Psalm 29

Scripture  Psalm 29:10-11  

The Lord sat as King at the flood; Yes, the Lord sits as King forever.  The Lord will give strength to His people; The Lord will bless His people with peace. Observation-What does it say?  This is another Psalm of David.  The title of the psalm, “The Voice of the Lord in the Storm,” indicates that this psalm might have been intended to be sung during a storm.  “It seems to be the general opinion of modern annotators, that this Psalm is meant to express the glory of God as heard in the pealing thunder, and seen in the equinoctial tornado. Just as the eighth Psalm is to be read by moonlight, when the stars are bright, as the nineteenth needs the rays of the rising sun to bring out its beauty, so this can be best rehearsed beneath the black wing of tempest, by the glare of the lightning, or amid that dubious dusk which heralds the war of elements”(Charles Spurgeon).  The Lord’s greatness can be seen and expressed in the darkest of times.  The God who was in charge at creation, was also in charge during the flood.  His wrath and the patience he displays is also a display of His great power.  But, even more importantly, it is also an example of how much greater His love is for us. Understanding-What does it mean?  They say hindsight is 2020.  After this last year, with all of the businesses running at lower capacity, unending closures of parks and some public spaces, people inching toward bankruptcy because of additional expenses, and not to mention the fear of catching a virus, I wonder if that phrase will fade into obscurity.   But even with all of the bad that happened in the last year, God was still incharge.  He was the God who sat on the throne during the Vietnam War, the Great Depression, through the September 11 Attacks.  He is the God who sits on the throne when we're feeling alone and empty. In Matthew 10:28-30, we read the words of Jesus when he said, “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.  Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”  We know from His own words that our God cares for us deeply and will provide the strength to carry on through the storms of life, just like He did for Paul, who was jailed and beaten for his belief in God.  He was also shipwrecked and has his life threatened on several occasions.  Despite all of this Paul wrote, “ I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.  I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:11-13) Life Application  Jesus, fill me with your strength, especially as the world around seems to be falling apart.  With all the pain that fills this world, help me to know that you are still King on the throne.  Help me to sing of your greatness in the midst of the storm. Help me to know your power through the storms.-Tyler Galloway      

Romans__6

Scripture - What stood out?Romans 6

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Observation - What does it say?In this chapter of Romans the apostle Paul tries to explain to the Roman church how grace and sin interact. That God’s grace is not a free pass to allow sin in your life. Understanding - What does it mean?It is amazing what a little bit of extra reading and research can do for my understanding of the bible. I have been reading about the apostle Paul and how he had to communicate and work differently when dealing with Greeks. Whereas hebrew culture was more defined by relational and image heavy communication, greek culture was defined by the abstract and more linear definitions of words. The apostle Paul sure had his work cut out for him having to deal with both hebrew and greek culture at the same time in a newly formed church no less! I wanted to quote this entire chapter because his arguments are so counter intuitive. The first several verses read: What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? I love Paul’s approach. Stop sinning. Christians should not be knowingly and willfully sinning! We are supposed to have died to sin. Further in the chapter he writes: 13 Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.  Don’t be involved in yucky activities. Seek righteousness.And here is the dagger: 21 But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.  Life Application - How can I apply this to my life today?Lord for my life application I am going to think about the various fruits of my life. I’d like for you Lord to highlight an area of my life where I may not have given over to you fully yet. Where I might be letting sin run free. Holy Spirit help me to identify whatever part of me that is enslaved to sin.  Help me to repent. Enslave me to righteousness.  And help to set me free. In the name of Jesus do I pray, amen.  -kenneth lee 

Psalm 27

Scripture

Psalms 27:13 NLT

“Yet I am confident I will see the Lord’s goodness while I am here in the land of the living.”

Observation-What does it say?

In this psalm, David writes of his confidence in God. David understood that no matter how dark a situation he may be placed in, that God was with him, and would never leave him. So why should he be afraid?! His enemies were the ones who should tremble in fear because Almighty God was with David. God was his fortress, his protector, and his savior. What more does a person need?!

Understanding-What does it mean?

He is my rock. He is my fortress. He is my confidence!

David was a man after God’s heart. He was a servant of God. Yet that didn’t stop life’s struggles from happening to him. God allowed those things to occur in David’s life to mold him into the man we all know him as today. David had confidence! Confidence in knowing what kind of God he served. (A God who is loving, just, and mighty)! No matter how bad the odds were stacked against David, he knew when all the dust settled, His God would reign supreme. He knew God’s glory and power would shine to make the impossible, possible.

After all, God split the Red Sea to help His people escape from the mighty Egyptian army. God tore down the mighty walls of Jericho with one big shout from His people. God even used a lowly shepherd boy to bring down a GIANT of a warrior named Goliath.

So whatever mountain there is in my life that needs to be moved, or whatever giant I am faced with battling, I am encouraged with David’s confidence. I will wait patiently on the Lord, and expect nothing but His goodness to breakthrough in my life.

“Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.”-Psalms 27:14

 “O Sovereign Lord! You made the heavens and earth by your strong hand and powerful arm. Nothing is too hard for you!”-Jeremiah 32:17

Life Application

My God is greater!

All I can do is give Him my praise and worship. Here is a link to a song of worship that came to mind: https://youtu.be/p-6YdT1DEO8

-Moses Gaddi