A collection of photographs recently found and made public give a rare glimpse into everyday life during the American Civil War -- officers sitting down and sipping tea together, and whole families enjoying each other in front of their tent.However, even in this unusual find, there is one scene we …
The Lord's presence, with his protecting rod and directing staff, was David's great comfort in the midst of his deepest valleys.However, the rod and staff will not comfort you if you don’t enjoy the presence of the Shepherd, if you want to be left to yourself and your own choices. If you do not …
The same David who wrote “I shall not want” wrote of the great Shepherd that “he restores my soul.”Clearly, then, "not wanting" does not mean we will not have discouragements, moments of feeling empty or even forsaken, times of hunger and thirst. Rather it means that the soul-hunger and soul-thirst …
Green pastures and still waters. This is a beautiful picture of calm security and nourishing food, of real rest and solid sustenance.But it doesn't seem as though God's people always enjoy such peaceful, restful experiences. In what way is the tortured martyr, the exhausted single parent, the …
Paul describes a single group of specific people: specifically those "who love God" and are "called according to his purpose." And these people, Paul tells us, who will one day be "glorified."That last, glorious word is the subject of this morning: Glorified! But what does this word -- last in the …
It is no wonder that this passage is one of the most quoted and loved in all of Scripture. Not only does it speak of the green pastures and still waters that the trusting soul finds in Christ, it also acknowledges the daily presence of shadows, death, and enemies. These physical and spiritual …
When we say God is sovereign, we are simply saying “God is who God says he is, in his Word the Bible.” God is the only all-powerful, all-seeing, all-directing ruler of everything and everyone.The Bible teaches God controls the weather and nature, human rulers, all of humanity, animals, and even the …
James says no one can say God has tempted him or her. This request, then, is for God to keep us from situations where we might fall. Put another way: "As we put you first, as we rely on you, lead us to more of You, not us."This request involves a recognition of the dangerous, bait-riddled, …
There are only two kinds of people who will exist forever: the damned, and the forgiven. There are no unforgiven saved people. This is the importance of the request Jesus provides for us in his model prayer. More important even than our daily bread is the forgiving of our sin debt before God. And …
In a day like our own, with multiple copies of the Bible sitting on everyone’s shelf or coffee table, and available free on every device, a memorable encapsulation like the Lord's Prayer is just as helpful as ever.We tend to lose perspective, we tend to get warped in our priorities, as we try to …