Points To Ponder 04/01/2013

Crocus at a school near our house…

Points To Ponder 04/01/2013

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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Don’t keep the faith…..spread it around…
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BIBLE QUIZ: 
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Old Testament/Stories of Samuel, Saul and David (I Samuel 20:13ff)

 . . . . . . .The LORD do so and much more to Jonathan: but if it please my father to do you evil, then I will show it you, and send you away, that you may go in peace: and the LORD be with you, as he has been with my father. And you shall not only while yet I live show me the kindness of the LORD, that I die not: But also you shall not cut off thy kindness from my house for ever: no, not when the LORD hath cut off the enemies of David every one from the face of the earth. So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, Let the LORD even require it at the hand of David's enemies. And Jonathan caused David to swear again, because he loved him: for he loved him as he loved his own soul. Then Jonathan said to David, tomorrow is the new moon: and thou will be missed, because thy seat will be empty. And when you have stayed three days, then you shall go down quickly, and come to the place where you hid thyself when the business was in hand, and shall remain by the stone Ezel. And I will shoot three arrows on the side thereof, as though I shot at a mark. And, behold, I will send a lad, saying, Go, find out the arrows. If I expressly say unto the lad . . . . . . ,

What was the message that David was to glean from the arrows that Jonathan was to shoot by the stone of Ezel?

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Photo For 03/31/2013

Bradford Pears and fresh snow along the road to Theatre in the Park…on 3/29/2009…

Points To Ponder 03/31/2013

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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A good exercise for the heart is to bend down and help another up.
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BIBLE QUIZ: 
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Old Testament/Stories of Samuel, Saul and David (I Samuel 20:1ff)

And David fled from Naioth in Ramah, and came and said before Jonathan, What have I done? what is my iniquity? and what is my sin before thy father, that he seeky my life? And he said unto him, God forbid; you shall not die: behold, my father will do nothing either great or small, but that he will show it me: and why should my father hide this thing from me? it is not so.

And David swore moreover, and said, Thy father certainly knows that I have found grace in your eyes; and he said, Let not Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved: but truly as the LORD lives, and as thy soul lives, there is but a step between me and death. Then said Jonathan unto David, Whatsoever your soul desires, I will even do it for you. And David said unto Jonathan, . . .

What were the signs that David told Jonathan to look for that would show them if Saul intended evil against David?

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Photo For 03/30/2013

A Mourning Dove in our backyard…

Points To Ponder 0330/2013

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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It’s impossible for a man to learn what he thinks he already knows…
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BIBLE QUIZ: 
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Old Testament/Stories of Samuel, Saul and David (I Samuel 19:12ff)

. . . . . . . . . So Michal let David down through a window: and he went, and fled, and escaped. And Michal took an image, and laid it in the bed, and put a pillow of goats' hair for his bolster, and covered it with a cloth. And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, He is sick. And Saul sent the messengers again to see David, saying, Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may slay him. And when the messengers were come in, behold, there was an image in the bed, with a pillow of goats' hair for his bolster.

. . . . . . . . And Saul said unto Michal, Why hast thou deceived me so, and sent away mine enemy, that he is escaped? And Michal answered Saul, He said unto me, Let me go; why should I kill thee? So David fled, and escaped, and came to Samuel to Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and dwelt in Naioth. And it was told Saul, saying, Behold, David is at Naioth in Ramah. And Saul sent messengers to take David . . . . . . . . 

 

What happened to the messengers that Saul sent? What happened to Saul when he went to capture David?

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Photo For 03/29/2013

A Robin looking for spring!!!

Points To Ponder 03/29/2013

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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Many people miss the silver lining because they’re looking for gold…
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BIBLE QUIZ: 
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Old Testament/Stories of Samuel, Saul and David (I Samuel 19:11ff)

Saul also sent messengers unto David's house, to watch him, and to slay him in the morning: and Michal David's wife told him, saying, If you do not save your life tonight, tomorrow you will be slain. So Michal let David down through a window: and he went, and fled, and escaped. And Michal took and . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, He is sick. And Saul sent the messengers again to see David, saying, Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may slay him.

