Orchard Hill Church Blog
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The Lord Gives Strength and Blesses His People (Psalm 29 Devotional)
We live in the reality of a truly broken world. And we as humans are the biggest perpetrators of that brokenness. But listen to the words of the scriptures. As you read these, open your heart, put your faith in them. They are breathed from the very breath of God.
Trusting the Lord in Difficult Times (Psalm 28 Devotional)
There are times when we grow weary and weak at the fiery darts that are shot at us. We feel attacked, taken advantage of, just worn - like we can’t go on. The Bible says that our battle is against powers and principalities in heavenly places - we fight spiritual battles masking themselves as worldly battles.
What Does it Mean to Wait for the Lord? (Psalm 27 Devotional)
I’ve heard it said that God has 3 answers to our prayers - yes, no, and wait. Almost certainly, the third is the most difficult. Sometimes we sense in our Spirit a clear yes or no from God. But often in decisions, we cannot seem to hear His voice clearly. It is as if He has gone quiet.
Declare All the Wonders of God (Psalm 26 Devotional)
Words do have power. The Bible says that life and death are in the power of the tongue. We as believers are called not just to believe certain things or think certain things or notice certain things; we are called to speak - to declare.
God Will Instruct the Sinner’s Way (Psalm 25 Devotional)
Cicero once said that thankfulness was the mother of all virtues. As important as thankfulness is though, I believe that it is actually humility that lies at the core of all virtues. Our realization that there is a God is the beginning of humility.
Who is the King of Glory? (Psalm 24 Devotional)
We often think of Jesus in light of His unglorified humanity. And we should. He was, after all fully human. But part of Him was veiled to us. During His time here on Earth we only caught short glimpses of who He really was.
Perspectives Podcast - Family Devotional Time
In this episode, Brady Randall, Dan Sheilds, and Jenna Bajuszik have a conversation about having devotional time as a family, what their experiences were growing up, what they do with their kids now, and more!
Perspectives Podcast - Wake Up Olive (Praying for Resurrection at Bethel Church
In this episode, Dr. Kurt Bjorklund, Dan Shields, and Josiah Leuenberger have a conversation about a situation at Bethel Church where the congregation was praying for the resurrection of a little girl named Olive. They discuss the situation, how Christians should think about difficult situations like this, the theology behind their beliefs, and more!
Perspectives Podcast - Spiritual Disciplines
In this episode, Dr. Kurt Bjorklund, Dan Shields, and Emily Roberts have a conversation about spiritual disciplines, what disciplines they have found to be helpful in their Christian walk, how these things have changed over the course of their life, and more!
Dwelling in the House of the Lord Forever (Psalm 23 Devotional)
The promise of an afterlife and knowing we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever is one of the single most clarifying concepts a person can have. It puts most everything in perspective. Knowing our destination gives our journey direction. Without a known destination, our journey is merely wandering in the fog.
Those Who Seek Him Will Praise the Lord (Psalm 22 Devotional)
Written a millennium before the coming of the Christ, David prophetically proclaims the horrors of the cross in such vivid and striking foreshadowing. A thousand years after David breathed his last breath, Jesus would be breathing His last breaths in fulfillment of the words of this Psalm.
Perspectives Podcast - Online vs. In-Person Church Services
In this episode, Dr. Kurt Bjorklund, Dan Shields, and Emily DeAngelo have a conversation about online vs. in-person church services, the advantages and disadvantages of each, if online church can completely replace in-person church, and more!
Power in Light of Eternity (Psalm 21 Devotional)
Since the dawn of civilization, societies have admired those who have strength and power. But considering eternity, how important is this? What does it really mean to win the Super Bowl, or get to the top of the ladder in business? The perspective of time often helps.
Boasting in the Name of the Lord (Psalm 20 Devotional)
How often do we boast in the name of the Lord? Obviously in church we do. It’s the place for it. But in the rest of the week, are we boasting in the Lord? If we are honest, most of us would say, not very often.
Put God First in Your Life (Psalm 19 Devotional)
God cares not just about outward appearance, but about the heart. ‘For God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance. The Lord looks for the heart.’ He sees the core of who we are. He knows us more deeply than we can ever know ourselves. God wants your hearts - all of it.
Live a Life of Discipline (Psalm 18 Devotional)
Many of the things that God calls us to requires more than just faith and more than just prayer. Though our salvation is bought by Christ alone through the shedding of His blood, the life we are called to live as Christians requires sweat, toil, and discipline.
The Lord Will Never Abandon Us (Psalm 17 Devotional)
We all experience moments in life when we think we are alone but later realize that our Heavenly Father was with us all along, similar to the way an Indian boy goes through a rite of passage but later realizes his father was watching over him all night.
God is our Refuge (Psalm 16 Devotional)
We have no promise for tomorrow. We have no promise for our next breath. We have no promise that life will be easy. Scripture is clear that the opposite will often be true. But we have a God Who can protect us and shelter us, in Whom we can find our only true security.
Preparing for Easter: Humility & Glory
This week, we remember the ultimate sacrifice of our Redeemer. It is only because of Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of the Father, that holy justice could be meted out, and that like Dusty Miller in the Burmese Jungle, a life was taken that a life might be gained.
Am I Good Enough for God? (Psalm 15 Devotional)
Psalm 15 lists some attributes of one who could live with God forever. Looking down the list I realize quickly I fall short in most all of them. We desire to be people worthy of climbing God’s holy hill but see in this list we are not.