2 Samuel 11:1-26

In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel. And they ravaged the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem. It happened, late one afternoon, when David arose from his couch and was walking on the roof of the king’s house, that he saw from the roof a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful. And David sent and inquired about the woman. And one said, “Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?” So David sent messengers and took her, and she came to him, and he lay with her. Read the rest of the chapter here

Instead of going to war David decided to relax

Instead of being there to lead, David decided to relax

Instead of showing up to…

By Tom Quiner

The modern culture wants to strip away the Cross.

Nowhere is this seen more than in the critical social issues of the day: human abortion and so-called gay marriage.

A man and woman choose to engage in sexual intercourse. They’re not married. She gets pregnant. He doesn’t want a child. She doesn’t either, especially if he’s making a big fuss over the situation.

The modern culture says abort. It’s not a viable person yet. It’s okay.

The baby is the Cross, the inconvenience.

The modern culture says it’s not a Cross anyone should have to carry if they don’t want to. Laws have been passed to ensure that someone else, the child, carries the Cross alone.

A man is attracted to other men. His faith tells him not to act on them. But the culture says there is nothing wrong with it. Even more, the culture says…

Our pastor is preaching through the book of Ephesians right now.  A couple of weeks ago, he talked about the difference between trespasses and sins.  Trespassing is crossing a line…in the case of humanity, we’ve crossed a line that God drew, and it has separated us from Him.

I formed this picture in my mind, of God (as the hen gathering her chicks) with all of us huddled around Him, facing a line (some action or actions which would drive a wedge between us and make it impossible for us to go back).  “Stay here,” He says.  But our first ancestors, blinded by the lie–”You won’t really die…” (Genesis 3:4)–take the first fatal step in the wrong direction.  And looking back they see a flaming sword barring their way.

We live in a fickle world.  The one who praises you today may persecute you tomorrow.  Partnerships dissolve. Friendships end.  People forget.

Joseph experienced all of these things.  He was betrayed by brothers, falsely imprisoned and forgotten by the cupbearer who promised to remember him.  He found himself in a season that he referred to as the land of my affliction (Genesis 41:52 HCSB.)

Sometimes, it seems as if we are all alone in our land of affliction.  People who were sympathetic in the beginning have moved on to other things.  Often, people do not even recognize that we are in a place of trial. So, how do we maneuver through this place?

Tips for Traveling Through the Land of Affliction

1. We must remember that we are not traveling alone (Genesis 39:21.) The Lord was with Joseph on every step of his journey.
2. Do not view your current location as…