Psalms

Wednesday devotions ~ Psalm 45

/ The Pastor

“My heart overflows with a pleasing theme; I address my verses to the king; my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe.”
(Psalm 45:1)

As a person who likes to write, I just love the beauty of this verse. It speaks to why I write on a daily basis. People have asked how I can do this, but believe me, it is not because of some talent I have (far from it). It is ALL Holy Spirit. It is ALL about God. It is a natural outflow of what GOD has done, the “pleasing theme” in my heart. And therefore, I have updated the description line on my blog (www.heartofapastor.blog) and my blog’s Facebook site with this verse to communicate that fact. And so, as a “ready scribe”, allow me to continue and address my king because of the pleasing theme He has put in my heart.

And the “pleasing theme” that flows out of my heart today is this:

Faithfulness

That is the word that came to mind as I wrote the closing line of the opening paragraph. God’s faithfulness is what is ringing in my heart, giving me notes for the new song that He has placed there. And what a pleasing theme it is. It is pleasing because God does not have to be patient with this sinner, but He is. God does not have to promise anything to me other than condemnation, but He has promised me Life through Jesus. God does not have to sustain me with His Holy Spirit, but He does. God does not have to give me daily bread, but He provides. God’s faithfulness and steadfast love endures forever. It is no wonder that the psalmist echos that phrase over and over in the Psalms,

“for His steadfast love endures forever” (read Psalm 136)

It is a song in his heart that is sung in this sinful heart. It is a pleasing theme that is flowing, running around the twists and turns, and over the rocky rapids of this life. It is a pleasing theme that puts a smile on my face but more importantly, joy in my heart. It is a pleasing theme that I know will never end. And thus I praise and worship God.

What is your “pleasing theme” today?

LET US PRAY: Father God, thank you for the song that You have placed in my heart. May my worship bring You glory, for you are deserving of more than I can possibly think of giving. Thank you for this “pleasing theme”. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Tuesday Devotions ~ Psalm 44

/ The Pastor

“O God, we have heard with our ears, our fathers have told us, what deeds you performed in their days, in the days of old”

I saw a social media meme recently that caught my attention:

“Many folks are praying for God to heal our land, but I think he’s still waiting for people to humble themselves, repent and turn from their wicked ways.”

I see a lot of truth in that statement. There are people crying out for healing but yet, not willing to turn to God; to repent; to leave behind their sinful ways. They have heard the stories from their parents and remember, but they want their cake and eat it too. As in verses 9 – 16, I hear people lamenting and wondering why God has turned His back on this nation. And then in verse 17, people claim they are being faithful, and have not forgotten God. But is that true?

And finally, in verse 23, the psalmist, on behalf of the people, is calling God to wake up and remember them. But I can’t help but wonder if people today need to wake up and remember God; to wake up and remember what they have heard with their ears from their fathers, to wake and remember who they are and whose they are.

So maybe the prayer is not for God to heal this nation, in the sense of taking away conflict and hate. Maybe the prayer needs to be for renewed hearts, hearts of stone being replaced with hearts of flesh. Maybe the prayer is that people would humble themselves and thus cry out in faith, “Rise up, come to our help! Redeem us for the sake of your steadfast love!” A steadfast love that God has shown through Jesus Christ.

Yes, let us pray that prayer.

LET US PRAY: Father God, this world is messed up. We want a good life, one free of conflict, disease, hate, fighting and division. We want peace and harmony, but often we are not willing to humble ourselves and admit that we are the problem. So instead of looking inside, we look outside and point our fingers at others. Father God, send Your Holy Spirit to convict hearts and turn Your children back to You. Renew hearts to see You for who You are and to know Your love, grace and mercy in Jesus Christ. Bring healing to this nation but God, would You please begin with me. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Monday devotions ~ Psalm 43

/ The Pastor

Have you ever been driving during a dark, moonless night on a lonely highway and shut off your headlights for a moment? Of course not, that would be silly and extremely dangerous. Now imagine doing that on a curvy mountain road with no guard rail – once again, dangerous and stupid. When it is dark, we need light. No one can possibly think it is wise to drive at night without light. In the same way, we need light to make our way through this life…

3 Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling! 

