Janice Thompson's Blog, page 23

The Dance of a King

Swingin' Scripture: I Samuel 16:10-13a

Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, "The Lord has not chosen these."  So he asked Jesse, "Are these all the sons you have?"  "There is still the youngest," Jesse answered, "but he is tending the sheep."  Samuel said, "Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives."  So he sent and had him brought in. He was ruddy, with a fine appearance and handsome features.  Then the Lord said, "Rise and anoint him; he is the one."  So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came upon David in power.

David's Dance:

David was born to be a king.  There was a special anointing on his life and he knew he would one day change his world.  His kingly dance actually began as a young boy when Samuel showed up at his home to select a king from among his brothers.  No one was more surprised than David when the Lord revealed that he was to be the one!  David, a king?  No way!  He was just a simple shepherd boy.  Sounded impossible.  But, because David knew God was going to do something special with his life, he began to live like a king long before he became one.  In fact, this kingly living gave him courage to overcome giants and face countless enemies.  He continued to dance the dance of royalty all the days of his life and has left a legacy for all of us who love the Lord to follow.

Questions to Keep You on Your Toes:

What would you do if someone told you today you would someday be a king?
Are we kings?  (What does the Bible have to say about that?)
How can you dance the dance of a king?

Set Your Feet to Dancin'

The Bible says that we are kings and priests in this world.  We have been called, chosen and set apart to do something great for God.  Our kingly dance should begin when we're children, but even if we don't meet God until we're older, it's still not too late to start this dance!  We must begin to live like royalty.  After all, we are sons and daughters of the King of the universe.  We need to remember that God has placed a special anointing on our lives to do great and mighty things – not just in the future, but now!  If we live like kings, we will find the courage to face the giants in our own lives and overcome any obstacles that come our way!

On Your Knees, Please!

Dear God,

Thank You for choosing me.  Thank You for placing Your anointing on my life.  I ask you to remind me daily that You have a special plan for my life.  Help me to always dance the dance of kings.  I know you have amazing things in store for my life.  I praise You, Lord! Amen.

And All That Jazz… (thought for the day)

Am I living like a king?

Battling Lies

Sword of the Spirit

So many enemies against one man— all of them trying to kill me.  To them I'm just a broken-down wall or a tottering fence.  They plan to topple me from my high position.  They delight in telling lies about me. They are friendly to my face, but they curse me in their hearts.

David's Battle: Liars

David's enemies found a "sure-fire" weapon to use against him to try to bring him down.  Lies.  They're hard to fight.  In fact, sometimes they seem impossible to fight.  Someone tells a lie about you, and no one wants to believe the truth.  David certainly understood that dilemma!  It was especially hard because those who were lying about him were nice to his face, but lying behind his back.  In the end, David was victorious over their lies.  Why?  Because God always has a way of shining his searchlight on the truth.  The truth always comes out.  In David's case, the truth

Strategic Questions:

What makes a lie so difficult to fight?
Have you ever had a hard time proving the truth?
Have you ever lied about someone else?

Putting On Your Armor:

Fighting lies is tough, isn't it?  It's a really crummy feeling to know you've been lied about.  Even worse when you try to let people know the truth and they don't believe you.  So what can you do?  How do you turn things around?  The Bible says that all things hidden will come to the light.  This scripture means that those wicked lies will one day be exposed.  That means we have to be patient sometimes.  But the truth always comes out!  Like David, we can overcome the lies of our enemies.  We can trust God to turn things around.

S.O.S. (Speaking to Our Savior in prayer)!

Dear Lord,

It's not easy fighting lies.  Please help me to forgive.  And God, please expose the truth.  Have Your way in the hard situations of my life.  In Jesus' Name, Amen.

 

Which Side Are You On?  (Thought for the Day)

"The truth will set you free."

 

The Dance of Goodness

Swingin' Scripture: I Samuel 24:5-6

Afterward, David was conscience-stricken for having cut off a corner of his robe.  He said to his men, "The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the LORD's anointed, or lift my hand against him; for he is the anointed of the LORD ."

