Send us a text

Do you ever feel like you are drowning with seaweed wrapped around your head? It's a pretty descriptive picture of distress that I see in Scripture AND in Avril Lavigne's new song, "Head Above Water." When we're drowning in life let's cry out to God for rescue because "salvation belongs to the Lord!"

Let's talk about Jonah, Jesus, and the folly of taking things into our own hands.

On this week's episode I discuss:

• Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture - this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include:
  • Read in context
  • Listen to audio version
  • Repetition
  • Use multiple translations
• The story behind Avril Lavigne's song "Head Above Water" - God Tube Article
• The power of linking your Bible study to music
• Linking some of the lyrics of our song and the actions of Jonah
• Encouragement in the prayer of Jonah - Jonah 2
• How Jonah points to Jesus - Matthew 12:38-41
• The keys for Jonah in his distress
  • Remembering the Lord
  • Praying to Him
  • Gratitude
  • Dependence upon God for salvation

 

 

Additional Resources

• Lyrics and chords
• The story behind the song "Head Above Water" by Avril Lavigne - God Tube Article
• Spotify Link to "Head Above Water" by Avril Lavigne

 

This Week's Challenge Read Jonah for yourself. Read it several times or listen to an audio version of it. If you feel like you are drowning in life, spend some time reflecting on Jonah’s prayer. Ultimately, look to the author of your salvation Jesus Christ to rescue you. Cry out to Him in faith…He will hear your voice and bring up your life from the pit.  

Purchase your copy of A Seat at the Table today!

Change your music. Change your life. Join my free 30-Day Music Challenge. CLICK HERE.

Send us a text

The world today has a way taking good and noble things and twisting them into something God never intended. As we spend time in Scripture inspired by Sanctus Real's song "Confidence," the stark contrast between God's way and the world's way rises to the surface.

Join me as we jump into God's Word and combat bad ideas with truth.

On this week's episode I discuss:

• Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture - this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include:
  • Read and keep on reading
  • Consider a topic
  • Consider the opposite
  • Write out observations
• Deciding WHO will be our confidence - Proverbs 3:26
• Considering what the world deems as confidence building exercises and comparing them to accounts of men of faith in God's Word
• The methods the father of lies uses uses to distort truth
  • twist the truth slightly (by the way...that equals a lie)
  • mix in truth with lies
  • put some "that sounds like a good idea" stuff in there (don't forget, God's ways are higher than our ways)
• Looking intently into the truth - James 1:25
• The account of Daniel in the lion's den in Daniel 6
  • Daniel lived a consistent life apart from his circumstances
  • Daniel's confidence was in the Lord despite the outcome
  • Daniel was confident that the part was to act out faultlessly in obedience
• How the world says to build confidence by visualizing yourself in a better place, but Daniel's mental efforts were spent in obedience
• How the world says to affirm yourself, but as a result of Daniel's obedience the LORD was affirmed and glorified (which should be our goal) - Daniel 6:25-27
• Moses who had no self-confidence
• David who suffered rejection
• How all three men flexed the faith muscles necessary to get through scary situations
• Building our faith through obedience and confidence in God alone for His glory alone

 

 

Additional Resources

• Lyrics and chords
• The story behind the song "Confidence" by Sanctus Real - YouTube Video
• Spotify Link to "Confidence" by Sanctus Real

 

This Week's Challenge Read up on Daniel (Book of Daniel), Moses (start in the Book of the Exodus), and David (start in 1 Samuel). Don’t be afraid to read and keep on reading making observations along the way. As you read, consider the topic of confidence and observe where these men of faith rooted their confidence.

Purchase your copy of A Seat at the Table today!

Change your music. Change your life. Join my free 30-Day Music Challenge. CLICK HERE.

Send us a text

The Psalmist readily acknowledges that all of creation praises God. Humans are mentioned in just two verses that call on God's heavenly and earthly creation to worship Him in Psalm 148. Hillsong United sings of this in their song "So Will I" when they lyrically recognize that our praise is not unique to humankind.

Join me as we consider the ramifications of our worship.

