Photo For 05/01/2013

Caught in the act of raiding the birdfeeder…

Points To Ponder 05/01/2013

**********       
POINTS TO PONDER:
**********
For most of us our garbage disposals eat better than 75% of the people in this world.
**********             
BIBLE QUIZ: 
**********
Old Testament/Stories of Samuel, Saul and David (I Samuel 30:6ff)

. . . . And David was greatly distressed; for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God. And David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech's son, I pray thee, bring to me the ephod. And Abiathar brought the ephod to David. And David inquired at the LORD, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? Shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for you shall surely overtake them, and without fail recover all. So David went, he and the six hundred men that were with him, and came to the brook Besor, where those that were left behind stayed. But David pursued, he and four hundred men: for two hundred stayed behind  

Why did 200 hundred men stay behind?

**********

Photo For 04/30/2013

Inside the mill at War Eagle, Arkansas…

Points To Ponder 04/30/2013

**********       

POINTS TO PONDER:

**********

What counts is not the number of hours you put in, but how much you put into the hours.

**********             

BIBLE QUIZ: 

**********

Old Testament/Stories of Samuel, Saul and David (I Samuel 29:11ff)

 

 . . . . So David and his men rose up early to depart in the morning, to return into the land of the Philistines. And the Philistines went up to Jezreel. And it came to pass, when David and his men came to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the south, and Ziklag, and smitten Ziklag, and burned it with fire; And had taken the women captives, that were therein: they slew not any, either great or small, but carried them away, and went on their way. So David and his men came to the city, and, behold, it was burned with fire; and their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, were taken captives. Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep. And David's two wives were taken captives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite. And David was greatly distressed; for the people spoke of. . . . . . 

 

What did the people speak of doing?

**********

Photo For 04/29/2013

Spillway next to the mill at War Eagle, Arkansas…

Points To Ponder 04/29/2013

**********       
POINTS TO PONDER:
**********
It isn't what you know that counts, it's what you think of in time.
**********             
BIBLE QUIZ: 
**********
Old Testament/Stories of Samuel, Saul and David (I Samuel 29:1ff)

 . . . . Now the Philistines gathered together all their armies to Aphek: and the Israelites pitched by a fountain which is in Jezreel. And the lords of the Philistines were proceeding on by hundreds and by thousands, and David and his men were proceeding on in the rear with Achish. Then said the princes of the Philistines, What do these Hebrews here? And Achish said unto the princes of the Philistines, Is not this David, the servant of Saul the king of Israel, which hath been with me these days, or these years, and I have found no fault in him since he fell unto me unto this day? And the princes of the Philistines were wroth with him; and the princes of the Philistines said unto him . . . . .

Why didn’t the Philistines want David to join the battle?

**********

Photo For 04/28/2013

Water wheel on the mill at War Eagle, Arkansas…

Points To Ponder 04/28/2013

**********       
POINTS TO PONDER:
**********
There is little that be learned from the second kick of the mule.
**********             
BIBLE QUIZ: 
**********
Old Testament/Stories of Samuel, Saul and David (I Samuel 28:20ff)

. . . . Then Saul fell straightway all along on the earth, and was sore afraid, because of the words of Samuel: and there was no strength in him; for he had eaten no bread all the day, nor all the night. And the woman came unto Saul, and saw that he was sore troubled, and said unto him, Behold, your handmaid has obeyed your voice, and I have put my life in my hand, and have hearkened unto thy words which you spoke unto me. Now therefore, I pray thee, listen unto the voice of your handmaid, and let me set a morsel of bread before thee; and eat, that you may have strength, when you go on your way. But he refused, and said, I will not eat. . . .

Who finally persuaded Saul to eat something?

**********

Photo For )4/27/2013

Water wheel on the mill at War Eagle, Arkansas…

Points To Ponder 04/27/2103

**********       
POINTS TO PONDER:
**********
You cannot truly listen to someone and do something else at the same time.
**********             
BIBLE QUIZ: 
**********
Old Testament/Stories of Samuel, Saul and David (I Samuel 28:11ff)

 . . . . Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up for you? And he said, Bring me up Samuel. And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice: and the woman spoke to Saul, saying, Why did you deceive me? For you are Saul. And the king said unto her, Be not afraid: tell me what you saw? And the woman said unto Saul, I saw gods ascending out of the earth. And he said unto her, What form is he of? And she said, An old man cometh up; and he is covered with a mantle. And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground, and bowed himself. And Samuel said to Saul, Why have you disquieted me, to bring me up? And Saul answered, I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me, and answers me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams: therefore I have called you, that you may make known unto me what I shall do. Then said Samuel, Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing the LORD is departed from thee, and is become your enemy? And the LORD hath done to him, as he spoke by me: for the LORD hath torn the kingdom out of your hand, and given it to thy neighbor, even to David: Because you did not obey the voice of the LORD, nor execute his fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore has the LORD done this thing unto you this day. Moreover the LORD will also deliver Israel with thee into the hand of the Philistines: and tomorrow you and your sons be with me: the LORD also shall deliver the host of Israel into the hand of the Philistines. . . . Then Saul………..

 

What happened to Saul after he had heard these words from Samuel?

**********

Photo For 04/26/2013

A fixer upper en route to Eureka Springs, Arkansas…

Ponts To Ponder 04/26/2013

**********       
POINTS TO PONDER:
**********
The people who make a difference are not the onees with credentials, but the ones with concern. Max Lucado
**********             
BIBLE QUIZ: 
**********
Old Testament/Stories of Samuel, Saul and David (I Samuel 28:6ff)

 . . . . And when Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets. Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and inquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor. And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, I pray thee, divine unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring me him up, whom I shall name unto thee. And the woman said unto him, Behold, you know what Saul hath done, how he hath cut off those that have familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land: wherefore then layest thou a snare for my life, to cause me to die? And Saul swore to her by the LORD, saying, As the LORD lives, there shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing. Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up unto you? And he said, Bring me up . . . .

Whom did Saul have the woman bring up from the dead?

**********

Photo For 04/25/2013

Cardinal at Beaver Lake, Arkansas…

Points To Ponder 04/25/2013

**********       
POINTS TO PONDER:
**********
Better twice measured than once wrong.
**********             
BIBLE QUIZ: 
**********
Old Testament/Stories of Samuel, Saul and David (I Samuel 28:1ff)

 . . . . . And it came to pass in those days, that the Philistines gathered their armies together for warfare, to fight with Israel. And Achish said unto David, Know thou assuredly, that thou shalt go out with me to battle, thou and thy men. And David said to Achish, Surely thou shalt know what thy servant can do. And Achish said to David, Therefore will I make thee keeper of mine head for ever. Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him, and buried him in Ramah, even in his own city. And Saul had put away those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land. And the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and pitched in Shunem: and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they pitched in Gilboa. And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled. And when Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets. Then . . . . .

What did Saul do next in an attempt to get an answer from God?

**********

Photo For 04/24/2013

Morning fog lifting at Beaver Lake, Arkansas…

Points To Ponder 04/24/2013

**********       
POINTS TO PONDER:
**********
Every time you open your mouth you let people look into your mind.
**********             
BIBLE QUIZ: 
**********
Old Testament/Stories of Samuel, Saul and David (I Samuel 27:1ff)

 . . . . . And David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul: there is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines; and Saul shall despair of me, to seek me any more in any coast of Israel: so shall I escape out of his hand. And David arose, and he passed over with the six hundred men that were with him unto Achish, the son of Maoch, king of Gath. And David dwelt with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man with his household, even David with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the Carmelitess, Nabal's wife. And it was told Saul that David was fled to Gath: and he sought no more again for him. And David said unto Achish, If I have now found grace in thine eyes, let them give me a place in some town in the country, that I may dwell there: for why should your servant dwell in the royal city with thee? Then Achish gave him Ziklag that day: wherefore Ziklag pertaineth unto the kings of Judah unto this day. And the time that David dwelt in the country of the Philistines was a full year and four months. And David . . . .

What did David do to cause King Achish to make the statement, “Achish believed David, saying, He hath made his people Israel utterly to abhor him; therefore he shall be my servant forever.”

