Live Only True Stories

Whoever started writing stories with the "and they lived happily ever after" ending might have read the Old Testament book of 1 Samuel. Why? They were desperate for a happy ending after reading this book!

Eli's story ends with the death of his sons, capture of the Ark of the Covenant, and his death by broken neck.

Samuel ends well as a faithful prophet, but his grown sons don't follow in his footsteps of faithfulness to God. After he dies, he has to come back and give one last prophetic word of doom!

Abigail's story may be the closest to a fairy tale, but let's not forget, while she becomes David's wife, he is a polygamist!

Saul and his sons die in battle and have their corpses mutilated before being retrieved and given a proper funeral by heroic men.

David's on the run for years and 1 Samuel ends with his army retrieving all the wives and children and property the Amalekites had captured while David's band was off trying to fight -- against their own people!

The Bible tells the whole story, not just the beautiful and fun parts. Protagonists and antagonists alike are complex and complicated.

As we wrap up our study of 1 Samuel, we'll look at

• how you handle 1/2 in, 1/2 out people
• reasons God may be gracious when people are making bad choices
• faithfulness does not equal perfection
• the cost of not dealing with fear and insecurity

You can turn this podcast into a complete Bible study for yourself or your family! Subscribe to Hi(Lights) and receive three days of reasonable reading assignments between episodes with insights, discussion questions, and references to children's Bibles you can read to little ones and older children can read for themselves.

Sign up at https://www.stephaniepresents.com/

Remember, my friend, you have an impact that is immeasurable, eternal, and irreplaceable.

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Don't you hate it when someone apologizes and you're not entirely sure it's genuine? How do you respond? Be "gracious" and hope for the best? Be "smart" and believe the worst?

David's midnight run into Saul's sleeping camp gives us some clues. Saul admits he is wrong. He even goes further and invites David back home. Why doesn't David go?

Learn key points about how to assess the difference between apologies and repentance and the critical distinction between forgiveness and restoration.

David, however, isn't without his own issues. He demonstrates how vulnerability brought on by dealing with the same problem for a long, long time can make us susceptible to taking matters into our own hands...with deadly results.

You can turn this podcast into a complete Bible study for yourself or your family! Subscribe to Hi(Lights) and receive three days of reasonable reading assignments between episodes with insights, discussion questions, and references to children's Bibles you can read to little ones and older children can read for themselves.

Sign up at https://www.stephaniepresents.com/

Remember, my friend, you have an impact that is immeasurable, eternal, and irreplaceable.

#forgiveness

#apologies

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Abigail marries David. They ride off into the sunset. They have children together.

That's usually the way the story is presented. But skipping over Abigail's first marriage to Nabal deprives people of valuable lessons about the purpose of marriage, boundaries, and how a person's responsibilities as a human aren't eliminated in the name of unity, leadership, or submission.

Also, in today's episode you'll also see how fear and insecurity continue to drive Saul further away from fulfilling God's plans for him. Something we can learn from his mistakes and don't have to repeat.

Turn this podcast into a complete Bible study for yourself or your family! Subscribe to Hi(Lights) and receive three days of reasonable reading assignments between episodes with insights, discussion questions, and references to children's Bibles you can read to little ones and older children can read for themselves.

Sign up at https://www.stephaniepresents.com/

Remember, my friend, you have an impact that is immeasurable, eternal, and irreplaceable.

#biblestudy

#familydevotions

#christianfaith

#christianfamilies

#christianparenting

#christianwomen

#familybiblestudy

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#biblestudyforchildren

#bible

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#christianmarriage

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Ever feel like you're losing your mind? Don't know which way to turn? You may not be in a good place, but you are in great company! David, as in "man after God's own heart," is in that spot in the 21st chapter of 1 Samuel. However, he doesn't take time to pray and seek God's direction.

He runs -- smack into trouble. The result is he's humiliated and endangers others. That's what fear always pushes us towards. Learn from David's mistakes and his successes so you can recognize when fatigue and fear are trying to push you over the (proverbial) cliff.

You can turn this podcast into a complete Bible study for yourself or your family! Subscribe to Hi(Lights) and receive three days of reasonable reading assignments between episodes with insights, discussion questions, and references to children's Bibles you can read to little ones and older children can read for themselves.

Sign up at https://www.stephaniepresents.com/

Remember, my friend, you have an impact that is immeasurable, eternal, and irreplaceable.

#biblestudy

#familydevotions

#christianfaith

#christianfamilies

#christianparenting

#christianwomen

#familybiblestudy

#biblestudyforkids

#biblestudyforchildren

#bible

#faith

#stephaniesmithpresents

What if David was "Plan B?" What if the story was supposed to have been "Saul and Goliath?" Learn the critical mistake Saul made in this battle so you can choose differently in your trials and not have wasted days and resources. Be encouraged that your calling doesn't depend on the accolades of those closest to you.

You can turn this podcast into a complete Bible study for yourself or your family! Subscribe to Hi(Lights) and receive three days of reasonable reading assignments between episodes with insights, discussion questions, and references to children's Bibles you can read to little ones and older children can read for themselves.

