When God Intervenes

Psalm 119:117 - "Uphold me, and I will be delivered; I will always have regard for your decrees."

When I was a teenager my brothers, Randy and Kevin, and I went for a drive. Randy was the driver and Kevin was in the front seat with him. I was in the middle seat of our family's station wagon. While we were riding along the road, enjoying ourselves, a drunk driver came barreling down the road and hit our car head on. It was quite a collision. As our car was impacted by the drunk driver's car, I felt my body moving forward, as if I was going to end up in the front seat, or worse yet in the windshield of our car. It was then that I felt two strong hands push me back.

When the shock of the event was over, I said, "Thanks, guys, you saved my life!" to my brothers. The replied, "What do you mean, we saved your life?" I said, "You pushed me back when I was heading towards the windshield."

"We didn't touch you," they replied. "My hands were on the stearing wheel," said Randy. "Yeah, and mine were on the dashboard," replied Kevin.

I'll never forget that moment. It's been over 20 years, and I remember it like it was yesterday. It was a moment in my life where I believe God directly intervened to make sure that I was safe. I can't explain whose hands those were that pushed me back. But, I know that I felt them. And, I know that my God is certainly capable of intervening in a situation like that. It may have been an angel. It may be that my brothers really did push me back and in the frenzy of the situation didn't realize it. But, God is ultimately the reason that I'm here today. And, in light of that, I owe my life to Him. And, that's just one reason.

God has sustained my life over and over again. Many times I am unaware of His intervention. But, I am quite well aware of His eternal intervention in my life too. It's because of the death of Christ on the cross that I can have the hope that David had, that God upholds, and God delivers. He has upheld my life, both physically and eternally. And, He deserves glory, honor and praise.

Dear God,

To You is due glory, honor and praise. You are the Sustainer of life. Thank You for each and every day that You give us. You are our Rock and our Redeemer.

In Jesus' Name,

Amen.

When Hopes Are Dashed

Psalm 119:116 - "Sustain me according to your promise, and I will live; do not let my hopes be dashed."

This evening I'll be taking a group of about 50 people into the inner city of Minneapolis. It's our annual Senior High Christmas Party. We meet at Wooddale Church, make sack lunches, and then go to deliver them to the homeless men and women of our city. As we spend time with these men and women, our student's lives are changed. They are challenged by the plight of these people. Their hearts are broken as they hear the stories of what has brought humanity to such a desperate spot. And, my heart breaks as I see the hope that so many of our students have in their eyes, absent from the eyes of the vagabound.

Tonight's party will teach a valuable lesson. The lesson is that sometimes life can be tough. But, it also teaches that God is present even in the most difficult of circumstances. David cried out for God to sustain him in life's most difficult days. He was afraid of losing his hope. There is a key word in David's cry. It's the word, "my." David wanted to hold onto his hopes. What David knew, and we must know too, is that sometimes God will replace our hopes with His. There are times when God won't give us what we want because He wants to give us what His hopes are for us! And when that happens, look out!

The hope that is absent from the men and women that we will see tonight will not remain there for all of them. For some, tonight will be the day where a little glimmer of hope emerges. They won't know why. They won't know how. But, it will begin to build. And, it will be because of Christ. As they see Christ in our students, some will be changed forever. And, as our students see Christ in some of them; the destitute, the downtrodden, the bum, they will remember the words of Christ, ". . .when you did it for the least of these, you did it unto me."

Dear God,

Give us hope; Your hope. May we find those whose hopes have been dashed and help them to experience Your mercy and grace. May You be pleased by what You see in us.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

By Evil You Were Caught

Psalm 119:115 - "Away from me, you evildoers, that I may keep the commands of my God!"

I wish she would have listened
I really wish she had
That all those things that glistened;
Could really be so bad.

It's just a night with friends
In the city that never sleeps
She slipped into the Benz
And now her mother weeps

Where have you gone little girl?
Acting all grown up
The events that are about to unfurl
Because of the contents of your cup

It's just a drink
He said with a wink
And you listened and obeyed
The strangers voice instead of the one who sat by your bed and prayed

The dizzying feeling;
It overtakes
The joy it is now stealing
Realizing now, your friends are fakes

Too late, darling- it's morning now
And all the evening's brought
Is regret and remorse and wondering how
By evil you were caught.

By evil you were caught.

"The biggest difference between you now and five years from now are the people you meet, the places you go, and the books that you read. Choose wisely. Away from me, you evildoers, that I may keep the commands of God."

Dear God,

A generation of people have bought the lie that they don't need You. We have substituted the glory of the Christ for the passion of the world. Help us to remember that the world's excitement is fleeting. Help us to cling on to You. We want no regrets when our lives are through. Use us, please.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

An Anchor Worth Putting Hope In

Psalm 119:114 - "You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in Your word."

What do you hope in?

For some, the answer to that question is obvious.

Money
Fame
Prestige
Power
Security
Significance
Family
Friends
Self

Where does God fall on that list? To David, God was hope. He was the only hope that David had. When David faced the world, God was his refuge. In other words, when David felt like life's storms were difficult, he could hide away in God's arms. God would be there for him in the most difficult of times.

He called God his shield. A shield defends a soldier from an enemy's attack. It protects the heart, and other vital organs. God offers us protection; not just physical protection, but spiritual protection too.

So, David put his trust in God. But, he also placed it in the Word of God.

Today, I was talking with several students who shared with me their doubts that God is there. They shared about the trials that they were going through in life. They shared about their fears that they might abandon God. When I pressed them on the time that they spend with God, each one of them mentioned that they spent time praying to God, but that they didn't spend time listening to God. They didn't spend time reading God's Word. They didn't have an anchor to hold onto in life's darkest days. God has given us His Word for encouragment and correction. He has given us His Word to illuminate our way in life. He has given us His Word to understanding Who God is, and what it is that God expects of us. He has given us His word for instruction in righteousness. Hold onto His Word. Let God speak to you through it. And, celebrate that you have something worth putting trust into.

Dear God,

Your Word truly is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our paths. Help us to trust it. Help us to trust You. Thank you for never giving us reason to doubt You. You are magnificent, and You are good. We are blessed.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

Hypocrisy

Psalm 119:113 - "I hate double-minded men, but I love your law."

Woah, David, harsh language here! Does God want us to hate anyone? No, he doesn't. But, the point that David is trying to make is that people who live with their feet on two sides of the fence make him sick. And, I think that we can all agree with that.

In fact, we could probably agree that it's ourselves that make us sick more than anyone else. Why? Because we all have times in our lives where what we display is straight up hypocrisy. David did it too. In fact, there are times throughout the Psalms where David talks about hating the things that he does. Paul talks about it in the New Testament when he talks about doing the things the he doesn't want to do. David isn't so much being a judge in this verse, as he is talking about his heart's desire to live a holy life.

Loving God's law helps us become people who live holy lives. For us, it means paying attention to God's Word. It's taking the time to read what it says and apply it to our lives. I hope you'll do that this Christmas season.

Dear God,

Help us to stay away from hypocrisy. Help us to be committed to loving You and Your Word with everything that we are. Thank You for you perfect love.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

Faithful to the End

Psalm 119:112 - "My heart is set on keeping your decrees to the very end."

Great Christians throughout the ages have sought to be people who stay faithful to God to the very end of their lives. King David spoke of keeping God's decrees to the end of his life in Psalm 119:112.

In 2 Timothy 4:7-8 the Apostle Paul wrote, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing."

I'm 38 years old, and I pray that I will be one who was found faithful to the end, in my relationship with Jesus Christ. I love seeing the lives of older Christians who have walked with God throughout their lives. I love listening to senior citizens as they talk about their faith journey with Christ. And, I love hearing the stories of Christian leaders who continue to pour their lives into the work of Christ, even when they could have easily retired years before.

Several years ago someone told me the story of Billy Graham's final crusade in Sacremnento, California. Graham knew it would be his last crusade in the state of California. His Parkinson's disease was robbing him of the ability to continue to travel the globe, spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The people of California also knew that it would be Graham's last crusade in the state. So, many Christians volunteered to be counselors at the Graham crusade. One of the volunteers was a pastor. On the first night of the crusade, the pastor had an opportunity to pray with a man who was making a commitment to Jesus Christ after a life of alcohol abuse. The pastor stayed until 2:00 AM, talking to the man.

After his conversation with this new believer, the pastor decided that he would drive through downtown Sacaremento to see if there was anyone that he could share Christ with. He saw no one, until he came to the State Capitol. On the steps he saw what appeared to be a homeless man. Feeling led to share Christ with the man, the pastor parked his car and walked up the steps of teh Capitol building. When he came upon the man, he noticed that the man was bent over and his lips were moving. He said, "Sir, may I help you?" The old man looked up at the pastor and said, "No, son, I'm fine, I'm just praying for this great city." Instantly the pastor recognized that the old man was Billy Graham. Here it was, 2:30 in the morning and Billy Graham was outside of his hotel, on the Capitol steps, praying for the city of Sacremento. Billy said that he just couldn't sleep. He needed to be in prayer. He then asked the pastor to join him in prayer.

