September 10, 2023 | Psalm 139 Part 1

New Life Saginaw

September 10, 2023 | Psalm 139 Part 1

September 10, 2023 • Pastor Ken Cline

God is all-knowing, all-powerful, and holy, but He is also personal, relational, and loving. He is so much more than the images of Him we craft when we define Him through the lens of our circumstances. We must allow Him to define Himself as He has revealed through His word and the person of Jesus. When we do, we realize God knows us better than we know ourselves. Therefore, we can come to Him in complete transparency in our struggles.

We often turn to substances or distractions to protect us from the storms of life. But when the psalmist was going through a storm, he turned to God. He confesses that God has searched him thoroughly and knows him personally. God knows everything we do, feel, think, and desire. He understands us, because He has walked in our skin and in our world. When we pray, we can be honest with Him and go to Him knowing He will protect us and guide us with His hand.

Our comfort in life and in death is that we are not alone. We belong to God who has saved us and will carry us through all our days and into eternity.

September 17, 2023 | Psalm 139 Part 2

September 17, 2023 • Pastor Ken Cline

Who is God to you? When you think of him, what do you picture in your mind? Is God a feeble old man sitting on a cloud unconcerned? Is he an angry, muscle-bound, Zeus-like character just waiting to zap you with a lightning bolt if you step out of line? How about a loving, involved father who wants the best for you? Different people have different ideas of who God is. Who is he to you? I bet one way you’ve never thought of God as is the Hide & Seek champion of the world (especially the seeking part). But in today’s portion of scripture, Psalm 139:7-12, the psalmist speaks of how it’s impossible to hide or flee from God. Whether we go to the heavens, or hide in the depths – even in the dark, we’re not hidden from him. Now, depending on how you view God, this can be a very comforting or very unsettling thought. Now, of course, as Christians, hopefully we know that God is a loving, personal, and relational God who’s always there for us. The Bible says he hems us in. He won’t let us out of his sight because he’s a good father. But again, for someone with a negative view of God, this can be downright frightening. If you see God as scary or mean, please watch as Pastor Ken teaches us about the true character and nature of God. If you see God as a loving king and father, watch also so you can share the Good News with others who need to know that God loves them. What peace to know that he’s always by our side.

September 24, 2023- Psalm 139 Part 3

September 24, 2023

Psalm 139: 13-18 God is Personal & Relational Vs 13: "You created my inmost being, you knit me in my mother’s womb." He personally made each of us, not an assembly line. This is the framework of human value. Genesis 2:7 says He formed man and breathed his own breath on us (formed=modeled. This was personal, intimate, loving. Genesis 2:21-24 describes how he made a woman from man in a personal way. In these verses we see gender and how marriage is defined as a man & a woman. Everything that God has made is challenged by sin. In today’s world, both gender and marriage are being challenged. Remember we are to love the person who may disagree, and pray for them speaking kindly the word of truth. God died for them as he did for us. Sin has warped the truth. Vs 14: The psalmist praises God for the way we were made. Today we know that DNA from 1 cell uncoiled = 6 feet. All our DNA = 67 billion miles long (150 roundtrips to the moon & back)! Ephesians 2:10 “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works”. In today’s culture, many people tie their identity to race, gender, or a cause. Our identity & message is in God. Vs. 15-16: Describes how we were made in a secret place and our days were ordained by God. There was never a time He didn’t know us. God is really in control, that should give us peace! Vs. 17-18: Tells how precious & vast are God’s thoughts (precious could also mean difficult). Either way, he is never too busy for us, he is personal & relational with us, but also amazingly big!