2nd CHANCES - Today's Perspective

PERSPECTIVES FROM DAVID’S 7 SECRETS

Chapter 4, “Take the Heat.” P. 60

                                 

2^ND CHANCES

David’s career was rich and romantic, and his story is alive and vibrant and exists to this day to teach us how forgiveness works between God and man and between man and other men and women.

It’s hard to say, “I’m sorry, please forgive me,” but it is essential because we are flawed and not perfect. It makes for peace and being forgiven is like a new beginning.

No problem when it comes to Jesus - he forgave all kinds of people during his ministry and the Bible is clear in 1 John 1:9, “…if we confess our sins He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

It is also critical that we have forgiveness for those who have hurt us.  Jesus put it this way, “forgive us our trespasses (debts) as we forgive those who trespass against us.”  Or as one four-year-old prayed, “and forgive us our trash baskets as we forgive those who put trash in our baskets.” Because we do make “trashy” mistakes in real life, it is important we develop a repentant and forgiving attitude.  In this way, and in most cases, second chances are possible.  They are always possible with the Lord and should be with us as well.

Jesus’ disciples were worried about it in Matthew 18:21 and Peter asked if he should forgive someone up to seven times, but Jesus replied, “…not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”

David understood this very well forgiving others who hurt him deeply and having been forgiven a sin that almost crippled him and cost him his life and kingship.  He said, “For as high as the heavens are above the earth so great is His love for those that fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” Ps. 103:11-12

Each of us is living under second chances ● The next time it’s your turn to be the forgiver, don’t forget it ● Give someone another chance.

YOU CAN DO ANYTHING - Today's Perspective

PERSPECTIVES FROM DAVID’S 7 SECRETS

Chapter One, “Bring on the Giants” p. 7

                            

YOU CAN DO ANYTHING

One of the first things I had to teach the original Continentals in 1963 was this:  “You can do anything you want to, if you want to bad enough.”  They were struggling to raise their support for the summer tour.  Their goal was $75 each!!  To reach the goal, one of the parents finally had to sell some land in Newport, Oregon.

Have you heard the saying, “Do not ask the Lord to guide your footsteps unless you are willing to move your feet”?  We can pray as we must, but there comes a time when your feet must hit the street and you start to do your part.

I remember a sax player who wanted to be a Continental Director.  He was excellent, really good! He played in jazz bands and special brass groups, but to be a Continental Director, he had to have choral experience. I said to him, “Jon Eric, go home, and join the choir.  Ask your music pastor if you can start a youth choir at church.  Once this is happening, let me know.”  

He did.  

It took loads of courage and focus, but he did it.  The result was that he became one of the finest leaders and choral directors Continentals has had in 45 years of touring.

What is your dream, anyway?  If we Christians are to reach our world for Christ, this is the kind of dedication it will take.  Enthusiasm covers a multitude of mistakes and we all make them.  But just remember, giant tasks dwindle in front of a positive attitude.  So forge ahead.  You can do it, you really can.

But remember to always use David’s number one plan for success.  He said, “I have set the Lord always before me.” Ps. 16:8

That’s how you can do anything.

www.continentalsglobalfoundation.org

HONESTY - Today's Perspective

PERSPECTIVES FROM DAVID’S 7 SECRETS

Chapter Two, “Sit at God’s Round Table” P. 21

HONEST, I’M HONEST!

If we are really honest, we have to admit there are times when being honest is harder than being dishonest.

Mother Teresa said, “If you are honest, people may cheat you.  Be honest anyway.  For you see, in the end, it is between you and God.  It was never between you and them anyway.”

The Bible talks about honesty as doing what is right and actually translates it that way.  2 Samuel 8:15 puts a good light on David when it says, “David reigned over all Israel doing what was just and right for all his people.”

People have always judged Christians harshly as being hypocritical if we preach or say one thing and live another.  The name of the Lord suffers more than our reputation when that happens.

Gandhi once said, “to believe in something and not live it is dishonest.”

When those around us practice dishonesty and deceit, don’t get caught up in doing likewise.  David was very strong about it, he said in Psalm 101:7, “no one who practices deceit will dwell in my house….”

Instead, think about what Jesus said in Matthew 5:14.   He said, ”You are the light of the world.”  He is counting on you to be a light! 

Let's all do our best and do what’s right!

www.continentalsglobalfoundation.org

WHAT'S IN YOUR HEART? - Today's Perspective

               

PERSPECTIVES FROM DAVID’S 7 SECRETS

PRELUDE “The Heart of the Matter…is the heart!”  XXI-XXIV                  

WHAT’S IN YOUR HEART?

It’s more important than what’s in your wallet!  David wrote in Psalm 139:23-24: “Search me O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.  See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."

Have you ever thought about what part of you is your heart?

The Bible teaches the heart is who you are on the inside.  David called it, “all my inmost being” in Psalm 103:1.

Your mind and thoughts, your spirit and soul, your personality, your persona - all of it is your heart.  It is who you are on the inside.  If you fill yourself with good thoughts and feelings along with good motivations, and surround yourself with people like that, chances are good things will come out of your mouth.

Jesus said in Matthew 12:34, “Out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks.” The Bible talks a lot about the heart and Jon Sherberg caught the essence of it in his song:

                          

WHERE YOUR HEART IS… 

           

“I guess it all comes down to where your heart is,

It’s there your thoughts and feelings all begin…”

Jesus, his disciples and apostles and probably your own pastor and hopefully your parents all talked about having a pure heart. 

