Who knew??

SO ... started a new study in my quiet time ... Chase the Lion by Mark Batterson.  It's starts with this guy ...

Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a valiant fighter from Kabzeel, who performed great exploits. He struck down two of Moab's best men. He also went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion.  And he struck down a huge Egyptian. Although the Egyptian had a spear in his hand, Benaiah went against him with a club. He snatched the spear from the Egyptian's hand and killed him with his own spear.  Such were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada; he too was as famous as the three mighty men.  He was held in greater honor than any of the Thirty, but he was not included among the Three. And David put him in charge of his bodyguard.  (2 Samuel 23:20-23)

First of all ... I LOVE that even after being in church my whole life that there are still accounts in scripture that are new to me.

This Benaiah guy is not just mentioned once, but 44 times in scripture.  44 TIMES.  He was a big deal ... and I never knew.

I never thought of it snowing in the middle east ... and looked for other accounts of snow in scripture and while I found references to snow (mostly used to describe leprosy as snowy white), I didn't find any other accounts of it snowing.

SOOOO ... God let this guy, we'll call him, Ben, fight and kill a lion in a pit on a SNOWY day.  A Snowy Day. 

He might just be my newest hero!  Can't wait to see what there is to be learned from chasing the lion.

Mark Batterson says ... "Bensiah's boldness was not just a function of his courage.  It was a function of his confidence in God.  His God was bigger than armies, weapons, and even nature.  Because his God was that big, none of his situations were problems - thye were just opportunities for a BIG God to showcase His BIG power."

Had a great sit-outside-and-eat-ice cream-two-hour conversation with a student today ... loved hearing her talk about her life and God's plan and His work.  We were just talking about the fact that our BIG God has NEVER forgotten His people ... and He's not starting with us.  Out BIG God has never stopped loving His people ... and He's not starting with us.  Out BIG God has never stopped being HUGE... and He's not starting here.  Have you noticed how often we shrink our BIG, strong, mighty, lion fighting, Red Sea parting God???