Category Archives: encouragement

Optimism; October 14, 2024


Psalm 105:43 He brought out his people with rejoicing,    his chosen ones with shouts of joy. This Psalm is another one of many that recount the history of Israel, but in contrast to some of the others, it focuses entirely on … Continue reading

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The Creator; October 13, 2024


Psalm 104:13 He waters the mountains from his upper chambers;    the land is satisfied by the fruit of his work. This Psalm is a paean to God for the wonders of the natural world. It shows what today would be called a … Continue reading

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God’s Sovereignty; October 12, 2024


Psalm 97:1 The Lord reigns, let the earth be glad;    let the distant shores rejoice. This Psalm, specifically verses 1, 3, 5, and 8, was set to music in the early days of the Charismatic Movement. Some of the other verses are echoed in other … Continue reading

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Correction; October 11, 2024


Psalm 94:12 Blessed is the one you discipline, Lord,    the one you teach from your law. In verse 1, the ESV calls God, “God of vengeance.” That kind of hit me in the face, but it agrees perfectly with the Japanese. We tend … Continue reading

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Lifespan; October 10, 2024


Psalm 90:12 Teach us to number our days,    that we may gain a heart of wisdom. The first two lines of verse 10 are famous, referring to 70 or 80 years as a normal lifespan, but the point of it all … Continue reading

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Being Used by God; October 9, 2024


Psalm 89:1 I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever;    with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known    through all generations. I literally cannot read this verse without the musical arrangement of it running through my heart and mind. We don’t know … Continue reading

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Teaching History; October 8, 2024


Psalm 78:4 We will not hide them from their descendants;    we will tell the next generationthe praiseworthy deeds of the Lord,    his power, and the wonders he has done. This whole chapter is focused on communicating the history of Israel to succeeding generations. This is … Continue reading

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The Fear of the Lord; October 7, 2024


Psalm 76:7 It is you alone who are to be feared.    Who can stand before you when you are angry? The world has forgotten the fear of the Lord. By dismissing such things as hurricane and earthquakes as “strictly natural,” the world … Continue reading

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Keeping God Central; October 6, 2024


Psalm 67:1-2 May God be gracious to us and bless us    and make his face shine on us—so that your ways may be known on earth,    your salvation among all nations. My first thought, on reading this, was that this is indeed the … Continue reading

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Perspective; October 5, 2024


Psalm 56:3-4 When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.    In God, whose word I praise—in God I trust and am not afraid.    What can mere mortals do to me? A particular turn of phrase in the Japanese catches my attention … Continue reading

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