Coming soon to a couch near you! We’ve been booking some intimate home shows in the Portland area this summer and are looking for some more homes to invade. So if you would like to host an Acoustic Living Room Concert please let us know!
Category Archives Devotionals
0 No Worries In a Year of Drought
I really loved the assurance and hope this passage brings. If we trust in the Lord he will sustain us even in periods of drought!
“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” —Jeremiah 17:7, 8
Let us trust in the Lord and sink our roots into him as our Rock and sure foundation. For in him we find the living water that will not run dry even when it feels like we are in dry period with the heat burning down on us.
So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
—Colossians 2:6, 7
0 Our God Delights to Show Mercy
I was reading in Micah 7 today and several of the verses leaped out at me. So often this world tries to paint God as a vengeful dictator shaking his finger at us and telling us what not to do and then casting down judgement. Yes, our God is a just God and the wages of sin is death, but he is also a loving and merciful Father who cared enough to sacrifice his only Son on our behalf, to pay the penalty that was rightfully ours to pay. Now we are justified freely by his grace!
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0 A Kingdom That Cannot Be Shaken
In light of all the earthquakes, tornadoes, floods, wars, political scandals & darkness in this world I am so thankful we have inheritance in a kingdom that cannot be shaken!
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe
—Hebrews 12:28
We need to look to God when our lives are shaken. It is he who holds things together and we should rely on him as our firm bedrock, our strong foundation.
When the earth and all its people quake, it is I who hold its pillars firm. —Psalm 75:3
When those trials and difficulties come where do we find our strength? Who do we look to in those times of tragedy that seek to sweep us away and overwhelm us?
When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?” —Psalm 11:3
When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone, but the righteous stand firm forever. —Proverbs 10:25
Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken. —Psalm 62:1, 2
We need to not build on the things of this world as our foundation because they will fail and leave us broken on shifting sand. Instead we should build on the firm foundation, Jesus, our Rock and refuge.
My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge. —Psalm 62:7, 8
Lord, be gracious to us; we long for you. Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress. He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure. —Isaiah 33:2, 6
We are all familiar with the story of the man who built his house upon the sand and when the rains came he had no firm foundation and was washed away. We should learn the lesson of the wise man from this parable who built on the unshakeable bedrock of Christ. When the storms of life came and threatened to wipe him out he was able to stand firm.
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. —Matthew 7:24, 25
Scriptures referenced by this devotional:
0 David and His Worship Band
When David appointed the worship band to lead the people in praise before the Ark of the Covenant these were some of the stirring choruses they raised. As a worship leader and writer of praise songs I love to see how David and his men lead others in proclaiming the majesty of the Lord and declaring his glory. It is a good example to follow. I like how they had guitars (lyres), keys (harps) and drums (cymbals)! I think we are often missing out on the mighty voice of the trumpets they also used, though!
He appointed some of the Levites to minister before the ark of the Lord, to extol, thank, and praise the Lord, the God of Israel: Asaph was the chief, and next to him in rank were Zechariah, then Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-Edom and Jeiel. They were to play the lyres and harps, Asaph was to sound the cymbals, and Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests were to blow the trumpets regularly before the ark of the covenant of God.
—1 Chronicles 16:4-6
Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.
—1 Chronicles 16:8-11
Sing to the Lord, all the earth; proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples. For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the Lord made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy are in his dwelling place.
—1 Chronicles 16:23-27
The next chorus of praise later became part of Psalm 29 which I used along with Psalm 19 in my song Ascribe To the Lord.
Ascribe to the Lord, all you families of nations, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering and come before him. Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness. Tremble before him, all the earth! The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved.
—1 Chronicles 16:28-30
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Cry out, “Save us, God our Savior; gather us and deliver us from the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name, and glory in your praise.” Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Then all the people said “Amen” and “Praise the Lord.”
—1 Chronicles 16:34-36
I love the last part of verse 36! Then all the people said “Amen” and “Praise the Lord.”
Scriptures referenced by this devotional:
0 He Keeps My Feet From Slipping
I am so glad that he is our rock & sure foundation. He keeps our feet from slipping when the worries of this world threaten to steal our peace.
Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. (Psalm 62:5, 6 NIV)
When I said, “My foot is slipping,” your unfailing love, Lord, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy. (Psalm 94:18, 19 NIV)