Psalm 1 Revisited

Psalm 1 Revisited

Favored is the person

Who does not sheepishly follow wolves,
Or proudly stand among fools,

Or keep company with mockers,

Instead, the free person enjoys God’s ways,

And ponders over the truth each day
That person is as strong as a tree

Planted next to a flowing stream,

Producing fruit often

And growing stronger each year,

Unlike the foolish ones!
They are of little substance

And will eventually disappear.

Know this – the angry mob will be rejected

And will not be a part of God’s people

For the Lord watches dearly over His own
But the way of the arrogant leads to ignoble destruction.

© John Stuart 2019

Stushie Art: The First Fifty

I've just completed my first fifty digital drawings of the first fifty psalms and Youtubed the sequence. Enjoy!

Psalm Screensavers: Psalm 30

Continuing my Book of Psalms art project

Religious Art: Psalm 28

Continuing my Book of Psalms art project

Psalm Screensaver

Part of my artwork series celebrating the Book of Psalms...




16 down...only 132 more to go!

Daily Devotions: Escaping Envy

Psalm 73:25 Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.

Psalm 73 is one of my favorite psalms. It deals with jealousy and envy. The writer feels that he is losing out of the spoils of life and riches of success. He is faithful to God, but not wealthy. He is a good person surrounded by ‘evil’ people who possess more than he owns.

Podcast version here

He’s suffering from clerical envy, or what I call holy jealousy. And I know exactly how he feels. Pastors are meant to be quiet, unassuming, and humble people. We are supposed to be examples of peace, happiness, and contentment. But we’re not. When it comes to our churches, most of us are territorial and always comparing our failures to the successes of other pastors. I guess it’s a mixture of insecurity and narcissism, instead of faith and loving God.

Anyway, if you take time to read the whole of Psalm 73, you’ll know exactly what I mean. The psalmist expresses his disappointment with God and vehemently points out the wickedness of others. He is essentially saying to God, “I have done everything right and been perfectly faithful. So, why aren’t you blessing me, God?” It’s a question that pastors constantly ask, as well as other Christians in their own workplaces.

The turning point in the psalm occurs when the writer realizes that possessions are only temporary and that his life is meant to serve God, not himself. That’s the part that I like the most because it reminds me not to value myself through the things I own, but to count myself fortunate that I am owned by God. In the end, all of my possessions will turn to dust and my ambitions will all fade away. In the end, only God will be important to me.

Prayer: Lord God, I am sorry that I allow envy and greed, jealousy and ambition to overwhelm my spirit at times. I am sorry that my insecurity and desires take away my contentedness and satisfaction with life. Forgive me, Lord, for surrounding myself with possessions that I cannot hold on to, or things that I will have to leave behind. Help me to focus on the eternal goodness of Your love and the everlasting blessings of Your grace. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Weekend Screensaver: Psalm 11

Now that the holidays are almost over, I can get back to designing holy posters, using the Book of Psalms as my inspiration.




Part of my digital stained glass art project. "Flee like a bird to the mountain of the Lord."

Choosing to Serve

Making coffee and sweeping up leaves can also be used to glorify and serve the Lord.

Podcast version here

We don’t have a custodian on duty at our church on Sunday mornings. This means that I make the coffee because I’m one of the first to arrive at the church. I also get to sweep up the leaves at the front door, which usually collect in between Sunday school and worship. Some church members and I usually have a pleasant laugh together when they catch me sweeping the leaves. Yesterday, they were asking me if I had been promoted! It is all in good fun and it just enhances the friendship and fellowship at the church.

Psalm 84:10 Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.

I love this verse from the psalms because it reminds all of us that the position of humility in God’s service is far more precious than fame or fortune. Whatever we do for the church, we do so because we love God and we want to minister to others, so that they will be attracted into serving God, too.

