Psalm 16 The first two verses of Psalm 16 give us a picture of spiritual maturity. The spiritually mature know where good comes from. Edwin and Andrew spend some time talking about how our view of good defines our maturity. Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking here . Let us know what you are learning or any questions you have. Email us at TextTalk@ChristiansMeetHere.org. Join the Facebook community and join the conversation by clicking here . We'd love to meet you....
Dec 14, 2020•16 min•Season 2Ep. 76
Psalm 15 We get it. The past couple of days have been a little unsettling. Here is this beautiful poem about the person who actually gets to dwell with God and what we've been saying about it is none of us fit the bill. But, honestly, it is only by noticing that without watering down what it says that really gets us to how important this psalm is. Because, in fact, when God couldn't find anyone who fit this bill, He sent someone who would fit this bill. Jesus is really who Psalm 15 is about. And...
Dec 11, 2020•16 min•Season 2Ep. 75
Psalm 15 How important is Psalm 15? It basically explains the reason why Israel wasn't able to dwell with God. It explains why Israel was kicked out of God's land. Edwin and Andrew discuss the continuing problem that no one, not even anyone in the nation of Israel lived according to Psalm 15. Further, they discuss why the fact that no one lives this way should be pretty frightening to us all. Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking here. Let us know what you are learn...
Dec 10, 2020•16 min•Season 2Ep. 74
Psalm 15 There is one really big problem as we read Psalm 15. We just read Psalm 14. And Psalm 14 says there isn't a single one of us out there who has lived like Psalm 15 describes. What are we to do about that? Edwin and Andrew discuss this today. Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking here. Let us know what you are learning or any questions you have. Email us at TextTalk@ChristiansMeetHere.org. Join the Facebook community and join the conversation by clicking here...
Dec 09, 2020•16 min•Season 2Ep. 73
Psalm 15 David describes the kind of person God is looking for in a "roommate." Edwin and Andrew examine the qualifications and describe the kind of life we should be striving to live. Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking here. Let us know what you are learning or any questions you have. Email us at TextTalk@ChristiansMeetHere.org. Join the Facebook community and join the conversation by clicking here . We'd love to meet you. Be a guest among the Christians who mee...
Dec 08, 2020•15 min•Season 2Ep. 72
Psalm 15 The psalmist wants to dwell with God. Edwin and Andrew talk about how awesome it is to want to be roommates with God. What kind of person does it take to even ask to do this? Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking here. Let us know what you are learning or any questions you have. Email us at TextTalk@ChristiansMeetHere.org. Join the Facebook community and join the conversation by clicking here . We'd love to meet you. Be a guest among the Christians who meet...
Dec 07, 2020•16 min•Season 2Ep. 71
Psalm 14 If we are all fools, what hope do we have? The salvation that comes from Zion. You know what that is, right? Of course. It's Jesus. Edwin and Andrew talk about how Psalm 14 points to Jesus and the great joy and gladness we can have because the salvation has already gone forth from Zion. Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking here. Let us know what you are learning or any questions you have. Email us at TextTalk@ChristiansMeetHere.org. Join the Facebook commu...
Dec 04, 2020•14 min•Season 2Ep. 70
Psalm 14 For some reason, the fool often is connected with mistreating the poor. Perhaps the poor come up because they have no place to turn but to God for refuge. And the fool often thinks he can get away with what he wants with them because the fool doesn't see God's protection. Edwin and Andrew discuss what it means to take refuge in God and why you don't have to be poor to do so, but it may help. Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking here. Let us know what you a...
Dec 03, 2020•14 min•Season 2Ep. 69
Psalm 14 Psalm 14 isn't necessarily talking about the avowed atheist. It also includes the practical atheist. In other words, there are some people who will verbally claim belief in God, but they live like there isn't one. Or, they live like His existence is inconsequential. And that is demonstrated in no place greater than in prayer. I may claim to believe in God, but if I don't pray, I am just like the fool in Psalm 14. Edwin and Andrew talk about this kind of practical atheism. Read the writt...
Dec 02, 2020•17 min•Season 2Ep. 68
Psalm 14 So, the fool says in his heart that there is no God. Well, I've never done that, so I'm not a fool. Wait! What? You're saying no one has done good? But I'm someone. Are you saying that I'm a fool? How dare you! Edwin and Andrew delve into the part of the psalm that often gets ignored. All Christians love to throw up vs. 1 to all those "fools" out there, but miss that the rest of the psalm says we are all in the same boat. Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicki...
