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Weekly devotionals based on soul tending in the book of Psalms.

What detours are you facing? Psalm 72

/ Anthea Kotlan / Leave a comment

Thursday, January 6th, is a feast day for the church known as Epiphany. It’s the day we remember the magi or three kings who sought baby Jesus by following a star. The Feast Day of Epiphany then begins the season of Epiphany. Ash Wednesday (03/02/2022) will mark the end of the season of Epiphany.

Have you ever considered how the three kings dutifully followed the star all the way to Jerusalem and not Bethlehem? Was it a divine detour?

Matthew chapter 2 explains they began to ask about where the newly born King of the Jews might be. Their questions troubled everyone, but most especially King Herod. He was not about to let someone else claim his throne, so he enquired of his chief priests about the birthplace of Christ. They directed him towards the city of Bethlehem because it had been foretold.

King Herod then summoned the three kings and told them to go and find the child in Bethlehem. As soon as they did, he instructed them to report back the child’s location, so he could go worship him too. Honesty was undoubtedly not one of King Herod’s character traits.

After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 
Matthew 2:9-10 ESV

These three kings persisted even when the route was challenging. Their journey to Jesus, even with the detour to Herod’s palace, fulfilled many prophecies about the promised Messiah. He would be worshipped and acknowledged by many nations. (Isaiah 60:3)

What detours are you facing in this season? Are you willing to persevere like the three kings?

These three kings sought Jesus because he was the promised Messiah and the savior of the world. So they came to worship him.

Psalm 72 concludes the second book of Psalms and was written as a prayer by King David. The verses appear to be a glance into the future at the ultimate king, Jesus.

1 Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to the royal son!

2 May he judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice!

3 Let the mountains bear prosperity for the people, and the hills, in righteousness!

4 May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the children of the needy, and crush the oppressor!

Psalm 72:1-4 ESV

These verses describe a ruler who will defend the cause of the poor, bring justice, and judge the people with righteousness. Only King Jesus can judge with complete righteousness.

5 May they fear you while the sun endures, and as long as the moon, throughout all generations!

6 May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass, like showers that water the earth!

7 In his days may the righteous flourish, and peace abound, till the moon be no more!

8 May he have dominion from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth!

9 May the desert tribes bow down before him, and his enemies lick the dust!

10 May the kings of Tarshish and of the coastlands render him tribute; may the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts!

11 May all kings fall down before him, all nations serve him!

Psalm 72:5-11 ESV

Jesus did receive gifts from other kings, and they did all fall down and worship him.

12 For he delivers the needy when he calls, the poor and him who has no helper.

13 He has pity on the weak and the needy and saves the lives of the needy.

14 From oppression and violence he redeems their life, and precious is their blood in his sight.

15 Long may he live; may gold of Sheba be given to him! May prayer be made for him continually, and blessings invoked for him all the day!

Psalm 72:12-15 ESV

Jesus even received the gift of gold from one of the three kings.

16 May there be abundance of grain in the land; on the tops of the mountains may it wave; may its fruit be like Lebanon; and may people blossom in the cities like the grass of the field!

17 May his name endure forever, his fame continue as long as the sun! May people be blessed in him, all nations call him blessed!

18 Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things.

19 Blessed be his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory!

Amen and Amen!

20 The prayers of David, the son of Jesse, are ended.

Psalm 72:16-20 ESV

Someday every verse from this Psalm will be completely fulfilled when Jesus comes back to rule forever. Be encouraged in this season of Epiphany (January 6-March 1st) by the example of the three kings who followed a star and found the promised Messiah. The word Epiphany means revelation because God is showing us His son and promised ruler.

What does God wish to reveal to you in this season?

Are you feeling lost, disoriented, or out of time in this season of Advent? Psalm 25

/ Anthea Kotlan / 5 Comments

Decades before GPS was available at my fingertips, my children and I roamed the earth in a Honda minivan, getting lost on many occasions. The only thing worse than getting lost with your own young children is getting lost with your friends’ children at the Houston Zoo.

Had I been to the Zoo before?

Sure, I had always gone with people who possessed a fabulous sense of direction. What didn’t I know? I had set off on a grand adventure with a friend who also had no sense of direction.

Somehow, we managed to arrive at the Zoo with little or no trouble, but that’s when it all started to go wrong. Let me explain to those of you who can drive to Dallas without consulting Google maps or even perhaps your local grocery store. The struggle for those with zero sense of direction is truly real. We are a small group in the general population, but on that fateful day, two adults lacking an internal compass came together. As we stepped into the parking lot of the Zoo with six children in tow, we had no idea the challenges we would face.

If anyone had been tracking us, they might have noticed the inefficient way we meandered around the Zoo. We must have passed by the East Indian Elephants no less than a dozen times. As we ambled along with our small gang of young ’uns, we became distracted by our own conversation and endless requests for snacks.  The animals, the signage, the photo opportunities, and crowds conspired to leave us wandering and wondering. Did we stop and study the map of the Zoo? A map for me is a lovely illustration of objects that may or may not be near or far away.

