Who Is Your Goliath? By Reba Altizer

Who is your Goliath? 

I was reading this week about David and Goliath. I think God made this story such a great visual for us. Even as a kid most of us remember imagining the Big Giant standing face to face with David. It's always easy to imagine our self being David and beating the giant- the graphics of the scripture not only tell that he killed him but cut off his head. We see a real picture of a victor. As I read the story over again this week, I felt The Lord put some thing's on my heart.

1. Who or what is taunting you?  

The tactic of the enemy is always to scare and intimidate. 

 In 1 Samuel 17

4 And a champion went out from the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, from Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. 5 He had a bronze helmet on his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail, and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of bronze. 6 And he had bronze armor on his legs and a bronze javelin between his shoulders. 7 Now the staff of his spear was like a weaver’s beam, and his iron spearhead weighed six hundred shekels; and a shield-bearer went before him. 8 Then he stood and cried out to the armies of Israel, and said to them, “Why have you come out to line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and you the servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me. 9 If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us.” 10 And the Philistine said, “I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.” 11 When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.  

I know at times when I've faced things, I have said to myself, "Okay what's the worse thing that can happen  in this situation?".  This may not be the best thing to say, but sometimes dispels enough fear to go for it.  Other times the "worst thing" being something worse, even death. This is when the bully,  the devil,  has to be dealt with head on- not with your words, but with Gods Word. Just like in the following example:

Matthew 4: 1-7

4 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted[a] by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’[b]”

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:

“‘He will command his angels concerning you,

    and they will lift you up in their hands,

    so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’[c]”

7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’[d]”

2.  Don't loose Faith in God

David was gathering facts.  He wanted to understand the situation, and at that point had not even said that he wanted to go fight. His oldest brother started judging his heart and motives in the matter.

1 Samuel  17:28 When Eliab, David’s oldest brother, heard him speaking with the men, he burned with anger at him and asked, “Why have you come down here? And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the wilderness? I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is; you came down only to watch the battle.”

This is what can happen when we face our Goliath's as well.  We have to choose to Stand on the Word of God, which is the Truth, and not focus on the situational facts facing us. Good meaning people might think we are acting out of  pride, but it is not pride when we truly put our confidence in the Word of God. David was putting his confidence on the Victory's of the past, and this gave him confidence to take on Goliath. 

1 Samuel 17:34 But David said to Saul, “Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, 35 I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. 36 Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. 37 The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.”

A good thing to remember is God helped David overcome the lion & the bear.  This happened, who knows how many times, while watching the sheep, before he faced the giant. God had prepared David for that particular time in his life during the ordinary tasks of his daily life. The things that have prepared us for our Goliath might not seem all that significant, but it's important to remember what God has done for us in past.  We need to remember and thank God for our daily victories.  He is the same yesterday and today. He will deliver you from this Goliath too.

3. Go in what your comfortable in! 

This had never really stuck out to me before, but when I was reading this week, I felt like The Lord said to me, "wear what I give you, and not everything others are wanting you to wear".  I so love this because sometimes when we face our Goliath we think we need to be like so and so.  No, God used all of who David was to defeat Goliath, his testimonies of the Lions and the Bears gave him the confidence to face Goliath. I  just had this thought: "Be the best YOU, you can be, with God that is enough.

38 Then Saul dressed David in his own tunic. He put a coat of armor on him and a bronze helmet on his head. 39 David fastened on his sword over the tunic and tried walking around, because he was not used to them.

“I cannot go in these,” he said to Saul, “because I am not used to them.” So he took them off. 40 Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine.

48 As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. 49 Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground.

50 So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.

51 David ran and stood over him. He took hold of the Philistine’s sword and drew it from the sheath. After he killed him, he cut off his head with the sword.

We all know how this story ends. David kills the Goliath with one stone so why did He grab 5? I heard a preacher say once its because Goliath had 4 other brothers and He was prepared to take them on as well. 

2 Samuel 22

New International Version (NIV)

David’s Song of Praise

22 David sang to the Lord the words of this song when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul.  

The whole chapter is great but these verses sum up the chapter of David's gratefulness for all God ad done. 

47 “The Lord lives! Praise be to my Rock!

    Exalted be my God, the Rock, my Savior!

