Psalm 37:23

“The steps of the godly are directed by the Lord. He delights in every detail of their lives.”

Psalm 37:23

In April Dave and I celebrated our 25 wedding anniversary. We decided to celebrate our anniversary in the fall as we both love seeing fall foliage. Dave has always wanted to go to the east coast. He also wanted to eat fresh seafood on the shore. Last week we went to Maine. We visited York, Maine as well as Ogunquit, Maine. Both of these places were absolutely amazingly beautiful. We ate at two restaurants on the coast, one restaurant in York and another one in Ogunquit that we went to twice. At both of these restaurants were able to sit out on the patio so we could see the ocean while we ate. When we were at Ogunquit we went on a two mile walk along the coast. God’s glory was all around. When we got back to the beginning of the trail we ate on the deck at the restaurant along the shore. We enjoyed a seafood trio for our supper. It was a trio of halibut, stuffed shrimp, and scallops. Everything was delicious. When we looked down at the number on our table it said that we were sitting at table 89. We were married in 89. It made us feel like we were definitely supposed to be at that table, at that sight, at that particular point of time. God’s Word says that “The steps of the godly are directed by the Lord. He delights in every detail of their lives” (Psalm 37:23). God is so good. He shows us that He is with us. He blesses us above all we could ask, dream, or think. He delights in those whose hearts wholeheartedly follow the Lord, trust in Him at all times, and does the will of the Father. May our hearts continue to wholeheartedly follow the Lord, trust in Him at all times, and do the will of the Father. When we do … He will continue to delight Himself in every detail of our lives.

Father, we thank You for making our steps to be directed by You. We thank You for delighting Yourself in every detail of our lives. You are so good. You bless us above all we could ask, dream, or think. May our hearts continue to wholeheartedly follow You, trust in You at all times, and do Your will.  In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen. 

Kimberly Lenz, Care Ministry Coordinator

Solid Rock Community Church

James 1:27 - God wants us to be "unspotted from the world."

“keep oneself unspotted from the world.”

James 1:27

James 1:26-27 says “If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is worthless. Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.” When Christians refuse to watch their words and speak rashly they are deceived in their faith. They hear the Way, the Truth, and the Life but they do not act on what they have heard. James tells us that our actions are what matter. He tells us to care for the widows and the orphans. He also states that we are to remain “unspotted from the world.” This means that we can tell by the way people talk, what they do, and if they are spotted from the world or not where they are in their walk with the Lord. We can tell whether they are true followers or not. I want you to think about a boat that is in the water. That boat doesn’t sink because it is in the water. It sinks because the water gets into it. Furthermore, Christians don’t fail to live good Christian lives in the world because they are in it. They fail to live good Christian lives because the world has gotten into them. 2 Peter 1:4 says that God has “given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these” we “may be partakers of the divine nature having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” (NKJV). May we make it our aim to remain “unspotted from the world.” May we keep the world out. May we be spiritually blessed by being “partakers of the divine nature having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”

Father, may we bridle our tongues. May we visit orphans and widows in their trouble. May we keep ourselves unspotted from the world. May the world not get into us. Thank You for Your exceedingly great and precious promises. Through those great and precious promises may we be partakers of Your divine nature. Last, but not least, may we escape the corruption that is in the world through lust. We want to have a pure and undefiled religion before You. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Kimberly Lenz, Care Ministry Coordinator

Solid Rock Community Church

Acts 1:5 - Jesus baptizes us with the Holy Spirit and fire so that we will be His witnesses

