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6 episodes with psalmists
6 episodes with psalmists
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4 episodes with psalmists
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2 episodes with psalmists
Psalm 119:35 says, “Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight.” Did you know that the word for direct in this verse means to bend like an archers bow? It also means to tread, lead, march and make me or cause me to walk in the plans and on the path you, God, have for me. The Psalmists is asking for specific guidance to live a life that aligns with God's heart and will. Continue with me during this 8-week series on Psalm 119:33-40. Each week I will teach verse by verse and break down their meaning. Psalm 119 is the longest Psalm. It's a hymn of praise and appreciation for God's instruction. God not only gave His people land, but He gave them His blueprint, the Torah for living. Each section in Psalm 119 coincides with a Hebrew letter and highlights attributes of God's instructions to His people. All of Psalm 119 is an acrostic poem that moves through each letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Psalm 119:33-40 go with the Hebrew letter ה He and the number 5. Which also corresponds to this year of 2025 or the Hebrew year 5785.
Psalm 79 Worksheet Psalm 79 is a ________________________ lament after an enemy incursion along with imprecatory prayers for the enemy to get what's coming to them. Lament over ___________________________ in Jerusalem V. 1-4 This sure seems to fit with what Babylon did to Jerusalem in 586 B.C. 2 Kings 25:8-21 What prophet wrote a book to describe his anguish after Babylon destroyed Jerusalem? And what's the name of the book? In verse 4, the Psalm begins to turn toward imprecatory prayer. Obadiah For the day of the LORD upon all the nations is near; As you have done, so it will be done to you; Your reprisal shall return upon your own head. -Obadiah 15 The Psalmist prays the ____________________ will get what's coming to them V. 5-7 Verse 5 is one of _____________ times in the Psalms the Psalmists cries out to God, asking “How long?” The Hebrew words are Ma Ad, which looks like our English word ‘mad.' God allows the Psalmist to cry out to Him in anguish about perplexing circumstances in their lives, even ones brought on by their own sin. Can you think of a place in the book of Revelation the words “How long?” appear? Revelation 6:10 Revelation 18:19-20 The Psalmist asks for forgiveness for God's _______________________ people V. 8-9 On what 4 grounds does the Psalmist ask for forgiveness in verses 8-9? 1 John 1:9 The Psalmist mixes the prayers for judgment to the unrepentant and mercy to the repentant V. 10-12 Verse 11 is a great verse for those of us trying to save unborn babies from ______________________. The Psalmist ends with ____________________ to praise God V. 13 The Psalmist declares in verse 13 that God's ____________________ people will once again give thanks and praise God. Habakkuk 3 :17-19 Lamentations 3:19-40
Our Jan 19 Sunday gathering is canceled due to an impending winter storm. Here's a quick Look at the Psalms from Alex. Exploring Doubt in the Psalms Reflecting on Doubt: Many Psalms, such as Psalm 13 or Psalm 22, express raw feelings of doubt and despair. How do these Psalms resonate with your own experiences of questioning or uncertainty in faith? The Honesty of the Psalms: Why do you think the Psalmists were so open about their struggles, doubts, and even anger toward God? What does this tell us about the nature of faith? God's Response to Doubt: How does the Psalmist in passages like Psalm 34:18 ("The Lord is close to the brokenhearted") convey God's presence even in times of doubt? The Role of Lament: How do the lament Psalms (e.g., Psalm 42-43) demonstrate that expressing doubt can be an act of faith rather than a sign of weakness?
With the new year, we begin a new sermon series focusing on Scripture-fed, Spirit-led, worship-based prayer. Psalm 1 describes a blessed life, and it's not about health and wealth. Rather than simply asking God to bless us, there's a better way we can learn to pray.
With the new year, we begin a new sermon series focusing on Scripture-fed, Spirit-led, worship-based prayer. Psalm 1 describes a blessed life, and it's not about health and wealth. Rather than simply asking God to bless us, there's a better way we can learn to pray.
In this episode we will discuss what the Bible teaches us about how we should approach God in prayer. We will consider the following: How our life of prayer needs to be an expression of our love for God How we approach God in prayer reveals the very heart of our admiration, devotion and love to God Examples of prayers in the Bible (Moses, Daniel, David, Apostles and Psalmists) biblequestions.org
God is a rock- unmoving, stable, secure, a shelter, a refuge, a place of stability and safety. Not a mountain far off in the distance, looming and unreachable or unscalable. But a place of power available to every one of us. Over and over again, the Psalmists in the Old Testament, cry out to God. And they say, My God, my rock, will you help me? You are the ONE I take refuge in. And Jesus says, Build your life on me, your rock. Dig your foundation deep into me. Because, when the floods and storms and troubles of life come, I will stand. Always remember there is hope with God. This is Wendy Palau. "The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety." Psalm 18:2 radio.hopewithgod.com Find out more at https://hopewithgod.pinecast.co This podcast is powered by Pinecast.
Why do we give thanks? There are physical and emotional health reasons as to why we ought to give thanks. Those are great, but are they the only reasons why we should be thankful? Join us as we learn why the Psalmists says we give thanks.
With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. (Psalms 119:10)1/ The Psalmists testimony - With my whole heart have I sought thee . - The seeker . - The one sought . - The manner of seeking .2/ The Psalmists petition - O let me not wander from thy commandments .
Psalm 71 Worksheet This is one of the 32 Psalms without any information before the Psalm. Interestingly, it is the ____________ Psalm like that in Book 2. As we read this Psalm, look for the Psalmist speak of trusting God at different ages in his life. Read Psalm 71 Based on what we just read, what age of life was the Psalmist when he wrote this Psalm? The Psalmist prays for deliverance from ____________________ troubles and enemies V. 1-4 Notice in verse 1 the Psalmist declares that his _______________________ is in the Lord. Then He asks for God to intervene in his current troubles. I like how verse 3 is stated – God is a strong refuge we can resort to continually. Even when there is not a place of safe refuge, God is to us a _________________________ of safe refuge – our Rock and our Fortress. The good news is that a lot of the ________________________ we made when younger were based on relying too much on what we could do physically or mentally. As we age we hopefully learn like the Psalmist to trust more in the Lord. The Psalmist reminds himself of God's __________________________ since conception, and commits himself to praise God no matter how he feels V. 5-8 The Psalmist realizes that God was sustaining him even before he learned to trust God, even when he was a _________________________ newborn. Now that his physical strength is failing, he is asking God to continue to sustain him so he can continue to praise Him. What is the Psalmists desire in verse 8 as an older man with many difficulties? To praise and glorify the Lord __________________________ each day! The Psalmist again prays for deliverance from troubles and enemies V. 9-13 The Psalmist knows he needs God's help as he ages. Perhaps he is also going through the inevitable __________________________ crisis that goes with not being able to do all that he used to, and wondering how he is going to make it. A lot of what is said here in verses 10-11 makes me think of King David's experiences. I also think of the Rabshakeh's arrogance on behalf of Assyrian king Sennacherib against Judah and King Hezekiah that we read about during the times of the Kings and repeated in Isaiah 36-39. The Psalmist re-commits himself to praise God no matter what he faces and expresses hope to __________________________ to the next generation V. 14-18 I have always loved the exuberance of young people when they excitedly praise the Lord. But there is something so special when we hear ________________________ praise from those who have been through life's ups and downs! Oh the Psalmist is just getting started! Note his commitment going all the way back to his youth to take what he has ____________________________ and declare it to others (2 Timothy 2:1-2). We see here in verse 18 the Psalmist lived with a sense of _____________________ we should have – to continually tell those coming after us about God's power to save and sustain! < The Psalmist expresses confidence of ______________________ life with God V. 19-21 Life doesn't begin at birth and it doesn't __________________ at death. Life begins at conception and goes on forever after this life in either Heaven or Hell. “Since the Psalmist has described his life from youth to old age, what other deliverance could he anticipate except resurrection from the dead.” -Robert L. Alden The Psalmist makes a ____________________ commitment to praise the Lord V. 22-24 Note the Psalm begin with the prayer that the godly Psalmist would not be put to shame, and ends with the knowledge that ultimately the ungodly who have acted to hurt the godly will be put to ________________________.
Click here to get a 25% discount on the Dwell Bible App. Today's conversation on Back Porch Theology is a vulnerable one y'all because we're tiptoeing into the theology of tears. Crying used to make me uncomfortable. There was so much anger and chaos and sadness in my early childhood before my parents divorced that I subconsciously began using my blanket as a mini cape and tried to be Little Miss Sunshine. The way I figured it, my poor Mom and Dad already had their hands full of so much hard stuff they needed a daughter who was a self-sufficient smiler, not some needy crybaby. I was well into adulthood before I finally understood that my childish conviction that sad equals bad was way off base. Because sincere tears are God's gift to express emotion where words fail. Those tiny rivers of salt coursing down our cheeks can help wash the debris of spent sorrow from our weary souls. They can even carry big balloon bouquets of sheer joy. And biblical narrative is quite literally soaked with tears. Ruth wept after her husband died and at the idea of being separated from her mother-in-law Naomi, Hannah wept because she was brokenhearted over her infertility, of course Job cried out to God over the death of his children and employees, along with the catastrophic loss of his health and wealth, Jeremiah wept so often over how the Israelites had forsaken the unconditional love of God and were foolishly looking for love in all the wrong places that he became known as the “weeping prophet,” the Psalmists were nothing if not emotionally vulnerable and the Sons of Korah – who were ancient worship leaders – even exclaimed that tears had become their food, Peter wept bitterly when he realized Jesus was right the night before when He soberly declared Pete would betray Him three times before the rooster crowed the following morning, an unnamed woman in the Gospels was so overwhelmed by the kindness and accessibility of Jesus that she washed His feet with her tears, and our Savior himself shed tears during His earthly life and ministry. One of my favorite writers Charlotte Bronte put it this way, “I believe while I tremble, I trust while I weep.” The bottom line is grief is not ungodly and is rather, biblically defensible as well as modeled by the Messiah Himself. We hope today's conversation might be the beginning of real healing for some of you precious saints who've been bottling up your sorrow for far too long – likely with good intentions, or at the very least the goal of not being a burden to anyone else. So please grab your favorite beverage, your Bible and maybe a box of tissues and then scooch your chair right up next to ours on this big, ol' porch where you don't have to pretend like you're okay when you're not.
