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In Philippians, Paul concludes by saying, "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things." And it's the perfect verse for our final episode of Life This Side of Heaven. This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

It may seem disconnected from our life to hear Paul tell us, “Do not be anxious about anything.”  Nice words, but they may seem as useful to you right now as all those Shakespeare classes back in high school English.  And they would be, if the apostle didn’t go on to say what to do instead.  If there’s something in your life that’s causing you to be anxious, it’s something to talk about with God.

In Philippians, Paul exhorts us to Rejoice!”  He isn’t advocating for any kind of forced smile or fake cheerfulness.  If that was the case, then Paul would be calling for you and me to pretend we have joy where no reason for it exists.  Then we’d be guilty to promoting that hyped up facade that Christians are so often accused of having – where we grit our teeth, put on happy face, and pretend that we don’t have struggles or concerns like other people.  That's not true. We do! No, what Paul is saying here is much more than simply taking a deep breath and yelling “whoopee!”

Jesus’ parable of the Wicked Tenants is one that might leave us scratching our heads.  Why would the owner of the vineyard, after learning that they beat and killed his messengers, send his son.? Why would God send His Son knowing they would kill Him, the Word made flesh?  Why did the Father send Jesus knowing they would kill the messenger?

Why is it that we remember our sins so clearly?  It may have been hurtful words we let slip in a moment of anger decades ago.  Something we said or did in the past may still bring back crushing guilt and shame.  Why is it that we recall them in such vivid detail?  And why, when they come to mind, would they still cause us to ache years later – and even after we’ve repented and confessed them to God? You'll want to hear what David says about this in the Psalms.

Psalm 118:24 is one of those uplifting verses that makes you smile just hearing it: “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” It fits perfectly on those days you feel like celebrating. But are there ever days when the sentiment in this psalm seems completely inappropriate? If that’s the case then here’s a “must hear” verse that’s easily overlooked on those occasions as well.

In Psalm 91 we hear, "He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone." How can the Psalmist say this when so often suffering and misfortune in the lives of believers would seem to indicate the opposite?  One of the best ways to answer this question is to hear how Jesus Himself, the Word made flesh, responded to this verse.

United with Christ.  It's not an achievement you and I work toward, it's a blessing that's ours right now! And in these divided times, it's not one not to be taken for granted.  It’s a precious gift from the Holy Spirit that’s ours through faith.  It’s anchored in the blessings we have received from our Savior.

Well, I have some news.  But I want you to know that it’s serious.  You need a get a new heart.  And a new spirit.  Wait, what? Well, now you get what Ezekiel means when he says that it’s serious. But what you and I can't do, God in love has!

Fresh pie fresh from the oven.  What could be better?  But there’s only so much of it.  You can cut into six slices or eight but it still comes out the same.  There’s a limit to it and then it’s gone.  It's tempting to think of God's love and mercy this way.  If that's the case, then we've probably become stingy at sharing it.  And we may despair that the sins in our life have caused both to run out.  But listen again to Solomon's words here in Lamentations.  It's both remarkable and reassuring.

When you and I are face a low time in our life, when it may look like things couldn’t get any worse, God reminds us we haven’t been abandoned and we are safe in His hands. And, surprisingly, the good God brings from a low time in our life may make it one of the best.

In Isaiah we hear him say, "Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near." What does this mean? Isaiah explains. So, where do you and I pick up the search? God Himself gives us the answer!

In Psalm 116, the psalmist asks, "What shall I render to the LORD for all His benefits to me?" That's a question you and I face as well. What is the best way to worship and give thanks to God for the forgiveness of sins and eternal life that He has given to us in His Son? His answer may surprise you. Note: Today's devotion is an encore of a popular message that was first published back in September 2020. I'm taking this weekend to complete a necessary update to the software I use to work with a new operating system.

How many times should you shuffle a deck of cards?  Have you ever played a game of cards and wondered if the deck was shuffled sufficiently?  Does it seem like the same cards keep coming up again and again? If you’re like me, it might surprise you to hear that scholarly papers and entire books have been written on this topic. However, it turns out the answer has wide ranging impact. On the surface, Peter's suggestion here in Matthew may sound trivial.  He asked Jesus, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me?  Up to seven times?” But Jesus' answer has a profound impact on how you and I live each day as His redeemed children.

“On the lam.”  That’s a phrase that’s used to describe a fugitive.  Fearing punishment, our instinct is to run from God when we sin.  But our trespasses have a way of catching up with us.  More specifically, God has a way of chasing us down.  But it’s often in a way that’s surprisingly different than we imagine.