Five Lessons Learned about God’s Love from a Sinner’s Situation – Psalm 51

/ Anthea Kotlan / 1 Comment
(Man praying on a hill.)

When I was in fifth grade, I peered in the mirror smiling and discovered that my teeth were coated with red dye in various shades. Plaque disclosing dye tablets had done their job. My reflection revealed a real lack of dental hygiene in my 10-year-old self. The plaque had been invisible but now the dye made it glaringly obvious.

In 2nd Samuel chapter 12, God sends Nathan to confront King David about his sin. Nathan uses a simple story about a rich man taking advantage of a poor man to help King David to see his own sins. The narrative nail is pounded into David’s heart when Nathan enquires about what consequences a rich man should receive for slaughtering the poor man’s only lamb. David begins to list various severe punishments for the rich perpetrator and then Nathan adds, “You are that rich man.”

A sin-disclosing tablet is dropped into David’s life, and he is utterly overcome with the length and breadth of his sins. The consequences of his moral failings unleash some far-reaching results. Regret and humility spur David to pen Psalm 51 as a piece of lament.

What can I learn about love from a sinner’s lament about love?

1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.
Psalm 51:1 NIV



1 God’s love comes first and foremost, even before I am forgiven. God’s love doesn’t give up but continues relentlessly to bring restoration and transformation.
2 Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.
Psalm 51:2-3 NIV

When David pursued a relationship with a married woman named Bathsheba, his sin was somehow not “before him”.

When David had Bathsheba’s husband murdered on the battlefront, so he could marry her, David refused to see his sin.

While David continued to choose sin over loving and obeying God, his desire to please himself, no matter the cost, grew.

Did the growing pile of sins obscure David’s view of his own guilt?

A lack of ability to see sin does not make it any less damaging. The consequences of David’s sin were significant and even deadly. And yet, God had mercy.

2. God’s mercy is borne out of His love for us.

It was out of mercy that the Lord sent Nathan to rebuke David. God sometimes places prophets in our lives or calls our friends to serve in a prophetic way. Has God ever sent a prophet to speak truth into your life?

David couldn’t see his sin, and then he did see all of it. He was devastated.

4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge.

5 Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.

6 Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb; you taught me wisdom in that secret place.

Psalm 51:4-6 NIV
  • 3. As my heart is filled with God’s love, my sensitivity to sin is restored. Conviction cuts deep, but God’s grace flows more. 

Reading through Psalm 51 reveals a rinse and repeat theme. Sin is ever-present and must be continually dealt with. In order to remain sensitive to sin, I must commit to regular confession. 

7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice.

9 Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity.

10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Psalm 51:7-10 NIV

Repentant sinners are in desperate need of renewal. God is gracious enough to provide a deep soul reset whenever we ask Him.

11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.

12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, so that sinners will turn back to you.

14 Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, you who are God my Savior,
    and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.
Psalm 51:11-14 NIV
  • 4. God’s love and mercy blot out my transgressions and empower me to obey Him and teach others about His love.  
15 Open my lips, Lord, and my mouth will declare your praise.

16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.

17 My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart
    you, God, will not despise.

18 May it please you to prosper Zion, to build up the walls of Jerusalem.

19 Then you will delight in the sacrifices of the righteous, in burnt offerings offered whole; then bulls will be offered on your altar.
Psalm 51:15-19 NIV
  • 5 God’s love can be reciprocated with praise from a contrite heart and broken spirit.

David penned some of the greatest pieces of praise and lament in the Psalms. Surely his creativity and passion were fueled by his humility and repentance. For me, those plaque disclosing tablets taught me a valuable lesson. I saw my failure in dental hygiene and was able to take corrective action before I lost some of my teeth due to my own negligence. Sometimes I wish there were sin-revealing tablets to reveal my hidden sins. It is far too easy to become blind to my own moral failings. It is far too easy to become hard-hearted towards sin.

The good news is God loves me too much to allow me to remain in ignorance. He has provided the Holy Spirit to help me shine a light into every part of my heart and soul. On a regular basis, God calls me to do an inventory of my soul and root out sin.

Reading back through a repentance psalm like 51 gives me an opportunity to prayerfully consider what I might need to confess. Other penitential psalms to consider reading and praying through are Psalms 6, 31, 37, and 101.

Ultimately God’s love provides a pathway to reveal our sin. God’s generous provision through Jesus makes a way for reconciliation and renewal.

