Walking Through the Psalms“So I tried to understand why the wicked prosper. But what a difficult task it is! Then I went into your sanctuary, O God, and I finally understood the destiny of the wicked.” – Psalm 73:16-17 (NLT)“Getting Our ‘Due’” There was a wild story in the news a few years ago. Two friends in the United Kingdom, who had just been released from prison a few days before, bought a wi...

Walking Through the Psalms“As for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more.” – Psalm 71:14 (NIV)“We Are People of Hope!” Say this verse out loud. Now say it again as a prayer. It doesn’t matter what circumstances you find yourself in. It doesn’t matter what the doctor has just told you. It doesn’t matter what your bank balance is. You can always have hope. That’s why I love thi...

Walking Through the Psalms“And now, in my old age, don’t set me aside. Don’t abandon me when my strength is failing.” – Psalm 71:9 (NLT)“Age Is Just a Number” Julia “Hurricane” Hawkins gave up biking a few years ago and took up running. She thought she might be good at it, but she wasn’t sure if she’d do as well as she did on a bike. But she did. A couple of years after she took up her new sport, ...

Walking Through the Psalms“For the LORD hears the cries of the needy; he does not despise his imprisoned people.” – Psalm 69:33 (NLT)“Our Chains Are Gone!” Some time ago, I showed a video at church of some prisoners being baptized at a jail in Indiana. It’s an amazing story of how God is using this local congregation there to reach out to people that many have been forgotten or given up on. One ma...

Walking Through the Psalms“Don’t let those who trust in you be ashamed because of me.” – Psalm 69:6 (NLT)“You ARE the Company!” I was talking with one of my staff members this week about the importance of customer service. She told me how they had gotten her mother-in-law a gift and took her to the store to find something for her birthday. But when the clerk scratched off the place on the back whe...

Walking Through the Psalms“Summon your power, God; show us your strength, our God, as you have done before.” – Psalm 68:28 (NIV)“Making a History of Faith” One of the keys to great faith is a good memory. When we remember what God has done, it’s easier for us to believe what He can do. That’s what David is talking about here. He’s reminding himself and his people of what God has done. Has God defe...

Walking Through the Psalms“Our God is a God who saves!” – Psalm 68:20 (NLT)“God Still Saves” This verse hit me like a ton of bricks today. God can save us. He’s the Only One who can save us! The sad thing is that some of us don’t even know we NEED saving. But we do. We desperately do. Let’s get honest. Some of our lives are a MESS. We’ve been running hard, living our lives the way that we want to ...

Walking Through the Psalms“God places the lonely in families; he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy.” – Psalm 68:6 (NLT)“You Have a Family” I recently received a really sad email from a man who watches our services online. He comes from a pretty messed-up family with lots of dysfunction. That fact left him fairly wounded and sensitive when he made a commitment to Christ and started going t...

Walking Through the Psalms“Father to the fatherless, defender of widows—this is God, whose dwelling is holy.” – Psalm 68:5 (NLT)“Our Father Who is in Heaven” We just celebrated Father’s Day last month. It’s not an easy day for many people. For some of us, it’s hard because we’ve lost our fathers. We miss him, even though he may have passed away years ago. A big part of our heart died when he did. ...

Walking Through the Psalms“May your ways be known throughout the earth, your saving power among people everywhere.” – Psalm 67:2 (NLT)“God Is What You’re Looking For” God is what you’re looking for. You may not know it, but He is. And not just you. He’s what EVERYONE is looking for. That’s why David makes this proclamation in our verse today. God is the answer to the deepest questions that your so...

Walking Through the Psalms“May God be merciful and bless us. May his face smile with favor on us.” – Psalm 67:1 (NLT)“A Prayer for God’s Mercy and Favor” Let me pray this Psalm over you today…“Father, I pray your mercy upon my friends today. Many of us have fallen short and need your grace to be poured out upon us. We haven’t lived up to being all that we know we need to be. We haven’t lived up to...

Walking Through the Psalms“Praise God, who did not ignore my prayer or withdraw his unfailing love from me.” – Psalm 66:20 (NLT)“Come Boldly to God” I shared an amazing story last Sunday in my message. A fireworks store owner in Texas had a break-in, and thousands of dollars in merchandise were stolen. He had cameras up around the building that captured a picture of the truck and the license plate...

Walking Through the Psalms“You have tested us, O God; you have purified us like silver.” – Psalm 66:10 (NLT)“It’s the Testing That Makes You Tough!” What is one thing you wish you could do or become? Would it be to be an amazing athlete? Do you wish you were an incredible musician? How about a mountain climber who has scaled the tallest mountains in the world? Let’s be more spiritual. Would you li...

Walking Through the Psalms“Our lives are in his hands, and he keeps our feet from stumbling.” – Psalm 66:9 (NLT)“Our Lives Are in His Hands” I went to see a good friend in the hospital this past weekend. He’s had a rough time of it physically the last couple of years, and we’re not sure if he’s going to pull through this round or not. One of the amazing things about him is his unwavering faith and...

Walking Through the Psalms“He made a dry path through the Red Sea, and his people went across on foot. There we rejoiced in him.” – Psalm 66:6 (NLT)“God Can Make a Way” Several years ago, Mid-America Christian University was in deep trouble. When they moved from Houston to Oklahoma City in 1985, the move only “worked” if the campus in Houston was sold. When a buyer came forward, the college made t...

Walking Through the Psalms“Come and see what our God has done, what awesome miracles he performs for people!” – Psalm 66:5 (NLT)“A God of Miracles” Dr. Sean George was driving home from working in a remote clinic in Australia when he began to experience discomfort in his chest. He called his wife, who was also a doctor, and began to describe his symptoms. She advised him to stop at the closest hos...

Walking Through the Psalms“Shout joyful praises to God, all the earth! Sing about the glory of his name! Tell the world how glorious he is.” – Psalm 66:1-2 (NLT)“God’s Glorious Name” I told a story a few weeks ago in a sermon about a guy in upstate New York who led the police on a wild chase. The 21-year-old was only being pulled over for something simple, but he thought he could dodge the police....

Walking Through the Psalms“Those who live at the ends of the earth stand in awe of your wonders. From where the sun rises to where it sets, you inspire shouts of joy.” – Psalm 65:8 (NLT)“He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands” This is going to come as a new thought to some of us, but America has not cornered the market on God. I know that many of us think that we are His favorite, but we’re not. He...

Walking Through the Psalms“You quieted the raging oceans with their pounding waves and silenced the shouting of the nations.” – Psalm 65:7 (NLT)“Sometimes You Just Have to Wait” A few weeks ago, I did a graveside funeral service at a cemetery not far from the church. I arrived about ten minutes before the service was to begin. As I got out of my car, it began to rain. By the time I got under the s...

Walking Through the Psalms“You formed the mountains by your power and armed yourself with mighty strength.” – Psalm 65:6 (NLT)“One Amazing Father” Do you remember being astonished by how strong and amazing your dad was? I do. Dad was able to lift things that I thought couldn’t be lifted. He could open things I didn’t think could be opened. He wasn’t afraid of older kids, stray dogs, or even strang...