That You May Know

 May 13, 2026

 Luke 1:1–4

1 Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. 3 With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

Luke begins his Gospel with research.

He explains that he carefully investigated events, listened to eyewitnesses, and organized his account so that readers could “know the certainty” of what they had been taught. Luke writes more like a careful historian seeking to preserve truth than a creator of unverifiable folk tales or myths.

That matters.

The Biblical story is not buil on ideas or feelings. It is rooted in real people, real places, and real events. The Bible doesn’t ask us to turn off our minds or "check our brains at the door." Again and again, Scripture invites examination, memory, testimony, and witness.

Luke's gospel shows an understanding that faith and truth go hand in hand.

I think most of us have reasons for the things we trust. Pause for a moment and consider this: who or what do you trust?

Maybe it’s people who remain consistent through the years.
Maybe it’s stories that can withstand honest questions.
Maybe it’s the voices that ring with sincerity instead of deception.

Trust is rarely built in an instant. It grows slowly, over time, as something proves itself dependable, truthful, and reliable again and again.

The same is true spiritually.

You see, faith is not the absence of questions, nor is it pretending to have every answer. I have heard it said that "faith begins with enough truth and evidence to keep searching." Luke wrote his Gospel for people who were uncertain, inviting them to examine the story for themselves. Luke wanted his readers to understand that the Jesus story was not a legend, but a faith rooted in the testimony of those who personally saw, heard, and encountered Jesus. We hear this in the opening lines of the Gospel.

Maybe you carry questions about faith. Perhaps there are parts of the Bible that still seem difficult, confusing, or unfamiliar. Luke reminds us that questions are not the opposite of faith, they can actually become part of  what leads to a deeper trust.

God is not threatened by sincere searching.

Reflect

What makes something feel trustworthy to you?

How might those same qualities shape the way you approach faith?

Real People, Real Struggle

Real People, Real Struggles

 May 12, 2026

Psalm 13

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

1 

How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
2 How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
and day after day have sorrow in my heart?
How long will my enemy triumph over me?
3 Look on me and answer, Lord my God.
Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death,
4 and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,”
and my foes will rejoice when I fall.
5 But I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation.
6 I will sing the Lord’s praise,
for he has been good to me.

In the Bible, we find people who are exhausted, afraid, confused, angry, and heartbroken. We find prayers filled with questions. We find moments where people wonder where God is and why life feels so difficult, unfair and heavy.

Psalm 13, the reading above, is one "honest" prayer. David cries out, “How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?” Take notice that He doesn’t hide his frustration or pretend everything is fine. He brings his pain directly to God.

Honesty is important. The Bible acknowledges human struggle and gives it a voice. Faith is not the absence of doubt, but the choice to bring genuine thoughts and emotions to God, even when clear answers are not at hand.

What a discovery we make, when through the presence of prayers like Psalm 13, we learn that God welcomes such honesty. God is not intimidated by such truthfulness, God invites it. 

A Question 

Does it surprise you that the Bible includes complaints, doubts, and raw prayers like Psalm 13?

More Than a BOOK

More Than a BOOK

 May 11, 2026

THIS WEEK'S QUESTION

Can the Bible be Trusted?

2 Timothy 3:16

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, 

rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.”

 

When people mention “the Bible,” it might seem like they’re talking about a single book written at one point in time by one author. In reality, the Bible is more like a library, filled with poetry, history, letters, prophecy, wisdom, biographies, songs, and personal stories, all written over centuries by many different people.

The Bible's diversity can make it hard to understand at first. Some passages are beautiful and comforting. Other parts of the Bible can be confusing, emotionally triggering, or difficult to comprehend. Yet even with all its variety of writers, genres and historical periods and social settings, the Bible tells one unfolding story: humanity's search for God, the outcome of this search is the discovery that in reality God, the Creator God, is continually searching and reaching toward humanity.