48 He is the God who avenges me,

    who puts the nations under me,

49     who sets me free from my enemies.

You exalted me above my foes;

    from a violent man you rescued me.

50 Therefore I will praise you, Lord, among the nations;

    I will sing the praises of your name.

51 “He gives his king great victories;

    he shows unfailing kindness to his anointed,

    to David and his descendants forever.”

Amazing Word Reba!  I love it!!

~Kasse D.

Faith that Moves Mountains by Reba Altizer

Faith that Moves Mountains by Reba Altizer The Bible gives this description of faith in Hebrews 11:1: "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." (NIV) Definition: Faith is belief with strong conviction; firm belief in something for which there may be no tangible proof; complete trust in or devotion to. Faith is the opposite of doubt. Faith is possibly the single-most important element of the Christian life. Hebrews 11:6 states, "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." (NIV) I grew up in church, loved God, heard the Bible taught, but still didn't get it. God wants us to get it.. 1. Faith for Salvation Except You Become As Little Children... Matthew 18:3 New International Version (NIV) 3 And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Notice that this is something all who wish to enter that heaven must do! 2.Faith to move Mountains What does this mean? What mountain are you moving with your Faith? When I was 19, I remember going to church and seeing this big sign hanging in the front of the church that said RUSSIA. I suddenly felt I wanted to go. At this point, I had only been on one mission trip. I had grew up thinking all my life that Russia was the "Bad Guy", so I knew that wasn't my flesh wanting to go to Russia, but my Spirit. I don't think I knew this at the time, but God showed me this story later in life. What makes your Spirit jump or what draws you? It is important to recognize this, so you can truly be in Faith and not just fleshly. Most of the time, when God moves, it doesn't make sense in the natural world. For example, I was going to cosmetology school at the time. I was living with an elderly woman and helping her so I didn't have to pay rent. I had no extra money. I was just believing for gas at this point in my life. Why would I think I could raise thousands of dollars for a mission trip? This is how The Lord works. Mark 11:20­26 In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. Peter remembered and said to Jesus, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!" "Have faith in God," Jesus answered. "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins." Luke 17:6 6 And the Lord said, “If you had faith like the grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you. 3. Steps of Faith A. I went home and read Hebrews 11:1 in a different light. FAITH IS BEING SURE OF WHAT YOU HOPE FOR AND CERTAIN YOU DON'T SEE HOW IT CAN HAPPEN! I thought I qualify as being in FAITH:) I begin to tell everyone. I was so excited! It didn't take me long to realize I was not moving in wisdom, because discouragement came, doubt came, the devil came. Who do you think you are? B. Be led by the Holy Spirit. The next lesson came: Don't tell everyone. Be discerning. Tell those who can be in Faith with you. If God said it, He will make a way. I was working one day and overheard a lady talking to someone about Russia. I felt in my Spirit I was to go tell her I was planning on going to Russia. My first thought was "that is weird". First, I didn’t know her at all. I was overhearing the conversation, but I was young. "Okay, I will just do it". I went right over, and told her I overheard her talking. I told her I was planning on a mission trip to Russia. To my surprise, she was so excited. She followed me back to my working area and asked me what she could do to help. No one had ever said that to me. I just told her to pray. She said she would pray, but she wanted to know how much money I needed. I didn't want to tell her, because it was February. I was suppose to go in July. I had no passport or money... Right then, she gave me a check for $50. This was a great miracle to me. I told her I would give it back if I didn't go. Where was my faith? I think she had more faith in me than I did! GOD WILL ENCOURAGE YOU IN THE DIRECTION HE IS LEADING YOU! STAY IN FAITH AND BELIEVE. ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE. 3. Get started. I remember calling the lady in charge of the trip to Russia, telling her I had only $80 dollars. I told her I didn't how this was going to work. She said, "well how much is a passport". I told her $80. She said, "well, get your passport, you're not going anywhere without a Passport" Use what you have... 1 King 17 Elijah and the Widow at Zarephath 7 Sometime later the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land. 8 Then the word of the Lord came to him: 9 “Go at once to Zarephath in the region of Sidon and stay there. I have directed a widow there to supply you with food.” 10 So he went to Zarephath. When he came to the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks. He called to her and asked, “Would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink?” 11 As she was going to get it, he called, “And bring me, please, a piece of bread.” 12 “As surely as the Lord your God lives,” she replied, “I don’t have any bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little olive oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it—and die.” 13 Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small loaf of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. 14 For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord sends rain on the land.’” 15 She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family. 16 For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the Lord spoken by Elijah. Once I sent for my passport Money came in little by little. 3. Your faith will be tested. I remember when it was getting closer money was coming but not enough and started thinking people are going to think I am lying but The Lord was so good He encouraged me in His Word. Proverbs 16:9 New International Version (NIV) 9 In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps. My trust and dependence was now trusting God if this going to happen. Day by day more money came, and the opportunity to share in home prayer groups came. Humility stayed, because I don't know how it was going to happen. I had to keep planning and trusting God. The lady I had met in the beauty shop weeks earlier started sending money. She sent the first $300 dollars. She would always put John 3:16 at the end of the letter. The next check she sent was $500 dollars. I just kept wondering why she was doing it. When I would receive, I would just cry and thank God. Less than a month from the time I was to go, the woman from the beauty shop called my work. She wantedme to come by her house. I was so nervous because I still lacked $1000. I gathered my courage to see her. Once in her home, and seated, she questioned. She said, "honey how much do you lack?" I told her just pray. She said, "I did, but we have to put some legs to these prayers". She was persistent, and again asked me how much. I told her, and she wrote a check. She didn't know me or any of my family. I could only think this was a miracle from God. The final lesson: I learned when people ask, have a ready answer! God wants to move in your life and provide for you. He wants to put legs to your faith, but we have to take the steps- walk it out with Him. He loves you, He will see you through, and your faith will grow. I went on that trip and 16 more between the ages of 19 and 25. Faith works!

