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Praying Through The Psalms
Contributed by Brian Bill on Mar 20, 2003 (message contributor)
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1. Praying For A New Perspective
Contributed on Mar 20, 2003
While the Book of Psalms may be the most popular book in the Bible, and is most often associated with worship or songs of praise, the Psalms actually give us a very practical picture of prayer.
Praying for a New Perspective We returned this past week from the best vacation we ever had as a family. We drove out east, visiting Washington, D.C. and Williamsburg, Virginia. Colonial Williamsburg is set in 1774, complete with restored homes and fascinating exhibits by silversmiths, wig ...read more
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2. A Cry From The Heart
Contributed on Mar 20, 2003
This psalm is an example of an “imprecatory prayer,” as it contains brutal honesty and an earnest call for God to bring His justice to bear on the wicked.
A Cry from the Heart As many of you know, I like to begin my sermons with humor, often at my own expense. This morning as we come to Psalm 10 in our series called, “Praying Through the Psalms,” I must confess that I can’t find anything very comical about this cry from the heart. Last week we ...read more
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3. The Lord Who Leads
Contributed on Mar 20, 2003
Since this psalm is so familiar, we’re in danger of missing the depth of its meaning. And, because it’s setting is in the world of sheep and shepherds, many of us city slickers can slide right past its richness.
The Lord Who Leads Most everyone has heard of Psalm 23. It’s a poem with no peer and has been called the sweetest song ever sung. Abraham Lincoln read it to cure his blues, and President Bush proclaimed it publicly to calm our nation’s fears after 9-11. I read these words out loud a week ...read more
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4. The Fruit Of Forgiveness
Contributed on Mar 20, 2003
The great theologian Augustine said that the beginning of knowledge is to know oneself to be a sinner. In order to be reminded of his depraved sinfulness and God’s gracious forgiveness, he had this psalm engraved on his bedroom wall as he lay dying in h
The Fruit of Forgiveness In this award winning film called “The Mission,” Robert DeNiro plays a mercenary who has taken asylum in the local church after killing his brother in a fit of jealous rage. He eventually leaves the church and heads to a mission post located above the waterfalls in a ...read more
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5. Longing For The Lord
Contributed on Mar 20, 2003
I want us to take a look at Psalm 42 in order to better understand the kind of depression that can hit us in the spiritual solar plexus.
Longing for the Lord Last week we focused our attention on Psalm 32, and established the fact that our unconfessed sins can cause us physical problems. When we don’t confess we can experience distress. What we’ll learn this morning is that pain is not always a direct result of sin. Last ...read more
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6. Love That Is Better Than Life
Contributed on Mar 20, 2003
Before David was forced into the wilderness he was obsessed with his own comfort and the satisfaction of his own needs. It’s only when everything is taken from him that he becomes obsessed with God Himself, finding full satisfaction in his praise of Him.
Love That is Better Than Life I came across some actual signs this week. On a plumbing company’s van: “A flush beats a full house!” At a tire shop in Milwaukee: “Invite us to your next blowout!” At a towing company: “We don’t charge an arm and a leg. We want tows.” On a maternity room ...read more
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7. God's Global Glory
Contributed on Mar 20, 2003
David could have questioned God, but instead he went on a quest to find God. Instead of wondering, He chose to worship. We can do the same thing as we follow the progression of his faith, from deep inside the cave, to the entrance, and then to the world
God’s Global Glory Pastors get asked questions all the time. Here are a few actual letters that kids have sent to ministers: Dear Pastor, does God like everybody? If so, He never met my sister. (Arnold, age 9) Dear Pastor, do you think my father should be a minister? Every day he gives us ...read more
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8. When Life Does Not Seem Fair
Contributed on Mar 20, 2003
Life doesn’t seem fair. Nonbelievers seem to experience more blessings than we do. In order to find some spiritual stability we need a reality check.
When Life Doesn’t Seem Fair Let’s begin this morning by talking about perception. How we view something becomes reality for us. The New Scientist magazine has compiled a list of actual statements made by children regarding their perspective about scientific matters. There are three kinds of ...read more