The truthfulness of the Bible is one reason many people trust the Bible. For within its pages, the Bible doesn’t hide human weakness. Even if this week you were to read the very first book in the Bible's library, Genesis, you will find its pages are filled with doubters, failures, broken families, fearful leaders, and ordinary people trying to follow God imperfectly. One of the things that stands out in reading the Bible is that it is so spiritually honest. It doesn’t pretend life is simple.

And maybe that’s part of why it still connects with people today.

The Bible is not just a collection of rules, (although some treat it as though it is), the bible is not just a collection of  inspirational sayings either. Christians see it as a living story where God continues to speak, teach, challenge, comfort, and invite people into a relationship with Him.

I want to conclude today by saying, you do not have to grasp every detail of the Bible right away to start reading and exploring its story. Like any library, understanding comes little by little, and curiosity is where the journey begins. So, let's be curious!!

Reflection

What part of the Bible feels most unfamiliar, confusing, or intimidating to you right now?

 

A God Who Comes Close

 May 8, 2026

John 1:14

“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.”

Many people begin their spiritual journey not with certainty, but with curiosity. This week we have explored the different ways people first sense God’s presence, through longing, beauty, conscience, and personal experience. We hit on the following key points:

Our desire for “more” points toward the God who made us.

Many people first sense God through the beauty and design of the world around them.

Our inner sense of right and wrong hints at a God who cares about justice and goodness.

God often meets people through personal experiences that awaken curiosity.

We conclude our week with A God Who Comes Close.

The Bible claims something astonishing: God didn’t stay distant, He stepped into our world in Jesus. John 1:14 says the Word “became flesh.” The message of today’s verse says, if God is real, then God is not far away; God is near, knowable, and willing to be found, closer than we even think.

Faith isn’t about avoiding reality or striving harder to reach God, but about noticing that God is already here with us. Christianity is about a God who lives among us, not at a distance.

The belief that God came down to us reminds us that the Creator entered into ordinary life, into human weakness, suffering, relationships, grief, exhaustion, joy, and struggle.

Jesus knew that experience:
To feel grief.
To experience rejection.
To grow tired.
To sit at tables with ordinary people.
To laugh with friends.
To weep at loss.

And maybe that’s what people still find compelling about Jesus, even when they aren’t sure what they believe. There’s something deeply human about Him. The way He notices people.
The way He listens. The way He treats people with dignity.
The way He makes room for questions and failures and second chances.

John says God “made His dwelling among us.” Among us!!  

Which means the heart of Christianity is the story of a God who comes near.

Let's Pray

God,

You’re not afraid of our questions.
You’re not put off by our doubts.
Meet us in what we don’t understand.
And help us see You more clearly—
not just in answers,
but in Jesus.
Amen.

CLOSE ENCOUNTERS

CLOSE ENCOUNTERS

 May 7, 2026

We continue our "Is God for REAL" journey today. 

Acts 17:27

“He is not far from any one of us.”

Most people expect encounters with God to be dramatic, a booming voice, a life-changing moment, a perfectly clear sign like handwriting on a wall or in the sky.

But the reality is that many stories of faith, of encounter with God, have much smaller beginnings.

A conversation they almost avoided.
An invitation they nearly ignored.
A moment of peace in a trying season of life.

In Acts 17, Paul speaks to people full of questions and searching, and he tells them something remarkable:

“He (GOD) is not far from any one of us.”

In other words, God is not distant from seekers, doubters, or those still figuring things out. So often, in the Bible and in life as we know it, God often moves toward people long before they fully recognize it.

I would imagine that in your life, when you look back and remember events, you can point to moments that suddenly seem meaningful. Maybe an unexpected change in direction, or meeting the right person at the right timewho had the right words, hearing a song, a verse, or holding a conversation with someone that landed deeper than you would have ever have expected.

Don't we sometimes begin to wonder:

What if God has been nearer than I realized?

In my experience listening to the stories of people, I find that many journeys of faith do not begin with certainty. They begin with curiosity. With a sudden stop, and paying attention to things around them. By asking a question, like  “What if this isn’t random?”

Maybe God does speak at times through dramatic signs, but more often than not, God communicates his presence through quiet invitations: to forgive, to hope, to reach out, to take one small step toward Him.

