This article was written for and published on StoryWarren.com. Samwise had climbed too many stairs with Shagrat drooling on his heels. He’d blasted through Cirith Ungol’s gates with Galadriel’s light. He’d searched every black corner for Frodo, and now, his master was a tower trapdoor out of reach. So Sam sang nursery rhymes into Mordor. … Continue reading The Song that was Sharper than Sting
March 15 The world is bleeding, your sin makes you groan, you’re restless for the Day when Jesus renews all things. Maybe “Your kingdom come” is a prayer you’ve adopted. I mentioned last week that I’ve been thinking more about the kingdom and praying for it to come soon. But my study of Psalm 119 … Continue reading Part Two: Why Do You Pray These Three Words?
January 12 Christopher Ash is a wise man and his commentary on Psalm 119 is opening my eyes to behold wondrous things out of God’s law. He writes: “We need to come to scripture on our knees, praying, ‘Lord, teach me, teach me, teach me.’”[i] Ash has introduced me to a weak yet Word-hungry psalmist: … Continue reading “Teach Me, Teach Me, Teach Me”
November 3 My friends and I know we need Jesus. We're broken people, seeking renewal in him. That’s why I love Wednesday night prayer meeting. It’s real, raw, sometimes painful. We share where God has us, why it hurts, and how deeply we need Jesus to refresh our hearts. Last Wednesday, my friends and I … Continue reading Pray for Renewal, Then Revival
September 8 Eugene Peterson is a master with words and this week, I’ve been enjoying his modern interpretation of the Psalms. It’s an honest, fearless, worshipful message inspired by Scripture’s truth: God, my God, I yelled for help And you put me together. God, you pulled me out of the grave, Gave me another chance … Continue reading Psalm 30 (In Modern Language)
July 14 It's been a good, busy, eventful, emotional week. I'm resting this Sunday afternoon and hope you are too. Ask God to refresh you today as you read this beautiful Psalm. Psalm 145 I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever. 2 Every day I will bless … Continue reading Psalm 145
July 7 My read-through-the-Bible plan strings Scriptures together in eye-opening ways. On the morning I finished 2 Kings, I read about Paul's troubles with the Jerusalem Sanhedrin (Acts 23). In one testament kings rebelled, battled, and laid siege to the next nation. A millennium later, Paul wrestled Jerusalem's priests in a dispute over his message. … Continue reading Kings and Priests and Psalm 2 (+ Blog News)
June 23 The Psalmist paints with powerful metaphors. He calls God a Rock. But until two weeks ago, that comparison did little to move me. Then we crossed the border and watched Colorado peaks rise from the plains. The mountains traveled with us, ridged with veins of snow. They encompassed us and astounded us and … Continue reading God My Rock
I’ve always had a thing for sunshine. It’s the reason summer is my favorite season. The sun doesn’t just supply light; it warms my bones and gladdens my soul. I tend to feel more spiritually alive on days when the sun is bright and the sky is blue. Maybe you’re the same way. Maybe sunshine … Continue reading Is Your Joy Flimsy?
March 24 I was convicted last week to pray more for my church body. I forget how critical and beautiful it is “when brothers dwell in unity” (Ps. 133:1). Psalm 133 goes on to depict this unity with two similes: Anointing oil dripping down Aaron’s beard, and sweet dew on the mountains of Zion. At … Continue reading Strange Similes and Church Unity
