The Battle is the Lord's by Laura V. Hilton

Laura V. Hilton

In Sunday School, we’re studying 1 and 2 Samuel. We’re taking our time, revisiting the familiar Bible stories we've known since we were children.

A couple of Sundays ago, the story was about David and Goliath. Familiar, right? Ever notice how the familiar sometimes becomes unfamiliar? So many ideas came out during that discussion that I’d never considered as a child.

For example, Goliath was disrespectful to God when he yelled the taunts and challenges to Israel. Obvious, right?

I never thought about it.

David was already familiar with fighting savage beasts when he took on Goliath. Lions. Bears. Not many of us would—or could—take on a wild lion and win! Yet he learned early on that the battle is the Lord’s and with God all things are possible. Because of that, he didn’t hesitate to turn Goliath over to God.

What about the five stones? Was a lack of faith that caused him to pick up more than one? Or did he know that God would do it with the first one?

After Goliath was down, David ran forward, grabbed him by the head, and cut it off. Another approach he probably learned from fighting wild animals. Control the head, you control the body.

I am, as you know from my last few posts, struggling so much. And my faith wavers as I struggle and hits the dirt time and time again. I wrote a note that Sunday and stuck it in my Bible.

Prayer concerns:

1. My oldest son.
2. Finances
3. The trip to Virginia (I’m scared to drive through big cities)
4. My writing

And a note underneath. “God, the battle is yours. I’m giving it all to you.”

Well, I’m happy to report that God handled No. 3. I survived the trip to Virginia and back home. The other three are still prayer concerns and in fact, Nos. 1 and 2 have only gotten worse. Plus I had to add my other son to the revised list and my oldest daughter.

So the revised note is stuck in the Psalms, specifically one of those sections where David is crying out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Another place where I wonder: was David prophesying Jesus’ words on the cross, or was Jesus was quoting David then? ) Still, David went on to praise the Lord for answering prayers and providing for his needs.

I left Sunday school that day with my toes very sore. If David could trust God with a real live, physical giant like Goliath who could potentially eradicate the entire population of Israel, why couldn’t I trust God with my giants?

When I was writing The Christmas Admirer, I think God knew I’d have lions and giants of my own this year. I’m struggling as I face them.

But even as my young girls hear me cry out, “Are you listening to me, God,” they encourage me that He does hear my prayers. He is listening. He will answer. It’s so humbling to see to their trust.

I am hanging on to Hebrews 11:1,

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

Jeremiah 29:11-13, too.

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.  Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.”

Lord, I’m seeking You will all my heart. And I’m trying to grow my faith. It is rather sobering to know I don’t even have faith the size of a mustard seed. Hear my cry, oh Lord, and hearken unto me. And to You be the glory, honor and praise, forever and ever. Amen.

Are you fighting giants in your life? What verses do you hold on to? 

About the Author

Award winning author, Laura Hilton, her husband, Steve, and three of their children make their home in Arkansas. She is a pastor’s wife, a stay-at-home mom, and home-schools. Laura is also a breast cancer survivor. Laura also has two adult children.

Her publishing credits include three books in the Amish of Seymour series from Whitaker House: Patchwork Dreams, A Harvest of Hearts (winner of the 2012 Clash of the Titles Award in two categories), and Promised to Another. The Amish of Webster County series, Healing Love (finalist for the 2013 Christian Retail Awards). Surrendered Love and Awakened Love followed by her first Christmas novel, A White Christmas in Webster County, as well as a three book Amish series with Whitaker House, The Amish of Jamesport series, The Snow Globe, The Postcard, and The Bird House in September 2015.

See below for information on Laura's latest, The Amish Firefighter. Other credits include Swept Away from Abingdon Press. Laura is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and a professional book reviewer.

Connect with Laura
http://www.amazon.com/Laura-V.-Hilton/e/B004IRSM5Q
visit her blogs: http://lighthouse-academy.blogspot.com/ & http://lauravhilton.blogspot.com/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Laura_V_Hilton or@Laura_V_Hilton
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The Christmas Admirer 

The Christmas Admirer
by Laura V. Hilton

Benaiah Troyer has loved Susanna King for as long as he can remember, but other than a lone summer filled with romantic buggy rides, marrying her remains an elusive dream. When his parents died in an accident a year ago, he broke up with her—for her own good. After all, they left him as the sole caregiver for his three younger sisters and his grandparents. What woman wants to step into a ready-made family like his? Still, he leaves her monthly gifts from “A Secret Admirer,” hoping she’ll know that someone loves her, even though he isn’t free to step forward.

