul is losing ground quickly and all of his sons - including Jonathon - are killed. Saul himself is critically wounded and asks his armor-bearer to kill him, but the man would not because Saul is king. So Saul takes his own sword and falls on it to avoid being killed by a Philistine. When the Israelites saw their king and all of his sons were dead, they fled. What happened to Saul? He was chosen as the very first king of Israel and was annointed by God Himself. So much promise and opportunity but he ends up in a life of self destruction that ultimately ends in suicide. His story is not an uncommon one. Daily there are stories of lives that seem to hold such promise but end in such self-inflicted tragedy. We can sit in judgment and shake our heads in disappointment, but the reality is that we daily make small decisions that will eventually lead to death or life. Our story will be told - by us or others - and we make decisions daily that will effect how it is told. I pray today for the story I want to tell...the one I want to live...a life in which I got back up every time I fell and in which I ran for One.

The Relay

David and his men leave Achish on the battlefront and head back to their homes in Philistine territory. When they arrive, they find that the Amalekites - realizing the Philistines were off fighting the Israelites - have attacked, burned the place to the ground, and taken captive all of the men, women and children. David's men were so distraught they talked of stoning him - obviously blaming him that they were not there to protect their families. The Word says David "found strength in the Lord his God." David asks God whether he should pursue this army, and whether they would be successful. God affirms his plans and David and 600 of his men set out after the Amalekites. Their pursuit is so intense and tireless that part way through 200 of the men stay back while the other 400 continue. The continuing group meets up to the Amalekites, completely defeats them and are reunited with their families as God had kept everyone safe. When the fighting men reach the 200 who were left behind, some of the group do not want to share the plunder with those who did not go to battle. David wisely quiets the conflict by stating that all will share in the victory - those who were strong enough to go on and those who had to stay behind. I love this...David's heart beats for those who cannot stand for themselves. It's as though David never forgets his humble beginnings - the shepherd boy often forgotten and viewed as weak. David has found his strength in the Lord...and not just "the Lord" as some out there, high up, God with no personal contact but "the Lord HIS God." I pray for the conviction of David to love the hurting, remember my own weak moments, and run for those who need a rest. I pray for this strength to come from my God; my own encounter with the One who knows me best and still loves me most.

Running with Confidence

As Achish and the Philistine army march toward Saul and the Israelite army, David and his men are in the rear with Achish. When some of Achish's men realize David is with them, they protest to the king that these "Hebrews" are only going to turn on the Philistines during battle and should not be allowed to fight. Achish tries to defend David, but the rulers persist and Achish sends David back from battle. David attemps to convince Achish to let him come, defending his loyalty to the king so far, but Achish makes him go back to the land of the Philistines. Whether David planned to turn on the Philistines in battle is left a mystery, and David finds himself out of a situation where he would have been forced to choose. I wonder what David would have done. So far in his story, he has so fiercely protected Saul as the Lord's annointed that I don't think he would have fought against him. I also wonder why God took the decision out of his hands. The irony to me is the raw faith of David to continue running in the direction he felt God desired of him without worrying or manipulating. He believed that God would provide the answer - even the way out - in His time and he led his men without a certainty of the next move. The outcast and disheartened were drawn to him, however, meaning that they could see in him a hope and future that they so desperately wanted. I pray for the confidence that comes with trusting beyond the moment or situation. I pray for the ability to see outside this day and into the bigger story; for the confidence to run for tomorrow.

Running in the Wrong Direction

David's days of being vague and living as an ally with Israel in Philistine are about to be challenged. Achish, king of the Philistines, is again waging war on the Israelites and tells David that he will fight with them - even assigning him as the king's bodyguard. (No doubt Achish knows of all David's past exploits and wants the best of the best for his protection). When the two armies approach each other for battle, Saul heart is filled with terror and he inquires of the Lord, who refuses to respond. Saul then decides to inquire of a medium (witch) and asks her to conjure up Samuel the prophet. She does, and Saul asks him why God won't respond to him. Samuel answers that he prophesied this day and Saul would not heed his words and turn back to God. He tells Saul that the Israelites will be defeated by the Philistines, that he and his sons will die, and that David will be given the throne. Saul is crushed and realizes the end is near. How often in life we finally come face to face with regret. We make a decision we know at heart is the wrong one, or we finally look up to see the path we were on was headed to destruction step by step, and suddenly we are living in regret. Today I pray for kingdom eyes to see where the path is headed. I pray for wisdom - to listen to wise counsel and read the Word - so that I will make choices that lead me to God, instead of running in the other direction.