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God, My Rock
When I call on God, what do I call Him? Sometimes it’s “Father,” sometimes “Savior.” But I realize that if I have ever called Him “Rock,” it’s because I learned it right here in Psalm 28. David prayed that way, and if it was good enough for David, it’s good enough for me.
But what does it really mean for God to be my Rock? Rocks don’t move. They don’t crack under pressure. They aren’t bothered by storms, by rain, by heavy winds. If God is truly my Rock, then nothing can shake Him — not my relationship problems, not my health issues, not my financial fears, not even death itself.
The truth is, I often want to be a rock myself. I pray for courage, for strength, sometimes even for money, hoping to become strong and immovable. Yet, after the prayer ends, I often feel like a hypocrite — nothing changes. I am still fragile, still anxious, still me. I haven’t become the rock I asked to be.
And maybe that’s exactly the point.
God didn’t promise to make me the Rock. He promised to be the Rock. It’s an important distinction. My strength is not in becoming unbreakable; it’s in leaning on the One who already is. He is unmovable, unshakable, dependable — not me.
So what do I need a Rock for? I need a Rock to stand on when the storms rage. I need a Rock to cling to when my own strength fails. I need a Rock to remind me that though I may falter, He never will.
Psalm 28 teaches me that it’s not about being strong enough. It’s about trusting the One who already is.
No Fear
Today’s reading is Psalm 27.
I grew up in the Lutheran Church attending Confirmation classes in junior high which ends the Spring of your 8th grade year with taking your first Communion. As a part of this we picked our own personal Confirmation verse. By the time the sheet with possible options and a sort of “greatest hits” of Bible verses reached me, the ones I mostly knew at the time were gone.
Psalm 27:1 is what I ultimately selected…
The Lord is my light and salvation;
Whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?
Many of us in born in the early to mid-80s probably remember the many “No Fear” shirts and stickers. While I didn’t have any myself, they were very popular, and I think is the reason I picked this verse. I had a great Aunt Naomi who was very close to our family being that she had no children of her own. When my Confirmation day came, I remember her telling me this was also her Confirmation verse, so I always think of her when I hear it again.
I read in the past few days something which said to the effect of that God did not keep Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from being thrown into the fire, but it was the fact that He put Jesus in their with them to protect them that mattered. God doesn’t promise us in this chapter that trials and bad things won’t happen.
In Psalm 27:2, “When evildoers assail me,.…”
In Psalm 27:3, “Though an army encamp against me,..”
In Psalm 27:5 it discusses, “in the day of trouble..”
The chapter indicates bad things will happen, but the Psalmist has peace in who will be with him and where his focus will be.
In Psalm 27:4, he seeks after being able to “dwell in the house of the Lord” and to “gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in His temple.”
In Psalm 27:8, he says, “’Your face, Lord, do I seek.”
In Psalm 27:11 he asks God to “Teach me your way O Lord.”
Lastly, in Psalm 27:13, “I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living!”
As we reflect on current troubles, let us ask ourselves where our focus is…is it on our problems or Him?
Maybe we don’t have many troubles at this very moment but let us pray for wisdom that when we do, because Psalm 27 and John 16:33 says we will have them, our focus will be on Jesus. Let us pray that we will seek Him and His face and presence in these times.
Psalm 27:3 tells us when we do so we can live with confidence.
Though an army encamp against me,
My hear shall not fear;
Though ware rise against me,
yet I can be confident.”
Four Questions – Pass or Fail
After reading Psalm 26, I have a few questions I asked myself…..
1. Have I led a blameless life?
2. Have I trusted in the Lord without wavering?
3. Do I associate with hypocrites?
4. Do I always refuse to sit with the wicked?
Here are my answers in that order. No. No. Yes. No. Just another reminder that I am so far from perfect, not that I had forgotten.
These aren’t written as questions in this Psalm but that is the way I read it back to myself. I already know my answers before I can finish the question.
Blameless Life – If it isn’t my fault then whose is it? Where do I point the finger? In reality, I do often find myself pointing that finger in the mirror. I find myself saying, “I could have handled that better”, or “I didn’t need it to escalate it that high”.