Dec 01, 2020•16 min•Season 2Ep. 67
Psalm 14 What does the Fool say? Ring, ding, ding...Okay, sorry. Couldn't help myself. Of course, the fool says that there is no God. At least that's what David tells us. In this episode, Edwin and Andrew dig into the fool and what this means about him or her. Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking here. Let us know what you are learning or any questions you have. Email us at TextTalk@ChristiansMeetHere.org. Join the Facebook community and join the conversation by cl...
Nov 30, 2020•15 min•Season 2Ep. 66
Psalm 13 Despite all the fears and emotions David is facing, he maintained faith. He remembered that God had dealt bountifully with him. He remembered God's own declaration of His steadfast love and decided God was trustworthy. He would keep leaning on God even in this time when he didn't understand God's actions. Edwin and Andrew talk about the overcoming faith that is victorious even in these kinds of dark times. Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking here. Let us ...
Nov 27, 2020•16 min•Season 2Ep. 27
Psalm 13 Did David start with his biggest fear or has he been building up to it? We don't know. But we do know for many of us, this last fear is the biggest. David fears the ridicule of the enemies. We hate to be made fun of and mocked. Edwin and Andrew spend sometime in this episode discussing how we can face ridicule and bring glory to God through it. Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking here. Let us know what you are learning or any questions you have. Email us ...
Nov 26, 2020•17 min•Season 2Ep. 64
Psalm 13 David's second fear in Psalm 13 is the fear of defeat. Like so many, David didn't want to lose. Edwin and Andrew help us process our own fears of defeat, why we can overcome those fears, and why we need to keep on "playing the game." Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking here. Let us know what you are learning or any questions you have. Email us at TextTalk@ChristiansMeetHere.org. Join the Facebook community and join the conversation by clicking here . We'd...
Nov 25, 2020•16 min•Season 2Ep. 63
Psalm 13 When David feels isolated and alone, he portrays three huge fears. The first is the fear of death. We can be afraid of death. But we don't need to be. Edwin and Andrew spend some time talking about the fact that we often fear death and what to do about it when we do. But they also spend some time talking about why and how we Christians can overcome our fear of death. Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking here. Let us know what you are learning or any questi...
Nov 24, 2020•16 min•Season 2Ep. 62
Psalm 13 Satan wants you to believe you are the very first and only follower of God to feel abandoned and alone. He wants you to think that no one else ever felt like you do on your bad days. He wants you to be so upset about it that you abandon God. But the Bible doesn't sell you a bill of goods. The Bible doesn't claim that all of life is daisies and buttercups for God's people. Edwin and Andrew dig into Psalm 13 to see what to do in those moments when life is really, really tough even for God...
Nov 23, 2020•16 min•Season 2Ep. 61
Psalm 12 We have examined the layers of this psalm from its outer limits to its central point. But there is that outlier statement at the beginning. And digging into that brings about the most exciting Text Talk episode to date. We know we said that yesterday, but today really does top even that. What's more, it's EPISODE 200!!!!! Yay!!!! Thanks for being with us to this magnificent milestone. Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking here. Let us know what you are lear...
Nov 20, 2020•18 min•Season 2Ep. 60
Psalm 12 Having peeled back all the layers, we finally arrive at the center of the Psalm. The psalmist's message is launched like a spear tip. For eight psalms, the psalmist has been asking the Lord to arise. He finally says He's going to do it, right in the middle of this psalm. It's the most exciting Text Talk episode to date. Enjoy the ride. Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking here. Let us know what you are learning or any questions you have. Email us at TextTa...
Nov 19, 2020•17 min•Season 2Ep. 59
Psalm 12 A third layer of the psalm, peeling from the beginning and the end, brings us to a contrast. On the one hand, we have the false confidence of the liars in their own words. On the other, we have God's Word which has been refined seven times. But what does that mean? Edwin and Andrew help us understand why we can trust God and His Word, and also why we should not put our trust in the words of men. Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking here. Let us know what y...
Nov 18, 2020•16 min•Season 2Ep. 58
Psalm 12 As we peel back the layers of Psalm 12, even though David feels alone and isolated, though he feels no one is serving the Lord but himself, he knows that God will protect him. God will judge the liars. His prayer seems a bit violent, and that bothers us, but Edwin and Andrew talk about the imprecation and what that really means for us and our praying. It is great that we can trust God to do what is right in judgment. Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking he...
