Faith Insights

Psalm 31 Into Your Hand I Commit My Spirit

2010-04-02T12:37:00.000-05:00

How timely and appropriate is this psalm for today, Good Friday. Jesus cited the words of verse five while he was on the cross. "Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, 'Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.' And having said this he breathed his last (Luke 23:46)." It is often said that the last words of a dying person are very special. These words are indeed special to all who believe in him. Christ continues to teach until his last breath.

In his hour of persecution and anguish, Christ called unto his Father. The relationship between Father and Son is very tight. He often said that he and the Father were one. As a big brother, Jesus is giving me example on how to depend on the Father in all circumstances. He wants me to have a tight relationship with my heavenly Father too, as well as with him. Persecution, prejudice, or prison should not deter me from praying to my Father. Who will I call in the last moments of my life on earth?

Christ commits his spirit into the hands of his Father. It is a prayer of surrender. When the inevitable is about to happen, Christ teaches me to pray and surrender my life. It is a prayer of trust. When all odds are stacked against me, I must turn to God and trust him to make the best out of my circumstances. Only in God's hands will I be truly secure. It is a prayer of commitment. While he had many options, Christ chose to pray to his Father, he was committed to this relationship. Christ teaches me to make the same commitment. In the last moments of life on earth, only the very important relationships in life will come to mind. Who will that be for me?

Christ lived his life depending on the Father's direction, guidance, and power. His dependence was evident in his time away from the crowds to cultivate communion with the Father through prayer. He did only what the Father told him to do. He said only the words the Father told him to say. Christ, just as he lived, he also died depending on his Father to take care of his spirit at his last breath. What do I depend on in life? What do I hold onto? Christ wants me to depend on my heavenly Father.

Father, I want to be one with you and your Son. Help me surrender, trust in, and commit to you every day, especially in the dark moments of my life. May I be dependent on you for my every move; for my every word. Amen.

Psalm 30 Joy Comes with the Morning

2010-04-01T08:16:00.000-05:00

As a Christian, I sometimes think that life should be rosy because I have God on my side. Well, the everyday experiences in my life have taught me that this is not the case. And King David expresses in this psalm the same conviction. He was attacked by foes, lived through desperate circumstances, and many times faced even death. Whether it be due to my own fault, or the fact that I live in a sinful world, or that God is testing me, no matter the reasons, difficulties in life will come.

As important as it is to understand that difficulties are part and parcel of life, it is also very important that I understand that there is an appointed time for the difficulties to end. The night will end with the morning. When morning comes, the darkness will be dissipated. Like David expressed it, it will be the day in which my mourning will be turned into dancing, my sackcloth will be replaced with clothing of gladness, my weeping will be turned into joy.

As a believer, I have the hope to see the morning light - the end of my difficulties, my troubles, my weeping. Morning may arrive in my lifetime or not. I may live many dark nights or one gloomy night for the rest of my life. But morning will come. One day, my Lord and King will come for me. He will not only put an end to my difficulties and troubles, but he will end injustice, pain, and suffering for all who believe in him.

While the night endures, I will cry out to the Lord. I will plead for mercy. I will remember the many times I have been delivered before and give thanks unto my Deliverer. I will trust that God is with me and that morning is coming soon, very soon.

Father, hold me while I walk in the dark night of trouble. Grant me endurance as I await the morning. Amen.

Psalm 29 Ascribe to the Lord Glory

2010-03-05T08:04:00.000-06:00

In my early years as a Christian, I developed a bad habit in my prayer life. I used to come to God and just blurt out all my needs. It is not wrong to ask for what I need, but I had not developed the habit to ascribe glory to the Lord. I was treating him as a messenger boy to go out and run some errands for me. I was approaching God with a "gimme" attitude that is selfish to say the least.

When I realize who is the God that I approach, my attitude is changed. I stop treating him like a messenger and start realizing that I'm standing before a God of glory and strength who deserves all the honor and praise a human being can offer. Actually, according to the psalmist, he deserves all the glory, honor, and praise that the heavenly beings can muster as well.

"Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name." All our worship and adoration to God is not wasted. It is not exaggerated either. He deserves it all. It is due his name. In others words, it is expected. We could spend the rest of our lives, every minute of it, just ascribing glory to God and it would not be overdoing it at all. The love language that God understands is worship to his great name.

The Lord is enthroned above as King of kings and Lord of lords. He is not enthroned for a little time, but he is enthroned forever. Everything on earth is under his control and subject to his powers. The whole of creation is subject to him including my life and not the other way around.

For this reason, now I always begin prayer ascribing glory to the Lord before anything else. When he taught his disciples to pray, he began with "Our Father, who is in heaven, hallowed be your name." I must learn to honor as holy the name of God and give him praise and glory before I attempt to present my list of needs. Then, it is proper to pray: "May the Lord give strength to his people! May the Lord bless his people with peace."

Father, you are the awesome and benevolent Creator of all that exists, including my own life. You are the divine, eternal, forgiving, gracious, holy, invisible, just, kind, loving, and merciful God. There is no one and there is nothing like you. Amen.

Psalm 28 The Lord is My Strength and My Shield

2010-03-01T08:09:00.000-06:00

The greatest benefit I enjoy in my Christian faith is that I don't walk alone through life. My God is with me in the joys of life and he is with me in my darkest moments. I can talk to my God about my problems and he will listen to me. God not only listens to me, but he also speaks to me offering encouragement, guidance, and counsel. Silence from God is a sign of judgment or displeasure. In Psalm 28, David indicates to God that his silence may cause him to become like the unbelievers around him when he cries out for mercy.

Despite the fact that I know that God is with me, I don't just bring out a laundry list for God to get to work. Neither David came to God with an attitude of demand. He would lift up his hands and worship as he approached God with his plea. I can't forget that God is worthy of worship and adoration. I must give him the glory and honor he deserves under all circumstances of life. In fact, David's description of unbelievers is that "they do not regard the works of the Lord or the works of his hands." As a believer, I am called to remember that I am approaching the Creator of all things including my own life.

I can't understand how the unbeliever lives life without God. It seems to me that the difficulties and disappointments of life are enough for me to need someone who can stand with me. It is good to have friends, but friends are not always with you. God is always with me. His presence is available 24/7 without interruption. He does not slumber or sleep and has no need of anything.

The strength I need to get through life comes from my God. I suppose one can muster strength from other sources to get through life, but this is precisely what idolatry is all about. God does not desire that I seek other sources. He wants to be the one and only source because he is my Creator. "The Lord is the strength of his people." In times of need, I can take refuge in him. "In him my heart trusts." For this reason, I can live my life in thanksgiving to him.

Father, you are my strength and shield. You are my refuge and shepherd of my soul. To you I run every day all the day long to seek help. Thanks for your presence and for listening my cry. Amen.

Psalm 27 Whom Shall I Fear?

2010-02-25T08:15:00.000-06:00

The just shall live by his faith, not by his fear. There are many things in life that can be a source of fear. It can be financial, social, even political. But whether enemies surround my life, or I lose everything I own, or people persecute me for whatever reasons, I can trust in the Lord all the days of my life. Let's examine some of the things David says about God that should move me to trust him.

The Lord is my light... In the darkest hours of persecution, ridicule, slander, etc. God remains as the source of light for my life. It is a light that shines within. It is not external. I may look down the tunnel of life, filled with darkness, with no light in sight, but I have a God who promises to be with me and provide the light I need. The light at the end of the tunnel may help me see the path, but the Lord illuminates one step at a time. Faith is not to fret because I can't see the path. It is to overcome the paralysis and take one step at a time with the light God provides.

The Lord is my salvation... If my life had been all safe and secure, I would have no need of saving. But the truth is that my life is in danger. I was lost, in sin, estranged from God. But God rescued me and continues to rescue me day by day. The perils of life cannot take my confidence in God away because he saves me. Many times I think that this rescue is from the dangers against my physical life, but the truth is that there are many more threats against my soul. God saves me from losing my faith in him.

The Lord is the stronghold of my life... When enemies assail me, I can run to the arms of my God. He is my refuge. A stronghold is a place that has been fortified to resist enemy attacks. When I am bombarded by ungodly thoughts, I can run to God's presence. When temptation seems to overcome my will, I can seek God's face. It is not necessarily a physical place. It is a soul place. It is to engage the mind, the emotions, and the will to connect with God through all the resources he has given us: his word, prayer, etc.

The one thing David asked God was to dwell in his house all the days of his life. That prayer has been answered through Jesus Christ. Through the Spirit of God, I can enjoy God's presence every day without having to visit a building made by human hands. I am the temple of the Holy Spirit thanks to the work of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He fills my life with his light. He rescues me day by day from the perils of life that assail my faith. He becomes a stronghold for me when I need to take refuge from the attacks of the enemy.

Father, help me live by faith and not by fear. Fill my heart with your light. Rescue me from the world, self, and sin. May I run to you when I feel faint under the attacks of life. Amen.

Psalm 26 I WIll Bless the Lord

2010-02-23T07:35:00.000-06:00

At first, when I read this psalm, it seemed to me that David was boasting in his self-righteousness. But as I meditated on his words, I realized that it is far from it. As he is accused by his enemies, David comes before the Lord and asks him to examine his life and see that by his grace and mercy, he has been walking on the path of righteousness.

When I am falsely accused, I should not fret, but seek God with more intensity. I should come before God's presence and ask him to prove me, try me, and test me. This does not mean that I am perfect and God will not find nothing wrong in my heart. But it means that I am committed to his ways and have not been intentionally practicing that which does not please him. Self-examination before God in times of distress is the best practice.

It is important to note that David's life of integrity is due to the Lord's grace upon him. The context of David's life is around the temple where the sacrifices and the word of God are ministered. He is not righteous on his own power, but thanks to the grace of God providing redemption for his life. I can't come up to God and recount all my good deeds as evidence of my righteousness. But I can come and recount my good deeds as evidence of the powerful grace of God that redeems me.

The result of the powerful grace of God at work in my life results in my commitment to continue to walk in integrity despite the accusations and despite the circumstances. Because of my relationship with God, my foot stands on level ground. Because of his mighty work in me, I will bless the Lord. Ultimately, God receives all the glory for anything worthy of notice in my life because my life is God's handiwork.

Father, may I seek you with all my heart when things are difficult, when people hurl accusations, when my life is in despair. May I commit to continue to live for you and obey your commands despite the circumstances. Amen.

Psalm 25 Be Teachable!

2010-02-22T08:51:00.000-06:00

My Math teacher in seventh grade was a very demanding one, but he was also the best. He was willing to teach all he knew about multiplication and division, but I had to be willing to submit to his methods. Many students looked him up to have him as a teacher. In those days, it was not uncommon for a teacher to smack you with a ruler if you did not follow his instructions. But if I willingly submitted to his requirements, he would do everything in his power to ensure I learned well. To this day, I have not forgotten the multiplication tables.

So it is with our God. He is willing to be our teacher and teach us all we need to know and understand. There should be a longing in our hearts to have God as our teacher just like David himself exclaims in vv.4-5: "Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long."

But there are certain requirements for me to be a true disciple of my God. First, I must be a person who accepts that God is upright and I am a sinner. He is the teacher and I am the student. He is above me and I am in need of instruction. It is imperative that I approach God with the proper understanding of my place in his presence. I am in need of him. I must come in repentance and with a contrite spirit knowing that I have not lived up to the expectations of my teacher.

Secondly, "He leads the humble in what is right." My attitude before my God should be one of humility and not pride. I cannot come to receive instruction with arrogance. I must humble myself to my teacher. My God is willing to lead me to what is right only if I come humbly to him. I must abandon my pretense to know it all. I must empty my vessel to receive what God is willing to pour into my life.

Finally, I must be obedient. "All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies." I will not be able to enjoy anything God teaches me unless I am willing to be obedient to what he instructs me to do. I must have a heart that is willing to submit obediently to his instruction.

If I seek my God to instruct me with a repentant, humble, and obedient heart, I will learn much. I will learn what is really important in life and benefit from God's blessings as I obediently practice it every day.

Father, I confess that I have not lived up to your commands. Give me a humble and obedient heart that I may learn from you and please you all the days of my life. Amen.

Psalm 24 The King of Glory

2010-02-15T09:09:00.000-06:00

The presence of God is a very important subject in the Scriptures. Psalm 24 addresses the issue like this: God is the Creator of all there is in the heavens, on the earth, in the sea, and in the sky, whether things or creatures, all has been created by God. Not only that, but God is the rightful owner of it all including our own lives. So how can we be in the presence of such an awesome God???

