Empowering People

The week Pastor Travis continues through the book of Luke. We are currently in chapter 7.

Psalm 46 was Luther's favorite Psalm because it's a Psalm envisioning the very worst of dangers surrounding and yet refuge being found in a fortress who is God. Luther was at the center of a great upheaval and controversy of the 1500's because he challenged the greatest political power of the time, the Holy Roman Empire.

Psalms 42 and 43 seem to be written by someone depressed or despondent over their life situation. They have gone from a life they really loved to one they don't love. They feel forgotten, lost, overwhelmed and sad and so they question themselves and they question if God has forgotten them. What do you do when you feel downcast?

David beautifully leads us in worship in Psalm 34, but you must know the context of his situation as he wrote it. 1 Sam 21 explains the situation - he is cut off from everything he had valued and counted upon; he is alone and running for his life. But after an act of desperation, he finds himself, alone in a Cave and he worships.

This morning Pastor Travis continues in his series on Luke.

Psalm 33 is a call to worship God. It's a call to "the righteous" as well as "all the inhabitants of the world" to engage in a focused response to who God is and what he has done. Today we'll look at this call (at least the first 9 verses) and ask ourselves if worship is optional for us.

Monday morning's devotional comes from Romans 15:8-24.

David, the writer of Psalm 16, looks at his portion, his cupful, his allotment, his boundary lines and declares it pleasant and beautiful. His attitude is positive contentment which makes him willing to follow the LORD. What happens when we see our share in life as not enough or less than beautiful?

This morning we look at going deeper with Christ. Luke 6:46-49.

Monday morning's devotional comes from Romans 15:1-7.

I think Psalm 141 can help us understand how to pray that line from the Lord's prayer: "Lead me not into temptation, but deliver me from evil". We can add this kind of prayer to our regular daily prayers.

Psalm 5 reminds us of how not to approach God and conversely, how to pray. This is a morning song; it's the thoughts and words of a person coming before God with heartfelt concern every morning.

Monday morning's devotional comes from Romans 14.

If the Creator has intentionally placed humanity on earth what is his purpose for that and what is our significance? David in Psalm 8 has considered this question and seen not only the greatness of the Creator but the blessings the Creator endowed to mankind. He asks why, Almighty God, do you care about us?

Thursday morning's devotional comes from Romans 13:8-14.

Psalm 139 is David's response to what he knows about God; that God is omnipresent and omniscient. When you personalize this revelation about God's attributes it changes how you think about yourself and your life path.

Please join Michelle for a devotional.

Psalm 24 was one of the Psalms or Songs of Ascent sung by the people of Israel as they approached Jerusalem for feasts like Passover. The Song was written by David probably in anticipation of the arrival of the Ark of the Covenant. It asks: Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD? And who shall stand in his holy place?

Pastor Travis continues his series through the book of Luke. We are in Luke 6:43-45.