Susanna has never gotten over losing Benaiah, and hopes he’s her secret admirer, but now the clock is ticking. Susanna’s father is remarrying in January and his wife-to-be doesn’t want to leave her Amish community and family in Iowa. So when Susanna’s daed sells his glass-blowing business to his right-hand man, Benaiah, she’s left with three options: 1) Go with Daed to his new home with a new frau and step-kinner, 2) Flush out her mysterious secret admirer, or 3) Resign herself to life as an old maid. She doesn’t want to follow Daed where his new frau is leading him. And number three isn’t happening. Marrying Benaiah is her greatest desire—but he broke her heart, and now he treats her like a pesky younger sister. Can she make him see her as a woman, one who could stand by his side as he cares for his family?

As Christmas approaches, Susanna and her friends start making gingerbread houses for select members of the community. Susanna plans for hers to go to Benaiah’s family. But while her gingerbread may find a home—will her heart?

The Tools of Your Trade by Susan Tuttle

Susan Tuttle

This is our last post from David and Goliath. We’ve hung out here for my past two posts, starting with “Tune Out and Turn Away”, which reminded us to listen only to the voice of God, no one else’s. Then we moved on to “Recount, Recall, and Apply”, noting how we must stand firm in our faith and what God has called us to do.

Today we’re going to talk about the tools God has equipped us with. We rejoin David as he prepares to go to battle. He hasn’t listened to the discouragement coming from his peer group or his king…rather he listened to his King. Nothing to this point detoured him from getting to where God called him. And now, even Saul is on board with David going after Goliath. In fact, Saul even helps him. Take a look:

Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you.”

Then Saul dressed David in his own tunic. He put a coat of armor on him and a bronze helmet on his head. David fastened on his sword over the tunic and tried walking around, because he was not used to them.

“I cannot go in these,” he said to Saul, “because I am not used to them.” So he took them off. Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine. 1 Samuel 17:38-40

Sounds great, doesn’t it? Here is David’s king, a man who is a battle-expert himself, readying David for war. Saul knows his stuff! David is lucky to have him pass on any help he can.

Except, Saul wasn’t handing out pointers, he was turning David into a Mini-Me, placing his own clothes onto David, and those clothes didn’t fit. Rather than a help, they became an impediment because they were meant for Saul, not David.

I see this in the writing industry often. People scramble around to fit into the current hot genre simply to be published—but that may not be where God is calling you. I also watch as young writers allow more experienced writers to mold their voices into Mini-Me’s rather than maintaining the unique voice God gave them.

Please don’t get me wrong, God may very well call you from writing contemporary to speculative, or maybe he’s gifted you with the ability to do both. And I’m by no means downplaying the role of mentors in our lives, because we all need them to grow. What I am saying, however, is you must be sure that everything you approach is with the covering God has given you. If something new you’re trying doesn’t feel like it fits, there just might be a reason. Pause and pray, walk around in those new clothes for a moment…still feel uncomfortable? Then perhaps they aren’t for you.

For David, this meant shedding the armor of Saul and picking back up his staff, sling, and shepherd’s bag and trusting that God would use those simple measures to do the impossible. He didn’t need the armor of another warrior, God produced a warrior with the tools he’d already grown in David. Had David tried to use another’s, he wouldn’t have succeeded.

Bottom line? God created us with unique talents and voices—and he wants us to use them. Not to put on anyone else’s clothes because that’s the way it’s been done before or what’s currently working. He gave you what you need, and he’s training you in how to use those tools, (look back at 1 Samuel 17: 34-36 and see how David had been trained!) so don’t pick up anyone else’s instruments.

Don’t try to model yourself after anyone but God and who he created you to be. The tools he gives are all you’ll ever need to walk the path he’s placed you on.

****

About Susan:

Susan Tuttle is a homeschooling mom of three who is crazy about coffee, dark chocolate, and words—both reading and writing them. Combine that love of words with her passion for leading women to a life-changing encounter with Christ, and you’ll find her crafting Inspirational Contemporary Romance stories laced with humor, love, and healing transformations. When not cheering on her Ironman hubby, chasing the family dog, or tackling complex math problems to teach her kids (yes, even the third grader), you can catch Susan at her blog, Steps.

Recount, Recall, and Apply – Lessons from David and Goliath II ~ By Susan Tuttle

Susan Tuttle

Last month I told you we’d camp out with David for a few weeks, checking out his battle with Goliath. We started with “Tune Out and Turn Away”, which reminded us to listen to the voice of God. Any other voices we need to not only ignore, but remove from our lives. You can check out that post here.

Today we’re picking up the story as David meets Saul along the edges of the battlefield. David has turned from his peers who have attempted to create doubt, to his king. For me, the story grows even more interesting here. This is someone in a position of authority, and Saul has two responses. We’re only tackling the first one today. Take a listen:

You can’t go and fight this Philistine. You’re too young and inexperienced…1 Samuel 17:33

Wow. Not exactly constructive advice or positive encouragement. Those words are riddled with doubt and negativity…nearly an attack against David.

