Luke 4:31-37 God is in charge

When Jesus tells the demons to leave, we know who is in charge for good.

will friends listen?

the challenge of connecting your friends with Jesus

is God partial to poor people?

When your trust in Jesus is powerful and your need for Jesus is self-evident....Watch out!

do you have to sin?

Jesus shows the way to a holy life

the family tree of Jesus

it's not where you come from- it's where you're heading
it makes all the difference

funky psalm 121

Rob Reed from our worship band arranged this. Cool

the creativity of God

the baptism of Jesus announces new life

who is your God?

practically living out your faith has a lot to do with your view of God...

confirmation 2008 Luke 2.41-52

reflecting God's image in the world is when a follower of Jesus is brightest

psalm 104

2 he stretches out the heavens like a tent

According to the latest studies of the universe, it is expanding and they talk of a space “fabric” that expands as the universe expands. Kind of like the surface of a tent that is expanding…If these words weren’t from 3000 years ago, wow, I’ll bet you this David guy would be on Oprah!

Pray for continued insight into the natural world.

psalm 103

16 The wind blows, and we are gone—
 as though we had never been here.

When you leave your mark of love and it is all about Jesus, the wind can blow and what remains can’t be seen. What God does through you is there; it’s just that they see Jesus instead.

Pray for your legacy to be blessing.

psalm 100

    2 Worship the Lord with gladness.

      Come before him, singing with joy.

Worship is the hub of what we do as the people of God and as such is the key emotion of our lives. So, our lives are to center on gladness. Ask yourself,

“What emotion is my life centered around? Is it gladness? If not, why not?”

Pray for gladness.

psalm 102

12 But you, O Lord, will sit on your throne forever. Your fame will endure to every generation.

Ask a twelve year old to tell you about Elvis. Sorry, only God has true buzz.

Pray that God be known through your life.

psalm 101

2 I will be careful to live a blameless life—

      when will you come to help me?

   I will lead a life of integrity

      in my own home.

“Do those who know you the best love and respect you the most?” This question from John Maxwell points us to “first” church. The home. Where we dwell. Is God a resident there and are his ways honored?

Pray to be a light with your family.

Psalm 99

8 O Lord our God, you answered them. You were a forgiving God to them, but you punished them when they went wrong.

Don’t netflix the movie The Punisher because it is far too violent. But, if you just happen to see it, you know what happens when man seeks vengeance. It is only a temporary relief from psychic pain at best.

God is The Punisher and his way of doing things is to discipline people in order to draw them to his love and mercy. We don’t know when it is from God and we don’t know why but we do know that it works. Even God knows this in Jesus.

“By his stripes we are healed.”

Pray for mercy from God’s discipline and turn to him.

psalm 98

 9 before the Lord.
      For the Lord is coming to judge the earth.
   He will judge the world with justice,
      and the nations with fairness.


It is not the nations that decide whether there is a God or not. It is God who judges the nations. Isaiah 9:6 lets us know it is God who rules. At least he will be fair. A good change of pace to have God in charge.


Pray for God to work in the world in stronger ways.

psalm 97

6 The heavens proclaim his righteousness;
      every nation sees his glory

When we see the word, "heavens" like this, it usually refers to outer space. The place where the moon and the stars "dwell." This verse has much insight to realize that even the laws of physics tell of the greatness of the one who creates with the intricacies of mathematical formulas. His righteousness. His correctness. His fairness. All people can see God's ways straight ahead.

Pray for insight into God from the world around you.

psalm 96

9 Worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness;
       tremble before him, all the earth.



When was the last time you trembled at worship? I can't help but think of the old hymn, "Were You There"-


...sometimes, it causes me to tremble, tremble, temble...


What causes you to tremble? Nothing? How much of God are you willing to see before the tembling starts? Maybe being more open and more ready is a start.


Pray for God to reach into your soul.

psalm 95

psalm 95

 9 where your fathers tested and tried me, though they had seen what I did.

Do you test God’s patience, even though you know he gives you life and every blessing? Join the club…But, don’t stay a member long.

Pray for actions that please God to be what you think of. 

psalm 94

psalm 94

7 They say, "The LORD does not see; 
the God of Jacob pays no heed."

When those who don’t follow God’s ways but do believe he exists, they are not being foolish, at least with the believe part.

