There’s a question I want you to sit with this week: How does God speak to you? 

A lot of us expect God to speak in ways that are loud, obvious, and dramatic. We imagine lightning bolts, audible voices, or moments so clear that nobody could ever question them. But one of the surprising themes in the Christmas story is that God doesn’t always speak that way. Sometimes he speaks in the quiet, and if we’re not paying attention, we’ll miss him entirely.

A quiet man in a loud story...

In my sermon this past Sunday, we looked at Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus, and we noticed something that’s easy to overlook. Joseph is one of the most important people in the Christmas story, and yet he’s almost invisible. We don’t know much about him. We don’t have recorded prayers or speeches from him. We don’t see him standing in the spotlight.

And yet God trusted him with a sacred assignment. God entrusted Joseph with raising the Savior of the world.

Why? Because God has always loved to work through humble, quiet, faithful obedience.

Matthew tells us the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. Mary was betrothed to Joseph, and before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.

Matthew 1:20–21 (ESV): ²⁰ But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. ²¹ She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

God didn’t speak to Joseph with thunder. He didn’t give him a public spectacle. He spoke to him in a dream. Quietly. Personally. Directly.

That’s important for us, because Joseph’s story reminds us that God is not limited to one method. He knows exactly how to reach the heart of the person he’s calling.

I. God Makes Himself Known 

When we read the Bible, our minds jump to the “big” moments. Moses at the burning bush. Sinai shaking with smoke and thunder. Fire falling from Heaven in Elijah’s day. Those moments are real, and they matter.

But if we read closely, we learn something else. God has always spoken in many different ways. Sometimes audibly. Sometimes through angels. Sometimes through dreams and visions. Sometimes through a gentle whisper. Sometimes through his written Word. Often through the steady, faithful work of the Holy Spirit.

One of the most important reminders for believers today is this. If you want to hear God speak, you cannot ignore the primary way he speaks to us - Through His Holy Scripture.

2 Timothy 3:16 (ESV): ¹⁶ All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

When you open your Bible, you’re not reading a dead book. God speaks through His Word. His commands, His warnings, His promises, His comfort, His truth, they're not suggestions. They are God breathed.

And Jesus reminds us that the Holy Spirit continues God’s speaking ministry in the hearts of His people.

John 16:13 (ESV): ¹³ When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.

So here’s a helpful takeaway. Don’t expect that God will speak only in the dramatic. Don’t ignore the quiet ways he has always used. Don’t wait for an angel when his Word is already open in front of you.

II. Obedience Makes Us Different

Joseph’s story also teaches us that hearing God is not the end goal. Obedience is.

God’s message to Joseph did not make Joseph’s life easier. It made it harder. It didn’t clear up public confusion, it increased it. It didn’t protect Joseph’s reputation, it cost him his reputation. When Joseph took Mary as his wife, he stepped into misunderstanding. He accepted the whispers. He accepted the awkward stares. He accepted the loss of approval that comes when you obey God and the world doesn’t understand.

That’s what obedience does. It marks you. It sets you apart. It separates you from the crowd.

Acts 5:29 (ESV): ²⁹ But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.

Joseph lived that verse before it was ever written. He obeyed God rather than men. He feared God more than public opinion. He cared more about the voice of the Lord than the chatter of the crowd.

That’s a question worth asking ourselves.

What has God asked you to do that other people don’t understand?

What step of obedience have you delayed because you’re afraid of what someone might think?

III. God Moves Through The Humble

One of the most striking things about Joseph is how quiet he is. He never speaks a recorded word in Scripture. But his life speaks loudly.

He obeyed immediately. He obeyed repeatedly. He obeyed at personal cost.

Later, in Matthew 2, God warns him again, and Joseph gets up and moves his family. Then God speaks again, and he moves again. Over and over, Joseph responds with quiet obedience. No speeches. No platform. No need for credit.

That’s humility. Not weakness. Not passivity. Humility is strength that is submitted to God. And Jesus promises that God sees what people overlook.

Matthew 6:3–4 (ESV): ³ But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, ⁴ So that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

If you’ve been serving quietly. If you’ve felt overlooked. If you’ve done what’s right and nobody noticed. Joseph’s story is for you. God sees. God knows. God honors the humble.

