Safe and Secure
“Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion. It cannot be shaken; it remains forever.” (Psalm 125:1, CSB) When the psalmist says that those who trust in the Lord can’t be shaken or moved, is he describing you? I want to be a picture of an immovable rock. But the truth of the […]
Your Rod and Staff Comfort Me
“Even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for you are with me; your rod and your staff—they comfort me.” (Psalm 23:4) That’s one of the most famous lines from one of the most famous Psalms (we’ll be studying it this Sunday). In this scary and dangerous time…as we navigate “the […]
Don’t Quit!
“Since my youth they have often attacked me— let Israel say—…but they have not prevailed against me. The Lord is righteous; he has cut the ropes of the wicked.” (Psalm 129:1, 2, 4) I think the cornerstone of Psalm 129 is that phrase: “The Lord is righteous.” The psalmist makes that claim in giving the […]
We are Filled with Joy
“Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.” (Psalm 126:2–3, NIV84) I was a missionary for years before starting New Life Church. […]
Where will my help come from?
“I lift my eyes toward the mountains. Where will my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” (Psalm 121:1–2, CSB) Life can be a bit scary, can’t it? Think about all the unknowns…about how many things are out of our control. Think of all the might happens. […]
Like a Tree
“He is like a tree planted beside flowing streams that bears its fruit in its season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.” (Psalm 1:3, CSB) The Psalmist is talking about the happy, or blessed, person and uses this beautiful word picture to describe them. How can we be blessed and prosperous? […]
Holy Week
It’s been a strange year, hasn’t it? February had 28 days and March had like 350 days. April may be even longer! With so many schedule changes, I often don’t know what day of the week it is. So, public service announcement: It is Wednesday. But not just any Wednesday…it’s Wednesday of Holy Week. Last […]
Week of Thanksgiving
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” (Philippians 4:6) This is one of my favorite verses in one of my favorite passages of Scripture…and probably never more relevant than today! We are all learning a new vocabulary, aren’t we? COVID-19, Corona Virus, […]
Be Perfekt
“Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48, CSB) There are some folks out there that will tell you: “Jesus was a great moral teacher who came to show us how to treat each other better. All we need from Jesus is his Sermon on the Mount.” While I agree that Jesus […]
Blessed are Those Who Mourn?
““Blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” (Matthew 5:3–4, CSB) We often read Jesus’ famous Beatitudes as virtues for which we should strive. But is it good to be spiritually impoverished? Is it good to mourn? Maybe we’re reading […]
“When he saw the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to teach them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.” (Matthew 5:1–3, CSB) In ancient times, mountains were often considered holy places, where heaven […]
Love is the Answer
“But you, dear friends…” (Jude 20, CSB) That’s how Jude begins the final section of his short letter. Sometimes the most important words are the smallest and seemingly inconsequential. Imagine a scenario in which I tell my wife, “Babe, you’re beautiful, but…” I’d never say this, of course! She’d miss the fact that I called […]