Billy Graham has been faitful to the end. It's what God desires of all of us. May we each be found faithful!

Dear God,

We want to be faithful to You until the end of our lives. You have demonstrated what it means to be faithful, and You call us to be like You. Help us to live lives of faithfulness, as you have shown us.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

That's My King

I love this.

A Christian Heritage

Psalm 119:111 - "Your statutes are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart."

I grew up in a Christian home. So many times I say that and don't really think about what it is that I'm saying. It's true. My parents are both Christians. All of my siblings are followers of Jesus. My grandparents were Christians. All of their children were Christians. And, that is really amazing. I have a Christian heritage. There are far too many times that I take that truth for granted.

David understood the importance of a godly heritage. He said that God's statutes were his heritage forever, and that they were the joy of his heart. What would it be like to see all of your children, and all of your children's children choose to walk with Christ? My parents are seeing that happen. And, that has to be a delight. So, how does one experience this blessing? God doesn't make any guarantees that this will happen to anyone. I wish we could all know that our children and that their children would walk with Christ, but we can't. I do however believe that David's statment about God's statutes being the joy of his heart give a glimpse into how Christian heritages happen. When children see that their parents actually live out God's passions for their lives, they are more inclined to follow Christ. They want to see that the faith of their parents is genuine. I know that I did. And, what I saw in my Mom and Dad was a genuine joy in the Lord, and a genuine love for each other. I saw it in my grandparents too. And, it's what I want my children to see in me.

Dear God,

We want to follow You and experience the joy that can only come through knowing and loving our Savior. Help our children to see us genuiely walking with You. Help them to see our love and fervor, our devotion for You. And may our children, and our children's children, walk with You forever.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

Prayers for New Life Church and Youth With A Mission

I've spend almost the entire day at Wooddale Church today. I arrived early for a special event and taught a class this afternoon. I was also at our evening service. But, my heart was with the people of Colorado, New Life Church and Youth With A Mission. What a difficult 18 months this has been for New Life Church. Please keep this church, and it's members in your prayers. If you haven't heard the news (and I'm assuming you have) a gunman fired bullets at around 1:00 this afternoon, killing one person injuring three at New Life Church. This is the same church that is still healing from Pastor Ted Haggard's (the founder of New Life Church) resignation after admitting to agregious sin. God is working in mighty ways at New Life, and I believe that so much of what they are going through is spiritual warfare. Keep this precious part of the bride of Christ in your prayers.

Pray also for the students and staff at Youth with a Mission in Arvada, Colorado, who are also dealing with the aftermath of a shooting last night in which two staffers were killed by a gunman. The body of Christ has a beautiful way of pulling together during tragedies like this. Pray for the family or families of the gunman or gunmen involved.

Holiness When The Traps Are Set

Psalm 119:110 - "The wicked have set a snare for me, but I have not strayed from your precepts."

Turn to your right and find? Temptation! Turn to your left and what's there? Temptation! Look straight ahead or turn around and what do you find? Temptation! And, you can feel trapped. Some people just give in. "After all," they say, "I'm just going to eventually succumb to the temptation."

It doesn't have to be that way.

Beating temptation begins with realizing the source of your temptation. Satan is doing everything that he can to make you stumble. He is continually setting traps for God's people to fall into. When we recognize, like David did, that temptation comes from the evil one, we are better positioned to fight.

The second step is to recognize that we beat temptation by knowing and using the Word of God. Remember way back at the beginning of this series through Psalm 119 we looked at how a person walks in purity? (verses 9-11)It's by living by the Word. We need to hide it in our hearts.

The third step is to flee when we see it. And, expect that when you flee one temptation that another is waiting around the corner. The more you say, "No," to sin, the stronger you become. That is, as long as you recognize that your ability to say, "no," is because of the power of God working in you.

Dear God,

Thank You for giving us the tools that we need to say, "no," to temptation. Give us the strength to continually walk away from the temptation that comes our way.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

My New Book Was Released Today

It's been a long time coming, but What's The Deal With . . . is now available. You can read more about the book, see a sample of the product, or purchase a copy HERE. I received my author's copy a couple of days ago and am delighted with the final product. Many thanks to the folks at Zondervan for putting together such a great finished product. Thanks too to Greg Stier, of Dare 2 Share Ministries who so kindly agreed to write the forward to the book.

This book tells the story of Pizza and God Talk, a ministry that we began several years ago to answer the theological questions that high schoolers have. (Students basically gather together twice a month to ask any question they want about God, the Bible, spirituality, other religions, etc. The deal we have is that students have to answer the question first, then an adult can. We see 50-80 students come every time we have one of these events.)

After telling the story, I've included 500 of the questions that our students have asked throughout the years. A lot of my friends have asked if the answers are in the book. They're not. That would be a theology book, and there are many people more qualified to write that than me. What I wanted readers to see was the real questions that students are asking today. More than that, I'm hoping that parents, youth pastors, Sunday School teachers, and mentors will go through these questions with students. The book will open up discussions about deep theological issues. Because there are no answers, it will require those engaging in the questions to go to the Bible to see what God has to say about the issue. I am praying that God uses this book to draw people into a deeper walk with Him.

In the past few years hundreds of youth workers (thanks in great part to Greg Stier telling the Pizza and God Talk story at Dare 2 Share events) have talked with me about starting Pizza and God Talk ministries at their church. Many don't know where to start. This book will help. Pick 2-3 of these questions a night and discuss them with your students. The questions will lead to further questions, and before you know it, students will be coming up with their own questions.

Some people are afraid of starting a ministry like Pizza and God Talk because they are afraid they won't know the answer to the question. Not all answers are knowable. We will find out some of them when we get to heaven. But, I have seen God use students, time after time, to give an answer to a question that I wouldn't have known the answer to. It is beautiful to see how God works, and humbling how He uses our students to teach us. I hope you'll pick up a copy of the book and see how God can use it in your sphere of influence.

God bless!

Continual Awareness

Psalm 119:109 - "Though I constantly take my life in my hands, I will not forget your law."

He negotiated with world leaders. He led men into battle. He led a nation to the throne room of heaven with his bold worship that some saw as undignified. He was a hunter, who was often times the hunted. He was the King. And, his life was one incredible adventure.

In Psalm 119:109, David talked about his constant adventure. He was constantly taking his life in his hands. What David should have realized was that his life was completely in God's hands. And, maybe that's what he is trying to say here. Either way, David was aware of the fact that he had a responsibility as a follower of Yaweh to follow God, no matter what was happening around him.

Have you ever been at a spot in life where it seemed like your world was falling apart? Have you ever been at a spot where chaos was abundant? Have you ever been at a spot where you wondered how God would work in this situation? It's in those moments that it can be easy to forget about God's law and go with your own instincts. We need to continually rely upon God and His Word as we face life's trials. No matter what happens, be mindful of His presence and His desire for your life.

Dear God,

Life can get a bit chaotic at times. And, in those times it can be easy to doubt You, or forget about You. Help us not to make that mistake. Help us to live in daily awe of Your powerful presence in our lives. And, help us to live out Your desires.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

A Gift for God

Psalm 119:108 - "Accept, O LORD, the willing praise of my mouth, and teach me your laws."

In just a few weeks we'll be celebrating Christmas. One of my favorite parts of this holiday is the giving and receiving of gifts. I love watching my children's eyes light up when I find just the right gift. I really love watching Cyndi's eyes light up if I've found the perfect gift for her that particular year. And, you know who else I want to please with my gifts? God.

David did too. In Psalm 119:108, he asked God to accept the praise from his mouth. Our praise is a gift to God. And, God has the right to accept that gift or reject that gift. Have you ever thought about God rejecting your worship to Him? It's a humbling thought. But, Scripture tells us in many places that God looks at our hearts. When we worship Him, he expects us to worship Him with hearts that are pure. Are you striving to do that when you offer God prayer with your mouth? I hope so.

As we go through this Advent season, give God your best. Prepare your heart to worship your King. O Come, Let Us Adore Him. He is Christ, the Lord!

Dear God,

You are our King. You deserve worship from hearts that are pure. Help us to worship you with pure and true hearts.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

A Word to the Suffering

Psalm 119:107 - "I have suffered much; preserve my life, O LORD, according to your word."

There are lots of times in my life that I feel sorry for myself. I don't like the way that certain things have turned out. Or, I don't like something that I have, or am jealous of what others do have. But, when I really think about it, I haven't suffered much in life. I have it pretty good.

Others aren't as fortunate. I know that there are those who read my blog every day who feel like David. They fell like they have suffered much, and they have. Life has thrown a cruel curve ball in their direction, and the pain has been so deep. Maybe you feel like you need God to preserve your life today. I want to encourage you to share that with someone that you know, and someone that you can trust to pray for you. God created you to live in community with others. He wants to lift you up. He wants you to spend time saturated in His Word. Read Scripture with a friend. Pray together. If there is no one else around, pick up your Bible and read it alone. Pray, like David, to the God who cares.

