Precious Thoughts

Do you use google maps location sharing?  Whilst visiting my parents recently and sharing my location for the journey I was led to think how much more my Heavenly Father knows and cares all about me.

Music citation:

Rosalita by The Piano Says | https://soundcloud.com/thepianosays

https://spoti.fi/3uvxbRU
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US

Photo by ER Stephenson 2025

Do you worry about what other people think of you?  Do you base your actions depending on how they will be perceived and how they measure up to those around you?  Do you need to have a level of popularity, money and success to feel accepted?

These may be some of the signs that you have a low level of self-respect, but as a Christian what should you do about it - learn to love and accept yourself more?

Join with us now on Precious Thoughts as we return to a study of King David of Ancient Israel and his challenging nephews.  We continue considering the time when David's nephew wanted him to be given respect, but David instead looked to God to be given respect. 

In this episode we address how this applies to us as Christians living today who are urged to have self-respect to be happy and live fulfilled lives, and how there is a better way.

Music citation:

Rosalita by The Piano Says | https://soundcloud.com/thepianosays

https://spoti.fi/3uvxbRU
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US

 Photo by Artem Kovalev on Unsplash

What does it mean to have self-respect?  And if you are a Christian - does this follow Biblical teachings?

Join us today on Precious Thoughts as we continue to explore the relationship of king David of ancient Israel with his warrior nephews who challenged him so much that he said they were too hard for him.  

In this part 6a we learn of an occasion where his eldest nephew wanted David to be given the respect his position as king deserved, but David in contrast exhibited humility and looked to God to be exalted.

This episode is to be completed in part 6b when we more particularly consider the application for us as Christians today.

Music citation:Rosalita by The Piano Says | https://soundcloud.com/thepianosays

https://spoti.fi/3uvxbRU
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US

 Photo by Content Pixie on Unsplash

Do you have hard people or situations in your life?

David, king of ancient Israel had 3 nephews who he said were too hard for him.

Join us in this fifth episode when David is tricked by Joab into agreeing to something.

We consider David's response, our need to fence our days with prayer for protection and our own approachability to people.

Music citation:

Rosalita by The Piano Says | https://soundcloud.com/thepianosays

https://spoti.fi/3uvxbRU
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US

 Photo by Brooke Cagle on Unsplash

This part 4 continues a series of unpicking King David of ancient Israel's relationship with his warrior nephews, who he once lamented were 'too hard' for him.

This episode takes a step back as we notice how our prejudices against difficult people may make us think less kindly of them.

Next we divert to another Biblical account which reminds us again that God does hear our prayers and help us manage these difficult situations or people.

Finally we consider how David's warrior nephew Joab may have been calling him to live up to his responsibilities and how we too have challenging people who are actually used to remind us of our God given callings.

Music citation: 

 Rosalita by The Piano Says | https://soundcloud.com/thepianosays

https://spoti.fi/3uvxbRU
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US

 Photo by Design Wala on Unsplash

When Biblical King David doesn't turn up to fight, instead lingering at home in the comforts of his palace, he falls for the wife of one of his absent soldiers.

Committing adultery with her, a crime punishable by death, David concocts a plan to make it look like the consequent pregnancy is by her husband - a plan which doesn't work and results in David ordering his army commander to have the husband killed.

Last month we noticed how this army commander, Joab, had been disrespectful and insubordinate to David's authority.  Although one of David's own nephews David said that Joab and his brothers were too hard for him to deal with.

Is this next event in David's life another example of Joab being too hard for David?  Not from any sign of disloyalty this time, but from the hardness of his character making it easier for David to add to his catalogue of sins in ordering a man's death.

Did David's knowledge of Joab's character make it easier for him to let his own standards slip?

What lessons can we take from this in our own lives?

Music citation:

 Rosalita by The Piano Says | https://soundcloud.com/thepianosays

https://spoti.fi/3uvxbRU
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US

 Photo by Katelyn Greer on Unsplash

There was once a godly king - David - who with the help of his valiant nephews, the sons of Zeruiah conquered many enemies and ascended the throne of Judah and then later over all Israel according to God's help and will.  

But these nephews were powerful and headstrong, taking matters into their own hands and urging David to do the same.

After one of these times David lamented that these sons of Zeruiah were too hard for him.

Listen to Precious Thoughts as we look at lessons we can take from David's relationship with his nephews - so far, one of being tempted, and now experiencing disrespect.

Music citation:

 Rosalita by The Piano Says | https://soundcloud.com/thepianosays

https://spoti.fi/3uvxbRU
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US

 Photo by Alex Shute on Unsplash

Have you got a promise from God which seems to be taking so long to happen?

Are you tempted to take matters into your own hands - especially if everything seems to be working out in your favour to do so?

Join me, Elinor, as we start studying the relationship challenges presented to King David of Israel by his three fierce and brave warrior nephews - the first challenge being a temptation.

Music citation:

 Rosalita by The Piano Says | https://soundcloud.com/thepianosays

https://spoti.fi/3uvxbRU
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US

 Photo by Tim Marshall on Unsplash

We have almost finished the first month of this new year, 2025.  Have you stopped to take stock or reflect on last year? 

Of course - we don't have to wait for a new year to do this, but it can be a time when we think about a new year, what it may contain for us, what we would like to do... but have we considered whether we want it to be a year like last year, and the last year and the year before that? 

That might sound okay if 'life has been going well' but what if you have felt like your life is unproductive, unfruitful, a mess, and you can't seem to make any progress?

Join Elinor, as we consider the story of King David who asked the Lord why they were experiencing year after year after year of famine, and maybe it will cause you to think, to notice, what areas of your life are not bearing fruit because of things which need putting right or aligning with the Lord's will for you.

Music citation:
 Rosalita by The Piano Says | https://soundcloud.com/thepianosays

https://spoti.fi/3uvxbRU
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US

 Photo by Prophsee Journals on Unsplash