On this week's episode I discuss:

• Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture - this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include:
  • Slow down
  • Meditate on Scripture
• How the first verse of the song "So Will I" comes straight from Genesis 1:1-5
• How we approach the Bible the way we approach a blog article or FB post...we skim
• Learning something insightful requires effort
• Picturing creation coming into existence and pondering its vastness
• Christ is the one who continues to hold all of creation together - Colossians 1:16
• The perfect Psalm to reflect this week's song - Psalm 148
• The sun and moon and shining stars praise God by doing what they were created to do - Genesis 1:14-19
• We err when we equate worship with lyrics, music, and a band
• Just like all of creation we worship when we do what we were created to do - Genesis 1:26-28, Genesis 2:15 

Additional Resources

• Lyrics and chords - WorshipTogether.com
• The story behind the song "So Will I" by Hillsong United - YouTube Video
• Spotify Link to "So Will I (100 Billion X)" by Hillsong United

 

This Week's Challenge Go to Genesis 1 and read the creation account. Meditate on and imagine the vastness of what the words are describing. Pay special attention to each aspect of creation to see what God states as its purpose. Hop over to Psalm 148 to see all of creation worshiping God. Consider that each part of creation worships God by doing what they were created to do. How will these truths impact your work as worship?

Purchase your copy of A Seat at the Table today!

Change your music. Change your life. Join my free 30-Day Music Challenge. CLICK HERE.

Send us a text

What we believe matters. It will impact how we think and how we live. In the song titled "The Way" by Pat Barrett, he sings of a fundamental belief that Christians hold -- that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. As we explore the area of Scripture where this doxology originated we discover this belief is important in so many ways.

Join me as we meditate on the words of Christ and find comfort in the process.

On this week's episode I discuss:

• Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture - this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include:
  • Ask questions
  • Context
  • Section Titles
  • Word study
  • Consulting various translations
• When it says, "Jesus answered," asking, "Who did He answer and what was asked?" - John 14:6
• Backing up and reading in context and using the section titles to help
• Jesus is not making a social statement, He is comforting His disciples - John 14:1-6
• Discovering why the disciples might need comforting
  • One of their own has left as a traitor - John 13:21-30
  • Jesus Himself has announced to them He is leaving - John 13:33
  • Peter, chief among the disciples,  is predicted to betray Jesus - John 13:38
  • Much less what is all about to happen
• A quote by David Mathis: "Jesus as 'the way' is first about the comfort and peace and assurance of his followers. These are not first fighting words, but soul-quieting, heart-feeding truth. Comfort first, not controversy." - Article at DesiringGod.org
• What Scripture means when it uses the word "believe" - BibleHub.com Word Study
• Jesus is once again lifting our hearts to look out further toward our heavenly home
• When we seek direction we have a solution...THE WAY

 

Additional Resources

• Lyrics and chords - WorshipTogether.com
• The story behind the song "The Way" by Pat Barrett - YouTube Video
• Spotify Link to "The Way (New Horizon)" by Pat Barrett

 

This Week's Challenge Read John 13-14 to understand the context of Jesus’ profound I AM statement. He is the way, the truth, and the life. These words are meant as comfort to us just as they were to the original disciples. Then use this week's song to declare your trust in our beloved Savior.  

Purchase your copy of A Seat at the Table today!

Change your music. Change your life. Join my free 30-Day Music Challenge. CLICK HERE.

Send us a text

The waters of our soul are deep. The cry of the song "Oh My Soul" by Casting Crowns reminds us that we can bare our souls to the One who created us inside and out. If we spend some time tending to our souls, we can experience the faithfulness of God in the deepest places of our being.

The Psalms include many soul-baring moments, and Psalm 42 contains an example of this. It won't be hard to relate to the psalmist this week!

