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“Believers are not dependent upon circumstances. Their joy comes not from what they have, but from what they are; not from where they are, but from whose they are; not from what they enjoy, but from that which was suffered for them by their Lord.” – Charles Spurgeon Our joy’s foundation is God Himself and can be found as a result of experiencing His grace.  Jesus promises in John 16 that there is a joy that cannot be taken, He prays that we may have the full measure of His joy within us (John 17). Psalms 16:8-11 speaks of a Joy that comes from the presence of God.  While we may not feel God’s presence or experience the full measure of Jesus’ joy, we can, whatever the circumstances, dwell on the reality that Jesus has come, that He has brought God’s presence near through His death, resurrection, and gift of the Holy Spirit. Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading Galatians 5:22-26 with John 16-17 and Psalm 16

We use the word ‘love’ in many contexts, so what is an accurate, biblical definition of love? We are commanded to love our enemies and that love must be sincere (Matt 5, Romans 12). Practically, what does this look like? As we learned last week, in order to bear any fruit we must abide and keep in step with the Spirit. It can also be helpful to think about what love is not alongside learning about what love is. 1 Corinthians 13 and Romans 5:8 are a great place to start in seeking to understand love. Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading Galatians 5:22-26 with 1 Corinthians 13 and Romans 5:8

We are beginning a new sermon series on the Fruit of the Spirit; > But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is not law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. --Galatians 5:22-26 Prepare for this week’s teaching by **reading Galatians 5** to more fully understand the context for Paul's instructions about the way the Holy Spirit bears fruit in the life of a Christian.

The 3 verses in Psalm 131 are poignant and profound in their meaning, revealing the means of calming and quieting ones soul through a childlike trust in the Lord. Maintaining a childlike trust is not an easy thing to do – for there are so very many things within sight to cause us to question God’s goodness, His care, His power and His presence. While Jesus walked this earth, He instructed His disciples that they needed to change their thinking and become like children; to be trusting, humble, and forgiving. (see Matthew 18:2-4) While this requires repentance and trust – it truly does encapsulate the glory of a rested soul. Let us take our restlessness, discouragement, fears and distresses to our Father, placing the full weight of our hope in Him who alone is strong enough for all that we carry. --------- To help us keep God’s word planted deep into our hearts we encourage you to memorize a Psalm over the Summer. (The children in Grace Airways will be memorizing all of Psalm 23. We are confident that by hiding God's word in your heart in this way will bear fruit that will last all throughout your life. If you have not yet memorized a psalm this summer, 131 would be a good one to attempt as a culmination of all the ground we have covered through the various psalms we have studied. And it is only 3 verses! --------- Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading Psalm 131

Disorder, turmoil, disarray, and chaos cease under the authority and command of God. We see this iIn the beginning of time when God creates order within the heavens and earth (Genesis 1). We see this In the midst of stormy seas when Jesus rebuked the wind and waves, commanding them to be still. (Mark 4:35-41). Psalm 46 expresses this overarching truth of God’s power and glory through descriptive imagery and real world examples. Our God is a well proved help in times of trouble. He is mighty and impenetrable. At the uttering of His voice, the earth melts. This is why we can find refuge in Him. As we grow in recognizing and understanding the power, authority and command of God in the midst of our turmoil our worship of God will deepen. Let us direct this psalm to our doubts and our fear. The Lord of Hosts is truly with us. He does in fact love us. Jesus has proven this to be true. --------- To help us keep God’s word planted deep into our hearts we encourage you to memorize a Psalm over the Summer. (The children in Grace Airways will be memorizing all of Psalm 23. We are confident that by hiding God's word in your heart in this way will bear fruit that will last all throughout your life. Every summer in Grace Airways the children memorize a psalm. Click here for a video from 4 years ago when they memorized Psalm 46!! --------- Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading psalm 46