Four Love Lessons from Toddlers – Psalm 100

/ Anthea Kotlan / 2 Comments
A toddler holding an action figure.

Toddlers love hard. They love their toys, their friends, and their people.

This last weekend my son-in-law, a youth minister, was away all weekend for the annual youth retreat. My two-year-old granddaughter, Margaret, missed him so much that she insisted on going to bed each night with his photo clutched in her tiny hand.

On Sunday at church, I saw my grandnephew, also aged two, and he had a small plastic farmer clutched in his hand. My niece smiled and explained this toy had been renamed, Daddy. Evidently, Daddy had been in Cooper’s hand all weekend.

So, what can toddlers and Psalm 100 teach me about love? How can soul tending in Psalm 100 help me love God?

The psalmist begins with a command.

1 Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth! 
Psalm 100:1 ESV
  1. Make a joyful noise.

Begin each day by making a joyful noise to the Lord. I have to appreciate that God does not ask me simply to sing because He knows sometimes, I can’t sing that well. I might miss the note or mix up the verses. God wants to hear from me anyway because He commands it.

Have you ever watched a toddler sing? It’s a full-body experience typically with hand motions both learned and made up. Watching the way Margaret sings, without a care in the world, reminds me of how God wants me to make a joyful noise to Him.

God commands me and all the earth to sing to Him because He knows we all need more joy in our lives. God designed us to make joyful noises. It was all part of the original blueprint. Belting out a song, without any care for who is listening, beside the Lord, is a great way to connect with our Abba Daddy God. Can I set aside a few minutes today to make joyful noises to please Him?

2     Serve the LORD with gladness!
    Come into his presence with singing! 
Psalm 100:2 ESV

2. Sing while you serve.

One of my best grandma skills is making up silly songs. Whenever we need to clean up toys, wash hands, or go to bed, I have a song I sing with Margaret and her little brother, Ian. Toddlers don’t naturally love to serve but singing while we do something brings smiles and giggles every time.  

I think Snow White’s dwarfs might well have been onto something, “Whistle While You Work”. For God’s children of any age serving while singing or whistling can be a great way to love the task you set your hands to. God calls me to serve Him, and He requires I do it with gladness not grudgingly. For a watching and wondering world, my service to God is a testimony that far exceeds the words that I say. If I appear to be serving God out of a sense of obligation or in a way to please other people, it’s a poor witness.

What song can you sing to find joy in serving today?

3 Know that the LORD, he is God!
    It is he who made us, and we are his;
    we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Psalm 100:3 ESV

3. Know God

Toddlers know what they love, and they certainly love what they know. Therefore, toddlers, just like me, love a well-kept schedule and predictable rhythms in their lives. When Daddy is gone working at the youth retreat, in Margaret’s case, or working extra shifts in law enforcement, in Cooper’s case, clinging to a familiar object that they know reminds them of Daddy really helps.

We all need frequent reminders to hold onto in times of uncertainty. As children of God, holding onto scripture, listening to worship music, and spending time at church help us know God. What can you cling to this week to remind you to love God?

4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
    and his courts with praise!
    Give thanks to him; bless his name!
Psalm 100:4 ESV

4 Say thank you, please.

Saying thank you is not something that most toddlers do without prompting. I have often found myself saying, “Say thank you, please.”

The question becomes, which came first? Giving thanks or being grateful? Could it be that the more I give thanks, the more grateful I become? The more I list all God has blessed me with, the more I see He has done?

Entire books and social media campaigns have been created on the concept of thankfulness and how the practice can grow greater appreciation in hearts and minds. (See “One Thousand Gifts” by Ann Voskamp to learn more.) Sometimes, Margaret and I spend time taking turns thanking God for family members and friends. The list often goes on and on.

5 For the LORD is good;
    his steadfast love endures forever,
    and his faithfulness to all generations.
Psalm 100:5 ESV

1 John 4:19 say, “we love because He first loved us.” When my daughters were preschoolers, they both attended Bible Study Fellowship, and there they learned many songs. The one they both sang with gusto was “We love because He first loved us.” It was an incredibly simple song with plenty of repetition, just the kind toddlers love.

We love God in response to God’s steadfast love. His love for each of us is not based on what we have done or how well we do it. It is all about God pursuing each of us with his relentless and sacrificial love that lasts forever for all generations, especially those toddlers.

