The Lord Will Give You Strength

I know you need it today, so I will tell you concisely using Psalm 29, "The Lord will give strength to his people" (Psalm 29:11). What kind of strength can the Lord provide for his people? His voice alone can shake the wilderness (v. 8). His voice can make the deer calve and strip the … Continue reading The Lord Will Give You Strength

There Is Nothing More Beautiful Than the Praise of God

This morning, my waking eyes were met with stories of criminals attacking judges, sex workers bragging about 100s of clients in one day, and child trafficking. Some days, the dark depravity of the world is like a heavy curtain that drapes itself over everything true, good, and beautiful. One needs to look hard to find … Continue reading There Is Nothing More Beautiful Than the Praise of God

Not Afraid of Bad News

In a world where bad news seems to lurk around every corner, how can you maintain an unshakable heart? This short exploration of Psalm 112:7 delves into the Christian's extraordinary ability to remain unafraid of bad news. -CLICK TO READ-

Salvation Belongs to the Lord

I recently had the opportunity to preach a sermon on one of my favorite Psalms at First Artesia CRC. Psalm 3 tells us that salvation belongs to the Lord. In understanding this truth, we will also find that he is our glory and the lifter of our heads. The sermon takes a verse-by-verse look at the Psalm and how it applied to David and then closes with a quick review of how Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of this Psalm. Click for video and audio versions.

How Do We Apply the Psalms About Killing Enemies?

When the Psalmist speaks of the enemies he so desperately wants God to kill, we should imagine that pet sin Satan intends to use to drag us to hell. When we read of the incessant desire of the Psalmist's adversaries, we should think of our own constant temptation to Sin. We should read these poems of war as our poems of war. We should be encouraged not just to sit through hard times but to... CLICK TO READ MORE.

Thanksgiving, Gratitude, and Leanness of Soul

Many people live with leanness of soul. It is a spiritual condition related to gratitude, and we get a glimpse of it in Psalm 106. The psalm begins by calling the people of God to praise and thanksgiving. The following 12 verses continue by reminding them of God’s great and merciful works. How He showed His power and set … Continue reading Thanksgiving, Gratitude, and Leanness of Soul

The Description of the Godly Man

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, or stand in the way of sinners, or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of … Continue reading The Description of the Godly Man

God Does Not Forget We Are Weak

"He knows our frame; He remembers that we are but dust!" - Psalm 103:14 God does not treat us as if we were strong, holy, and unfallen angels! He does not forget that we are weak, that it is hard for us to live right, that we are easily tempted and overcome. He is very … Continue reading God Does Not Forget We Are Weak

The Poetry of the Disheartened Soul

"Why art thou cast down, O my soul?" -Psalm 43:5 It is one source of the eternal freshness of the Psalms that they tell the story of a struggling soul. They open a window on to that battlefield with which no other battle can be compared, the moral struggle of the individual with himself. And … Continue reading The Poetry of the Disheartened Soul

5 Signs Sin Has a Powerful Grip on Your Life

As believers, we struggle against sin and temptation. There will never be a time in our lives when we will not be striving against it. However, fighting against sin is one thing; sin having control is quite another. Sin can quickly gain power in our lives if we are not diligent. This is why John … Continue reading 5 Signs Sin Has a Powerful Grip on Your Life