Psalm 28 - 3.20.26

Scripture: Psalm 28:6-9

Praise be to the Lord,
    for he has heard my cry for mercy.

The Lord is my strength and my shield;
    my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.
My heart leaps for joy,
    and with my song I praise him. 

The Lord is the strength of his people,
    a fortress of salvation for his anointed one.

Save your people and bless your inheritance;
    be their shepherd and carry them forever.

Observation:

We can praise God for he hears our cry for mercy.

He himself is our strength.  I always say,  “He gives strength.” It says “He is our strength”.  This wording stood out to me.  I hadn’t noticed this before, He “IS”, what a concept.  Not something I have to muster up and do, but just like on the cross He took my place.

He is also our shield, this is used in battle to protect the soldier from attack.

WHEN I Trust HIM, He helps me.  We have to choose to trust and surrender to God.  Then, He will help us.

He is a “fortress of salvation for his anointed one.”  A fortress surrounds us and does a lot more than a shield.  Salvation is something that can’t be touched by outside forces.

Then, David makes a request of God to save “your people and bless your inheritance; be their shepherd and carry them forever.”

David began this Psalm asking God to hear him and wanted to be separated from the wicked.  He then declares praise for who God is.  Now he is making a request with much more confidence.  That is what praise and coming to God with our concerns does.  We can have assurance He Is our strength and come to Him with confidence that He will save and bless us and be our shepherd forever.

Application:

My Bible has a note that says the word “song” in verse 7 is not thoughts of thankfulness.  “But, actually verbalizing praise….” This is such an important reminder, things change as we speak out loud and declare God’s goodness! Declaring how good God is with our voice changes the atmosphere and even more our mind set.  The action of praise lifts our spirits. When I pray I am going to change my wording to match this psalm.  Instead of saying give me strength I am going to pray you are my strength.  

Prayer:

Father God,

Thank you that you will shepherd me and I have your salvation as my fortress.  Nothing can take that away from me.  Thank you for the revelation that you are my strength.  May I cling to this today and every day.  Also as I go through my day please help me remember to declare your goodness out loud and not just think it. You are so awesome there are countless reasons to praise you.  Thank you for your goodness and blessing on my life.

Amen

- Cindy Howard

John 12 - 03.19.26

SCRIPTURE

“Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with Jesus. Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard—an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair.

And the house was FILLED with the FRAGRANCE of the perfume.”

‭‭John‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭NIV‬‬

OBSERVATION

Jesus was about to complete HIS work here on earth with the MOST outrageous act of Love—EVER known to mankind.

Jesus knew full well that the Jewish Leaders were out to arrest and Kill Him (John 11:53) yet—HE was still headed to Jerusalem for the Passover. We learn that—Six days Before the Passover—Jesus made this one stopover in Bethany to spend some quiet time with his dear friends— Martha, Lazarus, and Mary. Pastor Katie would say—A time Jesus set aside—to be refreshed.

Wherever Jesus traveled, there was ALWAYS an invitation—“COME and Follow ME”.

A small aside:

To understand the power of this invitation you would need to understand that in Jesus day an invitation to Follow a Rabbi was only given to a very limited elite few who had undergone years of training and had committed the entire Old Testament to memory. This was accomplished by the time serious students were seventeen. THEN, Only the uppermost—Cream of the Crop, in Jesus day would have been extended an invitation to Follow a Rabbi as his disciple.

Can you see why the Pharisees were stunned at Jesus behavior? Taking fishermen straight off their fishing boats and a sinful tax collector right out of his tax collecting booth was unthinkable.

And here in this beautiful scene in Bethany—Jesus comes with His disciples for a brief pause—to Be Refreshed and what unfolds are beautiful acts of worship by His faithful friends—Mary, Martha, and Lazarus.

APPLICATION

Worship—Jesus at His Feet-Mary

Worship—Jesus through serving-Martha

Worship—Jesus through sharing his Testimony-Lazarus

Martha was serving and Mary worshiped at the Feet of Jesus. Lazarus was reclining with Jesus and the “others” at the Table. All were showing Worship to Jesus.