If one were to use their best Jack Nicholson voice and declare; “You can’t handle the truth!”, those of us who have seen the movie would have a depth of knowledge to pull from in that conversation.  There are phrases in this psalm that are like that – those who have read and understood the corresponding scriptures have a depth of knowledge to pull from in their understanding of these poetic and prophetic words of David.  Hebrews 7 gives us insight into Genesis 14 and how Psalm 110:4’s statement “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek” relates to Jesus. Additional insights from the New testament can be found in Matt 26:64; Acts 2:34; 1 Cor 15:25, Col 3:1, Heb 12:2, Rom 11:26-27; Heb 5:10. The point of it all is that Psalm 110 is all about Jesus! Jesus as Messiah, Jesus as King, and Jesus as Priest.  Let us sit in awe at the character of our God who has given us His word so that we can know Him. He has crafted scripture in a magnificent and beautiful way and revealed so much about Himself within its pages. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever – all for the praise honor and glory of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! --------- To help us keep God’s word planted deep into our hearts we encourage you to memorize a Psalm over the Summer. (The children in Grace Airways will be memorizing all of Psalm 23. We are confident that by hiding God's word in your heart in this way will bear fruit that will last all throughout your life. --------- Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading psalm 110

Psalm 136 is bookended with the exhortation; “give thanks to the Lord for He is good, for His mercy and steadfast love endure forever.” In our attention deficient culture the repetition of this psalm requires intentional focus so as not to tune out or skim over one of the most important statements in all of scripture. The mercy and steadfast love of God endures forever!    - His love and His mercy *endures* – it bears up, sustains, holds up under.  - His love and His mercy are *steadfast* – fixed, firm, resolute, unwavering.  - His mercy and steadfast love endure *forever* – it remains the same yesterday, today, tomorrow and for all of time. As the psalmist rehearses the God of creation and His redemptive activity upon this earth so we too can rehearse the magnitude of the God we worship and the redemptive activity He has worked on our behalf.   As the psalmist rehearses the God of creation and His redemptive activity upon this earth so we too can rehearse the magnitude of the God we worship and the redemptive activity He has worked on our behalf.  “After I die I will have no more chances, to love You from impossible circumstances so even if all of my prayers go unanswered thank You for all of these days. I praise You, praise You, praise You, God. ” - Andy Squyres --------- To help us keep God’s word planted deep into our hearts we encourage you to memorize a Psalm over the Summer. (The children in Grace Airways will be memorizing all of Psalm 23. We are confident that by hiding God's word in your heart in this way will bear fruit that will last all throughout your life. --------- Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading psalm 136

Do you have a favorite brand?  We all have a favorite brand in some aspect of our lives. This is a brand that we don’t have to think about. If given the option, the default choice is this brand.  What would it take for you to convert to another brand?  Not just try it once or twice, but fully convert to another brand, making it your favorite. This new brand has become your default. You no longer buy the previous brand, and are even encouraging others to switch to the new brand.  We are wired to prefer the familiar, from a favorite type of coffee to a favorite seat. Because we don’t like change, it takes a lot to fully convert to something different.  In Psalm 34, David is challenging us to consider converting to fully following God. This is more than just an intellectual ascent to historical events, but a full commitment to knowing and following God as the chief goal in life. Just like David, we can realize who God is and commit to becoming people after His heart.  Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading Psalm 34

After many weeks learning about psalms that relate to our suffering, this week’s psalm is a reminder that God is working and this earthly life of struggle is not all there is. Psalm 90 is one of the oldest psalms given that its author is Moses. The eternal nature of God is highlighted contrasted with the temporary nature of wilderness wanderings in this world. Moses prays to be satisfied by the Lord’s love which cannot fail and for God’s beauty to reign as He establishes the work undertaken by His children. It is refreshing to remember God’s eternal nature, power and glory. Like Moses we too can receive comfort from the eternal nature of God, be humbled as we consider the frailty of mankind, and commit ourselves to the One whose mercy and grace is beautifully given throughout all generations.   --------- To help us keep God’s word planted deep into our hearts we encourage you to memorize a Psalm over the Summer. (The children in Grace Airways will be memorizing all of Psalm 23. We are confident that by hiding God's word in your heart in this way will bear fruit that will last all throughout your life. --------- Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading psalm 90

