The House of the Lord Forever
"I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever" (Psalm 23:6) When my daughter, Jill, passed away in 2021, I went through a real tough time. I still do. It can be brutally difficult. Sometimes I feel numb and disconnected. As much as we wanted her funeral to be a day...
Goodness & Mercy Every Day
"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life" (Psalm 23:6) The other Sunday I was driving toward a restaurant when a police car started following me. The first thing I did was check to make sure I wasn’t speeding. So I slowed down a bit. Then I...
Half, Full, or Overflowing Cup
"My cup runneth over" In David’s day, an overflowing cup was a sign that the host of the meal wanted you to stay as long as possible. If they kept refilling your cup, they wanted you to stay. An empty cup was a sign they wanted you to leave. As long as you were...
The Anointing
"You anoint my head with oil" I never really thought about this phrase of Psalm 23. I just kind of skipped over it. But I am encouraged that my Shepherd anoints my head with oil. Do you know what oil does? It makes things flow. Whenever there is friction or something...
Dinner with the Enemy
"You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies" Many of life’s most important moments happen over a meal. Look back over your own life and think about how many of your life’s key moments happened at mealtime. Marriage proposal, pregnancy announcement,...
Thy Rod and Thy Staff Comfort Me
"Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." In 1975 Tim Leatherman was touring Europe & Asia with a broken-down Fiat. Its hoses leaked and the wiring failed constantly. He used his pocketknife for everything, from slicing bread to adjusting screws. He wished his...
The Valley of the Shadow of Death
"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me." This is the heart of Psalm 23. In fact, “Thou art with me” is in the exact center. In Psalm 23, everything until now has led up to these words; everything that...
“In his own words” – St. Patrick
There is probably no other missionary in the history of the church, besides the Apostle Paul, who is as well known today as St. Patrick of Ireland. As far as I know, he is the only one with a national holiday in his honor. On March 17 millions of people around the...
Guidance for the right path
If you’ve ever been lost, you know how important it is to find someone to show you how to get back on the right path. Jesus wants to be the guide of our life. In Psalm 23:3 David states of the Lord - "He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake."...