As good as my life has been, there have been times where I have felt surrounded by darkness. Tomorrow, I'll be teaching self-esteem at Eden Prairie High School. I share with the students about a time in middle school where I was so depressed, that in my immaturity I wanted to take my life. God surrounded me with quality people who showed me love, and taught me about God's love on a deep level. My parents were some of those people. My sixth grade teacher, Miss Bingham, was another one. She had our entire class memorize Psalm 139 that year. I call Psalm 139:16-18 the Bible verses that saved my life. They say,

"You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me!"(NLT)

The verses taught me about God's great love, and His plan for me. Year's later I would learn Jeremiah 29:11, "'For I know the plans I have for you,' says the Lord. 'They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.'" I love that great verse of hope.

God hears the cry of the suffering. He loves You. Bring your suffering to Him.

Dear God,

It's not easy to go through suffering. But, You know that. Because, You have suffered more than any of us every will. Help us to remember Your love, your tender compassion, and Your gooddness, even in our storms. Thank You for even our suffering.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

To Take An Oath . . . Or Not

Psalm 119:106 - "I have taken an oath and confirmed it, that I will follow your righteous laws."

What would it take to get you to do what David did in Psalm 119:106? Before you answer that, let me tell you about the biblical oath. In an article in Christianity Today Magazine, dated February 23, 2007, Ted Olson, writing about Minnesota U.S. Representative, Keith Ellison's taking his oath of office by placing his hand on the Koran, talked about biblical oaths.

Check out what Olson writes about oaths:

"There are different kinds of vows and oaths in Scripture, but many passages suggest they're all dangerous. In the most troubling example, Jephthah, in exchange for a military victory, swore to sacrifice the first thing that walked out his door, and it turned out to be his daughter (Judges 11). Both he and his only child knew there was no alternative. "If a man vows a vow to the Lord, or swears an oath to bind himself by a pledge," God had commanded, "he shall not break his word" (Num. 30:2).

The Qur'an, by contrast, assures readers that "God does not take you [to task] for what is thoughtless in your oaths" (5:89). Help the poor or fast, and you're expiated.

The scribes and Pharisees in Jesus' day adopted rules in an apparent effort to protect the faithful from rash promises: Oaths "by the temple" weren't binding, for example, but more specific oaths "by the gold of the temple" were (Matt. 23:16ff). Jesus condemned such game-playing and issued a far more expansive rule: "Do not take an oath at all. … Let what you say be simply yes or no" (Matt. 5:33-37). In this, he echoed the Law of Moses: "If you refrain from vowing, you will not be guilty of sin" (Deut. 23:22).

Irenaeus, Tertullian, and other early church leaders considered Jesus' command to be a ban on all oaths, while others like Augustine concluded that Jesus was using hyperbole to condemn abuses. After all, Augustine noted, even Paul took oaths (e.g., Gal. 1:20). Luther, Calvin, and other Reformers sided with Augustine, approving of civil oaths that didn't abuse or profane the name of God.

Which leads us back to those oaths of office. A week after Ellison and his Congressional colleagues took their oaths, Venezuela's Hugo Chavez began his third presidential term by promising to nationalize the economy and expand socialism. "I swear by Christ, the greatest socialist in history," he declared.

Does his oath constitute profanity?

Does Congress's oath?

Ellison didn't actually take the oath of office on the Qur'an after all. And others didn't use the Bible. Those photos of members of Congress with their hands on the Bible are actually staged reenactments. The House of Representatives takes its oath of office in unison, without holy books at all. So do those photos bear false witness? Maybe.

We could parse Scripture to codify hard rules for oaths, but then we're right back to being confronted by Jesus.

Maybe we're supposed to be less interested in oaths than in becoming a community of truth-tellers. As Philo said, the more emphasis one puts on swearing, the more "the swearer shows that there is some suspicion of his not being trustworthy."

So, oaths are serious business. David's oath to follow God's righteous laws revealed that he was so serious about being one who walked in the ways of God. David knew the consequences of making an oath and not keeping it. Maybe that's why God called him a man after his own heart. God wants us to commit to living holy lives. David's oath is not prescriptive for Christians. In fact, I agree that Jesus would rather us not make the oath, but commit to being a truth teller. May God fill us all with a passion for following Him, no matter the cost!

Dear God,

Help us to be people of our words. Let us be men and women whose yes is yes and no is no. Help us to be people who live our lives as people after your own heart.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

God's Navigation System

Psalm 119:105 - "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path."

It was one of the top Contemporary Christian songs of the 1980's. Amy Grant's Thy Word, shot to the top of the charts as the CCM darling of the 80's belted out the words to Psalm 119:105 in the form of song. I remember singing along with the song every time it came on the radio.

There is something beautiful about the words of Psalm 119:105. It's a vivid description of the value that comes from allowing the Word of God to be your guide as you walk through life's journey.

This afternoon I spent time with a teenager whose life has spiraled out of control. We went to Teen Challenge, a faith-based drug recovery program. I loved watching God work in this young person's life. As the admissions representative talked about Teen Challenge, she said that Teen Challenge is first and foremost a discipleship program. People who enter treatment at this facility are saturated with the Word of God. Teen Challenge has one of the highest success ratios in the country when it comes to treatement of substance abuse. Why? Because, they recognize that living in the world requires God's navigation system, the Bible, to make right choices in how to live.

Let God's Word be your navigation system as you go through life. He will never steer you wrong.

Dear God,

You have provided the way for us to know how to walk through our life's journey. Help us to stay in tune with Your global navigation system. Thank You that You love us like You do.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

Hating Evil

Psalm 119:104 - "I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path."

If you've been reading this blog over the course of the past week, you have read about paths. David talks about the concept of the right and wrong path quite a bit in this section of Psalm 119. He concludes this section of the Psalm by once again talking about his hatred for choosing the wrong path.

So, how are you doing on choosing paths this week? As a youth pastor, I often draw upon David's analagy of paths while talking with students. This week I've had that conversation several times. It seems like the high school years are a time where students are constantly faced with choices that have the potential to shape their future for good or for bad. I hate it when I see students knowingly make the wrong choice. It breaks my heart to see students caught in a web of destruction.

Please join me in praying for students today. It's Sunday, and tomorrow all across the country, millions of junior high, high school and college students will head back to class for yet another week. Pray that they will make wise choices. Pray that they will dig deep into God's Word to discover His best for their lives. And, pray too that you will continue to follow Christ's precepts, and that you'll grow to hate the wrong path.

Dear God,

We want to follow Your precepts. Help us love You and hate sin. Help us be prayer warriors and true counselors for students who are facing huge choices in their lives. Thank You for your patience with fallen men.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

My Favorite Orchestra

I was checking out some YouTube videos with my kids today, and found out that I have a new favorite orchestra. Check them out:

Christmas Cookies and The Word

Psalm 119:103 - "How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!"

We're decorating for Christmas today. In a few hours our home will be transformed. A Christmas tree will stand where a living room chair now sits. Nativity sets will go up. Our railings will be decorated with greenery. Lights will be up throughout the house. And, a wonderful aroma will invade our home as some of the dishes we only prepare at Christmas time will be baked. I love this time of year.

Honey was the sweetener of choice in ancient times. It was a delicacy, and the taste of honey brought pleasure to the mouth. As I read today's verse, I thought about the treats that will come out of our oven. I love the Christmas cookies and coffee cakes. David picked one of his day's greatest delicacies to compare the Word of God to. And he said that God's Word was of greater delight than any of it.

A while ago I was interviewing a young woman for a position that we had open at Wooddale Church. As we conducted the interview we asked her to share her view on various doctrines. When we came to the doctrine of Scripture she began her answer by saying, "I believe that the Bible is the most beautiful book ever written." I loved her answer. She was the first one that I had ever heard in any interview setting (or ordination council for that matter) refer to the Bible as beautiful. She understood what David was talking about in this passage. God's Word is more than just the breath of God. It is beautiful. It is delightful. It is powerful. It changes lives. And, it's worth devoting significant portions of our life to.

I've asked you several times over the past few days to spend time in God's Word. I hope you'll do it. It's the tradition of many people during the Christmas season to read through the various tellings of the Christmas story. I'd encourage you to try that. Read through the familiar story (I really like Luke's telling of it, in Luke 1-2) and see if you can learn anything new. Ask God to reveal something new about His nature or about His love for the world. And, revel in the beauty of God's Word. It's sweeter than honey, and better than Christmas cookies:>)

Dear God,

You are truly amazing. You have provided us with Your Word and we are grateful for that. Thank You for sending us Your Son. Thank You for this time of the year where we can reflect on You. Thank You for life's little pleasures like honey and Christmas cookies. We love You.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

Taught at the Feet of God

Psalm 119:102 - "I have not departed from your laws, for you yourself have taught me."

Okay, I have to admit it. I'm jealous. I really am. I wish that I could have been there, one time, when Jesus taught a group of people. From the New Testament accounts of Jesus' teaching, we read that He taught unlike anyone who preceeded Him. And, I'm pretty sure that the world has never seen anyone who teaches quite like Him since He ascended into Heaven.