Acts 17 reminds us that God is not far away from any of us, seekers, doubters, who are trying to make sense of our place in this world.

Something to Think About

Have you ever experienced a moment, conversation, or quiet “nudge” that later felt more meaningful than you first realized?

THE VOICE OF CONSCIENCE

 May 6, 2026

The devotions over the next few days are based on a rough outline of thoughts for a Sermon series that I have never completed or attempted to preach. It's based on thoughts I have had or questions I have been asked. My prayer is that these reflections will speak to you, and bring some challenge and clarity to your spiritual journey.

Romans 2:14–15

"They show that the requirements of the law

are written on their hearts,

their consciences also bearing witness…”

This week we have been attempting to address the question “Is God Real?” In  Acts 17:22–28 the apostle Paul in Athens spoke saying to his listeners God is Real, closer than you think. God is not hiding, He leaves fingerprints everywhere for those willing to look.

Inside every person is a quiet voice that nudges, warns, and sometimes demands to be heard. We call it the conscience. It’s that inner sense we all have that tells us some things in life are good and worth chasing, while other choices are wrong and would be best avoided. I am sure you know what I'm talking about. It’s that feeling that rises inside us when we’ve hurt someone, the urge we feel to speak up, apologize, forgive, or show kindness.

Here is what I find rather fascinating, that this inner moral awareness isn’t limited to one culture, religion, or time period. Across the world, people who have never met, still share a basic sense of right and wrong. While the specifics may vary, there is something that stands out as universal about this.

So, the question we might want to ask is, if this push or pull toward right and wrong is so wide ranging, Where does that come from?

In the New Testament in Romans 2 it says something profound: God has written His law—not on tablets, not on scrolls, not on monuments—but on the human heart. In other words, the suggestion fromthe book of Roamns is that our moral compass is not an "accident"of evolution or a product of "social conditioning". It is a gift. A signature. A whisper from the One who made us.

Consider what I am suggestion in ths way:

Why do we instinctively value honesty?
Why do we feel guilty when we betray trust?
Why do we admire courage and selflessness?
Why do we draw back or recoil at cruelty or injustice?

I believe, these reactions result from something deeper than our personal preferences, they originate from an inner sense that we are made for goodness. Think of it, even when we fall short of embodying goodness, we still recognize that in some way or other we missed the mark, and feel we can do better.

I have heard it said, 

"that our conscience is like a spiritual nerve ending. When we move toward what is good, it resonates. When we move away from it, it aches. And that ache is not meant to shame us, it’s meant to guide us."

I know someone may be thinking, "wait a moment, the voice of conscience can be shaped, dulled, ignored, or distorted." Yes, it is not perfect. But I wonder, if its very existence points to something beyond ourselves. Might it hint that goodness, honesty and intregrity are not some human invention but rather a reflection of a God who cares about justice, compassion, truth, and love.

The beautiful part: the same God who "wrote His law on our hearts" also offers grace when we fall short of goodness. The way I see it is that conscience reveals our need. Grace reveals God’s heart.

Do you suppose it is possible when we feel that inner tug, when something inside of us says, this matters… this is right… this is wrong… this is who you were meant to be, that we are dealing with something or someone far beyond psychological study and thought?  What if all this activity we call conscience, might in reality be the gentle voice of the One who formed you, wrote his law on your hearts, and is calling you and me toward the life we  were created to live.

Something to Think About

Where do you think our sense of right and wrong comes from, and how have you experienced that inner voice in your own life?

Let's Pray

God,
You’re not afraid of our questions.
You’re not put off by our doubts.
Meet us in what we don’t understand.
And help us see You more clearly—
not just in answers,
but in Jesus.
Amen.

I Wonder as I Wonder ....

May 5, 2026

The devotions over the next few days are based on a rough outline of thoughts for a Sermon series that I have never completed or attempted to preach. It's based on thoughts I have had or questions I have been asked. My prayer is that these reflections will speak to you, and bring some challenge and clarity to your spiritual journey.

