Takin' care of da ladies....

Either I am turning into a total sap or this was seriously adorable.

I <3 A Heart Like His!

For the past 11 weeks, the girls at Shoreline and I have been going through Beth Moore's workbook study about David: A HEART LIKE HIS.

I must admit-- it being a Beth Moore study, I had high expectations for it. Fortunately, my expectations were exceeded, and it wasn't so much about Beth's writing style, or her hairstyles on the video segments, or the topical discussion questions that really did it for me, it was the truth of the scriptures that revealed God's sovereignty and that unfolded week by week like a good juicy episodic saga (better than The Hills!) I mean seriously, 1, 2 Samuel, 1, 2 Chronicles, 1 Kings, and Psalms all interweave to reveal the kind of characters, drama, love, betrayal, violence, plot twists and supernatural interventions that MAKE Blockbuster hits like Braveheart and Transformers pale in comparison.

Sometimes, the girls and I would just laugh over the absurdity of a question from our homework like "how do you think Goliath would have dressed?" or "write an obituary about Saul." What the--? Unfortunately in those instances I really had to come to terms with my rebellious side and just allow myself to skip, skip without guilt because that kind of stuff was really distracting to what was happening in the verses.

But then, there were those specific weeks where I found myself in the middle of a passage in 2 Samuel reading about David's own rebellion and unforgiveness, and then had to encounter Beth's probing questions in which I would immediately respond with "Oh crap" and "Sunuva . . ." and ended up bawling my eyes out over the pieces of my own heart I found mirrored on those pages. If I allowed it, this study uprooted weekly some incredibly HARD truths between me and the Lord, but it always lead to the best prayer times, and heart-changing stuff I will not soon forget.

As I witnessed David flee from his OWN SON and the very throne GOD had given to Him, it made me remember the significance of God's plans for my life. For every relationship, every position, every work, and situation I "end up in" and how often I am tempted to (or have) run for my life from something I feared when God had me the whole time!

In my frustrations with David's behaviors, it occurred to me that this frustrating man was one that the lord said "I have found David . . . a man after my own heart." (Acts 13:22) And that to me, became the most precious thing about this study. As we studied a "character" named David, we became closely acquainted with the "character" of God. One full of mercy, forgiveness, sovereignty, true to His Word, protector, compassionate, sensitive, all-knowing, just, victorious, the list is endless!

Today, we said Goodbye to David, to our small group time together, and while the Fall will bring about new groups on new nights with new attendees and leaders at the helm; I can't get one of the most important lessons from this study out of my head, that Jesus came from this bloodline of David, (on JOSEPH'S side mind you) and continues to reign on the throne that God established so long ago!

This wasn't just a Bible Study, this was a stark reminder of God's sovereign grace and mercy to all of us, because the entire time, God had something bigger in mind, and that was sending His Son Jesus as our savior, someone David would never even live to see!

David loved the Lord, but he fell short time and time again. He was disobedient, an adulterer, he let his sons get away with rape and murder, and the entire time, the Lord was "with David". In his old age, David passed the throne down to his son Solomon, and with it words of wisdom about serving the Lord, and doing right in His eyes, and instead of resenting him for getting to be King after failing so badly, I hoped my own heart would follow after the Lord as closely - even in the midst of my darkest and furthest falls. Because the Lord chose David when he was just a shepherd boy, He became King over Israel. Not because he deserved it, or was a good enough guy, but because the Lord chose Him.

It gives me chills.

If you are ever uncertain about God's character, spend some time getting to know the character named David. It's quite a ride.