As we draw near to Christmas, we are all humbled and touched by the simplicity of Christ’s entrance into the world. He didn’t come to earth surrounded by thousands of angels and glorified by rulers from all over the world. He wasn’t born into a family esteemed by riches and made prosperous by power. His first abode was a wooden shack, usually reserved for animals. His life was endangered almost immediately by King Herod, and his family became refugees for a while. Rather than being recognized as the King of kings and Lord of lords, he was just a mere baby, unprotected and vulnerable, with no power or authority.

That’s why serving the Lord at church should never be something that we undertake in order to fulfill our ambitions, or build up our esteem. We serve the Lord because we are His servants. He calls and expects us to do His will. He wants us to fulfill His ministries and missions, as opposed to our own dreams and desires.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we proclaim You as our King. Help us to recognize and accept that we serve You, so that You will be honored and glorified. Give us the heart of a humble servant and encourage us to attract others to serve You faithfully, too. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

Bible Screensaver: Psalm 8

This is one of my all time favorite psalms. It gives me the opportunity to combine art, astronomy, and faith all in one.

Bible Screeensaver: Psalm 7

Bible Screensaver: Psalm 006

Continuing my series of psalm inspired stained glass designs

Psalm 6




The Lord has heard my weeping

Weekend Bible Screensaver: Psalm 005

Continuing my psalm series of encaustic digital screensavers



"In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice."

Screensaver: Psalm 2

Adoption should be a sacrament in the Church

Weekend Screensaver: Psalm 01

Beginning a new series of screensavers based upon the Book of Psalms




I may go abstract instead of encaustic.

The Pirate's prayer - or How Blackbeard would have written the 23rd Psalm

Today is speak like a Pirate Day. Aarg! I wonder how Blackbeard would have written the 23rd psalm....

Pirate psalm

Aarg! The Lord is me Cap’n
And I ain’t wantin’ nuthin’.
He shivers me timbers,
And sails me through blistering barnacles.
He refreshes me rum
And guides me To Spanish galleons
For his booty. Aarg!

Even though I walk the plank
Over shark-infested waters,
I ain’t afeared,
For my Cap’n is wi’ me.
Along with the bo’sun
And first mate. Aarg!

He gets ready the mainsail
And broadsides the enemy,
The deck o’erflows
Wi’ powder and blood.

Surely pillage and plunder
Will be my pirate life,
And I will dwell in
Davey Jones’ Locker
Forevermore. Aarg!

(c) 2007 John Stuart

Why?

Audio Version here.

Psalm 25:17 The troubles of my heart have multiplied; free me from my anguish. (NIV)

I can remember, when I was a teenager, falling on my knees in our family kitchen and crying uncontrollably. My mother had just been taken away by the paramedics to the asylum again, after another terrifying outbreak of her schizophrenic disorder. As usual, she had not been taking her medication which, after four or five days, resulted in a frenzied attack on her family. This latest violent outburst was the last straw for me, and I just fell apart in front of my Dad and siblings. I cried out to God, time and time again, “Why are You doing this to us? Why are You allowing this to happen?” I was inconsolable and hated my life.

Emotional pain is very hard to carry, especially when you are young and inexperienced as far as suffering goes. It took me years to cope with my mum’s mental illness and there are still some moments when I wonder how our all family survived. To me, it involved the grace of God, who heard the troubles of my heart and freed me from my anguish. I still carry the emotional scars inside, but with God’s great patience and unyielding love, I have managed not only to survive, but also to find healing.

It may be the case that as you are reading this devotional, you are also experiencing some turmoil, trouble and tribulation that is wounding your soul or breaking your heart. Like the psalmist of old, cry out to God and tell Him how you really feel. Don’t be afraid to shout, rage, or weep. He’s big enough to take all of the punches we can throw at Him. He’s also merciful enough to give us the grace that we desperately need to overcome these issues.

Prayer: Lord God, sometimes our lives are filled with sorrow and over-powered with pain. Some of our experiences can damage our bodies, minds, hearts, and souls. Be near to us when we are lonely and afflicted, agitated and rebellious. Embrace us with Your love and heal us with Your grace. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.