**********

Photo For 04/23/2013

Turkey Vulture flying into the sunset at Beaver Lake, Arkansas…

Points To Ponder 04/23/2013

**********       
POINTS TO PONDER:
**********
If you went t church last Sunday without fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death...you are more blessed than three billion people in the world. [470 Christian martyrs per day - 70,000,000 in last 2000 years]
**********             
BIBLE QUIZ: 
**********
Old Testament/Stories of Samuel, Saul and David (I Samuel 26:13ff)

. . . . Then David went over to the other side, and stood on the top of an hill afar off; a great space being between them: And David cried to the people, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, Answerest thou not, Abner? Then Abner answered and said, Who art thou that criest to the king? And David said to Abner, Art not thou a valiant man? and who is like to thee in Israel? wherefore then have you not kept your lord the king? For there came one of the people in to destroy the king thy lord. This thing is not good that you hast done. As the LORD lives, you are worthy to die, because ye have not kept your master, the LORD's anointed. And now see where the king's spear is, and the cruse of water that was at his bolster.

And Saul knew David's voice, and said, Is this your voice, my son David? And David said, It is my voice, my lord, O king. And he said, . . . . . . . .

What did Saul say and do in regards to David’s words?

**********

Photo For 04/22/2013

Indigo Bunting at Beaver Lake, Arkansas…

Points To Ponder 04/22/2013

**********       
POINTS TO PONDER:
**********
If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation... you are ahead of 500 million people in the world.
**********             
BIBLE QUIZ: 
**********
Old Testament/Stories of Samuel, Saul and David (I Samuel 26:1ff)

 . . . . And the Ziphites came unto Saul to Gibeah, saying, Does not David hide himself in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon? Then Saul arose, and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul camped at the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon, by the way. But David abode in the wilderness, and he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness. David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul was come in very deed. And David arose, and came to the place where Saul had camped: and David beheld the place where Saul lay, and Abner the son of Ner, the captain of his host: and Saul lay in the trench, and the people camped round about him.

Then answered David and said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother to Joab, saying, Who will go down with me to Saul to the camp? And Abishai said, I will go down with thee. So David and Abishai came to the people by night: and, behold, Saul lay sleeping within the trench, and his spear stuck in the ground at his bolster: but Abner and the people lay round about him. Then said Abishai to David, God hath delivered your enemy into your hand this day: now therefore let me smite him, I pray thee, with the spear even to the earth at once, and I will not smite him the second time. And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against the LORD's anointed, and be guiltless? David said furthermore, As the LORD lives, the LORD shall smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend into battle, and perish. The LORD forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against the LORD's anointed: but, I pray thee, take now the spear that is at his bolster, and the cruse of water, and let us go. So David took the spear and the cruse of water from Saul's bolster; and they gat them away, and no man saw it, nor knew it, neither awaked: for they were all asleep; because a deep sleep from the LORD was fallen upon them.

 

What did David do after he had taken Saul’s spear and water jug and fled a short distance?

**********

Photo For 04/21/2013

Dogwood and  ________ blossoms at Eureka Springs, Arkansas…

Points To Ponder 04/21/2013

**********       
POINTS TO PONDER:
**********
We're not put on this earth to see through each other but to see each other through.
**********             
BIBLE QUIZ: 
**********
Old Testament/Stories of Samuel, Saul and David (I Samuel 25:39ff)

 . . . . And when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, Blessed be the LORD, that hath pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and hath kept his servant from evil: for the LORD hath returned the wickedness of Nabal upon his own head. Then David sent a proposal to Abigail, to take her to him to wife. And when the servants of David were come to Abigail to Carmel, they spoke unto her, saying, David sent us unto thee, to take you to him to be his wife. And she arose, and bowed herself on her face to the earth, and said, Behold, let your handmaid be a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord. And Abigail hasted, and arose, and rode upon a donkey, with five damsels of hers that went after her; and she went after the messengers of David, and became his wife.

David also took _____________ of Jezreel; and they were also both of them his wives. But Saul had given Michal his daughter, David's wife, to Phalti the son of Laish, which was of Gallim.

Who was the other wife David married at this time?

**********

Photo For 04/20/2013

Dogwood blossoms at Eureka Springs, Arkansas…

 

 

Points To Ponder 04/20/2013

**********       
POINTS TO PONDER:
**********
If you woke up this morning with more health than illness...you are more blessed than one million people who will not survive this week.
**********             
BIBLE QUIZ: 
**********
Old Testament/Stories of Samuel, Saul and David (I Samuel 25:35ff)

 . . . . So David received of her hand (Abigail) that which she had brought him, and said unto her, Go up in peace to you house; see, I have listened to your voice, and have accepted thy person.