Brother Lawrence and the holiness of ordinary things.

The sermon began with the story of Brother Lawrence, a Carmelite friar in 17th century France who worked in the kitchen of a monastery. He wasn’t famous. He wasn’t a preacher. He wasn’t celebrated.

He peeled potatoes, washed dishes, swept floors, and fixed sandals. And he decided to obey God in the small, ordinary, quiet things. He once said, “I can do little things for God,” and even spoke of turning a cake in a pan for the love of God.

That’s what Joseph did too. He didn’t chase attention. He didn’t build a platform. He simply obeyed, and God moved through his obedience in a way that changed the world.

So here’s the question again:

How does God speak to you?
And more importantly, will you listen?

God is not silent. He’s not absent. He is faithful. He speaks through his Word. He guides by his Spirit. He corrects, comforts, warns, and directs.

But the quiet voice of God is often missed by busy hearts.

So this week, slow down long enough to listen. Open your Bible with expectation. Ask the Lord to make his will clear, and then do the hardest part. Obey him, even if it costs you. Obey him, even if nobody understands. Obey him, even if you never get credit for it.

Because God still speaks in the quiet, and he still moves through humble, faithful obedience.

– Pastor Charley Munro
 Living Grace Church, Tyler, Texas

This week at Living Grace, we continue our journey through the Psalms together. Each week, we read a portion of Scripture as a church family so we can remain rooted in God’s Word and united in His truth. The Psalms teach us how to worship, how to pray, and how to walk faithfully with the Lord through every season of life.
This week’s reading focuses on Psalm 119:121–176, the final section of this great psalm. These verses reflect a deep love for God’s Word in the midst of injustice, suffering, and longing for deliverance. The psalmist cries out for God’s help, clings to His promises, and commits his life fully to obedience. This section reminds us that God’s Word sustains us when we feel wronged, weary, or in need of mercy, and that faithful obedience flows from a heart that loves the Lord.
As you read, notice the repeated prayers for help, understanding, and salvation, and the unwavering confidence that God’s Word is righteous, trustworthy, and life-giving.
AYIN
¹²¹ I have done what is just and right;
  do not leave me to my oppressors.
¹²² Give your servant a pledge of good;
  let not the insolent oppress me.
¹²³ My eyes long for your salvation
  and for the fulfillment of your righteous promise.
¹²⁴ Deal with your servant according to your steadfast love,
  and teach me your statutes.
¹²⁵ I am your servant; give me understanding,
  that I may know your testimonies!
¹²⁶ It is time for the Lord to act,
  for your law has been broken.
¹²⁷ Therefore I love your commandments
  above gold, above fine gold.
¹²⁸ Therefore I consider all your precepts to be right;
  I hate every false way.
PE
¹²⁹ Your testimonies are wonderful;
  therefore my soul keeps them.
¹³⁰ The unfolding of your words gives light;
  it imparts understanding to the simple.
¹³¹ I open my mouth and pant,
  because I long for your commandments.
¹³² Turn to me and be gracious to me,
  as is your way with those who love your name.
¹³³ Keep steady my steps according to your promise,
  and let no iniquity get dominion over me.
¹³⁴ Redeem me from man’s oppression,
  that I may keep your precepts.
¹³⁵ Make your face shine upon your servant,
  and teach me your statutes.
¹³⁶ My eyes shed streams of tears,
  because people do not keep your law.
TSADHE
¹³⁷ Righteous are you, O Lord,
  and right are your rules.
¹³⁸ You have appointed your testimonies in righteousness
  and in all faithfulness.
¹³⁹ My zeal consumes me,
  because my foes forget your words.
¹⁴⁰ Your promise is well tried,
  and your servant loves it.
¹⁴¹ I am small and despised,
  yet I do not forget your precepts.
¹⁴² Your righteousness is righteous forever,
  and your law is true.
¹⁴³ Trouble and anguish have found me out,
  but your commandments are my delight.
¹⁴⁴ Your testimonies are righteous forever;
  give me understanding that I may live.
