Orchard Hill Church Blog
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Strive for Perfection and Beauty (Psalm 50 Devotional)
Perfection and beauty - the 2 things an artist strives for. We work our craft, practice, hone, develop, mimic, toil and work toward perfection and beauty. But why?
Invest in the Imperishable (Psalm 49 Devotional)
We live in a society where people can live under the illusion of self-made security. Of course, everyone knows it’s all temporary. They know that one day they will die and leave it all behind. So, where or what should we be investing in?
Tell the Next Generation (Psalm 48 Devotional)
Christian parents often keep silent about the single most important aspect of their lives, their faith in Jesus Christ. But we are told to share our story and the tenets of the Christian faith with the next generation reminding them how salvation is achieved.
Boast in the Lord (Psalm 44 Devotional)
We live in a boastful society. People boast about just about everything. The Bible has some harsh things to say about those who boast. Humility is a touted attribute in those who call on the name of the Lord. But we are also called to boast. It’s the object of our boasting that is different though.
Be a Skillful Worshiper (Psalm 47 Devotional)
Whatever we do as our vocation, we are called to do it with excellence. We are to do all things as unto the Lord, regardless of whether we like our company or the work, whether our boss is kind, unkind, competent, or incompetent.
Cease Your Striving (Psalm 46 Devotional)
Sometimes we forget what Christ really did for us on Calvary. We often, once we are saved and God begins the process of sanctification in us, confuse our works with Christ’s finished work. We begin to think that our right standing before God is based on our works.
Be Engaged in the Divine Dance (Psalm 43 Devotional)
Jesus, when He was here on Earth, was engaged in a kind of ‘divine dance’ with His Heavenly Father and the Spirit. As Christ followers, we are also engaged in that divine dance. We are to hear our Bridegroom’s voice and respond to Him.
Why is My Soul Downcast? (Psalm 42 Devotional)
All of us go through times of sadness, sorrow, or even depression. Scripture makes it clear that we live in a fallen world, and that because of sin, we will experience pain in this life. But the purpose of suffering is not to make us let go of life; rather its purpose is to mature us.
Heal My Soul, O Lord (Psalm 41 Devotional)
Part of what happens as we come into the presence of the Lord is the healing of our souls. He desires a type of redemption that restores our very souls.
Music’s Power to Engage the Heart of God (Psalm 40 Devotional)
Music is powerful. It may not tame the savage beast as they say, but it can have a profound impact on our emotions. Every week we come together to experience the presence of God through worship.
The Battlefronts of Our Souls (Psalm 39 Devotional)
The reality is since the fall of mankind, sin has been crouching at all our doors. Sin wants to destroy us. There are 3 primary battlefronts of our souls: the devil, the world system, and the flesh. So how do we fight on these three fronts?
Confession, Forgiveness, and Worship (Psalm 38 Devotional)
Guilt can be powerful in our lives. It is good in that it should lead us to recognize our sin, acknowledge it before God, confess it to Him, and receive forgiveness that was paid for on Calvary. But once we confess, God is faithful and just to forgive our sin and cleanse us of all unrighteousness.
Man’s Steps are Established by the Lord (Psalm 37 Devotional)
When I was a young musician, I’d decided that I was going to move to Nashville. It was the hub of Christian music. But just before I made the move, I got a job offer from a church that I’m still serving at today. Though I had a plan, God led me in a different direction.
Walk in the Light (Psalm 36 Devotional)
Have you ever been in complete darkness? The type where you can’t even see your hand in front of your face? Many of us have been in situations where we felt the darkness closing in, and we were not sure how to get out. But remember the light of the Lord.
Rescue Me from these Lions (Psalm 35 Devotional)
The house of the Lord is a wonderful place of refuge in a world gone crazy. But what happens when the sanctuary becomes like this crazy world? The church is full of broken people; it is not a museum for saints but a hospital for sinners. So, how do we respond?
Why Worship is Better in Community (Psalm 34 Devotional)
Have you ever tasted something so wonderful and delicious that you had to share it with someone else? Worship is like that. Worship seems to elevate when there are others around to experience it with us. It’s as if God wired us to experience certain things more deeply in community.
Creativity and Innovation in Worship (Psalm 33 Devotional)
Throughout the ages, the church has been on the cutting edge of creativity in music and the arts. From Jubal, the first musician mentioned in the Bible, through David and Solomon, to the extraordinary music of Bach and the High Church age, followers of God have consistently innovated in music and the arts.
How God Teaches Us to be More Christ-like (Psalm 32 Devotional)
There is one trait that is perhaps the most important for a teacher. That they care about the student so much that they’ll do just about anything to get them to understand the material. The same is true of God.
Badness is Only Spoiled Goodness (Psalm 31 Devotional)
Sin, in and of itself, has no creative power. It must take what God has created for good and twist it into something ugly. As C.S. Lewis once said, “Goodness is, so to speak, itself: badness is only spoiled goodness. And there must be something good first before it can be spoiled.”
Restored Relationships Through Jesus (Psalm 30 Devotional)
When an important relationship is strained, it is as if we are carrying around a heavyweight. Darkness looms and nothing in our life seems quite right. Our relationship with God is just like that. And He pursues us. He stands at the door and knocks. He seeks us even in our fallenness.