And Abigail came to Nabal; and, behold, he held a feast in his house, like the feast of a king; and Nabal's heart was merry within him, for he was very drunken: wherefore she told him nothing, less or more, until the morning light. But it came to pass in the morning, when the wine was gone out of Nabal, and his wife had told him these things, that his heart died within him, and he became as a stone. And it came to pass about ten days after, that the LORD smote Nabal, that he died.

And when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, Blessed be the LORD, that hath pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and hath kept his servant from evil: for the LORD hath returned the wickedness of Nabal upon his own head.  . . . .

What happened to Abigail after the death of her husband?

**********

Photo For 04/19/2013

Redbud blossoms near our house……

Points To Ponder 04/19/2013

**********       
POINTS TO PONDER:
**********
The devil doesn’t mind your going to Bible studies as long as you don’t do anything with what you learn.
**********             
BIBLE QUIZ: 
**********
Old Testament/Stories of Samuel, Saul and David (I Samuel 25:28ff)

 . . . . And Abigail said to David, “I pray thee, forgive the trespass of your handmaid: for the LORD will certainly make my lord a sure house; because my lord fights the battles of the LORD, and evil hath not been found in you all your days. Yet a man is risen to pursue thee, and to seek thy soul: but the soul of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of life with the LORD thy God; and the souls of your enemies, them shall he sling out, as out of the middle of a sling. And it shall come to pass, when the LORD shall have done to my lord according to all the good that he hath spoken concerning thee, and shall have appointed thee ruler over Israel; That this shall be no grief unto thee, nor offence of heart unto my lord, either that thou hast shed blood causeless, or that my lord hath avenged himself: but when the LORD shall have dealt well with my lord, then remember your handmaid.”

And David said to Abigail, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, which sent thee this day to meet me: And blessed be thy advice, and blessed be thou, which hast kept me this day from coming to shed blood, and from avenging myself with mine own hand. For in very deed, as the LORD God of Israel lives, which has kept me back from hurting you, except you had hasted and come to meet me, surely there would not have been left to Nabal until the morning light as much as one male."

So David received of her hand that which she had brought him, and said unto her, Go up in peace to your house; see, I have hearkened to thy voice, and have accepted thy person. And Abigail came to Nabal; and, behold, he held a feast in his house, like the feast of a king; and Nabal's heart was merry within him, for he was very drunken: wherefore she told him nothing, less or more, until the morning light. But it came to pass in the morning . .

What happened when Abigail told Nabal about what she had done for David?

**********

Photo For 04/18/2013

Tulips at Eureka Springs, Arkansas…

Points To Ponder 04/18/2013

**********

POINTS TO PONDER:

**********
Proverbs 15:1 - A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
**********             
BIBLE QUIZ: 
**********
Old Testament/Stories of Samuel, Saul and David (I Samuel 25:18ff)

 18 Abigail lost no time. She took two hundred loaves of bread, two skins of wine, five dressed sheep, five seahs of roasted grain, a hundred cakes of raisins and two hundred cakes of pressed figs, and loaded them on donkeys. 19 Then she told her servants, "Go on ahead; I'll follow you." But she did not tell her husband Nabal.

20 As she came riding her donkey into a mountain ravine, there were David and his men descending toward her, and she met them. 21 David had just said, "It's been useless-all my watching over this fellow's property in the desert so that nothing of his was missing. He has paid me back evil for good. 22 May God deal with David, be it ever so severely, if by morning I leave alive one male of all who belong to him!"

 23 When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off her donkey and bowed down before David with her face to the ground. 24 She fell at his feet and said: "My lord, let the blame be on me alone. Please let your servant speak to you; hear what your servant has to say. 25 May my lord pay no attention to that wicked man Nabal. He is just like his name-his name is Fool, and folly goes with him. But as for me, your servant, I did not see the men my master sent.

26 "Now since the LORD has kept you, my master, from bloodshed and from avenging yourself with your own hands, as surely as the LORD lives and as you live, may your enemies and all who intend to harm my master be like Nabal.

27 And let this gift, which your servant has brought to my master, be given to the men who follow you…………….

What was the advice that Abigail gave to David? Did David follow her advice?

