Psalm 24 A Psalm of David1The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it,the world, and all who live in it;2for he founded it on the seasand established it on the waters.3Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord?Who may stand in his holy place?4The one who has clean hands and a pure heart,who does not trust in an idolor swear by a false god.5They will receive blessing from ...

Inthe Collect for the first Sunday of Advent, we asked God to prepare us for the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Collect for the second week of Advent built on that prayer by asking God to comfort us with His Word as we wait for Christ's return. Now, in the Collect for the third Sunday of Advent, we make two requests. First, we ask God to use His ministers to preach C...

As I mentioned last week, another Advent seasonthe first part of the Church calendaris here. In the Collect for the first Sunday of Advent, we prayed that God would prepare us for the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Collect for the second week of Advent continues this prayer by asking Almighty God to comfort us through His Word as we patiently await Christ's return. I...

Once again, another year in the life of the global Church has come and gone, and a new year begins this Sunday. Like us, the Church follows a calendar that provides structure and rhythm, helping us experience the life and ministry of Jesus. The Church's new year begins with Advent, a word derived from the Latin "adventus," meaning "arrival" or "coming." It is a season that...

The last Sunday in the church year is designated as Christ the King Sunday. The collect for the day reminds us thatJesus is "King of kings and Lord of lords".It is good to remind ourselves of this facet of our savior's character.Part of our fallen human nature is to put ourselves on the throne of our life. We want to do what we want when we want to.So did Adam and Eve in t...

As I shared last week, the purpose of a "Collect" is to direct our hearts toward God's attributes and actions. Through them, we offer petitions, recognize the eternal unity and sovereignty of the Holy Trinity, and conclude the prayer with an "Amen." This week's collect reminds us that the Lord will reward our good works. However, this does not mean that our good works rede...

Often, the devotions I write come from one of the weekly collects appointed for Sunday worship. For those who may still have questions about what exactly a "collect" is, let me give a quick explanation. A collect is a short prayer, usually no longer than two or three sentences. Collects are designed to draw our hearts and minds toward God's eternal and majestic qualities. ...

In His Sermon on the Mount, among the many exhortations spoken by Jesus, two are found in Matthew 6:19-34. Jesus' first exhortation in these verses emphasizes the importance of storing treasure in heaven rather than on earth. He says: "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for y...

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." (Hebrews 13:8) On Tuesday, I took a quick trip to South Florida to see my mother. Although the drive was smooth and the visit was positive, I was reminded once again how fast life can change. It seems like just yesterday that my mother was a sharp, successfulmom,wife, and real estate brokerwho now lives in a memor...

Our Refuge and Fortress 1Whoever dwells in the shelterof the Most Highwill rest in the shadowof the Almighty.2I will say of theLord, "He is my refugeand my fortress,my God, in whom I trust." 3Surely he will save youfrom the fowler's snareand from the deadly pestilence.4He will cover you with his feathers,and under his wings you will find refuge;his faithfulness will be you...