We are on the cusp of Holy Week when we begin in the celebration of the triumphal entry of Jesus our Messiah into Jerusalem only to be plunged into mourning the death of our Lord Jesus.Happily, the week culminates in celebration, in Jesus' victory over death.I encourage you to use your imaginations this week to ponder how you would have felt and done as a first century bel...

Out of the depthsI cry to you,Lord Out of the depthsI cry to you,Lord;Lord, hear my voice.Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy. If you,Lord, kept a record of sins,Lord, who could stand?But with you there is forgiveness,so that we can, with reverence, serve you. I wait for theLord,my whole being waits,and in his wordI put my hope.I wait for the Lord more than watc...

TheLordis myshepherd; I shall notwant.He makes me lie down in greenpastures.He leads me beside still waters.Herestores my soul.Heleads me inpaths of righteousnessfor hisname's sake.Even though Iwalk through the valley ofthe shadow of death,I willfear no evil, foryou are with me;yourrod and your staff,they comfort me.Youprepare a table before me inthe presence of my enemies...

In his letter, James, Jesus' brother, made a clear statement about religion and religious practices. He noted that there is a type of religion that God the Father accepts, and another, lacking power and effectiveness, which He regards as worthless. He not only distinguished between what our Father finds acceptable and what He regards as worthless but also described what pu...

On Sunday, we celebrate the transfiguration of the Lord, a supernatural event recorded in Matthew 17, Mark 9, and Luke 9. In each of these gospel accounts, Jesus took Peter, James, and John with Him up a high mountain to pray. As He was praying, His face shone like the sun, His clothes became as bright as lightning, Moses and Elijah appeared with Him, a bright cloud oversh...

Recently, I talked with a friend about our world. We both agreed that, despite its many blessings, life is also full of challenges, hardships, and dangers. There is a simple reason for this: God is good, and His goodness encompasses us and His creation. Yet, the world we inhabit including ourselves is fallen and laden with temptations that stem from our broken world syst...

You have searched me, Lord,and you know me.You know when I sit and when I rise;you perceive my thoughts from afar.You discern my going out and my lying down;you are familiar with all my ways.Before a word is on my tongueyou, Lord, know it completely.You hem me in behind and before,and you lay your hand upon me.Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,too lofty for me to atta...

"Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: 'I am the Lord your God, who teaches you for your benefit, who leads you in the way you should go.'" Isaiah 48:17 (ESV) In an era of uncertainty, where leaders navigate volatile markets, shifting priorities, and personal doubts, the promise of divine guidance shines brightest. God, our Master Teacher, doesn't lead...

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...