The requirements to stand in God's presence are pretty demanding. We must have clean hands, a pure heart, never lift our souls to what is false, and never swear deceitfully. Where are we going to find someone like that? Well the answer is right there in Psalm 24:5-6 "He will receive blessing from the Lord and righteousness form the God of his salvation. Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob." In other words, God himself saves us and makes us righteous transforming us into his people. It is his doing; all we need is to seek him.

This majestic God is not content to remain in the heavens to have us try to reach him. God makes his entry into human time and space to commune with us. The ark of the covenant was for that purpose - that God might dwell in the midst of his people. As the ark was carried through the gates, it was the very presence of God coming in and the gatekeepers would ask who was coming in: The King of glory! The Lord, strong and mighty. The Lord, mighty in battle. The Lord of hosts.

The ark of the covenant was only a shadow of what was to come. God clothed himself in the flesh and made his dwelling among us. Jesus Christ is the Son of God who came to save us and transform us into his people. At his death on the cross, the veil that kept the ark of the covenant separate from people was torn allowing God's presence to be available to all by his grace. And after his resurrection, he sent us his Holy Spirit to indwell us so that his presence might be with us until the end of time. Who is this King of glory? Jesus Christ, the Son of God, he is the King of Glory!

Father, may I never take for granted your presence in my life. You paid a high price to allow me to come near you. May I walk with you every day of my life. Amen.

Psalm 23 The Lord is My Shepherd

2010-02-12T09:13:00.000-06:00

This is probably the most popular psalm of them all. It uses the image of a shepherd to describe God and his relationship with his people. Though the sheep in mind throughout the psalm is Israel, David personalizes his relationship with God. God is a shepherd to Israel, but he is also "my shepherd." It is impossible to claim a relationship with God Almighty unless I am able to express my unique relationship with him.

"I shall not want." My shepherd is my provider. He takes care of all my needs. I may not get all I want, but I most certainly will get all that I need. My shepherd provides food, water, and also care for the soul. My shepherd leads me and guides me on the paths he has chosen for me. He knows where he is going. All I need to do is follow and I am guaranteed to find all I need.

And even when those paths may be full of darkness lurking with danger, I can trust that my shepherd will protect me and get me through safely. A shepherd uses a rod as a defensive weapon against bandits and wild beasts when they try to steal or devour a sheep. The staff is a tool designed to keep the sheep together and avoid anyone going astray. It has a hook at the end that the shepherd can use to place it around the neck and pull the sheep to its place.

The Lord is my Shepherd. He will protect me even in the most dangerous circumstances of life. He fights for me. He looks out for me. Knowing that God is by my side even in the darkest hours of life is a great comfort to me. It brings peace to my mind and gives hope to my soul.

Father, My Shepherd, thank you for your provision and protection. I rest in comfort and peace under your care. May I always follow your lead all the days of my life. Amen.

Psalm 22 Faithful God

2010-02-11T07:50:00.001-06:00

My first years in college were one of the darkest times in my life. I was away from home for the first time. You'd think that was something to rejoice over, but not for me. I really liked the comforts of home, my church, my friends, and being close to my girlfriend. I didn't even like the college town where I now had to live. My family didn't have much, so I did not have spending money, not even enough to eat at times. My faith in those days was under attack by most of my family at large. No one believed that I was serious about following Jesus and many taunted and ridiculed me every time they had a chance. I felt lonely, rejected, downcast, and at times without hope. Yes, it was very depressing. My prayers in those days were very much like Psalm 22 - where are you God? Why have you abandoned me?

As you read the psalm, you realize that one of the things David constantly does is to remember the past when God had come through for his people and even for himself personally. What better way to build faith and confidence in those dark hours of life than to remember God's track record of his faithfulness? There are plenty of sources to remind me of God's faithfulness. First, I have the Bible. In it I find the stories of God's relationship with Israel, from the Exodus from Egypt to the liberation from Babylon and Persia. Story after story points to the faithfulness of God and tells me: "If God did it for them, he can do it for me." It reinforces my trust in God as I see him at work.

Also, I have a great source of God's faithfulness in my own personal past experience with God. I have plenty of stories to recall of how God came through for me to provide, heal, comfort, strengthen, etc. My own past experiences are worth my reflection and meditation in times when the sun does not seem to come out at all. These stories also have the power to infuse trust in my God.

Finally, there are so many good testimonies from the lives of my brothers and sisters that can serve to inspire my faith, reinvigorate my confidence, and lift up my soul. That's why fellowship with my brethren is so very important. My faith is built upon hearing God's word and God's past acts. It builds my faith to believe that God is faithful and he will do it again. If not in this lifetime, he will vindicate me in the life to come. This builds my hope, comforts my soul, and strengthens my spirit to continue this journey. Even Christ while on the cross, quoted this psalm: "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" But he did not quote it in despair. He quoted it in hope, knowing that God the Father would vindicate him at the resurrection. He quoted it mindful of his Father's faithfulness.

Father, in my darkest hours, help me remember your faithfulness throughout time. May the Scriptures ring in my head as a reminder of your power and love. May your faithfulness to me in the past come to mind as well. May I recall your faithfulness to my brethren. Comfort me, strengthen me, and revive my trust in you because you are faithful. Amen.

Psalm 21 Almighty God

2010-02-09T07:26:00.000-06:00

One of the most basic things we learn about God is that he is all powerful. His strength is capable of anything. There is nothing he cannot do. On the other hand, we know that as human beings we are limited and frail. There is only so much we can do with our might and strength. Actually, our might and strength, as limited as it may be, is a derived power from God himself. He has chosen to grant us power and strength to achieve and create and overcome, but it will never be like his.

One of the greatest sins I can commit is to think that the limited power that I have comes from myself and it blinds me from seeing Almighty God as the source. I end up exalting myself above God which is idolatry. When my soul is steep in sin, it cannot enjoy life. I cannot be fully human as God created me to be because I have neglected my Creator. Peace, security, love and joy escape me when I trust my own strength and forget the Almighty God. But when I trust in the Almighty God, he promises to bless. Blessed is to be happy, full of peace, security, love, and joy. These things are only possible with God.

How can I feel secure in my own strength when I don't have the power to control what goes on in the world, never mind in the universe? Only God has that power and I find great comfort to trust in him. It is like trusting in yourself going into a fight against a gang when you only weight 100 lbs. and have no self-defense skills. But to trust in God is like going into a fight with your dad who is well built and holds a few black belts in different styles of the martial arts. O what peace and comfort it brings to trust in an Almighty God!

Unfortunately, time and again, my selfishness and pride arise to set itself up against God forgetting my place and failing to acknowledge his. We think that the greatest evil we can practice is to kill another human being or rob a bank. But the greatest evil we are capable of begins with setting ourselves in the place of God; to think of ourselves as so very capable and strong without need of his help. The truth is that we are totally dependent on God and the sooner I can acknowledge that and live it out, the sooner I'll enjoy his blessings. It is best to join David and proclaim:

13 Be exalted, O Lord, in your strength!

We will sing and praise your power.

Father, you are God Almighty, Creator of heavens and earth, Creator of my life. Teach me your ways that I may exalt you for your strength and power because there is no one like you. May I trust in your strength today and forevermore. Amen.

Psalm 20 Trust in God Alone

2010-02-08T08:09:00.000-06:00

At a very young age, my mother taught me not only to fear God, but to trust him. She was an excellent model of devotion to God for me. I remember during my times of sickness growing up that my mom would give me my medicine and while she was giving me a spoonful of some yucky syrup, she would say: "In the name of God." She then would follow up saying: "Medicine is great, but we should trust our God."

Today, we enjoy many advances in technology, medicine, weapons, and communications. Our trust should not be in those things, but in God. In the times of David, people looked up to chariots and horses as the latest and greatest in warfare. The might of an army was measured by how many men, chariots, and horses they had. David explains that those things collapse and fall. There is nothing in this world that we can rely on forever. At some point it will be destroyed or replaced with something else.

Those who trust God rise and stand upright! They are able to stand firm throughout this life and the life to come. No matter the circumstances of life, they stand firm because God is their helper and strength. Because God listens to the prayers of his people. Because God fights for his people. Because God sustains the weak and the helpless.

Where is my trust? Is it in my job? Is it in money? Is it in my house? Is it in my family? Is it in retirement? Is it in my health? Is it in education? What is it that I think makes me powerful and secure in this world? Whatever it is, it will not last. I can have it today and lose it tomorrow. God wants me to trust him alone for all things in life. Everything else is just a blessing; a tool that can be used for good works. But my heart should not be confident in any of them. My heart should be confident in God alone for he will be with me forever and no one can take that away from me in this life or the life to come.

Father, teach me to trust in you alone. Help me to give up my trust and confidence in the stuff of this life and bank all my confidence in your promises. Amen.

Psalm 19 The Law of the Lord is Perfect

2010-02-05T08:45:00.000-06:00

Creation speaks with a loud voice concerning the glories of our Creator. The heavens, the sky, the day, and the night reveal the knowledge of the Almighty. David writes: "There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard." Every human being is struck by the glory of God as he contemplates nature.

Alongside Nature, there is another voice that sings in harmony the glories of our God. It is the voice of Revelation through the Scriptures. David describes the Scriptures as perfect, sure, right, pure, clean, and true. On top of that, he describes the effects that Scripture has upon the person: revives the soul, makes the wise the simple, rejoices the heart, and enlightens the eyes. This list of characteristics and benefits is long enough to entice our souls to run to the Scriptures every day of our lives.

To top it all off, David says: "...by them your servant is warned..." The Scriptures serve the purpose of warning us of our own errors. "Who can discern his errors?" Given my propensity to defend myself from wrongdoing, it is imperative to rely on the Scriptures as the one that pinpoints with grace and love the faults in my life. God promises to clear me of my sins if I only come to him in confession and repentance. God also promises to protect me from being controlled by my sin and sets me free to live for him.

The long term benefit of coming to the Scriptures is: "...in keeping them there is great reward." I look forward to my reward for living my life according to the Scriptures with the help of God through his Spirit. The ultimate effects of feeding on the Scriptures in the here and now is the regulation of my words and my thoughts and motivations: "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer."

Father, help me value the Scriptures as the voice the proclaims your glories and may I feast in it to reap its benefits in my life. May I never forget your word, or become disinterested. Revive in me a passion for your Word that I may grow in you. Amen.

Psalm 18 The Lord is for Us!

2010-02-04T08:09:00.001-06:00

As I read this long song of celebration for victory over enemies, I could not help myself from looking for God's qualities that inspired David to write it. David, after a long time of persecution and unjust treatment by many, finally enjoys justice. His enemies have been taken care of in one way or another and David celebrates his victory with all his heart.

What is God for me in the midst of my battle? For David it was literal enemies, but for me, I know that I don't battle against flesh and blood but against the powers of darkness. In my battle of faith, how does the Lord show himself on my behalf? David calls the Lord "my strength." In the midst of battle when my strength seems to fail, God sustains me - he is my strength. It is important to note how personal David gets with God and this is how I should pursue him - as MY GOD! Sometimes I want to battle on my own strength and forget about the endless supply of strength I have in my God. "I can do all things through him who strengthens me."(Phil.4:13)

God is "my rock." Rock is a solid foundation that cannot be moved as opposed to sand that shifts very easily. God is the foundation of my life and nothing can move me from my stand to serve my God. Obedience to his commands places me on a solid foundation that no enemy of mine can move.

God is "my fortress." A fortress is a place of refuge from danger and distress. God serves as my refuge. In the battle of faith, God's presence is the place where I desire to be. In his presence there is cover from the dangers of the battle. An oasis for the soul to recover and replenish.

God is "my deliverer." When the enemy has an upper hand upon my life, the Lord comes through and delivers me from his hand. The implication here is to save or to rescue. It means my life is in danger and needs the intervention of someone to get me out because I can't do it on my own.

God is "my shield." In the heat of battle when the enemy is pursuing with arrow shots, the shield serves as protection against those shots. The shield functions by standing between the shot and the body and preventing any harm to the body. My God stands in the way of the shots of my enemy and prevents any harm to my soul.

God is "my salvation." Salvation also implies rescue. When my life is in danger, God is my salvation. But I can't forget that the salvation implied here is not just of my physical life. Actually, I may not be saved in this life from becoming a martyr, but it is the salvation of my soul. God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, Jesus Christ, so that all who believe in him shall be saved. I have eternal life through the salvation God has brought forth for me.

God is "my stronghold." A stronghold is a strategic place that has been fortified for battle. God is not only my refuge when I need to get away from battle for a breather, but he is in the midst of battle with me as I wage battle day by day against my foes.

