How do you respond when things get tough? Do you try to change things by brute force, or do you seek God and trust Him to intervene? As the nation of Israel wrestled with what was going to happen after Samuel died, they took matters into their own hands. Trusting God when we feel we could fix matters ourselves takes a willingness to die to our own wants and desires. Our reactions to challenges and challenging people send a clear message to the world around us about how much we trust in God. In today's message, Pastor Mark will exhort us to trust and look to God in our challenges and not look to ourselves.

How do you respond when things get tough? Do you try to change things by brute force, or do you seek God and trust Him to intervene? As the nation of Israel wrestled with what was going to happen after Samuel died, they took matters into their own hands. Trusting God when we feel we could fix matters ourselves takes a willingness to die to our own wants and desires. Our reactions to challenges and challenging people send a clear message to the world around us about how much we trust in God. In today's message, Pastor Mark will exhort us to trust and look to God in our challenges and not look to ourselves.

Twenty five years passed between the end of 1 Samuel 7 and the beginning of 1 Samuel 8. We are introduced to a much older Samuel, coming to terms with the challenges of preparing the nation for the end of his ministry. He had been faithful for many years, but his sons were not up to the task of spiritual leadership and the people knew it. Seasons of change and transition can be very hard for most of us; but God has shown through His word how we can process them ourselves, and how we can prepare the next generation to serve God faithfully. In today's message, Pastor Mark will teach us how to prepare for seasons of change.

Twenty five years passed between the end of 1 Samuel 7 and the beginning of 1 Samuel 8. We are introduced to a much older Samuel, coming to terms with the challenges of preparing the nation for the end of his ministry. He had been faithful for many years, but his sons were not up to the task of spiritual leadership and the people knew it. Seasons of change and transition can be very hard for most of us; but God has shown through His word how we can process them ourselves, and how we can prepare the next generation to serve God faithfully. In today's message, Pastor Mark will teach us how to prepare for seasons of change.

As the nation gathered to rededicate their lives to God, their enemies gathered around them to destroy them. It's important to recognize that doing the right thing will almost always encounter massive opposition. You will get attacked, persecuted, mocked, ridiculed and threatened. How do you respond when things get tougher for you just because you're trying to do the right thing? Samuel encouraged them to surrender to God completely and trust in God to deliver them from all their enemies. In today's message, Pastor Mark will prepare us for the struggle each one of us will encounter when we seek to get right with the Lord.

As the nation gathered to rededicate their lives to God, their enemies gathered around them to destroy them. It's important to recognize that doing the right thing will almost always encounter massive opposition. You will get attacked, persecuted, mocked, ridiculed and threatened. How do you respond when things get tougher for you just because you're trying to do the right thing? Samuel encouraged them to surrender to God completely and trust in God to deliver them from all their enemies. In today's message, Pastor Mark will prepare us for the struggle each one of us will encounter when we seek to get right with the Lord.

In 1 Samuel 7, the people of God had been brought together around the ark of the covenant by Samuel. He reminded them that though they were defeated, it their own sins had gotten them to this point and that God was willing to receive them if they were willing to turn away from their worship of idols. After laying the foundation for restoration, the prophet Samuel carefully led the people through what needed to take place in their lives if they wanted to get serious with God. In today's message, Pastor Mark will guide us towards restoration along the same path: Put God first; get rid of any idols in your life and serve God alone.

In 1 Samuel 7, the people of God had been brought together around the ark of the covenant by Samuel. He reminded them that though they were defeated, it their own sins had gotten them to this point and that God was willing to receive them if they were willing to turn away from their worship of idols. After laying the foundation for restoration, the prophet Samuel carefully led the people through what needed to take place in their lives if they wanted to get serious with God. In today's message, Pastor Mark will guide us towards restoration along the same path: Put God first; get rid of any idols in your life and serve God alone.

The nature of the relationship that God desires for us to have with Him runs deeper than our daily experiences. He wants us to be established, stable and settled in His love for us, even when everything around us seems to be falling apart. As the children of Israel welcomed the ark of the covenant back into the nation, Samuel brings them together to call upon them to seek the Lord. He reminds them of God's commandments, of their disobedience and of God's willingness to forgive them if they truly repent of their sins. In today's message, Pastor Mark will remind us that the same is true of us. Surrender your life completely to God today!

The nature of the relationship that God desires for us to have with Him runs deeper than our daily experiences. He wants us to be established, stable and settled in His love for us, even when everything around us seems to be falling apart. As the children of Israel welcomed the ark of the covenant back into the nation, Samuel brings them together to call upon them to seek the Lord. He reminds them of God's commandments, of their disobedience and of God's willingness to forgive them if they truly repent of their sins. In today's message, Pastor Mark will remind us that the same is true of us. Surrender your life completely to God today!