David was called a man after God’s heart. So what does it mean to be a ‘man or woman after God’s own heart’? Let’s look at some verses that show us a bit of David’s heart

​Look up these verse and take note of David’s heart (Note your observations in your journal)
Psalm 119:47-48
Psalm 51:1-2
1 Samuel 17:37
Psalm 23:1-4
Psalm 34:1
Psalm 139:23-24
  
David loved God, and he chose to live God’s way. He knew God intimately. He knew that he was to be trusted, and he chose to obey him. You may have discounted yourself – or said that ‘you’re not good enough to be used by God’. That’s not true! All of us have the capacity to serve God and to be used by God. All we need to do is to choose God’s way, and make ourselves available to God to be used by him.
 
There are two things that help us to choose God’s way. 
Know God’s Heart for us
The first is to know God’s Heart for us. To know how much, he loves and cares for each one of us, and to know his desire to be in relationship with you. Psalm 139 is a beautiful Psalm. It speaks of God’s heart for us. It speaks of the way he has created each one of us. He formed us, and knows us each intimately. He cares for and loves us.
Maybe you think you are of little worth to God. Maybe you’ve been told by others that you are nothing. The truth is that you have been created by God – you are not overlooked by him. And your value comes from the fact that he made you and he loves you. The more we know God’s love and care for us, the easier it is to choose to live God’s way.
God’s Spirit
The second thing that will help us to develop a heart after God’s own heart is the Holy Spirit. It is God’s Spirit that empowers us and helps us to live God’s way. It is God’s Spirit that transforms us.
“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.” Ezekiel 36:26-27. It is only by the work of God’s Spirit that our hearts can be molded and shaped to become like God’s heart. So we need to allow God’s Spirit access to our hearts – to ask him to shape us into the people he wants us to be.

In your journal answer:
- Have you ever felt ‘overlooked’ or ‘forgotten’ by others?
- How do we let God’s Spirit shape and mold our hearts to become more like his?
- How does it feel to know that God doesn’t forget or overlook us (even if others do)?
 
Look at your “God wouldn’t use me because” list. Which item on your list (from the last post) resonates with you most? Describe ways you think this may be hindering your relationship with God. Write yourself a reminder that God created you, loves you, and has a purpose for you. 

King Saul was the King before David. Up until the time when Saul became King, God’s people Israel, hadn’t had a King. They had had leaders and judges, but God was their King – this is what set them apart from other nations. But at the beginning of the book of 1 Samuel the people of Israel come to Samuel (who was their leader) and request a king.
They’ve seen that all the other nations around them have a king – they want to be like them! But by doing this they are effectively rejecting God as their King.

However, despite this, God gives them what they ask for, and Saul is chosen by God to be the first King of Israel. Saul starts out well and follows Gods way, but unfortunately throughout his time as king he becomes quite conceited and full of himself, and he begins to stop following the Lord’s commands…

Because of his disobedience and arrogance, the Lord ends up rejecting him as the King of Israel:
“You have done a foolish thing,” Samuel said. “You have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time. But now your kingdom will not endure; the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him ruler of his people, because you have not kept the Lord’s command.” 1 Samuel 13:13-14

​And so God chooses a new King – which is David

In a Journal answer:
- If you were going to choose a new king or leader for the country, what would be the qualities you’d be looking for in the person?

- Why did everyone overlook David?

- What are some of the ‘outward qualities’ or reasons that people can think of as reasons why God wouldn’t choose to use them?

Create a list: “God wouldn’t use me because….” (e.g. age, knowledge about God/Bible/Church, how ‘Spiritual’ we are, skills, confidence, mistakes/sin etc.)

King David, was the second king of the united kingdom of Israel and successor to King Saul. His life and reign are recorded in the Old Testament books of 1 Samuel (from chapter 16 onwards), 2 Samuel, 1 Kings and 2 Kings (to verse 4).                                                                                                  
​He is depicted as the most righteous of all the ancient kings of Israel although not without fault as well as a great warrior, musician and poet. He is traditionally credited with the authorship of many of the Psalms. 2 Samuel 7:12-16 states that God was so pleased with David that He promised that the Davidic line would endure forever. Jews therefore believe that the Jewish Messiah will be a direct descendant of King David. Christians trace the lineage of Jesus back to him through both Mary and Joseph.