National Day Of Prayer: My Prayer

Heavenly Father, I come to you today to give you all honor and glory. I come to you with a thankful heart, knowing that everything that is good in this life is a gift from you. We are blessed beyond what I fear we can even imagine. Lord, I pray you give us the realization of the depth of our blessings. Thank you Jesus for my life- for saving me, and for awakening me. I pray for my own strength to walk out your plan for my life. I pray you equip me to do my part while listening to only you each step of the way. I pray a special prayer for women today. I pray you rise up women to bring refreshment and encouragement to our nation- to reclaim this land, and our families as yours. I call on your name for the awakening of your sleeping daughters, our sisters who are lost, or sleep walking. I pray our eyes are opened wide. I pray you help us see ourselves for who we really are, so we can allow you to change the parts of us that are displeasing to you. I pray that we will bow our heads today and humbly go before you in surrender, asking forgiveness for the role we have played in the fall of our society. I pray we lift up our husbands and children to you in prayer to restore any part of them we ourselves have broken. Forgive us Lord in our doing. Forgive us of our pride and arrogance, for our selfishness and neglect. Forgive us for our mouths that betray. Restore our speech that we will only bring refreshment to those around us. I pray we will not be silent when truth needs to be told. Give us peace- quiet our restless hearts. Stop our striving spirits. Allow us to see materialism and greed for the ugly demons they truly are. Reveal our true motives and agendas. Break our hearts for what breaks yours. Allow us to see others as You see them. Give us your heart for those around us. Restore kindness and patience. I pray we quiet ourselves and listen to what it is you are calling us to do. Take our pride and fear of man. I will lay them at your feet. I pray you replace them with a boldness that can only come from you. Mold us, Lord, into warriors for your purpose. I pray you give us Godly wisdom and discernment to build our families in your name. Give us the strength to guide our children in a wicked world. Guard our hearts from Satan’s schemes and plans. Pour your spirit on all those who are willing to walk in your purpose. Help us to be your hands and feet on this earth. Give us the strength to stand. Cover our families in your grace and mercy. Lord Come Quickly. Amen!

The Battle Belongs To The Lord By Reba Altizer

The Battle Belongs To The Lord By Reba Altizer

Have you ever said, "I am done with this"?  Then later, pick it back up, rehearse what happened, and began plotting what you were going to do about it. It is such a battle to just let things go.  God wants to fight our battles if we let Him. He has many examples in The Word how He helped His people overcome in their battles.  None of the stories emphasize the strength of the person.  Rather, it is the power of God that enables them to overcome or win. These days, we live with so much of our focus on the "YOU".   "You can do it" -just work harder, get smarter, and look a certain way, and you will make it.  Not much is said about putting your eyes on Jesus, spend time with Him, wait on His instruction, humble yourself, and He will help you.  That just sounds to easy, but that is truly where the answer lies. We have our part in getting through stuff in life, but we have to get ourselves out of the way.  We must listen to The Lord..