David's Dance: Goodness

Here's the scoop.  Saul was acting up and being evil, as usual.  (What else is new, right?)  This time, he was out to kill David and he almost succeeded.  He managed to find the place where David and his men had been hiding.  However, David snuck up behind Saul and cut off a corner of his robe.  In his heart, he wanted to kill this evil man.  Instead, he was suddenly convicted.  His conscience began to bother him.  Instead of killing him, he confessed to what he had done.  He felt bad that he could have considered such a drastic and terrible thing.  After all, in spite of his flaws, Saul was still King.

Questions to Keep You on Your Toes:

Does God make us feel guilty?
Is there a difference between conviction and condemnation?
Does God condemn us when we do bad things?  Do our feelings of condemnation come from God?

Set Your Feet to Dancin'

Do you ever feel guilty? The Holy Spirit convicts us in His own gentle way.  He doesn't hit us over the head with a frying pan when we've done something wrong.  That's why the scriptures make it plain… conviction is from God, but condemnation is not.  Maybe you're wondering what the difference is.  Conviction is that little guilty feeling that makes us realize what we've done is wrong.  Conviction leads to repentance.  We make things right with God.  Condemnation, on the other hand, is not from God.  Condemnation makes us feel like, no matter what we do, God will never forgive us.  Obviously this is not right.  God always forgives when we ask.  Like David, we often go through times where we feel convicted.  But, if we admit the things we've done wrong, God is faithful and just to forgive us from those things and give us a chance to start over again!

On Your Knees, Please!

Dear God,

Thank You for Your Holy Spirit.  Thank you for convicting me when I do things that are wrong.  Help me turn from me sin, Father, and remind me that you don't condemn me.  I know you love me.  I love You, too.  In Jesus' Name, Amen.

And All That Jazz… (thought for the day)

Where would the world be without conviction?

Battling Depression

Sword of the Spirit

Then David and all the men with him took hold of their clothes and tore them.  They mourned and wept and fasted till evening for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the army of the LORD and the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.  II Samuel 1:11-12

David's Battle: Depression

David fell into a deep depression when he heard the news that Saul and Jonathan had been killed.  In spite of everything Saul had ever done to hurt him, David still loved him.  And losing Jonathan, his best friend, was very painful.  As a result, David was tempted to be depressed.  He walked through a rough time as he came to grips with his grief, but eventually overcame his depression and went on to become king.

Strategic Questions:

What does it mean to be depressed?
Is depression and easy thing to get out of?
What other problems can depression cause?

Putting On Your Armor:

Have you ever been through a time when you just felt depressed?  Maybe something happened to cause your depression.  Maybe not.  But you just seemed to go through a 'season' of feeling down.  Nothing could cheer you up.  David certainly went through similar times.  The good news is, there is hope!  You can rise up out of your depression and face life with a smile again.  God is on your side and He doesn't want to see you walking around with a downcast face.  He came to give you joy!  So, whenever you begin to feel depressed, remember that God is for you, not against you!  Like David, you can rise up and become a "king" in your world.

S.O.S. (Speaking to Our Savior in prayer)

Dear Father,

Whenever I get depressed, please help lift my spirits.  Keep my eyes focused on you and not on my situation.  Help me to overcome in Your Name! – Amen.

Which Side Are You On?  (Thought for the Day)

Ever met someone who always seemed depressed?  Shine a light into their life today!

 

The Dance of Conviction

Swingin' Scripture: I Samuel 24:5-6

Afterward, David was conscience-stricken for having cut off a corner of his robe.  He said to his men, "The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the LORD's anointed, or lift my hand against him; for he is the anointed of the LORD ."

David's Dance:

Here's the scoop.  Saul was acting up and being evil, as usual.  (What else is new, right?)  This time, he was out to kill David and he almost succeeded.  He managed to find the place where David and his men had been hiding.  However, David snuck up behind Saul and cut off a corner of his robe.  In his heart, he wanted to kill this evil man.  Instead, he was suddenly convicted.  His conscience began to bother him.  Instead of killing him, he confessed to what he had done.  He felt bad that he could have considered such a drastic and terrible thing.  After all, in spite of his flaws, Saul was still King.

Questions to Keep You on Your Toes:

Does God make us feel guilty?
Is there a difference between conviction and condemnation?
Does God condemn us when we do bad things?  Do our feelings of condemnation come from God?