“for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

Acts 1:5

John baptized with water. It is a symbolic washing to purify us and indicates our choice to repent and turn from all our sins. Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit. This involves the indwelling of the Holy Spirit inside of us, the third person of the trinity. Jesus was going to leave them but the Holy Spirit was going to come to be a constant presence in their lives. He says that we “shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon” us; and we “shall be witnesses” to Him in “Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8). On the Day of Pentecost this came to pass. When the disciples were all with one another in one place a great sound came from heaven, the sound filled the whole house where they were sitting. The Holy Spirit burst into the room like a firestorm, flames sat upon each of them and set fire to their very souls. “Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:3-4). After the Holy Spirit touched them and they immediately became His witnesses. The Holy Spirit had been sent to indwell in them, commissioning every member to be a witness for the Lord Jesus Christ. Their hearts were inflamed by the love of Christ to convert his fellow-men. And the Holy Spirit gave their tongues utterance. Oh, may the Holy Spirit burst into our hearts like a firestorm. May flames sit upon each of us and may He set fire to our very souls. May the Holy Spirit give our tongues utterance as we witness for the Lord Jesus Christ to our fellow-men. May soul’s be converted all to the glory of God.

Father, we thank You for baptizing us with the Holy Spirit. We thank You that the Holy Spirit is a constant presence in our lives. We thank You that we received power when the Holy Spirit came upon us and indwelled in us. You have given us Your Spirit so that we will be a witness for the Lord Jesus Christ. Oh, may the Holy Spirit burst into our hearts like a firestorm. May flames sit upon each of us and may He set fire to our very souls. May the Holy Spirit give our tongues utterance as we witness for the Lord Jesus Christ to our fellow-men. May soul’s be converted all to the glory of God. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Kimberly Lenz, Care Ministry Coordinator

Solid Rock Community Church

Psalm 90:17 (NASV) - The Favor of the Lord

“Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us; And confirm for us the work of our hands; Yes, confirm the work of our hands.”

Psalm 90:17 (NASV)

God wants our relationship with Him to fill us with joy and gladness, as an advertisement to the world of His mercy, goodness, grace, and love. “Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us.” The blessings of the Lord in our lives is evidence to others of His faithfulness and goodness in our lives. When they look at your life they can see that Jesus is real. They can see that He bestows His love and approval on you as a token of good will and kind regard, that He has a friendly regard or disposition towards you, that He is partial towards you, that He is loyal to you, and that He treats you favorably. This can put within them a desire to know Him too. They can see that your heart and your life is different from those that are in the world. They can see that your life has meaning and a purpose. The NKJV says “And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us.” Oh, how we desire that others see the “beauty of the Lord” upon us. It goes on to say “And establish the work of our hands for us; Yes, establish the work of our hands.” Establish the work of our hands implies that our hands have a role and purpose in His witness to the world as well. He has appointed us to do a good work and our hands can prove that our walk and talk go hand in hand. I like what the New Living Translation says. It says “And may the Lord our God show us His approval and make our efforts successful. Yes, make our efforts successful!” Be encouraged today. May the favor of the Lord be upon us. May our hands confirm what is in our hearts. May they be anointed to do a good work. May our efforts be successful, bringing glory to His name. Use our lives to draw others’ hearts to Christ.

    

Father, may the “beauty of the Lord” and the “favor of the Lord” be upon us. We want others to see that Your love is great and that You love them too. Use our lives to be living testimonies and to draw them to You and a life with You. Establish the work of our hands. May our acts of love and kindness be successful, producing a crop one hundred fold. We thank You for Your love. We thank You for Your grace. We thank You for Your mercy. We thank You for Your favor. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Kimberly Lenz, Care Ministry Coordinator

Solid Rock Community Church

1 Samuel 22:3 God gives us wisdom if we want it

“Then David went from there to Mizpah of Moab; and he said to the king of Moab, ‘Please let my father and mother come here with you, till I know what God will do for me.’”

1 Samuel 22:3

David was anointed by the Lord, but even though he was anointed he did not have a detailed map of his own future. So David acted wisely in regard to the things he could do, and trusted the Lord for what he could not do. This is how it is for us Christians too. We are anointed by the Lord, but we don’t know what the future has in store for us. We are to act wisely in regard to the things we can do, and trust the Lord for what we can not do. This reminds me of the well-known Serenity Prayer that was written by Reinhold Niebuhr.

