"O LORD my God, I cried unto you, and you have made me whole." (Psalm 30:2) Early in the morning I draw near to Youto pray, to worship, to be still. Like the disciples who gathered after Your resurrectionto meet with You again in Galilee,I bow in worship for You are my Lord and my …
A Morning Prayer of Closeness to God
“Let the dawn bring newsof Your unfailing lovefor I put my trust in You.Show me the roadthat I must travelfor You to relieve my heart.” (Psalm 143:8, NJB) Early in the morning I draw awayto be only with You.The time seems to move too quicklyand I know I must step toward what comes next.But here, …
What Has Your Heart?: Jesus, Herod, and the Temptation toward Idolatry
William Blake, Moses Indignant at the Golden Calf We become what we worship. This idea is something we encounter throughout Scripture. What grips our hearts—what holds our attention at the center of our lives—motivates us, moves us, and leads us wherever it desires. We see this clearly in the sharp contrast between Herod the Great …
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Singing Our Faith into Our Lives in Advent
Advent is one of the times I remember most clearly from my early years. My parents would gather my older brother and I around the Advent wreath each night to light candles and sing hymns about the coming of Christ. That tradition is one we have continued in our own family, since the time our …
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What Are You Thankful For?
Giving thanks and showing gratitude to God is an act of worship. This is why we read in Psalm 106:1, "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever." But it is not just for the material goods or obvious blessings that we are to be thankful for. In fact, the …
Matthew Erickson 