Set Your Feet to Dancin'

Do you ever feel guilty? The Holy Spirit convicts us in His own gentle way.  He doesn't hit us over the head with a frying pan when we've done something wrong.  That's why the scriptures make it plain… conviction is from God, but condemnation is not.  Maybe you're wondering what the difference is.  Conviction is that little guilty feeling that makes us realize what we've done is wrong.  Conviction leads to repentance.  We make things right with God.  Condemnation, on the other hand, is not from God.  Condemnation makes us feel like, no matter what we do, God will never forgive us.  Obviously this is not right.  God always forgives when we ask.  Like David, we often go through times where we feel convicted.  But, if we admit the things we've done wrong, God is faithful and just to forgive us from those things and give us a chance to start over again!

On Your Knees, Please!

Dear God,

Thank You for Your Holy Spirit.  Thank you for convicting me when I do things that are wrong.  Help me turn from me sin, Father, and remind me that you don't condemn me.  I know you love me.  I love You, too.  In Jesus' Name, Amen.

And All That Jazz… (thought for the day)

Where would the world be without conviction?

Fill These Empty Arms

Why I Wrote Fill These Empty Arms:

In 2002 my daughter (Megan) and I were asked to accompany a ministry team to the Dayton Women's prison, here in Texas. The purpose? To minister to a group of ladies in a memorial service for the babies they had aborted years prior. I asked Patti (my best friend and awesome drama buddy) to accompany us. She and Megan did a gut-wrenching drama for the women that pretty much ripped my heart out. I played the keyboard and (with their help) led worship – not an easy task in a room with eighty women, all in tears.
I Will Never Look at Baby Dolls The Same…
Toward the end of the service, the women were asked to come forward and take one doll (made of handkerchiefs, by the way) for each child she had aborted. The woman in front of us took nine. This just about did my eighteen-year-old daughter in. She began to sob uncontrollably. In fact, ALL of the women were sobbing at this point. One by one they came forward, named their babies, then placed the dolls (symbolizing the babies) on the altar, releasing the guilt, pain and shame of what they'd done all those years before. Many of the women in this room were former prostitutes, now Christ-loving women, just like those who'd come to minister to them.
Leaving the Service…
When I left the service that day, I knew my life would never be the same. I rushed home and immediately began to write "Fill These Empty Arms" – a story about five women with empty arms. One struggles with infertility issues, one is a post-abortion survivor, one is an empty nest mom, one is a single mom with a teenage daughter and one is a teen girl who struggles with abandonment issues (and teen pregnancy).
About Those Books…
Jump ahead several years. Most of you know that I write romantic comedy (all quirky/funny stories) so "Fill These Empty Arms" never found a home. Until now. With the advent of kindle/nook, I felt God's tug on my heart to finally, finally, finally release this story.
Here's a blurb from my best writing buddy in the world (and critique partner), Kathleen Y'Barbo:

5.0 out of 5 stars LOVE this book! Buy one for yourself and another for someone with empty arms,
Touching on topics close to the hearts of women – infertility, abortion, and family relationships, among others – Thompson skillfully blends seemingly different lives to not only fill empty arms but also empty hearts. The characters in this novel are so real they leap off the page, and the burdens they bear will along with the solutions Thompson provides will stay with you long after the story is finished. I will never look at these topics the same again.

From ACFW member, Sharon Stock: Janice Thompson's Fill These Empty Arms should be read with a box of tissues handy. It will make you cry and it will make you laugh out loud. Janice has given her readers a gift in this story about an unwed mother, a woman struggling with the ghosts of a past abortion, and a young lady longing for the baby she fears she will never have. It was a joy to read.
This morning I received this facebook post from a reader named Gini: Just finished Fill These Empty Arms. LOOOOOVE!!!!!!!!! Oh my goodness!! Janice, you may have flipped up your style but you nailed it and my heart was so overwhelmed with the many emotions and the Spirit that poured from that book. I wish I could read it aloud to my sister (she's not a big reader) to make sure she read it. SO so SOOOO GOOD!!!!!!