Am I Operating My Life Beyond God’s Design Capacity? Psalm 32

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During Hurricane Harvey, the Houston area received close to sixty inches of rain. Water drainage experts design all kinds of landscaping features to mitigate flooding in the Houston area. The fountains and lakes you see as you enter a subdivision are beautifully disguised flood mitigation features. However, no amount of these features could manage Harvey’s furor. Five feet of water, arriving over four days, caused irreparable damage. The sheer weight of water forced Houston to sink an inch lower, and it was beyond the design capacity for the area.

Soul tending in Psalm 32 reveals some ways in which confession and spending time in God’s presence help me to function as God designed me to. When I defy God’s design capacity I suffer, as do those around me.

1 Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
2 Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
3 For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.
4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah (Psalm 32:1-4 ESV)

“…my bones wasted away through my groanings all day long.”

Unrepented sin in my life takes me beyond God’s design capacity. I was not built to carry sin long-term in my spirit. The weight of sin wears me out physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

“Your hand was heavy on me day and night.”

Thank you, Lord, for not leaving me alone to figure it out. Out of your kindness, You came to me in the day and the night and firmly reminded me of my sin. The weight of my sin became too heavy to bear. I grew weaker on each day that I avoided confession.

5 I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah (Psalm 32:5 ESV)

When I confess, acknowledge, and uncover my sins, You forgive me. When I bring it all out into the open to you, I am forgiven completely. No bargaining necessary, no sacrifices needed, and nothing I tell You is surprising or shocking. However, I need to lay it down by saying it aloud. Sometimes I need the power of the Holy Spirit to reveal to me the sins I need to confess because I simply don’t remember them all. 

6 Therefore let everyone who is godly offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found; surely in the rush of great waters, they shall not reach him. 7 You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Selah (Psalm 32:6-7 ESV)

Prayers lead to God’s presence. God’s presence leads me to find safe ground above the waves of destruction. And there I find a hiding place. In Your presence, I move from being surrounded by my enemies to a sweet place of refuge where I am surrounded by Your presence. 

8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. 9 Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you. Psalm 32:8-9 ESV)

When I choose to remain in Your presence instead of dashing off to do whatever I think is most important, I receive sacred instructions for my next step. Can I set aside time each day to sit and listen to You?

As someone who often struggles with little or no sense of direction, I am very aware of my need for “turn by turn directions” to know the way to go. I need to know both the direction to travel, and the manner in which You want me to travel. Shall I travel light in this season? Shall I take little on my journey? Or should I pack up for a good long while?

10 Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the Lord.11 Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart. (Psalm 32:10-11 ESV)

Confessing sin regularly, and spending time in God’s presence daily, leads me to a greater sense of who I am created to be in Christ. I am beloved by the Lord. As I trust Him more, I begin to see I am embraced by steadfast love. The world’s standard for love is based on what I can do, what value I bring, and how I appear. God’s steadfast love is enduring and based on God’s promise-keeping, not my behavior. To be clear, this does not mean I will live a life without any suffering or hardship. Difficult situations continue to conform me to the likeness of Christ. (See the Apostle Paul for more information.)

When I clear out sin and selfishness, I see more clearly. My view of myself and God is not distorted by sin. When I fully trust God for all outcomes, I find peace that passes all understanding.

Will it all work out the way I want? No.

Will I struggle? Yes.

However, God’s presence will carry me. This causes me to be glad and rejoice in all circumstances.

Is There an Antidote for Envy? Psalm 73

/ Anthea Kotlan / 3 Comments
(woman scrolling on her phone)

Warning! Continuous scrolling on social media may cause soul damage.

Have you ever started your day by scrolling through social media while sipping coffee on the couch?

Checking out a few curated images on Instagram?

Reading personal opinions on Twitter?

Looking for recipes on Pinterest?

Checking out status updates on Facebook?

I may have a time or two or three or maybe more. But, typically, I walk away from these sessions feeling considerably deficient in my ability to “live my best life.” Social media is a fantastic tool that can be used in wonderful ways, but there is nothing quite like it to encourage envy.

In Psalm 73, the psalmist shares wisdom about the corrosive effect of envy on my relationship with God and others.  

1 Truly God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.

2 But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped.

3 For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

Psalm 73:1-3 ESV

The dictionary defines envy, “to feel unhappiness over the good fortune of (someone) and desire the same good fortune: feel envy toward or because of, I envy you for your talent.” (Merriam-Webster)

How does envy affect my heart and soul?

