Meetings with God
An Encouraging Word
March 8, 2020 • Pastor Jeff Beckett • Psalms
Today we seek to tackle three more stanzas of Psalms 119. Some of the most beautiful passages of the Hebrew Psalms book reside in our three stanzas today. Today’s words are designed to bring you encouragement. Words can help or words can harm. The child of God should know the difference, which is often not found in the truthfulness of the words, but in the right application of them!
The Lord is My Portion!
March 1, 2020 • Pastor Jeff Beckett • Psalms
Today’s eighth stanza of Psalms 119 begins with the awesome phrase, “the Lord is my portion.” It is such a simple statement of fact that it eludes the attention it deserves. What does it mean to have the Lord as your portion? It means that you have become fully satisfied in God, a relationship that must be maintained through His precious word. It is the very essence of the words of Jesus, who told Satan, “man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” (KJV) So how does a flesh and blood person “live by the words of God?” Let’s examine further Psalms 119.
A Better Word From Above
February 23, 2020 • Pastor Jeff Beckett • Psalms
Today we will tackle three stanzas in the middle of Psalms 119. These stanzas highlight the necessity of making God’s Word a part of your daily regimen. You have been called to think and live differently than the rest of the world, but how can you accomplish that? The world will not give you that blueprint, but the word will and does!
Living With an Enlarged Heart
February 17, 2020 • Pastor Jeff Beckett • Psalm 119
The three stanzas of Psalms 119 we will look at today are each powerful and unique formulas of prayer and praise. In each the Psalmsist asks for deeper insight into God’s Word, healing from God’s Word, and the wisdom to long for more of God and less of the world. These are beautiful stanzas that mostly come across as the same kind of prayer for help that any of us could and should be praying daily.
Giving your Life Godly Guardrails!
February 10, 2020 • Pastor Jeff Beckett • Psalm 119
Psalms 119 is famous for its uniqueness. It is the longest “chapter” in the Bible and longest collection of praise and teaching in the Psalms Book. It is also an acrostic, with 22 sections arranged alphabetically, with each line of each section starting with that particular letter in the Hebrew alphabet. But what this Psalms is really known for is being the highest exaltation of the divine word of God in Scripture. As we study Psalms 119, let’s us our time as challenge to reconnect to God’s sacred word!
The Steadfast Love of the Lord
February 2, 2020 • Pastor Jeff Beckett • Psalm 117, Psalm 118
The tiny Psalms 117 followed by Psalms 118 complete the Hallel, which we have been studying since the holidays. These words culminate the high praise of Psalms used by Jews to commemorate their holiest times of worship… and the words Jesus sang in the upper room. In particular today, we see value of the steadfast love of God! Is it possible to be loved in a way that is unconditional, and unending? Yes.
"Glory!"
January 19, 2020 • Pastor Jeff Beckett • Psalm 115
Here in the midst of the Hallel, a cry is made for God to be glorified. In fact, the entire Psalms is summed up in its first verse … a prayer that we get out of the way and ensure that God receives all glory due Him. But Psalms 115 is a little extra special, since it is widely believed that it is what Jesus and his disciples sang just before he went out to Gethsemane. The word glory used here means “heavy” or “weighty” and is associated with the idea of honor. In other words, as we measure our choices and what we treasure are we certain all glory is pointed at God.
Our God: The One and Only
January 12, 2020 • Pastor Jeff Beckett • Psalm 113
God has no equal, no rival and no comparison. In the middle of today’s Psalms, a rhetorical question is asked: “Who is like our God?” Wrapped around the question is a set of truths about God that answer the question… no one is like God. He is incomparable. Psalms 113 will inspire your view of God, and when we get our view of God right, praise begins to flow, and the other things in life have a way of finding their proper balance.
Getting Off to the “Righteous” Start
January 5, 2020 • Pastor Jeff Beckett • Psalm 112
Psalms 112 is an anonymously-authored beautiful praise song. It is reminiscent of Psalms 1, in which two very different ways to live are described… the righteous and the wicked. The song itself is a praise directed to God, who alone can make a person righteous. In particular, Psalms 112 is a detailed description of what righteousness is, and how the righteous person will choose to live. The Psalmsist seems to indicate that the only other option is to choose wickedness.
God, You Make Us Strong!
October 20, 2019 • Pastor Jeff Beckett • Psalm 108
What is a steadfast heart? In this Psalms of David, he offers several “I will” declarations, leaving no doubt about the type of person he intends to be! All of these declarations seem to flow from one place: a steadfast heart. Do you have one? Would you like too? Psalms 108 is a unique compilation of Psalms 57 and 60… a “re-mix,” if you will, designed to apply old steady truth to a new dilemma in Israel.
A Song for Us Imperfect People
October 13, 2019 • Pastor Jeff Beckett • Psalm 107
Psalms 107 is constructed in a very unique way … it is like a roll call for all of us misfits. It is for those of us who have tried and failed … those of us who never fit in ... those who got lost along the way, those of us who have badly messed up. In other words, this Psalms is for you … Four different sections of the Psalms begin with the word “Some” and in these sections we find various descriptions of how God’s grace is not for the flawless and perfect, but instead for all of us “mess ups” as well!
Bless the Lord O My Soul
October 6, 2019 • Pastor Justin Carmona • Psalm 103
Psalms 103 is a Psalms of Thanksgiving that starts in the soul of the individual and spreads to all of creation. As we see who God is and what he has done in our lives it compels us to sing his goodness to the ends of the earth.
A Word for the Broken Person
September 29, 2019 • Pastor Jeff Beckett • Psalm 102
We do not know by whom or when the 102nd Psalms came to be, but we do know they were in pain. It appears it was personal pain from sin, and national pain from rebellion against God. Psalms 102 is considered one of the seven “penitent” Psalms, along with Psalms 6, 32, 38, 51, 130, and 143. Today in the midst of communion we come with penitence before our God, to acknowledge our sin, it’s consequence, and then to dive deep into God’s mercy and forgiveness.
Committed! With My Whole Heart
September 22, 2019 • Pastor Jeff Beckett • Psalm 101
Psalms 101 has a very interesting tone. The constant use of the phrase “I will” (ten times) creates a sense that the Psalms is a song about commitment. The writer, David, is making pledge after pledge to God. David clearly intends to live a life of integrity. Since integrity is a key way to honor God and proclaim the Gospel, let’s look closely at David’s ancient song on this topic.