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,

The courage to change the things I can,

And the wisdom to know the difference.

If you fear that you don’t have much wisdom, ask Him for it. James 1:5 says “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” This is nice to know that He gives to all liberally and without approach. He won’t leave you out. It will be given to you. God wants us to have it. Proverbs 4:5-9 says “Get wisdom! Get understanding! Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth. Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you. Love her, and she will keep you. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom.  And in all your getting, get understanding. Exalt her, and she will promote you; she will bring you honor, when you embrace her. She will place on your head an ornament of grace; a crown of glory she will deliver to you.” Wisdom from the Lord is of great value. He puts it inside of us. Psalm 51:6 says “in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.” What a great God we have!

Father, we thank You for making us Your own. We thank You for anointing us. We may not have been given a detailed map of our future, but we know who holds tomorrow. May we act wisely in regards to the things we can do, and trust You for the things we cannot do. Grant us the serenity to accept the things we cannot change, the courage to change the things we can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Give us wisdom. Give us understanding. Plant it in the hidden part of us so that we can know it. In Jesus’ name we pray and give thanks. Amen.

Kimberly Lenz, Care Ministry Coordinator

Solid Rock Community Church

Philippians 4:11 - Godliness + Contentment = Great Gain

“for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content”

Philippians 4:11

The enemy is often at work in our lives by trying to make us discontent and unhappy about something that we don’t have in our lives. People that are discontent are dissatisfied have a restless desire for something that one does not have. Since they don’t have it they are unhappy. God doesn’t want us to be this way. He wants us to be content, happy, and satisfied with what we have been given and the way things are. 1 Timothy 6:6 says that “godliness with contentment is great gain.” It goes on to say in 1 Timothy 6:7 “For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.” He even tells us that if we have food and clothing … we should be content (1 Timothy 6:8). Hebrews 13:5 says “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have” (NKJV). The Message Bible says “Don’t be obsessed with getting more material things. Be relaxed with what you have.” The Living Bible says “Stay away from the love of money; be satisfied with what you have.” Contentment is a choice that we make to be happy with what He provides for you. Sadly, most people are not content. They always seem to want more. Even more sadly is that many Christians are not content either. One thing I know about God is that He wants us to be happy with our lives. He has blessed us immensely. He wants us to be happy in Him. He wants us to love our family, friends, and those He’s put in our circle of influence. He doesn’t want us to be jealous and envious of what others have that we don’t. He wants us to be mature in the Lord. This means that if they have something we don’t we are to be happy for them. He blesses us and our life in ways that He wants to bless us. God takes excellent care of us. He gives us all that we need. I encourage you today to be happy with what He’s blessed you with. Thank Him for what He’s given you. Have a thankful and grateful heart. This will please him.

Father, You want us to be content, happy, and satisfied with what we have been given by You and the way things are. Your Word says that godliness with contentment is great gain. We know that we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain that we can carry nothing out. You have given us food, clothing, shelter, vehicles to drive, etc. We should be content, happy, grateful and thankful. Hebrews 13:5 says “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have” (NKJV). Lord may we be so. The Message Bible says “Don’t be obsessed with getting more material things. Be relaxed with what you have.” Lord, may we not be obsessed with getting more material things. May we be relaxed with what we have. The Living Bible says “Stay away from the love of money; be satisfied with what you have.” Lord, may we stay away from the love of money. May we be satisfied with what we have. Contentment is a choice that we make to be happy with what You provides for us. And we thank You for all the ways that You provide. We want pure hearts. We want to see you! In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Kimberly Lenz, Care Ministry Coordinator

Solid Rock Community Church

1 Samuel 20:42 - Friends are divine blessings in our lives

Then Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, since we have both sworn in the name of the Lord, saying, ‘May the Lord be between you and me, and between your descendants and my descendants, forever.’”