Now there is something worthwhile to have your heart.

PRAYER CHANGES THINGS - Today's Perspective

PERSPECTIVES FROM DAVID’S 7 SECRETS

Chapter Three, “Live in the Moment” p.38, 45

PRAYER CHANGES THINGS

I’m not a theologian or a Bible scholar, but from personal experience, I know that prayer changes things.  As a young Christian at summer camp, we used to sing a chorus with that title. The lyrics were:

“Prayer changes things, Prayer changes things,

No matter how heavy the burden you bear

If you cast it on Jesus He’ll carry your care

And nothing can hinder the soul that will dare

For prayer changes things.”

I believe what Jesus said in Matthew 21:22, “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer”, and again, in John 16:23, “My Father will give you whatever you ask in my Name”.  The thing is, there is an attitude we need to have if these things are to be true for us, because Jesus was serious about not asking in a way that brought attention to ourselves in public places (Matthew 6:5-8) and his brother James added, “…you do not receive because you ask with wrong motives” (James 4:3).  But he did add in James 5:16, “the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective”.

David was careful in these things when he wrote in Psalm 19:14, “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.”

Paul said in 1 Thessalonians 5:17, “pray continually”. That’s the whole verse!  I think the best way to do that is to practice the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives all the times.  In other words, if you are thinking about the Lord or if He is close enough that you feel you can just talk to Him at any moment, then you are practicing His presence in your life.

I believe David lived like that.  I believe that he was thinking about the Lord throughout the day and in every serious occasion in his life.  He said, “I am a man of prayer”, 

Ps. 109:4.

It is one of the secrets that made him a person after God’s own heart. Think about that!

www.continentalsglobalfoundation.org

TIMING - Today's Perspective

PERSPECTIVES FROM DAVID’S 7 SECRETS,

Chapter Two, “Sit at God’s Round Table” p. 25

TIMING

“Delay is not defeat.”  This phrase comes from the heart of my world changer friend, Thurlow Spurr (one of my mentor friends).  His other recent phrase, “Let nothing be lost,” and both have to do with ideas, projects, dreams, and goals which are important things that deal with timing.

No one in scripture dealt with delay like David.   From the beginning, there was the life changing anointing by the Prophet Samuel when David was around 17, but it took a full 20 years before he became the King of Israel.  He was 37.  True, he became the King of the southern kingdom, Judah, after 13 years when he was 30, but primarily because he and his band of raiders plundered the villages of the Philistines, the Amalekites, the Ammonites and other enemies of Israel and sent the spoils to clans throughout Judah.

But after Saul was killed, the Israeli leaders made one of David’s sons, Isbosheth, the King. For seven years there was a civil war between the north and the south before David ascended to the throne.

Delay was not defeat for David in spite of the fact that he was running for his life, making life and death decisions daily.  He waited, yes, but at the same time, always moved ahead past the close calls, past the terrible yet sometimes exhilarating experiences with their pain and pressures.  The setbacks and successes were not lost.  He gained enough wisdom to become the greatest King in Israel’s history and when it was over he could write, “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart, and wait for the Lord.” Ps. 27:14

We must not try to force our destiny.  Our calling and days are in God’s hand and His timing is the best, and the only timing we really want.

www.continentalsglobalfoundation.org

LITTLE THINGS - Today's Perspective

PERSPECTIVES FROM DAVID’S 7 SECRETS

Chapter One,   Bring On The Giants.  P. 4

LITTLE THINGS

When David was anointed to be the future king, he was on the bottom, as we say, of the totem pole.  Youngest of 8 sons, he had the lowest job, watching the sheep.  Until called out by the prophet, he was considered the least in the family.

This early calling followed him to Saul’s court.  Though he was described to Saul as a brave man and a warrior (he had already killed a bear and a lion with his bare hands) he was given two small occasional jobs: minstrel for the emotionally disturbed king and one of Saul’s many personal armor bearers.

The least, the newest, the smallest - lowly things and yet, God’s hand was on David.  His early life verse was:

“Show me your ways, O Lord,

Teach me your paths;

Guide me in your truth…

My hope is in you all day long.” Ps.25:4-5

A thousand years later in Luke 16:10, Jesus laid out this principle: “whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much.”  He also made a point about a mustard seed in Matthew 13 being the smallest of seeds yet would become the largest plant in the garden.

Throughout my life I have found that the Little Things, those smallest of details, are what make the big things worl smoothly and look great.

A long time ago I wrote a song for a kids Christmas musical called “Twinkle.”  The song, “Little is a Lot!”  The lyrics were:

“Little is a lot when it’s in the right spot.

Little is a lot when you really have got it.

So let your courage show and get ready to go,

Remember David and his sling (shot!)"

The sling (two strands of leather or twine, and a leather or cloth pouch tied in the middle) is a very small weapon against a 9 foot tall giant wielding a javelin, a huge spear with a 15 pound iron head and a double edged sword with an amour bearer in front.

But even after killing Goliath, David went back to playing his harp and singing little songs for King Saul.  


And pretty soon Jesus' future comments about a tiny mustard seed came true for a country boy shepherd faithfully strumming for the king.