Hours later things would turn ugly when our six tired children needed to go home, and two mothers had no clue how to find the freeway to go back out to the suburbs of Houston. No amount of gripping the steering wheel brought clarity and a deep sense of dread began to bubble up inside me. A cold sweat beaded up on my forehead. At one point I even took out my ancient, folded map. We both looked at it as we sat on the side of the road trying to determine a way forward. Nothing.

The digital clock on the dashboard counted down the minutes to rush hour. Sheer panic mixed with paralysis glued me to the driver’s seat. Our supply of cold juice boxes and time were dwindling rapidly.

With just over two weeks left until Christmas, it’s far too easy to feel lost, disoriented, and out of time. In this season of Advent, the Anglican prayer book offers a prayer for the third Sunday of Advent (December 12, 2021) that speaks to our need for direction and waypoints in life’s spiritual journey.

O  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  you  sent  your  messengers  the  prophets  to  preach  repentance  and  prepare  the  way  for our  salvation:  Grant  that  the  ministers  and  stewards  of  your  mysteries  may  likewise  make  ready  your  way,  by turning  the  hearts  of  the  disobedient  toward  the  wisdom  of  the  just,  that  at  your  second  coming  to  judge  the world,  we  may  be  found  a  people  acceptable  in  your  sight;  for  with  the  Father  and  the  Holy  Spirit  you  live and  reign, one  God, now  and  for  ever.    Amen.

Anglican Church in North America Book of Common Prayer 2019 (page 599)

Questions

Am I taking time this Advent season to make way for more of Jesus in my life?

Do I live a life reflecting the hope found at the second coming of Jesus?

Psalm 25 offers some wisdom for these questions.

Psalm 25

1 To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
2 O my God, in you I trust; let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult over me.
3 Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame; they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.
4 Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths.
5 Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.
(Psalm 25:1-5 ESV)

This morning I will choose to lift my soul to the one who created it, by reading my Bible and praying. Even when I don’t have time, I will choose to trust my divine creator to make provision in all ways. I will seek Your next steps for me and not my own. Help me learn about Your path for my life. I want to go where You call me to and wait for your prompting and not get ahead or behind Your daily guidance.

6 Remember your mercy, O Lord, and your steadfast love, for they have been from of old.
7 Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of your goodness, O Lord!
8 Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
9 He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way.
10 All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies. Psalm 25: 6-10 ESV

Lord, teach me to remember Your mercy. Help me forget my sins and transgressions and see Your steadfast love. Help me to keep a humble posture towards You. Lead, teach and guide me in Your paths of faithfulness.

11 For your name's sake, O Lord, pardon my guilt, for it is great.
12 Who is the man who fears the Lord? Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose.
13 His soul shall abide in well-being, and his offspring shall inherit the land.
14 The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant.
15 My eyes are ever toward the Lord, for he will pluck my feet out of the net.
16 Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted.
Psalm 25: 11-16 ESV

Lord, in Your presence I long to abide. In mercy, You extend friendship to me and a rescuing hand when I find trouble. Help me keep my eyes always on You. At this most joyful time of the year, loss and sadness can eclipse the glow of Christmas lights. In the darkest times, I will find solace in You as my soul-satisfying companion.

17 The troubles of my heart are enlarged; bring me out of my distresses.
18 Consider my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins.
19 Consider how many are my foes, and with what violent hatred they hate me.
20 Oh, guard my soul, and deliver me! Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.
21 May integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for you.
22 Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles.
Psalm 25:17-22 ESV

Lord, You are my deliverer, one who understands me, the guard of my soul, my protector, and the only one worthy of my waiting.

Advent Prayer from Psalm 25

Lord, as I spend time in Your word today, I am reminded of Your kindness to me, and I give thanks. You know all about my propensity towards getting lost. You hear my cries, and You provide what I lack. Thank you for finding me and showing me the way of salvation when I was lost. Help me to live a life pointing the way for fellow travelers. This Advent season let me use my time wisely to prepare the way for others so they can see the hope I am holding on to in this season. Amen

Back at the minivan just outside the Zoo in a moment of collective brilliance, we both looked up and noticed a built-in compass above the rear-view mirror. We knew we lived North of Houston. Surely, if we traveled North, we would eventually get back to Spring.  Maybe?

The good news is we made it back home, eventually.

How about you this Advent? Are you making your own way or following what the Lord has for you? The gift of not having any real internal sense of direction has always reminded me to seek daily and even moment by moment directions. I may even have multiple GPS apps on my phone. However, when it comes to my spiritual life, I give thanks today to the Lord who never tires of showing me His way. He is always ready to give me turn by turn directions in real-time.

An Advent Interruption – Psalm 16

/ Anthea Kotlan / Leave a comment
(An Advent Wreath with the first candle lighted. )

This time of year, Christmas can feel like a destination found at the top of Mount Everest. So, loaded down with a backpack full of expectations, I slowly make forward progress up the mountain.

Interrupting my expedition, the Lord invites me into the season of Advent. When I go to church on Sunday, November 28th, our church, with churches all over the world, will light the first candle on the Advent Wreath. This lighted candle reminds me to mark the first Sunday of the Advent season.

I find a moment to pause in the soft glow of candlelight to consider what is most important to me. I set down that heavy backpack and pray.