Father, may I constantly seek you and rely on you in the midst of battle. When I feel faint, may I be reminded that you are there for me as my strength, my rock, my fortress, my deliverer, my shield, my salvation, and my stronghold. In you I find refuge! Amen.

Psalm 17 Vindication

2010-02-02T07:29:00.000-06:00

While in this world, Christians will always be despised by unbelievers. The scientific community says we are closed minded, social groups say we are fanatics, and others just plain think religion is not the way to go. But as long as we are on this planet, we are called to be witnesses for the kingdom of God. We should never hide our light from the world. Unfortunately, the accusations that come against us are sometimes heavy upon us and a cry for vindication arises in our hearts. The desire to be clear of blame or even suspicion is a cry for justice deep within our hearts. Unfortunately, we are not to take justice in our own hands and vindication comes from the Lord.

In this lament in Psalm 17, David cries out to the Lord for the many false accusation made against him and pleads with the Lord for his vindication. If there is one thing I can learn from this Psalm is that I need to pray when I feel that I have been mistreated, falsely accused, or misjudged. Prayer in the presence of God makes the difference between bitterness and resentment and fullness of joy. Whether the accusations come from the world or from brothers and sisters, I am to seek God with all my heart.

Though David was asking for God to act in the here and now, he realizes that vindication sometimes will not be exacted until the end of times. He was content to exclaim:

"15 As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness."

We may never receive our vindication in this lifetime. Many prophets and servants of God did not receive theirs while in this life. But one day, we will be vindicated in full. For now, we should behold God's face and look forward to the day when we awake and will be satisfied with his likeness. That day will come! We will be vindicated! Come, Lord Jesus, come!

Father, fill my heart with joy everlasting. May I seek you and find in you my refuge. Give me endurance to wait for my full vindication on that day. Don't let my heart become resentful or bitter while I await.
Amen.

Psalm 16 Fullness of Joy

2010-02-01T08:11:00.000-06:00

Many times, I have sought happiness and joy in all the wrong places. Family, work, human love are only some of them. As much satisfaction and joy family, work, and relationships can bring to one's life they are all temporary, short lived. The birth of a child awakens one to the mystery of life, but it also is a slap in the face to the reality of sickness, suffering, and the frailty of life. The work of one's hands brings great satisfaction after a job well done, but it does not last. Soon enough, one accomplishment calls for another and there is no end to the sequel to relive the joy. Human love is also so imperfect and frail, plagued with betrayal, mistrust, and many disappointments.

Where can I find fullness of joy? A joy that remains even when my circumstances change. A joy that has no end to its supply. A joy that does not depend on my work or lack of it. According to Psalm 16, that joy is found in God alone. David declares: "You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you." To have this everlasting joy in my life, I must declare God the Lord of my life. In reality, he is the Lord of my life whether I accept it or not. But God is looking for my surrender to his sovereign rule. Choosing to live as a rebel in God's kingdom is a sure formula for disaster and lack of joy.

Secondly, I must have confidence that God, as the sovereign ruler of my life, is my benefactor, my refuge. He has my best interest in mind. Therefore, I have confidence in him. This confidence brings also contentment in life. David says: "The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places." Using the imagery of the division of the land and plot allotment, he confesses contentment with the portion God has assigned to his life. If I want true joy, I must learn to be content with my portion in life. Some will be rich. Some will be poor. Whatever my lot, I will be content in God.

Thirdly, David says: "I have set the Lord always before me." If one wants to experience true joy, joy everlasting, one must intentionally, and purposefully seek God's counsel and reflect upon that counsel even as one lies in bed at night. God promises to make known "the path of life" that leads to that joy.

Father, help me live my life in submission to your rule. Fill me with thoughts of confidence and contentment in you for the life you have given. Show me the path of life that I may walk in your presence with everlasting joy. Amen.

Psalm 15 Heart of Worship

2010-01-29T07:53:00.000-06:00

Psalm 15 asks the questions:"O Lord, who shall sojourn in your tent? Who shall dwell on your holy hill?" The answer to these questions describes the kind of person that is welcome in God's presence; the kind of worshipper that perks God's interest. Jesus described the kind of worshipper the Father is seeking. In his words:

John 4:23 "But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

The description of the ideal worshipper highlights heart issues and not form. It goes deep into the motivations and desires of a person. The one who is acceptable in God's presence is one who goes beyond the practice of the Law into the spirit of the Law. Take note of some of the things mentioned: walks blamelessly, does what is right, speaks truth in his heart, does not slander with his tongue, does no evil to his neighbor, does not take a reproach against his friend.

If we take seriously our worship to our God, if we desire to live in his presence, we must strive to be people of character and integrity as described by Psalm 15. Not that we have achieved such status, but that we are striving for it with all our hearts. This psalm is a good mirror for me to take a look at who I really am and evaluate my intentions and motivations in my daily conduct. It cuts through performances and appearances to address the heart.

The person that practices these things with honesty and sincerity, not only enjoys the presence of God in his life, but also has the promise of stability - "shall never be moved." The promise of stability is not only for this life in the here and now, but it is for all eternity.

Father, change my heart to be one who desires to be in your presence more than anything else in life. Transform my motives and desires to match yours so that I may develop character and live a life of integrity with the promise of stability forever. Amen.

Psalm 14 We Are All Fools

2010-01-28T07:21:00.000-06:00

Foolishness in the Bible has nothing to do with being dumb. Foolishness is all about moral character. A foolish person in the Bible is a person lacking good sense or judgment from a moral perspective. It is a person with a lack of moral character, corrupt, estranged from God, and constantly breaking God's Law.

From Psalm 10, we learned that the unbelieving, foolish heart says: "There is no God." Again, it does not mean that they don't believe in God's existence, but their lifestyles certainly don't show it. They are corrupt, practice abominable deeds, and there is no one who practices good. Our culture and some religions believe that mankind is inherently good. But the Bible tells us that we are not inherently good. We are capable of many good things, but deep down, we have a foolish heart. Many good deeds can be performed with the wrong motivation and with very self-serving purposes.

When God looks down from the heavens, he does not find among human beings, one person who is good - in the biblical sense, with moral character and integrity, a person who is in relationship with God and never violates his law. There is none to be found. We are all sinners. I am a sinner. What then? What is our plight if God cannot stand the presence of sin and sinners will not stand on the day of judgment? The only solution to this problem is salvation. Humanity needs a Savior. We need to be saved from our sin to be able to enjoy the blessings of God.

The psalmist exclaims: "Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!" And it has! The salvation plan is this: that God himself would come into the world to pay the penalty for our sin. The innocent dies for the guilty to fulfill all justice and be able to offer heaven, eternal life, as the reward for all those who trust in that salvation. We must trust in our Savior. Our Lord Jesus Christ. It is the only way to be saved from my foolishness, corruption.

Father, thank you for the salvation plan. Thanks for sending your Son Jesus Christ into the world to save us. Help me trust in him every day of my life that I may not be consumed by my foolishness. May I convey your salvation plan unto others. Amen.

Psalm 13 How Long?

2010-01-26T07:04:00.000-06:00

When I was dating my wife Ana, I decided once to pay her a visit by surprise. She was working near the capital city and she was living near work. I was a College student and was living three hours away. My plan backfired because she wasn't at her apartment when I arrived. Her roommate told me she had left early in the day and was not sure when she was going to be back. I decided to wait for her. I remember how difficult it was to sit in wait, but my desire to see her was so strong that I waited over six hours to see her. I was certain that she would come to that place, and that certainty kept me there. After I saw her beautiful face, the hours did not seem that important anymore.

So it is in our wait for our King. Jesus has promised to return for his people and judge the living and the dead. At times, it seems he is not going to show up, especially in times of difficulty. But we know his promises are true. Faith is to follow God with assurance and immunity to doubt trusting in his promises for today and hoping in his promises for our future. We can trust that Jesus will come back to settle the score between the just and the unjust. We can count on God coming to restore Creation and redeem us from evil, injustice, pain, and suffering.

Trust is what God wants from me. A trust that compels me to obey his commandments. A trust that keeps me wondering of the day and the hour in which he will come. A trust that rejoices in the wait though it is long and painful. A trust that keeps me on the edge with expectation. A trust that simply will not quit no matter how long the wait is.

Jesus has not left us alone. We have the Holy Spirit in us who offers us a taste of eternity day by day. He comforts us and ministers to us in our hour of distress. He allows us to experience some of the joy and delight of being in the presence of God Almighty. He offers us day by day so many gifts and blessings that make us sing out of thanksgiving and keep us waiting patiently, enduring all circumstances of life.

How long must we wait until the return of our King? No one knows. Psalm 13 tells me that I must contemplate the salvation that God has given me and count my blessings. This will move my heart to understand that what I wait for is so much better than this world and so worth the wait. It will move me to even sing.

Father, grant me patience to wait for your Son. Help me rejoice in the salvation you have given as I count my blessings. Place a song in my heart for you every day.

Psalm 12 God's Word Can Be Trusted

2010-01-25T08:00:00.000-06:00

There is a biblical story in 1Kings19 about Elijah. After having a great victory over the prophets of Baal, Elijah is pursued by Jezebel, a very wicked woman. He flees to the wilderness and wants to die. His complaint before God is that he is the only one left to serve the Lord surrounded by the wicked of his generation. But spoke to Elijah and made him see that he was not alone; there were many more faithful ones like him that he did not know about. God encouraged him to gain strength and continue the battle of faith without giving up.

Psalm 12 speaks of a generation that is wicked and oppressing to the righteous. The psalmist, King David, feels like all the righteous ones have vanished and he is all alone left to deal with their evil lies and deceits. But the Lord promises to guard the faithful in this generation and he offers safety for the future. David is encouraged by God's Word. To him, the Word of God is pure - free from dross, impurities like refined silver (not once, but seven times refined). God's Word can be trusted!

The generation that we are living today is also a generation similar to David's time. Evil, injustice, pain, and suffering prevail. God promises to guard our hearts in the midst of a generation like this and he promises a better future of eternal life. I must trust God's Word. His promises are true. He will not allow me to be swallowed up by an unfaithful generation. He will guard my heart from being choked by it. I am not alone in the battle of faith. There are many others battling as well and trusting the promises of our God.

Father, fill my heart with faith to trust in your promises for today. Fill me also with hope as I trust in your promises for my future. Guard my heart from this generation. I await with eagerness my liberation. Amen.

Psalm 11 Confidence in Crisis

2010-01-22T07:40:00.000-06:00

My natural tendency in moments of crisis is to deny it, flee from it, and create a bubble for myself that will make me feel comfortable isolating myself from the people who can counsel me and keep me accountable. I flee like a bird to my own mountain. Is this the way I should behave when there is crisis? Of course not! Even in the face of pain, suffering, and injustice, God wants us to flee to HIS mountain and not ours. He wants us to know that he is still in his holy temple, that he sees what goes on, and that he tests his people through the circumstances of life.

Our confidence in crisis is in a God who is always on his throne ready to hear the plea of his people. Our confidence in crisis is in a God who has given purpose to everything that happens in life, even the most insignificant of events. Our confidence in crisis is in a God who tests his people through those crises to groom and grow our souls for the glory of his name. The Lord is in his holy temple!

Without a doubt, God's holy temple is in the heavens. He is enthroned above all of his creation. In addition to the reality that God is over all his creation, we have the perspective of the new covenant in which we are the holy temple of God. God is enthroned in our hearts and reigns in our individual lives. My confidence is multiplied 100x when I understand that I serve a God who is not only reigning over all creation, but he reigns over my insignificant life every day of my life. I am the holy temple of God!

The promise for those who follow after righteousness, even in the midst of the most intense crisis, is that they will behold God's face - an expression that highlights the intimacy we can have with God in the midst of a crisis. When I feel like I am fainting in a crisis, God wants me to run to his throne and seek his help. Since I am the temple of God, I can do this anywhere at anytime. God promises to allow me to contemplate his being and benefit from the power of his presence. Hallelujah!

Father, may I flee to your throne when crisis strikes my life. May I find you there and behold your face. Amen.

Psalm 10 The Unbelieving Heart

2010-01-21T07:39:00.000-06:00

According to Psalm 10, there are certain things the unbelieving heart tells itself. It is sort of a self-talk that resonates throughout the day. The first one is: "There is no God." Even if unbelievers may intellectually assent to the existence of God, their lifestyles proclaim that he does not exist in reality. Living life completely independent from a relationship with God is a statement that, even if there is one, I am not interested in him. Even as believers, we may struggle at times with the understanding that God exists. God calls me to have faith in him - to trust him and obey him because he is interested in having a relationship with me at a very personal level.