It leads to:

  • Dissatisfaction
  • Distraction
  • Disaster

What is the antidote for envy?

First, the psalmist lists in detail what is wrong with those he envies.

4 For they have no pangs until death; their bodies are fat and sleek.

5 They are not in trouble as others are; they are not stricken like the rest of mankind.

6 Therefore pride is their necklace; violence covers them as a garment.

7 Their eyes swell out through fatness; their hearts overflow with follies.

8 They scoff and speak with malice; loftily they threaten oppression.

9 They set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongue struts through the earth.

10 Therefore his people turn back to them, and find no fault in them.

Psalm 73: 4-10 ESV

I really like this method myself as it creates comfortable distance.

Those people over there are wrong in every possible way. So even though I envy them, they are so much worse than me.

However, this does nothing to counteract envy effectively.

11 And they say, “How can God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?”

12 Behold, these are the wicked; always at ease, they increase in riches.

13 All in vain have I kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence.

14 For all the day long I have been stricken and rebuked every morning.

Psalm 73:11-14 ESV

Dissatisfaction

Judging those I envy continues to fill the well of deep and disturbing dissatisfaction with my life, and guilt hangs over me all day and night. Using this method is like using one sin to cover another. Holy Spirit conviction hounds me at every turn. This judging method fails me. So, what can I do?

15 If I had said, “I will speak thus,” I would have betrayed the generation of your children.

16 But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task,

17 until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end.

18 Truly you set them in slippery places; you make them fall to ruin.

19 How they are destroyed in a moment, swept away utterly by terrors!

20 Like a dream when one awakes, O Lord, when you rouse yourself, you despise them as phantoms.

Psalm 73:15-20 ESV

Distraction

To continue carrying envy in my heart will lead to exhaustion (vs 16). Moreover, the corrosive nature of envy affects my children and will be passed down as a toxic inheritance. This will keep me in a constant state of distraction away from what is giving me life.

Where should I focus most of my attention? Where can I go to find peace?

Finally, in desperation, the psalmist “went to the sanctuary of God.” In God’s presence, things become so much clearer. Waking up from envy is like putting down a heavy load I didn’t even realize I was carrying. However, I will need to do more to avoid picking the weight back up. The world pushes me every day to compare and contrast my life to what I believe I see around me through the lens of social media platforms. However, those images are highly curated and not accurately depict real life.

What does a person look like that has become consumed by envy?

21 When my soul was embittered, when I was pricked in heart,

22 I was brutish and ignorant; I was like a beast toward you.

(Psalm 73:21-11 ESV)

Disaster

The disaster is how envy affects my relationship with God. The psalmist readily admits he has become ignorant, brutish, and a beast. I know I have felt this way too. A low-key irritation mushrooms inside my heart and becomes a mine of bitterness. Just when I might feel utterly discouraged, God shares wisdom and an escape plan to find a way out of this trap. The following verses reveal how God responds to me when I seek to be near Him.

23 Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand.

24 You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory.

25 Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.

26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

27 For behold, those who are far from you shall perish; you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you.

28 But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.

Pslam 73:23-28 ESV

Deliverance

God offers me deliverance when I make Him my home. I can counteract the destructive force of comparison culture and envy by spending time with Him. He’s the only truly effective antidote. If I spent as many minutes in God’s word as I do scrolling social media, I would likely live in a state of awe and gratitude. God is always present with me if I only open my eyes to Him. He will provide trustworthy guidance and advice.

Sadly, I will fail (vs 26). However, God forgives and never leaves me. He is my accurate guide for life. The psalmist reminds me, “God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” When I focus on God’s promises to me, my cup truly overflows because my portion is more than enough.

What else could I possibly need or want?

How can I tend my soul this week to avoid envy?

Do I Know God’s Majesty? Psalm 8

/ Anthea Kotlan / 1 Comment

“Jake’s not feeling well today, so he won’t be with us.”

Without missing a beat, my three-year-old daughter said, “We should pray for him.” She grabbed our hands and bowed her head and prayed.

Even as a preschooler many years ago, her heart was full of faith and determination to take it all to the Lord. There is something so striking about a small child’s faith on display, and how it moves the heart of God.

Psalm 8 is a glorious hymn of praise.