QOPH
¹⁴⁵ With my whole heart I cry; answer me, O Lord!
  I will keep your statutes.
¹⁴⁶ I call to you; save me,
  that I may observe your testimonies.
¹⁴⁷ I rise before dawn and cry for help;
  I hope in your words.
¹⁴⁸ My eyes are awake before the watches of the night,
  that I may meditate on your promise.
¹⁴⁹ Hear my voice according to your steadfast love;
  O Lord, according to your justice give me life.
¹⁵⁰ They draw near who persecute me with evil purpose;
  they are far from your law.
¹⁵¹ But you are near, O Lord,
  and all your commandments are true.
¹⁵² Long have I known from your testimonies
  that you have founded them forever.
RESH
¹⁵³ Look on my affliction and deliver me,
  for I do not forget your law.
¹⁵⁴ Plead my cause and redeem me;
  give me life according to your promise!
¹⁵⁵ Salvation is far from the wicked,
  for they do not seek your statutes.
¹⁵⁶ Great is your mercy, O Lord;
  give me life according to your rules.
¹⁵⁷ Many are my persecutors and my adversaries,
  but I do not swerve from your testimonies.
¹⁵⁸ I look at the faithless with disgust,
  because they do not keep your commands.
¹⁵⁹ Consider how I love your precepts!
  Give me life according to your steadfast love.
¹⁶⁰ The sum of your word is truth,
  and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.
SIN AND SHIN
¹⁶¹ Princes persecute me without cause,
  but my heart stands in awe of your words.
¹⁶² I rejoice at your word
  like one who finds great spoil.
¹⁶³ I hate and abhor falsehood,
  but I love your law.
¹⁶⁴ Seven times a day I praise you
  for your righteous rules.
¹⁶⁵ Great peace have those who love your law;
  nothing can make them stumble.
¹⁶⁶ I hope for your salvation, O Lord,
  and I do your commandments.
¹⁶⁷ My soul keeps your testimonies;
  I love them exceedingly.
¹⁶⁸ I keep your precepts and testimonies,
  for all my ways are before you.
TAW
¹⁶⁹ Let my cry come before you, O Lord;
  give me understanding according to your word!
¹⁷⁰ Let my plea come before you;
  deliver me according to your word.
¹⁷¹ My lips will pour forth praise,
  for you teach me your statutes.
¹⁷² My tongue will sing of your word,
  for all your commandments are right.
¹⁷³ Let your hand be ready to help me,
  for I have chosen your precepts.
¹⁷⁴ I long for your salvation, O Lord,
  and your law is my delight.
¹⁷⁵ Let my soul live and praise you,
  and let your rules help me.
¹⁷⁶ I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant,
  for I do not forget your commandments.

This week at Living Grace, we continue our journey through the Psalms together. Each week, we read a portion of Scripture as a church family so we can remain rooted in God’s Word and united in His truth. The Psalms teach us how to worship, how to pray, and how to walk faithfully with the Lord through every season of life.

This week’s reading focuses on Psalm 119:81–120, a powerful section that expresses deep longing for God’s salvation, unwavering trust in His promises, and confidence in His unchanging Word. These verses remind us that in seasons of weariness, affliction, uncertainty, or spiritual pressure, God’s Word becomes our anchor, our guide, and our place of refuge.
​
This portion of Psalm 119 teaches us that:

• God strengthens the weary
• God comforts those who wait on Him
• God gives wisdom to the obedient
• God upholds all who hope in His Word​

As you meditate on Psalm 119:81–120 this week, take time to reflect on God’s character, His faithfulness, and His invitation to draw near to Him through His Word.

KAPH

⁸¹ My soul longs for your salvation,
  I hope in your word.
⁸² My eyes long for your promise;
  I ask, “When will you comfort me?”
⁸³ For I have become like a wineskin in the smoke,
  yet I have not forgotten your statutes.
⁸⁴ How long must your servant endure?
  When will you judge those who persecute me?
⁸⁵ The insolent have dug pitfalls for me;
  they do not live according to your law.
⁸⁶ All your commandments are sure;
  they persecute me with falsehood; help me!
⁸⁷ They have almost made an end of me on earth,
  but I have not forsaken your precepts.
⁸⁸ In your steadfast love give me life,
  that I may keep the testimonies of your mouth.