Psalm 19:1

“The heavens declare the glory of God; 

the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” 

Have you ever had one of those moments where something in nature just… stops you?

Like a sunset that doesn’t even look real.
Or a night sky so full of stars it feels bigger than you know how to process.
The sound of waves crashing into the shoreline.
The stillness of a quiet morning with only the happy sound of a birdsong.
Even something small, like the detail in a leaf or the way a bird just takes off into the air.

The amazing miracle of placing some seeds, or bulbs into the ground and watching life unfold before you very eyes.

There is something about those moments. 
You don’t just see them… you feel them.
In that moment, that act of "seeing", perhaps it's only for a second, but have you noticed how everything slows down at that experience?

Even people who aren’t sure what they believe about God will sometimes say things like,
“That felt… meaningful.”
Or, “I don’t know why, but that moment stayed with me.”

It’s like something deep within us recognizes the beauty and life around us, yet we are left without the words, or a way to fully explain the moment. 

Above, that line from Psalm 19 says that creation is actually speaking. Not with words. Not in a way you can measure or prove. But in a quieter way. As a friend put it to me, it is "more like a nudge than a shout."

And maybe that’s why moments like that matter. Because beauty has a way of waking us up a little. The order or the world around us that is clearly noticable has a way of steadying us. And those moments of wonder, open something deep within us. Perhaps these experiences are not trying to make us believe anything, but just sparking our curiosity.

I sometimes ask in wonder: 
Why does beauty exist at all? Why do things like a sunset or sunrise, or birdsong, or autumn colors move us so deeply? And why does the world feel both vast and yet strangely near?

You know some people I have known have come to faith in God or the Creator through study or answering deep searching questions.

But a lot of people? A lot of people they start with wonder.
With a sense that maybe, there’s more going on than we can see.
That maybe the world isn’t just random.
That maybe what we’re feeling in those moments is an invitation.

Not pressure. Not certainty. Just… an invitation to pay attention and take notice.

If you have ever stood outside and felt small in a good way… say on a beach at midnight looking up into the stars above ....
or found peace near the waters edge …
or felt something shift or change in you during a quiet moment in nature… watching a hummingbird or the beauty and activity of the Monarch, maybe that wasn’t just a passing feeling.
Maybe it was a hint. That there’s more present around us than we usually notice.

What if that beauty that impacts us so deeply might not be accidental. That we all might be part of something bigger than we understand.

Psalm 19 says the heavens are declaring something.

The only question is: Are we slowing down enough to notice?

Something to Think About

When was the last time something in nature made you pause, stopped you in your tracks, and can you recall what it stirred in you?

Let's Pray

God,
You’re not afraid of our questions.
You’re not put off by our doubts.
Meet us in what we don’t understand.
And help us see You more clearly—
not just in answers,
but in Jesus.
Amen.

THE LONGING FOR “MORE”

May 4, 2026

The devotions over the next few days are based on a rough outline of thoughts for a Sermon series that I have never completed or attempted to preach. It's based on thoughts I have had or questions I have been asked. My prayer is that these reflections will speak to you, and bring some challenge and clarity to your spiritual journey.

 Ecclesiastes 3:11

“God has set eternity in the human heart…”  

 

Have you noticed that there seems to be a restlessness woven into the human experience, an ache that shows up in our quiet moments. Perhaps you have feelt it after the excitement of a big accomplishment wears off. Maybe, you have felt the ache in the middle of a busy week when everything looks fine on the outside but something inside of you whispers, Is this all there is? This ache, or longing, is felt when life slows down just long enough for our soul to speak.

All over the world, across every culture and generation, people talk about the same inner pull. We go after success, relationships, experiences, comfort, or distractions, hoping each new thing will finally ease the ache. It always comes back, like we’re chasing something we can sense but can’t quite put into words.

I believe, Ecclesiastes gives language to this experience: God has placed eternity in the human heart.  What our verse today is saying is that the longing you and I feel isn’t a sign that something is wrong with us, it’s a sign that something is right. We were made with a capacity for meaning that nothing temporary can fill.