But, I'm also happy. I'm happy that I have the Bible. I'm happy that I have the very breath of God in my fingertips, every time I hold His precious Word. David said that he hadn't departed from God's laws, because he had been taught by God, Himself. And, you know what? We have been too. Every time we break open our Bibles and truly allow God to speak to our heart, God has taught us. Very few people were fortunate enough to ever hear Jesus speak more than once. But, we have multiple spots in Gospels where Jesus' teaching comes alive. We also have multiple spots where we see God, the Father speak. And, multiple spots where we see the evidence of the Holy Spirit's work.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." Marvel today in the fact that you've been taught at the feet of God. You hold his very breath in your hand, every time you read His Word. Are you ready to pick it up and read?

Dear God,

Your Word is precious. It represents that which You are passionate about. Help us to remember that. Give us the discipline to be daily in Your Word. You are our Delight, and we love You so much.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

Crooked Way

Psalm 119:101 - "'I have kept my feet from every evil path so that I might obey your word."

--THE FOLLOWING STORY IS A MODERN DAY PARABLE. IT NEVER REALLY HAPPENED.--

It was quite a hike.

Bobby had been hiking these mountain trails all his life. Hiking next to him gave me the confidence that whatever came our way, we'd be prepared for it. As we walked we swapped stories about our lives. Most of my stories involved my suburban life. I don't think Bobby was really all that interested in my ramblings about cul-de-sacs and SUV's (that never really went off road), but he humored me. When Bobby spoke I was enthralled. He grew up in the mountains. My biggest fears growing up were that I would get stuck on the wrong side of the tracks. Bobby talked about having to escape from mountain lions and bears. He warned me about the dangers of the wild. He also taught me to respect the land. And, when he said it, it carried a bit more authority than my eighth grade science teacher's words from years ago.

As we hiked further Bobby's talk changed. He began to talk about the deepest things in life. He began to talk about God. It took me by surprise that this mountain man was an amateur theologian. He would talk about God's love and God's plans. He talked about the paradoxical relationship between God's grace and His furious wrath. He also talked about anthropology. He called it the doctrine of man. And, he said that all men were created in the image of God. He said that all men have sinned and our sin has separated us from God.

It was then that we happened upon it. It was a path, and it looked gorgeous. The tree lined path was awash in colors of fall. I started to run towards it. It was as if I was being pulled toward the path.

"Wait!" shouted Bobby. "That path looks great, but it is dangerous. It starts as a wide, beautiful path, but if you take it too far, you will never come back. Stay away!"

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Mountain man was afraid of a mountain path. I thought he could handle anything.

It was then that he told me about the group of experienced hikers, who years ago took the path and never came back. The path led to treacherous terrain, that even the best hikers couldn't pass. The tricky thing was that it looked so easy. As soon as one believed that it was, the path swallowed them up.

Bobby told me, "That's the way it is with life. There are lots of paths that look harmless, but they ignore God. And, the people who walk those paths are led to eternal destruction. 'Ole King David once said, 'I have kept my feet from every evil path so that I might obey your word.' We need to take a page out of David's book."

That night we came upon a narrow pass. I didn't want to venture out on the path. It looked like it would be a tough hike. "Are you sure about this?" I asked Bobby.

"Oh yeah," Bobby said. "I'm sure."

Who was I to question the mountain man? So, I followed. It was the toughest three hours of my life. There were many times that I was afraid I was going to slip right off of that mountain. But, it was also a series of great lessons. And, when we got to the clearing, I was in awe. There I was, looking at the most beautiful sight I'd ever seen.

"This isn't heaven," Bobby said. "But, I think it's as close as you can get this side of glory."

"It sure was tought to get here," I said.

"Yeah, it was," said Bobby. "But that's the way it is with God. Walking with Him is not always easy. In fact, I think walking with Him is the toughest thing in the world. But, it's worth it."

"Yes, it is, Bobby. Yes, it is."

Dear God,

Sometimes walking with You looks so tough. Help us to remember that anything worth something costs something. And, help us to remember that our cost is nothing compared to Yours. Thank You for showing us the way. Thank You for being our Guide.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

The Benefits of Obedience

Psalm 119:100 - "I have more understanding than the elders, for I obey your precepts."

This past Thursday we celebrated Thanksgiving with several close friends and family. Among the close friends was my friend Jamal. Jamal grew up in Somalia. He is Somali/American and runs a Somali restaurant in downtown Minneapolis. Jamal is a huge checker player. He loves that game. If you ever visit his restaurant, Safari, in the Midtown Global Market, you'll find that Jamal has a checker board ready to take on all comers. He hadn't lost for seven years, before Thursday. Then my Dad entered Jamal's life. My Dad hadn't lost a game of checkers in eleven years. (He also hadn't played in eleven years.) My Dad and Jamal traded victories all afternoon long. They had so much fun that we had to go to the Global Market on Friday for more checkers. Dad and Jamal split four games, each winning two games. As they talked I found out that the elders in Jamal's village would play checkers all day long. The elders were the respected men of the village. They were considered the leaders in that community.

When David talks about the elders in Psalm 119:100 (I'm so excited that we've made it to day #100!) he is talking about the same type of men that Jamal spoke of. These were people who were respected in Israelii society. They were considered to be the "answer men." If you needed advice, you were to go to the elders. David's words in Psalm 119:100 may seem boastful at first glance. But, they are anything but boastful. David was merely stating the truth. Obedience to God's commands leads to great understanding. Just as in yesterday's verse, David spoke about the fact that meditating upon God's statutes gave him more insight that his teachers, (education is something that should bring you insight) today's verse reminds us that obeying God's commands yields understanding.

So, how are you doing when it comes to obedience? When I talk to teenagers about obeying their parents, I hear audible groans. They don't like the word obedience. But, it's what God calls us to! We need to obey Him. One of the benefits is understanding! May you be a person of great understanding!

Dear God,

Thank You for Your radical call on our life to holiness. We want to be a holy generation. We want to be people that You can depend on. We want to reflect Your glory to this world. We want to be people who understand our times because we are obedient to You. Help us to be these people.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

The Lens of Scripture

Psalm 119:99 - "I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes."

I hope that you've had a chance to go beyond just reading these blog entries and that you have had the chance to meditate upon the Scriptures on which they are based. Today's Bible verse talks about the value of meditation. In David's life, biblical meditation yielded great insight. He knew how to face life's circumstances head on because of the insight that he had gained from the study of God's Word.

Year's ago I heard a pastor say that he read the newspaper with one hand and the Bible with the other. In other word's he looked at life's circumstances with a biblical world view. Do you think that really works? I do. I believe that when we look at the headlines of the day through the lens of Scripture we have more insight than those who do not. When we read about atrocities in other countries, the Christian should be motivated to act, becaue Jesus has compassion for those who have no voice. When we read about injustice we should be motivated to act, because Jesus cares about justice. When we elect our leaders that decision should be made through the lens of Scripture. Are the people that we are voting for people who display the biblical characteristics of leaders? Are the lawmakers that we are electing people who care about God's laws?

As you walk through life, may you see things through the lens of Scripture. Let God be your guide as you navigate life's journey.

Dear God,

You offer insight to those who seek You. Thank You for Your perfect will. Help us to seek to understand Your will and honor You with the choices that we make. You are great and Your knowlege is a gift. We love You and seek to glorify You with our lives.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

The Secret

Psalm 119:98 - "Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever with me."

For the past twelve months, Rhonda Byrne's New Age book, The Secret, has been towards the top of the New York Times Bestseller list. It's a shame, really. Because, Byrne's book is leading many people astray from the truth. Amazon.com writes that Byrne's assertation is that positive thoughts can lead you to wealth, health and happiness. She also says that negative thoughts can lead to terminal illness, poverty and widespread disasters. Needless to say the book has received quite a bit of negative publicity. But, it's still selling like crazy. Why? American's love the idea of anything that will bring us wealth and happiness. Even if it is the antithesis of what it is that Christ has called us to. The title of Byrne's book creates an instant interest as well. We love secrets.

Well, let me let you in on a different, and a much better secret today. It's one that King David discovered thousands of years ago. If you want the competitive advantage, study and internalize the commands of God. When David felt like his enemies would destroy him, he had confidence in Christ. His confidence came because of his unfaltering faith. He was absolutely convinced that he was wiser than his enemies because he not only knew, but lived out the commands of Christ in his life.

It's no different today. I hope that you are not walking around with a bunch of enemies. But, you do need God's wisdom. His wisdom is contained in His Word. Spend time in it, and you will have what you need to make life's most important decisions. You will know how to lead others as you spend time in God's Word. You will know how to be a better spouse and parent as you spend time in God's Word. You will know how to treat people better as you spend time in God's Word. You will know how to handle finances as you spend time in God's Word. You will know how to care for your body as you spend time in God's Word. You will know how to handle conflict as you spend time in God's Word. And, I could go on and on. The Bible isn't an irrelevant book that should sit on a shelf in your room collecting dust. It is wisdom. It is the very breath of God. It will change your life. That's the secret. Now, go spend time with God.

Dear God,

Thank You for the gift of Your Word. In it is contained wisdom that we all need for our every day life. Help us to grow and learn as we spend time with You. Give us the courage to live by Your precepts.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

What Are You Doing Today?

Psalm 119:97 - "Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long."

"What are you doing today?"

