''The Battle Is Mine''

September 22, 2023
by Pastor Chuck Swindoll
Scriptures: 1 Samuel 17:40–47
David replied to the Philistine, “You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies—the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. Today the LORD will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head. And then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel! And everyone assembled here will know that the LORD rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the LORD’s battle, and he will give you to us!” (1 Samuel 17:45–47)
The beautiful thing about this story is that it's a perfect example of how God operates. He magnifies HIS name when we are weak. We don't have to be eloquent or strong or beautiful or physically fit or handsome. We don't have to be well-traveled or brilliant or have all the answers to be blessed of God. He honors our faith. All He asks is that we trust Him, that we stand before Him in integrity and faith, and He'll win the battle. God is just waiting for His moment, waiting for us to trust Him so He can empower us to battle our giants.

Remember, Goliath is still a giant . . . still an imposing presence. David had all the odds against him. There wasn't a guy in the Philistine camp—or probably the Israelite camp either—who would have bet on David. But David didn't need their backing. He needed God—none other. After picking up the stones, he approached the gigantic Philistine warrior.

The shepherd boy made the giant smile. What a joke! Just imagine! David stood before this massive creature unintimidated!

Intimidation. That's our MAJOR battle when we face giants. When they intimidate us, we get tongue-tied. Our thoughts get confused. We forget how to pray. We focus on the odds against us. We forget whom we represent, and we stand there with our knees knocking. I wonder what God must think, when all the while He has promised us, "My power is available. There's no one on this earth greater. You trust Me."

Be assured, David's eyes weren't on the giant. Intimidation played no part in his life. What a man! His eyes were fixed on God. With invincible confidence in his God, David responded, "that all this assembly may know that the LORD does not deliver by sword or by spear; for the battle is the LORD's" (17:47). There it is. That's the secret of David's life. "The battle is the LORD's." Are you trying to do your own battle? Trying to do things your way? Trying to outsmart the enemy, outfox him? You can't. But God can. And He's saying to you, "You do it My way and I'll honor you. You do it your way and you're doomed to fail. The battle is Mine."

the people, by the people, for the people, means WE ALL HAVE A DUTY.

"It is our right and our responsibility to operate our own government, and our fault if we fail to do so."
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The Right Focus
By Anna Von Reitz


You know how it is when you are trying to focus a camera and your intended subject is too close or too far away, and you have to adjust the lens?

It's the same way with the work we are doing.

People often come to the Assemblies in search of individual solutions to their own problems, but what they need to focus on instead is creating a solution for everyone--- which will also solve their own problems.

That solution is a strong State Assembly with its own Jural Assembly operating their State Court in General Jurisdiction.

Initially, people think, oh, if I complete the paperwork to reclaim my birthright political status, it will be apparent who I am and all the bad stuff will go away.

That's not how it works.

We don't do the paperwork in order to get "results" from bureaucrats.

We do the paperwork to establish our identity and lawful standing--- which restores our ability to rein in the bureaucrats.

Please realize this and teach others. The paperwork isn't a Silver Bullet. It's the necessary first step toward an ultimate solution.

The restoration of our own State Court System is the ultimate solution. This is what gives the power over the bureaucrats back to the people--- and it is something that we have to give to ourselves.

Nobody can do it for us.

So, the paperwork is what evidences our individual standing and right to form a viable State Assembly; this then allows us to form a competent State Jural Assembly, and the Jural Assembly restores and operates our State Court System.

The actual State Court System, once restored, is guaranteed the respect of its authority by a United States Supreme Court case decided in 1866 when all the funny stuff began. That case is Ex Parte Milligan.

So we don't have to fight or fume or explain a great deal. We just have to do the work and educate ourselves to do it.

Thankfully, the Common Law is much simpler than the forms of law practiced by the corporations and we are blessed to have reliable guidebooks.

When new people stumble into your Assemblies tattered and torn, angry and fearful, half out of their minds because they've lost children to Foster Care, or homes to foreclosures, or lands to illegal confiscation, etc., etc., etc., --- give them a hug and tell them: we are working on the ultimate solution here.

We have our ducks in order and we are going step-by-step.

Soon, these bureaucrats will be back in their box and with your help, our American justice system will be operating again.

We have already made a lot of progress and several states already have their State Courts in operation.

Our State Courts are Courts of General Jurisdiction -- not "strictly limited jurisdiction" and our people are in charge of our State Courts.

So welcome home, with all that that implies, both in terms of comfort and security, and also, work and responsibility.

When I began this long journey I had a friendly argument with a Jesuit attorney. We discussed the whole situation and he chided me throughout, saying, don't blame us. This was always in your own hands.