1 O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. 2 Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger. 3 When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, Psalm 8:1-3 ESV

The first verse of Psalm 8 establishes God’s identity. He is the king and has authority over all so what he says and does matters to everyone. His authority and power are so evident that even babies know God.

The New International Version (NIV) writes verse 2 this way, 

“Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.” Psalm 8:2 NIV

God uses our world’s most fragile and dependent souls to still His enemies. Only God might choose to defy the world’s expectations with His own successful but unexpected battle strategies. God uses the moon and the stars to kindly remind us daily of His presence with consistent messaging. The stars watch over us day and night even though they are only revealed when the sun goes down. God watches over each of us even when we don’t see Him. The moon rises each night without a break. We look up and see God’s power and might displayed with jewels glowing in a dark sky.

Everything in God’s creation makes provision for God’s people. Ancient peoples used these same stars and the moon cycles to:

• Know when to plant crops

• Know where to go

• Know what time it is

• Know when the tides would come and go

This information should fill us with awe. The sky’s regular cycles of stars and moon movement provide predictability in an ever-changing world.

4 what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? 5 Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. 6 You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet, 7 all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, 8 the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas. Psalm 8:4-8 ESV

God knew men and women would wonder who they are and what place they have in this world. He generously reveals this critical information. Man is given dominion and authority over all else on earth. All the works of God’s hands, all the birds, all the fish, all the beasts, are under man. Do I take such stewardship seriously? How might this view change how I use natural resources or treat animals?

Man is crowned with glory and honor by God. If I could choose to see each human on earth as someone who is made in the image of God, and “crowned with glory and honor by God,” how might I treat each one differently? Could I cultivate more love and less criticism in my heart based on what God has chosen to do?

9 O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! Psalm 8:9 ESV

Psalm 8 finishes as it began by re-stating the facts: God’s name is majestic in all the earth. The verse serves as a matching bookend of praise. God’s reputation has been established and He has all authority. God knew that people, like me who might tend to see the glass half empty, would need such reminders. Today, I praise God for His majestic name, and I lay all I have before His throne.

What detours are you facing? Psalm 72

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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?

Have You Seen the Kingdom of God? Psalm 97

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The image of a candlelight service on New Year’s Eve of 1987 is forever emblazoned in my mind’s eye. This midnight service was the closing ceremony for Intervarsity’s five-day Missions Conference called Urbana. The stadium where we met was full of college students that evening, all joining their voices in praising God. The stadium lights were dimmed during the closing song, the instruments quieted, and about 18,701 other students and I sang acapella. Somehow at that moment, I caught a glimpse of the kingdom of Heaven breaking out here on earth just before midnight.

Minutes later, the sacred hush vanished as the house lights were raised. Students poured forth into that cold night focused on departure. Fetching bags from our dorms and trekking across the busy campus to various charter buses proved difficult. Suddenly suitcases tripled in weight, and long lines of students choked every pathway. If my then-boyfriend (and future husband) had not helped me that night, I would probably have missed my bus back to Texas.

Whenever we catch a glimpse of God’s kingdom, it can be disruptive to our routines, destructive to the status quo, and a disclosure that can’t be missed. As Christians, we are currently citizens of God’s kingdom. However, until Jesus returns to earth, we live in an in-between time of the now and not yet. God’s kingdom will not reach its full expression until Jesus comes back to reign.

The week between Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve can be a time for looking back over the previous year for evaluation and looking ahead to make resolutions for the coming year. It’s a season for looking back and ahead.

Psalm 97 celebrates the now of God’s rule and reign and the not yet of Jesus’ coming again to rule and reign forever. It is a portrait of hope writ large and designed to give each of us the stamina to go on in this topsy turvy season.

1 The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad!
2 Clouds and thick darkness are all around him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.

The Lord reigns, and every person in every land can rejoice. The phrase “the many coastlands” refers to how writers of the Psalms often saw the twenty-one countries that surrounded the Mediterranean Sea as representative of the entire world. Whether each of those countries’ governments acknowledges God’s rule or not, He still reigns.

The future reign of the Lord will be disruptive because clouds and thick darkness like storms will swirl around Him. His future rule will disrupt the structures of injustice that exist today in our world. Corrupt institutions and a beyond capacity criminal justice system will all fade away when God sits on His final throne. He will serve as the judge once and for all and thoroughly know the truth in every person’s heart.