The psalmist here knows the dangers of maneuvering in the dark without light. And no, he is not talking about driving in the dark in northern Iowa. The psalmist is talking about reaching his desired destination through a dark world. And what is his destination? His destination is “your holy hill” (vs 3). This is a clear reference to Jerusalem, but more specifically the temple, the dwelling place of God. The psalmist asks for guidance “because of the opposition of the enemy.” (vs 2), the source of his mourning. The psalmist knows that the only way through this life is by the light of God’s Word. And of course, that brings to mind a great song.

Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path
Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path
When I feel afraid
Think I’ve lost my way
Still you’re there right beside me
And nothing will I fear
As long as you are near
Please be near me to the end

Our destination is not literally the temple in Jerusalem, but we are heading to the dwelling place of God. And, like the psalmist, we have opposition, which is often a source of mourning for many. And again like the psalmist, we cry out, “Send out your light and truth; let them lead me” You see, you will never get to God on your own. You need His light to show the Way. The world will never lead you to God, only God can do that, and He has done that through His Son, Jesus, the Light of the Word and, the Way and the TRUTH and the life. Jesus was sent as the light and the truth to save sinners, YOU, and bring them/you back to God. And once there…

4 Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy, and I will praise you with the lyre, O God, my God.

Yes, we will praise our God, forever.

LET US PRAY: Father God, You have shown me the way to You through Jesus, the way, the truth and the life. Light my path and grant me the faith to faithfully follow that light, and not seek the darkness. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Saturday devotions ~ Psalm 42

/ The Pastor

I was driving the kids home last night from a spur of the moment ice cream run. As we left Forest City to head home, my daughter started to complain that she was thirsty. “Then drink some water”, I said. But she did not bring her water bottle as we have instructed our kids over and over. I said, “Well, you are going to have to wait. We’ll be home in about 20 to 25 minutes.” But that was not good enough. More complaining ensued, as one would think she was dying of thirst.

And thirst is something that demands your attention. It is hard to ignore. Try as I may, if I am thirsty while lying in bed at night, I am not going to fall asleep. I must deal with that thirst NOW. The psalmist, in like manner, is panting for the living water that is God. He longs for His Word. He desires, with all His being, to be in the presence of God. He feels separated from God and does not like that separation. Like a parched mouth, the psalmist wants to be refreshed. It feels that if he does not receive those “flowing steams” (vs 1) he will die (which is true) But he still clings to hope…

11 Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God. 

In dry moments of your life, instead of wallowing in your dryness, drink in the Word of God. Drink and drink, and be refreshed. Be reminded of God’s promises in Jesus Christ FOR YOU. Read about His victory over Satan, sin and death through Jesus’ death and resurrection FOR YOU. See the many moments of God’s faithfulness, and know that that faithfulness, FOR YOU, will never end. Meditate on the grace and love of God, FOR YOU, and be reminded of when the Holy Spirit first began to flow in and through you. It is a river that is unceasing, never to dry up. Feeling refreshed yet? Then drink this in…

13 Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
(John 4:13-14).

LET US PRAY: Loving God, I long for refreshment and for my thirsty soul to have more of You. This world has nothing for me that can last, and thus I long to drink Your Word, for only Jesus is Living Water. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Friday devotions ~ Psalm 41

/ The Pastor

This is the final Psalm in what is called Book 1. And again we have an individual lament, but it takes on a little different flavor. Verses 1 – 3 talk about the blessedness of serving the poor, and it appears the psalmist has done that, yet he is suffering in some way due to his sin. Enemies see his plight and “utter empty words” (vs 6), whispering among themselves and imagining the worst for him (vs 7). In verses 8 – 10, his enemies have all kinds of theories about why this is happening to him, but the psalmist still delights in the Lord. What an incredible faith.

But there are a couple things that ring loud in this Psalm. First, no amount of good works will cover your sin. You can be the greatest saint in the world, doing all kinds of good works (like helping the poor) but even that will not excuse one little sin. It is only by the mercy of God, His grace through faith in Jesus Christ, that forgives sin. I sometimes forget that and say things like, “Well, I preach and teach God’s Word to people. That has to count for something.” Well, it does not when it comes to sin. Once again, it is all grace.

