People try all kind of things to fully satisfy themselves. Not all of those things are bad, but whether they are healthy or harmful, they’re still ineffective for permanence. There is only one thing that fully satisfies the human heart: a relationship with God the Father through His Son, Jesus…
David’s declaration here invites us to participate in something that has the power to transform. For many years, I suffered chronic pain. Some days were worse than others, but during those years, I never had a day of complete relief. On the worst days, when I wondered if I could…
HYMN DAY! “I Love to Tell the Story” has a rather unique history. The verses were written by Kate Hankey in 1866 as a poem. In 1869, William G. Fischer added the refrain and put the words to music. I love this hymn partly because my mom loved it so…
David’s relationship with God went all the way back to his childhood. He’d seen first-hand God’s power in rescuing him from lions, bears, and giants. He’d been sheltered by God when pursued by those determined to destroy him. Those life experiences had convinced David that God wouldn’t leave or forsake…
Psalm 63 is short—only 11 verses (so different from 119!)—but there is so much confidence and relationship captured in the chapter. The author, David, starts out by making a very personal claim: You are my God. “My” denotes possession. There’s no doubt in David’s mind that God is ever with…
You know, despite our best intentions, there are times when we will miss a step and find ourselves in uncomfortable locations. It isn’t fun, and if we stubbornly stay there, can even mire us in guilt and shame. But there’s an antidote: repentance. Nothing we say to God will take…
There are times a person will instruct us to do something, not because it’s best for us, but because it will benefit them. Selfish, yes? That is never the case with God. His righteousness (being morally right) makes it impossible for Him to take advantage of us. Whatever He commands…
HYMN DAY! When I was growing up, I loved spotting “I’ve Found a Friend” by Jack P. Scholfield listed on the church bulletin. The final line of the chorus always echoed against the rafters: “For I’m saved, saved, saved!” What a glorious thought! 1 I’ve found a friend who is…
When God makes a promise, God keeps the promise. He promised to send a Savior; Jesus came. He promised to prepare a place for us; it’s waiting. He promised to never leave us nor forsake us; He’s ever only a prayer away. He also promised that in this world we…
A hundred years ago (or so it sometimes seems) I taught 5th grade. There was a television mounted near the ceiling at the front of my classroom. When I stood at the blackboard (yes, the blackboard—this is 100 years ago, remember?), I could see a reflection of the entire class…