A Prayer for the First Sunday of Advent

Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

(Anglican Church in North America Book of Common Prayer 2019)

Advent, an essential part of the liturgical calendar for believers worldwide, gives me a season of 4 or 5 weeks to prepare my heart and mind for Jesus’ birthday on December 25th. The tone of the prayer above reflects so clearly the struggle we live in between Jesus’ birthday and Jesus’ great return.

Spiritual darkness surrounds each of us, so I must find ways to put on the armor of light and cast away the works of darkness. If I am so focused on the arduous climb up the mountain to Christmas day, I might miss out on my need to prepare myself spiritually. Advent is a gift of margin at a time of year when excess can overwhelm me.

Today I am praying through Psalm 16 with Advent on my mind.

1 Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
2 I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.”

Psalm 16:1-2 ESV

O God, you hear my cry to be preserved and you answer with your presence where I can take refuge and rest. There I find clarity. Being with You is a way I can put on the armor of light.

In Your presence, I realize that all I have does not compare to you, Lord.

In Your presence, I know I can hold loosely to anything else I possess.

In Your presence, I can give up having it all.

Great freedom is found in this place of surrender. I am no longer weighed down by what I feel I must have.

I have all I need in You, alone. Sitting in this truth remedies the drive to find perfect Christmas gifts for everyone and spend my free time shopping.

3 As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight.
4 The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply; their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out or take their names on my lips.

Psalm 16:3-4 ESV

Thank you for the gift of a faith community. Friends and family who follow You fill my heart with delight. I see a greater revelation of who you are, Lord, in how your image is reflected in each of their lives.

Give me compassion for those who run after and worship another god. Keep me accountable to pray for them to see and seek You.

Help me see opportunities in this Advent season to share the real reason for Christmas with my circle of influence. Help me to invite those who might not have a church home into mine. Let me cast away the works of darkness by practicing intentional hospitality.

5 The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot.
6 The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.

Pslam 16:5-6 ESV

Lord, You make provision for me for now and in this season of waiting for Your son’s return.

Guide me through Advent and help me make more room in my heart for You. You are my chosen portion. May my checkbook ledger and schedule reflect that truth.

What could I give up to make more head and heart space for Advent contemplation?

What could I take on to help me spend more time with You?

7 I bless the Lord who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me.
8 I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.

Pslam 16:7-8 ESV

Thank you for the encouraging guidance found in Your word.

Even in the dark night, when I don’t know where to turn, the Holy Spirit brings truths from the Bible to mind.

As I am prone to get lost and disoriented, thank you for the supernatural GPS system of guidance you provide. As I light a candle on my Advent wreath, may I find ways to share the light of Christ this week?

9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure.
10 For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol or let your holy one see corruption.

Psalm 16:9-10 ESV

Lord, I thank you today for my salvation. Your son came near, died on the cross, and rose again to give me access to You. Help me to find ways to walk in that peace and security today as a way to cast away the darkness. Through the saving work of Jesus’s death on the cross, I have light living inside me. Help me to shine.

11 You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Psalm 16:11 ESV

Lord, thank you for this first week of Advent. Help me take time to be in your presence and refill my heart with the joy found there. Help me to be ready to share joy with a watching and weary world. As I spend time with you each morning, dress me in the armor of light, so I might bring you glory. Amen

This year the first Sunday of Advent is November 28th, the second Sunday of Advent is December 5th, the third Sunday of Advent is December 12th, and the fourth Sunday of Advent is December 19th. So stay tuned in December for more posts on Advent. I hope you will consider taking the Advent journey with me this year.

How do you and your family celebrate Advent?

*You might have noticed that this is a second journey through Psalm 16. I believe the psalms are amazing pieces of Biblical wisdom that can be used to process various emotions. Hence, the term: soul tending in the psalms.

Giving Thanks Does Me Good – Psalm 95

/ Anthea Kotlan / Leave a comment
(Woman with her arms raised high.)

A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of gathering with a group of believers from across my denomination. The opening service for that weekend’s gathering featured one of my favorite worship leaders, and I sat with some lovely young women who embraced the opportunity to sing with full gusto. These are my people. Hymns and worship music are stories of God’s faithfulness that remind our hearts and renew our minds.

I walked into the service carrying some painful situations and while nothing of my own circumstances changed during the event, I felt a heart shift. While raising my hands high and giving joyous thanksgiving to God, my anxiety lessened, my irritation with life’s unfairness waned, and gratitude flooded my heart. In a season of leaving and letting go, God gently reminds me to give Him thanks because it does me good.

God does not need me to remind Him of all He has done for me, but clearly, I need to recall. Something unique happens in corporate worship carrying me closer to God’s throne even when I feel least capable of getting there by myself. On that evening, I needed an assist.

Psalm 95 contains both a call to God’s people to worship with a thankful heart and a dire prophetic warning. 

1 Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!
2 Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!

Psalm 95:1-2 ESV

Lord, thank you that you invite me to gather with my community to sing, make a joyful noise, praise, and come into your presence. You know that I am designed to be encouraged by sisters and brothers in the faith. 

3 For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods.
4 In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also.