Listen to my words, Lord, consider my lament. Hear my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray. … For you are not a God who is pleased with wickedness; with you, evil people are not welcome. … Lead me, Lord, in your righteousness because of my enemies—make your way straight before me. Not a word from their mouth can be trusted; their heart is filled with malice. Their throat is an open grave; with their tongues they tell lies. Declare them guilty, O God! Let their intrigues be their downfall. Banish them for their many sins, for they have rebelled against you. But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you. (Psalm 5:1-2,4,8-11) Psalm 5 explicitly introduces us to a new form of prayer: lament. It's already showed up in the Psalter starting at Psalm 3, but Psalm 5 explicitly uses the word, and so today is a good time to remind ourselves about what it means to lament to God. Often in the face of evil: whether it's come through events or people, we will opt to do something about it ourselves. Our fight or flight response is activated and so we'll strive to overcome the evil or perhaps seek to run away from it or ignore it. But whichever response we use, it does not always occur to us to invoke God's name as part of our response. The mindset of the Psalms and Psalmists is different. In the face of evil and enemies, the first inclination of the Psalms is to come to God. And as people of faith, this is a good inclination to embody in our own lives. Lament helps us to do that by forming us in three core habits. You may remember them from our sermon series on lament that had begun just before our first COVID lockdown. Firstly, the prayer of lament takes God seriously, as here. David declares God to be his God and also his King. David believes in his God and King, and reminds God of who he is: a God who is not pleased with wickedness nor welcoming of wicked people. Secondly, the prayer of lament takes the evil of this world seriously. David has enemies and faces evil—people who lie and betray trust. But rather than taking matters into his own hands or fleeing away from the evil around him, David turns the situation over to God. Taking God and evil seriously means that the presence of evil in this world is firstly God's problem and is a problem rightly submitted to God. God has said that wickedness has no place in his kingdom: so David appeals to God—“declare them guilty, O God!” Finally, the prayer of lament is a prayer of submission to God. We don't only turn the evil of our world over to God, but also ourselves. We don't set ourselves up as a judge over God when we see evil in the world, instead we submit to him as the rightful ruler. This finally is where the Psalm ends: “let all who take refuge in you be glad.” So, when you feel pressed by fear, pain, enemies, or the overwhelming crush of evil in this world: do something about it. Lament. Take God and the evil you face seriously enough to pray, shout, and cry about it before God. Then rest in submission to this God to whom you've come for refuge. As you journey on, go with the blessing of God: May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you : wherever he may send you. May he guide you through the wilderness : protect you through the storm. May he bring you home rejoicing : at the wonders he has shown you. May he bring you home rejoicing : once again into our doors.
Psalm 111 is a Psalm of praise that focuses on the works of the Lord and His enduring faithfulness. It is a part of the “Hallelujah Psalms” (Psalms 111-113) and is written in an acrostic pattern, where each line begins with successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet. This structure underscores the completeness and orderliness of God's works and attributes. Overview Verses 1-2: The Psalms begins with an invitation to praise the Lord, “I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation.” This opening sets the tone for a communal act of worship, where the psalmist expresses deep gratitude to God among other believers. The Psalmists emphasizes the greatness of God's works, stating that they are “studied by all who delight in them.” This suggests that God's deeds are not only remarkable but also worthy of contemplation and reflection by those who seek to understand Him more deeply. Verses 3-4: These verses highlight the attributes of God and His deeds, describing them as “full of splendor and majesty” and “righteousness endures forever.” The enduring nature of God's righteousness speaks to His unchanging character and moral perfection. The psalmist also notes that God has caused His wondrous works to be remembered, implying that His actions are so significant that they leave a lasting impact. The description of the Lord as “gracious and merciful” reflects His kindness and compassion toward His people. Verses 5-6: The focus shifts to God's provision and faithfulness. The psalmist acknowledges that God provides food for those who fear Him, and He remembers His covenant forever. This reflects God's role as a sustainer and His commitment to His people. The psalmist also mentions that God has shown His people the power of His works by giving them the inheritance of the nations. This likely refers to God's acts in history, such as the deliverance of Israel from Egypt and the conquest of the Promised Land, which demonstrated His power and faithfulness. Verses 7-8: The psalmist emphasizes the reliability and justice of God's actions, stating, “The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy.” This affirms that everything God does is right and just, and His commandments can be trusted. The enduring nature of His precepts, “established forever and ever,” highlights their permanence and the lasting nature of God's truth and guidance. Verses 9-10: The psalm concludes with a declaration of God's redemption and the eternal nature of His covenant. The psalmist praises God for sending redemption to His people and for His holy and awesome name. The final verse, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding,” connects the fear of the Lord with wisdom, suggesting that true understanding and knowledge start with reverence for God. The psalm ends on a note of eternal praise, stating, “His praise endures forever.” Key Themes 1.God's Faithfulness and Covenant: The psalm repeatedly highlights God's faithfulness, especially in relation to His covenant with His people. The unchanging nature of God's promises is a source of comfort and assurance. 2.The Greatness of God's Works: The psalmist emphasizes the greatness and majesty of God's works, encouraging believers to study and reflect on them. God's deeds are not only acts of power but also of justice, mercy, and provision. 3.Wisdom and the Fear of the Lord: The psalm underscores the connection between wisdom and the fear of the Lord. Reverence for God is portrayed as the foundation of true wisdom and understanding, guiding believers in living righteous lives. 4.Communal Praise: The psalm is a call to collective worship, inviting the congregation to join in praising God for His mighty deeds and righteous character. It reflects the importance of communal acknowledgment of God's greatness. Conclusion Psalm 111 is a rich expression of praise, focusing on the greatness, faithfulness, and righteousness of God. It invites believers to reflect on God's works, which are marked by splendor, justice, and mercy. The psalmist's call to praise is rooted in the recognition of God's unchanging nature and His enduring covenant with His people. By linking the fear of the Lord with wisdom, the psalm provides a profound insight into the foundation of a life lived in reverence to God. Through its acrostic structure and content, Psalm 111 serves as a beautiful reminder of the completeness and reliability of God's character and deeds.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/sendme-radio--732966/support.
Psalm 108 is a song of David, composed of parts of two other Psalms (Psalm 57:7-11 and Psalm 60:5-12). It is a Psalms of praise and prayer, expressing confidence in God's help and victory over enemies. Here's an outline of its meaning according to the Holy Bible: 1.Verses 1-5: The Psalmist begins by declaring his steadfast heart and his intent to praise God with music and song. He calls on his soul, and even musical instruments, to awaken and praise God among the nations. The Psalmists emphasises God's unfailing love and faithfulness, which extend to the heavens. The main focus is on glorifying God and recognizing His greatness over all the earth. 2.Verses 6-9: The Psalmist appeals to God to save His people, acknowledging God's promises and His authority over the nations. This section references God's sovereignty and His control over the territories of Israel's enemies, expressing confidence that God will give victory to His people. 3.Verses 10-13: David expresses trust in God for victory in battle, recognizing that human efforts alone are insufficient (“vain is the help of man”). He concludes with a declaration of faith that, with God's help, they will triumph over their adversaries. Conclusion: Psalm 108 is a combination of praise and a plea for help, reflecting confidence in God's power and faithfulness. The Psalmist emphasizes God's sovereignty, His covenant with His people, and the assurance of victory over their enemies through divine assistance. It serves as a reminder of the importance of relying on God rather than human strength and the significance of giving Him glory in all circumstances.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/sendme-radio--732966/support.
ARTIST STATEMENT:Bre DownerThe Process:I really wanted to paint the skies that I've worshiped under so many times, and a specific moment came to me immediately. I remember watching the sun descend and was in awe of the magnitude of the cumulus clouds. Their colors all mixed almost like a liquid, the golds and oranges....they completely overwhelmed me with a deep sense of awe. As the sun set, the warmth of the colors reminded me of God's nearness, and the deep purples and blues reminded me of his power. This awe is something I wanted to capture. The use of gold leaf was two fold. I wanted the painting to play with illumination and light. Gold is naturally reflective and brightens the tones around it. Thus allowing for a contrast that I find visually rewarding. It also allows for personal reflection on the words of the Psalmists regarding the commandments of the Lord. I feel painting with oil over gold leaf allows God's creation to showcase its beauty and gives us a moment to pause and reflect upon the work of the Lord's hands. How worthy is he to be praised? The Vision In this Psalm of David we learn of different ways the Lord declares himself to his creation and the invitations and warnings he gives us to receive his grace. The first invitation is to look up to the heavens (vs 1-6). They are constantly pouring forth speech and proclaiming his splendor and also his nearness! Accept the invitation to see the salvation of our God. The second invitation is to look down into God's word (vs. 7-11) and be humbled all the same. The declaration of God's glory is across every page. It illuminates hearts the way the sun illuminates the sky, enlightening the eye and soul. As Martin Luther so beautifully stated when talking about Psalm 19, “My conscience has become captive to the word.” It is not enough to just stand in awe of the heavens, we must then accept the invitation the Psalmist gives, and take the warning and gift graciously given to submit to the creator of heaven and earth. How kind is God to allow his creation to proclaim his grace and also his word to shout with even greater clarity the grace we have through Christ? Both sing the same song. Both sing his praises. Both declare the steadfast love of the bridegroom in greater revelation. Just like the sun rises and sets with endurance, so Christ, our bridegroom, mercifully reveals his warmth and love to seeking souls. I pray we receive this invitation and warning. Look inward (vs. 12-14), repent, allow the Lord to cleanse you of sins you see and also sins you are unaware of, then receive the blood of Jesus over your life, which covers a multitude of sins. ARTIST STATEMENT:Tami BolteThe Heavens are evidence of God's existence and Power, His Love and care. God reveals Himself through nature to man, which He also omnipotently created. How can one look up at the stars, the moon and the galaxies and not be humbled at the sheer majesty of our Creator? His vast knowledge and creativity leave you speechless yet so thankful for showing us a glimpse of ALL Yahweh is, The splendor of His glory. It's hard to fathom that our Lord created the Heavens above, and gives each of us and our senses, such delight, without saying a word! Yet, NO ONE is exempt from enjoying and drawing closer to knowing and believing in God personally! It is this high view of God, the moon, stars, the skies, that was significant in my own journey to knowing Him personally. God used glow of a full moon to draw my heart to Him as a 17-year-old at a summer church camp. I wasn't a Christian but was drawn to God's people, something I had not desired before. Three weeks earlier, I had been stood up for my junior prom and was told "I was not WORTH talking” by my boyfriend. All I heard was... YOU ARE NOT WORTH MUCH. Now, three weeks later, I came to camp with my best friend, and let her wear my new Senior class ring I had just saved and bought. She lost it during camp. But instead of being angry, I felt peace I couldn't explain! Campfire had ended on the last night of camp, and I heard of God's love for ME! John 3:16 was shared and my heart understood that Jesus died for ME, my sins. As I walked down the hill, in the bright blue moonlight, I noticed a sparkle SO bright in the tall grass. I reached down to see it and it was my Senior ring!!In my heart I heard, "My Love for you is SO MUCH MORE THAN A RING! Follow Me!” God valued my life! He had drawn me to this moment and valued me! By looking up into that sky, He drew my heart into realizing, the Creator of the Universe had been waiting for me to see a high view of Him and the piece of me I had been searching for that only HE could fill! My life has never been the same. Without saying a word, HE said SO much about His love, grace and mercy to me that I don't deserve. His word truly IS more precious than gold! I chose to paint the vast starry sky with an eclipse of the moon. His light shining through the darkness—-just as it had changed my dark heart with HIS light and mercy. Huntsville has experienced the display of his glory lately in so many amazing ways: The Northern lights, solar and lunar eclipses and the brilliant views of the stars, I wanted them all to be displayed. My painting incorporates acrylics and gold leaf and it you look closely... you can see His Name written in the stars. I am humbled and eternally grateful for this opportunity. Look up! Be still! and listen for His whisper! O LORD, how majestic is Your Name in all the earth!