Trust the Lord without Wavering – I do trust the Lord. This one I definitely tend to be more self-conscious of. I know there are times that I certainly waver, but I am quick to take a step back, talk to God for a moment, and understand when I must give up the controls to Him. That makes it a lot easier than ever thinking I have all the answers when we know that isn’t true!
Associating with Hypocrites – GUILTY! I probably do it every day. Shoot, I can be that hypocrite. It makes me feel even worse when I type it out load. This one is difficult. My good Christian credibility takes a hit here.
Refusing to Sitting with the Wicked – This one is interesting and the way I view it isn’t the right way. I never sit with the wicked(figuratively or literally) because I also want to become wicked. Instead, I am probably trying to gain something from them. Maybe it is to learn what not to do or how not to be. Maybe selfishly it is to use it against them someday. I know, I know, that isn’t the right answer…..
The point of all this remains the same. None of us are perfect. Yes, we already know this. The point is to think about it more, think about these questions. Try and get through a day while asking yourself these. How did you do? Isn’t it impossible to go 24 hours with a passing grade. If you can, good on you. I am not sure I could, but it certainly makes me want to try a little harder each day. Just like no sin is greater than another in God’s eyes, neither are these questions. When in doubt take a moment, acknowledge whatever the situation and put your faith and trust in Jesus. I promise you will feel better!
Paul’s Call for Unity and Harmony
“May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had.” – Romans 15:5 (NIV)
Romans 15 calls us to something deeper than personal growth—it calls us to collective strength. Paul reminds us that those who are strong in faith should support those who are weak, just as Christ bore our burdens. This is not merely about tolerance; it’s about active love, patience, and selflessness.
Christ is our ultimate example. He didn’t come to please Himself, but to serve and to save. As believers, we’re invited to mirror His humility and grace. When we live with His mindset, our communities become places of healing, hope, and unity.
Paul also emphasizes the power of Scripture—it sustains us with encouragement and gives us hope. Whether we’re tired, confused, or discouraged, God’s Word is a steady foundation.
Finally, the chapter expands our view to the global church. Christ came for both Jews and Gentiles, and His acceptance compels us to welcome others with open hearts. We’re not just individuals following Jesus—we are a people joined together for God’s glory.
Prayer:
Lord, help me to live selflessly, just as Christ did. Teach me to support and uplift others in their journey. Fill me with endurance and encouragement, and give me a heart that seeks unity over division. May my life reflect Your grace and welcome others into Your love. Amen.
Live with Christlike patience, build up others, and embrace the unity God desires for His people.
Written with the assistance of ChatGPT
A “smoking” lesson at the finish line!
A friend of mine had significant work-related stress for several years. As part of that, he worked early until late – including weekends, smoked a lot of cigarettes, and didn’t take good care of himself physically or emotionally. Then, once the storms of his job cleared, he embarked on his wellness improvement journey. This journey included exercise on a regular basis, weight loss, and he quit smoking cigarettes.
My friend then set and achieved a long-term goal to run a half-marathon. I was really proud of the progress he made and the results he had achieved.
After the race, we talked about how it went and the journey to where he is now. During the conversation, I asked “Did you celebrate with a cigarette?” I was half-joking, but then I was shocked when he responded by saying “Yes, I had one at the finish line.”
After all that hard work, why return to such a detrimental vice?
Around the time my friend shared his decision to quit-quitting smoking, I read Romans 14 about “judging others” and I was quickly reminded of my internal response to my friend. I definitely unfairly judged this person. Was I loving like Jesus or was I filled with sinful pride?
Romans 14 focuses on believers judging other believers. While the examples include Jewish vs. Gentile traditions, we can still be prone to unfairly judging others today, and therefore putting a wedge between ourselves and our brothers and sisters in Christ, as well as our Creator when we in seemingly harmless ways call to question:
- What someone wears to church (or anywhere).
- How or when they pray.
- Whether they drink achohol or smoke.
- How they parent or educate their children.
