Jana Burnham Have you ever had a day where it seems like you just can’t win? You pick yourself up only to get knocked down again…and again…and again? We find David praying for help and guidance in Psalm 143 when he finds himself knocked down, crushed, and feeling no way out.David prays to God and begs to be listened to. He cries out for God to pay attention to his needs. It is clear that David wan...  Read More

Natalie Johnson Psalm 130 makes me think of lying in bed in the middle of the night. Pitch black. Quiet.“Lord, did you see what happened today? Did you hear what I said? Did you see what I did - how I reacted?”The middle of the night can be haunting. In our heads, we replay it all. The list of our sins can go back for decades. Sleep is lost as we think of how we could’ve done it differently. Inste...  Read More

Trevor Beaudry I have been lucky enough to live a healthy life. For the most part, I have not had to deal with intense sickness, discomfort, or pain. However, when I look back, one time comes to mind. I remember picking up an illness that was going around school, and it was miserable. I was unable to eat anything, I ran a fever all day, and I did not feel like moving. Neither of my parents could g...  Read More

Amber Rich “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.” Psalm 51:1Through the ministry of Jesus, the Gospels narrate sinners calling out, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Throughout Jesus’ ministry the awareness of spiritual inadequacy leads to a repentance connecting sinners with God’s forgiveness. All those captive to ...  Read More

Larry Wagner “You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.” Psalm 32:7Verse seven is perhaps the best-known part of Psalm 32. A song has been written using these words to uplift Christians. Corrie Ten Boom used these words for the title of her now famous story. It is important not to miss the message in which this verse is embedded. This hidi...  Read More

Logan Karsten At the beginning of Psalm 6, David says, “My soul is in deep agony. How long, Lord, how long?”On Maundy Thursday, the last supper, Judas betrayed Jesus. After that betrayal, all the bad things started happening to Jesus. Jesus went through the worst torture there was, both physically and mentally. Then, on Good Friday, Jesus was crucified. For the first Christians, the days of his to...  Read More

Ibeth Olabarría Have you ever felt that sometimes you just don’t really feel like worshiping God? Perhaps the noise and flashiness of the world distracts you. Occupations and commitments can fill a large part of one’s life. Situations can change on a dime. Unavoidable suffering that is inescapable may make its presence felt in life’s journey. All of these factors may unexpectedly cloud the desire ...  Read More

Marilyn Kirk, Amber Weyrauch, Reese Weyrauch How different would your day to day life look if you truly believed that God is great?“The works of the Lord are great, Studied by all who have pleasure in them. His work is honorable and glorious, And His righteousness endures forever. He has made His wonderful works to be remembered; The Lord is gracious and full of compassion.” Psalm 111:2-4 NKJV. In...  Read More

Blake Spencer I turned onto the long winding driveway, heart pounding and mind racing. As I parked my car, I looked up at the large home in front of me. For the next 24 hours it would serve as my getaway, a quiet place to silence the outside noise and seek wisdom and answers from my Father. I turned my cell phone off, grabbed my Bible and journal and anxiously made my way to the upstairs suite. On...  Read More

Marty Butler Emily shifted her weight from one foot to the other. She was tired from standing in line waiting for the store to open and from riding her bike four blocks. This was the third day she had been sent by her mother hoping to get the provisions her family needed. Emily was thirteen. She had a brother who was five and a baby sister just six weeks old. The past two days the rambunctious cro...  Read More

Mallory Nelson Mashed potatoes with gravy. Fried chicken. Warm apple pie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Comfort foods. Foods that bring memories, a sense of normalcy, predictability, familiarity. Life can be like that sometimes. Things are routine. We seem to be able to expect what’s around the corner. These seasons of life typically bring us comfort, making it easy to lay our heads down at ni...  Read More

Nicole Cloyed As I look out among the dry and tightly compacted soil of my garden, I am overwhelmed with the work to be done. After the long winter months, spring is finally approaching. I don’t know about you, but that brings me immense joy! Yet, when I look out at the work that is required of me to prepare this soil for planting, I wish to myself that things could just stay the same. That by som...  Read More