1 Samuel 20:42

Jonathan and David were kindred spirits. The Lord was the centerpiece of their whole friendship. That is always the way to the closest and best of friendships. 1 Samuel 20:17 tells us that Jonathan “loved him [David] as he loved his own soul.” Life wasn’t always easy for Jonathan and David. But they stood beside one another and were loyal to one another as they faced adversity. We need friends too. None of us were designed to face life on our own. We need other people, and they need us. As we grow in the Lord we realize how important it is to have wise associations. They build us up in the Lord and encourage us in our everyday lives with Christ. When we were younger in the Lord we may have chosen to be close to unwise associations. Maybe we forgave them as they wronged us over and over. We chose to love them unconditionally. This is good and this is biblical, but then God had to show us that associating with them on a regular basis wasn’t good for us spiritually. Yes, we were to love them. But no, they weren’t to be our best friends. Because they didn’t walk with the Lord you continually suffered harm because of it. The Word of God says that bad company corrupts good character. Don’t be deceived. It’s ok to pull away. David and Jonathan are wonderful examples to us of what a godly friendship can provide. Jonathan looked out for David. 1 Samuel 19:1-3 shows us that Jonathan warned David of danger. 1 Samuel 19:4 shows us that when Saul was considering David as an enemy of his Jonathan stuck up for David spoke well of David telling his father that David wasn’t sinning against him and that he was being good to him. He was trying to be a peacemaker. This is a mark of a good friend. Jonathan was willing to do whatever David needed. 1 Samuel 20:4 tells us that Jonathan said to David “Whatever you yourself desire, I will do it for you.” Jonathan was even willing to risk his life defending his closest friend and companion, even against his own father who was flesh and blood since he knew that David was in the right and his father was in the wrong. His father cast a spear to kill his own son as he was angry that Jonathan had questioned him in why David should be killed. Jonathan even helped David escape when he realized that his father wanted to kill him. God wants us to have friends that’s hearts are knit together with ours. They have our back and look out for us. They have our best interest at heart. These friendships are divine blessings in our lives. Thank God for the Christian friends He has given you. Be loyal to them like Jonathan was with David. Your faith will flourish!

Father, we thank You for our Christian friends. We thank You that they are divine blessings in our lives. May You be the centerpiece of our friendships. May they encourage us in the faith, and may we encourage them in the faith too. Knit our hearts together. Bind us together with Your love. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Kimberly Lenz, Care Ministry Coordinator

Solid Rock Community Church

1 Samuel 18:28-29 Blessed are you when men hate you

“Thus Saul saw and knew that the Lord was with David, and that Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved him; and Saul was still more afraid of David. So Saul became David’s enemy continually.”

