Walking in the Psalms: Psalm 88
The Practice Church Podcast
Eugene Peterson wrote, “Most Christians for most of the Christian centuries have learned to pray by praying the Psalms. The Hebrews, with several centuries of a head start on us in matters of prayer and worship, provided us with this prayer book that gives us a language adequate for responding to the God who speaks to us.” In this series, we will consider how the Psalms teach us to worship and pray. The Psalms are a rich array of reflections on God’s character, power, love, and activity in the world. They are also reflections of what it means for us to know, trust, and follow God....
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Walking in the Psalms: Psalm 23
The Practice Church Podcast
Eugene Peterson wrote, “Most Christians for most of the Christian centuries have learned to pray by praying the Psalms. The Hebrews, with several centuries of a head start on us in matters of prayer and worship, provided us with this prayer book that gives us a language adequate for responding to the God who speaks to us.” In this series, we will consider how the Psalms teach us to worship and pray. The Psalms are a rich array of reflections on God’s character, power, love, and activity in the world. They are also reflections of what it means for us to know, trust, and follow God....
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Walking in the Psalms: Psalm 34
The Practice Church Podcast
Eugene Peterson wrote, “Most Christians for most of the Christian centuries have learned to pray by praying the Psalms. The Hebrews, with several centuries of a head start on us in matters of prayer and worship, provided us with this prayer book that gives us a language adequate for responding to the God who speaks to us.” In this series, we will consider how the Psalms teach us to worship and pray. The Psalms are a rich array of reflections on God’s character, power, love, and activity in the world. They are also reflections of what it means for us to know, trust, and follow God....
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Gifted for the Kingdom: The 5-Fold Ministry
The Practice Church Podcast
Paul encouraged the Christians in Corinth by writing, “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.” (1 Corinthians 12:4-7) In this series, we will be exploring how each of us are gifted to serve in God’s kingdom. We will reflect on spiritual gifts. How do spiritual gifts enable us to join in the work of the Holy Spirit in the world? Guided by the two motifs:...
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Gifted for the Kingdom: A Look at Romans 12:3-8
The Practice Church Podcast
Paul encouraged the Christians in Corinth by writing, “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.” (1 Corinthians 12:4-7) In this series, we will be exploring how each of us are gifted to serve in God’s kingdom. We will reflect on spiritual gifts. How do spiritual gifts enable us to join in the work of the Holy Spirit in the world? Guided by the two motifs:...
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Gifted for the Kingdom: Spiritual Gifts
The Practice Church Podcast
Paul encouraged the Christians in Corinth by writing, “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.” (1 Corinthians 12:4-7) In this series, we will be exploring how each of us are gifted to serve in God’s kingdom. We will reflect on spiritual gifts. How do spiritual gifts enable us to join in the work of the Holy Spirit in the world? Guided by the two motifs:...
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Walking in the Resurrection: Pentecost
The Practice Church Podcast
Jesus’s resurrection from the dead that first Easter morning changed everything. He began his ministry by announcing the arrival of the kingdom of God, and in his death and resurrection he defeated the powers of sin. Yet, we still live in a world consumed by darkness. We suffer, we grieve, we lose hope. The kingdom of God is a present reality for us now, but not all of God’s promises have been fulfilled. We live in the tension of the “already, but not yet.” In this series, we will be exploring the time between Jesus’s resurrection and Pentecost, in some traditions called Eastertide....
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Walking in the Resurrection: The Ascension of Jesus
The Practice Church Podcast
Jesus’s resurrection from the dead that first Easter morning changed everything. He began his ministry by announcing the arrival of the kingdom of God, and in his death and resurrection he defeated the powers of sin. Yet, we still live in a world consumed by darkness. We suffer, we grieve, we lose hope. The kingdom of God is a present reality for us now, but not all of God’s promises have been fulfilled. We live in the tension of the “already, but not yet.” In this series, we will be exploring the time between Jesus’s resurrection and Pentecost, in some traditions called Eastertide....
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Walking in the Resurrection: The Great Commission and Our Kingdom Lives
The Practice Church Podcast
Jesus’s resurrection from the dead that first Easter morning changed everything. He began his ministry by announcing the arrival of the kingdom of God, and in his death and resurrection he defeated the powers of sin. Yet, we still live in a world consumed by darkness. We suffer, we grieve, we lose hope. The kingdom of God is a present reality for us now, but not all of God’s promises have been fulfilled. We live in the tension of the “already, but not yet.” In this series, we will be exploring the time between Jesus’s resurrection and Pentecost, in some traditions called Eastertide....
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Walking in the Resurrection: Peter and Our Failures
The Practice Church Podcast
Jesus’s resurrection from the dead that first Easter morning changed everything. He began his ministry by announcing the arrival of the kingdom of God, and in his death and resurrection he defeated the powers of sin. Yet, we still live in a world consumed by darkness. We suffer, we grieve, we lose hope. The kingdom of God is a present reality for us now, but not all of God’s promises have been fulfilled. We live in the tension of the “already, but not yet.” In this series, we will be exploring the time between Jesus’s resurrection and Pentecost, in some traditions called Eastertide....
info_outlineEugene Peterson wrote, “Most Christians for most of the Christian centuries have learned to pray by praying the Psalms. The Hebrews, with several centuries of a head start on us in matters of prayer and worship, provided us with this prayer book that gives us a language adequate for responding to the God who speaks to us.”
In this series, we will consider how the Psalms teach us to worship and pray. The Psalms are a rich array of reflections on God’s character, power, love, and activity in the world. They are also reflections of what it means for us to know, trust, and follow God. Written within the collection of Psalms, are words of praise, cries of help, expressions of anguish and of joy. How do we see our lives reflected in the words of the Psalms? How do the Psalms lead us to a deeper understanding of God enriching our worship of Him? How do the Psalms inform and guide us as we pray?
This week, Christy Davis explores grief and grieving through the lens of Psalm 88.
Note: Some of the lyrics from this week's song meditation might be difficult to hear clearly so we have included them here:
Psalm 88 by Poor Bishop Hooper
oh god of my salvation
i cry out day and night
may my prayer come now before you
would you listen to my cry
for my soul is full of troubles
and death it draws near
with no strength i’m like the slain in the grave
whom you no longer remember
darkness is my only friend
in the darkest places and the deeps
your wrath lies heavy upon me
you have overwhelmed me with your waves
i am trapped and i cannot escape
my eyes grow dim in sorrow every day i call to you
lord i open up my hands do you work wonders for the dead
do departed rise to praise you
does your love come from the grave
are your wonders known in abbadon or good where those forget?
darkness is my only friend
oh why do you hide your face from me
close to my demise since i was a kid
your wrath your assaults all surrounding
i suffer your horrors i’m desperate
darkness is my only friend