Grab your bible (or nearest bible app) and look up these verses about King David. In your journal take notes of what you observe.

2 Samuel 7:8-16
Acts 3:22
2 Samuel 7:29
1 Samuel 26
2 Samuel 12:13
2 Samuel 24:10
2 Samuel 17:1
1 Chronicles 18
Psalm 4:8
Psalm 37:11

In a Journal answer:

-How are you similar to David?
-How are you different from David?
-Where did David get his worth and identity? (Hint: Acts 3:22)

Read Psalm 23. Take time to reflect on God as a shepherd. Write, in your journal, how the ideas and words of David strike you? Is it hard to believe? Is it hard to live out? Why?
​

​Saul was best known as the first King of Israel around 1046 BC.

Saul was a King and biblical figure born in the land of Benjamin in Israel. He became the first King of Israel where he united tribes and defeated enemies such as the Ammonites, Philistines, Moabites, and Amalekites. After disobeying God, elder Samuel anointed David as his replacement. Jealous of being pushed aside and the accolades bestowed upon David for slaying Goliath, Saul made several failed attempts to take David’s life.

To Learn More About Saul Visit: https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/king-saul/

​- In what ways are you similar to Saul?
 
-In what ways are you different from Saul?
 
-Where did Saul find value and identity? (hint:  1 Samuel 18:6-8)

-Draw a picture of what you imagine Saul looked like. Along with what you read above, consider the description of what you read in 1 Samuel 9:2. 

​From our first section of Philippians, we know that Paul is in prison. His situation does not change his mood or view of his goals. He is still seeking to advance the kingdom of God. In this next section (Philippians 1:12-26) Paul is speaking to the concern of the Philippian Christians. These people are worried and concerned about Paul. Paul writes to them by sending a report of his state. He can tell the people about how his imprisonment was allowing the Messiah to be proclaimed. In this section, Paul speaks to his confinement as either further service or death. In all of these things, he can rejoice. He understands what is important- the gospel. 

​Before going any further take some time to read Philippians 1:12-26 on your own.

​In our own lives we claim that we prioritize certain things like family, friends, God but if we take a step back would that actually be the case. If we evaluate our time and how we spend our money, we may realize the priorities we claim to have are actually much further than what we claim. Paul is showing what his priorities are. He is not focused on his situation instead he is more concerned about how the situation is spreading the story of God. 

Take a look at your phone's screen time, what apps or amount of time is a priority for you why? As a secondary experiment for the next day, or a week, keep a tracker of how you spend your time. Is the information surprising, unbelievable, or is it what you expected?

​Paul is convinced that he will one day leave the prison. There are two ways that can happen. He can either be freed to continue to share the gospel or he could die and gain community with the God he loves. Either option is fine with Paul. Either the story of God is proclaimed further and longer or he gets to finally be with the author of creation. The priority for Paul though is not to get out of prison but to continue sharing the story of God. Paul makes these priorities know to those around him and those reading his letter. Outsiders know what he values and he sticks to those values. 

If a friend, or stranger, looked at your life what would they say are your priorities?

​God has given each of us a place. For some it is school, others have a specific roommate, some have a job in a specific field, still, others may be stay at home parents. No matter the situation God has placed you in your area for a reason and for a purpose. Paul was placed in prison for a reason and he mentions that his imprisonment allowed the imperial guards to hear of God. 

Beyond the simple and easy answer (to share the gospel), why do you think God has put you where he has?
Who are the people you are supposed to reach out to? Why does it make sense for you to be that person

​Finally, Paul speaks of his situation. He speaks to honoring and glorifying Christ throughout the entire situation. His prison time, maybe death, and his life leading up to those points can be and are used to bring glory to God. His entire life and perspective show that his priorities are not from selfish ambition or manipulation of others. Paul’s only goal both in life and death is to seek God and make him known. 

Think again about the situations God has placed you in. Where do you find yourself afraid to share him?
​What areas of your life are you unwilling to give up to God? What does this reveal about your priorities in the situation

Welcoming the Future Church is a book by Jonathan "JP" Pokluda. It is published by Baker Books in 2020. This book was offered to me for review all thoughts are my own.  