- What their worship style or tradition looks like.
The list can go on forever, so we need to pause and look to Jesus who was called a friend to sinners, he loved unconditionally, and in the end, he was the ultimate example of being unjustly judged. He was perfect and sin-free, yet he was sentenced to a brutal death on a cross, and he did this willingly as the most loving act in human history as a substitution for our sins.
From personal experience, I’ve learned that when I unfairly judge others, it often stems from a desire to feel better about myself. However, in the end, it only leaves me feeling more disappointed. We are all works in progress though, so let’s not beat ourselves up when we fail because we are loved and forgiven! Jesus didn’t define people by their shortcomings, he saw their value and their heart.
Who comes to mind today that needs your love instead of your judgment? Who around you has stumbled and could use a hand, a hug, a word of encouragement, or even an apology? Let’s choose to see people the way God sees them: His creation, deeply loved and cherished as His children.
Worship God by Offering Yourself as a Sacrifice
Romans 12
This post was supposed to go up yesterday, but forgive me for getting to it today. This post will be on Romans 12 and all that Paul writes within this chapter.
Paul starts off by telling us to present our bodies as a living sacrifice which is our reasonable service. Now why is this our reasonable service to Him? Well, first we must remember that we are a royal priesthood as Peter would describe us in 1 Peter 2:9, and one of the roles of the priests was to offer sacrifices. We must not think that we offer ourselves as a sacrifice and therefore work for our salvation, but it is our reasonable service because of the sacrifice that Jesus already offered. In Romans 11:33 Paul says, “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out?” This verse lays the context of why we worship God by sacrificing our bodies and our lives to Him. I have heard it said before, if we knew everything about God and understood everything about Him, then He would not be a God worth worshipping. A sacrifice as substantial as our own bodies is reasonable because of God’s holy, just, righteous, merciful, and gracious character (to name a few of His attributes).
Paul then adds that we should “…not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
Now, as we sacrifice our bodies to God, submitting to Him, and as we renew our minds with things above (Phil. 4:8), there should be results. We should notice that the gifts given to us by God’s grace are used for the sake of other people. We should notice a unity within our Christian community with Jesus as the head. We should notice that we are carrying out vv. 9-21. Lastly, we should be people who love the Lord their God with all their heart, soul and mind; and people who love their neighbor as themselves. It all starts with humility.
Confidence in Promises
Today’s Reading: Romans 11
I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means!
Sometimes, you feel God is not present, listening, or possibly punishing you for some sin. The evil one is always around, taking any insecurities and trying to find ways to make you question every aspect of your life. The question of God keeping His promises is a question of divine integrity and belief that we all need. Thankfully, God will always keep His Word.
Titus 1:2 God is God who cannot lie.
Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.
In verse 2. “God hath not cast away His people whom He foreknew.”
“Foreknew” basically means a predetermination to love. He knew the Israelites, and He knows us. We know He loves us. He even died for us.
Dear Lord,
It is so awesome to know that You are a God who keeps Your promise. It is an amazing confidence I can live with knowing I can trust You in all my life and future. Lord, help us believe in our hearts always and obey. We trust You with our time on this Earth and the lives we live. Our whole life can be predicated on You being trustworthy and a God who keeps His Word. Amen
The Law Updated by the Blood
Today’s Readings: Romans 10
Attempting to digest Romans is challenging. There are so many different ideas that Paul is attempting to convey to the Romans with the history of the Jewish faith and this new concept of Christ atonement for every one. One of the best ways that I can think of how to describe the theme of Chapter 10 is directions from a father for a project.
The Law would be similar to a father giving instructions to the child about a project. When directing the child about the project the father gives specific instructions to the child. You can give simple or very specific examples and illustrations for the project. The directions can even have step by step pictures that show all of the intricacies of how to complete the project. Then the father leaves the child to complete the project. The Father will come and check in with the child, but the child is attempting to complete the project independently. This child is not a youth, but an adult. The child has the ability to complete the project independently.