It's a question that I ask a lot. As a father of four, I want to know what my kids are up to. I also ask them, "What did you do today?" At the dinner table or at the end of the day, I want to know what it is that my kids spent their time doing.

So, what are you doing today?

Today is the Saturday after Thanksgiving. It's been a busy few days in the Schulenburg home. My parents and sister have been in town for Thanksgiving. We've had so much fun with them. On Thursday we had 18 people in our home for Thanksgiving dinner. Yesterday was spent in shopping malls and exploring the city of Minneapolis. This evening we'll be part of a group of 30 of our friends and family going to the Minnesota Timberwolves game. I love this time of year!

It can be so easy in this time of year to get so busy that we forget about God. We need to ask ourselves where God falls in our plans. Lordship means that God always takes priority in our day. He isn't an afterthought. He is our consuming passion. We meditate upon Him throughout the day. Daily meditating upon the Word of God allows us to meet the challenges of our day in a godly manner. That's what David is getting at here. He was Israel's greatest King, not because of his own accumen or prowess, but because he depended upon God and His precepts. So, should we.

Dear God,

We want our one consuming passion to be You. As we love You, we will love others. Help us to remember that. Help us to remember Your faithfulness. You are our Great Redeemer and King. Thank You for your wisdom.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

Nothing Compares!

Psalm 119:96 - "To all perfection I see a limit; but your commands are boundless."

Perfection. Just hearing the word can seem a bit daunting, because we are far from perfection. Just when I think that I've perfected something, I'm brought back to earth in a grand display of humble pie.

I grew up a Chicago Bull basketball fan. When Michael Jordan joined the Bulls, he electrified the city of Chicago and the nation. His game was as close to perfection as I had ever seen. Jordan is fond of saying, "I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed." Yes, even the game's greatest player has failed over and over again. There is a limit to earthly perfection. But not to God's perfection.

God will never say, "I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed." God always succeeds. Even when it looks like God is close to losing a battle, His ultimate plan triumphs. That's worth trusting in. He is worth placing all of your faith in.

Nothing compares to Christ. Nothing.

Dear God,

Thank You for Your utter perfection. I can't understand it. I am awed by it. But, greater still, I am awed by You. How can it be that You an infinitely perfect God would love me, an infinitely flawed human being. Nothing compares to You, Father. Nothing compares to You, Jesus. Nothing compares to You, Spirit. Nothing.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

Happy Thanksgiving

Psalm 119:95 - "The wicked are waiting to destroy me, but I will ponder your statutes."

Happy Thanksgiving! I love this day. It's a day that our family will celebrate with 18 people in our home. I can't wait. We'll be putting the turkey in the oven in about 30 minutes. Like millions of people around the United States, our family will be surrounded by additional family members and some close friends.

And, I think that this is one of those days that Satan hates. He hates when people come together in love. He hates when God is thanked for what He has provided and what He has done over the course of the past year. He hates fellowship.

When you read a verse like today's verse, and you read about the wicked waiting to destroy David, it may feel like you can't relate. But, remember, the most wicked one, the deceiver, the father of lies, the accuser of the brethren, is wanting to destroy you. And, he wants to destroy this holiday. And, he wants your life to be a failure. God has different plans.

As you go through your holiday, make God a part of it. Sometime during your day, spend time publically praising God for the ways in which he has blessed you. Consider sharing your holiday with someone that may not have anyone to share it with. If you're reading this too late, invite someone over for a post holiday meal. Spend time with God today. Don't let the busyness of the day rob you of your time with Him. And, like David, ponder the Word of God.

I don't know what it is, but Thanksgiving always gets me thinking about Christmas too. Maybe it's those day after Thanksgiving Christmas sales. At the end of the Luke 2 account of Jesus' birth we find Mary, the mother of Jesus, pondering all that God has done in her life. "But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart" (Luke 2:19). Take time today to celebrate him, just like Mary did.

Dear God,

Thank You for this past year. You have blessed us with more than we deserve. You are the Provider. You are the One who deserves all glory, honor and praise. Thank You for family and friends. Help us to have eyes of compassion for those without someone to celebrate with this holiday season. Comfort those who are spending their first Thanksgiving without a special loved one. Help the next generation, our children, to see You in us. Help us to put you above all else in our Thanksgiving celebration.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

I Am Yours

Psalm 119:94 - "Save me, for I am yours; I have sought out your precepts."

The words that David writes in Psalm 119:94 are profound. He seeks God's intervention for his salvation, and then he says, "I am Yours." Three simple words that carry so much meaning!

David the king, belonged to God. So many kings in the Ancient Near East world rejected God. Not David, he was God's. He viewed himself as a possession of the Almighty. Do you? Can you say, as we approach this Thanksgiving holiday that you are grateful for God's ownership of you? For God to own you means that He is Lord of your life. Your life is in His hands.

In 1876, just one year before he died, George W. Robinson wrote the words to the hymn, "I Am His, and He is Mine." Read the words of this 131-year-old hymn:

Loved with everlasting love, led by grace that love to know;
Gracious Spirit from above, Thou hast taught me it is so!
O this full and perfect peace! O this transport all divine!
In a love which cannot cease, I am His, and He is mine.
In a love which cannot cease, I am His, and He is mine.

Heav’n above is softer blue, Earth around is sweeter green!
Something lives in every hue Christless eyes have never seen;
Birds with gladder songs o’erflow, flowers with deeper beauties shine,
Since I know, as I now know, I am His, and He is mine.
Since I know, as I now know, I am His, and He is mine.

Things that once were wild alarms cannot now disturb my rest;
Closed in everlasting arms, pillowed on the loving breast.
O to lie forever here, doubt and care and self resign,
While He whispers in my ear, I am His, and He is mine.
While He whispers in my ear, I am His, and He is mine.

His forever, only His; Who the Lord and me shall part?
Ah, with what a rest of bliss Christ can fill the loving heart!
Heav’n and earth may fade and flee, firstborn light in gloom decline;
But while God and I shall be, I am His, and He is mine.
But while God and I shall be, I am His, and He is mine.

I hope that you can say that You are His. If not, let this be the day. The Bible tells us that, "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." (Romans 10:9) Trust Him with your life.

Dear God,

I am Yours, and I thank You for saving me. Help me to live my life in such a way that I'll draw others to You. I want to hear as many as possible say, "I am His!"

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

"You Changed My Life Today!"

Psalm 119:93 - "I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have preserved my life."

One of the most special things about my job is that I get to spend time with high school students in a variety of settings. Some days I actually get to go into the public high school and teach classes. That's what I did today. At 7:55 this morning I was teaching a combined health class at the largest high school in the state of Minnesota. I taught all day long. By the time the day was through I had a chance to speak to over 200 students.

My daughter, Breanna, attends this school. As I drove her in today, we talked about lunch time. We would be sharing the same lunch period, and I wondered if she would want me to eat with her. She wasn't so sure if that is something that she would want. So, I agreed to eat with the teachers. When lunch time arrived, I went to the cafeteria to get my lunch. I saw a number of Wooddale students and took the time to talk with them. Then I saw my daughter. She motioned for me to come to her table. When she did, I saw a girl that had been in my last class. The girl spoke up. "You changed my life today! Thanks for coming to my class! Will you sit with us for lunch?" My daughter was thrilled. She wanted me to join the table and talk with this girl.

I'd love to say that every time I speak someone says, "You changed my life today." But, that wouldn't be true. I don't know if the girl that I talked with understood what she was saying. I wonder what she feels changed about her life. She never said. But, it's amazing to think that someone could be so touched. And, it's humbling, because I know that if anything good happened in her life it was because of God, not me.

In Psalm 119:93 we read once again of God's preserving love. His laws are once again attributed to saving David's life. When I spoke at the high school today, I talked about biblical principles. I never once mentioned the Bible. I talked about loving others more than you love yourself. I talked about making wise choices with friends. I talked about being content with less. I talked about how special each student was. I talked about how each student is more valuable and more important to this world than any piece of art in any museum in all the world. The Mona Lisa, as wonderous a piece of art as was ever created, will never be able to come down from the wall and save a person who is having a heart attack, or discover a cure for cancer, or encourage someone when a person that they love has died. People do that. And, people are worth investing in.

Aren't you glad that God has invested in you? Aren't you glad that He loves you so much? Aren't you glad that He has changed your life today? If so, give him praise. Thank Him for His work in you.

Dear God,

Thank you for changing us! I'm not sure that any of us have arrived, so thank You for Your patience. Thank You for sanctification, that process by which we become more like You. Help us to look a little bit more like You each and every day.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

When God's Word Saves Lives

Psalm 119:92 - "If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction."

By now, we know that David considered God's law his delight. He has said it numerous times already in this chapter. But now, David reveals new information. He says very clearly that if God's law had not have been his delight, he would have perished in his affliction. David attributes his very life to the law of God. That is a pretty spectacular statement. Could the same be said of us?

In many ways, those of you who have known Jesus Christ for a long time, may actually say these same words. Maybe you haven't known Christ for long, but it was being introduced to Jesus that saved you from a long term pattern of sin that would have ultimately ended in your ruin. In fact, anyone of us who is a child of God can echo David's words, because our ultimate end would have been ruin apart from God's grace. We need God's law and His grace.