Once you have the right focus, you know that he was right about that. It is our right and our responsibility to operate our own government, and our fault if we fail to do so.
Whatever else we decry for the Breach of Trust and misadministration we have suffered at the hands of our public employees, that truth remains.

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See this article and over 4300 others on Anna's website here: www.annavonreitz.com

September 13

Welcoming the Foreigner
Bible in a Year:
Proverbs 16–18
2 Corinthians 6
[God] defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner.

Today's Scripture & Insight:

Deuteronomy 10:17–20
As thousands of Ukrainian women and children arrived at Berlin’s railway station fleeing war, they were met with a surprise—German families holding handmade signs offering refuge in their homes. “Can host two people!” one sign read. “Big room [available],” read another. Asked why she offered such hospitality to strangers, one woman said her mother had needed refuge while fleeing the Nazis, and she wanted to help others in such need.

In Deuteronomy, God calls the Israelites to care for those far from their homelands. Why? Because He’s the defender of the fatherless, the widow, and the foreigner (10:18), and because the Israelites knew what such vulnerability felt like: “for you yourselves were foreigners in Egypt” (v. 19). Empathy was to motivate their care.

But there’s a flip side to this too. When the widow at Zarephath welcomed the foreigner Elijah into her home, she was the one blessed (1 Kings 17:9–24), just as Abraham was blessed by his three foreign visitors (Genesis 18:1–15). God often uses hospitality to bless the host, not just the guest.

Welcoming strangers into your home is hard, but those German families may be the real beneficiaries. As we too respond to the vulnerable with God’s empathy, we may be surprised at the gifts He gives us through them.

By: Sheridan Voysey

Reflect & Pray
Why do you think God cares so much for widows, orphans, and refugees? How could you “welcome” a vulnerable foreigner this week?

Dear God, give me a heart as big as Yours for the widow, the fatherless, and the vulnerable. Amen.

Strength Disguised as Joy - Journaling Prayer by LaWanda


LaWanda – I praise you. I thank you, Lord. How you are continuing to pour yourself out on me! Even in these moments this morning as I read your word. Precious, Jesus, Thank you.


I see you this morning as the Shepherd. You are carrying me again - that sheep with my name on it, is in your arms. If it is possible for a lamb to smile, I am smiling because as we are walking you are speaking words of blessing over me. Words of life, words of joy. Almost like singing, Lord. Amazing, Lord. Just amazing. What are you saying to me, Lord, in that moment and in this one?

Jesus – My precious one, My precious, precious one. It is My joy to carry you, to share My heart with you and to bless you. MY JOY. Can you get that this morning? It is My joy to bless you. I have blessed you since before you were you. Impossible to wrap your mind around, but not your heart. There is a deep knowing in you that feels the eternal love I have for you – that hears the truth I am speaking to you now and KNOWS that it is indeed TRUTH.


I place My hand on you today and bless you, for this day I am filling you with My joy, LaWanda. This morning and continuing all day long this joy will be your strength, LaWanda. My strength – given to you - disguised as joy.

Picture a present, wrapped up with a big pretty bow. It just oozes “joy.” It looks like joy. It feels like joy. It IS joy. But when you open the package, what’s inside is strength. My joy and my strength are given to you this day, My dear one. Revel in it. Dance in it. Share it! Share it! Share it!

Contentment
SEPTEMBER 11, 2023

For I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content.
Philippians 4:11

Recommended Reading: Philippians 4:10-13
Pastor Erik Raymond wrote a book called Chasing Contentment, and this was his definition for that elusive quality: “Contentment is the inward, gracious, quiet spirit that joyfully rests in God’s providence.”1 In other words, contentment isn’t loud. It’s not the finale of the fireworks exhibition. It’s the quiet pleasure of a cup of hot tea tinged with honey. It’s the purring of a cat or the cooing of a baby. It’s what we need for our emotional and spiritual health.

Pride thrives on a competitive nature that tries to remain on top. Pride is a brutal master; it keeps you struggling, striving, and grasping for some kind of worldly recognition and success. If you want to experience peace, live humbly and be content in what God has given you and called you to do. Writer Pearl S. Buck said, “Many people lose the small joys in the hope for the big happiness.”

There’s nothing wrong with more, but blessed is the person who is content with less. Don’t be contentious. Just be content!

You say, “If I had a little more, I should be very satisfied.” You make a mistake. If you are not content with what you have, you would not be satisfied if it were doubled.
Charles Spurgeon

Erik Raymond, Chasing Contentment (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2017), 23.