Wait!  Such a frustrating command and discouraging place it is to be when called upon to wait. One definition of ‘wait’ is to remain neglected for a time. An additional definition is to look forward to something eagerly. Both ideas are woven throughout Psalm 27. Here David builds a case for God’s goodness, trustworthiness, faithfulness, and care based on past experience and reliable promises. It is from these truths that a child of God draws strength in their own wait. The pattern David models for us in this psalm is: ·        Declared confidence in who God is, “The Lord is my light and my salvation”, ·        Desperate pleas for God’s needed presence; “Do not hide your face from me”, ·        Seeking guidance and help; “Teach me, Lead me”, ·        Encouragement; “I remain confident I will see the goodness of the Lord…Take heart and wait for the Lord.” When we are in need we can use this pattern as we form our own songs and prayers. And when words fail us we can use the words of this psalm as our own prayer and heart’s strengthening.  --------- To help us keep God’s word planted deep into our hearts we encourage you to memorize a Psalm over the Summer. (The children in Grace Airways will be memorizing all of Psalm 23. We are confident that by hiding God's word in your heart in this way will bear fruit that will last all throughout your life. --------- Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading psalm 27

Poetry can speak volumes through imagery and an economy of words, it truly is a beautiful art form. Right off the bat we are told that this psalm was written by David when he was in the desert, or wilderness. Whichever word you choose, this is a place of loneliness, of danger, thirst, and difficulty. It is a desperate place and a place of vulnerability to many types of threats. One of David’s conclusions in this psalm is that God’s love is better than life. It is the one thing that cannot be shaken, it is the one thing that is secure, steadfast, and unfailing. The desert places cannot touch the love of God no matter how it feels at the time. Like Paul, David seems convinced of this truth – we cannot be separated from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8) When we find ourselves in wilderness seasons – when all seems hopeless and the land of our souls is dry, weary, and without refreshment – let us remember God is here. God is with us. God loves us. He has not forsaken us. His love will not fail us. He will see us through and none of this will last forever. We will one day be satisfied in His presence and know His love face to face. In the meantime, let us cling to the One who is strong enough to save us and tenderly holds us close –Jesus—our Shepherd, our Comfort, our Living Water.   ------------ To help us keep God’s word planted deep into our hearts we encourage you to memorize a Psalm over the Summer. (The children in Grace Airways will be memorizing all of Psalm 23. We are confident that by hiding God's word in your heart in this way will bear fruit that will last all throughout your life. ------------ Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading Psalm 63.

During the time of Moses, the tribe of Levi was given the role of service in God’s tabernacle. One of these men, Korah, was dissatisfied with his role in the temple and wanted the place of honor that Moses held. Korah led a rebellion which resulted in disaster and death for Korah, his family, and all those who had sided with him against Moses’ leadership. (See Numbers 16) But not all perished that day, there were some who sided with the Lord and were spared. Fast forward to the time of David and these descendants of Korah are serving in the temple focused on the praise and musical aspect of worship. In Psalm 42, these descendants of Korah give an honest complaint from a state of discouragement. They hunger for more of God (rather than more status among men) but God feels distant. In the life of a Christian there can also be seasons of spiritual dryness and times where our soul thirsts for God to make Himself known to us. We hunger for His nearness, yet He feels so very far away. We long for His touch, yet day in and day out we feel numb, empty, and discouraged. It is very trying and can be quite unsettling when this type of season thrusts itself upon us. The words recorded in Psalm 42 models for us honesty in the midst of real hunger, honesty in the ache that comes from waiting, and honesty in the reality of God’s faithfulness that can be counted on in spite of and in the midst of our discouragement.  We can confidently put our hope in God, our Savior, for we will yet praise Him. --------------- To help us keep God’s word planted deep into our hearts we encourage you to memorize a Psalm over the Summer. (The children in Grace Airways will be memorizing all of Psalm 23. We are confident that by hiding God's word in your heart in this way will bear fruit that will last all throughout your life. --------------- Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading Psalm 42.