I read recently that "This longing is not a flaw to fix. It’s a compass pointing home."

And this hunger is a sign of life.

If you feel that longing, if you’ve ever sensed that there must be more to life than what you can see or achieve, you are in good company. People across history have felt the same pull, ache, or longing. According to our Bible verse above, that longing is not an accident. It’s an invitation. Not an invitation to religion or pressure or performance. But an invitation to relationship.

A God who knows you.  A God who sees you. A God who planted eternity in your heart so that you would search for Him, and discover God has been searching and reaching for you.

The longing for “more” is a doorway to walk through.

Something to Think About

Where in your life do you sense a desire for something deeper, something more than what you’ve been settling for?

Let's Pray

God,
You’re not afraid of our questions.
You’re not put off by our doubts.
Meet us in what we don’t understand.
And help us see You more clearly—
not just in answers,
but in Jesus.
Amen.

SOUNDTRACK of the NEW CREATION

May 1, 2026

Psalm 150:6

"Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.”

We wrap up our week of “PRAISE” by revisiting Psalm 150, a verse that truly captures the Bible’s call to praise from start to finish. Praise flows like a constant thread through the whole biblical story, from the songs sung on the far side of the Red Sea to the vibrant worship around the throne in Revelation. God’s people have always responded to His presence with praise, the heartfelt language of a life awakened to Him.

We have noted this week that throughout the scriptures, in particular the Psalms, praise begins with naming God’s character: “The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.” When we praise with words like these we are telling the truth about our Creator God. Praise re‑anchors us in reality. In a world that constantly tries to shrink God down to our circumstances, praise expands our vision again. It reminds us that God is still sovereign, still faithful, still good.

Israel praised God after crossing the Red Sea. Mary praised Him when she learned she would carry the Messiah. The early church praised God even from prison cells. This week we said that praise is memory work, drawing God’s past faithfulness into the present moment.

In the Book of Acts in chapter 16 when Paul and Silas sang in the dark of a prison cell, their chains didn’t fall off because their voices were magical. Their praise, their "singing Psalms as Hymns to God" declared a deeper truth than the walls around them.

Praise trains our hearts to trust.

Praise shifts our attention from fear to faith.

Praise opens our hands so God can fill them again.

When we flip to the Bible's last book, Revelation gives us a beautiful glimpse of the future: every tribe, every language, every nation gathered around the Lamb. Praise is the "soundtrack" of God’s new creation.

When we praise now, we join the worship that never ends. We declare that the brokenness of this world will not have the final word.

Reflect

Where has God shown His faithfulness in your life this week?

What truth about God do you need to speak out loud again?

What fear or burden needs to be surrendered through praise?

Let's Pray

Lord, You are worthy of all praise. Lift our eyes to see Your goodness, steady our hearts to trust Your promises, and tune our voices to the song of heaven. Let our praise today shape our lives tomorrow. Amen.

Praise That Tells a Story

 Praise That Tells a Story

April 30, 2026

Psalm 40:1-3

1 I waited patiently for the Lord;

he turned to me and heard my cry.

2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit,

out of the mud and mire;

he set my feet on a rock

and gave me a firm place to stand.

3 He put a new song in my mouth,

a hymn of praise to our God.

Many will see and fear the Lord

and put their trust in him.

There is an act of praise that goes beyond singing, it tells a story.

In Psalm 40, David does not start with a command to praise. He starts with a memory.

“I waited patiently for the Lord… He turned to me and heard my cry.”

This is not abstract theology. This is lived experience.

David remembers what it was like to be stuck, describing it as a “pit” filled with mud and mire, where every step feels shaky and moving forward seems impossible. Maybe that picture hits closer to home than we’d care to admit. We all know the feeling of being stuck, whether it’s emotionally, spiritually, or in life’s circumstances.

The real turning point in the psalm isn’t David’s effort, it’s what God does.

“He lifted me out… He set my feet on a rock… He gave me a firm place to stand.”

And then comes the line that shifts everything:

“He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.”