Ever been there? Entered a contest and gotten poor feedback? Or received a terrible rejection letter from a publisher or agent? Had an editor tell you you’ll never make it in this industry? That’s what’s happening here, and David’s response is priceless:

Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine. 1 Samuel 17:36-37

David never wobbles in his faith. He knew what God had called him to, and he believed in God’s ability to deliver the victory. It wasn’t even a question to him. And rather than falling prey to the doubt Saul delivered, David recounts the victories he’s had through Christ. Even better? When he’s through with his list of impossibilities God made possible through him, he claims his next victory—killing Goliath—before it’s even happened. That just begs for an AMEN! David’s unwavering faith in God is his greatest weapon.

Now please don’t get me wrong; constructive criticism is good—it helps us grow. But allowing someone to convince you that you’re unable to do what God has called you to, well that’s just unacceptable. When criticism isn’t constructive, I don’t care who it’s from, you need to stomp on its seed before doubt takes root. You need to do what David did…

Begin to recount all the victories God has already placed in your hands, recall his faithfulness in your life, and apply that in faith to the victories he will bring. There is an amazing power in speaking out and remembering God’s faithfulness.


Step into that power today.

****

Susan Tuttle is a homeschooling mom of three who is crazy about coffee, dark chocolate, and words—both reading and writing them. Combine that love of words with her passion for leading women to a life-changing encounter with Christ, and you’ll find her crafting Inspirational Contemporary Romance stories laced with humor, love, and healing transformations. When not cheering on her Ironman hubby, chasing the family dog, or tackling complex math problems to teach her kids (yes, even the third grader), you can catch Susan at her blog, Steps.

Tune Out and Turn Away by Susan Tuttle

Susan Tuttle

I love the story of David and Goliath. Much like Gideon—another Biblical story I gravitate toward—David was the youngest of his family. Maybe it’s because I’m the youngest in mine, who knows? But I simply love how God takes the uncommon, the small, the perceived-as-weak and uses them to accomplish huge things.

But God didn’t simply play puppet master here. Nope. David had to believe and speak the truths of God and then step out into them. It took faith and action on David’s part, and that’s where I want to pick up the story, because as writers, we can gain so much from David. So for my next few posts I’ll be camping out in this story.

First, let’s just all agree, to many of us the publishing world is like our very own Goliath. We feel that we are on this battlefield for a reason, but if we don’t cling to God’s word and tune out other voices, we begin to wonder if we’ll ever come out victorious.  So I want to highlight a few things David did to encourage those ready to step out with our slingshots.

When David came on the battlefield, he heard all about this terrible giant. To be sure, we’ve heard how impenetrable the publishing industry can be to those starting out. Well, there was no shortage of talk on the field David arrived on. Yet, David didn’t let it deter him. He hung out at camp trying to gain knowledge on what was happening. And when his older brother questioned who David thought he was coming down to this battlefield—in essence, attempting to dishearten him—what was David’s response?

What is it with you?...ignoring his brother, he turned to someone else… 1 Samuel 17:39-30

Rather than listening to his brother, David tuned him out and turned away.

You may have people in your life who don’t believe what God has called you to do. You may have naysayers and discouragers. These people can be as close as family members and friends, or they may simply be other writers in the community. It doesn’t matter who they are but what they are saying, and if it’s discouragement, you need to distance yourself. Ignore their words. Turn away from them. Cut the relationship. Do whatever you need so that you shut out their voices and continue listening to the only Voice that matters.

Because, let’s face it, the writing world is a tough one, and the only way to walk through it is with God by your side. And to remember that nothing—nothing—can remove the calling God has on your life or his ability to get you there. What can happen, however, is you remove yourself from that path because of allowing another to convince you you’re ill-equipped or on the wrong one. This is why you must make up your mind who will speak into your life and let the rest go. Find a time dedicated each day to spending time with God. Cling to his word. Ask for his continued direction and listen only to his voice.

Anything else, tune it out and turn from it.

Dora here. Do you have any naysayers in your life? 

How do you cope with their discouraging comments?

Susan Tuttle is a homeschooling mom of three who is crazy about coffee, dark chocolate, and words—both reading and writing them. Combine that love of words with her passion for leading women to a life-changing encounter with Christ, and you’ll find her crafting Inspirational Contemporary Romance stories laced with humor, love, and healing transformations. When not cheering on her Ironman hubby, chasing the family dog, or tackling complex math problems to teach her kids (yes, even the third grader), you can catch Susan at her blog, Steps.