Fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:6-7 A sign of spring is when I clean the wood-burning stove inside out. Throughout the winter, we use it as our primary source of heat. As part of our routine to keep our home warm, we get up in the night and fan the flame using the billows. Sometimes, we have to rekindle it because we s

Easter celebrations are over, but it’s a good time to reflect on not only the forgiveness of our Lord towards us but also our own forgiveness towards others.  Unfortunately, we’ve all been there—suddenly, an unexpected offense strikes, and we may smile outwardly, but deep down, we’re hurt. If we let it simmer, it turns into anger; if we continue down this path, it becomes resentment and bitterness. Unfortunately, this can damage relationships, even if there are no words to ex

He is risen! This amazing assertion has been recorded by all four Gospel writers, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. For example, in Luke’s Gospel, he writes the following account: On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb.  They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clot

He is not here; He has risen! Remember how He told you while He was still with you in Galilee: The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified, and, on the third day, be raised again. Luke 24:6-7 This powerful worship song elevates the name of Jesus, the King of kings and Lord of lords, the Alpha and Omega, the Lamb who was slain and now reigns eternally. Sing along and worship. Draw near to God. In His presence, proclaim: Holy, holy, holy Worthy i

"The Lord your God is with you; the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love, he will no longer rebuke you but will rejoice over you with singing.”   Zephaniah 3:17 Upon meditating upon this verse, I am deeply moved by the image of God, the Mighty Warrior who saves, and our Father expressing delight and singing, possibly a soothing lullaby over us. Do you recall the comforting songs you would sing to your children when they were afraid? These s

"Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master." Matthew 25:21 I’ve been pondering meeting the Lord and gazing into His eyes for the first time. What would He say to me? I yearn to hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” This is a familiar verse, but have you noticed the second part? “You have been faithful over a little: I will set you over much.” Afterward, He says, “Enter into t

Sing a new song to the LORD, for he has done wonderful deeds. His right hand has won a mighty victory; his holy arm has shown his saving power!  Psalm 98:1. (NLT) “I have that song stuck in my head!” We all complain about this at some point. Music has a way of bypassing our thoughts and taking up residence in our minds, even if we don’t want it to. It has the power to take us on emotional journeys, so it’s important to choose our music wisely. Opt for heavenly songs that draw

Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord Himself, is my strength and my defense; He has become my salvation. Isaiah 12:2 One of the ways I worship at home during quiet moments is to listen to worship songs and let the words and music speak to my heart. I repeatedly allow the words of praise and Scripture to penetrate my mind and soul, often leading me into Spirit-filled worship and prayers. This week, I’m particularly praying for the nati

...I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty, the whole earth is full of his glory.” Isaiah 6:1-3 In Isaiah 6:3, the Seraphim (angels) exclaimed, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty!” They ar

Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth...  Philippians 2:9-10 Do you want a life-changing experience? Become a worshiper. Do you want to know God’s presence? Become a worshiper. Do you long for deep intimacy with God? Become a worshiper.  In Psalm 95:6, it says, “Come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the Lord our

You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being. ~ Revelation 4:11

Sing to the Lord a new song;  sing to the Lord, all the earth.   Psalm 96:1 I’ve been digging into the history of Christian Music going back to the Jesus Freak Days of the 70s when I was saved. There’s a lot of criticism around Contemporary Christian Music, and I’ve been curious to understand why. It turns out there’s a real clash within the church. Therefore, many churches, including ours, have taken the path of "Blended Worship". We sing hymns, worship songs, and modern con

The music of the church is about worship! It is not about hymns versus contemporary or bands versus choirs.  It isn't what songs we like or dislike. It is ONLY about Jesus! If you are struggling with this, you have missed the point of why we sing in church. We sing to Him, not just about Him. Who is Jesus? The scene in Heaven described in Revelation should be etched in our hearts. Jesus, the Son of God, embodies the duality of a Lion and a Lamb. He is not merely a lamb...

Lately, many of my close friends have been going through tough times. When we’re struggling, confused, persecuted, or defeated, what words of encouragement can we offer to loved ones or ourselves who are crushed, hopeless, abandoned, and destroyed? What is the answer?

For many people, the Christmas season is a time of joy and celebration. But for many others, this season is bittersweet due to a loss of a loved one, loneliness, financial difficulties, family being far away, or life being overwhelming. Because the Christian faith offers light, healing, and hope, First Presbyterian Church of Montrose is hosting a “Service of the Longest Night” on the longest night of the calendar year, which is the winter solstice. This service is open to all

"For now ,  we see only a reflection as in a mirror, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, as I am fully...

In just a few weeks, we will enter into Holy Week, which begins on Palm Sunday and ends on Easter Sunday. This week chronicles the time...

“And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”...

The Lord your God is going ahead of you. He will fight for you, just as you saw him do in Egypt. And you saw how the Lord your God cared...

By the time you read this, we will have turned the corner towards the liturgical season known as Lent. The Lenten season begins on Ash...