And secondly, what others say about you is not what defines you. What defines you is what God says about you. Let your enemies say all they want about your life. You show them who has your life by how you live and respond to adversity. If you know Jesus then you know the truth and the Truth. Do not let outsiders decide your truth. YOU tell them the truth and be at peace about whose you are.

12 But you have upheld me because of my integrity, and set me in your presence forever. 
13 Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting! 
Amen and Amen.

LET US PRAY: I praise You, O God, for Your awesome grace and mercy, and I confess that I sometimes try to take matters into my own hands. Remind me of the truth and convict my heart. May Jesus ever be before me as a witness to others. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Thursday devotions ~ Psalm 40

/ The Pastor / 1 Comment

In reading Psalm 40, this poem took a life of it’s own. I love it when the Spirit takes hold and does something like this. To God be ALL glory.

I waited for the Lord,
and he heard my cry.
I waited for the Lord,
in Him I do rely.

He raised me up.
He established my feet.
He set me secure.
He makes me complete.

O blessed is the one,
who trusts in the Lord.
My heart he does hold,
and Him I so adore.

That’s why,

I wait for the Lord,
for he’s always true.
I wait for the Lord,
O please let me review.

The Lord is so awesome.
And He is mighty too.
The Lord is so faithful.
He makes all things new.

So wait for the Lord.
Wait ever patiently.
For the Lord will give you,
oh so abundantly.

LET US PRAY: Redeemer God, You have put a New Song in my heart as You have redeemed this sinner. You have given me peace through Jesus’ death on the cross for the forgiveness of my sins. You have given me hope through Jesus’ resurrection, that I too may be raised to New Life. And so, I wait for You, anxiously, I wait for You. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Wednesday devotions ~ Psalm 39

/ The Pastor

Another individual lament but here we have the psalmist seeking to hold his tongue. There is some sort of suffering going on as we saw in the previous Psalm. It also appears that, once again, the reason for the suffering is due to some sin (vs 7-8). And so the psalmist calls out in faith and confesses his sins, placing his trust in the Lord.

But verse 1 – 3 are of interest to me here. Consider again what he says, “I said, I will guard my ways, that I may not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth with a muzzle, so long as the wicked are in my presence.” The psalmist wants to speak out but not before his enemies lest he dishonor the Lord by saying something that they would take the wrong way. Even in his suffering the psalmist is concerned about God’s glory. He goes on to say in verse 2 that he kept silent but eventually he could not hold it in, “My heart became hot within me. As I mused, the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue:” And then he speaks to the Lord, not in the presence of his enemies.

I have said time and again that God can handle your lamenting. He can handle your crying out to Him. God can handle your questions and frustrations. But what we learn here is the timing and who you are with. When you are with those who do not know God, your lamenting appears unfaithful and an attack upon God. It in no way brings God glory. But when you are with brothers and sisters in Christ, they can lament with you and pray over you. They understand because they have been there. They know the Lord and thus they also seek to glorify Him.

Be careful in whose presence you’re in when you lament. Remain mute and silent in the presence of outsiders, but lament with your brothers and sisters that they may lift you up and glorify God.

LET US PRAY: Father God, many a time I want to speak out and lament to You. Grant me discernment that I may not bring dishonor to Your name but rather glorify You through my suffering. And, when others in my church family are suffering, may I not desert them but rather be a holy sounding board for them. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Combine Ride

/ The Pastor

The following is my most recent addition to the Buffalo Center Tribune. To God be ALL glory!

I went for a combine ride last week. [Yawn] – that is what I can hear many of you doing right now, along with saying, “Big deal”. Well for me it was a big deal, for this was my first time in a combine. That’s right, I’m fifty years old and grew up in a small farming town in west central Minnesota, but I had never ridden in a combine. I have seen my share of farm machinery in action. I have spoken with and know my share of farmers. I have heard the stories. I am acquainted with the ebbs and flows of the farming community. Rural life is not foreign to me, just the actual riding of the equipment, but now I have gotten a sip. And that sip was enough to fill me with awe. It was not just the fancy combine that literally drove itself, or that fancy tech that knows where we’ve been and what needs to be completed, along with moisture percentages and yield rates. What captivated me was listening to my “chauffer” talk about his passion for farming. I saw and heard his joy for this vocation. He loves his job. And there are so many people out there that just do not understand who farmers are, what they do and what they mean for all of us. I am not saying that I fully understand now; that I could drop my current vocation and become a farmer tomorrow, but with that sip I received last week, I am motivated even more than ever to share the awe that I experienced and learn more myself.