ARTIST STATEMENT:Bre DownerThe Process:I really wanted to paint the skies that I've worshiped under so many times, and a specific moment came to me immediately. I remember watching the sun descend and was in awe of the magnitude of the cumulus clouds. Their colors all mixed almost like a liquid, the golds and oranges....they completely overwhelmed me with a deep sense of awe. As the sun set, the warmth of the colors reminded me of God's nearness, and the deep purples and blues reminded me of his power. This awe is something I wanted to capture. The use of gold leaf was two fold. I wanted the painting to play with illumination and light. Gold is naturally reflective and brightens the tones around it. Thus allowing for a contrast that I find visually rewarding. It also allows for personal reflection on the words of the Psalmists regarding the commandments of the Lord. I feel painting with oil over gold leaf allows God's creation to showcase its beauty and gives us a moment to pause and reflect upon the work of the Lord's hands. How worthy is he to be praised? The Vision In this Psalm of David we learn of different ways the Lord declares himself to his creation and the invitations and warnings he gives us to receive his grace. The first invitation is to look up to the heavens (vs 1-6). They are constantly pouring forth speech and proclaiming his splendor and also his nearness! Accept the invitation to see the salvation of our God. The second invitation is to look down into God's word (vs. 7-11) and be humbled all the same. The declaration of God's glory is across every page. It illuminates hearts the way the sun illuminates the sky, enlightening the eye and soul. As Martin Luther so beautifully stated when talking about Psalm 19, “My conscience has become captive to the word.” It is not enough to just stand in awe of the heavens, we must then accept the invitation the Psalmist gives, and take the warning and gift graciously given to submit to the creator of heaven and earth. How kind is God to allow his creation to proclaim his grace and also his word to shout with even greater clarity the grace we have through Christ? Both sing the same song. Both sing his praises. Both declare the steadfast love of the bridegroom in greater revelation. Just like the sun rises and sets with endurance, so Christ, our bridegroom, mercifully reveals his warmth and love to seeking souls. I pray we receive this invitation and warning. Look inward (vs. 12-14), repent, allow the Lord to cleanse you of sins you see and also sins you are unaware of, then receive the blood of Jesus over your life, which covers a multitude of sins. ARTIST STATEMENT:Tami BolteThe Heavens are evidence of God's existence and Power, His Love and care. God reveals Himself through nature to man, which He also omnipotently created. How can one look up at the stars, the moon and the galaxies and not be humbled at the sheer majesty of our Creator? His vast knowledge and creativity leave you speechless yet so thankful for showing us a glimpse of ALL Yahweh is, The splendor of His glory. It's hard to fathom that our Lord created the Heavens above, and gives each of us and our senses, such delight, without saying a word! Yet, NO ONE is exempt from enjoying and drawing closer to knowing and believing in God personally! It is this high view of God, the moon, stars, the skies, that was significant in my own journey to knowing Him personally. God used glow of a full moon to draw my heart to Him as a 17-year-old at a summer church camp. I wasn't a Christian but was drawn to God's people, something I had not desired before. Three weeks earlier, I had been stood up for my junior prom and was told "I was not WORTH talking” by my boyfriend. All I heard was... YOU ARE NOT WORTH MUCH. Now, three weeks later, I came to camp with my best friend, and let her wear my new Senior class ring I had just saved and bought. She lost it during camp. But instead of being angry, I felt peace I couldn't explain! Campfire had ended on the last night of camp, and I heard of God's love for ME! John 3:16 was shared and my heart understood that Jesus died for ME, my sins. As I walked down the hill, in the bright blue moonlight, I noticed a sparkle SO bright in the tall grass. I reached down to see it and it was my Senior ring!!In my heart I heard, "My Love for you is SO MUCH MORE THAN A RING! Follow Me!” God valued my life! He had drawn me to this moment and valued me! By looking up into that sky, He drew my heart into realizing, the Creator of the Universe had been waiting for me to see a high view of Him and the piece of me I had been searching for that only HE could fill! My life has never been the same. Without saying a word, HE said SO much about His love, grace and mercy to me that I don't deserve. His word truly IS more precious than gold! I chose to paint the vast starry sky with an eclipse of the moon. His light shining through the darkness—-just as it had changed my dark heart with HIS light and mercy. Huntsville has experienced the display of his glory lately in so many amazing ways: The Northern lights, solar and lunar eclipses and the brilliant views of the stars, I wanted them all to be displayed. My painting incorporates acrylics and gold leaf and it you look closely... you can see His Name written in the stars. I am humbled and eternally grateful for this opportunity. Look up! Be still! and listen for His whisper! O LORD, how majestic is Your Name in all the earth!
There is so much to unpack from the Psalmists. Professor David T. Lamb joins the show for a comprehensive study on the book of Psalms. He covers the different genres of Psalms, why so many of them are laments, why they're so popular, and reads through several of them and how we use them in our lives today. Faith Radio podcasts are made possible by your support. Give now: Click here This conversation originally took place on June 3, 2024
There is so much to unpack from the Psalmists. Professor David T. Lamb joins the show for a comprehensive study on the book of Psalms. He covers the different genres of Psalms, why so many of them are laments, why they're so popular, and reads through several of them and how we use them in our lives today. Faith Radio podcasts are made possible by your support. Give now: Click here
Throughout the Psalms we see a template for prayer that often doesn't come naturally. We often pray buttoned up prayers to God. We see the Psalmists pray open and honest prayers. How do we learn to be vulnerable with God in prayer?
Join Swoopes and Soups as we discuss joining the Lord in his patience, which is highlighted by the Psalmists.