Pray for those who treat God too lightly.

psalm 93

psalm 93

2 Your throne was established long ago; you are from all eternity.

In the teaching of the world’s greatest thinkers from ancient times, the idea of an eternal God who creates a universe that has a beginning, well, that’s unknown. Except in the biblical God. That is exactly what is being said.

Thank God for creation.

psalm 92

psalm 92

 14 They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green,

When God is working through us, we never retire. We are expanded when the Holy Spirit fills us with power to bring love and a message of hope to those who desperately need to hear. The “golden years” can, indeed, bring gold in the treasure of doing God’s work.

Pray for renewal exactly where you are.

psalm 91

psalm 91

 7 A thousand may fall at your side, 
ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.

This is one of my favorite sections in the whole Bible. When you think of who is in charge of all of life and how he covers those who trust in him, God is way bigger than even my oldest brother…and he is tough!

God protects those he loves. Many times it takes place in this life; always forever.

Pray for protection.

psalm 90

psalm 90

        

"May our sovereign God extend his favor to us! Make our endeavors successful! Yes, make them successful!"

Some people are wary of using "success" language when it comes to life and faith, yet, what is the alternative? "Lord, failure is what I seek?" I want my life to go well. I want to be successful. On God's terms and in God's ways.

Pray for success.

psalm 89

psalm 89

"I will give you an eternal dynasty and establish your throne throughout future generations."

Christians see this psalm as referring to Jesus and why not? He is on the throne. That's a good thing.

Pray for Jesus to rule on the throne of your life.

psalm 88

psalm 88

"You cause my neighbors and friends to keep their distance; those who know me leave me alone in the darkness."

This is the only psalm that doesn't end on a hopeful or encouraging note. It is what it is. God's effectiveness isn't totally correlated to our attitude. He can work in spite of us.

Pray not to base so much on how you feel.

psalm 87

psalm 87

"The Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwelling places of Jacob."

When Jesus raised from the dead, God's Kingdom broke in for good. God's favorite place is no longer Jerusalem, it is wherever he dwells; which is especially with you. Do think of where you live the same way as the psalm writer thinks of Jerusalem? Why not? Through Jesus, it is a foretaste of the New Jerusalem.

Pray for love for your city.

psalm 86

psalm 86

"Make me wholeheartedly committed to you."

How can we expect deep and lasting transformation in our lives for the good unless God is the source? We can't. Halfhearted won't do. Neither will anything less. We may not know it because we haven't given ourselves over to him.

Pray for God to take it all and mean it.

psalm 85

10 Unfailing love and truth have met together. Righteousness and peace have kissed.

When the metaphor of kissing is connected, we listen. It is just interesting. So, does being right with God bring a peace that brings intimacy? I guess it does.

Pray for a closer touch from God.

psalm 84

 10 A single day in your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else! I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God than live the good life in the homes of the wicked.

What if you could just spend one whole day in the presence of God? You can…It isn’t about worship or service or anything else. It is about God and what he wants to happen.  Do you think God couldn’t focus on us exclusively? Why wouldn’t he?

Pray that God might fill you with clarity in your desires?

psalm 83

psalm 83

 17 Let them be ashamed and terrified forever. Let them die in disgrace.

We always try to be peaceful with our emotions, but it is not as if it is totally biblical or anything. Vengeance is God’s, but we can cheer him on. Not very mature, but the only reason we could be pacifist, actually.

Pray for active peace.

psalm 82

5 But these oppressors know nothing;
      they are so ignorant!
   They wander about in darkness,
      while the whole world is shaken to the core.


Everyone has an ideal view of the world. That which we value makes up our value's system. So, when we make a value judgment about someone else, we are always speaking through a preset filter. How does a biblical worldview stack up? The poor and vulnerable are always on God's radar.


Pray for those who are vulnerable.

psalm 81

12 So I let them follow their own stubborn desires,
      living according to their own ideas.


God doesn't force anyone to follow him. Yet, if you want true freedom from that which binds you, and true hope in better days ahead, you follow him. He doesn't have to convince anyone. He gives his Holy Spirit to those who are open to receive, and then new life begins. Living a life worth living with a God worth loving.


Pray for courage of openness in someone you know who is in deep need.

New Song Luke 1:46-55

Jesus brings new life
New identity message

Mary and Elizabeth Luke 1:39-45

Mary and Elizabeth give us insight in what it means to live in a community of encouragement

Psalm 80

19 Restore us, O LORD God Almighty;
make your face shine upon us,
that we may be saved.

To have God’s face shine on us is a poetic way of saying, “Stick close to us and show us your glory, Lord!” If only God were here.... God is here.