Psalm 95:3-4 ESV

Lord, thank you that there is nothing out of your reach. No place on earth that you aren’t there. You are always present everywhere.

5 The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.
6 Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!

Psalm 95:5-6 ESV

Thank you that when I kneel before you, I have an opportunity to know you more. I can also surrender my own efforts and plans to Your sovereign will.

7 For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.
Today, if you hear his voice,
8     do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah, as on the day at Massah in the wilderness,
9 when your fathers put me to the test and put me to the proof, though they had seen my work.

Psalm 95:7-9 ESV

Lord, thank you that you know me full well. You understand that my heart can become world-weary and slowly but surely toughen up in a protective stance. A hard heart struggles to hold on to hope and believe You are working. Keep me from grumbling because the caustic effect on me and those around me can destroy our relationship. Help me to hear your voice in daily doses.  

10 For forty years I loathed that generation and said, “They are a people who go astray in their heart, and they have not known my ways.”
11 Therefore I swore in my wrath, “They shall not enter my rest.”
Psalm 95:10-11 ESV

Lord, keep me steadfast and surrendered to your will. Guard my heart against moving away from You in slow and imperceptible ways. Save me from the dire consequences of separation due to unrepentant sin and rebellion. Amen

In this week leading up to the celebration of Thanksgiving in the United States, I must intentionally cultivate an attitude of thankfulness. Left to my own devices, I default far too easily to spotlight the less and the lack. I will choose to praise You and give thanks for all You are doing.

Don’t mind me, I’ll be the gal blasting praise music in my car as I run errands.  As I walk in the mornings, I’ll take time to recall Your good deeds. As I spend some extra time in my kitchen next week, I’ll give thanks for the abundance of opportunities to show hospitality.  

How about you? How will you cultivate an attitude of thanksgiving this week? I would love to hear your thoughts.

Hide and Seek: Where do I go to be more Present with God? Psalm 27

/ Anthea Kotlan / 2 Comments

Hide and seek with a toddler is a gloriously simple game. I cover my face then peep out over my hands, and say, “Boo!”

This is enough to send my granddaughter into fits of giggles.

Now that she is two, we even scamper around the living room and down the hall and back around. I pretend to chase her and then cut back the other way and circle around in the opposite direction. When I come towards her, she is genuinely surprised and joyful to see me again. It is gloriously fun, and the laughter continues.

My granddaughter loves to spend time with me. I don’t have to impress her with anything other than being fully present with her. I try my best to set aside my “To Do” list and be fully focused on whatever we are doing together. As a young mother years ago, I failed to do that far too often. In this second time around with my grandchildren, I’m trying to enjoy the wisdom that comes later in life. Most of the other stuff can wait. Being fully present overflows with rewards for her and for me.

God loves for me to be fully present with Him. As I pray through Psalm 27, I am reminded of all God is doing for me.

1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? 
Psalm 27:1 ESV
2 When evil doers assail me, to eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall. 
Psalm 27:2 ESV

Where do I hide when life feels dark and overwhelming?

In a dark world, only God can provide true light to guide me. He provides a place of respite where I can hide and be protected. My heavenly Father is omnipresent, so this place can be anywhere I cry out to him. While I am unlikely to face any cannibals this week, I may find those whose words tear my flesh with sarcasm and harsh judgment. It is, however, not up to me to take out those who cause me grief. God has a way of sorting them out in His ways and timing.

3 Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident. 
Psalm 27:3 ESV
4 One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple. 
Psalm 27:4 ESV

Where can I worship and wonder?

Sometimes when I feel particularly surrounded, I might need to go to a physical sanctuary where symbols and structure can serve to remind me of God’s presence. Perhaps there is a church sanctuary or chapel that I could spend some time in praying or being silent? Is there a weekday service that I could go to and find an extra dose of gazing upon the beauty of the Lord in his temple? Just spending half an hour wondering about God in His house might refresh my spirit in new ways.

5 For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock. 
Psalm 27:5 ESV
6 And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the Lord. 
Psalm 27:6 ESV

Where can I hide and give my offerings?

Spending time outside in God’s amazing creation can also refresh my weary soul. God’s great outdoors contains mountain majesties, wooded sanctuaries, rocky platforms, and so many holy spaces. These are places where I can offer up sacrifices of praise in the form of singing or playing an instrument before Him. Being outdoors resets my brain and worship refreshes my spirit.

7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud; be gracious to me and answer me! 
Psalm 27:7 ESV
8 You have said, “Seek my face. ”My heart says to you, “Your face, Lord, do I seek.” 
Psalm 27:8 ESV

Where can I know I am heard, seen, and protected?

Setting aside extra time this week in God’s word can be a great way to seek God’s face. As an audio learner, I find that listening to someone read the Bible can bring a wonderful new perspective. One of my favorite Bible readers is Max McLean on Bible Gateway. As I listen to a reading, with an open Bible before, I see new things I haven’t seen before. God longs to have a conversation with me. Too often I am very quick to speak and painfully slow to listen for His still quiet voice. When I don’t feel like God is listening to me, taking extra time to listen to Him always seems to shift my perspective. Often, He will speak into the very thing I am so concerned about.