This is Thanksgiving week in the United States. Take some time between now and Thursday to thank the Lord for His work in your life. He loves you so much. Praise Him for his love.

Dear God,

Thank You for Your love and grace. You are so good and Your love truly does endure forever. Help us to extend Your grace to the world around us.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

Relevant and Enduring

Psalm 119:91 - "Your laws endure to this day, for all things serve you."

I really love this section of Psalm 119. It's refreshing to read. I don't think a week goes by where I am not having a discussion with someone about how God's laws are not relevant for today. The truth is, we have a hard time swallowing God's law. It doesn't jive with our life. It doesn't say what we think that it should. It puts a crimp in our lifestyle.

It's time for us to admit, that God is the Lawgiver. It's not about us. It's about Him. We are here to serve God, not the other way around.

Some of my well meaning friends tell me that Jesus has eliminated the Old Testament law. Has He? Is all Old Testament law null and void? Not at all. Jesus came to fulfill the law. He brought about a new covenant in the law. He explained the law. He changed some law. He eliminated some law. But, He did not eliminate all. I love that way that Jesus summed up the law. When the leaders of the law sought to trick Jesus with an impossible question, Jesus blew them away. In Matthew 22:34-40 we read, "Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 'Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?' Jesus replied: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.'"

So, we are to love God with everything we are. We are also to love our neighbor as our self. His laws endure to this day, for all things serve Him. Make it so!

Dear God,

Thank You for your enduring law. Help us to remember what You have called us to do. Help us love You with all that we are. Help us to follow You and desire You more than anything else in this world. We love You. May You be glorified in us.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

Faithful - Even In the Climate Change

Psalm 119:90 - " Your faithfulness continues through all generations; you established the earth, and it endures."

God's faithfulness is a theme that David loves to repeat throughout his writings. He was enamored by it. And, why not? He was someone who had difficulty being faithful himself, and was surrounded by people who were not faithful to him. Take a moment to think about God's faithfulness in your life. Where have you seen it? What are some of the ways that His faithfulness has carried you through the storms of your life?

The beauty of this verse is the generational blessing of God's faithfulness. David, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, promises us that God's faithfulness will continue through all generations. Remember what I said about the word "all" a few days ago? All means all and that's all all means. All generations can expect to experience teh faithfulness of God. His faithfulness isn't dependent one iota on us. He is faithful. Are we?

At the end of this verse, David talks about God establishing the earth, and it enduring. There is a lot of fear today about our earth. Climate change is on everybody's mind. Whether or not you agree with the science of climate change, you're probably talking about it. Just today, another report came out from A Nobel-winning U.N. panel of scientists declaring that humanity faces a deep challenge in the years ahead. (See this:REPORT.) A warmer earth, the report says, means extiniction of more species, starvation, droughts, hurricanes, tornados, fires. And, all of that doesn't change who God is. He will continue to remain faithful. Through all generations. Will we? As Christians, God has called us to care for the earth. And, we should. We should do everything that we can do care for His creation. But, we also need to not let the fear of things to come, shake our allegiance to He who is eternal. God is number one, not the earth. God is God, not the earth. We care for the creation, and love the Creator. May we be ever faithful to our Creator, God.

Dear God,

I don't like hearing about climate change. I don't like to think about what could be on the horizon for the world. I'm tired of the debate and the posturing on both sides. But, if it's true, then we need to do something about it. We need to obey your command to care for your creation. Help us not to become so consumed with caring for creation that we forget the most important issues in life. This earth is our temporary home. We owe it to future generations to care for it. But, we also need to share You with this present generation. Help us to always keep You priority number one in our lives. Thank You for the lesson of faithfulness that David shows us throughout the Scripture. Thank You that we are to model our lives after You and if You are faithful, then we can be too. Help us to be faithful to You.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

Eternal

Psalm 119:89 - "Your word, O LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens."

I can hardly fathom it. God's Word is eternal. It will never fade away. Just like our souls, God's Word is eternal. That means that God's living Word will exist forever in heaven with us. Tired of the Bible? That's too bad, because it isn't going anywhere.

The Bible is the best selling book of all time. It has been translated in more languages than any other book. It is described as being alive. It convicts the heart. It penetrates the soul. It is the very breath of God. Jesus Christ is the Word embodied (John 1). He's not literally the Bible, but He is the perfect embodiment of the Word.

God's Word is eternal. Think about that today. What does the eternity of the Word of God mean to you? What are the ramifications of God's Word being eternal? Why would the Bible need to be eternal when we will spend eternity with God Himself?

It boggles the mind. And, it places even greater value upon God's matchless Word.

Dear God,

It's all too easy to let our Bibles gather dust on the shelf. Help us not to let that happen. Help us to think deeply about what Your eternal Word means to us. Help us to treasure Your Word.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

The Ultimate Life Preserver

Psalm 119:88 - "Preserve my life according to your love, and I will obey the statutes of your mouth."

And thus, the eleventh section of Psalm 119 ends. Over the course of the past week, we've read about a King who was worried about his life. His enemies were surround him. His fear was overtaking Him. And, his shelter, his safety, his security, was God.

Now, David recognizes that it's not his enemies who control his fate. It's God. David asks God to preserve his life according to his love.

When I was about ten-years-old, and my family was on summer vacation, I had an experience that would change my life forever. My mom had agreed to purchase me some flippers for my feet. We vacationed at Lake Michigan, and I just though that these flippers were about the most amazing things I had ever seen. I dreamt of being a scuba diver. All week long I'd wear my flippers to the beach, and I spend hours in the waters of Lake Michigan. I was so proud of those flippers.

Toward the end of the week, while I was deep in the water, a seven-year-old girl, became disoriented in the water. She has been in an innertube and had floated out to a spot in the lake that was well over her head. She was a good swimmer, she thought, so she ditched her innertube. And, it was then that she panicked. I saw her flapping her arms and choking on water and all I could think was, "I need to get that innertube and put it back around her." I swam as fast as I could, and in the frenzy lost one of my flippers. I brought her the innertube and she swam back to shore. The people on the beach dubbed me a hero. I just cried. I was crushed. My flipper was gone. I didn't want to be a hero. I wanted to be a scuba diver! Later that afternoon my ten-year-old mind came to grips with what had happened. I had saved that girl's life.

Now I look back on the story, and realize that it wasn't me. I am a lousy swimmer. It was God. God was looking out for that little girl. She would eventually grow up to be a young woman that God would use in marvelous ways. She married a youth pastor and has discipled hundreds of girls throughout the years. God had big plans for her. David knew that his being the King of Israel was nothing in comparison to being the King of Kings. His life was completely in the hands of the ultimate Life Preserver, God. Don't minimize the role that God plays in sustaining your life each and every day. Thank Him for today and ask Him how he wants to use you in His overall plan.

Dear God,

You know how many breaths each of us are going to take in our life. You know the number of hairs on our heads. You know everything about us. You are the Giver and Sustainer of Life. Use us for Your glory.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

She Said Yes

Psalm 119:87 - "They almost wiped me from the earth, but I have not forsaken your precepts."

When the images floated across our television set, we wanted to turn away in disbelief, but our eyes couldn't leave the set. Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado had become a war scene. Students were running out of the building, crying, and some of them had blood stains on their clothes. There were images of parents searching frantically for their children. And, thre was sadness. Deep sadness.

In the days that followed Columbine, stories emerged about heroic teenagers who took a stand for Jesus. One of those students was Cassie Bernall, whose story was told in a book by her mother, entitled, She Said Yes. Students who were in the library with her at the time of her death report that Cassie was asked, "Do you believe in Jesus?" She knew that if she responded, "Yes," she would certainly die. Even though her life was on the line, Cassie responded by saying, "Yes." And, here physical life ended. She entered into the presence of Jesus.

In Psalm 119:87 David talks about being plotted against by his enemies. His life was almost taken from him. Instead of growing bitter and turning his back on God, David coninuted to follow God's commands.

I wonder what it would take for me to cave in my faith. I wonder if there is a cost that would be too high. I hope not. Real faith is that which stands true even in life's toughest circumstances. May we exhibit this kind of faith in our life. May we desire God so much that nothing that the world throws at us can shake our faith in our faithful God.

Dear God,

Somtimes the cost of following You seems so high. And then we remember that our cost is nothing in comparison to Yours. Thank You for giving your only Son so that we could live forever. Thank You that You have given us that which we need to live a life today that glorifies You. Help us to trust You. Help us to glorify You. Give us a passion for Your Holy Word!

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

All

Psalm 119:86 - "All your commands are trustworthy; help me, for men persecute me without cause."

Paul Fink was the Homiletics professor at the college that I attended. He also taught Inductive Bible Study. Inductive Bible Study is to pastors as Anatomy and Physiology is to doctors. It's the essential course that must be taken and passed if you are going to succeed in the rest of the program. It is a foundational class. It's a class that gives pastors the skills that they will need for the rest of their life as they prepare sermons, Bible studies, etc.