Pray for His Presence.

Psalm 79

4 We are objects of reproach to our neighbors,
of scorn and derision to those around us.

When this psalm is created, the people of Israel are ridiculed by their neighbors. Today, many of our neighbors ridicule us again. Today, it is much less envy and competition, as it is in the days of Israel. Today, some of the scorn we receive is because some Christians act so over-the-top. It is actually helpful scorn. It reminds us we are to be a light way more than a judge.

Pray for graciousness.

Psalm 78
65 Then the Lord rose up as though waking from sleep, like a warrior aroused from a drunken stupor.

This is a fascinating psalm in that it does a historical timeline in a very graphic way. When God, a non-physical reality, is described in human attributes it is called anthropomorphicism. God is also described in natural terms like "Rock, ' or in military terms like "fortress" and "shield." "Hungover soldier" is rather unique military term...
"O God, you are my strength and shield; you are my hungover soldier. Alleluia!" Don't think it works.

Pray to God like he is able to accomplish whatever you need to be a blessing in the world.

Psalm 77  

14 You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples.

 

God is displaying his power all over the place. The challenge is personally having access to the power. The Holy Spirit brings the goods and it is right to start by asking for the Spirit to fill you so you can be a blessing.

 

Pray to be a blessing.  

 Psalm 76

2 His tent is in Salem, his dwelling place in Zion.

 

God is everywhere, and in ancient times, they thought of God especially coming to the temple of Jerusalem. Now the use of metaphor for God living in a tent or living anywhere specifically is seen in scripture without explanation.

 

Jerusalem has the unique role in the Old Testament because that is chosen as the capital city where God’s people seek him and worship him. When Jesus arrives, God, temple, holy presence and all are wrapped into one. Jesus is all.

 

Pray to sense the presence of God in your life this week.

Mary says, "Yes!" Luke 1:26-38

When you just trust God at his word

Psalm 75

 10 For God says, “I will break the strength of the wicked, but I will increase the power of the godly.”

 

God’s power comes through the Holy Spirit. God gives power to those he can trust. If you want that kind of power because you want to be a blessing to others, open yourself to the Holy Spirit and you will be blessed. Then watch what God can do.

 

Pray for power. More power, Lord.

Psalm 74

 20 Remember your covenant promises, for the land is full of darkness and violence!

 

God will bring his peace into the world. There will come a day when everyone will know Jesus and his ways. It doesn’t mean everyone will want Jesus and his ways, but his light will make it all clear.

 

Pray for the light of Christ to come.

Psalm 73
20 When you arise, O Lord, you will laugh at their silly ideas as a person laughs at dreams in the morning.

Why would we purposely choose to ignore God and work against him? Because we can’t understand everything about him? Who would want to worship a God you could fully understand? He would only be as intelligent as you…

Pray for the desire to honestly seek the deeper things of God.

Psalm 72
13 He feels pity for the weak and the needy and he will rescue them.

In biblical meaning, “pity” is not a matter of a superior looking down on, and making a value judgment of, a “so-called” inferior. It is sharing the suffering of another, emotionally. But, it doesn’t stop there. God’s people act; like the king in the Psalm, we respond with actions of blessing for those in need.

Pray for God to reveal someone who specifically needs your support.

Psalm 71 

18 Now that I am old and gray, do not abandon me, O God. Let me proclaim your power to this new generation, your mighty miracles to all who come after me.

 

Followers of Jesus don’t retire. He doesn’t stop moving forward. Young people need Jesus in their lives. They discover trust in God when they connect acts of power with the God of power. They make this connection under the influence of the Holy Spirit, guided by a friend who is a friend of God.

 

How is God helping you make progress in being a guide to others? 

 Psalm 70

5 But as for me, I am poor and needy;

      please hurry to my aid, O God.

   You are my helper and my savior;

      O Lord, do not delay.

 

God uses his people to be a blessing for all people in the world. It is especially important for the message of ‘love your neighbor’ to go out through the actions of his people who reach out to those in need. Whether metaphorically or literally we all need a savior. There is more than enough blessing to go around.

 

Where is God drawing your attention? See.

Psalm 69

 9 Passion for your house has consumed me, and the insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.

 

When people are skeptical of God, sometimes they may mock him, and are upset over the fact that you trust in him. This can be unpleasant, but God can take care of himself. I don’t know why someone would have such energy to be perturbed by a God they don’t think exists anyway.