9 Hide not your face from me. Turn not your servant away in anger, O you who have been my help. Cast me not off; forsake me not, O God of my salvation! Psalm 
27:9 ESV
10 For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the Lord will take me in. 
Psalm 27:10 ESV

Where can I find help and community?

Christian psychologist, Dan Allender teaches that parents should delight in their children. Like so many others, my family of origin was a bit more dysfunctional than delightful. My parents struggled with brokenness and did not have the resources of a faith community when I was a child. After I came to know Him, the Lord truly did take me in and provide family members inside my church. I am blessed to know some of those spiritual sisters, mothers, brothers, and fathers to this day. As much as it is possible, take time weekly to connect with your community.

11 Teach me your way, O Lord, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies. 
Psalm 27:11 ESV
12 Give me not up to the will of my adversaries; for false witnesses have risen against me, and they breathe out violence. 
Psalm 27:12 ESV

Where can I find instruction and a safe sanctuary?

The last 18 months have been full of change for everyone. Changing expectations, changing rules, changing ways of doing things, changing how we used to think about things…the constant is change. However, God does provide a level path with His wise and consistent guidance. God remains faithful even amid uncertainty. When I feel disoriented about someone saying something wrong about me, I can take it to the Lord and enquire of Him about what if any of it is true. He is my North Star and reliable guide.

13 I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! 
Psalm 27:13 ESV
14 Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! Psalm 27:14 ESV

Where do I wait and find the courage to persevere?

The Lord is always worthy of my waiting. While I find myself on pause, sometimes the best use of my time is to create a list of thanksgivings and review all He has done for me recently. These lists provide a visual of the goodness of the Lord where I can fix my eyes. Reviewing God’s faithfulness fills my heart and mind with the courage I need most to carry on.

Prayer

Lord, please cultivate in me greater faith in dark and challenging times. Help me to find safety in you alone and not escape into the empty ways of the world. Would you provide the will in me and the creative ways to set aside time only for you, Lord? Help me bask in your presence and focus entirely on you. Help me to regularly spend time in the spiritual community you have provided. Guide me to find time and space in Your house whenever I can. Let me always be found waiting for your goodness. Amen

Finding Hope in Times of Transition – Psalm 126

/ Anthea Kotlan / 2 Comments
  • Going back to school
  • Going away to college
  • Moving across the country
  • Getting married
  • Losing a parent
  • Starting a new job
  • Having a baby

Transitions create opportunities for new routines, new relationships, and new ways of doing things. All those new shiny ventures have a flip side, endless goodbyes and letting go.

My husband and I are walking through a season of transition. In June we were called to leave a church community that we had done life with for almost two decades. We are journeying with the Gathering, a community on a mission to plant a church in Richmond, Texas. Seasons of transition involve many goodbyes and some amazing introductions.

And now, God, do it again— bring rains to our drought-stricken lives.So those who planted their crops in despair will shout “Yes!” at the harvest,So those who went off with heavy hearts will come home laughing, with armloads of blessing.
Psalms 126:4-6 The Message

Psalm 126 is a psalm of ascent and was designed for traveling and transitions. Psalms of ascent were shared to encourage pilgrims on the yearly journey back to Jerusalem. While on a tour of Israel, our group read these psalms of ascent as our bus drove up the steep road to Jerusalem. Even our bus seemed to struggle slightly to make its way ever upward. I cannot imagine how difficult it must have been for families with young or older members.

This psalm focuses on the story of God’s faithfulness to his people. It tells a story of people reuniting after one group was taken captive and the other was left behind. Last week we looked at the joyful reunions in the first three verses. (https://antheakotlan.com/2021/08/04/am-i-watching-for-gods-wonderfulness/)The next three verses of Psalm 126 (verses 4-6) overflow with joyful celebration and speak about reversals of fortune. Weaved into these verses are some cautions for me to consider.

Verse 4 opens with a request to God, “do it again—bring rains to our drought-stricken lives.”
The idea of an encore performance proves that the author of the text knew that God was capable of fulfilling this request as He had done before. This was more than a simple request for rain. The psalmist begs for a remedy for drought-stricken lives because he knows what God can and will do.

Keep me reminded, Lord, of what you have done and will continue to do in times of transition.

Times of transition make God’s people particularly vulnerable to becoming soul parched. Drought-stricken lives can lose hope and become hardened by disappointment. The dry ground of my heart can’t germinate even the very best seed. A miraculous intervention is needed for two kinds of thirsty people.

1) Those who planted crops in despair stayed and found themselves surrounded by uncertainty.

2) Those who went off with heavy hearts when they were taken captive by the enemy. Now, they have returned to their homeland decades later. They are parched beyond measure.

I can relate to both kinds of people.

What does it mean to plant crops in despair?

• Is it the mother who continues to pray for an estranged child?

• Is it an adult child who continues to honor her elderly parent, even when it is emotionally costly?

• Is it the worker who works hard despite a lack of accolades?

How is God calling me to plant seeds in areas of my life that might feel hopeless? What harvest is He asking me to remain faithful to? Even before the rains come back.Is a harvest still good and abundant if it doesn’t come in on my timeline? What if the harvest is not what I expected? Could it be more of what I need and not so much what I want?

