Confession is not easy. We can rebel at the thought of admitting even the smallest mistakes. So to help us learn how to confess, David concludes with some instruction in Psalm 32. Here is what we should do. First, in verse 6. “Therefore let all the faithful pray to you while you may be found;Continue reading “Your mistakes do not define you – Advent Psalm of Confession, Part 4”
Tag Archives: psalms
The perfect cover-up for sin? – Advent Psalm of Confession, Part 2
David is in a terrible spot of his own making. He has slept with one of his soldier’s wives, and now she is pregnant. How will this king who is known as “the man after God’s own heart” react? In 2 Samuel 11, verses 6-9, David concocts a plan: “So David sent this word toContinue reading “The perfect cover-up for sin? – Advent Psalm of Confession, Part 2”
Hidden sins and indiscretions – Advent Psalm of Confession, Part 1
As I write this in December 2023, we’re just three weeks away from Christmas Day. Do you hide Christmas presents and wait until Christmas Eve night to place the gifts under the tree? When you were a child, did you tried to find the hidden gifts and take a peek? Thinking about hiding things, takeContinue reading “Hidden sins and indiscretions – Advent Psalm of Confession, Part 1”
A poem to guide us when we’re dealing with the aftermath of our sin – Advent Psalm of Confession, Preview
In my elementary school years, I had a classmate who annoyed me. So one day I wrote a note, impersonating him as writing a mean note to a girl, and I threw it in the hallway, thinking someone would pick it up and get him in trouble. Someone did pick it up, and they informedContinue reading “A poem to guide us when we’re dealing with the aftermath of our sin – Advent Psalm of Confession, Preview”
Five steps from lament to hope – Advent Psalms of Lament, Part 5
This week I welcome guest blogger, Jeff Byerly. Jeff is my pastoral colleague, friend, ThD classmate, and traveling partner! He and his wife Tasha have two daughters, a son-in-law and new grandbaby! Are you ready for another Psalm of Lament? Open a Bible to Psalm 12. This time I want to show you a simpleContinue reading “Five steps from lament to hope – Advent Psalms of Lament, Part 5”
How to have hope amidst evil in the world – Advent Psalms of Lament, Part 4
This week I welcome guest blogger, Jeff Byerly. Jeff is my pastoral colleague, friend, ThD classmate, and traveling partner! He and his wife Tasha have two daughters, a son-in-law and new grandbaby! As we continue studying the lament of Psalm 137, the psalmist recalls the vicious attack from Israel’s enemies that led to Israel’s captivity.Continue reading “How to have hope amidst evil in the world – Advent Psalms of Lament, Part 4”
How lament provides empathy in our despair – Advent Psalms of Lament, Part 3
This week I welcome guest blogger, Jeff Byerly. Jeff is my pastoral colleague, friend, ThD classmate, and traveling partner! He and his wife Tasha have two daughters, a son-in-law and new grandbaby! In the first post, I mentioned the zeitgeist that we seem to be under—with things beyond our control. It’s always been this way,Continue reading “How lament provides empathy in our despair – Advent Psalms of Lament, Part 3”
When life is bitter pill – Advent Psalms of Lament, Part 2
This week I welcome guest blogger, Jeff Byerly. Jeff is my pastoral colleague, friend, ThD classmate, and traveling partner! He and his wife Tasha have two daughters, a son-in-law and new grandbaby! As I mentioned in the previous post, we will turn our hearts toward lament in order to turn our heads upward toward God’sContinue reading “When life is bitter pill – Advent Psalms of Lament, Part 2”
How lament turns our weariness into hope – Advent Psalms of Lament, Part 1
This week I welcome guest blogger, Jeff Byerly. Jeff is my friend, pastoral colleague, ThD classmate, and traveling partner! He and his wife Tasha have two daughters, a son-in-law and new grandbaby! What in the world is going on these days? I remember sitting in my doctoral studies just a few years ago … priorContinue reading “How lament turns our weariness into hope – Advent Psalms of Lament, Part 1”
Introducing the Advent 2023 blog series
If you were at Faith Church this Sunday November 26, 2023, you would see our sanctuary floor lights shining the color now purple, as this Sunday is the First Sunday of the Christian Season of Advent. Why do we use the color purple for Advent? When I see the color purple in the sanctuary, IContinue reading “Introducing the Advent 2023 blog series”
Engaging Scripture 