 

Pray for skeptical people to be open to examining the evidence.

Psalm 68

But God will smash the heads of his enemies, crushing the skulls of those who love their guilty ways.

 

The violent language here doesn’t seem to be too much for those who trust in God. These words have been around for several thousand years and haven’t been “censored” out, yet. Regardless, if God is running around today crushing skulls or not, this passage has my attention.

 

Thank God for his mercy.

 May the nations praise you, O God. Yes, may all the nations praise you.

 

When we see the word, “nation,” in the Bible it generally means “people groups or ethnic groups” as much as it means political entities of independent sovereignty. The impact of Christianity continues to expand in an amazing way in all people/ ethnic/ language groups. “…all the nations” may not be such a stretch.

 

Pray for those who share the love of Jesus in ____________(fill in the blank with any country).

 

Psalm 66

If I had not confessed the sin in my heart, my Lord would not have listened. But God did listen! He paid attention to my prayer.

 

If we are honest before God we recognize our need for his forgiveness and we receive it. If we are not honest as his people, we choose not to receive the forgiveness he has already given on the cross. It doesn’t do us any good if we don’t think we need it. If we don’t know God and we are not seeking him we don’t receive the benefits of that forgiveness because we are not aware it exists. If we don’t know God and are open and seeking, he will find a way to draw us to the place of confessing our sins and realizing the forgiveness that is already available.

 

Pray for openness before God.

Psalm 65
9 You take care of the earth and water it,
 making it rich and fertile. The river of God has plenty of water;
 it provides a bountiful harvest of grain,
 for you have ordered it so.

We don’t worship nature, but we certainly worship the God of Nature. This Psalm captures the poetic beauty of the natural world and the privilege of our capacity to appreciate it, if we take the time.

Look at a flower closely today and think about what you see.

Psalm 64

7 But God himself will shoot them with his arrows,
 suddenly striking them down.

 

Theologian Miroslav Wolf has said ‘a Christian can’t be a true pacifist unless he/she believes in a God of Vengeance.’ While I am not a pure pacifist, I understand Wolf’s thinking. With so much evil and injustice done by humans, there had better be proper justice parceled out by God in the scheme of things. God will have his way and do what is exactly right. We all need Jesus.

 

Pray for God to show you the freedom of confessing unrepentant sin.

Psalm 63

 1 O God, you are my God;
      I earnestly search for you.
   My soul thirsts for you;
      my whole body longs for you
   in this parched and weary land
      where there is no water.

If I could have this thirst for God always I wouldn't need to be looking for another source to quench the parched empty places that reside within me. But that's just me. 

Pray for the Holy Spirit to pry you open more to the water of life.

Waiting Luke 1:5-25

When it comes to Jesus, the wait is worth it.

Psalm 62

 5 Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him.

 

The soul is central governing force of who we are. That’s a tough job. Much more difficult than any human job there is. Why is that?

 

Because our lives ultimately revolve around our soul. We are at the center of our existence. We are always “on” because we are, always.

 

The only way we can experience true peace is through the design of the designer of our soul. God is the source. Rest is available.

 

Pray for God to guide you to his peace.

 

Psalm 61

6 Increase the days of the king's life, his years for many generations.

 

Leaders come and go. In America we will be electing a new president in a few months. He will be in office for four or eight years and then someone else will be president. So it goes. An important role, yet quite temporary.

 

Probably just as well. I can think of only one person I would like to see rule as long as he wants. And he does. King Jesus.

 

Pray for those who lead.

Feelings-based faith? Luke 1:1-4

How is faith more than a feeling? Let Luke explain...

Psalm 60
11 Oh, please help us against our enemies,
for all human help is useless.

After watching the spectacle, the heartbreak, the triumph, the excitement, and the camaraderie of the Olympics these past weeks, what do you think? Will this be the time when our human wars and conflicts will be overcome by the Spirit of the Games? You know the answer.

The Olympics enthrall me, but only God is going to rescue and restore this world. He already has begun. Jesus brings in the victory. Now we invite others to join us as we follow our champion.

Pray for a new nation you noticed competing in the Olympics.

Psalm 59

14 My enemies come out at night,

      snarling like vicious dogs

      as they prowl the streets.

 15 They scavenge for food

      but go to sleep unsatisfied.