3 Fire goes before him and burns up his adversaries all around. 4 His lightnings light up the world; the earth sees and trembles. 5 The mountains melt like wax before the Lord, before the Lord of all the earth.

God’s reign will feature destruction as fire decimates God’s adversaries, and storms bring powerful lightning to illuminate wrongdoing. The whole earth will respond by trembling. The mountain ranges will fall into the sea like candle wax melting when faced with God’s powerful reign.

6 The heavens proclaim his righteousness, and all the peoples see his glory. 7 All worshipers of images are put to shame, who make their boast in worthless idols; worship him, all you gods! 8 Zion hears and is glad, and the daughters of Judah rejoice, because of your judgments, O Lord. 9 For you, O Lord, are most high over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods. 10 O you who love the Lord, hate evil! He preserves the lives of his saints; he delivers them from the hand of the wicked.

God’s wonders will be disclosed to every living creature. No one will miss God’s return. There will be no fear of being left behind or missing out on the Lord’s rule. It will be trumpeted over all the earth. Everyone who loves the Lord will be delivered from evil forever.

11 Light is sown for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart. 12 Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous, and give thanks to his holy name!

Light and joy will be sown when the Lord returns to rule for eternity, and a harvest of revelation will be reaped for the upright and the righteous. Spontaneous worship will break out across the world. There will likely be a chorus of extraordinary acapella singing.

Take a moment in this in-between week to capture this vision of hope in your mind’s eye. It’s a radical, disruptive disclosure of God’s power, might, and mercy. Let that settle deep within your soul for whatever you face this week. Whether you are celebrating your year in review or hoping to see real change in 2022, know that despite what the latest headlines might tell you, God reigns.

Can You Keep Watch on Christmas Eve? Psalm 46

/ Anthea Kotlan / 1 Comment

Take a moment in the days leading up to Christmas to light a candle and pause. I know you don’t have time. Could taking a moment of quietly being present in this season could provide the endurance needed to continue your own journey into the Christmas season? This is the marathon and not the sprint.

Maybe there’s no candle handy. Can you picture a dark room with a small flame dipping and weaving in the gentle night’s breeze while Joseph sleeps nearby?

Imagine Mary gazing up at an inky sky. One by one the stars shine brighter and brighter. The world is about to change forever. Labor will start soon, and a new baby will be born.
Does she need a moment to catch up to all she has been carrying?

Did Mary cry out to God that night amid the dark uncertainty while bearing the weight of the savior of the world? She might be a frightened teenager and displaced person. God chose a vulnerable young woman utterly dependent upon the goodwill of her husband, and one who is fully experiencing the discomfort of the final month of pregnancy. Did her feet swell? Did her back ache? Road tripping on a donkey may not have been ideal.

Bethlehem was not her hometown, and these were not her people. A Roman census has commanded these two to travel to Joseph’s hometown to be counted. The timing is hard, and yet by following a government mandate these two fulfill what scripture promised. However, Mary’s mother lives miles away in Nazareth. There must have been a sense of isolation. Where will Mary find peace in this dark night?

In Psalm 46 the psalmist cries out to God as a refuge and strength. Did Mary do the same? 

1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah
Psalm 46:1-3 ESV

What causes mountains to move into the sea or tremble? Earthquakes

Did Mary feel her life was experiencing an earthquake of sorts? Her identity was changing, and she was about to become the mother of the savior of the world. Labor would be hard. Her body would be changed forever. Months earlier she had surrendered to God all her own plans and dreams. She had praised God for it all. But now, in the dark night, just before the dawn of a new reality, did she have doubts? Was she still so very certain?

4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns.
6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts.
7 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
Psalm 46:4-7 ESV

While the nations rage, the kingdoms totter, and doubts assail even the most faithful, but God is near during it all. His presence makes all the difference and provides the fortress of protection. While this doesn’t guarantee the absence of suffering, God’s company in all of it makes it bearable. Mary must have had her moments of overwhelm and frustration.

On this eve of Christmas Eve, will you invite the Lord into your places of uncertainty? Can you keep company with Him even when it is hard to believe?

This time of year can be hard for everyone. The expectations stack up. Endless pressure builds to do and be more. Distractions steal our peace. Can I choose to listen for God’s still small voice even in the chaos?

The Psalmist continues.
8 Come, behold the works of the Lord, how he has brought desolations on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire.
10 “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”
11 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
Psalm 46:8-11 ESV

What happens when I choose to behold the works of the Lord?
It changes my focus.

