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Who Was Goliath in the Bible? What’s the Story of this Giant Philistine?
Anyone who attended Sunday school as a child most likely encountered the story about David and Goliath. According to the Bible (1 Samuel 17), David, a young Israelite teenager, defeated the giant Philistine warrior with a sling shot and a smooth stone. After David aimed true at Goliath’s forehead, he beheaded the enemy of Israel when the rest of the Israelite army cowered in fear. We like to use Goliath in metaphors. We often say whenever we play an underdog in a scenario against something that seems impossible that we are David facing a giant Goliath. But where did Goliath come from? Where does he fit in the historical narrative of Israel and of the earth? And was he really as tall as our Sunday school teachers made him out to be? Who were the Philistines? Israel encounter a number of ene...
Keeping Your Feelings in Check
www.insideoutwithcourtnaye.org If you clicked onto this post, you’re probably shouting, “Yes! How do you do it?” Trust me. If you feel this way, I totally get it, because I’ve been where you are before, too. Actually, I wish I could’ve read a post like this years ago! But here it is, my sister. Tried and true. So let’s talk about how to respond properly under pressure or keep your feelings in check. First of all, let me ask this quick question. What’s got you under pressure? Or maybe I should also pose this question, “Who’s stressing you out?” Either one of those should work for this particular post. Yet, in either case, the first step to responding well under any form of pressure is finding out where the pressure point lies. Once you know, breathe in. And then breathe out. And the reason ...
3 Biblical Reminders on the Importance of Rest
Recently, the Lord has placed the topic of rest on my heart. As I prepare my message for this year’s Beloved Women’s Conference, I’m reminded of the importance of rest. This year’s conference theme is “Soul Rest,” and as I share the theme with other women, the topic seems to really resonate. So I want to share a few things I’m learning about rest with you too: 1. Rest comes from Jesus. “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30 ESV) Some rest means taking a nap, while other times a nap won’t satisfy. It’s then we need rest for our souls. It’s the type of res...
5 Reasons I Read Scripture Daily
The most transformative discipline affecting my spiritual health has been, without a doubt, spending time in God’s word. I say discipline, because spending daily time in the Bible is not always easy. Roadblocks try to separate me from reaching for God’s truth: time, commitments, even reading other text written from fellow believers. Why do I practice this spiritual discipline? Here are 5 reasons why I spend time in the Bible daily: We are in a battle folks, a battle against good and evil. A battle that is waging a war for our souls.Ephesians 6:14-18 shares, “Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circ...
How Well Do You Notice? – From His Heart – August 25
HOW WELL DO YOU NOTICE When Joseph came to them in the morning and observed them, behold, they were dejected. He asked Pharaoh’s officials who were with him in confinement in his master’s house, “Why are your faces so sad today?”Genesis 40:6-7 Do you know the story of Joseph in the book of Genesis? It is an awesome story of God’s sovereignty and Joseph’s integrity and unwavering faith. Joseph was betrayed by his brothers and sold into slavery. As a slave, he was falsely accused of the crime of attempted rape. The truth was his master’s wife had a thing for Joseph. When he rebuffed her advances, she vindictively told her husband that Joseph tried to rape her. As a result of those false charges, he went from a slave to a prisoner. Coul...
What Is Deism? What Are Deism Beliefs?
Define Deism Offering a single definition of deism poses a challenge since, unlike in Christianity or Islam, there is no holy book or creation story. “’Deism’ is usually a rather broad classification of theological belief rather than a discrete, sociologically distinct religious affiliation,” according to this definition. “Deism has no creed, articles of faith, or holy book. Neither Satan nor hell exists, only symbols of evil which can be overcome by man’s own reasoning,” All About Philosophy confirmed. While deists agree that the Bible is not the inspired Word of God, opinions about Jesus differ. Some deists believe He existed but treat Jesus only as a moral example and others believe He never existed at all, but deists reject the notion of miracles, including the resurrection. A c...