The other thing that the unbelieving heart tells itself is "I shall not be moved; throughout all generations I shall not meet adversity." This is some kind of invincibility that defies life every day. Other people have car accidents; others suffer diseases; others lose their homes to an earthquake, but not me. It is to live in denial of even the possibility of pain and suffering knocking at my door. Unfortunately, it is a rude awakening for me when I am struck by pain, suffering, or injustice. God does not call me to be invincible or even think that I am invincible. He calls me to depend on him to provide all that I need even when I walk through such extenuating circumstances.

Another thought that comes from the unbelieving heart is: "God has forgotten, he has hidden his face, he will never see it." This thought becomes a comforting thought especially for those who practice evil regularly. But it can strike even the most devout believer in a moment of weakness. The only way I can entertain this though is to forget or ignore who God really is. He is Omniscient, he is all knowing. There is nothing hidden from him. He is Omnipresent, he is ever present everywhere. There is nowhere I can go to hide from him. Everything in my life is an open book to him. He knows my thoughts, my motivations, and my actions. He calls me to rein them in to conform to his commandments and teachings.

The last thought found in Psalm 10 that comes from an unbelieving heart is: "You will not call to account." It is also a comforting thought for those who practice evil on a regular basis and even for the devout in a moment of weakness. Many believe that God is so good that he will never call anyone to account. But God is also a God of justice and must judge those who break his law. Believing that God does not call to account becomes a license to practice whatever my selfish desires want. It is to throw away all boundaries. It is to believe I can get away with murder. Fortunately, God is still on his throne and he has promised to judge the living and the dead on that day.

Father, quiet down my soul when these thoughts arise from my own heart. Grant me faith to know that you exist, that you see me, that you take note of all I think, say, and do. Help me trust in you in my hour of pain and suffering. Help me believe in Judgment Day and live with the expectation that you will call me to account. Amen.

Psalm 9:7-10 God's Justice is our Security

2010-01-19T07:20:00.000-06:00

Lady Justice depicts justice by the symbols she bears. The sword symbolizes the court's coercive power; the scales in her hand represent competing claims that are weighed; and the blindfold represents impartiality in doing so. As good a system our justice may be, it has one great flaw: humans are the ones weighing and coercing. Humans are limited in knowledge, wisdom, and power.

Psalm 9 depicts God as the King enthroned to rule with justice. He is the one who is keeping track of our lives. One day, he will call everyone to give an account for everything. God will weight every thought, word, and deed. God is Almighty to enforce his law. God is truly impartial in his judgments. God is truly just.

The knowledge that God rules with justice and the promise of a Judgment Day brings security to the believer's life. We have a God we can trust. His promise enables us to relinquish revenge and embrace love. Our relationship with him compels us to seek truth and practice impartiality ourselves.

Our security is not in the justice system of this earth. It is not found in an alarm system installed in our homes and cars. It is not in our bank accounts, retirement funds, or medical plans. Our security is in a God who rules with justice and one day will exact justice upon the whole earth for the dead and the living. It enables us to love and suffer with endurance and patience until that day.

Father, may the knowledge of your justice fill my mind and heart and give me the security I need. May I always trust you. Don't allow me to wander away from you to seek security in other things or people. May I live with a great sense of expectation for Judgment Day. Amen.

Psalm 8 God's Majesty and Concern for Mankind

2010-01-18T08:01:00.000-06:00

The name of God is a representation of the person and character of God. Actually, that is one of the reasons for God having many different names. Each name highlights an attribute of God. To say that the name of God is majestic is to say that God is majestic - having impressive beauty and dignity - worthy of high honor and respect due to a high position and ranking.

Psalm 8 speaks of God as the Creator of all there is. The heavens are the work of his fingers. He set the moon and the stars. He created all the heavenly beings, and the creatures of the earth including mankind. God is majestic because he created all that exists. Yet, the Psalm asks the question: Why is a God as majestic as you concerning himself with mankind? It does not give an answer. Instead, it describes the concern and care of God for mankind even in creation.

We have been created a little lower than the heavenly beings, yet there is no other creature that enjoys the glory and honor that God has given us. God has given mankind dominion over everything else that is created - earth, animals, birds, everything. We have been set as kings and queens over the earth. It is not an independent power, but a derived one from him. We are the only creatures that bear the image of God upon ourselves meaning that we have been imparted with powers of reason, affection, and will. All these have been given to honor and serve God all the days of our lives.

We have been set upon the earth with great powers, but it also calls for great responsibilities. We are stewards of God's creation. God, in his concern and care, has made us very privileged people by giving us dominion over all that exists.

God deserves to be praised due to the majesty of his name. But mankind should add praises to praises because of his concern and care for mankind out of his grace and love.

O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Psalm 7 When Slandered...

2010-01-15T07:34:00.001-06:00

Some time ago, I was falsely accused of covering up the sin of a friend. In reality, I did not know about his sin and never set out to cover it up before other people. The unfair criticism of the people against me brought much pain to my life during those agonizing months. But there wasn't much I could do about it. Only time would allow the truth to surface and in the meantime, I had to endure the abuse. The truth is that I could not endure it on my own strength. My God became the source of strength I needed to stay above water.

Psalm 7 is a psalm for all who are suffering because of slander or unfair criticism. Cush, a Benjamite made some accusing remarks against David for which he suffered greatly. Instead of exacting revenge, David prays to the Lord for strength. We can learn a thing or two on how to respond to slander as we read this psalm.

First, we are to run to the Lord as our refuge to find safety in him and no one else, and nothing else. Then, as we pray to our God, we can make our claim of innocence before him, since no one else may believe us. Through prayer, we also keep a long term perspective on how those who slander will pay unless they repent. God is our judge and all these matters will be dealt with in the future by him personally. We need to surrender our desire to make them pay and turn them to God for payment. At the end of the psalm, we find that David ends with thanksgiving and worship. Ultimately, after processing our pain before God and relinquishing our desire for revenge, we can give thanks and praise his name.

My initial reaction to slander and unfair criticism is to lash out against my accusers. But that only stirs up more strife. At times, I felt the desire to run away from the problem, but we all know that running away would not solve anything. Many times, I felt like giving the cold shoulder with silent treatment by distancing myself from those brothers and sisters, but that would damage the environment of love and peace in the church. I most certainly don't want to be the culprit of such terrible negativity in the church.

Slander is painful. Unfair criticism is just that: unfair. But living these experiences teaches me to depend on God and make him my refuge. It helps me to see God as the Judge of injustice and not myself. When I learn to pray like David, I am set free to give thanks and worship my God. Ultimately, time will tell if what people say of me is true or not.

Father, when slandered, help me run to you right away. May I pray like David in your presence. Become my refuge and strength that I may be grateful and worship your name. Amen.

Psalm 6 O Lord, Deliver My Life

2010-01-14T07:17:00.000-06:00

Many years ago, I was sick with a fever but did not want to stay in bed. Against the will of my parents, I snuck out the house to play. My peers were racing downhill with carts made out of wood and ball-bearings. I decided to race myself though I was not fit to do so. Unfortunately, I lost control of my cart and hit a car around the corner at the end of the hill. I tried to walk up the hill again and collapsed on the street. My family took me to the hospital and X-Rays showed no broken bones. But the fact was that I could not walk. I spent the good part of the next month in bed unable to do anything on my own. As I was in bed and reflected upon my plight, I realized that I had been very obstinate in my disobedience and I cried for deliverance.

Tragic events in our lives have the power to transform our souls. In Psalm 6, David also cries for deliverance as he introspectively examines his own life and realizes that he needs God to transform it. The appeal that David makes is not for the sake of his own goodness, or his deeds, not even his belief. He appeals to the steadfast love of the Lord. God's mercy and compassion, love and grace are the reasons for our appeal before him to deliver us. For the sake of his steadfast love, God will listen to his people when in distress. But it is important for us to present ourselves before our God with an open heart, honestly admitting the state of our souls.

I was transformed by that accident. My attitude towards life, family, and God changed forever. Today, I stand by the grace of God. He responded to my cry for deliverance for the sake of his steadfast love.

Father, thank you for lessons learned in the past and don't let me forget. Help me have a heart that is always seeking after you every day of my life. May my distress become a lesson that benefits my soul.
Amen.

Psalm 5 Lead Me In Your Righteousness

2010-01-13T06:12:00.000-06:00

The Greeks thought that righteousness was a virtue. The Jews thought righteousness was achieved by works. But righteousness is a relational term. We are not born with it and we cannot work for it. David prays to God: "Lead me in your righteousness." True righteousness is born out of faith in God, particularly in his ability to judge and to save. Righteousness is present in the life of the believer who lives in faith that God’s justice/judgment/salvation will usher in a new heaven and a new earth where righteousness dwells. Righteousness is not passive; it is to be pursued because ultimately, righteousness is found in God and we should pray that he leads us in his righteousness not our own or any other's.

As we live our lives in this world, we can trust that God, in his righteousness, will always love what is right and always hate what is evil. There is no chance for anyone who sets his life towards wickedness. God in his righteousness, justice, and love will not allow this to happen. But we must set our hearts towards God and submit to him as our God and King. Like David, we must seek him in prayer every day.

Many are alarmed by David's prayers against unbelievers. Yet, we must remember that the people David speaks of are people who have set their unrepentant hearts against God and gloat in their wicked ways. David's prayers serve as a reminder to the faithful that the wicked will be judged and not get away with their sinful lifestyles. It is also a reminder to the wicked themselves that what awaits them is a final judgment where God will call them to accountability and condemn them if their is no repentance.

But the one who makes God his refuge will rejoice with songs of joy. God promises favor and protection to those who seek him. One must not think that the protection that God offers is to spare us from difficulties in life. No! Many more times than not, the protection of God is for our souls that we may not faint in our faith in the midst of our trials and tribulations in life. Through the ordeals of life, God promises to be a shield for our souls that we may continue to walk with him through it all; that his righteousness may continue to lead our lives.

Father, lead me in your righteousness. Enable me to seek you day by day to walk with you on the path you have chosen for me. Shield my heart from wickedness that I may serve you with joy. Amen.

Psalm 4 God is a Call Away

2010-01-12T07:39:00.000-06:00

When I first became a follower of Christ, I was ridiculed by family and friends about my new found faith. They called me freak, religious, fanatic, holy roller, etc. I remember the many times that their name-calling just got to me and made me furious. At times, I would lie in bed and ponder on the events of the day wishing at times that God would show up and do something about these people. But then, I would call on the Lord and he would deliver me from those bad thoughts.

David wrote this song in Psalm 4 that deals with the same issue. But though he was taunted by his enemies concerning his God and his faith, he counsels to ponder and not sin; to trust in the Lord and continue to be faithful in his service; to call on the Lord and he would answer. "4 Be angry, and do not sin; ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent."

Instead of allowing anger to brew more sin, he ponders on the goodness of God and all the joy he has provided for his life. In his meditations, he has concluded: "7 You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound." The benefits of serving the Lord are so much greater than our grievances that it should fill us with peace and allow us to have a great night sleep to prepare to do it all over again the next day.

God calls me to trust him; to call on him when in distress; and to recall all his blessings when I think I am treated unjustly in this world. God is only a call away. When I do so, I will find joy and peace that will enable me to sleep well. I will be able to cry out like David: "8 In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety."

Father, help me to trust you. Enable me to call on you when in distress. Fill my mind with thoughts of your goodness that I may rejoice in you every day and that I may be in peace to sleep well every night. Amen.

Psalm 3 Save me, OMG!

2010-01-11T07:17:00.002-06:00

While visiting Aqaba, Jordan, I went out snorkeling to take a peek at its beautiful coral reefs and fish. The view was spectacular. Unfortunately, the current had dragged me quite a distance from shore and I was not able to swim back. It did not matter how hard I tried, I just got tired and could not go on. Fortunately, there were ropes installed offshore for snorkelers like me. I hung unto the rope and cried out for help. A lifeguard heard me and came to rescue me. He dragged me all the way to shore safely.

In Psalm 3, David cries out to the Lord in his time of distress. He was being persecuted by his own son and his life was in danger. In the midst of his distress he cries out to the Lord with an OMG (O My God). Here is the proper use of an OMG - as a call unto the Lord in the midst of our distress. The Lord listened to his prayer and he was able to sleep because all his fears left him.

On many occasions, I have been in great distress. Whether it be due to lack of money to pay the bills, or sickness striking one of my kids, or stress in a close relationship, all these tend to rob me of my peace. The anxiety does not allow me to even sleep. Under such circumstances, like David, I have cried out to God to save me from my distress. And he did. Salvation belongs to the Lord!

