Psalm 54 - 3.26.25

Scripture

Psalm 54:6-7

I will sacrifice a freewill offering to you;
    I will praise your name, Lord, for it is good.
You have delivered me from all my troubles,
    and my eyes have looked in triumph on my foes.

Observation

I love reading the psalms and how real David is with his emotions. He cries out to God and pours out all his worries, misery, and despair. And after he lets it all out and lays the problem at God’s feet, then he comes back acknowledging that God is in control, that he is faithful and good.

Application

Pastor Levi talked about this same thing on Sunday. Following Jesus does not mean we will never experience difficulties. But he asks us to trust him. When confronted with storms, we can spiral out of control or we can run to the one who loves us and promises peace and comfort. I’ve had the opportunity to put this into practice this week. I’ve had some difficult circumstances that feel overwhelming. I can lay awake worrying and filled with anxiety, or I can lay it at his feet. Over and over the past week I have had to pray and put things in God’s hands. And he is faithful to hear my cries and replace them with peace. My circumstances have not changed, but I believe that God is in control.

Prayer

Lord, you are faithful. You have answered my prayers before and you will do it again. I am thankful that I serve a loving, faithful and mighty God. No circumstances are too big for you. Thank you for being in control and thank you for surrounding me with your peace.

- Debbie Dunn

Matthew 10 - 3.25.25

SCRIPTURE:  MATTHEW 10:28 – 31

28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. 30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

OBSERVATION

Jesus is preparing the disciples for what’s to come in the days ahead. There will be persecutions and many more trials – even to the point of death. Jesus doesn’t want them to worry or be afraid and shares what’s more important:  our soul and value to the Father.

Jesus knows everyone will be concerned about the worst case scenario: dying. But the death of our body isn’t what matters most but the death of our soul. We will all physically die at one point and there’s nothing we can do about it. But we do have the ability to affect our soul. We can have a healthy fear of “the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” That healthy fear is what causesd me to seek God in my life. But is fear where we should live our life? No, that’s why Jesus immediate shares just how precious and important we are to the Father.

Jesus tries to provide a valuable comparison just to help the disciples understand their fear but to also give them hope and comfort.  He takes a common sparrow, which were not valuable then or now, yet are cared so much by God that “not one will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.” What a tender and loving vision this creates of God gently caring for the sweet little sparrows. God’s love doesn’t end there. Jesus goes on to say that “even the very hairs on your head are all numbered.” God loves us that deeply!  Jesus comes full circle on the fear of death, our value above sparrows, to then encourage the disciples “So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”

APPLICATION

Physical death is inevitable. Our bodies will pass away one day. My fear shouldn’t be about my body but my soul. Am I living a life that glorifies God? Am I more concerned about God or people on this earth? It’s all about our priorities and the choices we make each day. We can live in fear or can live our life for God. Understanding how important and deeply loved we are to our heavenly Father can easily turn every fear into praise.

PRAYER

Dear Lord, thank you for the comfort your Word provides. You care about what we feel – and provide exactly what we need to hear.  You help us to see, in comparison with sparrows, that we’re more important to you! Thank you for loving me. Help me to always keep my focus on you. Help me to remember this scripture when any form of worry or fear comes along. In Jesus name! Amen

- Mary Oberg

Psalm 52 - 3.24.25

Scripture

Psalm 52:7-9

7 “Here now is the man who did not make God his stronghold but trusted in his great wealth and grew strong by destroying others!” 8 But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God’s unfailing love for ever and ever. 9 For what you have done I will always praise you in the presence of your faithful people.  And I will hope in your name, for your name is good.

Observation

In this Psalm, King David is exposing the deceit and evil of Doeg the Edomite, who “informed Saul of David’s whereabouts.” “King David wrote this Psalm during the period when Saul was seeking his life.” (Reference: biblegateway.com footnotes)

King David is comparing and contrasting those like Doeg who trust in wealth, do evil and grow strong by destroying others, to those who trust in God’s unfailing love and hope in His good name alone!

Application

Take some time to meditate on God’s unfailing love and pour out that love on others! 

When we put our hope in anything but Jesus, we will always be disappointed. People and relationships will fail us; money and success fails; our possessions fail us; beauty fails and even our health fails. There is only ONE thing that will never fail us and that is Christ’s unfailing love. 

Let’s set aside time to meditate on His unfailing love and faithfulness towards us, everyday this week. 

However, it’s not enough to just keep His love to ourselves! We need to share it with others too! What are some ways that we can pour out that love on others this week? (Examples include providing for a need, blessing with a meal or a gift, writing a note of encouragement/blessing, spending time with them, sharing the Gospel message, inviting to church, being generous with our finances to further the Kingdom, etc.)

Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank You for Your love that never fails. Thank You that when we seek You, You will always be found. I praise You for being a God who never changes, especially in Your affection for us. Please forgive me for the many times I have sought worth in things that fail. May I always fill myself up with You so that I could pour out Your love and joy to others as well. Amen.

-Michelle Gaddi