Psalms

ICYMI: Letting Love Root Deeply (truly "more than a song")

This month we're going to throw back (ICYMI = In Case You Missed It) to some devotionals that IMHO (in my humble opinion) deserve a second visit. Let's start with the wisdom of Psalm 1 because our series this summer is all about how the Psalms are more than just songs, they are biblical poetry that instruct, lead and equip us to follow Jesus. Here we go!


Psalm 1:1-3 says, "Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not whither - whatever they do prospers."

Meditating on the Word allows our minds to be transformed by God (Romans 12:2). It's counterintuitive to the break-neck pace of our culture but the Bible assures us that it worth every moment. As I thought about how we need to know and be changed by the love of God, I also thought about how our minds need to be renewed in order for us to truly understand it. So, this week, I've simply put together several verses for you to meditate on. I encourage you to take some time with each of them - read it over, read it out loud, journal some thoughts, sit and think about it quietly. 

As you meditate, "I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ." (Ephesians 3:18)

Pastor Tracy

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Deuteronomy 7:9
Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.

Zephaniah 3:17
The Lord your God is with you,
the Mighty Warrior who saves.
He will take great delight in you;
in his love he will no longer rebuke you,
but will rejoice over you with singing.

Ephesians 2:4-5
But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions-it is by grace you have been saved.

Romans 8:37-39
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Psalm 86:15
But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.


This Sunday

MORE THAN A SONG
Search Me

Join us on Sunday at 10am for church online.
FOLLOW THE LIVESTREAM ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE.
Or, REGISTER TO WATCH THE LIVESTREAM AT THE CHURCH.

Follow along with the message on YouVersion.

Working On Our Praise Habit (in church life and my life)

This Sunday I'm kicking off our new series (see beautiful new graphic above) by talking about one of the secrets of a happy life... building a praise habit. We're using the Psalms to help us develop in our faith as we follow Jesus and get to know Him more.

These last few days have kind of been all over the map for me. There has been a lot of reading financial statements and other administrative work, we had a holiday in the middle of the week, and we're trying to keep up with the latest health and safety rules/recommendations during the pandemic. Something tells me your days and weeks can be a bit unpredictable, too.

And through all of it I was writing my message and remembering the power of praising God through every task, in every circumstance and during every interruption. I haven't perfected it but this habit is a powerful one.

Here are some examples that will also serve as reminders for church life. I'm not even contriving these, they represent the genuine praise habit that I was working on this week!

  • We got our audited financial statements in time to process them and get them out to our members by the deadline on Tuesday. Sometimes we're tempted to brush aside reports and their timing, but I'm thanking God for His help and the excellent help of our Treasurer, Mary Lynn, who does a lot of heavy lifting in this area.

  • We purchased a picnic table for the church to test out the ones we're considering for the pavilion... and so I ate lunch outside with Margaret. We had a chance to look at the property and talk about how incredible it was to be able to dream for and use this 10 acres. We even tried to imagine what it would look like when the new pavilion was built. And, Margaret bought us some of those new donuts from McDonalds. Simple things that when you pause over them bring a lot of gratitude to the God who pieced it all together.

  • On Sunday, we are gathering both here at the church and in our homes around the Lord's Supper. This moment of remembrance is centred on praise and I will get to lead my church family in it. That's a good thing. #getyouremblemsready

  • While I was working this morning, I was texting Matt about something I want to do for my message and he walked me through how we will do that with the live site and livestream. Meanwhile, Walt and Rob were making a bunch of noise in the sanctuary, testing and tweaking the audio to work out the last of the kinks for livestreaming from our sanctuary (coming soon!). These guys are simply the best - joyfully serving and working to make the message of Jesus accessible to everyone and as effectively delivered as possible. So much to thank God for!

And listen, friends, it's only Thursday afternoon. Not everything is easy - not by a long shot. Not every day is your best - not by a really long shot. But every day God is good and this habit of praise helps us to calibrate our hearts to that truth moment by moment.

Lots more on that this Sunday and in the coming summer series of messages!

See you at 10am on Facebook Live for our service... if you have a praise song request, let me know. You never know what Rob and I might do during lobby time!

Pastor Tracy


This Sunday

MORE THAN A SONG
Praise Habit

Join us on Sunday at 10am for church online.
FOLLOW THE LIVESTREAM ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE.
Or, Or, REGISTER TO WATCH THE LIVESTREAM AT THE CHURCH.

Follow along with the message on YouVersion.

Psalm 32:8 (how to know what's next)

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.
— Psalm 32:8

Many, many times I've talked and prayed with people who were struggling to figure out what they should do in some situation. What decision should they make? What direction should they go? What was God calling them to? Why doesn't He seem to answer?

These are legitimate questions that we all wrestle with in different seasons of our lives.

There is a beautiful verse in the Psalms that I simply wanted to share with each of you today. Here is a promise from God: "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you."

He sees you. He loves you. And with His loving gaze on you, He will direct your steps.

Psalm 32:8
Proverbs 3:5-6
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

I invite you to meditate on these promises and instructions and trust Him completely as you pray for what's next.

In Christ,
P. Tracy


This Sunday

Sacred Rhythms
Mark 6:30-34

Join us on Sunday at 10am as our Pastor Tracy shares the Word.

Follow along with the message on YouVersion.