I have experienced first hand, like David, that the Lord is a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. The Lord offers protection from distress to the point of making us able to sleep well in peace. He is our glory, the one in whom we take great pleasure and delight. When we call on him, he soothes our soul with his very presence. His is the lifter of our head, the one who encourages us in the midst of our ordeal. God not only saves our souls from eternal condemnation, but in the here and now, he saves us from the distress of life trying to choke faith out of us. It is important to note that David's circumstances did not change immediately, but he changed right away when he called upon the Lord.

So, when in distress, cry out to the Lord: "Save me, O My God!"

Father, help me to cry out to you in my time of distress and realize that you are able and willing to rescue me. Amen

Psalm 2:11-12 Take Refuge

2010-01-08T05:56:00.000-06:00

While I was living in Puerto Rico, during one hurricane season, a flood ensued due to much rain. I was driving at the time and I noticed that down the road a flow of water was coming my way dragging cars and whatever else along the way. I had the opportunity to turn away from the flood by getting on the sidewalk and a gravel patch to climb to higher ground and take refuge until the flood subsided. I was safe because I took refuge.

We are living in very uncertain times. The economy, the war, and the healthcare reform have everyone talking about what it will be. Unfortunately, many look up to our President as the one who can provide the certainty we need in life and ignore the true ruler who can be a true refuge for our lives despite the circumstances. Psalm 2 is a song with lyrics that uncover the plot of the nations to overthrow Israel and proclaims its Messiah as the only true refuge in times of uncertainty.

Jesus, the Messiah, our King is the only refuge. But for him to be our refuge, we must submit to him as our King and worship him. We must serve him wholeheartedly as the only ruler of our lives. Jesus, the Anointed One, came into the world to become the ruler of all nations, and not just of our individual souls. One day, he will sit on a throne above all nations and those who made him their refuge will rejoice with him. Unfortunately, those who reject him as King will be judged by him.

"Blessed are all who take refuge in him." Let's take refuge in Jesus!

Father, grant me the heart's desire to make your Son my refuge. Fill me with your Spirit to submit to his rule, worship him with joy, and serve him with all my strength. Amen.

Psalm 1:1-3 Happy New Year!

2010-01-07T07:26:00.001-06:00

As the year 2009 was ending and the new year 2010 was beginning, I received the good will wishes of many who told me: Happy New Year! In return, I also bestowed the well intended wishes upon them. If the truth be told, neither of us have the power to bestow happiness upon anyone. It is only a desire. Even if strong, it is not enough to guarantee happiness. Where is the true source of happiness? How can we get it?

The true source of happiness is not a place, but a person. It is God! Blessing is the biblical language for happiness. It is to enjoy the favor of God Almighty with all the benefits: peace, joy, love, etc. God is the only source of blessing in the universe because blessing is directly tied to having a relationship with him. No one else can offer it! The question is how can I get it? It must be understood that blessings are bestowed by God upon his people by grace - unmerited favor. But far from thinking that there is nothing I must do to enjoy the blessings of God, there are conditions to enjoy them.

Psalm 1 gives two pictures to indicate the kind of person God blesses. On the one hand, it describes the person by way of what it ought not to do. In other words, it paints the picture of what a person lacking blessing does and says: "don't do that." He avoids walking in the counsel of the wicked, or standing in the way of sinners, or sitting in the seat of scoffers. Notice the progression from walking to standing to sitting. This is the picture of someone progressively being sucked in by evil as he seeks counsel for his life. By contrast, the second picture is of a person whose delight is in the law of the Lord and meditates upon it day and night - a tree planted by streams of water yielding fruit.

When I am confused and in need of counsel, I should run to my Great Counselor and listen to his Word. I am to avoid seeking counsel from the culture, the world, the tarot cards, the horoscope, even my own imaginations and feelings. God is the one who designed me and understands what I need. I must run to him. Seeking counsel from the wicked will only put me on a path of estrangement from God and miss out on his blessings.

If I want to have a true Happy New Year, I must make my relationship with God a priority. I must make his Word my source of counsel and delight in it day and night.

Father, fill me with your Spirit to desire your presence and your Word more than anything on this earth so that I may enjoy your blessings.

The 12 Days of Christmas - Days 11-12

2010-01-06T05:57:00.000-06:00

The 12 Days of Christmas - Day Eleven
Hindsight

By Mary Fairchild, About.com Guide

Hindsight

"Life has to be lived forwards but it can only be understood backwards."
- Søren Kierkegaard

"Trust in the LORD with all your heartAnd lean not on your own understanding;In all your ways acknowledge him,And he will make your paths straight."

(NIV)

"Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding?"

(NIV)

Hindsight

If we could walk backwards through life, so many times of doubt and questioning would be erased from our path. But we would have also missed those desperate moments of trusting in the Lord, and clinging to Him for guidance.

The 12 Days of Christmas - Day Twelve
God Will Direct

By Mary Fairchild, About.com Guide

God Will Direct

"If this is to be a Happy New Year, a year of usefulness, a year in which we shall live to make this earth better, it is because God will direct our pathway. How important then, to feel our dependence upon Him!"
- Matthew Simpson

"I guide you in the way of wisdomAnd lead you along straight paths.When you walk, your steps will not be hampered;When you run, you will not stumble.Hold on to instruction, do not let it go;Guard it well, for it is your life.The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn,Shining ever brighter till the full light of day."

(NIV)

God Will Direct

Sometimes God brings a change or a challenge into our lives to shake up our dependence upon self and turn us back to dependence upon Him. We are closest to finding His will for our lives, our happiness and usefulness, when we are completely in the dark waiting for that first gleam of dawn, and depending fully upon Him to cause the sun to rise.

The 12 Days of Christmas - Days 9-10

2010-01-06T05:55:00.000-06:00

The 12 Days of Christmas - Day Nine
Eternal Glory

By Mary Fairchild, About.com Guide

Eternal Glory

"There is no improving the future without disturbing the present." - Catherine Booth

"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."

(NIV)

Eternal Glory

If our present day situation is disturbing to us, perhaps there's something beyond our natural sight in the works, but not yet accomplished. The trouble we face today may be acheiving an eternal purpose so much better than we can imagine. Remember that what we see right now is only temporary. What is most important, though we may not yet be able to see it, is eternal.

The 12 Days of Christmas - Day Ten
Forgiveness Focuses Forward

By Mary Fairchild, About.com Guide

Forgiveness Focuses Forward

Look not back on yesterday
So full of failure and regret;
Look ahead and seek God's way--
All sin confessed you must forget.
- Dennis DeHaan

"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."

(NIV)

"As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us."

(NIV)

Forgiveness Focuses Forward

As we come to the end of the year, so often we look back with regret on things we did not accomplish, or resolutions long forgotten. But sin is one thing we should never need to look back on with feelings of failure. If we have confessed our sins and asked God's forgiveness we simply need to keep a forward focus toward the goal of pleasing Christ.

The 12 Days of Christmas - Days 7-8

2010-01-06T05:53:00.000-06:00

The 12 Days of Christmas - Day Seven
A Christmas Candle

By Mary Fairchild, About.com Guide

A Christmas Candle

A Christmas candle is a lovely thing;
It makes no noise at all,
But softly gives itself away;
While quite unselfish, it grows small.
- Eva K. Logue

John the Baptist

"He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less."

(NLT)

A Christmas Candle

We are like a candle that holds the flame, burning strong and bright the light of Christ. We softly give ourselves away in worship of Him and service for Him, that we might become less and less, and that He might become greater and brighter through us.

The 12 Days of Christmas - Day Eight
Pleasing in Your Sight

By Mary Fairchild, About.com Guide

Pleasing in Your Sight

So remember while December
Brings the only Christmas day,
In the year let there be Christmas
In the things you do and say.
- Anonymous

"May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer."

(NIV)

Pleasing in Your Sight

The words we speak are reflections of our thoughts and meditations. These God-pleasing thoughts and words become pleasing in his sight because they will motivate us to Christ-like actions - that are seen and not just heard. Are your thoughts and words pleasing to the Lord every day and not just at Christmas or on Sunday mornings? Do you keep the spirit of Christmas alive in your heart all throughout the year?

The 12 Days of Christmas - Days 5-6

2010-01-03T06:41:00.000-06:00

The 12 Days of Christmas - Day Five
Not Alone at All

By Mary Fairchild, About.com Guide

Not Alone at All

"I am not alone at all, I thought. I was never alone at all. And that, of course, is the message of Christmas. We are never alone. Not when the night is darkest, the wind coldest, the word seemingly most indifferent. For this is still the time God chooses."
- Taylor Caldwell

"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: 'For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.' No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

(NIV)

Not Alone at All

When you feel the most alone, it may be the very moment when you are truly "least" alone at all. God is there in your darkest night and coldest wind. He may be so close you cannot see Him, but He is there. And perhaps He has chosen this moment to pull you closer to Him than you have ever been before.

The 12 Days of Christmas - Day Six
Come as a Child

By Mary Fairchild, About.com Guide

ome as a Child

"There's nothing sadder in this world than to awake Christmas morning and not be a child."
- Erma Bombeck

"He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: 'I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.'"

(NIV)

Come as a Child

Is there anything more exciting than being a child on Christmas morning? And yet this is what God asks of us each day, to change and become like little children. Not just on Christmas, but each day approaching our Father, God as a child, with excited anticipation of His goodness, and humbly trusting Him that every need will be met and every care will be under His control.

The 12 Days of Christmas - Days 3-4

2010-01-02T22:48:00.000-06:00

The 12 Days of Christmas - Day Three
Wonderful Impossibilities

By Mary Fairchild, About.com Guide

Wonderful Impossibilities

"When God intends to make something wonderful he begins with a difficulty. When he intends to make something very wonderful, he begins with an impossibility."
- Former Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord Coggan

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."

(NIV)

Wonderful Impossibilities

The birth of Jesus was not just a difficulty, it was an impossiblity. Mary was a virgin. Only God could breath life into her womb. And just as God caused her to conceive the perfect sinless Savior - fully God, fully human - He can accomplish through you, those things that seem impossible in your life.

The 12 Days of Christmas - Day Four
Make Room for More

By Mary Fairchild, About.com Guide

Make Room for More

Somehow, not only for Christmas,
But all the long year through,
The joy that you give to others,
Is the joy that comes back to you.
And the more you spend in blessing,
The poor and lonely and sad,
The more of your heart's possessing,
Returns to you glad.
- John Greenleaf Whittier

"If you give, you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full measure, pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, and running over. Whatever measure you use in giving--large or small--it will be used to measure what is given back to you."

(NLT)

Make Room for More

We have heard people say, "You can't out-give God." Well, you can't out-give yourself either! You don't need to be wealthy to possess a giving heart. Give a smile, lend an ear, extend a hand. However you give, God's promise is tried and tested, and you'll see the blessings return multiplied back to you.

The 12 Days of Christmas - Days 1-2

2010-01-01T10:28:00.001-06:00

Christmas does not end on December 25th! It is actually the beginning. The Christmas season extends all the way to January 6. For those of you who enjoy the 12 days of Christmas, here is a devotional resource for you: http://christianity.about.com/od/christmasdevotionals/qt/12dayschristmas.htm

May the joy of Christmas fill your hearts during this season and every day of the year.

The 12 Days of Christmas - Day One
The Greatest Christmas Gift

By Mary Fairchild, About.com Guide

The Greatest Christmas Gift

"This is Christmas: not the tinsel, not the giving and receiving, not even the carols, but the humble heart that receives anew the wondrous gift, the Christ."
- Frank McKibben

"And what a difference between our sin and God's generous gift of forgiveness. For this one man, Adam, brought death to many through his sin. But this other man, Jesus Christ, brought forgiveness to many through God's bountiful gift. And the result of God's gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man's sin. For Adam's sin led to condemnation, but we have the free gift of being accepted by God, even though we are guilty of many sins. The sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over us, but all who receive God's wonderful, gracious gift of righteousness will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ."

(NLT)

The Greatest Christmas Gift

Each year we are reminded that Christmas should not be just about giving and receiving presents. But if we really think about Christmas, it truly is all about gift giving! At Christmas we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the greatest gift ever given, by the greatest gift-giver of all, our wonderful God and Father!

The 12 Days of Christmas - Day Two
Laugh with Immanuel

By Mary Fairchild, About.com Guide

Laugh with Immanuel

"The implications of the name 'Immanuel' are both comforting and unsettling. Comforting, because He has come to share the danger as well as the drudgery of our everyday lives. He desires to weep with us and to wipe away our tears. And what seems most bizarre, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, longs to share in and to be the source of the laughter and the joy we all too rarely know."
- Michael Card

"All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 'The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel' - which means, 'God with us.'"

