Psalm 69 is one of the most complicated Psalms. As we delve into the layers, let’s remember the conclusion. . . Let heaven and earth praise him, the seas and everything that moves in them. For God will save Zion and build up the cities of Judah (vv. 34-35, ESV). Almost every verse of Psalm 69 has […]
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And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing? (Mark 4:37-38, ESV) In 1986, during a drought in
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I’ve wondered about the Apostle Paul’s emotional state when he wrote, “Jesus came to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost” (1 Timothy 1:15b, ESV). Most people experiencing discouragement spiral downward in doubt and despair through the years, getting increasingly worse. And Paul expresses this negative spiraling in his writings. In the early years
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But divide your investments among many places, for you do not know what risks might lie ahead (Ecclesiastes 12:2, NLT). Forty-five years ago, an investment strategist suggested that for a solid financial future, I should invest in three areas: my personal skills, real estate, and the stock market. He called them the “trifecta” of investment
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For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth (Matthew 12:40, ESV). In the Bible, the number “three” means completeness. Those who study Scripture will see “three” throughout. There’s the Godhead
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John Wimber, the founder of the Vineyard Movement and the author of one of my all-time favorite books, Power Evangelism, used to say that the Gospel of Luke progresses from one miracle to another. Luke records the job description of Jesus when Jesus says. . . The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he
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O God, you have rejected us, broken our defenses; you have been angry; oh, restore us (Psalm 60:1, ESV). Psalm 60 is the “extremely discouraged” Psalm. Have you ever felt so hammered by life that you considered giving up, perhaps even wish that you didn’t exist? Do you believe God has abandoned you? This is a psalm from
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Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4, ESV). I suggest we all read Sam Storm’s book Understanding Spiritual Warfare! Why? Because spiritual warfare lies behind the difficulties most of us are going through right now. Not knowing
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Give respect and honor to those who are in authority (Romans 13:7, NLT). Since 1984, October has been observed as Pastor Appreciation Month. We are halfway through the month, and have we honored our pastors? What about Interruptions? Yes, I’m a bit late in mentioning it, and I was a pastor for 49 years. In
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Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and turn away from evil (Proverbs 3:7, NASB). The word “apologetic” is often used to describe a defense of God and the Bible. I believe the existence of evil doesn’t disprove the Gospel but supports the Bible and undergirds our need for grace. Why? Light means
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