Communication between people – I mean real, meaningful communication is becoming harder to come by. Technology lets us be more connected – but somehow we communicate less. With people, and with God… THE COMMUNICATION GAP Now this week on the programme we are starting a new series that I've called, “The Power of Prayer” – the power of having a conversation with God – a relationship, an intimate, delightful relationship. But you know, the more technology we seem get in our hands, the more connected we become. Way back when, the postal service was a major innovation, then came telephones and cars and then faxes and mobile phones and emails and these days my daughter communicates with her friends through websites like myspace.com. And the other thing you notice is, the more of this stuff we have available in our lives, the busier we become, the more options we have. So we cram pack our lives full of doing and stuff and stuff and stuff. And the incredible paradox of all this is that the more communication devices we have at our fingertips, the less we communicate. You know the sort of communication that happened when we went camping as kids or sat around a fire and just talked. Somehow we are so busy these days that that sort of comfortable, relationship building, affirming communication seems to have gone out the window, whether it's with other people or with God. This paradox is real; it's alive; it affects almost everybody. Somehow, technology and work and all the entertainment options that people have these days, instead of opening us up to other people, closes down. You see teenagers who are wired to their ipods. On the news last night, they were saying here in Australia that one in three adults has an MP3 player. And I proudly thought, 'well, that's not me' and then I realised that my mobile phone is also an MP3 player. It's all so seductive – cable television, internet movies, restaurants, on and on and on and ok, we can't all afford all of those things all the time, but we all go chasing after some of that stuff and we want more and more and people are working longer and longer. And you know, those leisurely lunches with families and friends on the weekends are replaced with rushing around shopping centers, and buying stuff and trying to get this organised and that organised. I'm as much a victim of this as anyone else. One of the things that I've had to do is to deliberately carve out time with people. To deliberately say, 'no, those emails can go unanswered today because I need to spend some time with my wife.' I have this very good friend, his name is James. Once or twice a week, James and I will catch up for coffee, just to have someone to talk to and some friendship. We need to decide in all this busy-ness, to stop the merry-go-round, get off and smell the roses. And these days it's a deliberate decision – these days we almost have to go against the flow to get that sort of communication happening. It's true in my relationship with people and it's true in my relationship with God. Lots of people know how wonderful it is to pray – regular communication with God – stopping and pausing with Him, just resting there with Him every day. But many of those people are just too busy to do it. You get up, have breakfast, you commute to work, you're flat-out all day, you come home tired. How do you fit in great family communication, let alone spending some real, wonderful time with God in prayer? Well, that's a good question. I spoke on this subject a couple of years back at a conference of Christian leaders in the field of media and communications. And I made the point that the most important thing each one of us has to do in our lives, is have a relationship with God. A young lawyer came to Jesus and said to Him, “Jesus, what's the most important thing to do in life?” and He said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your mind, all your soul and all your strength. This is the greatest commandment and the second one is just like it – love your neighbour as yourself.” So on my ‘to do' list and on your ‘to do' list, the most important thing – THE most important thing – is to spend some time with Jesus every day and we call that ‘prayer'. And you know, one by one, at this conference, afterwards, these leaders came up to me quietly on the side, and said you know something, “I have such a problem with this. I'm so busy I don't know what to do.” And it's a really common problem – it's not just me; it's not just you; a lot of people have this problem. How do I find time to pray? Most people know that a regular prayer time, most days, is one of the best things they can do. When I spend that time quietly each morning with God, the peace and the joy and the rest getting ready for the day, I seem to handle things so much better – it works! But we are so busy doing the urgent things; we don't have time for the important things. Priorities – we set our priorities; we allocate our time; we decide and if we don't do this, what happens is a communication gap. It happens in a family; it happens in a marriage; it happens in work; it happens in any relationship you care to mention. If we don't spend good time together, we drift apart and the communication gap gets wider and wider and wider. You know what I've noticed? My fellowship with God gets deeper and richer when I regularly, every day, have this prayer life with Him. If I let it go a day here, a day there, then it becomes two or three days, then it becomes a week, then I sit down and try and pray and it's like the conversation is bouncing off the ceiling. It's the nature of relationships really, isn't it? We have a decision to make – do I want a rich relationship with God – I mean do I really want that – is that the most important thing on my heart? And if the answer is ‘yes', then it has to translate into the priorities in our ‘to do' list. We have to carve out that time and keep it whether it is quietly in the morning or on the bus or the train or in the car or in the evening, whenever it works for you and whenever it works for me. There is power in prayer, real power and rest and delight and wonder but it just ain't going to happen if we don't set that time aside each day. SEEK AND YE SHALL FIND Prayer is such a funny thing. I mean it is based on this notion that we can talk to someone we really can't see or hear, at least, not in the same way we see and hear the people around us. Sometimes people pray out loud, other times in their heads, so He can read thoughts too? And after all who are we praying to – this God, this Jesus – who is that? It's kind of like we go looking for someone – God – but do we ever find Him? And who is He anyway and do we want to find Him? Where do we go looking for Him in the first place? I mean they are all good questions. If you are going to be talking with someone you can't see, then surely, first you have to seek Him and find Him don't you? I don't know where you are on your spiritual journey or whether you've ever pondered those questions. Maybe you've just assumed them, maybe you've never worried about them. Prayer is a wonderful thing but it's a step of faith. It's talking with someone that we just can't see. Now, either He's there at the other end and all that makes sense, or He isn't and we're kidding ourselves and then it's a loopy thing to do. This week on the programme and over the next three weeks, we're talking about the power of prayer because I believe that prayer is a powerful thing. It is a wonderful thing to do. But before we can go there we have to go back to square one to seek out this God that we are praying to in a time of need. I did – life's going along ok and all of a sudden – bang! And you think, “help and who do I turn to?” – I'll pray! It happens over and over again. Sometimes it seems the only way God can get our attention is in those times of need. And it happened to the nation of Israel. They were exiled in slavery in Babylon for seventy years and Jeremiah, the prophet – you can read about it in Jeremiah chapter 29. If you have a Bible, grab it – we are going to Jeremiah chapter 29, verse 11. They were going through some really tough times in exile – wondering where God was and how come Jerusalem had been destroyed and here we are in slavery and whatever happened to all of God's promises? And God speaks to them through Jeremiah and He says this: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord; plans to prosper you and not to harm you; plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me and I will listen. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I banished you,” declares the Lord, “and I will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.” Now this is really interesting because here God links the two things I have just been talking about – seeking God out and praying. Have a look at it again, verse 12: “Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me and I will listen to you.” Verse 13: “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart, I will be found by you declares the Lord.” It kind of makes sense – before we can really have any deep relationship or communication with someone, you seek them out. I mean, today, my wife Jacqui and I have a really close relationship and I communicate with her in a way that I don't communicate with anyone else. It's deep and intimate, but when we first met she was just a face in the crowd and our courtship was really when I went seeking her out. And that's exactly what I did – in a sense I had to go after her and she had to come after me. And we had to seek each other out before we could have the relationship we have today. And my hunch is it's exactly the same with God. One of my favourite books of all time – “The Pursuit of God” by A.W. Tozer – this is what he writes on the subject of seeking out God – he says: “Where the modern scientist has lost God amid the wonder of His world, we are in danger of losing God amidst the wonders of His Word.” You know, we've almost forgotten that God is a person and that, as such, a personal relationship can be cultivated with Him. In this hour of all but universal darkness, one cheering gleam appears. Within the fold of Christianity, there are to be found increasing numbers of people whose lives are marked by a growing hunger after God Himself. They won't be put off with words or shallow logic; they won't be content to busy themselves with nervous activity, and yet still they know this inner emptiness. These people are athirst for God and they won't be satisfied until they have drunk deep at the fountain of living water. They desire God above all – they are athirst to taste for themselves, the piercing sweetness of the love of Christ, about whom the prophets wrote and the Psalmists sang. They want to taste, to touch with their hearts, see with their inner eyes, the wonder that is God. And I want to deliberately encourage this might longing after God. Jesus waits to be wanted – too bad, that with many of us, He waits so long, so very long in vain. And that's exactly what God said through Jeremiah: “When you seek me with all your heart, then and only then will you find me.” “Oh Berni, I've tried praying on and off, but you know, it's empty and hollow and, I don't know, it doesn't work!” Ok, let me ask you a question – have you sought after God Himself, with all your heart – have you gone after Him? Do you want a relationship with Him more than anything else on this earth – with all your heart? God says: “You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. Then I will be found by you,” declares the Lord.” My hunch is that this is the starting point of a powerful, and rich and rewarding prayer life with God. COMING JUST AS WE ARE Whenever I speak with people about praying, you know, one of the most common reactions is ‘well, I'm not good enough; I'm just not good enough. I mean, that person over there, well, she probably would be and that one over yonder, well, yea, I think he would be, but not me. You see, you don't know me – I mean, the things I've said and done and thought … “no, I just can't bowl up to God and start praying.” If that's your reaction, in one sense you'd be right, but in another, completely and utterly wrong. Because on the one hand God is a perfect and holy God and we fall well and truly short of that but on the other hand, He knows that and that's why He sent Jesus Christ His Son to die for us, to pay for all our falling short, so that we can have free access. Jesus, it turns out, is the key. God is having a party and it is come as you are. I'll share a story with you – a few years ago I went to Government house in Australia where the Governor General, the Queen's representative, the head of state, lives. His name at the time was Sir William Dean. And Government House is a beautiful old building, in a place called Yarralumla, just outside the national capital, Canberra. I'd asked him to do a short radio interview and his secretary rang and said, “yes” and so I drove there. Now when you drive up to Government house, there are two gates – there's kind of, you know the staff entrance or the servants' entrance and then on the right hand side there's this big gate with this sweeping drive and that's where Prime Ministers and Kings and Queens and Presidents drive up to see the Governor General. And I arrived and I went to what I thought the staff entrance and they said, “Oh no, sir, please go to the other entrance, the main entrance and we'll let you through.” And you drive up this huge, sweeping drive and you pull up where Queens and Presidents have pulled up and James, the butler for thirty eight years, opens the door and ushers me in. And as I'm driving up this driveway I look on the bonnet of my car, dark, beautiful car it was back then in those days, and there's this big bird plop on the bonnet and I'm thinking, 'oh my goodness, you know, if I'd known I was driving up this driveway I would have washed the car. I was so self-conscience and yet, when I met the man, when I met Sir William Dean, the Governor General, he was the most humble and delightful human being you would ever hope to meet. He almost made me feel as though he was the one who was honoured by me being there. He is a small man physically, but huge in stature. He didn't give a toss about whether I had washed my car – I don't think he even noticed. And he even invited me and my wife and my daughter back the next day to have a wander around the grounds. I mean it's a great picture – I never forget it – it's so ‘not' what I expected and over the years I've discovered it's exactly the same with God. He looks straight past the spots and blemishes and stains, to our hearts. He just takes us the way we are – He can because of Jesus – because of the price Jesus paid on the cross, if we believe in Him, you and I are wiped clean. If we just believe – just put our faith in Jesus and what He did for us on that cross – we have open access to God. Have a listen to this huge, eloquent, well-structured, articulate prayer, prayed by the first person who ever went to heaven because he believed in Jesus Christ. He's one of the two criminals who were crucified alongside Jesus. Now one of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at Jesus.” We're reading from Luke chapter 23, beginning at verse 39. “One of the criminals, who hung there, hurled insults at Jesus, “Aren't you the Christ? Go on, save yourself and us,” but the other criminal rebuked the first one. “Don't you fear God, since you are under the same sentence? Here we are hanging on a cross – we're being punished justly; we're getting what we deserve, but Jesus, Jesus hasn't done anything wrong?” And then this second criminal said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom,” and Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, before today is out you will be with me in Paradise. This criminal is about to die – he has nothing to give Jesus – he couldn't do anything for Jesus – you and me, we wouldn't have given him a prayer, but that's all he had and that's all it took. From one cross to the next, out of his pain, hanging on the cross, about to die, all he says is, “Jesus remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Just a few short words – but you know what they were? They were words of faith; they were a prayer of faith. And Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, before today is out, you will be with me in Paradise.” When are we finally going to wake up that that's what prayer is – just a simple step of faith – right from where we are; right from who we are? God is having a party and it's ‘come as you are' and the key is Jesus. Just a simple faith and all my ‘yuk' is paid for on that cross. I can come to God – you can come to God through that faith in Jesus in our time of need. And that's exactly what God says through the Book of Hebrews – have a look at Hebrews chapter 4, verse 14 and it says something like this: Jesus isn't just some God in heaven; He's walked in our shoes; He's been through every trial and temptation that we have to deal with, so He gets it; He understands exactly what we are going through and because of that, we can come boldly before the throne of grace, with a quiet confidence, that we'll find grace and mercy, just in time to meet our very need. He gets it! That phrase: “come boldly before the throne of grace” speaks of a confidence, not in ourselves but in what Jesus has done for you and me. And that's why we can come as we are – that's why we can say, “I'm going to seek out God through Jesus and I'm going to find Him and I'm going to spend time and I'm going to pray.” That's why we don't have to be afraid to sit down and pray, “Lord, I blew it today.” I want to share with you a phone message, from a listener, that I received just the other day and it says it all. This is what he said; his exact words on the phone: “I'm only a new Christian and I've been with the Lord probably about ten weeks and I've been going great guns and then I had a night when I went out drinking and I told my friend, whose not a Christian, I wasn't sure if I could be a Christian any more. I felt real terrible about it and I thought I had really blown the whole thing with God. It's only when you came on the radio tonight that I realised that that's why Jesus died for me. I want to say, “God bless you guys and thank you for His grace. God bless you, man, it was really awesome tonight.” And it is really awesome when we finally realise that we have free access to God through what Jesus did for us on the cross. We can get really busy and run around and chase after this and chase after that, but at the end of the day, you know something, there's power in prayer. We are going to look at that power over the coming weeks. And there's a joy and a peace that happens in prayer. And we can come to Him just as we are, seek Him out with all our hearts, say, “Lord, I want to have a fantastic relationship with you and the way I'm going to start, the way I'm going to take my first step, I'm going set aside just ten or fifteen minutes every day, quietly, alone, just to spend with you.” And you know when we do that, something awesome happens … Jesus shows up!