Nov 17, 2020•16 min•Season 2Ep. 57
Psalm 12 David feels alone. There are no more godly in the land. He is by himself serving the Lord. Of course, that is not true at all. There were always faithful supporters of David. But this is what it felt like. Have you ever felt completely alone? Edwin and Andrew talk about what we can learn from David when we feel so all alone. Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking here. Let us know what you are learning or any questions you have. Email us at TextTalk@Christia...
Nov 16, 2020•17 min•Season 2Ep. 56
The fourth foundation, and we make no claim that this week's list of foundations is exhaustive, should give us all hope. The Lord loves the upright. He will be merciful, gracious, forgiving, and steadfast with those who turn to Him. He will not clear the guilty, but He will forgive the penitent who seek Him and love Him. Edwin and Andrew discuss this love for the upright. Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking here. Let us know what you are learning or any questions ...
Nov 13, 2020•18 min•Season 2Ep. 55
Psalm 11 Foundation #3 is the Lord's own righteousness. However, our view of God's righteousness may not be exactly what the Bible means. Edwin and Andrew discuss what the Psalmist means when he claims God is righteous and what a powerful foundation that really is for us! Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking here. Let us know what you are learning or any questions you have. Email us at TextTalk@ChristiansMeetHere.org. Join the Facebook community and join the conver...
Nov 12, 2020•16 min•Season 2Ep. 54
Psalm 11 Foundation #2 is a shocking one. One of the reasons things go from bad to worse even while the righteous pray for God's deliverance and judgment is because He tests everyone, including the righteous. This testing is for our good. Edwin and Andrew talk about this shocking foundation and why it is actually good for the righteous. Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking here. Let us know what you are learning or any questions you have. Email us at TextTalk@Chris...
Nov 11, 2020•17 min•Season 2Ep. 53
Psalm 11 The wicked heart whispers that God doesn't see and doesn't take into account. But a foundation that keeps the righteous faithful is knowing that no matter what it looks like in the moment, the Lord does see. The Lord does take account. The foundations are not actually shattered. Edwin and Andrew talk about this great foundation that helps us stay faithful to the Lord even when things seem to be just getting worse. Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking here....
Nov 10, 2020•15 min•Season 2Ep. 52
Psalm 11 Most commentators suggest David was being given the literal advice to flee to the mountains, but he decided he wouldn't do it. The big problem with this is David always fled to the mountains. He fled to the mountains when Saul was chasing him. He fled to the mountains when Absalom rebelled. So, what is actually going on here. Edwin and Andrew discuss what "fleeing to the mountains" is really all about and how we need to trust in God as our mountain, our refuge, our fortress. Read the wr...
Nov 09, 2020•16 min•Season 2Ep. 51
Psalm 10 Psalm 9 and 10 end on the same note. People need to realize they are just people. We are mere mortals. We need to realize that anyone who attacks us is only human. They are, as Warren Wiersbe calls them, merely "Earth Dwellers." We need to be Heaven Dwellers. And our King is The Heaven Dweller. We have nothing to fear. Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking here. Let us know what you are learning or any questions you have. Email us at TextTalk@ChristiansMeet...
Nov 06, 2020•18 min•Season 2Ep. 50
Psalm 10 Because God wasn't acting quickly, not only were the liars having time and even seeming reason to pass on their lies, but it was also putting the psalmist and all who heard the liars in danger. The longer God wasn't doing something about the lies, the more credence folks might give to the lies. The more likely they are to start believing the lies. Edwin and Andrew talk about how important it is to maintain our faith and not fall for the lies. Read the written devo that goes along with t...
Nov 05, 2020•17 min•Season 2Ep. 49
Psalm 10 What is this psalmist most worried about? It isn't actually his personal affliction. It is not even the great affliction of others. He isn't mostly worried about people getting away with stuff. Nope. What he is most worried about is God's reputation. Edwin and Andrew explore how amazing that is and also jump into one of the most profound lessons on prayer that we can learn from the Psalms. Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking here. Let us know what you are...
Nov 04, 2020•17 min•Season 2Ep. 48
Psalm 10 This psalm begins with some shocking and uncomfortable questions. In fact, Christians might shudder to ever ask these questions themselves. Yet, here they are in an inspired prayer. When God wanted to record the kinds of prayers we can pray, He included this one. Edwin and Andrew discuss the potential answers to these question and just the amazing fact that God is big enough to let us ask these kinds of questions. They even delve into the question of whether this demonstrates weak faith...
Nov 03, 2020•17 min•Season 2Ep. 47
