Psalm 120:1

Even the “best-laid plans” of parents don’t always turn out as we expect. Moms and dads can experience doubts about possessing the necessary skills for carrying out God-given tasks for our children, or we may fear that a supposed inadequacy will have a detrimental effect, or, to our greater sorrow, we may unexpectedly see our children turn away from the Christian faith. In what ways can praying and trusting the Lord yield reassurance and strength in times of uncertainty?

The disciples spent three years scared to death. But later we see them so bold and unafraid they weren’t even scared of death. If that transition is possible, it’s certainly worth investigating how to make it a reality in our own lives. 

Life with no change for the better stagnates and pollutes itself. It leaves a person with a sense of hopelessness, despair, and frustration. The best hope for any soul is to recognize this despair and frustration within and seek divine help to turn around and transform one's life.

For generations, the car playlist has been an essential component of any road trip, setting the mood. The Psalms of Ascent were the Israelites’ playlist – songs that were sung by the Israelites every year on their way to Jerusalem for the annual feasts. In this plan, we start unpacking these psalms and reflect on the way these songs that were sung centuries ago still apply to us on our Christian journey.