Saturday, August 22, 2026
It was good to be in the house of the Lord!
Thank you Lisa, for especially welcoming all the online participants — and for leading us in prayer. We join our friends Paint Rock Seventh Day Baptist church in Alabama in praise to God for their 100th anniversary!
Susie shared with the kids about how orb spiders weave a new web every night and eat it the next morning as an example of the mystery and perfection of God’s creation. He has a plan for each of his creatures. “God made you and has a plan for you.”
“Even when people did bad things, God made a plan for Jesus to come and save us.”
And we sang praises to God. Thank you Chuck for leading us!
Continuing with the story of King Saul from I Samuel 16, Chuck shared that while people get caught up with appearances, God always looks at the heart.
The Israelites had asked God for a king – and tall, handsome, Saul was chosen. Sometimes God gives us over to the desires of our heart – he does not always intervene when we start making bad choices
After Saul disobeyed God’s instructions, the Lord sent the prophet Samuel to Bethlehem to anoint a new king. Samuel was mourning Saul – he had worked with him for years – but things didn’t go the way Samuel hoped they would. Saul lost favor with God because he chose himself over the will of God.
Samuel knew it was dangerous to go anoint a new king. He was sent by God to a “random” family in Bethlehem, where the father, Jesse paraded his sons before him expecting the oldest, or tallest or strongest to be selected. God chose the youngest. David.
Regardless of what parents think of their children, and their options – God can do amazing things with them – we need to turn our children over them.
David was not the tallest and he came from a mixed racial background (his grandmother Ruth was a Moabitess). Humans do not see what the Lord sees. We’re arrogant when we make major decisions without talking to God. Humans see what is visible, God sees all.
The WHY you do something matters more than the WHAT. God doesn’t look at the outside—he looks at what’s happening in the heart.
What are the reasons you’ve heard out loud , or whispered in your heart for why God would not choose you? Because you have been chosen. He called you before you were born. You were created for a purpose and on purpose. So what is the stumbling block between you and God’s goal for you?
Jeremiah thought he was too young – Moses couldn’t speak well. Everyone of us can and will be used by the God of the Universe. Do you feel too old? You still have work to do for the Kingdom. We should be out speaking the name of Jesus – fulfilling his calling. Rebuke the excuses—reject them. The enemy uses them to stop the growth of the Kingdom of God.
David was out herding sheep. Not an honored role. But that is who God called. God uses who we are and uses our experiences so we can become who we need to become for the kingdom.
King David went through a lot of hard things before he actually became king – many years passed between the anointing and the crowning. Years of:
More sheep tending.
Fighting giants.
Enduring Saul’s ongoing jealousy and persecution.
Hiding in caves – David’s family was in danger due to his reputation.
God used ALL the experiences to shape David to be who he needed to be to the glory of God.
When bad things happen—your basement floods, loved ones pass away–when you go through hard things – God uses all of these things to shape you for His purpose for you.
It did not make sense to the people watching what David was going through –but today we don’t just think of David the shepherd boy, we think of King David.
I think of my 12 year old self – I am no king—but it is fascinating to see who I was and how God has moved in my life and used me – I have been called to be a prince in the kingdom of God. Look back to when you first encountered the king of the universe. What if you had not met him? You have been called.
Glory to His name!
Join us in person every Saturday for Sabbath School, and Worship, or if you’re far away, join us for Worship online via Facebook.
Pataskala Seventh Day Baptist 