Restoring Your Soul Through Psalms
100 days of spiritual riches through messages, connection and engagement.
Shouts of Joy!
November 15, 2020 • Rev. Dr. Gerrit Dawson
There is no need to stay in the dark any longer. No need to keep running. No need to be ducking out on God. When we keep silent about our sin, life dries up. When we confess the truth, we discover anew that God forgives sin. The way to the good life, the life of well being, is to enter this gospel dynamic day by day.
Joy Comes with the Morning
November 8, 2020 • Rev. Dr. Gerrit Dawson
David’s songs are the intersection between what’s going on in his daily life, the deep places of his heart and soul, and the reality of the God he loves and serves. They come together as he writes his prayers with as much honesty and faith as he can summon.
Ascribe!
November 1, 2020 • Rev. Dr. Gerrit Dawson
You're NOT in control. The world is not OUT of control. All power is both transient and derived. It comes from God's sovereignty. It's by grant. You don't LIVE here. You LOVE here. Our citizenship is in heaven from which the LORD will come again. You can't make a permanent home here.
Introduction to Psalm 29
October 26, 2020 • Darin Travis
There is so much unrest in our culture these days. But God wants to give us rest. Peace. He is holy and powerful. We learn this clearly in Psalm 29. Verses 1-2: Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness. Verses 9-10: The voice of the LORD makes the deer give birth and strips the forests bare, and in his temple all cry, “Glory!” The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; the LORD sits enthroned as king forever.
Introduction to Psalm 27
October 12, 2020 • Jaime Carnaggio
David claims the Lord as his light who exposed his enemies. Even when an army sets up camp and wages war against him, even then, David trusts the LORD who will keep him safe. The LORD, his light, is the solution to his fear. Psalm 27: 1–6 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall. Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident. One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple. For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock. And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the LORD.
Introduction to Psalm 25: 8-22
October 5, 2020 • Barry Phillips
This second part of Psalm 25 is where we can put our roots down and get to know even better why Samuel and Paul both called David a man after God's own heart. It's also a place where we can press deeper into Christ and become men and women after God's own heart. Psalm 25: 8-22 Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in the way. He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way. All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies. For your name’s sake, O LORD, pardon my guilt, for it is great. Who is the man who fears the LORD? Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose. His soul shall abide in well-being, and his offspring shall inherit the land. The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant. My eyes are ever toward the LORD, for he will pluck my feet out of the net. Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. The troubles of my heart are enlarged; bring me out of my distresses. Consider my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins. Consider how many are my foes, and with what violent hatred they hate me. Oh, guard my soul, and deliver me! Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you. May integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for you. Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles.
Be Lifted Up
September 27, 2020 • Rev. Dr. Gerrit Dawson
The gates to God’s presence only open to Jesus, the one who lived with clean hands and a pure heart. We only get joined to Jesus when we open the gates of our hearts to him. That’s once for all for salvation. That’s also every single day of our lives for fellowship and mission. Lift up your hearts! Jesus declares that the gates will open for both of us, if we go with him. He asks us, urges us to lift up our eyes and see him. The King of glory wants to enter our hearts so he can take us with him into his Father’s presence. That’s eternal life that continues now.
Introduction to Psalm 24
September 21, 2020 • Jay High
Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD, strong and mighty, the LORD, mighty in battle! A powerful reminder of who Jesus is. God's Son who was present at the very Creation.
I Will Tell of Your Name
September 20, 2020 • Rev. Dr. Gerrit Dawson
The Psalmist, David, recognizes a dirty little secret about us. We find afflictions to be gross. Needy people can disgust us. Don’t dare sneeze in a public place or you will be shunned. If you’ve ever been fired, you know the weird feeling that it seems like people everywhere know about it. The cashier at Whole Foods is not really sure you should be shopping there. The bank teller you’ve known for months checks your i.d. twice. It’s like you have a smell about you. If you’ve ever been dumped by someone, it seems to be written on your face. They get your order wrong at your favorite restaurant. They lose your appointment at the doctor’s office. When we’re crying ugly tears of loss, people don’t want to hug us because we’re all hot and reeking of sadness. We can smell like our sickness or the sweat of our stress. Even our dogs know something is wrong. Affliction can make us repellent to others. And worst of all, we can think we deserve it. We can think God views our suffering as a moral failure. It’s a sign of his judgment. But David has discovered that’s a lie. God has not despised the affliction of the afflicted. He thought God had forsaken him. God had not. He thought God turned his face away from his prayers. God did not. He heard. He delivered.