1. Mary’s Worship at Jesus Feet—Mary Listened fully and attentively to Jesus. Mary took the place of a slave at Jesus feet and let her hair down in public—something Jewish women NEVER did—laying her glory at Jesus feet (1 Cor 11:15) In this public, personal, and unembarrassed act of devotion Mary demonstrated her Worship for Jesus at His feet. The perfume,said to be valued at a year’s wages, FILLED the entire house with Fragrance. Her worship was sacrificial with a genuine heart FILLED with complete gratitude to Jesus.

Jesus said of Mary’s Worship-

“When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to PREPARE me for burial. Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”” (Matthew 26:12-13 NIV)

2. Martha was also worshiping. Martha worshiped Jesus through her act of Service. Jesus was able to come to this home and be refreshed. Part of that refreshing was Martha’s heart to serve well. She prepared the dinner, set the table, and served the guests. For Jesus—Martha’s act of serving was also a fragrant worship offered to Jesus—and a refreshing.

“We will show mercy to the poor and not miss an opportunity to do acts of kindness for others, for these are the true sacrifices that DELIGHT God’s heart.” (Hebrews‬ ‭13‬:‭16‬ ‭TPT‬‬)

3. Lazarus the third important takeaway in this reading. While there are no recorded words from Lazarus, there are recorded words of others “about” Lazarus that give us a vital clue. Lazarus miracle caused a major stir bringing crowds to see the man and hear his story of being raised from the dead by Jesus. Apparently—Lazarus was such an effective witness that the Jewish Leaders were plotting to kill Lazarus because SO many people were BELIEVING in Jesus from Lazarus Testimony.

“When all the people heard of Jesus’ arrival, they flocked to see him and also to see Lazarus—the man Jesus had raised from the dead. Then the leading priests—decided to kill Lazarus, too, for it was BECAUSE of him that many of the people had deserted them and believed in Jesus.” (John‬ ‭12‬:‭9‬-‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬)

PRAYER

Lord Jesus,

Nothing can compare with YOUR sacrifice of coming to earth to show me how to live my life and then—paying the ultimate sacrifice to offer me eternal life forever with YOU. My life was forever changed when YOU opened my eyes.

Help me to spiritually Follow YOU So close..that my daily walk demonstrates “Mary-like” Worship for YOU through personal and public acts of passionate devotion, heart-filled Serving, and powerful testimonies that witness to the reality of Christ in my life—so beautifully exemplified in this passage.

In Jesus Name.

Amen

Tina L Kudelka

John 12 - 03.19.26

SCRIPTURE

“Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with Jesus. Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard—an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair.

And the house was FILLED with the FRAGRANCE of the perfume.”

‭‭John‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭NIV‬‬

OBSERVATION

Jesus knew that the Jewish Leaders were out to arrest and Kill Him (John 11:53) yet—HE was still headed to Jerusalem for the Passover. We learn that — Six days before the Passover — Jesus made this one stopover in Bethany to spend some quiet time with his dear friends — Martha, Lazarus, and Mary. Pastor Katie would remind us — A time Jesus set aside — to be refreshed.

Jesus was about to complete HIS work here on earth with the MOST outrageous act of Love — EVER known to mankind. HE had COME to earth — to LIVE among us — an amazing act of Love in and of itself. After all, is there any other Majestic Sovereign God who would leave HIS Heavenly Kingdom and position to take the lowly place of a servant living amongst HIS creation in order to demonstrate their Love for mankind.

Jesus shared “the Kingdom is among you” everywhere HE went — healing, caring for, teaching, equipping, challenging, admonishing, correcting, and Loving — people.

Wherever Jesus traveled, there was ALWAYS an invitation —“COME and Follow ME”.