It is said that the journey of the Israelites from Egypt to the promise land was only an 11 day journey.  However, it took them 40 years, and still some of them never entered because of their stubbornness.  They refused to submit to the ways of God.  Instead, they continued trying to do it their own way.  So, we get to make a choice. I do not want to keep circling the same mountain. God help us to go to you and quit trying to do things in our own strength. He loves us, and we need to give Him all the Glory when He does help us. We have to remember that when the Israelites finally did arrive to the promise land, they allowed the 10 negative reports to talk them out of what God wanted to give them. The two positive guys Joshua and Caleb were begging the people to believe they could overcome the enemy with God, but the majority believed the negative report.  Because of this, they did not get to enter the promise land.  They couldn't see how in their power they would overcome.  Instead of looking to God, who had done so much for them up to that point, they kept trying to do things their way.  This brings me to my first point:

1. Remind yourself how God has seen you through other times, when you face the mountain. In the story of Jehoshaphat, there are three things that were very important that help him face a difficult battle.  A battle he he knew he would not win unless God helped them. 1) He admitted that he had no might to stand against his enemies. 2) He admitted that he did not know what to do. 3) He Said that his eyes were on God.  By doing these three things, he put himself in position for a miracle.

2 Chronicles 20:15-21
New Living Translation (NLT)
15 He said, “Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Listen, King Jehoshaphat! This is what the Lord says: Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. 16 Tomorrow, march out against them. You will find them coming up through the ascent of Ziz at the end of the valley that opens into the wilderness of Jeruel. 17 But you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the Lord’s victory. He is with you, O people of Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out against them tomorrow, for the Lord is with you!”

18 Then King Jehoshaphat bowed low with his face to the ground. And all the people of Judah and Jerusalem did the same, worshiping the Lord. 19 Then the Levites from the clans of Kohath and Korah stood to praise the Lord, the God of Israel, with a very loud shout.

20 Early the next morning the army of Judah went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. On the way Jehoshaphat stopped and said, “Listen to me, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Believe in the Lord your God, and you will be able to stand firm. Believe in his prophets, and you will succeed.”

21 After consulting the people, the king appointed singers to walk ahead of the army, singing to the Lord and praising him for his holy splendor. This is what they sang:

“Give thanks to the Lord;
    his faithful love endures forever!”

I love this story and our God still will go before us and we will succeed! The second point I received out of the story of Gideon.

2. Gideon felt very inadequate, but he did listen to the Angel of The Lord.  God was patient with Gideon.   He started with instructing him to get some things in order.  Next, He confirmed to Gideon that in fact he was the one God was going to use.  He even caused Gideon to hear the enemy talking about a dream they had of being overtaken by Gideon.  This really let Gideon know he was on track and confirmed God was with him.  Last,  Gideon heard the strategy to victory which was nothing like what he would of thought.  Gideon was careful to give God all the glory when they overcame their enemy!  The whole story is found: Judges 6-8.  It is really awesome to see how God accomplishes what he desires through open vessels.

Judges chapters 6 : 11 The angel of the Lord came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midianites. 12 When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.”

13 “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about when they said, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up out of Egypt?’ But now the Lord has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian.”

14 The Lord turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?”

15 “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.”

16 The Lord answered, “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites, leaving none alive.”

17 Gideon replied, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, give me a sign that it is really you talking to me. 18 Please do not go away until I come back and bring my offering and set it before you.”

And the Lord said, “I will wait until you return.”

This is a great story of God's mercy at work. He used Gideon in spite of all his short comings. God being with you is the main point. You want Him on your side, but you have to be open, have a heart to hear God, and willing to be obedient to anything He says without reasoning Him away.  He shows He will be patient with us. I believe even though Gideon did not feel adequate, he still listened to the angel of The Lord, and God encouraged Him and saw him through.

