(REFLECTIONS ON Psalm 144:1-15) 15 How blessed are the people who are so situated;How blessed are the people whose God is the Lord! As we read today’s Psalm, may the Holy Spirit stir within us, filling us with thanksgiving, remembering how blessed are the people whose God is the Lord! We are blessed, for God is our Lord, […]
(REFLECTIONS ON Psalm 137:1-9) 1 By the rivers of Babylon,There we sat down and wept,When we remembered Zion.2 Upon the willows in the midst of itWe hung our harps.3 For there our captors demanded of us songs,And our tormentors mirth, saying,“Sing us one of the songs of Zion.” In today’s Psalm, we see an image of […]
(REFLECTIONS ON Psalm 129:1-8) 3 “The plowers plowed upon my back; They lengthened their furrows.” Let us take some time this morning to visualize this verse. Plowers are farm workers who prepare land for planting by plowing the soil. Plowing involves turning and loosening the soil to break up compacted ground. During this process, workers create furrows, which […]
(REFLECTIONS ON Psalm 122:1-9) Jerusalem was the place where the tribes of Israel met and gathered in unity to worship the Lord. It was a place of fellowship, a place of reunion, it was familiar, and it was their spiritual home. That is why the psalmist rejoiced with those who said, “Let us go to the […]
(REFLECTIONS ON Psalm 117–Psalm 118) In this one statement, “for His lovingkindness is everlasting,” we are reminded that there is nothing better than the Lord to help us and be our refuge in times of despair and trouble. What is so amazing about this statement and why is it so powerful? It is because in this […]
(REFLECTIONS ON 1 Thessalonians 5:1-28) In the Old Testament, the prophets preached the word of God to Israel. They did not speak their own words, mixed with their own desires and motives, but it was their duty to be a vessel for God’s word to His people. However, there were prophets that didn’t speak God’s word, […]
(REFLECTIONS ON John 20:1-23) In today’s Scripture, we see an interesting progression from the missing body of Jesus to the knowledge that Jesus is alive. When Mary first came to the tomb, she and those with her saw that the stone had already been taken away from the tomb. Her assumption without looking in to investigate […]
(REFLECTIONS ON John 15:1-27) In today’s Scripture, Jesus gives another “I am” statement, saying, “I am the true vine.” His Father, God, is the vinedresser, and we are the branches. Jesus then emphasizes that we as the branches need to abide in Him, meaning that as the branches we need to stay connected to Him as the true vine. That […]
(REFLECTIONS ON John 11:45-57) The chief priests and the Pharisees were waiting for the Messiah, the one that would restore Israel. However, the chief priests and the Pharisees had their own expectations for the Messiah, and wanted the Messiah to be someone that fit within their expectations and structures. They expected someone who would uphold the […]
(REFLECTIONS ON John 8:31-47) In today’s Scripture, Jesus talks about being free, but His definition of freedom is different than the Jews definition of freedom. This is a pattern that exists throughout the Gospel of John, that Jesus is often defining things differently than those that hear Him speak. Even as today’s Scripture begins stating that […]