A small aside:

To understand the power of this invitation you would need to understand that in Jesus day an invitation to Follow a Rabbi was only given to a very limited elite few who had undergone years of training and had committed the entire Old Testament to memory. This was accomplished by the time serious students were seventeen. THEN, Only the uppermost — Cream of the Crop, in Jesus day would have been extended an invitation to Follow a Rabbi as his disciple.

Can you see why the Pharisees were stunned at Jesus behavior? Taking fishermen straight off their fishing boats and a sinful tax collector right out of his tax collecting booth was unthinkable.

Jesus — The quintessential Rabbi — with the ultimate 3-yr curriculum — didn’t invite “top of their class Torah student/scholars”. Though, Jesus would not have excluded them if their heart was prepared to meet God. Paul would have been in this category having been a disciple of Rabbi Gamaliel (Acts 22:3).

Jesus-being — God-specifically chose those whose hearts were open to receive what HE had to GIVE.

Demonstrating Christ’s Overwhelming Love as the ultimate — Transforming Power.

And here in this beautiful scene in Bethany — Jesus comes for a brief pause — to Be Refreshed.

My three takeaways are about Worshiping Jesus…the Worthy King — as His dearest friends did.

APPLICATION

Worship — Jesus at His Feet - Mary

Worship — Jesus through serving - Martha

Worship — Jesus through sharing his Testimony - Lazarus

Martha was serving and Mary worshiped at the Feet of Jesus. Lazarus was reclining with Jesus and the “others” at the Table. All were showing Worship to Jesus.

1. Mary’s Worship at Jesus Feet — Mary Listened fully and attentively to Jesus. Mary took the place of a slave at Jesus feet and let her hair down in public — something Jewish women NEVER did — laying her glory at Jesus feet (1 Cor 11:15) In this public, personal, and unembarrassed act of devotion, Mary demonstrated her Worship for Jesus at His feet. The perfume, said to be valued at a year’s wages, FILLED the entire house with Fragrance.  Her worship was sacrificial with a genuine heart FILLED with complete gratitude to Jesus.

Jesus said of Mary’s Worship -

“When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to PREPARE me for burial. Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.” (Matthew 26:12-13 NIV)

2. Martha was also worshiping. Martha worshiped Jesus through her act of Service. Jesus was able to come to this home and be refreshed. Part of that refreshing was Martha’s heart to serve well. She prepared the dinner, set the table, and served the guests. For Jesus — Martha’s act of serving was also a fragrant worship offered to Jesus — and a refreshing.

“We will show mercy to the poor and not miss an opportunity to

do acts of kindness for others, for these are the true sacrifices

that DELIGHT God’s heart.” (Hebrews‬ ‭13‬:‭16‬ ‭TPT‬‬)

1. Lazarus the third important takeaway in this reading. While there are no recorded words from Lazarus, there are recorded words of others “about” Lazarus that give us a vital clue. Lazarus miracle caused a major stir bringing crowds to see the man and hear his story of being raised from the dead by Jesus. Apparently — Lazarus was such an effective witness that the Jewish Leaders were plotting to kill Lazarus because SO many people were BELIEVING in Jesus from Lazarus Testimony.

“When all the people heard of Jesus’ arrival, they flocked to see him

and also to see Lazarus—the man Jesus had raised from the dead.

Then the leading priests — decided to kill Lazarus, too,

for it was BECAUSE of him that many of the people had deserted them and believed in Jesus.”

‭‭(John‬ ‭12‬:‭9‬-‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬)

PRAYER

Lord Jesus,

Nothing can compare with YOUR sacrifice of coming to earth to show me how to live my life and then — paying the ultimate sacrifice to offer me eternal life forever with YOU. My life was forever changed when YOU opened my eyes.

Help me to spiritually Follow YOU So close..that my daily walk demonstrates “Mary-like” Worship for YOU through personal and public acts of passionate devotion, heart-filled Serving, and powerful testimonies that witness to the reality of Christ in my life — so beautifully exemplified in this passage.

In Jesus Name.

Amen

Tina L Kudelka