(NIV)

"Surely you have granted him eternal blessings and made him glad with the joy of your presence."

(NIV)

Laugh with Immanuel

Why do we turn to God so quickly in times of sorrow and struggle, in danger and fear, and forget Him in the times of joy and rejoicing? If God is the giver of joy and He is "God with us," then He must want to share in those moments of great joy - and even those times of silly laughter and fun.

Titus 2:11-14 Transforming Christmas

2009-12-26T08:29:00.004-06:00

Some believers want to transform Christmas. They complain that the name is not appropriate; that it has become too commercialized; they don't like the use of Xmas; condemn the use of trees; and state that December 25th is an unlikely date for Christ's birth. (If you want answers to these issues, go to answers.org)

Unbelievers are already at work transforming Christmas. They have emphasized Santa Claus, and elves, and reindeer with many gifts as the main thing of the holiday. Some oppose the nativity scene and the expression of faith in the public square.

Instead of transforming Christmas, we should allow Christmas to transform us. The story of Christmas teaches us what we are supposed to be transformed into. Christmas is the grace of God piercing time and history in the person of Jesus Christ to walk upon this earth to teach the kingdom of God and bring salvation to humanity - salvation from our sins, from our selfish nature, to restore in us his image and likeness. To make us godly people - people like God. Not like him in his divine nature, but like him in his character.

Godliness is not the result of my personal efforts, but the result of God's Grace (in Jesus Christ) at work in my life. To take credit for godliness - how much we conform to the character of God - is like taking credit for the growth of the tomatoes in your garden. You certainly take good care of them, but you cannot make them grow. God gives the growth and you provide the watering and fertilizing.

The grace of God (Jesus Christ) appeared! Christmas is all about celebrating this appearance (epiphany) in the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The grace of God saves us! Christ came to pay the ransom for our foolish, disobedient, deceived, and enslaved life. The grace of God trains (instructs, encourages, and corrects) us to renounce ungodliness through self-control, righteousness, and true godliness while we await the return of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The grace of God has the power to transform us into godly people by purifying us from our past lives (sins), pronouncing us justified (rendering us innocent), and making us eager (zealous, devoted) to do what is good (good works).

We should not try to transform Christmas into what we want it to be. We must submit, yield, surrender and allow Christmas to transform us. The grace of God that appeared saves me, trains me to transform me. Let's not forget  "Now there is great gain in godliness..." (1Tim. 6:6). Let us not give up on our garden of godliness.

Psalm 98 Christmas - Let's Celebrate!

2009-12-25T06:56:00.001-06:00

How do you celebrate Christmas? Maybe you go out on a shopping spree or decorate a tree or cook a succulent festive meal or bake some delicious cookies. Many gather together with family and friends, eat together, play games, watch movies, and have a great time. But what is the best way to celebrate Christmas?

Psalm 98 is a Messianic psalm that teaches us how to celebrate the coming of our awaited King. It begins by saying "Oh sing..." Song and music are languages of the soul. There are certain things you cannot express very well with a sentence or a phrase. There are certain things that you need to express in a more poetic fashion. The lyrics of a song or poem are charged with emotions and much energy in trying to express the innermost feelings and desires.

But the Psalter is clear that we are to sing to the Lord. Our songs are to be directed to one person alone. Our songs should not have us as the center of the song, or our feelings, or our circumstances. It should have the Lord Almighty and all that he has done for us as the center of what we want to express. After all, that is what worship is all about - singing the praises of God, exalting God for his deeds, admiring God for what he has done, etc. A song of praise should not be evaluated for what it makes us feel, but for what we are saying about God! The culture teaches us to appreciate the beat, the sensuality, the moves, but the lyrics are of outmost importance.

What are we to sing? A new song! This does not mean that I can’t sing the old songs anymore, or that I must compose new ones all the time, or that I must make a new arrangement for it. Or that a song for God is outlived after the first performance - No! It means it must be spontaneous and fresh as we give it. God wants our praise to be the result of an inner impulse - sincere and honest. God does not want our praise to be canned, frozen, or even preserved. He wants it fresh! It speaks more of the attitude with which it is sung than the content of the song itself.

Why are we, his people, to sing to him? "...for he has done marvelous things." We are to sing to our God

for the many things he has done, among which are: The working out of salvation and making it known motivated by his steadfast love and faithfulness to his people. God has done many things in my life, but nothing compares to the work of salvation he has brought to the world through Jesus Christ our Lord. That should be the greatest motivator to sing his praises.

How are we to sing? We are to sing with JOY! The concept of joy in the Scriptures is misunderstood because many believe that the Scriptures are telling us to be happy even if we don't feel like it, to smile even when we are eating sour grapes. Not at all! Joy is to have a sense of happiness because of our faith, hope, and love. We have a reason to celebrate, even in the midst of our darkest hour, because we have a God who loves us and we can trust him, we have promises we know he will fulfill one day, and our future is totally in his sovereign hands. Musical instruments become a channel for the expression of our joy to others.

Notice that the call is not only for God’s people, but for all peoples and all of creation! Even unbelievers are called to praise God because he is the Creator of all things and he deserves to be praised even by those who don’t believe. At the end of times, when our Lord returns and establishes his kingdom upon the earth, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that he is Lord! Everyone is supposed to worship him because he comes to judge the earth.

The first time he came in humility

The second time he will come in glory!

The first time he came to suffer

The second time he comes to celebrate!

The first time he came to die

The second time he comes to judge!

Christmas is God with us!

Christmas is the coming of our King to save us!

Christmas is celebrated with worship!

In light of the personal, physical, and imminent return of Christ - we must celebrate by worshipping our God during the Christmas season and every day of our lives.

Merry Christmas!

Advent Day 26

2009-12-24T08:07:00.000-06:00

DECEMBER 24 - DAY 26
Philippians 2:5-11
Dennis Hollinger

At Christmas we celebrate the incarnation. It is the story of God taking on human nature to live in a broken, fallen world with humans who are wounded, contentious and self-centered. It is through the incarnation that salvation for humanity is made possible.

But the incarnation of Christ is also a model for how we should live our lives. In the Church at Philippi, there were conflicts and rivalries among some members of the church. In Philippians 4, Paul pleads with members "to be of the same mind in the Lord" (v. 2) and work together for the cause of Christ.

In our text for today, Paul explains in more detail what the "mind of Christ" is and the way in which it can guide believers when they are in conflict with other brothers and sisters in Christ. We are reminded that our Lord, "Being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant." These words are part of an early Christian hymn that extolled a great doctrine, but one with very practical implications. Christians, following the pattern of their Lord, are called to lay aside rights, privileges and power in the service of the kingdom and in the service of others. In such actions, conflict and factions are overcome.

From the Alumni/ae Relations office of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.

Advent Day 25

2009-12-23T09:50:00.002-06:00

DECEMBER 23 - DAY 25
Psalm 46
Frank A. James
God With Us

Martin Luther loved Psalm 46 which was the inspiration for his 1527 hymn: "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.” Luther composed it in one of the most difficult years of his life. Overcome with anxiety (Anfechtungen), he was forced to his bed where spiritual battles tortured his mind and body.

"I spent more than a week in death and hell…Completely abandoned by Christ, I labored under the vacillations and storms of desperation and blasphemy against God.”

Struggling with his own depression, he turned to Psalm 46 and found a balm for his soul.

The Psalmist reminded Luther that when God’s people face any kind of trouble, they must remember this one thing: "God is with us.” Three times, the Psalmist makes this assertion.

To declare God is with us, does not mean we will experience no pain, no heartache, no disappointment, no failure. It does mean that God is with us in the trouble. He is our "refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” (v. 1) And so Luther’s hymn proclaims:

A Mighty Fortress is our God,
A bulwark never failing;
Our Helper He amid the flood

God’s presence means that He rules over the chaos, over the brokenness and messiness of our lives by entering into the trouble with us. He is not remote or removed from our trials—He is in it with us.

Matthew [1:23] specifically identifies Jesus with the promise of Isaiah 7:14 that Jesus is Immanuel—"God with us.” The birth of Jesus was the supreme expression of God with us in our troubles.

From the Alumni/ae Relations office of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.

Advent Day 24

2009-12-22T06:41:00.002-06:00

DECEMBER 22 - DAY 24
Luke 1:57-66
Alvin Padilla

There is no one among your relatives who has that name. Luke 1:61

The security and comfort of the familiar is very appealing to each one of us. This leads to the formulation of habits and traditions that enable us to face the unknown uncertainties of tomorrow. We see that in the young child who develops the routine that concludes an eventful day—dinner, bath, story time, bedtime. It is evident into our adult years as we develop habits of the heart—familiar steps to foster our continued spiritual growth. It drives us to take secure and comforting steps in the life of the Church as we march to the rhythm of the liturgical year—Advent, Christmas, Ordinary Time, Lent,Pentecost. This posture of comfort comes at a cost—most of us do not like change. We would like to remain in the rhythm of the familiar. Change brings uncertainty, insecurity, and discomfort.

The tradition of naming a child after someone known to us—a relative in this text—is very comforting. The parents look at the long list of relatives that have preceded the child, both dead and alive, and select a name that will serve as the guide, the paradigm for this child. The parents honor the past and long that the naming of the child will result in the security and comfort of a life of similar worth. Elizabeth and Zechariah had longed for a child for decades. We can imagine that early in their marriage they, like young married couples everywhere, talked about names for their children. So, in obedience to the angelic command, Elizabeth submits the name of John for her child and immediately she is challenged with a call to return to the familiar: "there is no one among your relatives who has that name." The friends and relatives gathered in celebration wanted to embrace the familiar past. Elizabeth and Zechariah envisioned a glorious future—the advent of the Messiah of God.

As we face our future, may we be willing to leave behind the security and comfort of the familiar and embrace the bright future that God has for us as His people.

From the Alumni/ae Relations office of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.

Advent Day 23

2009-12-21T08:28:00.002-06:00

DECEMBER 21 - DAY 23
II Samuel 7
Carol Kaminski

As we celebrate the season of Advent, God's promises to King David in II Samuel 7 remind us yet again that our God is indeed faithful. God had promised David that he would raise up his offspring after him and establish his Kingdom and throne forever (II Sam. 7:12-13). Although David’s son Solomon builds the temple in Jerusalem (1 Kgs. 8:15, 20), he worships idols in the latter years of his life, which leads to God’s judgment (1 Kgs. 11—12). Amidst the failure of many of the Davidic kings, there is the abiding hope that God would one day raise up a righteous Davidic king to rule on the throne of David (Jer. 23:5-6; 33:15-17; Ezek. 37:24; Mic. 5:2; Zech. 9:9-10). God’s people will have to wait for hundreds of years, but the king will surely come, humble and mounted on a donkey, just as Zechariah has prophesied (Zech. 9:9; Matt. 21:5). The crowds will shout "Hosanna to the Son of David" (Matt. 21:9), but this King dies on the cross, and thus his reign seems to come to a tragic end. But God raises up Jesus, the son of David, according to his promise of old (II Sam. 7:12-13; Acts 2:23-24, 30-36; 13:32-37). He is indeed the promised Davidic King who reigns over God's everlasting kingdom. During this season of Advent—as we worship the coming King—let us remember that his coming is a testimony to the faithfulness of our God.

From the Alumni/ae Relations office of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.

Advent Day 22

2009-12-20T07:39:00.002-06:00

DECEMBER 20 - DAY 22
Luke 1:26-38
Roy Ciampa

Luke expects us to recognize that he is narrating the fulfillment of Isaiah 7:14: "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel" (NIV). In Luke 1:31 the name is changed to Jesus, but we recognize the other details from Isaiah 7:14 and realize that it is in the person of Jesus that we find Immanuel–God with us. The references to Mary's virginity in vv. 27, 34, alert us that she is the one through whom God is finally making himself present as promised in Isaiah 7:14 and related prophecies, including Isaiah 9:6-7 (which speaks of the birth of the child who would reign on David’s throne forever). As the only Son of the Most High, the Son of God whose birth entails a divine intervention far exceeding anything ever seen before, Christ brings the story of creation, sin and restoration to its long-anticipated climax. His birth is not just one more story of divine intervention in human affairs; it is the story of divine intervention in human affairs. May the presence of God in the person of Jesus Christ be the central reality in your life, now and always.

Born to raise the sons of earth, Born to give them second birth.

From the Alumni/ae Relations office of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.

