When you have been waiting, cry out to God – 2 Samuel 4—5, Part 5

What have you been waiting for?  A difficult relationship being healed?  A debt paid off?  A sickness healed?  We can wait, and wait, and it can seem like radio silence from God.  That’s what David felt, and I’m so glad he put it into words and someone selected it for inclusion in the psalms.  ForContinue reading “When you have been waiting, cry out to God – 2 Samuel 4—5, Part 5”

A Lament for Dark Days – 1 Samuel 1:1-2:11, Preview

“Hello darkness, my old friend.”   Can you imagine singing that lyric during a worship service?  No?  Me neither.  It’s the start of the Simon & Garfunkel song “The Sound of Silence.”  Great song, but we probably wouldn’t sing it as a praise to God in a worship service. What about this line: “Why, O Lord,Continue reading “A Lament for Dark Days – 1 Samuel 1:1-2:11, Preview”

Sometimes faith follows faithfulness – Shield of Faith, Part 4

If you’ve been following along with this series of posts on the Shield of Faith (starting here), you might be thinking, “Whew, I’m struggling with faith and faithfulness.”  There is hope.  True faith is rooted in who God is.  Consider what Paul writes to Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:2, “If we are faithless, he remainsContinue reading “Sometimes faith follows faithfulness – Shield of Faith, Part 4”

Crying as a spiritual practice – Ezekiel 19, Part 1

I recently attended the baptism of my niece.  It was wonderful to hear her share the story of her faith in Christ, her commitment to him, and why she wanted to be baptized.  There was so much joy as my brother-in-law baptized her.  That moment when she rose up out of the water, as itContinue reading “Crying as a spiritual practice – Ezekiel 19, Part 1”

When God feels like a dropped phone call – Ezekiel 2:1-3:15, Part 4

What does it mean to have a relationship with God? Is it just an intellectual concept that has little bearing on our real day-to-day lives? How do flesh and blood people have a meaningful relationship with invisible spirit? As a result, does God feel distant? Does it feel like God is something we read aboutContinue reading “When God feels like a dropped phone call – Ezekiel 2:1-3:15, Part 4”