"Be of good courage, and let us be strong... And may the Lord do what is good in His sight."

                                                                 1 Chronicles 19:13

    My Bible was opened randomly, sitting there on the seat of Mama's old rocking chair, the one I rocked all my babies in.   I had my coffee and the cozy afghan Nanny made for me many years ago.  I sat down on the old, faded Ducan Phyfe couch in the loft, ready to soak in some Word, longing to glean some Supernatural comfort.  I lifted the Bible from the rocker and onto my lap, looking down to where the Bible was opened in 1 Chronicles, chapter heading "The Ammonites and Syrians Defeated"....... I let spiritually yawned... I just wasn't sure that what I needed was to read about another war in the OT.  It feels that we have enough of that in our world today with all the vandalism, shootings, folks contolled by fear of an illness, racial devision, etc.  I felt I needed something more direct for my aching mom's heart,  something that just plain out shouted loud and clear, "All your cares and woes will end by next month... your children will repent and come over excited to join you for praise and worship, for Bible study and eager to pray, before the end of this year."...... I know....I know.... but I really wanted to see something that would give me encouragement to believe that was going to happen SOON.

SIGH....

    I persevered however, feeling that nudge say, "just stay right here where it's 'radomly' opened"..... because, really, is anything with God "random"?  So, I took a breath, a sip of coffee, and somewhat reluctantly started reading.  

    Nahash, king of the Ammons, had died.  His son Hanun was taking over things.  David thought, "You know what, Hanun's dad showed me kindness, so I think I should reach out to him...afterall, his daddy just died.  I'll send some messengers over to him to offer him some comfort."  That's a nice jesture.  Very thoughtful of David to want to reach out and offer comfort.  But Hanun couldn't receive the blessing David intended because he listened to his princes who told him that David's real motive was to come to spy on and overthrow them. Isn't that just like Satan to block a blessing with a lie?  Hanun believed the lie and decided to humiliate David's messengers by shaving off their beards and cutting holes in the back of their garments at their buttocks. He then sent them back to David for all to see their bare faces and backsides.... pretty humiliating.  Someone told David so he "sent out to meet them, because the men where greatly ashamed." (v. 5)  The beards they were "inordinately proud of and their scrupulously modest attire" (Bible note) were gone and skin that was always hidden was exposed for all to see.  Needless to say,  David was not happy.  Sooooo, as was popular in the OT,  they had to have a war.  

    Here we go, another OT war.... geeze..... I again questioned why I was reading this.  What was the message I was to receive?  Was regarding when my motives to bless/comfort/encourage were rejected, misinterpreted (a lie believed instead of my true intentions) and heartache (separation, estrangement) insued instead of the connection I desired?  I sat pondering this for a bit, remembering times this had indeed been the case.   

    I read on.

    David decided not to go into the battle himself, so "He sent Joab and all the army of the mighty men." (v.8)  I figured those Ammons were about to see who they were up against and turn tail and run and Hanun would send a heartfelt apology to David, maybe blaming his princes.  But nope, they decided to fight.  They surrounded Joab and his mighty men.  But Joab, being so good that David sent him instead of going himself, had a battle plan and shared it with his mighty men.  He told them they would split into two groups back to back so they could face their enemies from every direction, but help each other as needed ...then...Joab...said...(here it comes)..., "Be of good courage, and let us be strong for our people and for the cities of our God.  And may the Lord do what is good in His sight."

    It had to sink in a minute.  I read it again.  Then I saw it .....and it slowly fell into place....

    First:  David reached out in love/concern but his actions were not received as intended, did not have the intended/desired outcome.  We reach out in love.  We share a truth, a word of concern or advice, an explanation.  But it's not received.  It's rejected or ignored.  Or it might even backfire and do more harm than good, even though we were reaching out in LOVE.

   Second:  The battle.  The good guys are surrounded by the bad guys.  Doesn't it feel that way a lot of the time with our prodigals, like we're just out numbered, like we are up against such a multitued of LIES?  BUT... .Joab and his mighty men didn't give up.  The plan was keep fighting, watching back and front, helping each other (v 12), encouraging all to have courage and stay strong.  

    Third:  And THEN......this jewel...... "And may the Lord do what is good in His sight."  My Bible note states, "This my look like the resigned statement of a fatalist, but it was anything but that.  Joab understood enough of the soverienty of God to know that after all the human effort and energy had been expended, THE BATTLE WAS STILL GOD'S."

This is for us, Mom's! We are warriors together, backing each other in prayer, weilding our Swords against that enemy trying to steal our babes....... But... it won't work; satan will not win...... Not only will we not give up, not only will we stand strong, holding each other's arms up when we grow weary, (here it comes) WE KNOW THE BATTLE IS STILL GOD'S!!  HE IS NOT ONLY IN IT WITH US....HE CONTINUES TO FIGHT FOR OUR PRODIGALS EVEN WHEN WE ARE WEARY, WHEN WE GROW FAINT, WHEN WE FALL BACK, WHEN WE ARE OVERWHELMED....  HE FIGHTS ON!

Be encouraged!  Take a break in His Arms.  Let Him breathe on you*, sing over you*, knowing He is still in the battle, that His love for them far surpasses ours.  And He is far more able than our human minds can fathom.   Allow Him to refresh you, then get back up, put on your Armor, pick up your Sword, and SHOUT YOUR BATTLE CRY!  

                                              OUR CHILDREN WILL BE SAVED!

                                                            DO NOT DOUBT IT!

    My gleaning of 1 Chron 19:12-13 for MOP:  "If the lies that have gripped our precious babes overwhelm us, if this battle at times feels too much for us, and we feel we're being defeated, then we will know we have this army of moms to help us, who will step up in prayer and encouragement. Be of good courage, and let us be strong for our prodigals and for the hearts of their moms.  And MAY THE LORD DO WHAT IS GOOD IN HIS SIGHT." 

    May you be encouraged! 

*2 Sam 22:14-19

*Job 33:4

*Rev 11:11

*Ezek 37:9

*Zeph 3:17

 HALLELUJAH AND AMEN!!!