This week's passage is Psalms 76. This psalm is written following a victory over the enemies of Judah. Possibly written during the time of Isaiah 37:10 when the king of Assyria was threatening King Hezekiah. Hezekiah went to the LORD in his distress and the LORD delivered Judah. The truth still applies today as we can look and contrast the difference between the kings and powers of the earth and the true power and might of our living God. The victories God brings glorifies His name. The Psalm gives encouragement, builds faith, and gives hope for all who are still waiting to see the victory. The testimony of others can be an encouragement to my soul. How we can see God's character in the Psalmists words. God is glorious, God is feared, He rescues the oppressed and His boldest enemies are silenced. Verse 10, human defiance enhances God's glory as God uses it as a weapon. When Jesus came, God used the Pharisees pride and defiance as a weapon against the enemy for victory over sin and death. Even when the enemy thinks he is winning by darkening the hearts of man with pride and defiance, God's goodness and love can overpower the enemy through sacrifice. It is the goodness of God that breaks our pride. God knows the road we are on leads to destruction. He sees us in our mess and makes a way for us to be free from the road we are on that leads to destruction, He draws us to himself and rescues us.
The Psalmists wants us to let it all hang out - when it comes to praising God. Are you capable of that? Well, start with a shout! Listen and be blessed! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/eradio-valverde/support
——- Your Daily Portion Sabbath School Lesson with LD “The Anomaly” Harris- Please join L. David Harris in the Your Daily Portion Community here: https://yourdailyportion.com
Often, our baseline stance towards God is apathy. The Psalmists knew this. Be called with Hope and Chris to worship, be warned of rebellion, and be welcomed into God's rest in this Psalm. This episode goes with Study 9 of our book, Psalms. You can buy it and our other studies at athisfeetstudies.com.
Today, I have the absolute pleasure of sharing my conversation with the one and only Douglas McKelvey. Douglas is a songwriter, author, and liturgy writer extraordinaire. I have never met someone like Douglas. His gift with words and passion for Christ cultivates a visceral invitation to be more present in this life, to find your fight again as you walk this weary way, and speaks to our hope of the next life with Jesus. Douglas shares with me his story of what led him to Nashville, TN, his journey from songwriting to fiction writing and the idea of unpacking his belief that every moment in this life is sacramental, and sometimes words can help us to be present. Thus, the birth of Every Moment Holy. There are now 3 volumes of Every Moment Holy, each unique in how they offer opportunities for us to be awake to the moments we are living in. Whether that is something as simple as waking up in the morning and enjoying a sunrise, something unique like beginning a novel, or the keeping of bees, holiday celebrations, to going on a trip, there is a liturgy for it in one of these volumes. Many of these liturgies, especially in volume two, also hold space for the hard and holy moments around grief and lament, and even for those facing the end of their life. I cannot begin to express how much many of these liturgies have ministered to me as we've walked through many losses, and the anniversary of losses, over the last few years. As it is that time of year, Douglas and I also talk about how to embrace the season of advent, which asks our hearts to prepare Christ room, but also to ask “where is our hope?” as we wait for Jesus to come back again. He even blesses us with a reading of his “A Liturgy for the Start of the Christmas Season.” I hope all of this conversation serves as a blessing for you in this season. I hope it is serves as an invitation to prepare Him room not just for now, but for always. And I hope and pray, it reminds you that you are not alone in this life, no matter how it may seem, and Jesus is coming back for us. You matter. Your story matters. Merry Christmas! Connecting with Douglas and Every Moment Holy: Facebook Instagram Douglas' Website EMH Website EMH Downloads, some free, some for purchase EMH App Please consider joining our Patreon community. If you have enjoyed what you have heard on the podcast today or from other episodes, we would so appreciate your support to keep the Simply Stories Podcast going. You can sign up for as little as $3 a month and each tier offers gifts that I hope will bless you in return. If you cannot financially commit at this time, please consider leaving us a star rating and/or review on Apple Podcasts. My family and I are so grateful for each of you and how you are part of our story. Scripture References: Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 2:36-Christ is the Lord over all Colossians 3:17-Whatever you do whether in word or deed Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12- Being a living sacrifice Romans 8:22- Groaning and longing with creation Acts 2, Hebrews 10:19-25-The body of Christ in worship together Romans 12:3-8, 1 Corinthians 12:8-10, Ephesians 4:7-13- 1 Timothy 4:14-, 1 Peter 4:10- We are given spiritual gifts and our gifts are for ministering Psalm 23:4- The valley of the shadow Psalm 91, Psalm 42, Psalm 55, Psalm 34- Psalms that express disappointment, fear, pain, heartbreak Lamentations 3:19-24-But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope… great is His faithfulness Job 2:8-10- sitting on the ash heap Job 13:15- Even so I believe you are faithful Psalm 27:13-14- What would have become of me if I had not believed I would see the goodness of the Lord? Wait for and hope for the Lord Revelation 12:12-13- come quickly John 1:5- The light has come and pierced the darkness Daniel 2:44, Revelation 11:15- Jesus is the King who will set all things right and establish a dwelling place on earth that never ends Revelation 21:4- He will wipe every tear from your eyes Habbakuk 1:2-How long oh Lord will you make me look at violence Luke 22:19-20-The Lord's Supper 1 Corinthians 13:12, Hebrews 10:1-5- We see now with veiled faces and a dim picture Revelation 19:6-9-The marriage supper of the lamb John 1 (14)- the MSG- “Jesus moves into the neighborhood” Luke 1-3-The Christmas story Isaiah 9:6- The Prince of Peace 1 Corinthians 16:23- Jesus is waiting with open arms References: Charlie and Andi Peacok- The Art House Mechanical royalties for songwriters Coram deo Leslie Bustard “In the Garden” Odessa Settles Andrew Peterson Every Moment Holy Volume 1 Rabbit Room Press “Liturgy for the Ritual of Morning Coffee” Every Moment Holy: Death, Grief and Hope Volume 2 Ned Bustard Examples of the cries of the Psalmists are “alive to the hope and alive to the heartache” My personal favorite reel of the insanity of December Every Moment Holy: The Work of the People Volume 3 Connecting with Emily and Simply Stories Podcast: Instagram (Em life // Podcast Life) Facebook Twitter Blog
••• Executing Divine Vengeance Through The Power of Praise . ••• Bible Study Verses:II Chronicles 20:2-24, Revelation 4:10-11, Isaiah 43:21, Psalm 69:30-31, Psalm 48:14, Psalm 67:5-6, II Chronicles 20:22, Psalm 22:3, Psalm 42:1, Psalm 27:4, Psalm 140:13, Psalm 55:22, Psalm 100:3, Exodus 33:14, I Chronicles 15:29, Joshua 6:20, Acts 16:25-26, Habakkuk 3:18-19, John 4:23, Psalm 24:3-4, Psalm 103:2, Psalm 100:4, Psalm 8:4, James 1:17 . “The Psalmists in telling everyone to praise God are doing what all men do when they speak of what they care about” Source: Reflections on the Psalms, C.S. Lewis, 1898-1963, Oxford Professor and author of Mere Christianity, Screwtape Letters and the Chronicles of Narnia . ••• “Sing to the Lord! Praise the Lord! For He has delivered the life of the poor from the hand of evildoers”, Jeremiah 20.13, NKJV . ••• What are 3-reasons why Jehoshaphat went into battle praising God? ••• What are 6-attitudes of praise? ••• What are 5-reasons Why We Praise God? ••• What are 3-reasons why praise attracts God's presence? ••• What are 6-reasons why you should attract the presence of God? ••• What are 5-results of praising God? ••• What are 5-reasons why praising God can be difficult? ••• What are 5-life actions in Attracting God through Praise? ••• What are 5-personal attributes of those who can attract God through praise?••• Are you going to ask your small group to pray that you will be the kind of person who will praise God more intentionally through the power of Holy Spirit? ••• Pastor Godwin Otuno expounds on this and much more on the exciting journey of Fresh Encounters Radio Podcast originally aired on October 21st, 2023 on WNQM, Nashville Quality Ministries and WWCR World Wide Christian Radio broadcasted to all 7-continents on this big beautiful blue marble, earth, floating through space. Please be prayerful before studying The Word of God so that you will receive the most inspiration possible . ••• This Discipleship Teaching Podcast is brought to you by Christian Leadership International and all the beloved of God who believe in it's mission through prayer and support. Thank you . ••• SHARING LINK: https://shows.acast.com/fresh-encounter-radio-podcast/231021vengeance-thru-praise-power . ••• Exceeding Thanks to Universe Creator Christ Jesus AND photo by Johannes Plenio Photography, Munich, Germany, Lippertstraße 34, D-85570 Markt Schwaben, Germany, https://www.coolfreepix.com, https://www.instagram.com/jplenio/, https://www.twitter.com/jplenio/, https://j.plenio.de/index.php/donate . ••• † http://christian-quotes.ochristian.com/C.S.-Lewis-Quotes/ . ••• Study Guides at - https://shows.acast.com/fresh-encounter-radio-podcast/episodes . ••• Broadcaster's Website - https://www.lifelonganointing.com/ . ••• RESOURCE - https://www.soundcloud.com/thewaytogod/ . ••• RESOURCE - https://www.biblegateway.com/audio/mclean/kjv/john.1%20 . ••• FERP231021 Episode#299 GOT231021Ep299 . ••• Victory Through Divine Vengeance ~ Through The Power of Praise . Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/fresh-encounter-radio-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
At the end of Acts, Paul continues to show that Jesus is the Messiah from Moses and the prophets. It is the same that Jesus does from the end of Luke while on his way to Emmaus. Let's look at some of those Scriptures over the coming weeks. Today I would like to look at some prophecies in the Psalms: and why they are so important and valuable to all of us. As I was reading Reflections on the Psalms by CS Lewis, I was quite taken by his insights into the topic of Praise. Why praise? Why is it so important? – Let's look at it from a non-Christian perspective:Many have said to me, why would I want to go to heaven? Sitting around and playing harps all day.How we view people who always want to be admired, constantly be assured of their virtue, or intelligence, how good they are at what they do? We look down at the clouds that meet the demands of dictators and gratify their egos. So, what do we think of a god who demands praise from his followers?How are we to equate that with being humble of heart? 