My name is Jackie Daniel Cona. My husband and I are new parents to a baby boy.  I work as a music teacher and love to run.  Keith and I belong to a community group and have attended Browncroft for three years. We were married last December by Pastor Blake.  

There are two themes I gathered from this chapter in Judges. One is the way God weaves his plans into our lives and another is the fact that He chooses faulty people like us and Samson to do his work. 

When I was 20 I was home from college on Christmas break. For some reason I thought it was a great idea to buy a dog and assume my room mates and parents would think it was OK.  I saw a pug in a pet store and brought him home without telling anyone.   This was the most impulsive decision I can ever recall making.  I just remember thinking I wanted a dog and it didn’t matter who was upset about it. 

It turns out my parents fell in love with the puppy. My mom had just lost her parents and was feeling very depressed. Caring for the puppy turned out to be therapeutic for her and my Dad also. I define this as a key moment where God worked in the midst of my crazy decision-making. Even though Samson was disobedient and haughty, God used this to confront the Philistines and keep the land for his chosen people.  

We find here that Samson is lustful and decides to get what he wants no matter what the cost. He disrespects his parents and then ruins the relationship with his new in-laws and wife because he wants to play riddle games. These are pretty bad choices for a man with so much responsibility and gifting.

I know that when God makes promises He keeps them. God had to work through Samson who seemed to make a lot of leadership mistakes. I think this goes to show how God chooses unremarkable people to do remarkable things. He can weave His plan into unplanned circumstances. This is a reminder to me that God has high expectations for me but knows I don’t have to be that remarkable of a person to do great things.

God, thank you for accomplishing your will in the midst of our broken lives and decisions.  I know that you can use me to do great things for your kingdom.    

Your fellow traveler, 

Jackie