After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the LORD and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying: “Give thanks to the LORD, for his love endures forever.” 2 Chronicles 20:21 One of my most treasured memories of grade school was participating in the Christmas Pageant. One year, I got to sing We Three Kings with my two best friends. Oh, how fun it was to sing in front of the whole congregation on Christmas Eve! I remember feeling excitement and joy as I burst into song, making melody with my friends. After consulting the…

Immediately the Spirit drove him into the wilderness. He was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and the angels were serving him. Mark 1:12-13 (CSB) I have struggled to find ways to quiet my mind and find solitude with Christ. I am not just talking about a regular quiet time with the Lord, but that also can be a struggle. What I am talking about is those moments throughout the day when my mind has wandered off into a frenzy of disillusion. The other day, I had taken a particularly rough call at work. Emotions were high on both of our…

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me – put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:6-9 Self-doubt, defined as a lack of…

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens. Ecclesiastes 3:1 Have you recently had a change of seasons in your life? Perhaps, like me, an empty nest is on the horizon. Death or divorce has recently thrown some of you into a new season of life. Maybe you just finished a season of education and have now been tossed into the workforce for the first time. Or perhaps you have made a significant career change. Some of you may find yourself relocated to a new state or type of home life. The one thing I know remains constant in life is that change…

When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who were God’s possession – to the praise of his glory. Ephesians 1:13b-14 I remember watching a movie once, where the beneficiaries of somebody’s estate were all called into a room together for the reading of the will. Some of the people were mourning and crying, and some were fidgeting, unsure of what was to come. All were curious as to what their inheritance would be. In Ephesians, we read the letter from Paul to the church at Ephesus, and the opening part…

“Like birds hovering overhead, the Lord Almighty will shield Jerusalem; he will shield it and deliver it, he will pass over it and will rescue it.” Isaiah 31:5 Have you ever gotten yourself into a pickle and needed rescuing? Has God’s protection over you ever surprised you? Maybe a time where you were ready to take what you deserved, but God’s grace rescued you instead? Jonah is rescued with grace. In the story of Jonah and the whale, we hear about a prophet who gets himself into a situation he cannot get out of without God’s help. Jonah’s disobedience is what landed him in the belly of a giant fish…