On this episode I discuss:

• Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture - this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include:
  • Read in context
  • Consult outside resources (I used Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem this week)
  • Read in several translations
  • Repetition
• The story behind the writing of the song "Oh My Soul" - YouTube Video
• The cry of the heart of David that inspired us to consider all of Psalm 42 - Psalm 42:11
• My favorite lyric - "There's a place where fear has to face the God you know."
• What exactly is our soul?
• Some characteristics of a soul:
  • Our soul can worship God - Psalm 103:1, Luke 1:46-47
  • Our soul can pray to God - 1 Samuel 1:15
  • Our soul can love God - Deuteronomy 6:5, Mark 12:30
  • Our soul can rejoice and delight in God - Psalm 35:9, Isaiah 61:10
  • Our soul can desire God's Word - Psalm 119:20, Psalm 119:167
  • Our soul can long and thirst for God - Psalm 42:1-2
  • Our soul can hope in God - Psalm 42:5
• The poetic picture of longing for God from our very depths - Psalm 42:1,2
• The opposite of longing for God
• The example of Psalm 42 when faced with deep sorrow and outside jeers
  • Remember God's faithfulness
  • Pour out your soul to God
• Giving our souls a good talking to

 

Additional Resources

• Purchase the single or album on Amazon
• Lyrics
• The Story Behind the Song "Oh My Soul" by Mark Hall with Casting Crowns - YouTube Video

This Week's Challenge Read Psalm 42 for yourself. Try the BITE of reading it in several versions. Then use the BITE of reading it several times -- repetition helps it sink in. In the midst of your sorrow, pour your soul out to God, remember His faithfulness, and declare to your own soul WHO He is.

Purchase your copy of A Seat at the Table today!

Change your music. Change your life. Join my free 30-Day Music Challenge. CLICK HERE.

Send us a text

The Rolling Stones really captured the essence of culture when they sang, "I can't get no satisfaction." Our world is in a constant state of discontent. When you weigh the philosophy of this week's song by The Sing Team, "Satisfied In You (Psalm 42)," you discover that our satisfaction doesn't lie in our effort as sung by our friend Mick, but rather in God.

There are unlikely discoveries in a Psalm you may know in part. Join me this week as we pore over Psalm 42.

On this week's episode I discuss:

• Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture - this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include:
  • Context
  • Meditate on God's Word
  • Repetition
  • One word
  • Study with a friend
• My overwhelming week and how I had to adjust to stay in God's Word
• A familiar part of Psalm 42 I have sung since a young girl - Psalm 42:1-2
• The roller coaster of ups and downs of Psalm 42...and how it reflects my own feelings
• A.W. Tozer - “For it is not mere words that nourish the soul, but God Himself, and unless and until the hearers find God in personal experience they are not the better for having heard the truth.” - The Pursuit of God
• Longing for God in a deep way - Psalm 42:1-2
• Remembering God's faithfulness as a balm to our soul - Psalm 42:4
• Giving you permission to skip parts you don't understand (for now) - Psalm 42:6
• Identifying with cutting and hurtful words and what they do to us - Psalm 42:3
• Talking to your soul - Psalm 42:11
• Three verbs - Psalm 42:11
  • Put
  • Will
  • Praise
• Refocusing the soul to put hope in God and choosing praise over lament
• My "one word"s (and the process to find your own)
  • Thirsts - a deep longing for God
  • Deer - an animal that will die separate from this source of life
  • Meet - not a member of the kings court kissing the ring, but fellowshipping in the private chambers

 

Additional Resources

• Lyrics and chords - Mars Hill Music PDF
• Spotify Link to "Satisfied In You (Psalm 42)" by The Sing Team

 

This Week's Challenge Spend some time in Psalm 42 this week. Share it with a friend and exchange the “one word” that jumps out at you as you meditate on it. Release yourself from having to understand every part or taking on more. Allow your heart, mind, soul, and strength to meditate on God’s Word. Find comfort in this psalmist who represents another’s soul who is downcast…it’s perfectly natural…but ultimately find satisfaction in God — put your hope in Him.

Purchase your copy of A Seat at the Table today!

Change your music. Change your life. Join my free 30-Day Music Challenge. CLICK HERE.

Send us a text

No matter what, once you truly belong to Jesus, you are HIS, and if you are HIS you will remain HIS. This does not mean a perfect life, but one that is marked with evidence and imperfect progress walking in newness of life and not returning to a life of death. Ryan Stevenson sings of this question in his song "No Matter What" and it leads us to examine a letter from Paul and Timothy to the Colossians.     Let Scripture answer your many questions about whether or not you can lose your salvation.

