How Do We Be “Poor in Spirit” The moment our missionary team stepped off the bus putrid smell wove itself into my senses. As a sixteen-year-old girl from a small Appalachian town, this Peruvian landscape was unlike anything I had ever seen. The dirt under our feet stirred up dust and I sneezed. Looking around I marveled at the paradox. Children in school uniforms were walking home to houses made of cardboard and mud. We made our way through the trash to visit some families, handing out candy to the…
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How to Know God Through the Psalms
How to Know God Through the Psalms Do you know him? Who, I asked? President Bush, she replied. I giggled. We were on a mission’s trip to another country. A native asked me if I knew our president. She figured since I was an American I knew him. To her disappointment, I didn’t know the president the way she was implying. Our pastor was talking a few weeks ago about knowing God. Not just the head knowledge, but the heart knowledge of God. As he walked us through knowing God…
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When Darkness is All You See
When Darkness is All You See When Darkness is All You See – In Isaiah 9:1 we are offered right away something we all long for: hope. It says. “But there will be no gloom for her…” I looked up this word “gloom” and it is a Hebrew word that can also mean “darkness.” So Isaiah starts our passage out with “But there will be no darkness…” Isaiah 9 (ESV) “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,…
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The Kindness of God
The Kindness of God Our soul waits for the LORD; He is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in Him because we have trusted in His holy name. Let Your mercy – (covenant keeping love) be upon us, just as we hope in You. Psalm 33:20-22 (emphasis mine) Rejoice by waiting, trusting, and hoping. So how do we see the kindness of God? Wait on God to move. Trust His timing. Hope is the assurance that He will keep His covenant, or promises. His mercy for us…
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