50:14,15Or it appears as though the Psalmists try and negotiate with God: if you do this for me, then I will do this for you. 54:1,6Or the blackmail technique: If you don't defeat my enemies, then I will go down to Sheol, and who will praise you then? 30:9Or why does God demand we praise him? Or encourage others to motivate us to praise him? Does he really need it? Is he like humans, wanting to to be number 1 and all the world to know it? 119In all of these negative approaches to Scripture, we fail to see the value and the importance of biblical praise. Let me begin with a couple of my experiences. When the kids were little, Jan had to stay at home a lot. I traveled to May wonderful and exotic countries. The truth is, I only wanted to be there long enough to finish the work I came to do. I had no interest in sightseeing. Why, because Jan wasn't there to enjoy it with me. Now, when we are just the two of us, I have very rarely traveled without her, and when we go places, we love to try new foods, see new things, examine the similarities and differences in culture and appreciate it together. So our trip to New Zealand, or Manu other places lives on in our hearts, not because of the pictures, but because of our identification and expression of our admiration.This makes praising God different from seeing him as a benevolent dictator who wants to rob us of life and joy.Why does God demand our worship? As the all-sufficient one, why does he demand we go to church and not forsake the assembling of ourselves together? Because in the corporate worship he communicates his presence to mere mortals. It is not for his sake, but for our sake that praise is most needed. God is not so vain that he needs our complements, but it is us who need to get to know him, appreciate him, and understand his magnificent ways. When we praise, and examine his laws, his character, his virtues, his will, his thoughts, his desires, our hearts are flooded with his wisdom, his understanding, his joy, and we become partakes with him in these divine experiences.Often we only look at praise as being a complement, approval, or giving honor where it is due. But look around us. Look at where praise happens: who do you praise? Your lover, your walks in the countryside, a good book, your favorite football club, a friend, your home, a picture, our lives overflow with enjoyment when we praise. When we criticize, it falls flat and into arguments. Praise is what brings about encouragement and the best in all of us. It really begins when we can praise God.That is why in the Psalms we have so many clear indications of God's great plans and purposes. Hidden in dual meanings of the text, but which point directly to Jesus and his work and his joy and his salvation.It starts in Psalm 1 with a view of the glory of heaven – trees with fruit every month revelation 22:2“On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.” Revelation 22:2Compare with this: “Blessed is the person who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the Law of the Lord, And on His Law he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season, And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers.” Psalms 1:1-3Then we see Jesus as the good shepherd in Psalm 23 and in John 10:11In Psalm 22 we see the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus: “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Far from my help are the words of my groaning. All who see me deride me; They sneer, they shake their heads, saying, “Turn him over to the Lord; let Him save him; Let Him rescue him, because He delights in him.” I am poured out like water, And all my bones are out of joint; My heart is like wax; It is melted within me. My strength is dried up like a piece of pottery, And my tongue clings to my jaws; And You lay me in the dust of death. For dogs have surrounded me; A band of evildoers has encompassed me; They pierced my hands and my feet. I can count all my bones. They look, they stare at me; They divide my garments among them, And they cast lots for my clothing. ¶I will proclaim Your name to my brothers; In the midst of the assembly I will praise You. All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord, And all the families of the nations will worship before You. For the kingdom is the Lord's And He rules over the nations.” Psalms 22:1, 7-8, 14-18, 22, 27-28 - compare with Jesus in Luke 23:33-48 BibleIn Psalm 24 we see the triumph of Jesus over sin, death and the devil for all time, and his receiving the crown of glory with all authority in heaven and earth for the salvation of all who will call upon him. “Lift up your heads, you gates, And be lifted up, you ancient doors, That the King of glory may come in! Lift up your heads, you gates, And lift them up, you ancient doors, That the King of glory may come in! Who is this King of glory? The Lord of armies, He is the King of glory.”Psalms 24:7, 9-10 see Phil 2:9-11 and Eph 1:20-23“For this reason also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:9-11 NASB2020“which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and made Him head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.” Ephesians 1:20-23In Psalm 2 we see him as the conquering king over all: “Why are the nations restless And the peoples plotting in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand And the rulers conspire together Against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying, ¶He who sits in the heavens laughs, The Lord scoffs at them. “I will announce the decree of the Lord: He said to Me, ‘You are My Son, Today I have fathered You. ‘Ask it of Me, and I will certainly give the nations as Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth as Your possession.” Psalms 2:1-2, 4, 7-8 and see Matt 28:18-20“And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to follow all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”” Matthew 28:18-20 When that becomes clear to us, that God wants this known among all peoples everywhere, that his love surpasses all other loves, then the door that leads us into that courtyard is the door of praise. Our lives explode with the joy of worship and all finds its place of worth and value within the presence of the Lord. As we begin to live in praise, we start to praise one another, it changes our attitudes, it builds us all up, we become less critical of one another. It brings healing to our souls, our bodies, our approach to life.We praise what we value! And we want others to enjoy it with us. We have to tell others about it, and we want to tell those who will appreciate it the most! The reason we do that with others is that praise with others completes the enjoyment! Our delight is something is incomplete until it is expressed! The worthier the object of our praise, the more intense our delight will be! As imperfect our attempts of worship are, we do glimpse it at times when God breaks through into our lives and the flow of praise erupts, as we join even for a brief moment the wonder of heaven and glimpse a bit of the love God has for us. What we begin to experience in our own prayer closets, let us bring in joy as we worship him together. Let us consummate our enjoyment of Jesus and the Father by Tell it to him, and to each other!
Jon and Gus chat about why the Psalmists called themselves "righteous".
Today on Meditating the Word, The final kings of Judah: Jehoahaz, Johoiakim, Jehoiachin and Zedekiah; Jerusalem and the temple are destroyed. This is Day 231. Today we are reading 2nd Kings 24-25 and 2nd Chronicles 36 ---- Father God, thank You for Your Word and for the word of Your prophets. Before Cyrus even was, Jeremiah prophesied about him by name. Yet, Your people didn't listen to the prophets. The world hasn't changed. Your people are still mocked when they speak Your word. Like the Psalmists, we could ask "How long, Lord?" But we know that it is not Your will that anyone should perish, but that all people be reconciled to You. Help us to be as courageous as the prophets of old, and to speak Your Word boldly, Father, so that those who hear might be brought back into right relationship with You. Amen ---- We are reading the entire Bible this year in the order the events actually occured chronologically. You can download a copy of the reading plan from blueletterbible.com. And don't forget to subscribe to this podcast on your favorite podcast platform and on YouTube, that way you'll get a notification each time a new episode is released. It's my goal to encourage others to strengthen their Christian walk through daily reading God's Word. You can help, by sharing this podcast, and by rating and reviewing it. Thank you for joining me today and know that I'm praying for you. Join us tomorrow -- and every day -- as we continue our journey through the pages of the Bible. I can't wait to see you tomorrow. Until next time, be blessed and be a blessing. ---- Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/yeti-music/at-dawn License code: SFVKF2JFJJIFZDGT Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/brock-hewitt-stories-in-sound/a-journey-of-love License code: VUSCEHWQYYSXTUKG
Lutheran Preaching and Teaching from St. John Random Lake, Wisconsin
You cannot serve God and the pursuit of happiness any more than you can serve God and life or freedom. And what does God do when your worship is not on him but on the gifts He gives? He takes them away. The unanimous witness of Moses, the Prophets, the Psalmists, Wisdom, Evangelists, and Apostles is that God removes whatever and whoever gets in the way of you trusting Him. Whether patriarchs, Israel, or Gentile, God ceases to give when the gift is received apart from praise and thanksgiving to Him. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/stjohnrandomlake/support
Presented by Lisa Bishop Whether you have been a follower of Jesus for two months or 20-plus years, we all have something in common. At some point or dare I say several times in your Christian walk, you will doubt the faithfulness of God. You will struggle to trust him. That's the honest truth. And frankly, I think we need to talk about that more and normalize it in our Christian circles. All throughout God's Word we see examples and stories of people doubting if God is trustworthy. We see the Psalmists and some of the greatest heroes of the faith struggling to believe at times. Yet even though we see evidence throughout Scripture of wavering faith (let's not forget about Doubting Thomas), I think we are so afraid of being shamed or condemned for questioning that we sit in our disillusion, silently suffering. We think something is wrong with us. Something is wrong with our faith. “Why does it look like everyone else's life is so good, that God is faithful to others, but I don't feel like he cares about me?” If you have ever heard yourself thinking that or even saying it out loud, you are not the only one. I have as well. So, it's not a matter of if you will wonder if God is really trustworthy, if he is faithful, you will. What matters is your response….what you do, in those moments or seasons when you doubt the faithfulness of God. The other day I was doing my morning quiet time, which is a time of stillness before the Lord, journaling, praying, and reading Scripture. When I journal, I typically start out by reflecting on the prior day by writing down my daily gratitude list and telling God what I am thankful for. This has become a daily habit; expressing appreciation for anything from a cool breeze and sunny day to time with my mom, a new work project, a divine encounter with a person God brings in my path, dinner with friends, patience to endure a frustrating situation with grace. There is a lot to be grateful for when you sit down and intentionally take the time to consider all of the ways God is present and providing. On this particular day, my journaling started differently. Instead of starting with my gratitude list, my pen uttered honest words that my heart was speaking that morning. I journaled, “Today I woke up with a fear of the future. But I will choose to trust.” That morning I found myself a bit bewildered and uncertain about the future. As I was reflecting on my life and current circumstances, I found myself wondering, “Is this it?” I went on to write, “I desire to be in the flow of my calling and giftedness, Lord. Am I missing it?” And then the words, “What if” spilled onto the pages. What if? Have you ever found yourself asking that question? What if I had made a different decision, taken another path, acted on that prompting, not taken that job, taken that job, gotten that degree, married that person, not married that person, said yes to…., said no to ……. What would life have been like if only I had…… (fill in the blank). Trying to play out the “what could have been” in life reminds me of the movie Sliding Doors. The movie tells the story of a London woman whose life and career both hinge, unknown to her, on whether or not she catches a train. The main character, Helen Quilley gets fired from her job as a public relations executive. As she leaves the office building, she drops an earring in the lift, and a man picks it up for her. This minor delay has her rushing for her train on the London Underground, but she misses it as the train doors are closed. But the film then rewinds, and the scene is replayed except that now she manages to board the train. The film continues, alternating between the two storylines in which different events ensue. In one story we see how her life plays out when she gets on the train. In the second scenario, we see how her life unfolds and what happens when she misses the train. In essence, her future, the trajectory of her life,