On this week's episode I discuss:

• Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture - this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include:
  • Context
  • Read the envelope
  • Rewrite/summarize in your own words
  • Slow down
  • Make observations
  • Make a list
• Exploring the topic of perseverance of the saints (remaining a Christian)
  • Wayne Grudem's Systematic Theology
  • Wayne Grudem Audio Presentation Part 1
  • Wayne Grudem Audio Presentation Part 2
• Paul and Timothy were thankful because their faith and love born out of hope of what eternity holds - Colossians 1:3-5
• The confident hope mentioned here is the same as in Episode 238
• The result of the gospel received is a changed life - Colossians 1:6-8
• Believers still need prayer for (Colossians 1:9-12)
  • complete knowledge of God's will
  • spiritual wisdom and understanding
  • strength
  • endurance
  • patience
  • joy
  • gratefulness
  • community
• God rescued us and transferred us into His Kingdom - Colossians 1:13-14
• Jesus is everything...first...preeminent - Colossians 1:15-20
• We were once separated and now we are reconciled - Colossians 1:21-22
• Our responsibility is to continue to believe, stand firmly, and not drift - Colossians 1:23
• No matter what, once you truly belong to Him you are HIS, and if you are HIS you will STAY His

 

  Additional Resources

• Lyrics and chords - Worship Together
• The Story Behind the Song "No Matter What" by Ryan Stevenson - CCM Magazine

This Week's Challenge Read Colossians for yourself. Read it several times. Read it with a pen in your hand rewriting phrases, making lists, and writing down observations. If you h

Purchase your copy of A Seat at the Table today!

Change your music. Change your life. Join my free 30-Day Music Challenge. CLICK HERE.

Send us a text

There's no free pass from suffering for Christians. I wish there were. I have dear friends who are wrestling with God during sickness, conflict, strife, and injustice. Habakkuk wrestled, too. In fact, his name means embrace like a wrestler. May we embrace God's character through faith while wrestling through our circumstances. Perhaps Micah Tyler's song "Even Then" can be a part of the soundtrack.

You will be refreshed at Habakkuk's honesty as we study the entire three chapters of this prophet's contribution to God's Word.

On this week's episode I discuss:

• Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture - this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include:
  • Context
  • Repetition
  • Read in a variety of translations
  • Listen to an epic soundtrack while reading
  • Get your bearings through an introduction and overview - Great resource for this..."How to Read the Bible Book by Book" by Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart
  • Make a list
  • Utilize an outside resource - this week I read "Hope in the Dark" by Craig Groeschel
• An introduction to Habakkuk - I used "How to Read the Bible Book by Book" by Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart , but found a great resource from Insight.org here
• Habakkuk's name means "embrace like a wrestler"
• Habakkuk's complaints and how similar they may be to our own complaints against God - Habakkuk 1:1-4
• God's seemingly unsatisfactory answer/solution - Habakkuk 1:5-12
• How to wait like Habakkuk - Habakkuk 2:1-3
• Living by faith - Habakkuk 2:4
  • Romans 1:17
  • Galatians 3:11
  • Hebrews 10:36-38
• Our limitations when we are asking God to answer the question, "Why aren't you doing something?"
• Habakkuk's rehearsal of God's goodness after his complaint - Habakkuk 3
• Habakkuk's choice to walk in faith EVEN THEN - Habakkuk 3:16-19
• Not necessarily rejoicing in our circumstances, but rejoicing in God our Savior - Habakkuk 3:18

 

Additional Resources

• Lyrics - KLove
• The Story Behind the Song "Even Then" by Micah Tyler - KSWP 90.9

This Week's Challenge Read Habakkuk for yourself. Write down some observations and then read it again. Perhaps you can jot down your own comp

Purchase your copy of A Seat at the Table today!

Change your music. Change your life. Join my free 30-Day Music Challenge. CLICK HERE.