1 Samuel 18:28-29

One wonder’s why Saul became David’s enemy. David would have lovingly served Saul and did all he could to be a blessing to him and God’s people. Saul didn’t want David’s loyalty and love. He felt threatened when he saw and knew that the Lord was with David. Saul feared for his own future instead. He didn’t trust his future to the Lord. He took matters into his own hand. He wanted to do all he could to get rid of his threat, his enemy, David. Saul cast his spear at David. He said “I will pin David to the wall!” (1 Samuel 18:11). David escaped twice. Because of Saul’s wrong heart, he had a wrong spirit at work in him. It says in 1 Samuel 19:9-10 “Now the distressing spirit from the Lord came upon Saul as he sat in his house with his spear in his hand. And David was playing music with his hand. Then Saul sought to pin David to the wall with the spear [again], but he slipped away from Saul’s presence; and he drove the spear into the wall. So David fled and escaped that night.” Saul gave David a position of authority by making him a captain over a thousand. He was hoping that David would fail to lead wisely and thus be discredited. This backfired. For 1 Samuel 18:14-15 tells us that “David behaved wisely in all his ways, and the Lord was with him. Therefore, when Saul saw that he behaved very wisely, he was afraid of him.” David was to marry Saul’s daughter, Michal. Saul required that David kill one hundred Philistines before he would give him her hand in marriage. Saul was hoping that David would die while he was fighting the Philistines. This did not happen, for God was with David blessing all his efforts. Then Saul pursued David continually for more than a decade. David had to live in exile moving from hiding place to hiding place. Anyone who helped David was ordered to be murdered. He even threw a spear at his own son Jonathan when he felt that Jonathan’s loyalty and love was with David. Sometimes people become our enemy because God is with us. They could have our love and friendship, but they don’t want it. We are a threat to them. They don’t like what we stand for. They are looking out for themselves and they think you interfere with their future. This is hard for us to understand and comprehend, but this is so. Just remember though that when this happens it’s not just you that they hate. It is the God in you that they hate. Jesus said in Matthew 5:10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” It goes on to say in Matthew 5:11-12 “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” John 15:18 says “If the world hates, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.” It goes on to say in John 15:19-21 “If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will also keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent me.” If you read on it says that people hated Jesus without cause (John 15:25). In John 17:14 Jesus prays “I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.” In Romans 1:30 mentions some people that are “haters of God.” The chances are that these very same people that hate God will hate you. They don’t like what you stand for, they also don’t like what you live for. Be encouraged today. God’s Word tells us that you are blessed! His Word tells you that great is your reward in Heaven! His Word also gives you encouragement and hope for it tells you that will receive a heavenly crown if you are faithful. 2 Tim 4:8 says “Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” James 1:12 says “Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.”

Father, we thank You for Your love and Your faithfulness. We understand that not everyone is going to love us. We are not of this world. We are Yours. We are set apart for You. Help us to walk with You. Help us to keep our focus. Help us to be strong in the Lord and the power of Your might. May we wear the full armor of God and be able to stand. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Kimberly Lenz, Care Ministry Coordinator

Solid Rock Community Church

1 Samuel 18:12 - No Weapon Formed Against You Shall Prosper

“Now Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with him, but had departed from Saul.”

1 Samuel 18:12

Sometimes when you walk closely with the Lord, others fear you as they see God’s hand of blessing is upon you. They feel “threatened” as they believe that people are going to like you more than they do themselves. Even if you love them with all your heart, they may develop a love-hate relationship with you. They want and need your love (your love may make them feel better), but the wrong feelings they have inside come to the surface in them and they may act out. Saul made David captain over a thousand. 1 Samuel 18:14 says that “David behaved wisely in all his ways, and the Lord was with him.” It went on to say in 1 Samuel 18:15 “Therefore Saul saw that he behaved very wisely, he was afraid of him.” So it tells us in 1 Samuel 18:12 and 1 Samuel 18:15 that Saul was “afraid” of David. Perhaps you have experienced this in your own life as well. You walked with God and the Lord was with you. Other people, and even other believers, saw this and they felt “threatened” by you and the power of God that is in you. They were jealous, envious, and even attacked you and your character personally. They may have spread lies about you so that other people wouldn’t like you anymore. People may have believed for a short time, but I believe the Lord reveals your innocence to all those that were lied to in His due time. Sin always comes to light. Know that God has plan and a calling on your life. He plans on using you and the gifts and talents that you have. His plan for your life can’t be stopped. The enemy may attack. Other people may stir the pot, but ultimately they will be the one to fall in it. These people need our love. They need our prayers. They are walking in darkness. One thing that was great about David is that David still loved Saul. He did not strike back. He ran, but the Lord protected him. When given an opportunity came for David to kill King Saul, David didn’t take it. Saul ended up eventually taking his own life. God protected David and he became King. Be encouraged today. God is raising you up. He has things for you to do. Walk with Him. He will protect you and you will fulfill all that He wants you to do.