What happens when I choose to be still, even for a moment?
In the stillness of God’s presence, I find peace.

When I gaze upon what God is doing, the things of the world pale in comparison.

What happens when God burns the chariots or breaks the bow and shatters the spear?
This marks the permanent end of war. It points to the ultimate reconciliation between God and man. Someday God will reign for ever and ever on His throne. It’s a now and not yet reality because while we catch a glimpse of it from time to time, permanent peace will not be achieved until Jesus returns once and for all. We live in that tension between Jesus’ arrival on earth as a baby and before He returns in a final victory.

So, on this Christmas Eve night or in the days just before, we sit perched waiting like Mary might have. Looking skyward at those incredible stars and wondering when will that ultimate peace come? Verse 11 says, “the Lord of Hosts is with us.” This name of God means, the victor. The King of glory, who commands the armies of heaven and will eventually defeat all His enemies in this world once and for all.

Will you keep watch with me tonight?

How Can I Say Yes to Kingdom-Size Assignments? Psalm 28

/ Anthea Kotlan / 3 Comments

I can still remember the absolute shock I felt standing holding the phone in the middle of shared office space at Texas A&M in August of 1991.

“Your pregnancy test was positive,” the nurse from my doctor’s office said. 

I found myself slowly sitting down as joy and utter confusion washed over me. How could this be? I had been told this wasn’t possible.

More questions ricocheted around my mind in time to the beat of my steps back to my classroom that afternoon.

Is this why I’ve been so tired? I probably shouldn’t have gone whitewater rafting. Did that hurt the baby? How will I tell my husband?

While the announcement of my first pregnancy came to me over a landline, Mary received the good news of baby Jesus from an angel named Gabriel.

30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”

35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.
36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
(Luke 1:30-38 ESV)

Mary also wondered about how this pregnancy could be. Indeed, she also carried the tension of joy and utter confusion. And yet, she became the very first person to believe in Jesus. Her humble acceptance of a holy assignment changed the world.

On the fourth Sunday of Advent, which falls on December 19 this year, churches worldwide light the angel candle. This one symbolizes peace and the good news the Angel Gabriel brought to Mary regarding the upcoming birth of Jesus, the world’s savior. Finally, God had answered the cry of his oppressed people with the promised Messiah.

In Psalm 28, the fearful psalmist cries out to a promise-keeping God in full confidence that he will be heard and God will act justly.

1 To you, O Lord, I call; my rock, be not deaf to me, lest, if you be silent to me, I become like those who go down to the pit.
2 Hear the voice of my pleas for mercy, when I cry to you for help, when I lift up my hands
    toward your most holy sanctuary.
3 Do not drag me off with the wicked, with the workers of evil, who speak peace with their neighbors while evil is in their hearts.
4 Give to them according to their work and according to the evil of their deeds; give to them according to the work of their hands; render them their due reward.
5 Because they do not regard the works of the Lord or the work of his hands, he will tear them down and build them up no more.

Psalm 28:1-5 ESV

Thank you, Lord, that you hear my prayers any time I cry out to you. You are never too busy and distracted. You will bring perfect justice to this world.

6 Blessed be the Lord! For he has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy.
7 The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.
8 The Lord is the strength of his people; he is the saving refuge of his anointed.
9 Oh, save your people and bless your heritage! Be their shepherd and carry them forever.
Psalm 28:6-9 ESV

Thank you, Lord. I choose to bless you because You still hear the panicked prayers of mothers and issue abundant mercy for your good purposes.  I am grateful for the gift of strength you provide. You alone are always worthy of my heart’s trust. You are my provider of refuge. Therefore, I can do all you ask me to do because You have promised to be my shield, strength, and shepherd. You sent your Son as a tiny baby who grew up to save and serve us as our Shepherd and King, now and always.

A Prayer for Kingdom-Size Assignment

Lord, as I light the fourth Advent candle in the final days before Christmas, let me recall the good news of your Son, Jesus Christ. Help me remember the faithful obedience of Mary. Even when she couldn’t fully comprehend what was being asked of her, she accepted that You would make the way. Help me to obey You, even when I don’t understand. Give me the strength to follow through entirely on Kingdom-size assignments that I cannot possibly accomplish in my own strength. Help me to look to You for protection and provision. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

How about you? Do you ever feel overwhelmed by an assignment that seems too much?

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.