Forts and Lawn Mowers

               Another work day. It was going kind of slow, so it was a little boring, and there I was caught up and ahead on everything.
               That's when Pete showed up with Luke. The first thing Luke did when he came in was run to the kitchen, grab me by the hand, and started to pull me outside with a big cheesy grin. That's when Pete said, " Hey Luke, why don't you go show her your fort."
               So Luke dragged me all the way outside to this little corner in the garden where there was a medium sized rose bush. Behind the rose bush was hollowed out, and trimmed back for a cool little hiding spot. So we spent the next half an hour in this little fort. I tried to get him out of his little chair to play ball outside of it, but he didn't want to come out. So we just sat there with a couple of cars.
               At this time the neighbor had been mowing his lawn. So when he finally made it to the side of the yard that we were on, Luke jumped up from his seat and ran away from the fort as fast and far as his little legs could carry him! Pete was coming out right then, so when he saw Luke running he just laughed.
              Now there was a fence between the fort and the lawn mower, but Luke didn't want to go back in for the rest of the day!
              It's the same way with our christian walks. We get so afraid of people, friends and family. We're afraid of being rejected. To the point that we're looking ridiculous, like a toddler running away from a loud noise! God put us on this earth to share the good news. Not to run away at the first sight of trouble. People in other countries get killed for sharing His word with others. Why have we become so comfortable? So many people don't know Jesus and are going to hell, and we don't want to take the risk of losing a little "popularity?" Think about it. If everyone in America got out of there little comfy chairs, started praying and sharing the good news. I can't even begin to imagine or describe the amazing things that could happen! You don't have to go to another country to do a missions trip. Your missions trip starts as soon as you walk out your door. Lets stop being so afraid all the time, and start getting out of our comfort zone. God said that he would be with us to the very end of the age! So what do we have to be afraid of when God is on our side?

- Taylor*
(I'd encourage you to read all of chapter 17) 1 Samuel 17:45-47 David said to the Philistine, " You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will hand you over to me, and I'll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord's, and He will give all of you into our hands."
*Bonus Verse* - Mathew 28:19, 20 ".....Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."