A Prayer to Understand God’s Plan for Your Suffering – Your Daily Prayer – August 24
A Prayer to Understand God’s Plan for Your Suffering By Joni Eareckson Tada “You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.“ Genesis 50:20 (NLT) You may not be a quadriplegic like I am, but I bet you resonate with the word helpless. When suffering hits you or your family broadside, we can quickly ask: Where is God? Why is He letting this happen? It’s why I draw inspiration from the biblical story of Joseph. Although he was never paralyzed, several things happened to him that could be construed as accidents. He was tossed into a pit by his envious brothers and almost left to die, and eventually, he was wrongly put in prison in a foreign land. Joseph could have become ...
What Does it Mean that Jesus Is the Prince of Peace?
The coming of the Messiah has been predicted by the prophet Isaiah around 700 BC. His prophecies recorded in the Bible referring to Jesus are quoted worldwide, especially during Christmas every year: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6) There was declared the various roles of Jesus: a child, a son, a government, a counselor, God, father, and a prince. Despite being mentioned at last, this attribute is not the least – in fact, it is of great significance: Prince of Peace. Without peace, the continuity of life would not be possible. That is why the Son of God, King of kings has come into the world He created. Jesus Christ is the o...
17 years old Israeli Teenage girl killed as Two other Wounded in Samaria ‘Horrific’ Terror Attack
Lod resident Rina Shenrav, 17 Lod resident Rina Shenrav, 17, succumbs to mortal wounds caused when explosive device detonates as the family was visiting the Danny Spring near Dolev. Shenrav’s father, 46, and 19-year-old brother rushed to Hadassah Ein Kerem Medical Center in Jerusalem in serious condition. PM Netanyahu calls security consultation, says Israel “will find these heinous terrorists. We will strike our enemy down.” JERUSALEM, Israel – an enormous search is underway on Friday when a teenaged girl was killed while her father and brother seriously hurt in an explosion close to a water spring by the Dolev settlement community in the West Bank. Rina Shnerb, 17, was critically wounded and pronounced dead on the scene after paramedics worked desperately to save ...
When the Hurt Is Horrible – Girlfriends in God – August 23, 2018
August 23, 2018When the Hurt Is HorribleGwen Smith Today’s Truth I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. (Psalm 16:8) Friend to Friend Danita experienced a tragic loss. Her husband Dave was a military officer stationed at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. An avid runner, he was the picture of good health. Over six feet tall, his tanned, athletic build never failed to take Danita’s breath away. Like every other married couple they had their issues, but strived to live together as one. Early on their household was surrendered to the Lord. Faith, friendship, and fun were the foundations of their home and the cement that held them together during difficult times. In October 2003, Dave had been wrestling with some issues of spiritual surrender about the...
Can a Christian Practice Buddhist Meditation Methods?
The Bible affirms the necessity of meditation numerous times, but does biblical meditation differ from Buddhist meditation? Buddhist meditation often involves mantras which edify the gods of either Buddhism or Hinduism. Meditating on and chanting a word or phrase praising or seeking a false deity is contrary to the principles of Christianity. Meditation in the Bible Meditation Verses in the Old Testament “[Isaac] went out to the field one evening to meditate…” (Genesis 24:63). “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful” (Joshua 1:8). Meditation Verses in the Psalms The book of Psalms contains many references to meditation about the believer’s desire for a...
The Vision for the Church & Culture Conference
In just a few weeks, the fifth annual Church & Culture Conference will take place at Mecklenburg Community Church (Meck) in Charlotte, NC. If you have not attended before, you may be wondering what the vision is for this event. Heaven knows the Christian world doesn’t need another conference that is just like every other conference. You know the drill: the same eight or 10 speakers currently hot on the circuit, the same talks that are not-so-thinly veiled book promotions, the same “pep rally” atmosphere. Yes, they serve a purpose, but we have them in ready supply. In its earlier years, Meck offered what we called the “New Work Conference.” It was for church planters and we served countless numbers. We stopped after a while because we had grown distant from our own church planting days ...
