Psalm 128 - 12.29.25

Scripture

Psalms‬ ‭128‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in obedience to him. You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours.”

Observation

This Psalm, whose author is unknown, gives the secret to a blessed life. If we want our household to be blessed, we must fear the Lord and walk in obedience to Him.

Application

Blessing follows obedience.

When I was a newer Christ follower, my favorite verse was Proverbs 9:10 which says that, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”

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This verse always convicted me to show reverence and respect for Jesus if I wanted to be wise. Then, the verse in the Psalms also adds that respect and obedience to the Lord brings blessings and fruit!

I am also reminded of King Solomon who was the wisest king who ever lived and who also wrote Ecclesiastes. He had access to all of the worldly pleasures and anything money could buy, but said everything was meaningless. He then concluded Ecclesiastes by saying, “Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.” -Ecclesiastes‬ ‭12‬:‭13‬ ‭NIV‬‬

This also proves that blessing according to God’s Word is not the world’s definition of blessing, like money, success, or possessions. If it was, King Solomon would not have said it was all meaningless.

Fear and obedience to the Lord produces fruit and blessings that this world cannot take away from us. It’s unending love, peace and joy in Christ that spreads and infects others beyond ourselves.

Prayer

Dear Lord,

I pray that I would always follow what You want me to do and not what I want to do. You have shown me what reverence, obedience and submission to You could produce and it has definitely produced a bigger blessing in my life than doing things my own way. I pray for complete submission to You even when You ask me to do something that is difficult or that I don’t understand. Help me Holy Spirit to always remember that Your ways are greater than mine and that You always have my best interests in mind because You love me. Amen.

-Michelle Gaddi

Psalm 125 - 12.26.25

Scripture:  Psalm 125:1-2

“Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion,
which cannot be shaken but endures forever. 

As the mountains surround Jerusalem,

so the Lord surrounds his people both now and forevermore.”

Observation:

Trust in the Lord brings a security like none other.  When we look to Him without doubting we will be taken care of and we won’t be shaken.  

Trusting believers are compared to Mount Zion.  Google says that “It’s a powerful metaphor in the Bible for God’s dwelling, His holy city, and the Promised Land appearing frequently in Isaiah and Psalms.”

As we trust God we walk in His presence and know that He surrounds and protects us.

Application:

I want to choose each day to trust God and acknowledge that He is surrounding me.  By doing that I know even in hard times my faith is immovable.  God is completely trustworthy.

Prayer:

Father God,

You are all-powerful, all-knowing, the creator of all things, and you have a plan for my life.  Please help me not be swayed by circumstances around me, but instead trust in you completely.

I know you will protect and provide.

Thank you Lord,

Amen

- Cindy Howard

Acts 21 - 12.25.25

SCRIPTURE: Acts‬ ‭21‬:‭35‬-‭37‬, ‭39‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“When Paul reached the steps, the violence of the mob was so great he had to be carried by the soldiers. The crowd that followed kept shouting, “Get rid of him!”

As the soldiers were about to take Paul into the barracks, he asked the commander, “May I say something to you?” “Do you speak Greek?” he replied.

Paul answered, “I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no ordinary city.

Please let me speak to the people.””

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OBSERVATION

Paul was forewarned by God and other believers that trouble awaited him in Jerusalem. Once he arrived in Jerusalem, James and the elders rejoiced over the amazing work God had done through Paul’s report.

Then, through a complicated trail of rumors, lies, and wrong assumptions, things go exactly according to the Holy Spirit’s foreknowledge and Paul is arrested several days later.

There was always only ONE purpose for Paul…finish the race Christ had Called him to  and KEEP the Faith in Jesus.

“For I am already being poured out like a drink offering,

and the time for my departure is near.

I have fought the good fight,

I have finished the race,

I have kept the faith.

Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness,

which the Lord, the righteous Judge,

will award to me on that day—

and not only to me—but also to all—who have longed for His appearing.”

‭‭(2 Timothy‬ ‭4‬:‭6‬-‭8‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

Paul was given a brief opportunity to speak to the crowd. It didn’t go exactly as he may have planned or liked— BUT it went EXACTLY as God had Planned.

APPLICATION

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Christmas is a Reminder of Christ’s —Great JOY!

Recently I was asked the difference between Joy and Happiness.

Happiness is reliant on earthy temporal things.

I am happy at the Beach, smelling the Ocean air, listening to the waves ebb and flow, walking in the wet sand as the waves come in.

I am happy when I bake something new and it comes out the way I had hoped, sometimes even better, and get to watch the look on other people’s faces enjoying what I have made.

I am happy seeing the utter excitement in Wolffy’s brown eyes when she knows she is about to go for a walk.

And of course I have countless memories of laughter and happiness over silly little things that come to mind with my dearest husband.

Everything on this list is entirely based on temporary circumstances.

Joy is supernatural—and a Fruit of the Holy Spirit—Coming from God—Himself.

Not temporal…not based on any circumstances—but—Eternal—

JOY in Jesus is Ours Forever—

Romans 15:13

“May the God of hope —FILL you —with all —JOY and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”

James 1:2-4

“Count it as Great JOY, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, knowing that the testing of your faith [through experience] produces endurance.

And let endurance have its perfect result and do a thorough work, so that you may be perfect and completely developed [in your faith], lacking in nothing.

Psalms 71:23

“My lips will shout for JOY —when I sing praises to YOU; And my soul, which You have redeemed.”‭

Paul explains Joy in his letter to the Philippian Church:

Although he is in Rome in prison and has every reason to be unhappy—

Paul is FILLED with Supernatural, JOY.

Because Paul is seeing how God is using even his challenging circumstances—to continue to Advance the Spread of Christ’s Gospel and salvations are Happening!

Not only are people continuing to Hear the Gospel Message that Jesus Saves—but Paul rejoices that even his prison guards are being saved.

AND…Paul says, “Your Faith in Christ—Causes me to rejoice”.

(Philippians 1)

Jesus IS our—JOY!

PRAYER

LORD Jesus,

Thank YOU That You Alone make my—our—JOY Complete.

I pray I can learn more and more what it means to Be genuinely FILLED with Your JOY because of The Faith that others are growing in that are near to me and because of Your Gospel Message that has the Power to Move out regardless of any circumstances we find ourselves in. Help me to fully understand the JOY in Advancing Who YOUR Gospel Message of Unmeasurable LOVE.

Thank YOU that My JOY in YOU is not based in Circumstances. It is based in the unshakable TRUTH that our eternity is SECURE in YOU!

Help me, Like Paul, to Listen to what is being said and to Listen between the lines and to Hear YOU and to Look for the common ground to Make Your message accessible to everyone around.

There is nothing comparable to Your JOY!

“Jesus said,

“Until now you have not asked for anything in MY name.

Ask—and you will receive, and your JOY will be—COMPLETE.”

‭‭(John‬ ‭16‬:‭24‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

In JESUS Name, amen.

Tina L Kudelka