I will praise you, Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples. For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth. (Psalm 57:9-11) “The Space Between” Before I became a pastor and church...
Thirsty Thursday: Psalm 56 – Time to Throw Down
Thirsty Thursday But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you. I praise God for what he has promised. I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? (Psalm 56:3-4) Time to Throw Down Writing these weekly “Thirsty Thursday” posts for the past year has made me keenly aware of other, clever weekday alliterations....
Thirsty Thursday: Psalm 55 – Losing Sweetness
If an enemy were insulting me, I could endure it; if a foe were rising against me, I could hide. But it is you, a man like myself, my companion, my close friend, with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship at the house of God, as we walked about among the worshipers. (Psalm 55:12-14) Losing Sweetness As she got older,...
Thirsty Thursday: Psalm 54 – The Problem with Free Will
Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me. I will sacrifice a freewill offering to you; I will praise your name, Lord, for it is good. (Psalm 54:4,6) The Problem with Free Will For centuries, theologians and philosophers have discussed the “problem of free will.” To what degree do we humans have the ability to...
Thirsty Thursday: Psalm 53 – The Answer
God looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. Everyone has turned away, all have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one. Do all these evildoers know nothing? (Psalm 53:2-4) The Answer My family has a fun habit of...
Thirsty Thursday: Psalm 52 – Bad Heroes
“Why do you boast of evil, you mighty hero? Why do you boast all day long, you who are a disgrace in the eyes of God? Surely God will bring you down to everlasting ruin.” (Psalm 52:1) Bad Heroes In 1966, Italian film director Sergio Leone produced the classic Spaghetti Western, “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly,” starring...
Thirsty Thursday: Psalm 51 – The Power of Then
Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. Then I will teach transgressors your ways so that sinners will turn back to you. (Psalm 51:12-13) The Power of Then If you know me personally, or if you’ve read enough of my Thirsty Thursday posts, you know that I love words....
Thirsty Thursday: Psalm 50 – God’s People?
“Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High, and call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me.” (Psalm 50:14-15) God’s People? Maybe you’ve invited a neighbor or coworker to church and heard the excuse: “Why would I go to church? Christians are all so judgmental!” Of course, whenever I...
Thirsty Thursday: Psalm 49- How Much Is Enough?
Hear this, all you peoples; listen, all who live in this world, both low and high, rich and poor alike…People, despite their wealth, do not endure; they are like the beasts that perish. This is the fate of those who trust in themselves, and of their followers, who approve their sayings. (Psalm 49:1-2, 12-13) How Much is...
Thirsty Thursday: Psalm 47 – Hands-On Training
Oh, clap your hands, all you peoples! Shout to God with the voice of triumph! (Psalm 47:1, NKJV) “Hands-On Training” You know those obnoxious advertisements that always pop up when you’re watching YouTube, doing a Google search, online shopping or just about or anything else? I saw one just today that was advertising a licensing...