Tag Archives: B.I.T.E. – Repetition

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Podcast #270: “God Only Knows” by For King & Country

Trauma and tragedy can leave us feeling lonely and unseen. For King & Country’s song “God Only Knows” reminds us that God holds a deep love and understanding of you and your circumstances (past or present). Many of the psalms of David poetically reflect our own heart’s cry.

Let’s take a deep look at one of those psalms this week.

  • Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture – this week’s Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include:
    • Context
    • Repetition
    • Write in your Bible
    • Consider the opposite
    • Make a list
  • The line in the song that led me to the verse that led me to our focus Psalm this week – Psalm 25:16
  • How Psalm 25 is an acrostic psalm, meaning each verse starts with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet (which is why is may read more disjointed than other psalms)
  • Using the BITE of repetition to let the psalm really sink in
  • My desire to seek God’s face before I seek His hand
  • An article by Mortimer Adler on” How to Mark a Book” – Online Article
  • Directing our attention to God first by marking every reference to God (by name or pronoun) with a triangle (or symbol or color of choice)
  • Considering the opposite of steadfast – Psalm 25:7
  • How God’s way is not consistent with our way -Psalm 25:8, Isaiah 55:8-9
  • Marking the verbs in this psalm
  • Making a list/column of “God’s verbs” vs. “My verbs”
  • Recognizing that God takes on everything and our role is very limited

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Additional Resources

This Week’s Challenge

Read Psalm 25 repeatedly this week. Then take the time to INTERACT with Psalm 25. Mark all of the references to God. Then make notes in a notebook or in the margins of what you learn about God through the words of this Psalm. Next, mark all of the verbs. Make a list of the “God verbs” in one column and a list of the “Me verbs” in another. Observe through this exercise all that God takes on Himself while our role is merely to trust, wait, fear, abide, take refuge, and keep His covenant.

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Podcast #266: “Defender” by Francesca Battistelli

God is our Defender. It is important to remember that the next time you feel the need to defend yourself. Psalm 18 says God’s gift of salvation to us is our shield. So why do I think my words are my shield? Or my silence? Or any effort on my part? Francesca Battistelli’s song “Defender” leads us to Scripture and to considering this and other characteristics of God.

I suppose the question is now, “What how will we respond in the future now that we know the truth?”

On this episode I discuss:

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Podcast #263: “New Wine” by Hillsong Worship

Jesus turned the world upside down with his wisdom and teaching. He also rubbed a lot of people the wrong way — especially religious people — because He did things differently. “New Wine” by Hillsong Worship inspired me to explore a time when Jesus used new wine in a metaphor.

Let’s explore the gospels together to learn more.

On this episode I discuss:

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Podcast #253: “Christmas Eve in Bethlehem” by Hannah Kerr

Have you ever been asked to, “Walk a mile in someone else’s shoes?” That’s exactly the journey I took this week as I used Hannah Kerr’s “Christmas Eve in Bethlehem” to lead me to the Christmas story once again.

This time through the Christmas story we’ll seek to place ourselves inside the story and see how the story would/should go in our lives today.

On this episode I discuss:

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Podcast #252: “Jesus is Alive” by Josh Wilson

“Jesus is Alive” is not normally a Christmas greeting, but I guess it could be! Josh Wilson’s song “Jesus is Alive” reminds us all that Christ first came to life in human form as a baby in Bethlehem so long ago. That breath changed everything! When Jesus came back to life after Calvary, that breath changed everything again! So whether we are thinking of Christmas or the Resurrection, let’s declare that Jesus is alive!

There is joy in the coming of Christ, but that doesn’t mean that His coming eliminated all grief. Let’s explore the two together.

On this episode I discuss:

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Podcast #251: “These Christmas Lights” by Matt Redman

Opening Our Hearts to the Light of the World

Lights are a major part of modern-day Christmas decorating traditions. It’s what completes the tree, or lights up small-town streets. The lights of Christmas and Matt Redman’s Christmas song “These Christmas Lights” are our inspiration to explore Scripture all about the Light of the World.

Use the lights of Christmas to remind you that Jesus is the true light.

On this episode I discuss:

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Podcast #247: “Peace Be Still” by The Belonging Co (feat. Lauren Daigle)

Pursuing Perfect Peace in Isaiah 26

Maybe it’s too many Hallmark Movies, but I love it when the protagonist leans in and puts her head on the shoulder of the man she’s fallen in love with. In that act there is a sense of love, safety, and trust. In the song by The Belonging Co, “Peace Be Still,” Lauren Daigle sings about faith rising up and peace reigning. This very thing shows up in another song found in the book of Isaiah where we learn to “lean in” to our Father through trust.

Join me as we explore the words of this Old Testament prophet.

On this week’s episode I discuss:

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Podcast #246: “Head Above Water” by Avril Lavigne

A Cry From the Depths in Jonah 2

Do you ever feel like you are drowning with seaweed wrapped around your head? It’s a pretty descriptive picture of distress that I see in Scripture AND in Avril Lavigne’s new song, “Head Above Water.” When we’re drowning in life let’s cry out to God for rescue because “salvation belongs to the Lord!”

Let’s talk about Jonah, Jesus, and the folly of taking things into our own hands.

On this week’s episode I discuss:

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Podcast #242: “Oh My Soul” by Casting Crowns

Surveying the Soul in Psalm 42

The waters of our soul are deep. The cry of the song “Oh My Soul” by Casting Crowns reminds us that we can bare our souls to the One who created us inside and out. If we spend some time tending to our souls, we can experience the faithfulness of God in the deepest places of our being.

The Psalms include many soul-baring moments, and Psalm 42 contains an example of this. It won’t be hard to relate to the psalmist this week!

On this episode I discuss:

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Podcast #241: “Satisfied In You (Psalm 42)” by The Sing Team

Poring Over Psalm 42

The Rolling Stones really captured the essence of culture when they sang, “I can’t get no satisfaction.” Our world is in a constant state of discontent. When you weigh the philosophy of this week’s song by The Sing Team, “Satisfied In You (Psalm 42),” you discover that our satisfaction doesn’t lie in our effort as sung by our friend Mick, but rather in God.

There are unlikely discoveries in a Psalm you may know in part. Join me this week as we pore over Psalm 42.

On this week’s episode I discuss:

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