Trust The Lord, wait for His instruction, and do what He says. He sometimes speaks to our heart or directly through the Word of God.  Sometimes He will even speak through a friend, loved one, or perfect stranger.  We have to stay open to hear Him, and give Him first place in our heart. Sometimes, I wonder how I can sit in a service and really feel like God is speaking to me, and someone in the same service feels nothing. The point is, God is always with us. We make the choice to just watch God work in others lives, or allow Him to work in our live as well.  He is for us!  He is no respecter of persons, but He is a respecter of faith. Are you open to Him? He loves you, He is for you, and He is ready to work through you.



If you haven't heard Hill's Surrender, do listen now.

Bloom Where You Are Planted By Reba Altizer

When I read this last night, a couple of scriptures came to mind:

Jeremiah 17:7-9
Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord. And whose trust is the Lord. For he will be like a tree planted by the water.  That extends its roots by a stream.  And will not fear when the heat comes; But its leavs will be green, And it will not be anxious in a year of drought, Nor cease to yeild fruit.

Psalms 1:1-3

How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked.  Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!  But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night.  He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water.  Which yields its fruit in its season.  And its leaf does not wither;  And in whatever he does, he prospers.

As long as we are planted in Him, we can bloom anywhere.  Kasse D.~


Bloom Where Your Planted by Reba Altizer "Bloom where your planted" I read this quote on a picture when I lived in Italy as a missionary.  When I arrived in Italy, I began serving in a Christian resource library.  This assignment was very different than what I had imagined I would be doing.  I was trying to learn the language and began to doubt if I could really make an impact in my situation.  One day a week, I was responsible for cleaning the apartment.  Feeling a little frustrated, I came across this quote.  It made me think about my real purpose- serving God. If God had sent me, He knew the obstacles and frustrations I would face.  My real purpose was to allow God to work through me in what ever situation He placed me.  These next three steps have helped me, and I know they too will help you "Bloom Where Your Planted".

1. Obedience brings blessings!!
Sometimes, because we feel The Lord has lead us to a place to work or do ministry, we think it should be an ease and everything should just work.  He never promised ease, but He did say He would be with us. We must look to Him. We must remind ourselves He loves us, and He wants the best for our lives. It is defiantly one thing to say, but another thing to believe it and live it.

Deuteronomy 28:8
The Message (MSG)
8 God will order a blessing on your barns and workplaces; he’ll bless you in the land that God, your God, is giving you.


2. Face Obstacles with Perseverance
Testimonies come through testing!

No one really likes tests; But how do we measure our growth without them?   Reminding ourselves what the Word of God says, makes all the difference.
We have to remind ourselves while being tested; This test will pass and others have passed similar tests.  We can too!

1 Peter 5:8-11New International Version (NIV)
8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11 To Him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.
I love the above scripture.  It reminds me Satan is always prowling around trying to trip me up, but God says if I resist him, I will overcome!

Man calls you according to your gifting but God gifts you according to your calling.
3. We overcome
A Spiritual experience is not better than a spiritual exercise.  Sometimes it seems if we could just have some super natural intervention or experience, everything would be better.  These experience's are amazing, but they will not build the strength we need in life to do all God has called us to do. I love the experiences I have had with The Lord.  Some have been life changing, but the spiritual exercise of doing the right thing when my flesh doesn't want to, does something that causes real growth in my walk with The Lord. The exercises give me the that I can do all things in Him!

1 Timothy 4:7-8New International Version (NIV)
7 Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. 8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.

Romans 12:21New International Version (NIV)
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Be encouraged in whatever place you are in your life.  We can bloom in the desert with God. It might feel dry and lonely, but with God you can bloom and be a blessing to others.  Trust that He loves you, He is with you, and you will make it to the next season in your life with Him.

Reba Altizer is a member of Victory Christian Center in Tulsa, Ok. She graduated from Christ for the Nations in Dallas TX with a bachelor degree in Practical Missions. She has been involved in missions and evangelism for the past 20 years serving in 28 nations. The past 10 years she and her husband have worked at Victory Christian Center as the Coordinators of the Victory World Missions Training Center which is a school to help prepare students for full-time missions work. She has lead women's teams to Italy several times, Slovenia, Finland & Estonia. She has a real desire for women to know they are valuable and to fulfill their God given purpose.