​Tomorrow's church is out there, waiting for you to care, to reach out, to understand their struggles, and to show them why today's church needs, wants, and cherishes them. Yet many churches have no idea how to attract and retain younger generations. In this paradigm-shifting book, Jonathan "JP" Pokluda shows you how, encouraging and equipping you to: be real, teach the whole truth, hold traditions loosely, find young leaders, give the ministry away, and so much more. If you want your church to have a future, you have to be actively reaching the future church.

​JP Pokluda has a lot of great insight into early adulthood. He writes with knowledge and experience. Welcoming the Future Church uses that knowledge to discuss how the church can better reach, teach, and keep millennials. The title of the book is used to grab attention. Churches are looking to gain younger ages and a title/premise that gives information on how to do that sells copies. This book, however, has more than just wisdom into a younger demographic. JP speaks to being real as a leader, knowing who you are, not copying other leaders, how to lead other leaders, how to build teams, and cast vision. These themes are simple but profound and they transcend age demographics.

Purchase: Welcoming the Future Church
Read my review of another book by JP (*Welcome to Adulting). 

As I write this we are currently in a quarantine. We are told not to congregate in public, limit grocery store trips, no church meeting unless online, no concerts or sports. We are limited in what we can do. This has cause people in Michigan to protest and has caused many people to post their frustrations online. If we read Philippians we see that Paul is in a similar position (I’d argue worse). Paul is writing a letter from prison. These words from Paul and our similar circumstances should teach us something about God, ourselves, and others. 
 
Take a few minutes to read Philippians 1:1-11.

In verse six Paul displays a lot of confidence. This confidence isn’t in the Philippian people or their power but is founded in God. God began a good work and will continue the work he started. This confidence from Paul doesn’t just apply to the Philippian church. We can know that God is in control despite the circumstances. God has never failed to complete his promises and we can be confident he won’t give up now. 

​Paul is in a prison. His rights are stripped from him and he is unable to go to the store or see his friends face to face but Paul has a positive outlook. He is confident in God. He is showing positivity despite his circumstances. The reason for Paul’s positive perspective is because of his knowledge in Jesus. He is able to see his life in a new light. It isn’t found in the understanding of the world but in trusting God. 

​As we think about our actions we must also think about how they affect others. In the case of this quarantine staying home increases the odds that someone else may stay safe. If we think about other people, the things we are giving up don’t seem so harsh. A person’s life is more important than buying flowers or riding boats. We should strive to lives Paul’s prayer in verse nine. Let our love abound more and more. 

Lastly on the issue of quarantine let this time be one of rest. Take a Sabbath that this nation desperately avoids. During this quarantine find your priorities. What is truly important now and what is worth leaving behind when things eventually revert to the “normal” way of life? 

As always remember to share the story. ​

​This past week I received an email from my seminary. The seminary had to make the choice to cancel all in-person classes and events. For those graduating it means no celebration dinner and, unless rescheduled, no ceremony. The undergrad side of the college was given only days to pack up their entire dorm room and move home. In the past few days, we have seen schools, businesses, restaurants, sporting events, concerts, and general living all brought to a halt. The reason is a virus. We are all asked to take precautions to, hopefully, slow the spread of a disease. This virus has caused people to enter a fearful state. They have begun to panic buy essential items. For some, this virus may feel like not much has changed and for others, life has been completely turned upside down. Whether we are fearful of the virus, have had to readjust to a new lifestyle, or are pretending nothing is wrong there is a question we have to ask. Where is our faith? 

​In Luke 8:22-25 there is a story of Jesus and his disciples on a boat. Some of the disciples had been professional fishermen so a boat was nothing new for them. They could handle rough waters, know how to plan for the weather, and find the best spots for fishing. On this trip, they were just planning to go across the lake. While they were on the trip Jesus fell asleep. During his nap, a storm arose on the lake. The wind had come and the boat began to fill with water. These pro fishermen ran to wake Jesus up. They were panicking. In their fear, they began telling Jesus that they were perishing. Jesus woke up spoke to the wind and the waves and the waters were immediately calmed. Jesus looked to his disciples and asked them, “where is your faith?”
 