Father, we love You and we love others. We thank You that Your hand of blessing is upon us. We thank You that You are with us. Some of us have had Christian brothers and sisters come against us. They became afraid of us because You were with us. They felt threatened by us because we could see in the Spirit and we walked with You. They were jealous because others liked us. But we thank You today that You were with us through it all. You took care of them and You took care of us. You are good in that way. You kept us safe and you proved our righteousness, right standing with You, and integrity in the end. And they did not stop God’s will from coming to pass in our lives. You deserve all the praise, the honor, and glory for this Lord. We pray for everyone that may be experiencing this right now. We pray that You be with them. We pray that any lies from the enemy be silenced. We pray that the persons righteousness, right standing with You, and integrity shine brightly and be evidenced by all. May Your will for them come to pass. Continue to be with us all Lord. Continue to fill and use us. And may you never ever ever depart from any of us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Kimberly Lenz, Care Ministry Coordinator

Solid Rock Community Church

1 Samuel 18:8 Jealousy and Envy Destroy Us

Then Saul was very angry, and the saying displeased him, and he said, ‘They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed only thousands. Now what more can he have but the kingdom?’”

1 Samuel 18:8

David had defeated Goliath. The Israelites were filled with joy. They sang and danced to meet King Saul. “Now it happened as they were coming home, when David was returning from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women had come out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing to meet King Saul, with tambourines with joy, and with musical instruments. So the women sang as they danced, and said ‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.’ Then Saul was very angry, and the saying displeased him, and he said, ‘They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed only thousands. Now what more can he have but the kingdom?’ So Saul eyed David from that day forward” (1 Samuel 18:6-9). So we can see from these passages that instead of having a grateful and thankful heart because the Lord had delivered the Israelites through David, Saul focused on what he considered was a slight to himself. His self-focus eventually destroyed him. Self-focus can also destroy us. We are going to look at the two main means of self-focus that Saul had. They are envy and jealousy. Envy is a discontent or resentment because of another’s success, advantages, or superiority. Jealousy is resentment against a rival, a person enjoying success or advantage. It affects their feelings, disposition, state and mood. Their focus remains on themselves and their slight instead of on God and His greatness. God tells us in His Word that He abandoned the people that refused to acknowledge Him. He abandoned them to their evil minds and let them do things that never should be done. Romans 1:29  says that “There lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, fighting, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip.” He goes on to say in Romans 1:30 that “They are backstabbers, haters of God, insolent, proud, and boastful. They are forever inventing new ways of sinning and are disobedient to their parents. They refuse to understand, break their promises, and are heartless and unforgiving. They are fully aware of God’s death penalty for those who do these things, yet they go right ahead and do them anyway. And, worse yet, they encourage others to do them, too.” As you can tell … they have no respect for the Lord and no healthy fear of Him. God’s Word tells us that when we “follow the desires of your sinful nature, your lives will produce these evil results: sexual immorality, impure thoughts, eagerness for lustful pleasure, idolatry, participation in demonic activities, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, divisions, the feeling that everyone is wrong except those in your own little group, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other kinds of sin. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:19-21). God wants us to inherit the Kingdom of God. God wants us to have the Holy Spirit controlling our lives. He wants His fruits in us, being active and alive. They are: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control” (Galatians 5:22-23). One way to be wise is to learn from other people instead of finding out yourself the hard way. We can learn from King Saul not to get jealous and envious of others. It destroyed him. It can destroy us. What can we do about it? Confess your jealousy and envy to the Lord. Be honest with Him. He already knows. Confess it as sin and then ask Him to take away those wrong feelings inside and replace them with His love instead. He is faithful and He will do it. You will have a clean heart and you will inherit the Kingdom of God. Praise God for that.

Father, we thank You for the written Word. We thank You for what it can reveal to us. Lord, we come to You and ask You to be with us. Help us to learn from Your Word. May we examine our own hearts. Is it full of jealousy or envy? If it is, may we confess it as sin to You and may You take out all the wrong feelings inside and replace it with Your love. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Kimberly Lenz, Care Ministry Coordinator

Solid Rock Community Church

1 Samuel 18:1 - Kindred Spirits

“Now when he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.”