There is a concept that Fink loved to share with his young Bible scholars. He would often say, "When you are studying the Bible and come upon the word all, don't try to make more of it that it is. All means all and that's all all means!"

It's a good priciple. And, it applies to Psalm 119:86. In fact, the word is beautiful in this context. All of God's commands are trustworthy. ALL of God's commands are trustworthy! ALL! And, in case you live in a cave, you'll find that this kind of guarantee is unusual. There are very few things in this life that we can absolutely depend upon. David couldn't depend upon being safe. But, he could depend upon the commands of God. Following God's commands is always worth it.

Take some time today to thank God for the complete perfection of His Word.

Dear God,

Thank You that we can completely depend upon You. Where You make commands, they are worth following. Where You speak about anything, it is worth listening to. Where You make promises, we know that we can depend upon them. Thank You for inspiring David to use the word all in this passage. We need to hear that.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

Pitfall

Psalm 119:85 - "The arrogant dig pitfalls for me, contrary to your law." (NIV)

Psalm 119:85 - "These arrogant people who hate your instructions have dug deep pits to trap me." (NLT)

When I was a teenager one of the hottest video games was a game called Pitfall. The object of the game was to swing from vines across a jungle as you find your way to a buried treasure. While swinging through the jungle, you would encounter various pitfalls. It was impearative that you avoid the pitfall if you wanted to win the game.

David's verse deals with a much bigger pitfall than that of a video game. It's the pitfalls of daily life.

Bryan Wilkerson is the Senior Pastor of Grace Chapel in Lexington, Massachusetts. He was our guest speaker at Wooddale Church yesterday. It was a blessing to have him in our pulpit. He brought a passionate message about being people who seek to understand God's will for our life, and live it.

In his message, he told a story about his son. His son was a high school student and many of his peers wanted him to swear. Wilkerson's son was a Christian who was committed to living his life in a way that brought glory to God. So, he wouldn't swear. He told his Dad that his friends wanted him to swear. Bryan responded by telling his son, "No, they don't want you to swear. They want you to stand strong. They want you to continue to resist. And, they wonder where you get the courage to stay so strong."

Today's verse reminded me of Wilkerson's illustration. Those who hate God desire to see God's people live hypocritically. It gives them more ammunition for the rejection of Christ. Let's not fall into the trap. Let's be people who live like Bryan Wilkerson's teenage son. Let's be people who commit to living our lives in a way to bring glory and honor to Christ, no matter how many pitfalls there are in our life.

Dear God,

You've given us all the strength we need to live for You. Help us to utilize Your strength. Help us to honor you. Show us where the pitfalls in our life are.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

The Wait

Psalm 119:84 - "How long must your servant wait? When will you punish my persecutors?"

Nobody enjoys waiting. Nobody!

When I first read this verse, I was going to focus on David's desire for his enemies to be punished. But, I believe that the bigger lesson here is the waiting. Can you feel the anguish that David is going through as he writes this verse? He is tired. He has been waiting for God to act for a long time, and it seems like God has been silent or slow in coming David's rescue. What seems like such a cut and dried answer to David, is not being acted upon by God in the way that David hopes. And, I'm sure that you can relate.

Dear God, please heal my mother . . .

Dear God, please heal my finances . . .

Dear God, please heal my marriage . . .

Dear God, please bring my husband back to You . . .

Dear God, please help my child to make a friend . . .

The prayers go up all the time. And, sometimes God chooses to act the way that we wish, and sometimes He chooses to act the opposite way.

So, how do you survive the wait? How do you respond when God doesn't act as we want him to?

Jesus gave us a hint when he was crying out in the Garden of Gethsemane for God's intervention. Mark 14:36 records his words: "'Abba,[e] Father,' he said, 'everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.'"

We need to recognize that God's will must be priority number one in our lives.

Second, we need to recognize that waiting sometimes allows for more clairty.

When we are praying for wisdom about a decision, sometimes God chooses to give the answer over the period of a long time. That way, when the decision is made, we can have greater clarity.

When we are praying for the salvation of a loved one, or for a sick friend, waiting can seem almost inhumane. And, then we realize that God isn't human. His ways are not our ways. And, He is worthy to be trusted.

Dear God,

Somtimes we don't want to wait. Sometimes we don't want to trust. Give us the faith and the strength to accept the things that are hard to accept, and to love You with all of our hearts.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

The Heat Is On

Psalm 119:83 - "Though I am like a wineskin in the smoke, I do not forget your decrees."

How do you live your life when the heat is on? How do you respond to the pressure that comes your way? Sometimes we can't help the way that our body responds to pressure. We get tired. We need to be refreshed. Sometimes the cost of following Jesus makes us feel like we just need to recharge.

David compared his life to a wineskin that was in the smoke in Psalm 119:83. To the person living when this Psalm was written, the imagry would have been unmistakable. A wineskin in the smoke shrivelled up. Maybe David felt like his life was shriveling before his eyes. And yet, in the midst of the heat, David continued to trust in God and follow his word.

May we be like David. After all, the heat is on, for most of us, every day.

Dear God,

When the heat is on in our life, help us to call out to You. Help us to remember the promises written in Your Word. Thank You for providing us with all that we ever need.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

Blind Eyes 20/20 Sight

Psalm 119:82 - "My eyes fail, looking for your promise; I say, 'When will you comfort me?'"

I had a chance yesterday to spend some time with my oldest brother, Mark. I love that guy, and I love his family. As I read today's verse I thought about Mark. When he was in high school or college, I can't remember which, he was working for the Swift Corporation. His job was to clean the vats out where the ingredients for their foods were mixed. He would use a huge fireman's hose to do this. One night, he lost control of the hose. He wasn't wearing saftey goggles, and the hose pointed towards his eye. With massive pressure, the water from the hose entered his eye and he lost vision in the eye. Thanks to some great answers to prayer, good doctors, and God's grace, Mark eventually recovered his sight.

Have you ever felt spiritually blind? Like you were searching for God but couldn't see Him? David felt that way on several occasions. When his eyes were blind, his faith was 20/20 vision. When we can't see God in the present, sometimes we need to remember how God has moved in the past. Sometimes we need to remember where He has taken us. If we can look back on our lives from God's perspective, then we can see Him more clearly. God's comfort may not have come right away for David, but even with his blind eyes, David still had hope. I pray that you can too!

Dear God,

Help us to see You when our vision is cloudy. Help us to see Your incredible work in our life. Help us to remember where we have been and where You have taken us, and help us to see where You want us to go.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

Feel Like Giving Up?

Psalm 119:81 - "My soul faints with longing for your salvation, but I have put my hope in your word."

"I'm tired of being a Christian!"

"I'm not sure that God even exists!"

"I don't know if God really answers prayers!"

"I'm ready to give up!"

I hear Christians say things like this all the time. I just got off of my Facebook account reading two students echo similar sentiment. It can be so depressing. In this verse David is pleading with God for resuce. He needs God to show His power. And, even though that power hasn't been shown for some time, David decides that he will plant his feet firmly with Jehovah. He will trust in God's Word.

I wish all Christians could experience the things that I got to see today. I'm in Chicago on our mission trip prep trip. We are bringing a group of students to the south side of Chicago this summer. It will be our second year in a row working in this impoverished community. We partner with the Sunshine Gospel Mission in Chicago. This organization has been around for over 100 years. They have served the great city of Chicago well. A few years ago God opened the door for this ministry to purchase a building that is also over 100 years old in the heart of an impoverished neighborhood. The hope was to restore the builiding and bring hope to the neighborhood through free job skills training, after school care, youth groups, hip hop services, etc. When I was here a year ago, the building looked like a bomb had exploded in it. Today, this former crack house is ministering to hundreds of people from the neighborhood. The computer classroom was filled with about 12 people learning how to use Microsoft Office and being given the skills that they need to find a job.

That's hope! That's what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ. It's about getting our eyes off of ourselves and living for Christ. It's about being His hands and feet in this world. It's about caring for those who are less fortunate than us. It's about recognizing that there are people who are screaming out for God's salvation and recognizing that we might just be the tools that God has equipped to help bring his salvation to others. We can't save. Only God can do that. But, we can be part of God's redemptive work in this world.

Dear God,

I pray for my friends who are doubting today. I pray that You would help them to see the difference between empty religion and a life changing relationship with You. Help us to honor You with our everything.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

Psalm 119 and Televangelism Scandals

Psalm 119:80 - "May my heart be blameless toward your decrees, that I may not be put to shame."

The news came across wires all over the world yesterday. The ministries run by Kenneth Copeland, Creflo Dollar, Benny Hinn, Eddie Long, Joyce Meyer, and Randy and Paula White were being investigated for possible misuse of donations. Apparently these ministries are set up to run as churches, not the typical Christian non-profit ministry. Senator Charles Grassley of Iowa has called for a congressional investigation into these ministries which have been allowed to run in a veil of secrecy all these years. This comes just a couple of weeks after the news broke of possible misuse of donations by Richard Roberts, the President of Oral Roberts University. And, the hearts of those who are followers of Jesus Christ break.

