Enoch, a descendant of Adam, walked with God. According to Hebrews, his pursuit of friendship with God was an act of faith. What this ancient man had is what present-day believers need to have. (14 Minutes/3500 Words)
Read moreA Guide For The Climb - Chapter 14 - War for Unity (Psalm 133)
“The Bible has the answers,” they say. Knowing how messed up life and the world and relationships can be, you decide to read it. Perhaps, you think, you will find out what family and relationships and love are supposed to look like. (13 Minutes/3500 Words)
Read moreA Guide for the Climb - Chapter 13 - Go Back To The Davidic Heart (Psalm 132)
When ancient Israel was set free from Egypt, they began to wander in the wilderness. Their leader, Moses, was called up to Mount Sinai to meet with God. There, Moses received directions on an elaborate tabernacle structure where the people could seek God. God gave Moses instructions for the tent itself and instructions for altars, furniture, the priesthood, and the ark of the covenant. That ark was to be placed inside the innermost room of the tabernacle. God's presence would rest upon it. (13 Minutes/3000 Words)
Read moreA Guide for the Climb - Chapter 12 - Obtain a Calm and Quiet Soul (Psalm 131)
I had an experience recently that illustrates the truth of our next song. As a runner, I sometimes enjoy heading to a local school to run their track. There, I must decide which lane to run in. The unwritten rule is that the slower runners take the outside “walking” lanes, while the faster runners run on the inside lanes. On this particular day, I chose lane three. I figured I was in the faster half, but the slowest of that group. (12 Minutes/3000 Words)
Read moreA Guide for the Climb - Chapter 11 - Learn to Cry and Then Wait for God (Psalm 130)
Our next song deals with one of the more difficult practices of the disciple's life, waiting for God. Because of who God is — and who we are — there are bound to be various stresses in our relationship with Him. He will confuse us at times. We will be frustrated with Him at times. If God is infinite, flawless and perfect and I am finite, sinful and imperfect, then it stands to reason that I will become frustrated in my relationship with him at times. (14 Minutes/3600 Words)
Read moreA Guide for the Climb – Chapter 9 – Wonder at God (Psalm 128)
Would you like to experience God's everywhere-blessing upon your life? Would you like to have His blessing within your soul and on your relationships? Would you like to see Him bless others through you, your city, and your church? Would you like to see future generations impacted through God's work in your life today? (13 Minutes/3200 Words)
Read moreA Guide For The Climb -- Chapter 7 -- Recognize Where True Joy Is Found (Psalm 126)
Have you ever laughed so hard you thought you were going to pull a muscle? Tears flowing from your eyes? It is right for believers to remember God is the designer of the human body, soul, and spirit. He made us with the capacity for uncapacitated laughter and joy. The God who invented that brand of hilarity is the God who longs to give us the truest measure of satisfaction -- joy unimaginable. Our next pilgrim song is a song filled with such joy, gladness, and laughter -- and these are not trivial matters. (15 minutes/3800 Words)
Read moreA Guide for the Climb -- Chapter 6 -- Be at Peace Due to Your Position in God (Psalm 125)
In a famous episode during the life of Christ, He invited His disciples to cross the sea of Galilee with Him. "Let us go across to the other side," He said. One by one, they piled into the boat. Many of them had fished the lake for years, seasoned veterans of those waters. They'd seen it all out there. But not that day. That day, a massive storm arose, like nothing they'd ever seen. (15 Minutes/4000 Words)
Read moreA Guide for the Climb -- Chapter 5 -- Remember All Your Previous Rescues (Psalm 124)
If you have ever seen a child walk off a roller coaster with a huge grin on their face, especially if they stepped onto it with a grim one, then you know what this next psalm is all about. The people who sing it had been attacked by a monster, threatened by a flood, and trapped by a fowler. But God rescued them from every calamity, and they remembered His rescues by singing about Him. (14 Minutes/3700 Words)
Read moreA Guide For The Climb -- Chapter 4 -- Develop A New Eye (Psalm 123)
Our pilgrim has come far on his journey. In his first few songs, he consecrated himself for the climb to Jerusalem. He also realized God would help him on the path, and he celebrated the gathering together of God's people. But his journey, like ours, is about interaction with God, not only in the sublime and spiritual, but in the daily and earthy stuff of life. (15 Minutes, 3800 Words)
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