What did Michal do to make it appear that David was sick in bed?

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Photo For 03/28/2013

Ice on a bush in our backyard….

Points To Ponder 03/28/2013

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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We cannot control many of the tragic things that happen to us, but we can control the way we face up to them.
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BIBLE QUIZ: 
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Old Testament/Stories of Samuel, Saul and David (I Samuel 19:6ff)

. . . . .And Saul listened to the voice of his son Jonathan, and Saul vowed, "As the LORD lives, he shall not be put to death." Then Jonathan called David, and Jonathan told him all these

words. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence as formerly.

Then there was war again, and David went out and fought with the Philistines, and defeated them with great slaughter, so that they fled before him.

Now there was an evil spirit from the LORD on Saul as he was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand, and David was playing the harp with his hand. And Saul tried to . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , but he slipped away out of Saul's presence, . . . . . . . . . . . And David fled and escaped that night.

What did Saul try to do to David? What was the outcome?

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Photo For 03/27/2013

Out at Shawnee Mission Park on 03/24/2013

Points To Ponder 03/27/2013

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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We cannot help another see an invisible God if we have no concept of Him ourselves.
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BIBLE QUIZ: 
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Old Testament/Stories of Samuel, Saul and David (I Samuel 19:1ff)

Now Saul told Jonathan his son and all his servants to put David to death. But Jonathan, Saul's son, greatly delighted in David. So Jonathan told David saying, "Saul my father is seeking to put you to death. Now therefore, please be on guard in the morning, and stay in a secret place and hide yourself. "And I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are, and I will speak with my father about you; if I find out anything, then I shall tell you." Then Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father, and said to him, "Do not let the king sin against his servant David, since he has not sinned against you, and since his deeds {have been} very beneficial to you. "For he took his life in his hand and struck the Philistine, and the LORD brought about a great deliverance for all Israel; you saw {it} and rejoiced. Why then will you sin against innocent blood, by putting David to death without a cause?" And Saul . . . . . . . .

What was Saul’s reply to Jonathan?

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Photo For 03/26/2013

Blue Jay in our backyard….

Points To Ponder 03/26/2013

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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God deserves your best.
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BIBLE QUIZ: 
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Old Testament/Stories of Samuel, Saul and David (I Samuel 18:24ff)

And the servants of Saul told him, saying, On this manner spoke David. And Saul said, Thus shall ye say to David, The king desireth not any dowry, but an hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the king's enemies. But Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines. And when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king's son in law: and the days were not expired. Wherefore David arose and went, he and his men, and slew of the Philistines ________ hundred men; and David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full tale to the king, that he might be the king's son in law. And Saul gave him Michal his daughter to wife. And Saul saw and knew that the LORD was with David, and that Michal Saul's daughter loved him. And Saul was yet the _________ afraid of David; and Saul became David's enemy continually.

How many Philistines did David and his men slay?

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Photo For 03/25/2013

Bluebird out at the park today…

Points To Ponder 03/25/013

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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“Between every unfaithful generation and faithful generation is one person determined to change.” - Beth Moore
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BIBLE QUIZ: 
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Old Testament/Stories of Samuel, Saul and David (I Samuel 18:22ff)

Then Saul ordered his attendants: "Speak to David privately and say, 'Look, the king is pleased with you, and his attendants all like you; now become his son-in-law.'" They repeated these words to David. But David said, "Do you think it is a small matter to become the king's son-in-law? I'm only a poor man and little known." When Saul's servants told him what David had said, Saul replied, "Say to David, 'The king wants no other price for the bride than . . . . . . .

What was the price Saul wanted from David for his daughter Michal? Why did he ask for this type of a price?