Your turn!
Friends, you can find the book on kindle and nook. It's only .99. I wanted to list it for free, but couldn't figure out a way to do so. (That's okay. It's fine at .99.) If you know a woman who's struggled with infertility, please let her know about this book. If you know a woman who's fighting empty nest syndrome, please share with her, as well. If you know a single mom (particularly with a teenaged daughter), let her know there's hope for a good and lasting relationship with that daughter! If you know a teen girl who's pregnant (or struggling with issues of abandonment after the disappearance of a parent), this book will definitely minister. And if you–or someone you know–battles the ghosts of post-abortion syndrome, then please, please, please get a copy of this story. I truly believe God has asked me to release this story "for such a time as this" so that women who are hurting can be healed.
Thank You!
Thanks for letting me get this off my chest. It's been a l-o-n-g time coming, as I said.

 

 

Battling Pride

Sword of the Spirit

But when David's oldest brother, Eliab, heard David talking to the men, he was angry. "What are you doing around here anyway?" he demanded. "What about those few sheep you're supposed to be taking care of? I know about your pride and dishonesty. You just want to see the battle!" "What have I done now?" David replied. "I was only asking a question!" He walked over to some others and asked them the same thing and received the same answer.

1 Samuel 17:28

David's Battle: Pride

David was accused of being prideful on more than one occasion.  In this story, his own brother misunderstood him and accused him of being prideful.  He wasn't trying to be prideful.  He just knew that God had called him to do something about the Philistines.  He was ready to do battle.  That may have seemed prideful, but it was really just a willing heart that was ready to answer the call of God on his life.  We know from later scriptures that David had a humble and contrite spirit.  He wasn't a bragger.  He was just confident!  We don't know exactly how Eliab responded after David killed Goliath with the sling-shot.  He probably felt pretty dumb about his accusation.  Just think  – the pride of Eliab and the other men almost kept David from doing what he knew he was supposed to be doing!

Strategic Questions:

Is there more than one kind of pride?
Why do you suppose the Bible says "Pride goes before a fall?"
Is all pride wrong?

Putting On Your Armor:

Most people think that pride is just thinking too highly about yourself.  But did you know that people who are always down on themselves are often fighting pride too?  Anything that causes you to turn your eyes on yourself – whether it's something really great or really bad – is pride!  We all struggle with it.  But, like David, we have to learn to listen to the voice of God.  Sometimes the things we deal with aren't prideful at all.  Sometimes we are truly confident because we have the assurance that God is calling us to do something.  In those times, we must guard against the words of others.  We might fight against pride on every level – in our own lives and in the lives of others.

S.O.S. (Speaking to Our Savior in prayer)

Dear Lord,

Help me not to be prideful.  When others say nice things about me, please guard my heart so that I don't start to think too much of myself!  Help me to see that you have given us all gifts and abilities and that mine are no better or no worse than others.  I thank you for erasing the pride in my life!  In Jesus' Name! Amen.

Which Side Are You On?  (Thought for the Day)

Do people think I'm prideful?

 

The Dance of Faith

Swingin' Scripture: Psalm 101:6

My eyes will be on the faithful in the land that they may dwell with me; he whose walk is blameless will minister to me.

David's Dance:

In nearly every circumstance of his life, David had to have faith.  Lots of it.  When he faced the giant, Goliath.  When Saul was chasing him down.  When people were saying bad things about him.  When he had to repent for the evil things he did.  We can learn a lot of David's faith from reading the Psalms.  In his words we learn that, even though he struggled at times, he never completely lost faith in God.  He knew that the Lord's eyes were on the faithful and he wanted God's eyes to remain on him.  Why?  Because he had such a huge job!  The little shepherd boy grew into a king who faced very real problems.  He needed real faith to overcome those problems.  Because he was faithful, David was able to minister to God all the days of his life.  And the Bible tells us that David was a man after God's own heart, as a result.  What an awesome testimony!

Questions to Keep You on Your Toes:

How many people do you know with 'great' faith?
What happens when we become faithless?
What is mustard seed faith?

Set Your Feet to Dancin'

Have you ever gone through a time in your life when you had to have supernatural faith?  Faith to believe for the impossible?  If so, then you know what David must have felt like.  So many times, he had to believe God for a miracle.  And today, especially with all the people who don't seem to believe in God, you may find yourself asking for a few miracles, too.  But don't stress.  We serve such a huge God!  He's totally in control.  And He doesn't ask us to have huge faith.  In fact, Jesus said that even if we had a tiny amount of faith – as small as a mustard seed – that we could see great and mighty things.  So learn to live like David.  Take that mustard seed faith and apply it in a great big world and watch God move.  He'll amaze you time and time again!

