>After a late evening in which I heard remarks or received information that demonstrated effective ways forces of evil harm the churches and our nation, I woke this morning with a backache and tired eyes, exacerbated by an anxious spirit and a discouraged mind.Providentially, the next psalm in my devotional reading was Psalm 47:Clap your … Continue reading >In media res (Psalm 47)

>Yesterday while I exercised at Anytime Fitness, I watched a documentary about the 1883 volcanic eruption that sunk two-thirds of the island of Krakatoa. The resulting tsunami claimed more lives than the actual eruption.This morning I read Psalm 46:God is our refuge and strength,a very present help in trouble.Therefore we will not fearthough the earth … Continue reading >God as our refuge

>I am amazed at how God's Word spoke directly to me this morning.Regular readers will know that I've been slowly working through the Psalms. This morning I nearly skipped reading the next Psalm. I have four writing projects that must be completed by tomorrow evening; it would be better if they were completed today, but … Continue reading >Psalm 40 speaks to me

>With 19 project notes currently strung above my monitor, this morning's devotions from Psalm 39 seem particularly apt. These project notes are not mere reminders. They are not personal projects (like [shudder] TAXES). They are sticky notes about separate work projects that hang (very nearly literally) over my head. This morning I woke, filled with … Continue reading >Carpe Diem!

>How beautifully this morning's sun shone into our home, glowing in amber patches on the refrigerator, a living-room chair, and even the front door!Perhaps it struck me so much because I had just read Psalm 37, whose beginning includes these encouraging verses:Trust in the LORD and do good;dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.Delight yourself … Continue reading >Dwelling in the Land

>The Psalms contain much comfort and encouragement. Today I wanted to share these gems from Psalm 36:How precious is your steadfast love, O God!The children of mankind take refugein the shadow of your wings.They feast on the abundance of your house,and you give them drinkfrom the river of your delights.For with you is the fountain … Continue reading >Drinking from God’s river of delights

>After Psalm 34's middle section directed toward children (but applicable for all ages), the stellar Psalmist turns the focus back to the deliverance that was the focus in the first part of the Psalm. Psalm 34 is one of David's many Psalms. A paragraph before the Psalm notes: "Of David, when he changed his behavior … Continue reading >Meditation Marathon, Psalm 34:15-22

>Even though it's been a week since my last "Meditation Marathon" post on Psalm 34, there are still some priceless gems than need to be mined.The first two blog posts focused on the gems found in verses 1-10, but verses 11-22 contain some of the most encouraging comfort found in the precious wealth of the … Continue reading >Meditation Marathon, Psalm 34:11-14

>The Lord continues to impress his truths from Psalm 34 on my mind. This is the Psalm that contains those well-known words: "Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good!" (verse 8).Tasting and seeing involves two senses. A valuable writing insight I learned from Jeanette Windle in a seminar she taught at the 2008 … Continue reading >Meditation Marathon, Psalm 34:4-10

>For the last few days, I've been mining riches from Psalm 34 in a meditation marathon.In God's providence, a good friend led a Bible study this week and was struck by several verses that she emailed me: from Psalm 34.And in the votive silence of this morning's early communion with God, his revealed truth filled … Continue reading >Meditation Marathon, Psalm 34:1-3