 

When you have trouble sleeping, is it because you are scheming how to do evil in someone else’s life? I don’t think you would be reading this if that were the case. So, is there anything else bothering you? Maybe your enemy is the worry that keeps you awake at night rather than the source of worry?

 

Give up at least one worry you have today.

Psalm 58

11 Then at last everyone will say,

“There truly is a reward for those who live for God;

surely there is a God who judges justly here on earth.”

In our culture we are used to getting things right away and exactly when we want them and how we want them. This is called, “instant gratification.” Domino’s Pizza grew an empire over this attitude. Their "30 minute guarantee."

But what we think is most important in life often doesn’t fit that “I want to have everything go my way exactly” attitude. Even Domino’s figured this out. Their “You Got 30 minutes” trademark is no longer the same. Here is the fine print today.

Because safety is a priority "You Got 30 Minutes™" is not a guarantee but an estimate. You may get more.

As we grow in faith, we learn that when we go with God it is always on his schedule. He will surprise us with timeliness (from our view) once in a while, but being a friend of God means more often we do a lot of waiting.

What have you been waiting for lately?

Psalm 57
8 Wake up, my heart!
Wake up, O lyre and harp!
I will wake the dawn with my song.

You don’t have to be a morning person to realize that things look different at that time of day. Especially in the early morning, when the quiet makes it possible to focus better, and the first light hints at new possibilities.

Wake at dawn (if you dare) and sense what God is up to that early in the morning.

Psalm 56
11 I trust in God, so why should I be afraid?
What can mere mortals do to me?

Is there something someone could do to us to separate from God? Of course not. This is the theme of one of our most beloved texts of the Bible from Romans 8,

“Nothing can separate us from the love of God through Jesus Christ.”

Remember who is on your side the next time fear rises. The one you trust in will protect you.

What have you feared lately?

Psalm 55

7 I would fly far away to the quiet of the wilderness.

The power of branding is amazing. Even though it was back in the 70's, can you still fill in this blank?

"Calgon, ______ __ _____!"

If you are over 50, of course you can. Or if you listen to music from Mariah Carey ("Shake it Off") to hip hop artist David Banner from Crooked Lettaz ("Grey Skies").

Who doesn't feel like just getting away from it all? God. He sticks with us, after all.

Pray for an openness to God's companionship.

Psalm 54

5 May the evil plans of my enemies be turned against them. Do as you promised and put an end to them.

God promises to vindicate his people. Actually, in the end God will always do exactly what is right for everyone. This is why Jesus can make the radical claim for Christians not to take vengeance. It isn't because someone else doesn't deserve God's discipline. It is because we are free to focus on our future, not get caught up in the injustices of our past.

Pray for God to deliver you from past injustices.

Psalm 53

No one does good, not a single one!

God is comparing our actions to those of Jesus here. No human on human power is ever going to be close to measure up. It is time we stop comparing ourselves. Those who are holy are those who are close to the Father. If you are close to the Father, you don't have to let everyone know. They can see this for themselves.

Pray for any desire for comparisons you make to go away.

Psalm 52

You love evil more than good and lies more than truth.

Evil is purposely living outside of God's ways. Lying to gain advantage is a sign of this. So, to be honest about when you stray from God's ways and admitting that to him? That's repentance.

What would unrepentant sin be? Purposely living outside of God's ways and lying about it to myself. What is the result of this way of life? I could become the kind of person who cannot want God. Don't need him in my life.

Pray for honesty before God always.

Psalm 51

6 Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being,
and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.

According to this psalm, God gives all people a conscience that draws them to him. Conscience is a non-physical reality. Some would say that consciousness and thought and being themselves all come from the physical- DNA, genetics, brain circuitry and such.

Sorry, if that were the case, why would I trust your teaching on this topic if you are pre-wired to say it anyway? The only thing you could do is force me to believe it. Whoever holds the power has the truth? Don't think so.

What are examples of moral behavior that is similar cross-culturally and across the ages?

Psalm 50

22 "Time's up for playing fast and loose with me. I'm ready to pass sentence, and there's no help in sight!" (The Message)

I really enjoy The Message translation of the Bible, by Eugene Peterson. It gives such a new perspective to the Word of God. Except when Peterson wimps out. Come on, Eugene, it's just a metaphor.*

(*Psalm 50:22 in NIV reads, "Consider this, you who forget God, or I will tear you to pieces, with none to rescue.")

Have you ever sensed the strong discipline of God? When?