Ashes to Crowns Ministries

06/08/2026

6/8/26 According to Psm 138:2b-c, we can give thanks to the Lord’s name for His lovingkindness and His faithfulness; for He has magnified His promises together with His name. Then in verse 8, He declares that He will accomplish what concerns us. What is going on in our lives that we need to grasp and hang onto these promises right now? In 2 Cor 1:20 we need to remember, “For as many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yes; therefore also through Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us.”

06/07/2026

6/7/26 The psalmist in sharing the injuries and insults of captivity in Babylon (Psm 137:1-6) called on God to repay the captors. In 137:8 he said, “O daughter of Babylon, you devasted one, How blessed will be the one who repays you with the recompense with which you have repaid us.” Cyrus in 539 B.C. did overthrow Babylon. Isa 44:28 says, “Who says of Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherd and will accomplish all that I please; he will say of Jerusalem, ‘Let it be rebuilt,’ and of the temple, ‘Let its foundations be laid.’” The Lord knows what has happened to us, whether due to our own disobedience or to others’ viciousness. He wants to restore what the locusts have eaten. He asks that we remember Him, repent of our sins, and trust Him to deliver us.

06/06/2026

6/6/26 For what in our lives can we give thanks to the Lord? If each of us was to make a list of twenty-six things for which to give thanks and after each statement say, “For His lovingkindness is everlasting,” what would these things be? How many times would we repeat this phrase? The psalmist listed twenty-six in Psm 136. Here are some of his reasons: For the Lord is good, He is the God of gods, the Lord of lords, He alone does great wonders, He make the heavens with skill and spread out the earth above the waters . . . divided the Red Sea asunder, remembers us in our low times, rescues us, provides food, and deserves our praise. Are we willing to take the time and patience to praise the Lord after each thing that we write? Are we very thankful? Let’s share some of our list with others and then they can say with us, “His faithful love endures forever” (NLT).

06/06/2026

If each of us was to make a list of twenty-six things for which to give thanks and praise the Lord, what would these things be? Psm 136:1-26 does this and then gives the antiphonal response, “For His lovingkindness endures forever.” Here are some of the psalmist’s reasons: He is good, He is the God of gods, the Lord of lords, He alone does great wonders, He make the heavens with skill and spread out the earth above the waters . . . divided the Red Sea asunder, remembers us in our low times, rescues us, provides food, and deserves our praise. Let’s share some of our list with others and then say, “His faithful love endures forever” (NLT).

06/05/2026

6/5/26 The name of the Lord is lovely and it is everlasting because of who He IS and He is good in what He does (Psm 135:3, 13, 6-14). Therefore, we are to praise and bless Him (1,3,19-21). When, where, and how much do we do this?

06/04/2026

6/4/26 As the Jewish faithful climbed their last two steps of the temple, they blessed the Lord for the Levites, priests, and other servants of the temple who served at night. I immediately thought of one of my favorite people in Scripture. Anna, a prophetess, was 84. As a widow she had served night and day with fastings and prayers (Lk 2:36-38). When she learned that Mary and Joseph had brought baby Jesus to dedicate Him to the Lord, she began giving thanks to God for Him. She also testified about Him to all who were looking for the redemption of Israel. How do we serve the Lord in the night? Do we gripe because we can’t sleep? Do we sing, pray, and worship? If we have had an encounter with the Lord during that time, do we share that experience with others in the morning?

06/03/2026

6/3/26 Do we smear people with filth or with gladness? Ps 133:1a says, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity!” What does our “unity” look like? Does it seem like an anointing with grace, like a blessing (133:3b)? Do we speak and act in harmony?

06/02/2026

6/2/26 The Lord has a way of keeping His promises. In Psm 132:12 (NLT) He states, "If your descendants obey the terms of my covenant and the laws that I teach them, then your royal line will continue forever and ever.” Solomon's line did not keep the covenant and his descendants did not continue to rule nor did the Messiah come from his line. However, Luke 3:31 tells us of the line from whom Jesus descended: Nathan. Jesus has fulfilled the promise of sitting on the heavenly throne forever, having given His life to pay for our sins. He sat down on the throne of God after He arose from the grave and ascended to heaven. He opened heaven’s doors for us to be with Him. We can see four things here: 1) God still keeps His word even when circumstances seem to put an end to His promises. 2) Nathan apparently did obey the terms of God's covenant and laws. 3) God can use lesser-known people to accomplish His will. 4) Our role is not to seek fame, but the One whom we should make famous. He will use us as HE sees fit.

06/01/2026

We may wonder how David could have said, “ O Lord, my heart is not proud, nor my eyes haughty, nor do I involve myself in great matters, or in things too difficult for me” (Psm 131:1). Can we say any of this? We may if we have composed and quieted our souls as a child leaning against its mother (v. 2). When was the last time any of us leaned against the Lord’s breast “as a weaned (a full) child against his mother” (Psm 131:2b)? Do we continue to struggle or do we choose to get comfortable, relax, and trust?

Recorded live at Blackbird Studio in Nashville. From the album "Unbreakable" available now. http://flyt.it/UnbreakableSelah: Todd Smith, Allan Hall, Amy P...

05/31/2026

5/31/18 “If You, Lord, should keep track of iniquities, O Lord, who could stand before you? But there is forgiveness with you that you might be revered” (Psm 130:3-4). Another passage gives this assurance: "Where is another God like you, who pardons the guilt of the remnant, overlooking the sins of his special people? You will not stay angry with your people forever, because you delight in showing unfailing love. Once again you will have compassion on us. You will trample our sins under your feet and throw them into the depths of the ocean!" (Micah 7:18-19, NLT). How awesome our God! May we not take His love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness for granted or fail to ask for them!