Everything?!!!!!!

I wrote this to my prayer/financial partners in Feb, and felt it on my heart again recently:



I saw this as I was looking up a scripture and God told me "this is for your partners." It comes from
1 Samuel 30. King David and his men return home to find that Amalekites have raided their home carrying off their wives, their children, and all their stuff! Yikes! So what does he do?
First, he gets the green light from God. Then he takes some of his men, and goes to the Amalekite encampment. He finds them partying and having a good time.
"…Eating, drinking, dancing with joy because of the vast amount of plunder they had taken from the Philistines and the land of Judah. David and his men rushed in among them and slaughtered them throughout the night…David got back everything the Amalekites had taken... Nothing was missing: small or great, son or daughter, nor anything else that had been taken. David brought back everything. His troops rounded up all the flocks and herds and drove them ahead…" (vs.16-20)
Well David and his men return home where some men had been staying behind to guard the home front. Well some of the selfish soldiers don't want to share the rewards.
(vs.22-25) "…But some of the troublemakers among David's men said, 'They didn't go with us, so they can't have any of the plunder. Give them their wives and children, and tell them to be gone.' But David said, 'No, my brothers! Don't be selfish with what the LORD has given us. He has kept us safe and helped us defeat the enemy. …We share and share alike- those who go to battle and those who guard the equipment.' From then on David made this a law for all of Israel, and it is still followed." [All emphasis mine]
Do you see what I saw in these verses? The enemy had raided them. But God gave them permission and empowered them to go and take back what the enemy had stolen. He sent them. And nothing was left unaccounted for. Every child, every wife, every sheep, every George-Forman grill, every cell phone, - everything!!!!!! God kept his eye on every person and every thing stolen by the enemy. He knew where each thing was- and he sent David and his men to get it back!!!
But David didn't just need his soldiers. He left some of the men home to take care of business there and hold down the fort. And they were rewarded just as lavishly as those who did the footwork. They were not forgotten because David realized the value of the job they'd done back home. I mean you can't really make much progress getting your stuff back if another enemy comes and steals your remaining stuff back home. Am I right? So those men back home were just as important and served a crucial role.
This is totally a story of all of you and me together as a group? Do you see that?
Who am I? I'm David and the soldiers, being empowered and sent into Africa to reclaim what the enemy has stolen: The children's hope, their joy, their hearts. He has no right to them, and I'm going to TAKE THEM BACK!!!
Who are you? You are the men back home, making it possible. You allow me to go and do the footwork when you hold down the fort with prayer and support. When I know I' m protected, I can go boldly, confidently.
But which group of us will be rewarded for our efforts? We both will; those who go and those who work behind the scenes. David made that law thousands of years ago, and it is still followed! Hallelujah!!!!

I am a Christian

I AM A CHRISTIAN
By Maya Angelou
>
> When I say... "I am a Christian"
> I'm not shouting "I'm clean livin."
> I'm whispering "I was lost,"
> Now I'm found and forgiven.
>
> When I say..."I am a Christian"
> I don't speak of this with pride.
> I'm confessing that I stumble
> and need CHRIST to be my guide.
>
> When I say... "I am a Christian"
> I'm not trying to be strong.
> I'm professing that I'm weak
> and need HIS strength to carry on.
>
> When I say... "I am a Christian"
> I'm not bragging of success.
> I'm admitting I have failed
> and need God to clean my mess.
>
> When I say... "I am a Christian"
> I'm not claiming to be perfect,
> My flaws are far too visible
> but, God believes I am worth it.
>
> When I say... "I am a Christian"
> I stil! l feel the sting of pain,
> I have my share of heartaches
> So I call upon His name.
>
> When I say... "I am a Christian"
> I'm not holier than thou,
> I'm just a simple sinner
> who received God's good grace, someho