Keep me planting the seeds you have entrusted to me in this season. Even when I can’t see the harvest.

How about those captives “who went off with heavy hearts”? How will they come back?
Verse 6 says, “they will come home laughing, with armloads of blessing.”

How about the times in my life when I am called to go out with a heavy heart? Departing with sadness may happen long before I return with the armloads of blessings. Sometimes I have to go, not knowing where I will land or what I will find when I get there. Sometimes I am called to go even when I don’t want to.

Keep me on track and in step with you even when the path takes me in another direction, and I’m not clear exactly where we are going.

What about those armloads of blessings? What do I need to put down so I have the armload space for those new blessings? If they are measured in armloads, could they be a burden in themselves? Do blessings sometimes take work on my part? Do blessings come in armloads and seem too much sometimes? Do blessings overflow and surprise us with the generosity of God?

Psalm 126 seems to point to the now and not yet. When I see the partial restoration, maybe it is a sign or reminder for what is yet to come. God is, in fact, going to do it again and again. He never grows weary of surprising me with abundance.

As a Christ-follower, I have a call on my life to be a hope giver, hope sharer, and a hope speaker. None of which comes naturally to me. In times of transition, can I choose to do just that?

Keep me open-handed and open-armed in times of transition.

Prayer

Lord, help me to offer hope for a future, fuller harvest. Can I be found pointing to you for a greater and more complete restoration? Can you help me in preparing in hope for those armloads of blessings? May they spill over to a broken world. Amen.

How do you see hope in Psalm 126? How could you share that hope today?

God Loves a Fixer-Upper – Psalm 19:10-14

/ Anthea Kotlan / Leave a comment
(House graphic)

The Fixer Upper Formula

Next time you watch a show featuring home or garden renovation, look for this universal formula to play out.

          First, the family and the crew meet in the backyard or at the house, cast a vision, and get guidance on what they want, what they value, and how much it will cost.

          Second, a hidden fault will be revealed just as the work starts. There is always something that no one saw at the beginning that threatens to hijack the entire project. The good news is that there will always be a creative solution. But in the meantime, we will all be on the edge of our seats to see if, once again, the team will overcome what no one saw coming.

         Third, the grand reveal introduced the family to a transformed space. Everything has been made new and done in a way that will last and be sustainable.

How does God bring renovation to our lives?

God uses His word to begin a transformation in each of our hearts. First, He wants us to see how valuable change can be. Then, using vivid imagery, God reveals that His word is a treasure.

Have you ever asked the Lord for a vision for your life?

10 More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.

11 Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

(Psalm 19:10-11 ESV)

God’s word is beneficial in short-term ways. Money or gold can be spent on whatever is needed. Honey can be eaten or used medicinally immediately. By contrast, Verse 11 points to the long-term benefits of listening and obeying God’s word. Notice the promise tucked in here, “there is great reward.”

12 Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults.

13 Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression.
(Psalm 19:12-13 ESV)

The case of the rotten support beams

On a recent home makeover show, the crew discovered critical support beams were rotted inside the concrete. The rotten wood was concealed until the time was spent in a very close inspection.  Some of the concrete had to be chipped away to reveal the state of these beams. If left in place, the balcony would have collapsed. The problem with hidden faults is that they are hidden. Spending regular time alone with God, focused on hearing from Him, is a pathway toward discovering secret sins. Sometimes praying for the Holy Spirit reveals what we can’t see by ourselves.

A Heart Inspection

Have you set aside time recently for a heart inspection with your Heavenly Father?

Finally, the “big reveal” day comes on the renovation show, and the changes are displayed. Fresh flowers and candles are added to make a clear outward sign of all the work done behind the scenes.

An Authentic Renovation

14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.  
 (Psalm 19:14 ESV)

An actual heart renovation is revealed by what I say, how I think, and what I care about and value. These are the visible signs of all that has been changed within. We are walking about as living evidence of what God is doing to transform us daily.

Do the words of your mouth and how you spend your time and talent reveal God’s priorities?

As humans, we a drawn to the idea of renewal because it positions hope within reach. On television, it is all about the talented crew’s hard work. Spiritual transformation works from the inside out and can only be accomplished by God, but He desires our partnership.

A Prayer for Personal Renovation

Lord, thank you that you long to transform with the ultimate makeover to restore hope, reveal hidden problems, and support sustainable growth and change. Please show me how to begin that work today. Amen.

This is the third post in a series on Psalm 19. Check out these two post links if you want to read more.

Sunrise Sightings of the Kingdom of God

https://wordpress.com/post/antheakotlan.com/445

Does Your parched soul need some spiritual drip irrigation?

https://wordpress.com/post/antheakotlan.com/454

Does your parched soul need some spiritual drip irrigation? Psalm 19:7-9

/ Anthea Kotlan / 2 Comments

An English Rose Garden

In the middle of the 1970s, my Welsh-born father brought our family from England to Texas. After purchasing a modest home in the Spring Branch area, he created an English Rose Garden. Popular gardening wisdom warned him that this might be impossible, but he took the challenge in stride. Clad in his favorite bicentennial shorts, he set out to create the perfect place for delicate roses to thrive in the harsh Texas climate.

