Centered

Psalm 8 begins and ends with the exclamation: "O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!" Clearly, this is an expression of praise that David is giving to God, yet it seems to come in the context of preceding psalms that speak of trouble, fear, trial, and hopelessness. Perhaps this psalm gives a great picture of how it is that we can make it through the troubles of life. How does this happen? Since this psalm is bracketed, verses 1 and 9, with this exclamation of praise, then whatever fuels this praise will be found in verses 2 to 8. First, we see how God establishes his strength on earth (verse 2) God has established strength on this earth because God has foes in this world.  Think on Ephesians 2 and the truth that prior to salvation, all were "sons of disobedience" and lived in willing and open rebellion against God. This verse shows us that God's purpose in establishing strength in this world is to "still the enemy and the aven

"What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions   are   at war within you?   You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask.   You ask and do not receive, because you ask   wrongly, to spend it on your passions.   You adulterous people!   Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?   Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God." - James 4:1-4      This passage, to me, seems to be one of the most black and white passages in all of Scripture.  James is asking this incredibly strong rhetorical question: Why do you fight? What causes competition among you, Christians?  Why does all of mankind seek to overtake one another?  Why is there anger and hatred in the very relationships that should be marked by peace and fellowship?  Because of your desires!  You want something and you do n

Psalm 2 and 3 have been amazing to read and study! We often hear preachers talk about the Psalms in beautiful words.  The way the poetry comes to life and draws us into the Scripture so that we can experience God in very intimate way is a blessing that is only experienced by those who have "taken refuge in Him" (Psalm 2:12). Psalm 2 : God laughs and mocks and consider it vanity for that which is wicked to conspire against God's people.  God has a King whom he has placed on his holy hill of Zion. God has told David that he is God's Son (implying divine annointing) and that God has made him to be king of His people. [Reference to Biblical theology here, the Son  can refer to David and/or the Messiah.] God will subdue the nations and give them to David as his possessions. David, strengthened by God, will break  and smash to pieces  his enemies, like a potter and his clay. Thus, the warning is to the nations and all whom are against God. The plea is to kiss,  make peac