Send us a text

Stale. Fake. Dead. Dying. Faded. Worthless. Delusional. There are all kinds of hope in this world, but believers in Christ are born again into a living hope. Phil Wickham's song "Living Hope" leads us straight to Scripture where we discover that a Living God gives us a Living Hope through a Living Savior.

The original recipients of 1 Peter needed assurance of their living hope as they were suffering greatly. Let's explore it together.

On this week's episode I discuss:

• Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture - this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include:
  • Read and keep on reading
  • Read an introduction to the entire book of the Bible you are studying
  • Consult outside resources
  • Make a list
• An introduction and outline of 1 Peter by J Vernon McGee - PDF of notes and outline
• Reading all the way through 1 Peter
• The theme of 1 Peter - the Christian hope in the time of trial
• J Vernon McGee teachings on 1 Peter - BlueLetterBible.com
• The Living God, our Living Hope, through our Living Savior - 1 Peter 1:3-5
• God's call not to follow the culture - Jeremiah 10:3-5
• Jeremiah's response calling God the living God - Jeremiah 10:10
• Making a list of the characteristics of the manmade idols vs. God's characteristics in Jeremiah 10
• Our living hope comes after being born again - John 3:5-8
• Our living Savior Who bore our sins - 1 Peter 2:24
• The description of our living hope - 1 Peter 1:4-5
• Our proper response to the gift of our living hope - 1 Peter 1:13-16
• Our conduct reflecting our living hope - 1 Peter 1:22-23
• It is through Christ we believe in God - 1 Peter 1:21

Additional Resources

• Lyrics and chords - Essential Worship
• The Story Behind the Song "Living Hope" by Phil Wickham - Essential Worship

This Week's Challenge First, if you’ve never been born again…place your faith and hope in God through Jesus, your living Savior. Then read 1 Peter. I think you’ll be surprised at the suffering it reveals…all the more need for a living hope. Read Jeremiah 10 for a snapshot of the effectiveness (rather ineffectiveness) of our false idols and the worthiness of our living God. Review the introductions to these books, interact with God’s Word as you read, and consult tried and true outside resources to shed even more light on what you’re reading.  

 

Purchase your copy of A Seat at the Table today!

Change your music. Change your life. Join my free 30-Day Music Challenge. CLICK HERE.

Send us a text

You are not invisible.

You are known.

Tauren Well's song "Known" sings about it and so does David in Psalm 139. When you let the truths of this Psalm sink into your being it will change you.

Join me this week as we break it all down.

On this week's episode I discuss:

• Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture - this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include:
  • Read in context
  • Complete a word study
  • Meditate and ponder Scripture
  • Ask questions
  • Make observations
  • Share with a friend
  • Pray and ask God to help you understand
  • Make a list
• God knows us - Jeremiah 12:3, John 10:27, 1 Corinthians 13:12
• Being fully known in the New Testament means "experiential knowing through direct relationship" - BibleHub.com Word Study
• It seems that it is possible to NOT be known by Christ in that "direct relationship" sort of way - Matthew 7:21-23
• God knows everything at all times - He is omniscient - Got Questions Article
• We are known when we are in direction relationship with Christ which comes
  • by faith - Romans 10:17
  • through repentance - Acts 3:9
  • and results in following - John 10:27
• A poem by my friend Christina Hubbard over at Creativeandfree.com
• God searches us...not because He has forgotten or because there's a detail He doesn't yet know...but because He is active in His knowing of us - Psalm 139:1
• How God knows us - Psalm 139:1-6
• To what extent God knows us - Psalm 139:7-12
• Why He knows us - Psalm 139:13-18
• How David feels when He looks upon those who despise and dismiss God - Psalm 139:19-22
• Ending where we began...with a God who searches us - Psalm 139:23-24

 

  Additional Resources

• Lyrics - Air1

This Week's Challenge Now that you know you’re fully known…isn’t it worth your effort to get to know HIM better every day? Read Psalm 139 all the way through. Read it several times in several translations. Take it section by section and ponder the truths found there. Take out a notebook and make some lists. Let it sink in…you are known and you’re not alone.  

Purchase your copy of A Seat at the Table today!

Change your music. Change your life. Join my free 30-Day Music Challenge. CLICK HERE.