It's not that we are surprised. Anyone who has followed these "ministries" over the years knows about the false doctrine of "prosperity theology" that so many of these ministries propogate. Those who preach that God wants you to be rich, live like . . . well, they frankly live like they are rich; filthy rich. I watched the CBS Early Show today as Creflo Dollar tried to answer a reporter's questions about Rolls Royce automobiles and a $1,000,000 40th anniversary gift to Kenneth Copeland. And, I hurt, because these people, who I pray began their ministry with sincere hearts, have lost touch with the world around them. I don't know any of the people that I am writing about. And, I want to be careful, because I am talking about the body of Christ here. But, if these allegations are true, this is so sad. David knew the potential of being put to shame. It comes when we are not blameless towards God's decrees. And, all of us are guilty of that, every time we sin.

So, if our brothers and sisters in Christ are guilty, they may very well be put to shame. And, if they are, our role as the body of Christ is to in humilty seek to help restore them to the faith. Not to a position where they can misuse donations, but to where they can in humilty remember the God who motivated them to follow Him in the first place.

Dear God,

Help us to remember You. Help us to remember why we follow. Help us to remember that our purpose in life is to love You first and others second. Help us to remember that the love of money is not on your list of commands. You warn us about that love. And, most of us, including me, struggle with that love. Help us to remember that the answer to life's problems does not come from a huge paycheck, but from You. Help us to shower the world with Your love.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

United

Psalm 119:79 - "May those who fear you turn to me, those who understand your statutes."

This afternoon my wife and I were talking about the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus spent a lot of time talking about the Kingdom. Often times when you talk to Christians their idea of the Kingdom is that it is Heaven. It's something that we wait to see until we die. It's where God is.

The Kingdom of Heaven is not just a future reality. God rules His kingdom. The kingdom isn't like some palace that God sits in. It's those who He reigns over. It's you and me. It's those who are followers of Jesus Christ. He will rule over His Kingdom forever and ever.

If you are my brother or sister in Christ, you belong to that kingdom. The New Living Translation translates Psalm 119:79 this way, "Let me be united with all who fear you, with those who know your laws."

What a beautiful picture. There is something fabulous about being united with one another. When we join together to accomplish God's great purposes on earth, outstanding things happen. Kingdom things can happen! And, we truly get a glimpse of what it means to do that which God is passionate about.

Dear God,

Help us to join together with other believers, united, to accomplish Your great plans. May we be so in tune with You that we can discern the times that we live in and join You in that great work. May Your Word, which we have been studying these past 79 days so envelope who we are that we live and breathe for Your great pleasure.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

Our Worst Enemy Is Somone That Christ Gave His Life For

Psalm 119:78 - "May the arrogant be put to shame for wronging me without cause; but I will meditate on your precepts."

I was furious. In the span of a couple of weeks one person was making my life miserable. He was spreading lies about me. He was demeaning me. He was puffing himself up. And, I didn't knkow what to do. After all, I had only been working at this particular jbo for a few weeks. He had been working there for years. His constant jabs were getting to me. I was tired of having to defend myself. And, I was tired of the percived abuse.

That's when I told my wife about what was going on. i'll never forget the advice that Cyndi gave me. She said, "Brian, that guy that you work with is a close to an enemy as you have right now. God tells us to pray for our enemies. I think that you ought to pray for him."

And, I did. Every day I spent time praying for this co-worker. And, eventually my heart toward him changed. God softened me. I began to hope that things would go well in this person's life. I began to find out about the stress that he was going through. I realized that I barely knew him, and that God had put me into his life to love him.

David's prayer was for his enemies to be put to shame. I understand that prayer from the perspective of a king leading a nation. But, I believe that God's hope for us would be that we would pray for those we consider to be our enemeies. Our worst enemy is someone that Christ gave His life for.

Dear God,

Thank You for grace. Help us to extend it to the worst enemies in our life.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

God of Compassion

Psalm 119:77 - "Let your compassion come to me that I may live, for your law is my delight."

We're down to our final 100 days in the journey through Psalm 119. This unique chapter of Scripture has taught me much over the past 77 days. To say that David was passionate about the law and the Word of God would be an understatement. Today's verse again speaks of the delight that David took in God's law. It also speaks of David's desire to be extended the compassion of God. David desired God's compassion so that he could live.

Have you thought much about God's compassion lately? It's because of His great compassion that any of us are around today. We don't deserve God's compassion and yet he gives it to us anyway. Why? Because He can't stop loving us. It's impossible. It's one of several things that our all powerful God is incapable of. His love for you means that his compassion to you is great. But, even His love won't stop His judgment from coming to those who don't choose to follow Him. God's compassion has it's limits. So, call out to Him now. Tell Him that you need Him. He loves you and wants to spend eternity with you.

Dear God,

Thank You for your wonderful compassion. Thank You that you choose to love us. Thank You that Your love for us will never cease. Help us to trust You and Your good plan for us.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

God's Love Is Unfailing!

Psalm 119:76 - "May your unfailing love be my comfort, according to your promise to your servant."

Take a moment to think about God's love. Okay, are you ready? Go!

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How's it going? Are you thinking about it?

Take another minute.

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If you are like me, it can be tough to spend more than a few seconds thinking about any one thing. We live in a world where images are constantly crossing before our eyes, where competing sounds are constantly invading our ears, and multiple distractions are abundant. Finding the time to be quiet for just a few minutes can sometimes seem impossible. Perhaps as you read this blog you are multitasking on your computer screen. In one window is the blog. In another is iTunes. Some kind of messaging system is quietly running in the corner of your screen waiting for a friend to announce that he or she is online. Your word processessor is running in the background as you wait for some kind of inspiration to complete the work that needs to end up on a hard sheet of paper. Oh, and your widgets are also running, announcing the score of the college football game, the changing temperatures outside, and the latest update on your favorite stock investment. There are parts of that world that I love, and there are parts that shake me to the core.

So, let's try one more time.

Think about God's love.

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David tells us that it is unfailing. God's love is divine. There is nothing on earth that compares to it. The most passionate love can't compare with God's love. The deepest friendship can't compare. The most tender love? Can't compare. Nothing compares. Why? Because all of those loves will fail you from time to time. God's love is unfailing. It's unfailing! God's love is UNFAILING! If that's not enough to get you out of that chair, or couch, or wherever you are and start dancing, then I don't know what is. So, get up and celebrate. God's love FOR YOU is UNFAILING.

Dear God,

Thank You that we never need to worry about Your love failing. It is impossible. Help us to be discerning when we feel like Your love has disappeared. Help us to recognize that Your love won't go away. Give us faith in the days that we are weak. Help us to reach out to You in the toughest days. And, help the world to see You in us.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

God's Discipline

Psalm 119:75 - "I know, O Lord, that your regulations are fair; you disciplined me because I needed it." (NLT)

He was so drunk that he was just about to pass out. The high school student had filled a 32 ounce container with Red Bull and Jack Daniels. 24 of the ounces were the hard liquor. He had spent the past couple of hours sipping on that concoction. When he started drinking a couple hours back, he took some perscription medecine that didn't belong to him. By the time I was brought to the student by his worried friends, his eyes were hardly open, and his blood pressure was dropping quickly. I quickly got him in my car and took him to the hospital.

It was quite a night. When the student became lucid enough to talk, he told me about what was going on in his life. Tough times at home and depression had led him to drink. The alcohol helped him forgot about his problems for a bit, but it never took the pain completely away. I told the student that I'd have to call his parents to pick him up. He understood. He was ready for a new lease on life. And, he was ready for the discipline. He knew he needed it.

I think most of us can relate. We know when we are wrong. And, whether we like it or not, discipline is sometimes just the thing we need. God disciplines his children. He disciplined David, and David thanked God for the discipline.

The student that was sent home, eventually enrolled in Alcoholics Anonymous. He got his life back on track. It wouldn't have happened had the discipline not come.

Thank God for the discipline that he brings to your life. No discipline is pleasent for the time, but in the end it brings healing.

Dear God,

Thank You for Your discipline. Thank you that you are not uncaring. Your love and care for us means that when we need it You bring correction to our lives. Help us to recognize it and rejoice in it.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

What Does Your Life Communicate?

Psalm 119:74 - "May those who fear you rejoice when they see me, for I have put my hope in your word."

I love this verse! David wanted fellow followers of Jehovah to rejoice when they saw him because of the hope that he had put in God's Word. And, I'm sure that those who David ruled over as King of Israel, did rejoice in the days that David followed God.

And, it makes me wonder: What is it that my life communicates to those around me?

I hope that people who interact with you and with me can rejoice because of the way that our lives reflect Christ and His love.

Today is my daughter Breanna's 15th birthday. She reminds me of the type of person that David is talking about here. She's a freshman in high school, and God is using her to share her faith with students all over her school. I have a feeling that people are genuinaly happy when they see her coming. Her smile and words of encouragment are her constant compainions. Happy Birthday, Breanna! You've made my day one to rejoice in!

Dear God,

Thank You for the gift of Your Word. Just as King David trusted in Your Word, and others rejoiced, we pray that our lives would be thoroughly grounded in Your Word. May our lives cause others to rejoice. And, may You rejoice in what You see in us.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.