Monthly Archives: July 2025

God’s Word; July 10, 2025

Posted on July 11, 2025 by jgarrott

Psalm 107:20 He sent out his word and healed them;    he rescued them from the grave. I use this same devotional format in an online Bible study I do every week with a pastor friend in Northern Japan. We have been working steadily … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian, encouragement, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ancestral Sin; July 9, 2025

Posted on July 10, 2025 by jgarrott

Psalm 106:6 We have sinned, even as our ancestors did;    we have done wrong and acted wickedly. Awareness of sin is a strange thing. Some actions jump out at us, in our own lives or in the lives of those around us, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian, encouragement, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

God’s Faithfulness; July 8, 2025

Posted on July 9, 2025 by jgarrott

Psalm 105:43 He brought out his people with rejoicing,    his chosen ones with shouts of joy. I learned a musical setting for the passage that includes this verse around 45 years ago, and I can’t read it without that song running … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian, encouragement, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Language; July 7, 2025

Posted on July 8, 2025 by jgarrott

Psalm 105:3 Glory in his holy name;    let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. The first thing I noticed in reading this passage was that verses 8-11 completely settle the question of who the land of Israel belongs to. However, … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian, encouragement, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Music; July 6, 2025

Posted on July 7, 2025 by jgarrott

Psalm 104:33-34 I will sing to the Lord all my life;    I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.May my meditation be pleasing to him,    as I rejoice in the Lord. I can’t read this passage without singing it, at least in my … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian, encouragement, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Accountability; July 5, 2025

Posted on July 6, 2025 by jgarrott

Psalm 100:3 Know that the Lord is God.    It is he who made us, and we are his;    we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. This is absolutely essential to every human being, yet we all too often ignore part or even all of … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian, encouragement, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Salvation; July 4, 2025

Posted on July 5, 2025 by jgarrott

Psalm 98:1-2 Sing to the Lord a new song,    for he has done marvelous things;his right hand and his holy arm    have worked salvation for him.The Lord has made his salvation known    and revealed his righteousness to the nations. We tend to have many different definitions of salvation. In Japanese, … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian, encouragement, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Light; July 3, 2025

Posted on July 4, 2025 by jgarrott

Psalm 97:11-12 Light shines (is sown) on the righteous    and joy on the upright in heart.Rejoice in the Lord, you who are righteous,    and praise his holy name. The first part of this Psalm has been set to music that is even now echoing in … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian, encouragement, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Absolute Truth; July 2, 2025

Posted on July 3, 2025 by jgarrott

Psalm 96:5 For all the gods of the nations are idols,    but the Lord made the heavens. There are many musical settings to various parts of this Psalm, which is very appropriate when it talks so much about singing! This anonymous Psalmist had … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian, encouragement, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Belonging; July 1, 2025

Posted on July 2, 2025 by jgarrott

Psalm 95:6-7 Come, let us bow down in worship,    let us kneel before the Lord our Maker;for he is our God    and we are the people of his pasture,    the flock under his care. This Psalm is certainly proof that verse divisions were added long after the … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian, encouragement, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment