Discipling Life

It can be unsettling to watch the news or scroll through headlines and see injustice unfold on a global scale. Nations rise in power, conflicts erupt, and it can feel as though wrongdoing goes unchecked. In those moments, we may quietly wonder if justice will ever truly come, or if the world will simply continue as it is. Psalm 9 speaks directly to this deep human longing for fairness. The psalmist writes with a heart full of praise because he recognizes that there is a higher authority who sees everything. The psalm speaks into that deep longing with a steady and hopeful voice. “He judges the world with righteousness; he judges the peoples with equity” (v. 8). This is not a distant or indifferent God. This is a God who sees clearly and judges rightly. While human systems may fail, God’s justice is rooted in truth, fairness, and a deep concern for all people, especially those who are vulnerable. The psalm also reminds us that God is not only a judge but a refuge. “The Lord is ...

There are moments when life feels noisy and crowded with competing voices. Advice comes from every direction (friends, media, fears, expectations) and it can be hard to know which voice to trust. We may find ourselves asking quietly, “Who is really leading me?” There are voices in this world that promise a way in, but lead only to taking and breaking. Jesus calls them thieves and bandits. They tend to be loud, persuasive voices. They offer shortcuts that cost us more than they give. But the shepherd’s voice is different. It is steady. It is patient. It calls us not to performance or pretense, but to relationship. And the gate he opens leads not to a cage, but to pasture. He leads us to spaciousness, to nourishment, and to life as it was meant to be. In John 10:1-10 , Jesus offers a simple but powerful image: “The sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out… and the sheep follow him because they know his voice” (vv. 3-4). This is not a distant or imperso...

Have you ever been asked to do something that made absolutely no sense to you? How did you respond? This dynamic is perhaps best illustrated in the simple, often frustrating exchange between a parent and a child. A parent asks a child to do something, and the child inevitably asks, “Why?” The parental response is frequently a firm, “Because I said so.” Let’s try this again: Have you ever been asked to do something that made absolutely no sense to you — but you did it anyway because you trusted the person who asked?  Trust is the necessary bridge that spans the distance where our understanding ends. This is faith. As we navigate the Lenten journey, we rely on a trust-based faith. While our logic demands a destination before a departure, spiritual reality often requires the departure before the destination is even revealed. This is seen in the call of a man named Abram. To understand the weight of Abram’s call, we must first look at what he was leaving behind. Archaeology tells us ...

As we journey through the season of Lent, we are invited to pause and reflect on our relationship with God. Many people find Psalm 121 a comforting psalm, a beautiful reminder of God’s ever-watchful presence and care in our lives. A Song of Ascents Psalm 121 is part of a collection known as the "Songs of Ascents," which were sung by the people of Israel as they made their way to Jerusalem for worship. As they traveled, they needed assurance of safety on their journey, just as we often seek reassurance in our own lives. The psalm begins with the question, “I lift up my eyes to the hills— from where will my help come?” (Psalm 121:1). In a world filled with uncertainty, it’s natural to look for help and support, but the psalmist quickly reminds us that true help comes not from the hills or any earthly source, but from God himself, who created heaven and earth. God’s Unceasing Vigilance The psalm continues with a powerful declaration: “He will not let your foot be moved; he who k...