With the Blood of Christ, the project is more like the father and the child working on the project together. They both have the instructions and illustrations, but they are working together. The relationship of this couple is different from the previous. The Father is connected with the child and both are able to see the progress of the project. With this situation, the Father can give in the moment direction and encouragement. The Blood of Christ allows the relationship to be reconnected with the father and the child.
When the Law was given, it was instructions to the people of Israel. The people of Israel were given multiple commandments and were given helpers, in the prophets, to help them to get to heaven and absolve their sins. But God understood that they were not able to help themselves and sent Christ to reconnect the people, the people of Israel and all the of the world, back to Himself.
My prayer is that we continue to remember that we are in relationship with God and able to have him with us daily. We don’t have to attempt to complete the project with only the instructions, the Law or the book, but we have the ability to access our Father to help and continual support and instructions daily to be more like him. Be blessed.
The Trolley Problem
Imagine you’re standing by a railroad track. In the distance, you see five people tied to the rails. A train is coming, and death is certain.
This well-known psychological and ethical thought experiment challenges us to make a terrible choice. In its classic form, you can pull a lever to divert the train, sacrificing one person to save five.
But today, the scenario gets more personal. Instead of pulling a lever, imagine the only way to stop the train is by throwing yourself on the tracks. Great suffering—and likely death—awaits. Would you do it?
Before you answer, consider the Apostle Paul in Romans 9. He is confronting a heartbreaking reality: many of his fellow Jews will not accept Jesus. Their spiritual death and separation from God is certain.
“My heart is filled with bitter sorrow and unending grief,” he writes.
“For I would be willing to be forever cursed—cut off from Christ!—if that would save them.” (Romans 9:2–3, NLT)
Paul isn’t presenting a hypothetical. He is expressing genuine anguish and a willingness to suffer eternal separation from Christ if it meant salvation for others. He is volunteering to throw himself on the tracks.
My heart aches when I consider the depth of Paul’s pain. He offers to embrace a life void of hope, peace, and love, if only his people might be saved. That’s a love that mirrors the sacrifice of Christ Himself.
Today, we face a similar choice—not necessarily to die, but to give of ourselves for the sake of others. Will we cling tightly to the promise that Christ is for me, or will we surrender that comfort to share Him with a world that desperately needs Him?
What will you choose?
The Great Eight
Today’s reading is Romans 8 which is often referred to as “The Great Eight.” This chapter is so full of rich content which we can apply to our lives daily that I think one could preach or write on it for a year if they wanted. With that in mind, we will just focus on a few verses.
Romans 8:31 reads…
“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?”
There may not be a more profound verse in the Bible which can change the way we live our lives and handle fears, worries, anxieties, and doubts about the future. We spend much of our lives stressed wondering about the future and what it holds. Will the medical test I just had (or my family member) come back positive? Will I get in the school I want or which one should I choose? Will I have enough money to pay for college? Will I have enough money to pay my bills and buy groceries? Will I have enough money to retire when I want and live the way I want? Is my job safe or could I lose it? Have I prepared my child for their future as an adult? Will they choose the best spouse for them? I could go on and on…
These worries, fears, and doubts we have about the future are natural and normal. Some of the things we spend time stressing over are very serious which could cause us or our family a lot of challenges and pain in the short or long-term… and other are “first world” problems we’ve often created for ourselves as my brother likes to say and keep in perspective. Either way, if we can trust that God is always, and I mean always, for us and in our corner…it changes everything. How do we know this? Romans 8:32 says because He gave us His own Son’s life on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins!
Most of us have probably heard the saying, “Father knows best.” As an earthly father myself, I can say there is no way I can be certain about that 100% of the time. But, we can be certain this is true with our Heavenly Father all the time. And not only does He know the best for us and our future, but He holds controls it!
If we believe this and know this, along with Romans 8:28 which says He’s working all things out for the good for those who love Him, it can and should change the way we live our lives. We still don’t have to like pain, problems, or challenges that will happen on this side of eternity, but knowing and trusting in these truths of His love and His best plan for our lives in Roman 8 should change the way we live to do so with a joy and peace that inspires others to trust and follow Him as well.