1Samuel

SoulSearching Sunday~Relationships

12:00 AM

Sunday, March 18, 2018



Week Eleven

Welcome!  We pray that you have all had a precious time worshipping the Lord this morning!  Below you will find some thought provoking questions that will provide you a starting point to your journal writing to complete this week.  We hope that you will find this time soul satisfying!

Our reading this week was 1 Samuel 25 - 2 Samuel 19.

 1. When did you find it difficult to share with others? When was it easy? What made the difference? Ask God for insight to recognize the needs of others and the willingness to give cheerfully. Let your giving be an offering of thanks to the LORD.

 "But David said, 'No, my brothers! Don't be selfish with what the LORD has given us. He has kept us safe and helped us defeat the enemy.'" 1 Samuel 30:23

 2. When did you experience the loss of a loved one? How did you respond? How do you feel now? Tell God exactly how you feel and how much you are hurting. Write Him a letter. Draw a picture. Shout aloud. God knows the pain of losing someone very precious.

 "They mourned and wept and fasted all day for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the LORD's army and the nation of Israel, because so many had died that day." (2 Samuel 1:12)

3. Who are the "unlovely" types in your life? Who would you be least likely to spend time with, much less befriend? Consider the mercy shown by God to all of His unlovely, sinful, and undeserving human creations, including you.

"Mephibosheth fell to the ground before the king. 'Should the king show such kindness to a dead dog like me?' he exclaimed. (2 Samuel 9:8)




1Samuel

SoulSearching Sunday~Our Relationships

12:00 AM

Sunday, March 11, 2018



Week Ten

Welcome!  We pray that you have all had a precious time worshipping the Lord this morning!  Below you will find some thought provoking questions that will provide you a starting point to your journal writing to complete this week.  We hope that you will find this time soul satisfying!

 Our reading this week was 1Samuel 1 - 1Samuel 24:22.

 1. What would it take for you to get serious with the LORD? List the aspects of your life that you control - actions, attitudes, thoughts or words. What can you do to eliminate everything that is not of God? (1Samuel 7:3)

 2. What sacrifices have you made recently for the LORD? Consider whether those sacrifices were made out of obligation or love. God want devotion more than duty. Listen to His Word and respond. (1Samuel 15:22)

 3. Humans were created as social beings. What relationships mean the most to you? Thank God for the special people He has brought into your life and pray that He would be glorified in those relationships. (1Samuel 18:1)


1Samuel

What Do You Do When We Feel The Sting of Rejection? {1Samuel 12}

12:00 AM



Have you ever had to deal with rejection?
Samuel addressed all Israel: “I have done as you asked and given you a king.  Your king is now your leader. I stand here before you—an old, gray-haired man—and my sons serve you. I have served as your leader from the time I was a boy to this very day.” -1 Sam 12:1-2. Samuel had faithfully served God’s people his whole life, but the people have decided they would rather be like other nations and have a king over them rather than God’s prophet. Can you relate to Samuel? 

 __Have you loved and served your husband for years, only to hear that he no longer loves you and wants out of your marriage?
__Have you loved and raised children, only to have them reject your faith, reject all you’ve taught them to go off and live a very self-centered, selfish life without you in it?
__Have you worked hard, only to be passed over for the promotion you thought was yours? They’re looking for young blood, fresh ideas… etc?
__Have you ever felt unappreciated? That all your efforts have been of no consequence?

  • No one bothers to come hear the lesson you’ve worked so hard on?
  • There’s only a small attendance to an event you hoped, even envisioned would be huge?
  • No one notices all the efforts you applied on THEIR behalf?
  • You’ve dedicated you’re entire life’s work only to hear they want something or someone else?

If you are in Christ, I’m sure you’ve felt the pain of rejection at one time or another. And we can take heart, for our Lord is able to identify most of all, for who has faced greater rejection than our Lord, Jesus Christ? So, how do we overcome it? How do we keep on, or do we give up and in, and move on?

May I speak from my past experience? I believe the answer is found solely in gaining the “big picture” once more! We need to remember who we are and Whose we are!!

I can’t tell you the times the Lord has come during these times of rejection and began asking me once more, “Who are you? And Whose are you? And who’s children are they? Who were you ultimately serving? ….” The truth that lies in the completed picture will help all of us get back up, forgetting what lies behind and press on to the goal and prize that lies ahead of us if we don’t give up!

Who Are You?

Take one minute and open up to read Ephesians 1:3-14. There, you’ll find we are:
Blessed – Chosen – Loved – Predestined – Adopted – Redeemed - Forgiven-Lavished with grace - Included in Christ - Sealed with the Spirit - Guaranteed an inheritance in His Kingdom
When we trusted Christ Jesus and establish a relationship with Him, He accepts us with arms wide open, and He promised to never leave, nor forsake us. We are loved with an everlasting love that we never earned and can never lose! It is HIS acceptance that gives us value.

Whose Are You?

Romans chapter 8 is a good place to head, for found there we find;
Jesus redeemed us from the curse of death, by taking it upon Himself. To redeem is to buy back, to accept, to choose; the complete opposite of rejection. By the power of the gospel, we have received the “Spirit of adoption” (Romans 8:15). That’s permanent, binding acceptance, and we know nothing can separate us from the Father’s love (Romans 8:38-39).

Whose Children Are They?

I believe we all know the answer to this question, but here are just a few powerful verses that remind us that ultimately He is Creator and Sustainer of all things!

  • "Behold, to the LORD your God belong heaven and the highest heavens, the earth and all that is in it.” – Deut 10:4
  • “The earth is the LORD'S, and all it contains, The world, and those who dwell in it.”- Ps 24:1
  • “FOR THE EARTH IS THE LORD'S, AND ALL IT CONTAINS.”- 1 Cor 10:36

Who Are You Ultimately Serving?

 I believe the answer is found in how Paul chose to describe himself throughout his letters and not only Paul, but Timothy, James, Peter, and Jude all describe themselves as “bondservants of Christ” (Romans 1:1; Philippians 1:1; James 1:1; 2 Peter 1:1; Jude 1:1)

And also in the Old Testament many prominent men were referred to as servants. God spoke of Abraham as His servant (Genesis 26:24; Numbers 12:7). Joshua is called the servant of the Lord (Joshua 24:29), as are David (2 Samuel 7:5) and Isaiah (Isaiah 20:3). Even the Messiah is called God’s Servant in Isaiah 53:11.

The term bond-servant referred to someone who voluntarily serves another. AND in each instance, the term servant carries the idea of humble nobility. Being God’s servant is an honorable position! As the Lord’s “bond-servant” it is our job to serve in spite of the consequences, therefore as long as we have been faithful to do all God has required of us we have reasons to rejoice!

What do we do when we feel that sting of rejection?


I believe Samuel got it right, “ As for me, I will certainly not sin against the Lord by ending my prayers for you. And I will continue to teach you what is good and right.”- 1 Sam 12:23

We keep on keeping on! We get up and keep praying, keep serving, keep loving others, for we know we are loved with a love we’ll never be able to comprehend in this lifetime!  What has He called you to do?

Keep at it, knowing one day you shall hear our Lord say, “‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord.’- Matthew 25:21 (emphasis mine)