Presented by Lisa Bishop Whether you have been a follower of Jesus for two months or 20-plus years, we all have something in common. At some point or dare I say several times in your Christian walk, you will doubt the faithfulness of God. You will struggle to trust him. That's the honest truth. And frankly, I think we need to talk about that more and normalize it in our Christian circles. All throughout God's Word we see examples and stories of people doubting if God is trustworthy. We see the Psalmists and some of the greatest heroes of the faith struggling to believe at times. Yet even though we see evidence throughout Scripture of wavering faith (let's not forget about Doubting Thomas), I think we are so afraid of being shamed or condemned for questioning that we sit in our disillusion, silently suffering. We think something is wrong with us. Something is wrong with our faith. “Why does it look like everyone else's life is so good, that God is faithful to others, but I don't feel like he cares about me?” If you have ever heard yourself thinking that or even saying it out loud, you are not the only one. I have as well. So, it's not a matter of if you will wonder if God is really trustworthy, if he is faithful, you will. What matters is your response….what you do, in those moments or seasons when you doubt the faithfulness of God. The other day I was doing my morning quiet time, which is a time of stillness before the Lord, journaling, praying, and reading Scripture. When I journal, I typically start out by reflecting on the prior day by writing down my daily gratitude list and telling God what I am thankful for. This has become a daily habit; expressing appreciation for anything from a cool breeze and sunny day to time with my mom, a new work project, a divine encounter with a person God brings in my path, dinner with friends, patience to endure a frustrating situation with grace. There is a lot to be grateful for when you sit down and intentionally take the time to consider all of the ways God is present and providing. On this particular day, my journaling started differently. Instead of starting with my gratitude list, my pen uttered honest words that my heart was speaking that morning. I journaled, “Today I woke up with a fear of the future. But I will choose to trust.” That morning I found myself a bit bewildered and uncertain about the future. As I was reflecting on my life and current circumstances, I found myself wondering, “Is this it?” I went on to write, “I desire to be in the flow of my calling and giftedness, Lord. Am I missing it?” And then the words, “What if” spilled onto the pages. What if? Have you ever found yourself asking that question? What if I had made a different decision, taken another path, acted on that prompting, not taken that job, taken that job, gotten that degree, married that person, not married that person, said yes to…., said no to ……. What would life have been like if only I had…… (fill in the blank). Trying to play out the “what could have been” in life reminds me of the movie Sliding Doors. The movie tells the story of a London woman whose life and career both hinge, unknown to her, on whether or not she catches a train. The main character, Helen Quilley gets fired from her job as a public relations executive. As she leaves the office building, she drops an earring in the lift, and a man picks it up for her. This minor delay has her rushing for her train on the London Underground, but she misses it as the train doors are closed. But the film then rewinds, and the scene is replayed except that now she manages to board the train. The film continues, alternating between the two storylines in which different events ensue. In one story we see how her life plays out when she gets on the train. In the second scenario, we see how her life unfolds and what happens when she misses the train. In essence, her future, the trajectory of her life,
Lou Priolo says we are experiencing an epidemic of loneliness. In this conversation with Sharon Betters and Chuck L. Betters, Lou defines loneliness and encourages us to realize loneliness is painful but it can also bring blessings. He shares stories about people in the Bible who experience deep loneliness and points out that many of the Psalmists expressed their own loneliness. Knowing others have walked the path of loneliness before us helps us realize we are not alone and there is help. The loneliness that is not addressed can lead to other emotions taking up residence in our hearts, such as disappointment in our friends, anger, fear, and paranoia. Unless we deal with the root cause of loneliness, we are destined to view all relationships through the grid of those emotions. Listen and share!
Lou Priolo says we are experiencing an epidemic of loneliness. In this conversation with Sharon Betters and Chuck L. Betters, Lou defines loneliness and encourages us to realize loneliness is painful but it can also bring blessings. He shares stories about people in the Bible who experience deep loneliness and points out that many of the Psalmists expressed their own loneliness. Knowing others have walked the path of loneliness before us helps us realize we are not alone and there is help. The loneliness that is not addressed can lead to other emotions taking up residence in our hearts, such as disappointment in our friends, anger, fear, and paranoia. Unless we deal with the root cause of loneliness, we are destined to view all relationships through the grid of those emotions. Listen and share!
This week we take a deep dive on the Psalms with Text Talk hosts Edwin Crozier and Andrew Roberts. We talk about grappling with the really depressing Psalms and understanding why poetry can help make you a better Christian.The book Edwin wrote about this is incorrectly cited in the program. The correct title is Praying Like the Psalmists and is available here.Edwin and Andrew host a truly excellent podcast, Text Talk. They are excellent at what they do.Support the show
How do we lament when it's our mental health that is causing us trouble? Do the Psalms provide any recourse for us when we are depressed or anxious? The Psalmists of Israel blaze a trail that we can follow: going to God even in the midst of mental and emotional turmoil.
Psalmists, prophets, and apostles were all real people with real struggles. A series of messages, delivered during our Christian Education hour, which are based on the book Feelings and Faith by Brian S. Borgman.
Now I Lay Me Down to SleepMillions of little children have said this prayer on their knees at bedtime. Eyes closed. Fingers and palms gently intertwined under their chins. Parents lovingly watching from a slight distance. Perhaps allowing the child her first taste of intellectual and spiritual freedom. A melancholic freedom. A lamentation, because you are talking to the Lord about your death and the care of your soul, after all. But what is death? In Hamlet, Shakespeare describes it as a prison house with tales that freeze the blood and can make your hair stand on end. An undiscovered country filled with will-puzzling terrors from which no traveler returns. The Psalmists in Psalms 23 describe it as the journey through a valley in the Judean Desert Wilderness on the road to Jericho. The Valley of the Shadow of Death. Metaphorically walking through a troubled and dark time, but having no fear because God is with you, fighting the slings and arrows that come your way. Carl Jung's view of death is that of a destination for the second half of life; an instinctual, inevitable goal, not a state to be feared or denied. Oceana Swayer has a unique and highly developed view of what death and dying is. As she says of her role as an End-of-Life Doula and author of the unexpected book Life, Death, Grief & the Possibility of Pleasure, “The work I do… is essentially a role that is associated with the person who is actually dying, no one else, just the person who's dying. And the job in that role is to make sure that they are having the kind of death that they want to have and that's it. That's all there is… and that's a lot.” Having been witness to so many souls at they transition from life into death, her view of death isn't tied up in the culture wars of religion or the haggling of heirs over who gets what China sets. Missing from her work are platitudes and uncomfortable sympathies. She talks in surprising terms about the sensuality and the pleasure of death as the portal opens, time suspends, and the dying becomes the dead.In her final analysis, death is a moment for the dying to be seen. It is their moment of truth. A truth that allows for the generation of more creativity and yes life. For how we live is a harbinger of how we will surely die. What is on the other side of that remains the domain of the poets and the saints. For more information contact Patrick at patrick@patrickhueyleadership.com
24hr Boss Podcast | Episode 27 PT.1 You can also listen to this episode wherever you listen to podcasts! Please Like, Comment, Share & Subscribe - Thank You for your Support
24hr Boss Podcast | Episode 27 PT.1 You can also listen to this episode wherever you listen to podcasts! Please Like, Comment, Share & Subscribe - Thank You for your Support
Is your soul dying to be fed, nurtured, and comforted? Are you facing fears, struggles or even triumphs? Is the news making you mad? Are you white-knuckling your way through the grind of every day? Consider listening to this podcast on the Psalms. Whether you've never read the Bible or you have every page memorized (that would be amazing!!), or like many of us, you are somewhere in between, this episode is for you. From the clinical applications of how reading the Psalms heals us, to some practical ways to dive deeper into its pages, our guest is gifted in capturing the heart of God and the Psalmists. Ignite your reading of the word today with this healthy dose of living hope. This episode features author Laura L. Smith, who recently released Restore My Soul: The Power and Promise of 30 Psalms. This book is a powerful resource that comes out of Laura's own weary seasons. Her passion for the book of Psalms has grown out of her love for God's word, music, and helping others find balm for their souls. Terra enjoyed learning about the practical ways Laura uses the various Psalms to pray over her kids or to channel her unwanted emotions. Whether you are a weary parent, a leader, or someone who is just curious about how the Bible can relate to your own life, listen to this episode. Laura Smith is a popular speaker and best-selling author who lives in the college town of Oxford, Ohio, with her husband and four kids. Her books have included nonfiction books for adults, pre-teens and kids, as well as the popular Status Updates fiction series for young adults. Her previous book, How Sweet the Sound: The Power and Promise of 30 Beloved Hymns, has sold more than 110,000 copies. To connect with Laura Smith, visit: ONLINE - https://www.laurasmithauthor.com/ SOCIAL - Facebook - @LauraLSmith, https://www.facebook.com/LauraLSmithAuthor/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/LauraLynnSmith Instagram - @laurasmithauthor https://www.instagram.com/laurasmithauthor/ Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/laurasmithbooks/ BOOKS - https://www.laurasmithauthor.com/books.html New release - Restore My Soul: The Power and Promise of 30 Psalms Jeff and Terra love creating resources for leaders in the home, work and community. Are you a woman who is leading and is looking for a coaching community to help you live more fully into your design, your call, and your priorities? Email info@livingwholehearted.com and consider joining our first women's ONE-YEAR leadership cohort led by Terra Mattson and Connie Armerding. There is room for only 12 leaders and starts January 2023. To find more about all their services, from executive coaching and the Wholehearted Leadership Cohort, to professional counseling and Courageous Girls groups, sign up for the monthly newsletters at www.livingwholehearted.com or follow us on Instagram @living_wholehearted. You can also follow Terra on Instagram @terramattson (Jeff isn't on social media for his own personal boundaries, but Terra shares once in a while about his fishing adventures and more.) If you like what you are hearing and find this helpful in ANY WAY, please leave us a review and make sure you subscribe so you don't miss an episode.