Notice that praise, in our reading, is not forced. It is formed. It grows out of what God has done.
And it doesn’t stay private.

“Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in Him.”

You see that is the power of testimony. When praise tells a story, it becomes an invitation. Others begin to see that God is not distant, not theoretical, but active, present, and faithful.

You see the same pattern echoed in Psalm 66:

“Come and hear… let me tell you what He has done for me.”

Praise becomes proclamation.

Let's Pray

Lord,
You are not just the God we sing about, you are the God who acts. You hear us in our waiting. You meet us in the pit. You lift, restore, and steady us.

Give us eyes to see what You have done in our lives.
Put a new song in our mouths, not just for our sake, but for others to hear. Make our praise a testimony that points people to Your faithfulness.

Amen.

When God’s People Sing

April 29, 2026

The church’s most treasured hymns, whether centuries old or written last year, endure because they do one thing faithfully: they lift our eyes from ourselves and fix them on the glory, goodness, and nearness of God. Praise is not just something we offer; it is something God uses to reshape our hearts.

Across generations, cultures, and denominations, Christians naturally turn to song when words alone feel inadequate. The Bible teach us to:

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly… singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, with gratitude in your hearts to God.” Colossians 3:16

Praise isn’t about entertainment, it’s about shaping us, declaring truth, letting go, and finding joy. The hymns we sing over and over, whether written centuries ago or just yesterday, become the playlist to our journey of faith.

Some hymns have become “favorites” not because they are nostalgic, but because they tell the truth beautifully and boldly.

“How Great Thou Art” – A hymn that lifts our eyes to creation, redemption, and the coming glory of Christ. It teaches us awe.

“Great Is Thy Faithfulness” – Rooted in the words of Lamentations 3, it reminds us that God’s mercies are new every morning, even when our circumstances are not.

“Praise to the Lord, the Almighty” – A call to remember God’s sustaining power in every season.

These hymns last, I remember reading, "because they offer us words of praise strong enough for hardship and wide enough to hold joy."

I’m so grateful that God continues to inspire His people with new songs. In recent decades, a new group of hymn writers has emerged, blending rich theology with modern language and melodies. 

I think of:

“In Christ Alone” (Getty/Townend) –  It could almost be considered a modern creed set to music, proclaiming Christ’s victory from birth to resurrection.

“Yet Not I But Through Christ in Me” (CityAlight) – this is a song that is "gospel-rich" and focuses on a theme of dependence and hope.

These newer hymn/songs connect with us because they speak the language of today while carrying the weight of timeless Biblical truth.

I believe the staying power of  many songs/hymns of praise, whether old or new, is the result of the fact that when we sing these we are doing more than expressing emotion. We are:

Rehearsing the gospel
Reordering our desires
Reaffirming God’s character
Rejoining the global and historic church
Releasing our burdens into God’s hands

Recently, I read the following quote: "Praise isn’t about escaping reality; it’s about aligning with it. It’s the Spirit tuning our hearts to match the rhythm of God’s kingdom."

Maybe you have a hymn that has carried you through grief. Maybe you have a modern worship song that awakened your faith again. Maybe you have a chorus that our congregation sings with tears in our eyes. 

These songs are gifts.

"God meets us in melody. 

God strengthens us through harmony. 

God forms us through lyrics that preach to our souls."

Let's Pray

Lord, thank You for the songs that have shaped Your church. Thank You for the hymns that have carried saints before us and the new songs You are still giving today. Tune our hearts to praise You, not only with our voices, but with our lives. Make our worship honest, joyful, and rooted in Your truth. Amen.

I Will Praise You More and More

 April 28, 2026

Psalm 71:14-22

But as for me, I will always have hope;
I will praise you more and more.
My mouth will tell of your righteousness,
of your salvation all day long,
though I know not its measure.
I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, O Sovereign LORD;
I will proclaim your righteousness, yours alone.
Since my youth, O God, you have taught me,
and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.

Even when I am old and gray,
do not forsake me, O God,
till I declare your power to the next generation,
your might to all who are to come.