He built a raised flower bed with railroad ties to provide proper drainage. He filled it with premium soil. Before planting those rose bushes, he added a drip irrigation system. This form of steady watering was indeed the best-kept rose-growing secret. Roses love moist soil. If you know Texas summers, you know the two kinds of weather: monsoon and drought. None of those gentle, soaking rains around here. It is all or nothing. My father’s drip irrigation helped keep those roses happy. My father’s efforts were rewarded with the most spectacular display of rose blooms that wrapped our entire front garden in a rainbow of colors.

Gardeners must provide all that is needed for plants to thrive. Because God is a faithful tender of my soul, he provides the Bible to give practical guidance on soul care and keep. The book of Psalms is one of my favorite places to find this wisdom.

The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are valid, and righteous altogether. (Psalm 19:7-9 ESV)

We all need a drip irrigation system of daily exposure to God’s word. A once-weekly reading of the Bible at church might last for a day or two, but the daily infusion revives us and keeps us thriving.

Soul Care Essentials

Verses 7-9 of Psalm 19 identify three soul care essentials.

  • law, commandments, precepts
  • testimonies
  • fear or proper reverence or respect

The Law

We have to know the law or the commandments to follow them. God is our designer, and he knows all about our design capacity. Can someone function well without sleep? No. Did you know that God directs us to rest in His word? Can someone lie or steal and suffer zero consequences? No. God’s guidance is always for our good, and we need daily reminders lest we wander off course.

Testimonies

God directs his people to share what He is doing in our lives. (1 Chronicles 16:8) He knows we need the reminder, and sharing testimonies is a powerful way to encourage others.

Fear

God wants us to remember to show respect for Him and for all He has created. When we lose touch with this principle, suffering follows quickly.

A Daily Dose of God’s Word

How can we make daily Bible reading a part of our daily lives? How do we make that drip irrigation of Bible verses an essential part of every day?

First, figure out your best learning style.

Are you a visual learner, an audio learner, or a tactile-kinesthetic learner (someone who learns best through movement or touch)?

Second, test-drive some different ways to take in scripture daily.

Since I am an audio learner, I listen to a podcast (“1 Year Daily Audio Bible”) that reads scripture daily, taking me through the Bible in one year. It’s a daily 15-20 minute investment that makes a difference for me.

What could a visual learner do? First, find a daily scripture reading program that would give you daily doses of scripture that could be read in less than 15-20 minutes.

What about tactile-kinesthetic learners? Try moving as you listen to scripture. I walk while listening, and this helps me to focus.

Prayer

Thank you, Lord, that your law is perfect. Thank you that it has the power to revive my parched soul today and always. Thank you that testimonies about what you have done for me and others are specific and daily reminders of your kindness. Thank you that your guidance makes wise the simple. I could use an extra measure of your wisdom today. Thank you that your precepts are correct, and they bring joy to my battered heart. Your commandment is pure and enlightening to my eyes when I don’t know what to do or where to go. Please help me recognize and respect you and be cleansed by drawing near you. Thank you that in an ever-changing world, all of this is enduring forever; your rules are valid and righteous altogether. When I cry out to you, I am restored. AMEN

How about you? How will you take in your daily dose of scripture?

Sunrise Sightings of the Kingdom of God – Psalm 19:1-6

/ Anthea Kotlan / 2 Comments

Don’t you love a good home or backyard makeover show?

Everyone does because it is entirely satisfying to spend less than an hour watching the entire transformation from broken to beautiful, gross to gorgeous, and so forth. A home renovation or backyard makeover typically takes months, but pop on your favorite streaming service, and you can witness a swift restoration. It’s a quick fix!

As humans, we are drawn to renewal. I believe it is a glimpse into the ache for the now and not yet of living in God’s Kingdom. God is in the business of renovating our lives for His glory. Will a setback turn into a setup for a miraculous display of restoration? Psalm 19 begins with recordings of these sightings in the world around us.

1The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. 2Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge.3 There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard.4 Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun,5 which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.6 Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them, and there is nothing hidden from its heat.(Psalm 19:1-6 ESV)

God Sightings

God appears in all aspects of creation. His presence is translated from the skies to the earth. In every 24-hour cycle, His presence is revealed from the first light to the dark of night. No part of earth or resident of this planet doesn’t experience the warmth of God’s presence. He covers every inch of the world and makes Himself known over and over in so many different ways because He is so kind. He wants everyone to see and experience Him. This drives His endless creativity to show up in new ways every day and night. Those twinkling stars, that staggering moon, and the sunrise remind us that His mercies are new every morning. He’s at work in a makeover every single day.

Sunrise Spotting

If your schedule permits, consider getting up about thirty minutes before the sun is scheduled to rise. Check the weather app on your phone; it will tell you when the sun will be coming up. Find a place outside where you can sit, sip coffee (a pretty essential part for me), and watch the first light of the sunrise begin to fill the sky. It’s a slow-motion reveal. Don’t take your eyes off the horizon for even a minute. A soft but growing glow begins the display. Then fingers of light poke up and out. Incrementally the sun appears and then hangs suspended between earth and the sky. So often, there is a vivid display of many colors. The sun almost seems to be paused, and yet it surges on. Finally, it is fully sprung and released to fill the sky with brightness.

