When reading theepistles, you quickly realize that the apostles, too, were unstinting intheir terms of endearment toward the believers. - P65
In particular, John‘sfavorite terms, "little children" or "dear children," testify to a completechange in the man who was once called "son of thunder." - P65
As you readthe Gospels, you realize that John picked up these words from noneother than Jesus Himself. - P65
In contrast, I so often find myself stingy in my affections. Part of it hasto do with my personality and upbringing. - P65
But if I am honest, I mustadmit that it is the vulnerability in expressing affection that scaresme the most. Yet John went from being a "son of thunder" to beingknown as the "apostle of love." In between, he was "the disciple whomJesus loved." - P65
Basking in Jesus‘ love turned his speech from grumblingto grace. If, like me, you get discouraged by your own stand-offishattitude toward others, I invite you to spend as much time as you canpondering Jesus‘ love for you. - P65
Change won‘t happen overnight but Hislove will surely make your love for others grow to such heights it canno longer be hidden inside. - P65
In these chapters, we see that the spirit of jealousy is like a germ that infects Sauland causes his life to spiral out of control. - P3
Instead of confessing how being com-pared to David makes him feel angry and insecure, Saul hides his jealousy andit grows stronger, plunging him into madness and costing him everything. - P3
Because his soul is infected
with unconfessed sin, Saul is unable to enter into sin-cere worship, and nothing can soothe him.
- P3
Even as it wrecks Saul‘s life, the spiritual influence of jealousy remains invisibleand plausibly deniable. It makes me wonder how often I have thought, "Thisdoesn‘t really affect me," as evil spiritual influences have robbed me of patience,
energy, joy, and wisdom. - P3
Before we can receive God‘s best and be empoweredto fulfill our purpose, we must first recognize and turn away from the evil
spiritual influences in our life. - P3
Just as we wash our hands, let us allow the Word tocleanse our mindsas we humbly turn from sin. - P3
4 But the priest answered David, "I don‘t have anynary bread on hand; however, there is some consecratedany ordi-bread here-provided the men have kept themselvesfrom women." - P66
7 Now one of Saul‘s servants was there that day, detainedbefore the LORD; he was Doeg the Edomite, Saul‘s chiefshepherd. - P67
9 The priest replied, "The sword of Goliath the Philis-tine, whom you killed in the Valley of Elah, is here; itis wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you want it,
take it; there is no sword here but that one." David said,
"There is none like it; give it to me. - P67
David goes to Ahimelek the priest and tells him that the king has sent him ona secret mission. He asks Ahimelek for some bread, and the priest gives himconsecrated bread that has been removed from before the Lord. - P67
David thenasks the priest for a spear or a sword, and Ahimelek gives him the sword ofGoliath the Philistine. - P67
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