Walking Through the Psalms“So be strong and courageous, all you who put your hope in the LORD!” – Psalm 31:24 (NLT)“Resurrection Sunday” Hope. It’s perhaps the greatest human need there is. It’s said you can live a few weeks without food, a few days without water, a few minutes without air, but only a few seconds without hope. Could YOU use some hope today?Resurrection Sunday is the day when God c...

“Walking Through the Psalms”“The righteous person faces many troubles, but the LORD comes to the rescue each time.” – Psalm 34:8 (NLT)“Silent Saturday” Do you ever wonder where Jesus was on the Saturday before the Resurrection? Was He still in the grave? Did He go to some unknown, spiritual waiting room? Some people, based on words in Peter’s letters, think that Jesus visited Hell. One thing is su...

“Walking Through the Psalms”“The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.” – Psalm 34:8 (NLT)“Good Friday” Yesterday was a hard day. I dealt with a lot of people going through some really hard stuff. Another marriage is facing divorce. Another family suffered the loss of someone they loved. Another tough diagnosis that could lead to some difficult long-term t...

“Walking Through the Psalms”“Taste and see that the LORD is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!” – Psalm 34:8 (NLT)“God and Michigan Cherry Coffee” I have a friend who has spoiled me when it comes to coffee. He’s from Michigan and has turned me on to Michigan Cherry Coffee. Whenever he goes home, he brings me back some. I have to confess that I’m not really much of a coffee connois...

“Walking Through the Psalms”“I prayed to the LORD, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears.” – Psalm 34:4 (NLT)“Breaking the Shackles” Fear is more than an emotion. For many of us, it is a shackle. It keeps us from enjoying the abundant life that God has for us. Some of us are so afraid of being alone that we stay in relationships with toxic people who treat us horribly. Some of us are s...

“Walking Through the Psalms”“He made their hearts, so he understands everything they do.” – Psalm 33:15 (NLT)“God Knows Their Hearts; I Don’t!” You need to say this out loud before you leave the house today: “GOD knows people’s hearts, but I do not!” That simple statement can save you a lot of heartache. I’m convinced that for many of us, a lot of our relational problems and personal hurts are bec...

“Walking Through the Psalms”“The LORD merely spoke, and the heavens were created. He breathed the word, and all the stars were born.” – Psalm 33:6 (NLT)“When There’s Nothing Left” There is an old joke I love about a scientist who was bragging to God that with cloning, gene editing, and DNA mapping, science could now do anything God could do. God said, “Oh yeah? How about a contest to see who can m...

“Walking Through the Psalms”“For the word of the LORD holds true, and we can trust everything he does.” – Psalm 33:4 (NLT)“Wax On, Wax Off” One of my favorite old movies is “Karate Kid.” Remember that one? Daniel LaRusso needs to learn karate to protect himself from a bunch of martial arts bullies who make it their goal to make his life miserable. So Daniel recruits Mr. Miyagi, his apartment maint...

“Walking Through the Psalms”The LORD says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.” – Psalm 32:8 (NLT)“Our Father Knows Best” Mark Twain is quoted as saying, “When I was 14, my father was so ignorant that I could barely stand to have him around. When I was 21, I was amazed at how much he’d learned in just 7 years!” Can you relate to that quote?...

“Walking Through the Psalms”“Therefore let all the faithful pray to you while you may be found; surely the rising of the mighty waters will not reach them.” – Psalm 32:6 (NIV)“How Bad Is Bad Enough?” Let me ask you what might be one of the most important questions you can answer. “How bad is bad enough?” How bad does something have to get before you admit that something is wrong and ask for God’s ...

“Walking Through the Psalms”“Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight!” – Psalm 32:1 (NLT)“Just As If It Never Happened” A few years ago, my wife complained to me that I drive too fast. I tried to explain to her that I really don’t drive that fast. It’s just that most speed limits are set way too low. I also reminded her I hadn’t had a ticket in 20 years...

“Walking Through the Psalms”“O LORD, I have come to you for protection; don’t let me be disgraced. Save me, for you do what is right.” – Psalm 30:4-5 (NLT)“Control YOU And Don’t Worry About THEM” One of the hard lessons I’ve learned in leadership is that you can’t control what people say about you. Through the years I’ve had to make several hard decisions, many of which caused various people to be...

“Walking Through the Psalms”“Sing to the LORD, all you godly ones! Praise his holy name. For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime!” – Psalm 30:4-5 (NLT)“Not Angry, Just Anxious” Did you grow up believing in an “angry” God? Many of us did. God was presented in such a harsh way that it didn’t seem as if He truly loved us. He simply tolerated us. If we didn’t say our prayers,...

“Walking Through the Psalms”“LORD my God, I called to you for help, and you healed me.” – Psalm 30:2 (NIV)“It’s Just a Matter of When” A few years ago, Paul Wood, from Lodi, California, went to the doctor. For months he had been suffering from excruciating headaches. After tests and CT scans, the doctor told him that he had a tumor in his brain, and it was causing his brain to bleed. Paul was deva...

“Walking Through the Psalms”“The voice of the LORD is powerful.” – Psalm 29:4 (NLT)“The Powerful Voice of the Lord” Several years ago, I worked at the Downtown YMCA in Houston. For some time, I assisted in the stress-testing lab where we did physicals on members before designing fitness programs for them. The doctor heading up our lab was the Chief Medical Officer from NASA. One day, we ran tests ...

“Walking Through the Psalms”“Honor the LORD for the glory of his name.” – Psalm 29:2 (NLT)“More Than Just a Rescuer” For those of us old enough to remember 9/11, something happened to us in the wake of that event. We became APPRECIATIVE. We watched in horror that day as the Twin Towers went down with a massive loss of life. Many people went to work that day in those towers and were trapped inside ...

“Walking Through the Psalms”“Save your people and bless your inheritance; be their shepherd and carry them forever.” – Psalm 28:7 (NIV)“Carry Me, Lord!” Let’s take a closer look at the last part of our verse for today. “Be their shepherd and carry them forever.” I’m so thankful for the way God shepherds me. Aren’t you? He’s so gentle and patient in His Guidance. He lovingly leads me and watches ov...

“Walking Through the Psalms”“The LORD is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart.” – Psalm 28:7 (NLT)“Remember Who God Is” Read this verse out loud. Now read it out loud like you mean it! These words of David are powerful statements of hope and encouragement for us. Notice how David says, “The Lord is my strength AND shield.” We often turn to God as a defensive measure. We want His p...

“Walking Through the Psalms”“Give them the punishment they so richly deserve! Measure it out in proportion to their wickedness. Pay them back for all their evil deeds! Give them a taste of what they have done to others.” – Psalm 28:4 (NLT)“Starting with Grace” Have you ever felt like David? Have you ever just wanted to really “give it” to someone? David calls down God’s wrath upon these heathen pe...

“Walking Through the Psalms”“I pray to you, O LORD, my rock. Do not turn a deaf ear to me. For if you are silent, I might as well give up and die.” – Psalm 28:1 (NLT)“When You REALLY Need God” There is a worship song that was very popular about 20 years ago called “Breathe.” It is a beautiful song that talks about our deep need for God. It talks about His Presence being the “air we breathe.” His W...