Lakeside Christian Church Blog

The Worthiness of His Praise   Psalm 113:1–3 Praise the LORD! Praise, O servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD! Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and forevermore! From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the LORD is to be praised!    Scripture Reading: Psalm 72   Psalm 113 opens with a call for God's servants to praise Him from "this time forth and forevermore." From the rising of the sun to its setting, His name is to be praised. Psalm 72 echoes this theme, depicting a king who brings justice, prosperity, and peace — a foreshadowing of Christ. These psalms exalt God’s sovereignty and His care for the needy. His reign is eternal, and His glory fills the earth. We are reminded that praise isn’t limited to circumstances or places; it’s a daily offering from hearts awed by His majesty. Whether in joy or hardship, God remains worthy, and His name deserves praise every moment of the day.   The songs we will sing together on...

Our Faithful Deliverer   2 Timothy 4:18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.   Scripture Reading: Psalm 71   In 2 Timothy 4:18, Paul confidently proclaims that “the Lord will rescue me… and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom.” This echoes the psalmist in Psalm 71, who pleads for deliverance yet declares steadfast trust in God. Both passages remind us that our hope isn’t in escaping hardship but in the God who walks with us through it. From youth to old age, God is our refuge, sustainer, and Savior. Whether in weakness or persecution, we can rest in His unfailing love. The assurance of rescue is not always about earthly deliverance; it’s about being kept secure in God’s purpose and, ultimately, welcomed into His eternal kingdom. He is faithful now and forever.   The songs we sing help anchor these truths deep within us.  Christ Is Risen  declares victory...

Yours, O Lord, Is the Kingdom   1 Chronicles 29:10-11 Blessed are you, O LORD, the God of Israel our father, forever and ever. Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, and you are exalted as head above all.   Scripture Reading: Psalm 70   Psalm 70 is a cry for urgent help: “Make haste, O God, to deliver me!” In contrast, 1 Chronicles 29 declares God’s eternal rule, power, and glory. Together, they reveal two essential truths of faith: God is both near to the needy and exalted above all. We pray for deliverance while praising His unshakable sovereignty. David, in his final prayer, praised the Lord not for personal blessing, but for God’s eternal kingship and majesty. When we feel weak and desperate like the psalmist, we look up and remember the greatness of our God and His amazing love demonstrated in sending Jesus Christ (John 3:16; R...

  May 9, 2025 – Pray Without Ceasing   1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Scripture Reading: Psalm 69 You may notice the italicized word,  Selah , is subtly right justified at various places in many of the psalms.  Selah  is typically thought to indicate a pause, or point of rest or reflection in the text. It can serve as a musical or liturgical cue to stop and contemplate the preceding text or verse. David is crying out to God to save him in Psalm 69, which doesn’t have any  Selah’s  noted. This is how our loving, relational, intimate God invites us to come to him. As Paul reminded the church in Thessalonica – pray without ceasing. We don’t have to pause, or wait to have it all together, our doubts diminished, or burdens gone before crying out and being held in our Lord’s loving, gracious arms. The first song we’ll sing together on Sunday ...

  Called to Declare His Praise   1 Peter 2:9–10 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.   Scripture Reading: Psalm 68   1 Peter 2:9–10 reminds us that our identity is rooted in God's mercy—we are a chosen people, called out of darkness into His marvelous light. Psalm 68 echoes this calling as it celebrates God as a defender of the vulnerable and a deliverer for His people. We belong to Him not by merit but by grace, and our lives are now meant to reflect His glory. We are no longer defined by sin or shame but by God’s redeeming love. As His royal priesthood, we are sent into the world not to hide our faith but to declare His goodness boldly, joyfully, and compassionately, inviting others to...