1 Samuel 18:1

Jonathon recognized in David a kindred spirit, a man who loved the Lord with all his heart, as he did. Their bond in the Lord blessed not only the two of them, but eventually all of Israel. We need each other to move forward in our faith. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 says that “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls. For he has no one to help him up. Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; but how can one be warm alone? Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” I love what the Living Bible says. It says “Two can accomplish more than twice as much as one, for the results can be much better. If one falls, the other pulls him up; but if a man falls when he is alone, he’s in trouble. Also, on a cold night, two under the same blanket gain warmth from each other, but how can one be warm alone? And one standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer; three is even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.” God never calls on any of His children to walk alone in their walk with Him. We need each other, not only to receive help and encouragement, but to give it as well. We also need others so we can continue grow in our faith. Look at your own life. Have you got any kindred spirits in your life. Men and/or women who love the Lord with all their hearts, as you do? If so, praise God! If you don’t, begin to pray that God place kindred spirits in your life.

   

Father, we thank You for the companionship of friends. We ask You to surround us with kindred spirits. We want them to be people who love God with all their hearts. We want them to be people who will share God’s truths with us, and who we can share God’s truths with too. We need the help and encouragement that they can provide. We want to be able to give them help and encouragement as well. Give us a strong bond in the Lord. Just like David and Jonathan had. We thank You and give You praise. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Kimberly Lenz, Care Ministry Coordinator

Solid Rock Community Church

1 Samuel 17:51 God uses the very thing the enemy intended for our harm to be used for our good

“Therefore David ran and stood over the Philistine, took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him, and cut off his head with it.”

1 Samuel 17:51

After David killed Goliath with the small stone to the forehead, David used Goliath’s own sword to cut off the giants head. God took something intended for David’s harm and used it for his good. God knows how to do that for us too. The enemy can try to use something to bring us harm, but God turns it around and uses it for our good. How can He do this? He is God. Romans 8:28 tells us “that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” I don’t know what you are going through. I don’t know what the enemy is throwing at you. But God does. Let God have control over the situation. Thank Him that He has the power and the ability to use what the enemy is trying to use for your harm and make it used for your good instead. Thank Him for His promise in scripture that says “that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those that are called according to His purpose.”

Father, the enemy comes against us and tries to cause us harm. Use his attacts instead for our good. We thank You that You did this in the life of David. May You also use this in our lives as well. You have promised us in Your Word “that all things work together for good to those who love” You. We cling to this promise and we stand on it. We give You praise. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Kimberly Lenz, Care Ministry Coordinator

Solid Rock Community Church

Kimberly Lenz, Care Ministry Coordinator

Solid Rock Community Church

1 Samuel 17:45-46 Nothing is too hard for God

“Then David said to the Philistine, ‘You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defiled. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.’”

1 Samuel 17:45-46

Goliath was a giant. All the Israelites feared him. David did not. He did not fear Goliath’s size, sword, spear, or javelin. David’s faith was not in his own strength or his own abilities. David’s faith was in the Lord. Goliath was no match for David. David knew God was with him. He had experienced God’s presence before and he knew without a shadow of a doubt that he was going to experience it again. He spoke what was going to happen before it happened. And what he spoke came to pass. We can learn so much from him. I don’t know what is bothering you now. I don’t know what is coming against you. Do not fear. Don’t put your faith in your own strength or your own abilities. Put your faith in the Lord. What you are going through may seem huge to you. But know for a fact that what you are going through is no match for the Lord. God is with you. You have experienced God’s presence in your past. Know without a shadow of a doubt that you are going to experience His presence and power yet again. Find scriptures to cause faith to rise up in you. Speak those scriptures out loud. Say those scriptural promises in a prayer. Make sure your prayers are full of faith. Then, sit back and let the Lord get the victory for you. Watch His word come to pass. It does not return void but accomplishes what it is sent out to do. Isaiah 55:11 says “So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” Be encouraged today. God is bigger than everything. He’s got this.