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Photo For 03/24/2013

For the record, the date stamp on this photo is 3/17/2012 and it was shot at the entrance to “Theater In The Park”. For those that don’t live locally-it’s snowing hard outside right now and I’ve seen no signs of these tree blooming yet :0)

Points To Ponder 03/24/2013

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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Character is like a fence...it cannot be strengthened by white wash.
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BIBLE QUIZ: 
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Old Testament/Stories of Samuel, Saul and David (I Samuel 18:17ff)

But David said to Saul, "Who am I, and what is my life or my father's family in Israel, that I should be the king's son-in-law?" So it came about at the time when Merab, Saul's daughter, should have been given to David, that she was given to Adriel the Meholathite for a wife. Now ________, Saul's daughter, loved David. When they told Saul, the thing was agreeable to him. And Saul thought, "I will give her to him that she may become a _______ to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him." Therefore Saul said to David, "For a second time you may be my son-in-law today." Then Saul commanded his servants, "Speak to David secretly, saying, 'Behold, the king delights in you, and all his servants love you; now therefore, become the king's son-in-law.'"

What was the name of Saul’s daughter who loved David? Why was Saul happy about his daughters love for David?

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Photo For 03/23/2013

Taken on 2/26/2013 near my son’s house here in Lenexa…

Points To Ponder 03/23/2013

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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The bubbling brook would lose its song if you removed the rocks.
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BIBLE QUIZ: 
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Old Testament/Stories of Samuel, Saul and David (I Samuel 18:17ff)

And Saul said to David, "Here is my older daughter Merab; I will give her to you as a wife, only be a valiant man for me and fight the LORD'S battles." . . . . . . .

If Saul was afraid of David why would he offer to give David his oldest daughter as a wife?

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Photo For 03/22/2013

Spring is having a hard time getting started here…but we’re grateful for the moisture :0)…Cardnal eating a peanut on our back deck today…

Points To Ponder 03/22/2013

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POINTS TO PONDER:

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Proverbs - 27:17 - Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.

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BIBLE QUIZ: 

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Old Testament/Stories of Samuel, Saul and David (I Samuel 18:12ff)

And Saul was afraid of David, because . . . . . . . . .

Therefore Saul removed David from him, and made him . . . . . . . . . . . .

Why was Saul afraid of David? What did Saul do with David?

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Photo For 03/21/2013

Guess what showed up in our front yard today…However, I didn’t take this picture today as it’s pretty cold out there…This picture is from several years ago..

Point To Ponder 03/21/2013

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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Psalm 25:14 - Friendship with the LORD is reserved for those who fear him……NLT
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BIBLE QUIZ: 
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Old Testament/Stories of Samuel, Saul and David (I Samuel 18:5ff)

And Saul eyed David from that day and forward. And it came to pass on the next day, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul's hand. And Saul  . . . . .

What did Saul try to do to David? How many times did he try it?.

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Photo For 03/20/2013

Raider of the bird feeder..”Who me? Couldn’t be.”

Points To Ponder 03/20/2013

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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“Don't miss a blessing-filled Christian life by trying to avoid a problem-free Christian life.” -David Jeremiah
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BIBLE QUIZ: 
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Old Testament/Stories of Samuel, Saul and David (I Samuel 18:5ff)

And David went out wherever Saul sent him, and behaved wisely: and Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul's servants. And it came to pass as they came, when David was returning from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of music. And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his __________, and David his ________ thousands.

Fill in the blanks above.
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Photo For 03/19/2013

“Maybe I can sneak into the bird feeder from here?”

Points To Ponder 03/19/2013

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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Loving is not always easy, but it always right.
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BIBLE QUIZ: 
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Old Testament/Stories of Samuel, Saul and David (I Samuel 18:1ff)

And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. And Saul took him that day, and would let him go home to his father's house anymore. Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. And Jonathan…….

What did Jonathan give to David?

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Photo For 03/18/2013

Blue Jay………..in our backyard…..

