I Samuel, II Samuel

This morning, I am catch a flight to a conference in California, so I cannot write as long as I'd like to and I don't know how my time will be during the week, but I will try my best to write down some things I'm reading each day.  Here are some thoughts for the day: **May I just say we had a wonderful Sunday!!  It was exciting, all the way around and God blessed with souls saved and Christians challenged.  Beautiful, God honoring music and all was a blessing!! 1) THE BLEATING AND THE LOWING- In I Sam. 15:13 Saul, the king, said: "I have performed the commandment of the LORD."  and in the next verse, Samuel, the prophet, says: "What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?"  The commandment given Saul was to take the life of all of the animals as well, and if he has obeyed the commandment of the LORD, why is there bleating and lowing??  It reminds me of today's state of churches and Christians:  If they are in love with Jesus.... why the Rock music of the world in the church?  why the loose living?   why the affairs among God's people?   why the shallow commitment level in most Christians?  why the worldly attire and lifestyles?  "Why the bleating and lowing?" 2) DAVID'S MIGHTY MEN-Where do you get men as David's mighty men?  In I Samuel 22:2, we see the Bible records: "And everyone that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him:  and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men."  In I Sam. 23:3 it says: "And David's men said unto him, Behold, we be afraid here in Judah:"  (They were afraid!)  They were very common, ordinary people who followed David and grew with him in the kingdom!!  God blessed David, and they reaped the benefit of following a man blessed of God.  So it happens today.  God blesses a man who builds a ministry!!  Not buildings, or organization, but a man is blessed of God. 3) It Came to Pass- In II Sam. 1:1 the Bible says:  "Now, it came to pass..."  The good news is that whatever your trials are today, they will "come to pass".  They will pass away in time.  Be patient and wait on the Lord, for it will "pass" and you will barely be able to remember the trials of yester year.  God bless you today!!  Pastor Mike Mutchler