**********

Photo For 04/17/2013

Turkey Vulture at Beaver Lake, Arkansas…

Points To Ponder 04/17/2013

**********       
POINTS TO PONDER:
**********
Plans and goals are only good intentions unless they immediately degenrate into hard work.
**********             
BIBLE QUIZ: 
**********
Old Testament/Stories of Samuel, Saul and David (I Samuel 25:10ff)

 . . . . And Nabal answered David's servants, and said, Who is David? and who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants now a days that break away every man from his master. Shall I then take my bread, and my water, and my flesh that I have killed for my shearers, and give it unto men, whom I know not whence they be? So David's young men turned their way, and went again, and came and told him all those sayings. And David said unto his men, Gird ye on every man his sword. And they girded on every man his sword; and David also girded on his sword: and there went up after David about four hundred men; and two hundred abode by the supplies.

     But one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal's wife, saying, Behold, David sent messengers out of the wilderness to salute our master; and he railed on them. But the men were very good unto us, and we were not hurt, neither missed we anything, as long as we were conversant with them, when we were in the fields: They were a wall unto us both by night and day, all the while we were with them keeping the sheep. Now therefore know and consider what thou wilt do; for evil is determined against our master, and against all his household; and he is such a worthless man that no one can speak to him."  Then Abigail made . . . . .
 

What did Abigail do?

**********

Photo For 04/16/2013

I believe these are apple blossoms?… near our house…

Points To Ponder 04/16/2013

**********       
POINTS TO PONDER:
**********
Proverbs 12:1 -Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.
**********             
BIBLE QUIZ: 
**********
Old Testament/Stories of Samuel, Saul and David (I Samuel 25:1ff)

 . . . And Samuel died; and all the Israelites were gathered together, and lamented him, and buried him in his house at Ramah. And David arose, and went down to the wilderness of Paran. And there was a man in Maon, whose possessions were in Carmel; and the man was very great, and he had three thousand sheep, and a thousand goats: and he was shearing his sheep in Carmel. Now the name of the man was Nabal; and the name of his wife __________: and she was a woman of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance: but the man was churlish and evil in his doings; and he was of the house of Caleb. And David heard in the wilderness that Nabal did shear his sheep. And David sent out ten young men, and David said unto the young men, Get you up to Carmel, and go to Nabal, and greet him in my name: And thus shall you say to him that lives in prosperity, Peace be both to thee, and peace be to your house, and peace be unto all that thou hast. And now I have heard that thou hast shearers: now your shepherds which were with us, we hurt them not, neither was there ought missing unto them, all the while they were in Carmel. Ask thy young men, and they will tell you. Wherefore let the young men find favor in your eyes: for we come in a good day: give, I pray thee, whatsoever comes into your hand unto thy servants, and to thy son David. And when David's young men came, they spoke to Nabal according to all those words in the name of David, and ceased. And Nabal answered David's servants, and said,  . . . . .

What did Nabal say to the servants of David? Who was the wife of Nabal?

**********

Photo For 04/15/2013

Tulips at a school near our house…

Points To Ponder 04/15/2013

**********       
POINTS TO PONDER:
**********
Proverbs - 29:11 - A fool always loses his temper, but a wise man holds it back.
**********             
BIBLE QUIZ: 
**********
Old Testament/Stories of Samuel, Saul and David (I Samuel 24:8ff)

 . . . . David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave, and cried after Saul, saying, My lord the king. And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed himself. And David said to Saul, Why do listen to the words of men who say , Behold, David seeking to hurt you? Behold, this day your eyes have seen how that the LORD had delivered you to day into my hand in the cave: and some encouraged me kill you: but mine eye spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth mine hand against my lord; for he is the LORD's anointed. Moreover, my father, see, yea, see the skirt of thy robe in my hand: for in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe, and killed thee not, know thou and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in mine hand, and I have not sinned against thee; yet you hunt my soul to take it. The LORD judge between me and thee, and the LORD avenge me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee. . . . . .

And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said . . . . .

What did Saul say in response to David?

**********

Photo For 04/13/2013

Redbud trees near our house…

Points To Ponder 04/14/2013

**********       
POINTS TO PONDER:
**********
He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it. - Martin Luther King, Jr.
**********             
BIBLE QUIZ: 
**********
Old Testament/Stories of Samuel, Saul and David (I Samuel 24:4ff)

. . . . And the men of David said unto him, Behold the day of which the LORD said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, that you may do to him as it shall seem good unto thee. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe privily. And it came to pass afterward, that David's heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt. And he said unto his men, The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD's anointed, to stretch forth my hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD. So David persuaded his men with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul. But Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way. But David arose afterward, and went out of the cave, and . . . . . .

What did David do when he went out of the cave?

**********