Points To Ponder 03/18/2013

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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"Middle age is when work is a lot less fun and fun is a lot more work."
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BIBLE QUIZ: 
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Old Testament/Stories of Samuel, Saul and David (I Samuel 17:51ff)

Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled. And the men of Israel and of Judah arose, and shouted, and pursued the Philistines, until they came to the valley, and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell down by the way to Shaaraim, even unto Gath, and unto Ekron. And the children of Israel returned from chasing after the Philistines, and they spoiled their tents. And David took the head of the Philistine……………

 

What did David do with the head of Golaith and Goliath’s armor?

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Photo For 03/17/2013

A correction the bird we have been looking at for the last two days is actually ………..A Red-Bellied Woodpecker, yesterday we saw the male…this is the female…

Points To Ponder 03/17/2013

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POINTS TO PONDER:

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More people would learn from their mistakes if they weren't so busy denying them.

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BIBLE QUIZ: 

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Old Testament/Stories of Samuel, Saul and David (I Samuel 17:48ff)

And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David hurried, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. And David put his hand in his bag, and took a stone, and slung it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth.  So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David. Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and …………………………..

What did David do when he stood upon Goliath?

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Photo For 03/16/2013

A Flicker (woodpecker) in our backyard…..

Points To Ponder 03/16/2013

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POINTS TO PONDER:

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When looking for faults, use a mirror not a telescope.
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BIBLE QUIZ: 
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Old Testament/Stories of Samuel, Saul and David (I Samuel 17:41ff)

And the Philistine came on and drew near unto David; and the man that bare the shield went before him. And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him: for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance. And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that you come to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field. Then said David to the Philistine, You come to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day will the LORD deliver you into mine hand; and I will smite you, and take your head from thee; and I will give the carcasses of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saves not with sword and spear: for the battle is ____ ________, and he will give you into our hands. And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.

Whose battle was it?

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Photo For 03/15/2013

A Flicker (woodpecker) in our backyard…..

Points To Ponder 03/15/2013

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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John 14:21

Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him."

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BIBLE QUIZ: 
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Old Testament/Stories of Samuel, Saul and David (I Samuel 17:39ff)

…………. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him. And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him _______ smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his __________ was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine…………

How many stones did David pick out of the brook? What weapon did David take into battle?

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Photo For 03/14/2013

On Golden Pond…..Out at Shawnee Mission Park …

Points To Ponder 03/14/2013

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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Somehow in our imaginations we have created a God who only gives out love pats. But this is not what the Bible tells us.
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BIBLE QUIZ: 
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Old Testament/Stories of Samuel, Saul and David (I Samuel 17:34ff)

But David said to Saul, "Your servant has been keeping his father's sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine." Saul said to David, "Go, and the LORD be with you." Then Saul dressed David in his own tunic. He put a coat of armor on him and a bronze helmet on his head. David fastened on his sword over the tunic and ………….

What did David do after he put on Saul’s tunic and armor?

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Photo For 03/13/2013

Out at Shawnee Mission Park earlier this month…

Points To Ponder 03/13/2013

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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He that boasts of being one of God's elect, while he is willfully and habitually living in sin, is only deceiving himself, and talking wicked blasphemy. - J.C. Ryle
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BIBLE QUIZ: 
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Old Testament/Stories of Samuel, Saul and David (I Samuel 17:31ff)

What David said was overheard and reported to Saul, and Saul sent for him. David said to Saul, "Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him." Saul replied, "You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a boy, and he has been a fighting man from his youth." But David said to Saul, "Your servant has been keeping his father's sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, . . . . .

What did David say he did to a lion or a bear that carried off a sheep from the flock?

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Photo For 03/12/2013

A “Tree Rat” in our backyard (aka Squirrel)… :0)

Points To Ponder 03/12/2013

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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All of us could take a lesson from the weather. It pays no attention to criticism.
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BIBLE QUIZ: 
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Old Testament/Stories of Samuel, Saul and David (I Samuel 17:28ff)

When Eliab, David's oldest brother, heard him speaking with the men, he ………..

What was Eliab’s (David's oldest brother) reaction to David’s questions about Goliath?

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Photo For 03/11/2013

A male Downey Woodpecker in our backyard….…