Who is God? What is he like? The Bible tells us a lot about God and his attributes. Who he is is worth exploring. He is far more than we can know.
Who is God? What is he like? The Bible tells us a lot about God and his attributes. Who he is is worth exploring.
God is holy. That's what the Bible says, but what does that mean?
While working on a sermon about Psalm 24, I wrote a third, Jesus-focused verse to my song Who Is This King of Glory? to honor our savior. I share the full song with this new verse in this episode.
I went to a baptismal and listened to more than two dozen people promise to follow Jesus as Lord before they went down into the water. I thought about that promise and reflected on the difficulty of living it out daily.
What you do on a regular basis, you will produce on a regular basis. It's true in sports and in life, even spiritual life.
Our church has visitors pretty regularly on Sunday morning, but fairly infrequently on Wednesday nights. A couple of strangers showed up a week or so ago and it was good.
After discovering I'd shared all of my fully-completed worship songs on this platform, Psalm 16 inspired a new song of praise to the God who is our shelter, our safe refuge. I trust You Keep Me Safe, Lord will encourage your faith in him.
I was caught off guard by a question following a sermon on Psalm 63. I'd been talking about experiencing dry times and a visitor brought up Jesus' words to the woman at the well about never thirsting. How do you reconcile these things?
I have a spreadsheet which lists all the songs I've written and indicates whether I've posted them to YouTube or to this podcast. I recently discovered I'm basically out of serious songs to add to the PocketNeif podcast. Yikes! What does this mean for this show? For my life?
I do not love root beer. It's ok, but not a fav. When I ran across a root beer flavored sparkling water in the clearance aisle at the local grocers, I almost passed it up. I looked at the low price and...bit. It was, for me, a win. For my wife?
What do Jonah and Peter have in common? More than you suspect. While listening to a recent episode of the Ten Minute Bible Hour, I discovered an amazing connection between the two.
Listen to TMBH bonus episode to learn more...
https://open.spotify.com/episode/74Hmrfd5pKbo8bYw1d8CyH?si=2a52175013e44bdf
I was taken aback while talking with a worship leader at a concert a few years ago. He said something about music which stunned me. Thinking back on his words, I've come to this conclusion: A song is a song if it's created and sung. It's a worship song if it is written for and sung to God.
About 11 years ago, I wrote a short chorus inviting sinners to return to God. I wrote it from God's perspective, so it felt like a person plea for repentance. I recorded my original idea, then forgot about the project. A week or two ago, I found the original work and finished writing Return to Me, O Sinner. I pray it will encourage you to turn to God and find freedom.
Return to Me, O Sinner
Verse 1:
Return to me, O Sinner. Leave behind your sin.
I will pardon. I will love. My anger melt away.
Return to me, O Sinner. Let new life begin.
I will cleanse you. You will sing. Your guilt all washed away.
Chorus
You have sinned. You have fallen.
O, confess it. Receive my grace.
Verse 2:
Return to me, O Sinner. Escape the trap you’re in.
I will free you. I will heal. Your tears I’ll wipe away.
Return to me, O Sinner. Walk in my ways again. I will lead you. You will sing. Your heart won’t go astray.
©2025 Mike Neifert
I owned a blue beret for about 24 hours. I returned it because it was not my style. Find out why I owned it and what I gleaned from my temporary possession of this bit of French fashion.
I love hot salsas and ask for them when I'm out at Mexican restaurants. I've rarely been disappointed. I enjoyed some good heat while out with friends a while back. The waiter warned me as he put the sauces on the table. "Be careful!" Jesus used the same words of warning on multiple occasions. "Watch out or you'll fall!"
My yard doesn't always look great, but it did the other day and a couple of neighbors noticed. Their "Atta, boy!" made me want to do better in the future.
The writer of Psalm 136 is a bit of a broken record. Twenty-six times he repeats the same exact phrase: His love endures forever. The "his" is God, of course. Perhaps this psalmist knew his readers or hearers might forget God's love in the midst of troubling times and so he drives the truth deep into their souls. Do you need to hear this truth?
I've been preaching from the Psalms over the past few weeks and sharing songs inspired by several of these Hebrew poems. When it came time to focus on Psalm 23, I decided to write a song which would reflect the joy and refreshment David wanted his hearers to experience as they heard his comforting psalm. I pray The Lord Is My Shepherd will bring your into God's loving and caring presence.
The Lord is My Shepherd
Verse 1:
The Lord is my shepherd; I lack nothing good.
I lie in green pastures; I drink from the brook.
My soul is refreshed, oh! My soul is refreshed, oh!
My soul is refreshed!
Verse 2:
The Lord is my shepherd; I follow his lead.
In darkest of valleys; I’ve nothing to dread.
My soul is refreshed, oh! My soul is refreshed, oh!
My soul is refreshed!
Verse 3:The Lord is my shepherd; His love follows me.
Each day in his presence; His goodness I see.
My soul is refreshed, oh! My soul is refreshed, oh!
My soul is refreshed!
Verse 4:
The Lord is my shepherd; My cup overflows.
Forever and ever; I’ll dwell in his home.
My soul will rejoice, oh! My soul will rejoice, oh!
My soul will rejoice!
©2025 Mike Neifert (Inspired by Psalm 23)
Wars abound. You've noticed, right? And you're praying? For whom and for what are you petitioning God? Mark Twain's essay, The War Prayer, and Joshua's encounter with the head of God's heavenly army might challenge you to pray differently.