The psalmist compares healthy spirituality to a flourishing tree
We get to choose whom we will listen to and from whom we receive advice and counsel for our lives. But Psalm 1 narrows our choices into two options.
Tasty morsels can lead to death: the danger of ‘delicious’ gossip
“Gracious words are like honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.”
In times of tiredness and trouble, David gives us the prayer we need
“With my voice I cry out to the Lord. . . . With my voice I plead for mercy to the Lord. . . . I pour out my complaint before him.”
Praying ‘God bless America’—it’s more than a song or a sentiment
A favorite repost from 2021.
The best place you can demonstrate wisdom: Watch what you say!
Maybe it’s time for each of us to assess our willingness to understand that our freedom in Christ should not result in constant expressions of everything we dislike or disagree with.
How to get ready for the walk that pleases God and helps us most
The psalmist tells us God was preserving his life even as he walked through troubles. And he shows us how we can do the same.
Choosing to look for God’s long arch and ultimate, perfect purposes
We tend to want what we want, when we want it. But those who discover God’s wisdom also learn to wait for him to act according to his ultimate purposes.
Trust, victory, and grace: an experience of Elisha to help us today
When we walk in unity with God’s purposes and are led by the Holy Spirit, we know God is with us and around us and will not allow anyone intent on disrupting God’s purposes to defeat them.
We read her story and wonder how she could claim, ‘All is well’
“All is well.” That’s what she said. Was she in shock? In denial?=And how and where do we find the boldness, the faith to say “all is well” when what we can see does not appear to be good at all?
It’s not about us, and we’re never alone (no matter what we think)
There will always be benefit to us when we worship, but our worship is not about us. And we are never alone.
When will we experience the pleasant goodness that comes with unity?
“Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!” No one disagrees with that, so why must we hold on to so many disagreements about so much else?
There’s great value in leaving home to see and worship with others
Technology can’t replace the mental and physical shift that happens when we move and walk, drive, and gather together face-to-face in worship.
Discovering the right attitude to bring to the worship of God
Psalm 131 describes the proper posture the ancient Jews brought to God in worship. We can learn from their example.
Why remember all the times of trouble when the bottom fell out?
Is it worth remembering the times in your life when “the bottom fell out” or when you were in “the bottom of the barrel”? Today’s Psalm says yes.
Agreeing with each other may not be easy, but here’s why it’s vital
A favorite repost from 2021.
Words spoken by us all: ‘It has been a struggle all my life’
When you experience affliction for a long season, it is hard to re-emerge without some scar tissue. The writer of Psalm 129 seems to have this in mind.
What is our part in discovering the wonderful blessings of God?
Have you noticed the number of people around you who say “Bless you” or “Have a blessed day”? For those of us living in the South, there seems to be a lot of blessing going on.
Each new day offers a new challenge to seize each new opportunity
The gift of each new day brings us an opportunity to join the Lord in extending his kingdom, but that’s not all. As surrendered saints, we share a requirement to stay focused on God and to invite him to do his work in and through us.
Memories and hope, stories of restoration, strength to carry on
We can help ourselves and the next generation by recalling and retelling the times God has intervened in our seasons of struggle and desperation.