But there is something else that I have sipped that has filled me with more awe – something I want to share with you now.


Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good!
Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
Oh, fear the LORD, you his saints,
for those who fear him have no lack!
The young lions suffer want and hunger;
but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.
[Psalm 34:8-10]


You see, just one little taste or sip of the grace of God through Jesus Christ, will open your eyes to a kingdom that is beyond words. It will reveal an awe that will blow you away. Just one little taste and one little look will change you forever. Try it, you will not regret it. For you see, just as one short ride in a combine showed me a brand-new world; giving me a desire to learn more, tasting and seeing God’s grace for sinners will change you or enliven you. It will fill you with awe and give you an appetite to taste more.


And so, taste and see that the Lord is Good. Taste and see and be reminded. Taste and see a brand-new life. Taste and see and know you are and will always be loved. Taste and see and be forever filled. To God be the glory through Jesus Christ. Amen.

Guided Prayer for Churches

/ The Pastor

The following is my Sunday article for The News Tribune (Tacoma). To God be the glory!

I was recently asked to record a guided prayer devotion focused on churches planning on resuming in-person or on-site worship. So, I include this devotion here, and ask you to join me in praying. Churches are faced with many challenges today and leaders need to make difficult decisions. May God be glorified as we seek to faithfully follow Him. In Jesus name, let us pray…

Father God,
Awesome and mighty,
Always creating – always reforming.
Create in us clean hearts, oh God, and renew in us a right spirit.
For we acknowledge that we have fallen short of Your glory.
We have become anxious.
We have not always sought You.
At times, we have let this virus divide us and lead us into fear.
Cast out our fears with Your perfect love.
Heal our divisions with the peace that surpasses all understanding.
Revive Your Church, so we may more fully fix our gaze upon You, and You alone – that we may worship You rightly and that our in-person gatherings may not be for selfish reasons, but for the glory of Your holy name.
This virus seemingly has torn the Church apart, but we know that is not true.
Whatever the reasons we are going through this time, one thing is clear – You are sovereign, even over this virus.
We may never look the same again, but that is okay, for You are God, and You are in control. And so,
Reform us.
Revive us.
Remake us.
Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

[Read Psalm 119:8-24]
[Pause to Meditate]

Holy God,
Father and Creator,
You are worthy of all our worship.
You are worthy of all praise.
You are the source of all wisdom and understanding.
You are the great I Am.
And so, teach us, oh God, that we may delight in Your precepts, for we seek to glorify You, and You alone, for salvation is from You through Christ Jesus our Lord. Give wisdom to Your Church as we navigate these waters known only by You. Lead us as we seek togetherness – as we seek to magnify our worship of You. You have held us together and will never let us go.
Oh God, holy and awesome, we praise You.
We love You.
We adore You.
And we want to know You better.

And now, oh God, hear us as we pray the prayer Jesus has taught us…

[Pray the Lord’s Prayer]

Pray, pray and pray some more.
To God be the glory, always and forever, Amen

My Shepherd

/ The Pastor

The following poem was birthed this past week through a devotion I recorded on YouTube. It was part of a larger series called, The Wednesday Word that I do every Wednesday at 6:45 AM (PST). I was talking about the word “meditate” — more specifically, meditating on God’s Word. I led people through a meditation exercise on Psalm 23:1 and encouraged them to spend some time in that verse. As I followed my own advice that day, the Spirit started to bring this poem to life. It now breathes and thus I present it to you now. To God be the glory!

The Lord is my Shepherd,
I shall not want.
So why shall I worry?
For I am in His flock.

He leads me in green places,
And by waters still.
So why shall I worry?
He is always my fill.

He doth restore my soul,
in righteousness.
So why shall I worry?
My life is not a mess.

Dark valleys I walk in,
evil around.
But I will not worry.
In Him I’m safe and sound.

My table is prepared,
with enemies near,
But I will not worry.
My anointing is clear.

His goodness and mercy,
will follow me,
all the days of my life,
and with Him I will be.