The disciples had training on the water and they had Jesus on the boat with them and they still were afraid.  We don’t have the training to deal with this virus, but we do know that God is close. In this time of unknowns and fear, we can take comfort knowing that God is in control. Our God is the God of the storm. He is the God of peace and not of fear. When our lives are filled with panic and fear we can lose sight of God. We must choose to have faith in God or trust in our own fear. The question Jesus gave his disciples is the same question we must answer today. Where is your faith?

If you don’t follow along through social media you might have missed the announcement of reading through the Bible together. The goal is to read through the entire Bible together in one year. The reading takes place through the Bible app. It is a free app that you can download today.  It’s not too late to start reading together. You can join along and read the story here.
 
If we haven’t met I’m Brandyn Jaymes. I’m a husband, a seminary student, a youth pastor, and I have an awesome beard. This page is dedicated to sharing the story of God through teaching, conversation, and authenticity. Since we will be reading through the Bible this year this post is going to be looking at what the full story of the Bible is. It is not just words on a page but the very word of God and these words tell a story. 

​If you didn’t grow up in church or didn’t have a religious family, then the Bible may seem like just a book. Maybe your only reference to the Bible is through music, movies, or the random book you find in the drawer at hotels. The Bible though is more than that. It is a book that tells a story. A story that we are a part of. 

​The story has four main parts. There is the creation of the world. God, who is eternal, spoke the world into being. This can be seen in the first few pages of the Bible in a book called Genesis. One of the created things was humankind. God created humanity and gave humanity free will. God spoke to the humans and said that they had one rule and if broken death would ensue. Well if you know how stories go then you probably guessed that conflict is the next piece of the story. Mankind did the exact thing God said not to do. Through this disobedience, humanity fell. 

​Humanity’s fall left then entire world broken. There was a separation between God and his creation. You may think it’s not fair that God would punish all people for the mistakes of a few, but this fall doesn’t end. We see the fall intensify in the children of the first humans. A set of brothers, Cain and Abel, fight and Cain murders his brother able. As you read through the Bible you will continue to see examples of humanity continuing to fall. You can even see the fall in your own life. Selfishness, greed, hatred, gossip, and so many other everyday actions are ways we participate in the fall. Though we all fall God refuses to let separation be the final outcome. God has a plan. 

​Through, what is known as, the Old Testament we read of God choosing a nation to call his own. This nation would be the people who he used and worked through to end the separation. He was going to save humanity from the repercussions of the fall. He promises a family that they will have an heir and that one day their family will be so large that it will outnumber the stars. That family ends up being the nation of Israel. Israel ends up in slavery but God leads them out. He gives them instructions on how to live and survive as a people. He provides everything for them, but the people want their own way. 

​Jesus’ birth meant God’s promise was true. Salvation had come to the world. Salvation had come through God himself. Jesus was both fully God and fully man. The Bible tells of the life of Jesus in the Gospels. We see Jesus perform miracles, he heals the blind, raises the dead, and lives a life completely free from the fall. Jesus leads for a short time and eventually is put to death. He committed no crimes but his death was part of the plan. Jesus took the punishment from the fall on himself. He truly brought salvation. Three days after his death Jesus rose from the dead. Salvation now is believing the message of Jesus, accepting his death as salvation, and attempting to follow his example and live free from the fall. This part of the story is known as redemption.

​After Jesus rose from the dead the church started. The early church sought to proclaim God to all people. The church started with the people who followed Jesus while he walked the earth and it continues with each person who follows Jesus as their restoration today. The church has hope just as the nation of Israel did. The world may seem bleak and the effects of the fall may seem to be overpowering but our God is still the one with a plan. Jesus will return to establish his unending kingdom. A kingdom where we are fully connected with God again. 

This is a brief overview of the story. It is a story that offers hope to every person who puts their trust in the God who is able to save. It is a story that shows a God who refuses to let his creation perish. It is a story of hope for life, hope for others, and hope for the future. To share the story is to embrace this hope in our own lives and offer this hope to others. #sharethestory

This past year I have been posting (almost) every Monday at noon. Making and scheduling a new post has taught me a few things. Below are just a few. ​

​As we enter the new year I pray that our goals both individually and as a community seek to grow closer with God and with others.