 Father, we thank You that You are all powerful. We thank You that we need not be afraid. The problems and difficulties that we are facing are no match for You. You are with us. We have experienced Your presence and power in the past, we know that without a shadow of a doubt we are going to experience Your presence again. We put our hope, faith, and trust in You. Bring us through victoriously. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Kimberly Lenz, Care Ministry Coordinator

Solid Rock Community Church

1 Samuel 17:33 We need to have eyes of faith

“And Saul said to David, ‘You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.’”

1 Samuel 17:33

Some people have spiritual eyes that see. Other people see only in the natural. God wants his people to have eyes that see. He wants them to have eyes of faith. When David first heard about the Philistine, he wasn’t afraid. He believed that God would give him the victory if he went up against him. Why didn’t Goliath frighten David? It was because David feared and loved the Lord more than he feared anything else. David’s brother, Eliab, was angry with David. He thought David was full of pride. When Saul heard about what David said he called for him. David told him that he would go and fight the Philistine. In the natural, Saul didn’t believe David could fight him. He saw that David was only a young boy. Then David told him that he used to keep his father’s sheep. He said that when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock he went after it struck it, and delivered the lamb from its mouth. When the lion or bear arose against him, he caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it. David told Saul, “Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God” (1 Samuel 17:36). After this David said, “The Lord, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine” (1 Samuel 17:37). Saul was impressed and told David to “Go, and the Lord be with you!” (1 Samuel 17:37). Oh, if only we had eyes of faith. If only we saw things through spiritual eyes and not the flesh, the natural. Oh, if only we feared and loved the Lord more than we feared anything else. What great and mighty things we would do. Let’s begin to look beyond what we can see and see what God sees. May faith rise up in us. Faith is the Holy Spirit’s signal to go into action. David exercised his faith in the Lord before he went into battle. Let’s begin to exercise our faith.

Father, we thank you for spiritual eyes that see. Help us to see through spiritual eyes, and not the flesh, the natural. May we fear and love You more than we fear anything else. Other’s may not understand us. They may see things only in the natural, but we ask that this not stop us from fulfilling Your plan for our lives. May we begin to look beyond what we can see and see what You see. May faith rise up in us. Faith is the Holy Spirit’s signal to go into action in the spiritual realm. May we begin to exercise our faith. May doubt and discouragement have no place in our lives. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.  

Kimberly Lenz, Care Ministry Coordinator

Solid Rock Community Church

1 Samuel 16:19 God trains us so he can use us

“Therefore Saul sent messengers to Jesse, and said, ‘Send me your son David, who is with the sheep.’”

1 Samuel 16:19

God often trains us before we do what we are called to do. God trained Moses in the house of Pharoah so that he would later lead God’s people. Having already been in the palace opened the door for him to be able to be heard by the Pharoah. Being heard by the Pharoah opened the door for the Israelites to be let go. God had David be a shepherd boy to learn how to serve faithfully, worship Him and to be victorious in Him while he protected the sheep. He even sent David into Saul’s palace to prepare him for the future, his being king. Be encouraged. God has been training you all your life to prepare you for His call on your life, and your future as well. Just be faithful with what you are doing. He will lead you step by step. Be obedient when He asks you to do more. You’ll see later that He was preparing you for His purposes all along. This will encourage you.

Father, thank You for caring so much for each and every one of us. Thank You for training us as we grow in Christ. Just as you trained Moses and David, You’ve trained us. You prepare us for what You have called us to do. May we fulfill the call You have upon our lives. Hold our futures in the palm of Your hand. We want to hear “Well done my good and faithful servant.” In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Kimberly Lenz, Care Ministry Coordinator

Solid Rock Community Church