Your righteousness reaches to the skies, O God,
you who have done great things.
Who, O God, is like you?
Though you have made me see troubles,
many and bitter,
you will restore my life again;
from the depths of the earth
you will again bring me up.
You will increase my honor
and comfort me once again.
I will praise you with the harp
for your faithfulness, O my God;
I will sing praise to you with the lyre,
O Holy One of Israel.


We began our week with the call to Praise that Psalm 150 invites you and me to experience in our lives. Engaging in Praise has its foundation firmly based on who God is.

In C.S. Lewis' wonderful book Reflections on the Psalms,  he writes the following, 

"I have never noticed that all enjoyment spontaneously overflows into praise. … The world rings with praise—lovers praising their mistresses, readers their favorite poet, walkers praising their countryside. … I had not noticed either that just as men spontaneously praise whatever they value, so they spontaneously urge us to join them in praising it: Isn’t she lovely? Wasn’t it glorious? … The psalmists in telling everyone to praise God are doing what all men do when they speak of what they care about.

… I think we delight to praise what we enjoy because the praise not merely expresses but completes the enjoyment; it is its appointed consummation. It is not out of compliment that lovers keep on telling one another how beautiful they are; the delight is incomplete till it is expressed. It is frustrating to have discovered a new author and not to be able to tell anyone how good he is; to come suddenly … upon some mountain valley of unexpected grandeur and then to have to keep silent because the people with you care for it no more than for a tin can in the ditch."

Talking about God isn’t meant to feel forced, it grows naturally out of worship. When you’re genuinely enjoying who God is, sharing about Him just kind of happens, like pointing out an amazing sunset or telling a friend about a great book you love.

The more you notice God’s beauty, love, power, and mercy in your life, the more you’ll want to talk about Him. That’s the kind of response Psalm 71 points us toward. Take your time with it, read it slowly and notice all the reasons the psalmist gives for praising God.

And as you do, let it lead you back to the hope we have in Jesus, His life, His death, and His resurrection.

GO AHEAD .... MAKE SOME NOISE!!

APRIL 27,  2026

Psalm 150

1 Praise the Lord!
Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty firmament!
2 Praise him for his mighty deeds;
praise him according to his surpassing greatness!
3 Praise him with trumpet sound;
praise him with lute and harp!
4 Praise him with tambourine and dance;
praise him with strings and pipe!
5 Praise him with clanging cymbals;
praise him with loud clashing cymbals!
6 Let everything that breathes praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord!

Praise the LORD! Where?

“...in his sanctuary.” But don’t picture just a church building. God’s “sanctuary” shows up wherever you notice Him. It might be in your backyard looking up at the sky, walking along the river, or on a day trip to Point Pelee National Park. It can be while you’ve got music on doing chores, sitting quietly with a cup of coffee, or gathered with others in worship. Basically, wherever your heart becomes aware of God—that’s the place to praise.

Praise the LORD! Why?

“...for his mighty deeds, according to his surpassing greatness!” In other words—because God has been good, and still is. Think about it: rain that helps things grow, a beautiful sunrise, the sound of a newborn baby, the endless questions kids ask as they figure out the world. Think about healing that comes through doctors and nurses, or comfort that shows up through a friend at just the right time. God’s goodness is everywhere once you start paying attention.

Praise the LORD! How?

Honestly? Don’t hold back. Make some noise. Sing, clap, play music—whatever you’ve got. Praise isn’t meant to be stiff or quiet all the time. It’s a real, joyful response to a real, living God. So let it show.

Praise the LORD! Who?

“Let everything that has breath praise the LORD!” If you’re breathing, you’re included. Every breath is a reminder that life is a gift. So today, take a moment to notice that—and let your life become part of the praise. Not just in what you say, but in how you live, how you treat people, how you give thanks.

Let’s Pray

God, help us slow down today. Help us actually notice what’s around us—the good, the beautiful, the everyday gifts we usually miss. Remind us to breathe, to look, to listen. And then move us to respond—with joy, with gratitude, with the way we live. Let our whole lives point back to you.
Amen.