Sign up at https://www.stephaniepresents.com/

Remember, my friend, you have an impact that is immeasurable, eternal, and irreplaceable.

#biblestudy

#familydevotions

#christianfaith

#christianfamilies

#christianparenting

#christianwomen

#familybiblestudy

#biblestudyforkids

#biblestudyforchildren

#bible

#faith

#stephaniesmithpresents

You have a calling! Perhaps there's some anxiety that goes with it? Learn what not to do by hearing what Saul does on his coronation day. The fear that motivated him only grew and eventually resulted in a decision that cost him the kingdom. Learn from his mistakes to ensure your success!

You can turn this podcast into a complete Bible study for yourself or your family! Subscribe to Hi(Lights) and receive three days of reasonable reading assignments between episodes with insights, discussion questions, and references to children's Bibles you can read to little ones and older children can read for themselves.

Sign up at https://www.stephaniepresents.com/

Remember, my friend, you have an impact that is immeasurable, eternal, and irreplaceable.

#biblestudy

#familydevotions

#christianfaith

#christianfamilies

#christianparenting

#christianwomen

#familybiblestudy

#biblestudyforkids

#biblestudyforchildren

#bible

#faith

#stephaniesmithpresents

Are you open to God interrupting your ordinary tasks? What if it's in the middle of running your errands that God redirects your steps -- and your entire life? What if stepping into this calling requires telling someone else to move on down the road? What if you're the person who needs to go forward to let someone else step into their calling?

Join the current hike through 1 Samuel and see how lost donkeys, a faithful servant, and an attuned prophet come together to move Saul towards God's calling on his life.

You can turn this podcast into a complete Bible study for yourself or your family! Subscribe to Hi(Lights) and receive three days of reasonable reading assignments between episodes with insights, discussion questions, and references to children's Bibles you can read to little ones and older children can read for themselves.

Sign up at https://www.stephaniepresents.com/

Remember, my friend, you have an impact that is immeasurable, eternal, and irreplaceable.

#biblestudy

#familydevotions

#christianfaith

#christianfamilies

#christianparenting

#christianwomen

#familybiblestudy

#biblestudyforkids

#biblestudyforchildren

#bible

#faith

#stephaniesmithpresents

Can a lack of self-awareness make you vulnerable to misusing what's sacred when you're afraid? Think an encounter with divine intervention will transform you or someone else? Not necessarily! See what 1 Samuel 5 shows us about fear, misusing God, and not responding to divine intervention in the beginning.

Turn this podcast into a complete Bible study for yourself or your family! Subscribe to Hi(Lights) and receive three days of (reasonable) reading assignments between episodes, complete with insights, discussion questions, and references to children's Bibles you can read to little ones and older children can read for themselves.

Sign up at https://www.stephaniepresents.com/

Remember, my friend, you have an impact that is immeasurable, eternal, and irreplaceable.

#biblestudy

#familydevotions

#christianfaith

#christianfamilies

#christianparenting

#christianwomen

#familybiblestudy

#biblestudyforkids

#biblestudyforchildren

#bible

#faith

#stephaniesmithpresents

What book includes romance and murder, war and peacemaking, surprise protagonists and complex antagonists, divine encounters and dreary days? 1 Samuel! Yes, this ancient book in the Bible covers most of human experience and packs powerful lessons for modern times. Today we begin a multi-part series exploring this fascinating record and mining truths to make a difference in our lives and families today.

In this episode ...

• An emotionally illiterate husband
• God's blessings may come with a high price tag
• The danger -- and response to -- assumptions and unjust accusations

Hi(Lights) subscribers will receive three days of reading assignments with insights and discussion questions to turn this series into a family Bible study. Join at https://www.stephaniepresents.com

and check out other resources and speaking engagements for women and parents.

Remember my friend, you have an impact that is immeasurable, eternal, and irreplaceable.

#biblestudy

#familydevotions

#christianfaith

#christianfamilies

#christianparenting

#livewise

#christianwomen

#stephaniepresents

#lifeskey3

Nothing will trigger more excitement, curiosity, hope, frustration, sorrow, devotion, and awareness than exploring Truth. The greatest route to Truth is in the study of Scripture. But you can be honest. No one's going to check your answer. Do any of these phrases create more stress than eagerness: "Family devotions" or "Personal Bible study" or "Family Bible study"?

I get it! That's why you 'll love the Life's Key 3 podcast in 2023. Each week we'll dive into a particular Bible passage and then (wait for it...drum roll...) as a Hi(Lights) subscriber, you'll get a reasonable reading list for the time in-between episodes. That's not all! (Sorry if this is starting to sound like a cheesy late-night TV advertisement.) For parents, you'll have material to use this as your family Bible study. You'll get insights and discussion questions and references to Children's Bibles. I provide the plan -- you provide the follow-through!

To learn more, visit https://www.stephaniepresents.com/ where you can sign up for Hi(Lights) and be ready to go starting with next week's episode!

There's nothing more important in raising up generations with a savvy faith and helping you achieve your immeasurable, eternal, and irreplaceable impact than knowing and loving Truth. That's why Life's Key 3 exists.

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#Truth

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