Psalm 57 (NKJV)Andrew and Edwin discover a recurring image in the Psalms: enemies with knife, spear, and sword infested mouths. Of course, the Psalmists speak metaphorically. Slander, gossip, plotting, threats hurt. David compares his enemies to the lions he faces in the wilderness. Though he goes to bed in danger, he wakes up to praise God. Our hosts compare this psalm to Daniel's very literal experience centuries later.Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking here. Let us know what you are learning or any questions you have. Email us at TextTalk@ChristiansMeetHere.org. Join the Facebook community and join the conversation by clicking here. We'd love to meet you. Be a guest among the Christians who meet on Livingston Avenue. Click here to find out more. Michael Eldridge sang all four parts of our theme song. Find more from him by clicking here. Thanks for talking about the text with us today.________________________________________________If the hyperlinks do not work, copy the following addresses and paste them into the URL bar of your web browser: Daily Written Devo: https://readthebiblemakedisciples.wordpress.com/?p=10862The Christians Who Meet on Livingston Avenue: http://www.christiansmeethere.org/Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/TalkAboutTheTextFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/texttalkMichael Eldridge: https://acapeldridge.com/
(Presented by Lisa Bishop) The book of Psalms has often been called a book of prayer and it is rich with examples of the Psalmists' communication with God. As a follower of Jesus, you have a relationship with God that enables you to have rich spiritual communication with him. You have the privilege of talking to God, of pouring out your heart to him, and also hearing and listening to him by the power of his Holy Spirit. We see this pouring out in prayer in Psalm 25, a Psalm of David. David was a king of Israel and referred to as a man after God's own heart. Throughout Psalms we see him crying out to God as he is repeatedly pursued by his enemies, lamenting of his sin, and praying in his times of deepest struggle and need. David gives us an honest look into what it sounds like to come before God in times of trouble. In this Psalm we hear the cries of his heart as he seeks counsel from the Lord and confesses his utter dependence on him. Where do you turn when you feel desperate? Who or what do you depend on in times of trouble? Maybe you are in a tough season in your marriage, your singleness, your health, your job. Perhaps a co-worker has talked poorly about you and given you a bad reputation or you are out of work and don't know what is next and you desperately need guidance. David reminds us where to keep our focus. “Lord, I turn to you. My God, I trust in you. Do not let me be disgraced; do not let my enemies gloat over me. No one who waits for you will be disgraced; those who act treacherously without cause will be disgraced. Make your ways known to me, Lord; teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me; for you are the God of my salvation; I wait for you all day long. Remember Lord, your compassion and your faithful love, for they have existed from antiquity.” (Psalm 25:1-6 HCSB). You hear the longing, humility, and gratitude in David's words. He begins this prayer by acknowledging God and declaring his trust in him and his character. God is trustworthy no matter what difficulties he is facing. He courageously asks God for what he needs. He desperately desires to hear from God, to know his ways and to be guided in truth. He waits on the Lord as long as it takes until he hears his voice and his direction. I think it can be easy to forget the goodness of God. Or to pray and get impatient in the waiting. Have you forgotten the goodness of God in your time of desperation? Are you impatient as you wait on him? Someone once said, God is never late, he is rarely early, but he is always on time. Pour your heart out to him, praise him, trust him. He knows just what you need.
(Presented by Lisa Bishop) The book of Psalms has often been called a book of prayer and it is rich with examples of the Psalmists' communication with God. As a follower of Jesus, you have a relationship with God that enables you to have rich spiritual communication with him. You have the privilege of talking to God, of pouring out your heart to him, and also hearing and listening to him by the power of his Holy Spirit. We see this pouring out in prayer in Psalm 25, a Psalm of David. David was a king of Israel and referred to as a man after God's own heart. Throughout Psalms we see him crying out to God as he is repeatedly pursued by his enemies, lamenting of his sin, and praying in his times of deepest struggle and need. David gives us an honest look into what it sounds like to come before God in times of trouble. In this Psalm we hear the cries of his heart as he seeks counsel from the Lord and confesses his utter dependence on him. Where do you turn when you feel desperate? Who or what do you depend on in times of trouble? Maybe you are in a tough season in your marriage, your singleness, your health, your job. Perhaps a co-worker has talked poorly about you and given you a bad reputation or you are out of work and don't know what is next and you desperately need guidance. David reminds us where to keep our focus. “Lord, I turn to you. My God, I trust in you. Do not let me be disgraced; do not let my enemies gloat over me. No one who waits for you will be disgraced; those who act treacherously without cause will be disgraced. Make your ways known to me, Lord; teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me; for you are the God of my salvation; I wait for you all day long. Remember Lord, your compassion and your faithful love, for they have existed from antiquity.” (Psalm 25:1-6 HCSB). You hear the longing, humility, and gratitude in David's words. He begins this prayer by acknowledging God and declaring his trust in him and his character. God is trustworthy no matter what difficulties he is facing. He courageously asks God for what he needs. He desperately desires to hear from God, to know his ways and to be guided in truth. He waits on the Lord as long as it takes until he hears his voice and his direction. I think it can be easy to forget the goodness of God. Or to pray and get impatient in the waiting. Have you forgotten the goodness of God in your time of desperation? Are you impatient as you wait on him? Someone once said, God is never late, he is rarely early, but he is always on time. Pour your heart out to him, praise him, trust him. He knows just what you need.
Join us this week as we explore themes of authenticity, joy, sorrow, gratitude, and lament in the prayers and poetry of the Psalmists. How might we draw on their creativity as we approach our reading? Find the transcript for this episode at www.thefaithfulfeminists.com
(presented by Lisa Bishop) Have you ever felt in a slump—in a rut in life? Even in a spiritual rut? Maybe you feel rundown, depressed, or discouraged. You may even be in a long season of despair perhaps feeling hopeless or know someone close to you who does. No matter where you are in your faith, following Jesus for five days or fifteen years, you will go through seasons and a series of highs, lows, and everything in between. For some reason we don't talk about it. It's almost as if it is taboo to talk about being a follower of Jesus and battling with doubt or despair at times. I came to faith 23 years ago. A co-worker from my first job out of college and I became friends and as she shared her life with me, she expressed genuine interest in me. Through that relationship, I was introduced to Jesus. In over two decades of following Jesus I have had highs and lows and everything in between. And I work at a church! I think sometimes we look at pastors and church staff as if they are immune to doubt, wavering faith and feeling downright spiritually depleted. We can believe the lie that lie, “If you are holy and really a follower of Jesus, if your faith were really real you would not feel spiritually dry or despondent.” Well, that is not true. The other day I was experiencing a mild state of feeling depressed. I felt down and blue. The concerns and unknowns of life just started weighing on me. I am someone who likes control and certainty and on this day of feeling out of control and uncertain, I found myself in a slump. Sometimes in an effort to find relief from feeling out of sorts, it can be easy to binge on reruns of my favorite show, scroll through Facebook and Instagram or reach for food as comfort. But on this particular day, instead of checking out, I tuned in. I put in my earbuds and started to worship. When I worshiped, everything shifted. Did you know that you are wired for worship? God in his glory designed us so that worship literally impacts our brains and our minds—ultimately, our lives. Studies have shown that when we worship, God created us so that dopamine, oxytocin, and serotonin are released that induce happiness and joy and boost our immune system. God designed us so that when we worship him, we experience decreases in depression, anxiety, and chronic pain. We experience more joy! We often wait to worship until we feel like it but we are actually wired to worship. This is not positive thinking or a pep talk, this is a posture. God is worthy of our worship, and when we worship and praise him for his magnificence, our lives transform even if our circumstances don't change. Worship changes us. As my friend Becky, and author of “The 30-Day Praise Challenge,” says, “Praise is your intentional offering of worship, strengthening your faith and unlocking the key to joy no matter what your life circumstance.” I want to talk about having a posture of praise and preaching the truth to yourself. Psalm 103 will be our praise guide. Psalm 103 is a Psalm of David, the second King of Israel, God's chosen king, and known as a man after God's own heart. Some have attributed the Psalm to being written in David's later years because he knew the grace and deliverance of God many times throughout his life. If you have never read through the Psalms, I highly recommend it. For the past two years I have been reading and dwelling on a Psalm a day. One thing that stands out in Psalms is that the Psalmists bless God no matter their circumstance. A Psalm may begin with crying out to God in anger, frustration, fear, feelings of being forsaken by God, but the Psalmist remembers and declares truth. God, no matter what your circumstances try to tell you, is worthy of your praise. He never forsakes you. He is always faithful. Psalm 103 demonstrates David's pure worship from beginning to end. Let's look at David's posture of praise as he preaches the truth to himself and let it be our guide.
(Psalm 119:81-88) It may seem like we're beating the same drum again and again in this study, and that's because we are! God's Word truly provides all we need. So, what do we do when life is coming apart at the seams? The Psalmists demonstrates it for us – and the good news is we can all do what he did! (06101220428)
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