Advent Day 21

2009-12-19T06:57:00.002-06:00

DECEMBER 19 - DAY 21
Psalm 84
Kenneth L. Swetland

"How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord Almighty!" begins the Psalmist–words that provide a glimpse into the writer's heart. From there the Psalmist goes further and reveals his "yearning"–a strong word akin to a physical ache–to be in the temple for worship. He goes so far as to express his envy of birds that have made their nest in the temple, and so are close to the altar regularly, implying his longing for similar freedom to be present in the temple.

This longing goes so deep in the Psalmist’s heart that he even exclaims that he would "rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked" (v. 10). Some translations say "threshold" rather than "doorkeeper," revealing almost desperation for being in the presence of God in worship.

Note, however, that the emphasis is not on the writer himself, but on God–the focus of worship. Nor does it point to an individualistic or isolated personal experience, but rather expresses the Psalmist's longing to be with God’s people in worship.

Advent looks forward to the second coming of Christ. Let us "ache" for this coming as much as the Psalmist did to be in the presence of God with His people while we wait for the Second Advent.

From the Alumni/ae Relations office of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.

Advent Day 20

2009-12-18T08:03:00.000-06:00

DECEMBER 18 - DAY 20
Psalm 138
Karen Mason

May all the kings of the earth praise you, O Lord, when they hear the word of your mouth. May they sing of the ways of the Lord, for the glory of the Lord is great. (Psalm 138:4-5)

C.S. Lewis talks about conceit as a barrier to our praise of God. Conceit can get in the way of our recognition of our need for His redemption, of our dependency on His faithful love and preservation, and of God's supremacy and glory.

In Psalm 138, David, one of the greatest kings of Israel, praises God and expresses the wish and hope that all the kings of earth might join him in his praise of God’s most excellent qualities. Some kings on earth might believe that they don't need God or owe their position to His sovereignty, but David's position as king did not get in the way of his praise of God.

Sometimes, we may be like some kings of the earth who do not recognize God’s exalted name and our need for the King of Kings. During this season of Advent, as we prepare ourselves for the coming of the God who dwells among us, may we praise our King for who He is, for his supremacy and glory, for His faithful love manifested in the Incarnation of the Word of God, for His power to save.

Prayer: I will praise you, O Lord, with all my heart before all the kings of the earth.

From the Alumni/ae Relations office of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.

Advent Day 19

2009-12-17T07:26:00.002-06:00

DECEMBER 17 - DAY 19
Rev. 5:6-14
David Wells

John wept. He could not read the counsels of God he yearned to know. Those counsels, written on the scroll (5:1-2) can only be interpreted by Christ because they are realized only through him. "Look," said one of the elders, there is the "Lion of the tribe of Judah" (5:5) who can know God’s counsels. And when John looked, there was a "Lamb" (5:6) that had been slaughtered.

The Lion and the Lamb. Christ, the Lion, sits on David’s throne and now reigns universally over sin, death and the devil. But to know him as Lion, we must first know him as Lamb, the one who bears our sin and judgment in our place. Here we see, then, in the one person of Christ, both the Lion and the Lamb, both courage and patience, power and meekness, might and innocence. We see victory and suffering, victory through suffering.

Do you also see that from him comes the Holy Spirit sent out in all of the fullness of God (5:6)? It is he who has opened our eyes to see the glory of Christ and who strengthens us in the midst of life's conflicts. And when the shadows fall across our lives—pain and sickness, unsatisfied desires, hopes unfulfilled, love baffled—he it is that points us to the Christ whose conquest of life’s disorder is complete that we might find comfort and assurance. Worthy is the Lamb!

From the Alumni/ae Relations office of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.

Advent Day 18

2009-12-16T08:13:00.000-06:00

DECEMBER 16 - DAY 18
Rev. 4:9-5:5
Tim Laniak

In a vision so rich with awe that verbal commentary seems almost disrespectful, I will venture a few brief reverential reflections. How are we to think about giving God "honor and glory and power?" Who are we, or any living creatures in the cosmos, to give anything to God that He doesn’t already have? He has always had all honor and glory and power. Any biblical visionary peering into heaven readily sees that. But these visionaries also regularly witness a chorus of beings in praise and worship who cry out to give God these attributes He already has.

How does that make sense?

I think the answer lies in the nature of honor, glory and power. These qualities have both an objective reality and a subjective dimension. Yes, the God who becomes visible in Revelation is characterized by brilliant and awe-inspiring light, overwhelming and inestimable worth, and limitless cosmic sovereignty. But, somehow, an awe for these qualities, a reverential response to these characteristics, completes them.

God's objective dignity as the King of the Universe must be subjectively recognized. His "worth" or "worthiness" is mentioned three times in this passage and continues throughout Revelation 5. In a mysterious way, worshipers contribute to God’s glory and worth by recognizing it, by ascribing it to Him. It’s not that we could add anything to God’s character. Rather we are called by the angelic hosts to avoid the unthinkable: leaving His glory unrealized and undernoticed.

This seems a great crime in human behavior, perhaps our greatest. We simply do not keep in full view the glory of God. He is dishonored when we fail to honor Him. He is disgraced when we fail to grace Him with our praise. Public acclaim and recognition is the necessary and expected corollary to honor. The angelic hosts in Luke 2:14 remind us that we can begin on earth worshiping our God by "giving Him glory."

From the Alumni/ae Relations office of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary

Advent Day 17

2009-12-15T07:54:00.000-06:00

DECEMBER 15 - DAY 17
Matthew 24
Gary Parrett

Come, Lord Jesus, to redeem us

Come, Lord Jesus, to redeem us
from our foes and from our fears.
We await the hand of mercy
that will wipe away our tears.
We have labored long in darkness,
even now our hearts grow weak.
How we long for your appearing
and your great salvation seek.
(Rev. 21:4; Rom. 8:23; 2Tim. 4:8)

Come, Lord Jesus, true and righteous,
bring your pure and piercing light.
For we know when you appear, Lord,
ev’ry wrong shall be made right.
You will vanquish all the proud ones;
you will fill all those who thirst.
O, the first shall be the last, then,
and the last shall be the first.
(Rev. 16:5-7; Matt. 19:30; 20:16; 24:32-46)

Now prepare a path before Him:
in the desert make a way.
Take the gospel to the nations
and proclaim his coming Day.
Ev’ry mountain must be leveled;
ev’ry valley must be raised.
Then all flesh shall see his glory.
God shall be forever praised!
(Isa. 40:3-5; Matt. 24:14)

Raise the cry of "Maranatha!”
We shall soon behold our King.
To the Alpha and Omega,
this one prayer and plea we sing:
joining voices with the Spirit
we, the Bride of Christ, say, "Come!”
Come, Lord Jesus, come and free us
from this death and bring us home.
(1Cor. 16:22; Rev. 22:13, 17)

Text: Gary A. Parrett (2002)
Tune: NETTLETON

Come, thou long-expected Jesus, born to set thy people free

From the Alumni/ae Relations office of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary

Advent Day 16

2009-12-14T07:49:00.000-06:00

DECEMBER 14 - DAY 16
Matthew 24:15-31
S. Steve Kang

Thousands of angels burst out in praise, saying: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (Luke 2:14), signaling the birth of the Christ child some 2000 years ago. When that very Christ, who lived, died and rose comes again, His angels will gather His elect to himself with a loud trumpet call. Reminiscent of the loud trumpet call broadcasting the Year of Jubilee on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 28:9-10), the angels’ trumpet call will sound for one last time, inaugurating the eternal rest for His people and full communion with the Triune God. In thisAdvent season, we eagerly await for that trumpet call. On that day, God will wipe away every tear from our eyes. Neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore, for the former things will pass away (Revelation 21:4). If the first advent provided a glimpse of the presence of God-with-us for His people, the second advent will usher His people into the full and eternal presence of God-with-us.

Prayer: God, may your unmistakable presence be ever so real in and among us as we avail ourselves to be used to expand your reign in this dark world. Amen.

From the Alumni/ae Relations office of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.

Advent Day 15

2009-12-13T07:51:00.000-06:00

DECEMBER 13 - DAY 15
John 5:31-47
Frank A. James
Like Father Like Son

Miguel de Cervantes defined a proverb as "a short sentence based on long experience.” No one knows the origin of this ancient proverb "Like father like son,” but 2500 years ago the Hebrew prophet Ezekiel noted the existence of a similar proverb "like mother like daughter” (Ezek.16:44). Undoubtedly the masculine counterpart must have been common usage as well. It is not too much to say that this ancient proverb has been around as long as there have been fathers and sons.

In John 5, Jewish leaders in Jerusalem were disturbed that Jesus was healing on the Sabbath and calling God his father. In response, Jesus declares in effect: "like father like son.” Jesus explains why he heals the sick as well as why he heals on the Sabbath in verse 17: "My Father is still working, and I also am working.” In the ancient near east, sons typically learned the family business and became apprentices to their fathers. Jesus simply declares that he is his Father’s apprentice and since his Father works on the Sabbath, so does the son.

Jesus does not ask the Jewish leaders simply to accept his assertion, but he proves that he is his father’s son by invoking a series of witnesses: John the Baptist, Jesus’ own miraculous works, God the Father, and indeed the Scriptures themselves. These unassailable testimonies bore witness that Jesus was indeed his Father’s son.

From the Alumni/ae Relations office of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.

Advent Day 14

2009-12-12T07:27:00.000-06:00

DECEMBER 12 - DAY 14
Psalm 43:1-5
Jeff Niehaus

What application can there be for such a prayer today, when the form of God’s Kingdom is not a "nation,” when there is no "holy mountain” on which he "dwells,” and no temple building or "altar?” For now, and ever since Pentecost, the church corporately and its members individually have been the temple(s), and the altar that counts is the altar of the believer’s heart. Yet, like the psalmist, we live in the midst of an ungodly nation, with deceitful and wicked men around us–from the vast yet largely invisible culture of drug users and dealers that form part of the corrupt underbelly of our society, to the purveyors of entertainment in its various and seductive forms, to self-seeking people of deceit in high positions on Wall Street or in Washington. The one who, by God’s grace, sees our nation, to some extent at least for what it is, sees soon enough that it is a culture of spiritual influences from which he or she might well want to be "rescued.”

The answer for us, as for the poet, is to call upon God to "send forth [his] light and [his] truth.” The Hebrew word translated as "truth” would better be translated "faithfulness.” It is the second part of a covenant word pair, "grace [or "love”] and truth,” as the Lord himself declared when he passed before Moses in the cleft of the rock, "The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness” (Ex 34:6).

We count on God’s faithfulness, his covenantal commitment to us in Christ, to send the light, the illumination of his Holy Spirit, who does indeed lead us and is our comforter. With such a leader and comforter we have good reason to rejoice, be it with the sort of harp (vs.4) that David used to drive away the evil spirit that tormented Saul (1 Sam. 16:16.23), or with a simple song of joy, but always from the altar of our heart.

Because God has faithfully revealed himself to and in us, in Christ, we may rejoice and receive the work of the Comforter–the Spirit of God–who is enthroned upon, and inhabits, the praises of his people (Ps 22:3).

From the Alumni/ae Relations office of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.

Advent Day 13

2009-12-11T08:04:00.002-06:00

DECEMBER 11 - DAY 13
Matthew 23
Pablo Polischuk

The incarnation of Jesus points to a redemptive process which starts with God’s transcendence infusing the created order, providing meaning, worth and value to it. He came to rescue us from our predicament under sin, which resulted in separation, condemnation and judgment, in spite of our pharisaic efforts. Advent reminds us that He came to His own, and that his own received him not. Jesus’ tears, shed as he observed his city from a panoramic view as "from the top,” expressed his intention to gather us under his wings, so as to cover our alienated precariousness, inadequacies and shortcomings. And this, in spite of our obstinacy, dejection and rejection of his prophets and envoys. His person, presence and power, manifested in the flesh, offer us a picture of protection and care, extending grace and mercy in unilateral and unconditional fashion. His proactive love infuses hope to our future, depicting an eschatological picture in which the culmination of God’s redemptive process will take place. One day, we shall welcome the Blessed One to His realm, fulfilling the Father’s design. In anticipation, let us live out the effects of His redemption, inviting the transcendent into our endeavors so as to celebrate this season with meaning.

From the Alumni/ae Relations office of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.

Advent Day 12

2009-12-10T07:14:00.002-06:00

DECEMBER 10 - DAY 12
Psalm 37:1-18
Aída Besançon Spencer

Crabgrass. There’s nothing worse than crabgrass. Next to our garage all we have is crabgrass. The little bit of grass I manage to grow every season gets engulfed by the crabgrass. But when the cool fall weather comes, the crabgrass finally stops growing and the grass has its opportunity to spread out. But this fall we have had a total overhaul of this part of our lot. The antiquated cesspool which came with our house finally imploded and has now been replaced with a new septic system. And, in the process, all the crabgrass has been dug up by a backhoe, and grass seed with anti-weed components and with fertilizer was hydro seeded into the ground.