On Your Knees, Please!

Dear God,

I ask You to increase my faith today.  Help me to believe for the impossible.  Give me supernatural faith.  Help me to change my world with faith like David's.  In Jesus' Name, Amen.

And All That Jazz… (thought for the day)

Am I full of faith or overwhelmed with doubt?

 

Battling Wickedness

Sword of the Spirit

These wicked people are too proud to seek God.  They seem to think that God is dead.  Yet they succeed in everything they do.  They do not see your punishment awaiting them. They pour scorn on all their enemies.  They say to themselves, "Nothing bad will ever happen to us!  We will be free of trouble forever!"  The wicked say to themselves, "God isn't watching!  He will never notice!"  Arise, O LORD!  Punish the wicked, O God! Do not forget the helpless! (Ps. 10:4 – 6, 11 – 12)

David's Battle: Wickedness

David felt completely surrounded by wickedness.  Everywhere he turned, people behaved badly.  Most of the time, they acted like they could care less what God or anyone else thought about how they were acting – as long as they got what they want.  Their wickedness was often rooted in selfishness.  Things haven't changed much, have they?!  So, what did David do?  Did he just throw his hands up in the air and say, "They're awful!  They're not changing anyway, so why should I bother?"  No way!  He knew this was a battle that he had to fight – even if it looked hopeless at times.  So, how did David go about fighting wickedness?  Could he just blink his eyes and make it all go away?  Could he pass laws and expect everyone to suddenly obey them?  Nope!  He had to fight this battle in a creative way.  First of all, he had to set an example of what righteousness looked like.  He did that by living a godly life.  Then he had to tackle wickedness a little bit at a time.  He couldn't conquer the whole world in a day.  None of us can.  But he could do a little at a time – as long as he never gave up trying.

Strategic Questions:

What makes a person wicked?
Do the wicked ever change?
How do you react when the wicked seem to be getting what they want?

Putting On Your Armor:

Do you ever feel like everyone around you seems to be choosing wickedness instead of godliness?  Do you ever feel alone in your beliefs?  David certainly understood this feeling.  It's tough being a Lone Ranger, but it is possible to stand up for your faith, even when everyone around you seems to be falling.  Remember, the runner who completes the race is a winner in God's eye.  You can win this race against wickedness!  You can make it to the finish line without giving in to the temptation to doing wicked things, yourself.  Instead, be committed to living a godly life.  Tackle wickedness one battle at a time.

S.O.S. (Speaking to Our Savior in prayer)

Dear Lord,

Help me not to get overwhelmed when everyone around me seems to be falling.  Help me to remember that I can stand up for my faith, regardless.  Help me to live a godly life.  In Your Name, Amen.

Which Side Are You On?  (Thought for the Day)

Who is more influenced by wickedness? – those who are wicked or those who are trying not to be?

The Dance of Consistency

Swingin' Scripture: II Samuel 8:15

David reigned over all Israel, doing what was just and right for all his people.

David's Dance:

David was a consistent man.  This means he was steady and reliable.  Everything about his relationship with God was consistent.  When he would fall, he would get back up.  He never lost his will to carry on.  Whenever he sinned, he was always consistent in running back to God.  He was also consistent in the way he ruled his people.  He was just and right and treated them fairly.  He didn't treat them one way one day and another, the next.  Instead, they could always depend on him to do the right thing.

Questions to Keep You on Your Toes:

What is consistency?
Are you consistent in your relationship with God?
When you fall, do you always get back up?

Set Your Feet to Dancin'

Like David, we all sin.  Obviously.  What we have to remember is David's consistency.  Day in and day out we can be dependable and reliable – to the Lord and to the people in our lives.  When you fall short or do something you think God would never forgive, you have to remember He loves you and will always forgive you.  Try to remind yourself about David and consistently go back to God.  Insist upon it.

On Your Knees, Please!

Dear God,

When I fall and want to give up, remind me of David.  I need to be consistent like he was.  Make me steady and reliable, Lord.  I pray this in Jesus' Name, Amen.

And All That Jazz… (thought for the day)

Insist on consistency.