David Guzak writes; “This psalm is simply titled To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. Charles Spurgeon rightly said regarding the title of this psalm,“The dedication to the chief musician proves that this song of mingled measures and alternate strains of grief and woe was intended for public singing, and thus a deathblow is given to the notion that nothing but praise should be sung.” We have no definite marking place in David’s life for this psalm because he was so often in trouble. It resonates with deep and personal trust in God in the depths of difficulty. Psalm 31 is a good one to memorize – for all who walk this earth will suffer and need words when there are no words. (Jesus did tell us; *“In this world you will have trouble, but take heart, I have overcome the world.”*)  In Psalm 31 David calls out and names his deep distress alongside truths that enable him to take heart in the midst of the pain. One of the common traps set for us is to believe that God has forsaken and that His love has failed. David's cries and pleas for help are based on the reality of God’s unchanging and unfailing love – a love that exists outside of and on a completely different plain than David’s troubles.   The pattern David gives for our own impossible circumstances, crises of faith, sickness, distress, depression, despair and death is this: “this is *how things are*, this is *who You are Lord*, *please move* according to the character I know is true of You but do not see, *for the sake of Your name lead and guide me, free me from the traps that are set for me*.”  While we wait for the Lord’s deliverance, and especially for those for whom the wait is long, do take heart – none of this can last forever. Jesus has overcome and He loves us. His mercy is new every morning. He is a strong fortress and able to save. Prepare for this week's teaching by reading Psalm 31 ------- To help us keep God’s word planted deep into our hearts we encourage you to memorize a Psalm over the Summer. (The children in Grace Airways will be memorizing all of Psalm 23. We are confident that by hiding God's word in your heart in this way will bear fruit that will last all throughout your life.

“Water has tremendous erosive power, particularly when carrying large amounts of sediment and rock, like the Colorado River does with flooding.” So says the National Park Service when explaining the role the Colorado River has had in the forming and carving out of the Grand Canyon. They go onto describe; “When large amounts of water are moved through a river channel, large rocks and boulders are carried too. These rocks act like chisels, chipping off pieces of the riverbed as they bounce along.” Isn’t that how life feels at times? Trials come our way like a flood followed by doubts, discouragements, and despair chipping away at our faith causing us to lose our footing.  In Psalm 73, Asaph begins; “Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold.” The cause of Asaph's struggle was seeing how those who love Jesus suffer while those whose worship and love are for themselves seem to prosper. It is a real and raw question – if we have found favor in the Lord’s sight, why then is life so dang hard? The thing that lifts us up out of the flood and sediment that follows is to gaze on our Shepherd. He is our sanctuary, He is our strength, He is near and He is good. How wonderful it is to know that our faith may falter, our hope may dim and our strength may fail, but God is steadfast, His love is unfailing, His grip is strong. Jesus alone is able to keep us from falling and to present us before His glorious presence without fault and with great Joy. Jude 24-25 Let us shift our gaze onto the Comfort and Care of our Shepherd who promises us mercy and grace to help us in our times of need. Hebrews 4:16 Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading Psalm 73

“Water has tremendous erosive power, particularly when carrying large amounts of sediment and rock, like the Colorado River does with flooding.” So says the National Park Service when explaining the role the Colorado River has had in the forming and carving out of the Grand Canyon. They go onto describe; “When large amounts of water are moved through a river channel, large rocks and boulders are carried too. These rocks act like chisels, chipping off pieces of the riverbed as they bounce along.” Isn’t that how life feels at times? Trials come our way like a flood followed by doubts, discouragements, and despair chipping away at our faith causing us to lose our footing.  In Psalm 73, Asaph begins; “Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold.” The cause of Asaph's struggle was seeing how those who love Jesus suffer while those whose worship and love are for themselves seem to prosper. It is a real and raw question – if we have found favor in the Lord’s sight, why then is life so dang hard? The thing that lifts us up out of the flood and sediment that follows is to gaze on our Shepherd. He is our sanctuary, He is our strength, He is near and He is good. How wonderful it is to know that our faith may falter, our hope may dim and our strength may fail, but God is steadfast, His love is unfailing, His grip is strong. Jesus alone is able to keep us from falling and to present us before His glorious presence without fault and with great Joy. Jude 24-25 Let us shift our gaze onto the Comfort and Care of our Shepherd who promises us mercy and grace to help us in our times of need. Hebrews 4:16 Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading Psalm 73