“O LORD, you have searched me and known me!” Psalm 139:1 ESV Reflection: how did David know so many intimate details about God?  I have many times pondered how the big figures of biblical history, like Abraham, Moses, David, and many others, knew so much about God. It is not like they had a lot of information they could look up, to read about who God is. They had some knowledge passed down by their ancestors and fathers. David, of course, would have had some of the Torah, specifically the first...

“And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.” Colossians 2:13-14 ESV Reflection: what is the benefit of being debt free?  If you follow any news feed, you probably heard that the federal reserve decided to raise interest rates again. Which means it is more expensive...

“For the LORD has chosen Zion; he has desired it for his dwelling place: “This is my resting place forever; here I will dwell, for I have desired it.” Psalm 132:13-14 ESV Reflection: how can we prepare the dwelling place for the Lord?  This morning we woke up to an amazing sunrise over the ocean. It is almost difficult to get enough of it; just have to soak it up, like food for the soul. And, if we stop for a moment to consider what it took to design this view, it is even more awesome. Certainly...

“But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me.” Psalm‬ ‭131‬:‭2‬ ‭ESV‬‬ Reflection: what is “the weather” like inside you?  A couple of nights ago, we had a very powerful thunderstorm that passed over our neighborhood. Some of the lightning strikes seemed very close; the whole house shook from the resulting thunder. And then came the pouring rain with wind. The whole thing lasted for an hour or so, after which it was completely...

“I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning.”Psalm 130:5-6 ESV Reflection: what does “waiting” for the Lord mean to you?  After landing early in Denver, the gate for the plane we were on wasn’t available. So the pilot had to park the plane on the tarmac until the gate was cleared. 5 minutes went by. 10, then 15. It wasn’t difficult to notice that some people were getting more and...

“If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared.”Psalm 130:3-4 ESV Reflection: why is it necessary to repent of sin?  Let’s image a friend hurt you deeply. Said or done something “in the heat of the moment” that objectively was wrong. They knew they had hurt you, because it was intentional. And you part ways. So, now what? You might be waiting for an apology, but say nothing is said. You can forgive them, which will allow...

“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2 ESV Reflection: what does it mean to carry burdens for brothers and sisters in Christ?  The journey as a Christian is often filled with tribulations, with suffering. None of us like suffering, but it is unavoidable as a Christian. The fact that we all have a sinful flesh that wants to follow the world, as well as a new creation in Christ, holy and sanctified for Him that desires to follow God’s law, create an internal...

““Greatly have they afflicted me from my youth”— let Israel now say— “Greatly have they afflicted me from my youth, yet they have not prevailed against me.” Psalm 129:1-2 ESV.  Reflection: why does God’s people have to suffer in the world?  In a way, we have been created from the beginning to “fit in”. If you spend a minute thinking about how much of a “follower” mentality we have in most societies, in families, among friends, in school, and at work. We speak in a certain way, dress in a...

“Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD, who walks in his ways!” Psalm 128:1 ESV Reflection: what do you mean when you wish blessings on someone?  A few years ago, as we were leaving the parking garage of the Boise airport, I asked the woman collecting the parking fee “How are you?” A normal question, and I expected a normal answer with something like “Good, and you?” But I got an unexpected answer back. She said “I am blessed”. This woman was sitting in a tiny booth, probably a low paying job,...

“Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.” Psalm 127:1 ESV Reflection: what does your spiritual house look like?  Jesus gives the famous parable of the house built on rock versus sand, a parable that most Christians know and understand, even from childhood. Let’s read it ““Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And...