Samuel Said What?

Happy Tuesday! Hope your week’s off to a good start. If you’re new, welcome. I’d love to learn where you’re from so drop a quick reply and let me know.

Toronto Canada Church Plant! I met this young family starting a church in Toronto. They are a blessing and I believe they’re going to do great things. Check them out at https://LFToronto.com and give them some encouragement.

MUZE (Monday Upper Zoom Engagement) begins this Monday Dec. 15th @ 10a. It’s open to all BV2U subscribers but space is limited. See the details below.

Trivia question: Ray Whitmore & Sheryl Woodard you’re amazing!

PS. Do you know any good biblical FB groups? I’d like to introduce our ministry to others and expand our reach. If so, please send me the FB group name.

♥️ Follow on Instagram | Facebook | Threads for more biblical encouragement.

Let’s MUZE (Monday Upper Zoom Engagement)

Monday’s at 10a-11:00a (EST) weekly.

Join us for our online deeper dives into a recent newsletter edition. This online community study group is free & open to all BV2U subscribers.

We’ll dig into the newsletter topic, Scripture references, and discuss the content.

We’ll also have Q&A and prayer time from 11-11:30a (EST) if you’d like to stay.

You’ll need the Zoom App (free version at your app store), a link (I’ll send you) and you can sit back and listen passively or participate (camera on or off is fine)!

TO JOIN, HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO DO:

1. Check out these past editions and decide which one you’d like to study:

# 1. Who Outsources This?! You Might

# 2. When They Won’t Listen

# 3. You Can Sin Less. Here’s How

# 4. I Used to Go Fast

2. Use the POLL “MUZE TOPIC POLL” below to click which edition # you’d like to study.

3. Click the ZOOM LINK REQUEST Button below, put “Zoom link” in the Subject Line, and I’ll send you the meeting link. If you have questions about the topic, add them to your request and we’ll try to get them answered for you.

This ministry will always be free; growing our influence isn’t! You can support BV2U financially. Just click the button below for several ways to contribute.

God’s people wanted a leader – but not God! We can do that too. It might sound like:

 - “I got this” and don’t need to pray or really consider what the Bible says about it.

- “I know what the Word says” but God knows my heart and won’t judge it.

- “I want it” and it doesn’t really matter what God says about it. I’m doing it.

- “God’s not worried about it”. He doesn’t care about stuff like this.

There’s plenty more we could choose, but you get the point.

So, what is it that you’re prayerless or careless about that isn’t aligned with God’s word? You just want it and are “wishing” for it because it’s not something you can pray for.

Or where have you gone or are thinking about going your own way instead of God’s? Identify and confess it out loud though it might seem absurd. It might sound like:

- “God, I don’t trust that you will lead me where I think is best for me. So, I’m going to do what I feel is best instead.”

- “Lord, I think the world’s ways are better (more exciting, advantageous, easier…) than yours. Maybe after You prove me wrong, I’ll do it your way.”

- “God, I want this, and it doesn’t matter to me what you think. I’m doing it.”

- “Lord, I know this is against your word, but my heart believes it’s okay, so I’m going to do it anyway hoping you’ll bless it.”

- God, it’s the 21st Century and we’re much too sophisticated to think you are a God to be feared. Therefore, I expect you to bless what I do because you love me.”

They sound absurd, don’t they? But we do variations of them more often than we’re comfortable admitting, let alone, saying out loud. That’s the point.

If God were going to give you some clear warning about a path you’re on or a decision you’re considering, what would the warning be? If you don’t know, who can you ask?

Take a few minutes to go back through 1 Sam. 8, and 12 and think carefully about the consequences God warned them about. What might they look like in your life?

Are you sure you still want to wish for it or go there? Look again at the cost of trip before you start walking. Jesus said it something like this and like this.

Remember to share this post with some family, friends, and fellow believers from church. I’d love to hear your thoughts about today’s read – You can reply here.

Sharing is caring. Who can you forward this to and be an encouragement?