This soul-tending activity is a sacred practice in the quiet early morning hours. It feels like a secret that God is sharing just with you. But, most of all, it is a reminder of God’s power to make all things new. A momentary glimpse into the promise of eternity in a new heaven and earth gives us the strength to face another day. These are sunrise sightings of the Kingdom of God.

Prayer

Lord, open my eyes to your displays of majesty. Please help me to see what you are doing in the world around me every day to prove who you are. Thank you for the sunrises. Thank you for reminding me of how you renew my and your world. Amen.


I

When Planting Leads to Uprooting and a Reason to Lament – Psalm 42:7-11

/ Anthea Kotlan / 2 Comments

Snow in South East Texas?

In the middle of February 2021, my area of tropical southeast Texas experienced a significant snowstorm. We awoke to find a crisp blanket of snow, inches deep, as far as the eye could see. In the midst of this deep freeze, I wondered what plants and shrubs would re-emerge once the snow went away? If you had asked me at the end of March, I would have told you that it wasn’t looking good. However, the next thing I knew, green shoots surged up all over my front and back garden. These green bursts were a mixed batch of weed and plant. I have systematically worked over various flower beds by trimming back the overgrowth and pulling out the weeds. As I began the removal surgery on one particular bed, I spied a tiny oak sapling. I tried hard to gently remove it but failed. I pulled and pulled and pulled even though it was a relatively small sapling, its roots sunk deep down into the bed. Finally, I managed to excise the tiny tree with a shovel in hand, with most of its roots still attached.

Uprooting and Planting

Something nobody tells you about church planting is the uprooting that occurs right before you start. Leaving behind the familiar and comfortable and exchanging them for the new and uncertain is exactly where I found myself in the summer of 2021. My husband and I have felt a call to church plant for a very long time, but it never seemed quite the right season. Finally, months ago, God made it clear to us that it was time. However, obedience is costly and painful, and my wise daughter told me just days before our final Sunday at our old church, “Mom, you’ve got to feel all the feels.”

The Untethering

It is challenging to feel uprooted and untethered as we launched out and away from the wonderful group of believers we have worshiped alongside for over two decades. So I am going to have to leave some room for lament in this season of transition.

In the second half of Psalm 42, (I looked at the first half of Psalm 42 last week. Follow the link to see that post. https://wordpress.com/post/antheakotlan.com/416.) David started with a desperately thirsty deer, and he circles back to the subject of water again by calling to mind the sound of waves and waterfalls.

7 Deep calls to deep at the roar of your waterfalls; all your breakers and your waves have gone over me.8 By day the LORD commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life. 
(Psalm 42:8 ESV)

Waves and Waterfalls

Waves and waterfalls move with power and loud sounds. A simple flow of water carved the Grand Canyon. Water is indeed the universal solvent. Waves wear down inches of sand from beaches around the world. However, God’s love is steadfast and unchanging. It does not get worn away by the ebb and flow of tides or water flows.
In times of deep sadness and lament, I have a profound need within my soul to cry out to the only one capable of plumbing those depths. This level of need requires a supernatural remedy. Only God can handle such profound wounding in me, and when I try to call other people to meet me in the depth of my suffering, they may be pulled into something that will overwhelm them.

Songs in the darkness

Sometimes I find myself wide awake in the middle of the night with worries and concerns. In the darkness, a song about God’s faithfulness can encourage me. The familiar lyrics take me on a journey to the refrain carrying truth deeply down into my heart. Music is a powerful reminder and force to lift moods and provide comfort. Singing a praise and worship song or listening to Christian music can transform the atmosphere in significant ways.

9 I say to God, my rock: “Why have you forgotten me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?”10 As with a deadly wound in my bones, my adversaries taunt me, while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?” (Psalm 42:9-10 ESV)

Waves of Grief

Verses 9 and 10 vividly reveal the cyclical nature of grief. I believe I have moved forward, and yet a fresh wave of grieving hits me hard again and again. My enemy, sometimes my own inner critic, gets louder in these moments. I have to counter all this with God’s truth. I choose to stand on the rock of God’s word by intentionally recalling to my mind what I know for certain. I can counter the enemy’s caustic narrative and endless questions with God’s promises to me.

11 Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me?Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God. (Psalm 42:11 ESV)

This final verse acknowledges the pain and then states the truth worth standing on in the midst of the storm of grief. “Hope in God…” In response to this truth, I shall choose to praise God as I grasp a rung of the ladder out of the pit of grief. I will likely find myself here again, but I have a map contained in Psalm 42 to guide me back to the only one capable of handling all my deep feelings. He is my salvation and my God.

Let’s pray:

Lord, thank you for your kindness in providing a remedy for grief. You know me, you see my tears, and my despair is not too much for you. May I always run to you and entrust you with my sadness. Help me to take time to lament today. Keep me from stuffing down sadness and denying my loss. For in the leaving and the letting go, you have even more for me than I could ask for or imagine. You alone are my hope. Amen.