Sometimes those who are unjust or sinful appear to persist like crabgrass that just grows and grows year after year over a cesspool of evil. And we feel we have no hope. We almost resign ourselves to a garden without grass. But the Lord can come like a giant plow and overturn the crabgrass in just minutes. It is not that we humans should not fight injustice or evil, but rather that in the process we need not to give up and become crabgrass ourselves. Ultimately, we are responsible for our own behavior.

Do we continue to trust in the Lord?
Do we continue to do good?
Do we continue to delight in the Lord?
Do we continue to commit our way to the Lord?
Do we continue to be still before the Lord and wait patiently for the Lord?
Do we continue to be satisfied with a little, but it is all from the Lord?

As a result, David’s psalm reminds us that our grass will spread over our yard. We are secure in the Lord. Justice will prevail. The Lord will cause us to flourish.

From the Alumni/ae Relations office of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.

Advent Day 11

2009-12-09T08:51:00.003-06:00

DECEMBER 9 - DAY 11
Revelation 1
Sean McDonough

The vision of Jesus in Revelation Chapter 1 might seem like an odd place to find inspiration for a Christmas meditation. What could this terrifying sword-tongued, star-holding figure have to do with the innocent baby in the manger?

Quite a bit, as it turns out. It is made especially clear in Jesus’ description of himself in vv.17-18: "I am the first and the last and the living one, and I became dead, and behold I am living forever and ever.” The heart of the Christmas message is that Jesus is Emmanuel, God with us. That Jesus shares the divine identity – that he is who God is – is made clear in the remarkable three-fold formula, "I am the first and the last and the living one.” This is a deliberate echo of the description of God himself in Rev. 1:4, "I am the One who is, and who was, and who is to come.” Likewise, "I am living forever and ever” recalls the familiar Old Testament phrase "the living God.”

But the little interlude between those two formulas turns out to be even more remarkable, as we learn what it means for God to be with us in the fullest sense: "I became dead.” Richard Bauckhamcaptures the paradox in this way: "His eternal livingness was interrupted by the experience of a human death, and he shares the eternal life of God through triumph over death.” (Theology of the Book of Revelation, p.56). Emmanuel, indeed.

From the Alumni/ae Relations office of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.

Advent Day 10

2009-12-08T06:50:00.000-06:00

DECEMBER 8 - DAY 10
Matthew 22:34-46
Ray Pendleton
The Right Answer
Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments. Matt. 22:37-40

Walking in the truth of the Gospel is the key to having the right answer at the right time. In our passage for today, Jesus is responding to what was probably a hostile and difficult question. However, the Lord of Glory who was in constant communion with the Father has no problem in setting the record straight. There is a great commandment in the law. In fact, it is in the minds of the questioners, but it has not penetrated to their hearts.

Jesus quotes a significant portion of the Shema as Matthew records His words. The greatest commandment is a total, sold out, complete commitment to the love of God. But the answer does not stop there. If we love God with all of our heart, soul and mind, that will lead to a transformed life where we will love our neighbor as we have been loved by God.

This is not cognitive awareness alone but it is also an interpersonal strength that manifests itself in our deep concern for others who are created in the image of God and who need to understand his deep compassion for them, often through our loving outreach. St. Francis is said to have pronounced, "Wherever you go, preach the gospel. If necessary use words.”

From the Alumni/ae Relations office of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary

Advent Day 9

2009-12-07T07:16:00.002-06:00

DECEMBER 7 - DAY 9

Matthew 22:23-33
Rollin G. Grams

The Sadducees believed that people choose to do whatever they wish without God’s concern or direction, that there is no future judgment, and that there is no life after death (Josephus, Ant. 18.16; Wars 2.164f). No wonder Jesus replies, ‘…you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God!’ Also, the Sadducees accepted only the Pentateuch–the first five books of the Old Testament–as Scripture. If Jesus was to demonstrate God’s power to give life after death from the Scriptures, He would have to do so from the Pentateuch on this occasion.

So, Jesus replies with reference to Ex. 3.6, 15f. God’s name is "The LORD, the God of your fathers–the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” The patriarchs had already died, but God identifies Himself as their God. Surely, argues Jesus, He would not bear the name of the dead! There must, therefore, be hope of a future resurrection. In Exodus 3, moreover, God announces to Moses His plan of salvation from Egypt for His people. The God of the living is also the God who is active in our lives and is powerful to save.

The Sadducees knew nothing of this. But Advent is a time for reflecting on the Scriptures and seeing that God is indeed powerfully present. He is mighty to save. It is a season for remembering that He who bears the name of resurrection power is the one who saved Israel in the past, who sent Jesus as Savior into the world, and who gives us hope through His resurrection power. Wait confidently for the salvation of our God.

From the Alumni/ae Relations office of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.

Advent Day 8

2009-12-06T08:01:00.000-06:00

DECEMBER 6 - DAY 8

Amos 6
Peter Kuzmic

Amos is an 8th-century prophet who strikes us with his simplicity, freshness and straight-forward way of addressing the moral decay in his nation. He is convinced that if Israel does not repent and renew the covenantal relationship with their God, an impending destruction as divine judgment is on the horizon. Although they are outwardly religious and the temple is filled with worshipers, the Lord is not pleased with them because they have divorced their faith from morality. In this chapter he addresses specifically the sin of complacency and false security (6:1), moral indifference and lack of solidarity with those who suffer (6:6), luxurious and careless living (6:7) and pride (6:8). His denunciation of their idolatry, religious hypocrisy, careless material prosperity and arrogant self-sufficiency is clear. With his brave prophetic finger he points to widespread apostasy and immorality with corruption at all levels of society. He challenges them with a call to social responsibility along with renewal of authentic spirituality. The two should never be separated because our social behavior (doing) grows out of our purity and strength of character (being). God is a God of grace and forgiveness, but also of judgment against perversion of religion and morality. Amos shows us that apart from repentance, God will inevitably judge the morally sick society. He is the Holy One who has elected his people to live authentically and to credibly display His glory and holiness among other nations. A powerful word of the Lord for our times and for our uniquely blessed and yet increasingly immoral nation.

From the Alumni/ae Relations office of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.

Advent Day 7

2009-12-05T07:45:00.000-06:00

DECEMBER 5 - DAY 7
Jude 16-25
Catherine Kroeger
Redeeming the Obnoxious

The young mother-to-be exulted in the transforming power of God’s grace: the lowly raised up, the hungry filled, the powerless empowered. Three of her sons were to voice that same concern for the humble and despised. Though at first those listed as Jesus’ brothers (Mt. 13:55; Mark 6:3) were not in sympathy with His mission (Mark 3:21), in time they became stout followers (Acts 1:14; 1 Corinthians 9:5).

Jesus, Mary’s firstborn, declared that He had come for the poor, the marginalized and the lost. James, the second brother, insisted upon social justice in thought, word and deed.

The writing of the third brother, Jude, appears more problematic. After identifying the heretics and troublemakers found in many New Testament churches, Jude moves on to the type of person whom we usually avoid: grumblers, malcontents, self-centered, braggarts, always after their own gain (v. 16). Actually, their attitude is diametrically opposed to that expressed in Mary’s Magnificat.

Jude counsels earnest spiritual preparation to reach out rather than to avoid such people (v. 20-21). None are beyond God’s redemptive power, though there must be individualized approaches (v. 22-23). God alone is able to cause even the obnoxious to stand faultless before Him, trophies to His transforming grace (vv. 24-25).

From the Alumni/ae Relations office of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary

Advent Day 6

2009-12-04T07:05:00.002-06:00

DECEMBER 4 - DAY 6
Psalm 16
Gwenfair Adams
The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places…you will fill me with joy in your presence. Psalm 16:6 & 11

How would you define a pleasant place? Would it be a cozy cottage by a burbling brook? A ski lodge on the side of a winter mountain? What if, instead, a pleasant place is not so much about a geographical location as about the heart’s location?

Anne Bradstreet, the American Puritan poet, wrote, "Oft have I thought, were it hell itself, and [I] could there find the love of God toward me, it would be a heaven. And could I have been in heaven without the love of God, it would have been a hell to me; for, in truth, it is the absence and presence of Godthat makes heaven or hell.” Perhaps a bit extreme, it captures an important biblical idea: what matters to the joy of our soul is not where we are, but where we are in relation to God.

In this season, we celebrate the coming of the one who left the ultimate Pleasant Place, to come and be with us. Emmanuel. Wherever we are, if he is with us, there our lines are truly drawn in pleasant places.

From the Alumni/ae Relations office of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.

Faith Insights

Psalm 31 Into Your Hand I Commit My Spirit

Psalm 30 Joy Comes with the Morning

Psalm 29 Ascribe to the Lord Glory

Psalm 28 The Lord is My Strength and My Shield

Psalm 27 Whom Shall I Fear?

Psalm 26 I WIll Bless the Lord

Psalm 25 Be Teachable!

Psalm 24 The King of Glory

Psalm 23 The Lord is My Shepherd

Psalm 22 Faithful God

Psalm 21 Almighty God

Psalm 20 Trust in God Alone

Psalm 19 The Law of the Lord is Perfect

Psalm 18 The Lord is for Us!

Psalm 17 Vindication

Psalm 16 Fullness of Joy

Psalm 15 Heart of Worship

Psalm 14 We Are All Fools

Psalm 13 How Long?

Psalm 12 God's Word Can Be Trusted

Psalm 11 Confidence in Crisis

Psalm 10 The Unbelieving Heart

Psalm 9:7-10 God's Justice is our Security

Psalm 8 God's Majesty and Concern for Mankind

Psalm 7 When Slandered...

Psalm 6 O Lord, Deliver My Life

Psalm 5 Lead Me In Your Righteousness

Psalm 4 God is a Call Away

Psalm 3 Save me, OMG!

Psalm 2:11-12 Take Refuge

Psalm 1:1-3 Happy New Year!

The 12 Days of Christmas - Days 11-12

The 12 Days of Christmas - Day ElevenHindsight

Hindsight

The 12 Days of Christmas - Day TwelveGod Will Direct

God Will Direct

The 12 Days of Christmas - Days 9-10

The 12 Days of Christmas - Day NineEternal Glory

Eternal Glory

The 12 Days of Christmas - Day TenForgiveness Focuses Forward

Forgiveness Focuses Forward

The 12 Days of Christmas - Days 7-8

The 12 Days of Christmas - Day SevenA Christmas Candle

A Christmas Candle

The 12 Days of Christmas - Day EightPleasing in Your Sight

Pleasing in Your Sight

The 12 Days of Christmas - Days 5-6

The 12 Days of Christmas - Day FiveNot Alone at All

Not Alone at All

The 12 Days of Christmas - Day SixCome as a Child

ome as a Child

The 12 Days of Christmas - Days 3-4

The 12 Days of Christmas - Day ThreeWonderful Impossibilities

Wonderful Impossibilities

The 12 Days of Christmas - Day FourMake Room for More

Make Room for More

The 12 Days of Christmas - Days 1-2

The 12 Days of Christmas - Day OneThe Greatest Christmas Gift

The Greatest Christmas Gift

The 12 Days of Christmas - Day TwoLaugh with Immanuel

Laugh with Immanuel

Titus 2:11-14 Transforming Christmas

Psalm 98 Christmas - Let's Celebrate!

Advent Day 26

Advent Day 25

Advent Day 24

Advent Day 23

Advent Day 22

Advent Day 21

Advent Day 20

Advent Day 19

Advent Day 18

Advent Day 17

Advent Day 16

Advent Day 15

Advent Day 14

Advent Day 13

Advent Day 12

Advent Day 11

The 12 Days of Christmas - Day Eleven
Hindsight

The 12 Days of Christmas - Day Twelve
God Will Direct

The 12 Days of Christmas - Day Nine
Eternal Glory

The 12 Days of Christmas - Day Ten
Forgiveness Focuses Forward

The 12 Days of Christmas - Day Seven
A Christmas Candle

The 12 Days of Christmas - Day Eight
Pleasing in Your Sight

The 12 Days of Christmas - Day Five
Not Alone at All

The 12 Days of Christmas - Day Six
Come as a Child

The 12 Days of Christmas - Day Three
Wonderful Impossibilities

The 12 Days of Christmas - Day Four
Make Room for More

The 12 Days of Christmas - Day One
The Greatest Christmas Gift

The 12 Days of Christmas - Day Two
Laugh with Immanuel