LAMEDH

⁸⁹ Forever, O Lord, your word
  is firmly fixed in the heavens.
⁹⁰ Your faithfulness endures to all generations;
  you have established the earth, and it stands fast.
⁹¹ By your appointment they stand this day,
  for all things are your servants.
⁹² If your law had not been my delight,
  I would have perished in my affliction.
⁹³ I will never forget your precepts,
  for by them you have given me life.
⁹⁴ I am yours; save me,
  for I have sought your precepts.
⁹⁵ The wicked lie in wait to destroy me,
  but I consider your testimonies.
⁹⁶ I have seen a limit to all perfection,
  but your commandment is exceedingly broad.

MEM

⁹⁷ Oh how I love your law!
  It is my meditation all the day.
⁹⁸ Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies,
  for it is ever with me.
⁹⁹ I have more understanding than all my teachers,
  for your testimonies are my meditation.
¹⁰⁰ I understand more than the aged,
  for I keep your precepts.
¹⁰¹ I hold back my feet from every evil way,
  in order to keep your word.
¹⁰² I do not turn aside from your rules,
  for you have taught me.
¹⁰³ How sweet are your words to my taste,
  sweeter than honey to my mouth!
¹⁰⁴ Through your precepts I get understanding;
  therefore I hate every false way.

NUN

¹⁰⁵ Your word is a lamp to my feet
  and a light to my path.
¹⁰⁶ I have sworn an oath and confirmed it,
  to keep your righteous rules.
¹⁰⁷ I am severely afflicted;
  give me life, O Lord, according to your word!
¹⁰⁸ Accept my freewill offerings of praise, O Lord,
  and teach me your rules.
¹⁰⁹ I hold my life in my hand continually,
  but I do not forget your law.
¹¹⁰ The wicked have laid a snare for me,
  but I do not stray from your precepts.
¹¹¹ Your testimonies are my heritage forever,
  for they are the joy of my heart.
¹¹² I incline my heart to perform your statutes
  forever, to the end.

SAMEKH

¹¹³ I hate the double-minded,
  but I love your law.
¹¹⁴ You are my hiding place and my shield;
  I hope in your word.
¹¹⁵ Depart from me, you evildoers,
  that I may keep the commandments of my God.
¹¹⁶ Uphold me according to your promise, that I may live,
  and let me not be put to shame in my hope!
¹¹⁷ Hold me up, that I may be safe
  and have regard for your statutes continually!
¹¹⁸ You spurn all who go astray from your statutes,
  for their cunning is in vain.
¹¹⁹ All the wicked of the earth you discard like dross,
  therefore I love your testimonies.
¹²⁰ My flesh trembles for fear of you,
  and I am afraid of your judgments.

This week at Living Grace, we continued our Advent series, “When God Broke the Silence.”
Our second message, “When God Interrupts a Life,” focused on Luke 1:26–38 and the story of Mary, a young woman from Nazareth whose ordinary life was interrupted by an extraordinary call from God.

Last week, we looked at Zechariah, a priest serving in the temple, in the holiest place in Israel. God broke four hundred years of silence there, in a sacred space, through an angelic message that shook Zechariah to his core.

This week was very different. God didn't speak in the temple. He didn’t speak to a priest. He didn’t speak in a holy place at all.

Instead, He went to Nazareth, an ordinary village, and spoke to a young woman with no title, no position, and no earthly importance. And that’s the heart of this message.

The question we carried through the whole sermon was this:

What if God’s interruption is the doorway to His greatest work in your life?

Mary’s story shows us what can happen when God breaks the silence and interrupts a life.

I. God Finds the Available

God doesn’t always break the silence in the places we expect. He doesn’t always choose the people we would choose. He’s not impressed with titles, résumés, or platforms. He looks for hearts that are available.

Last week, He spoke to Zechariah in the temple, inside the traditions and expectations of Israel. This week, He sends Gabriel to Nazareth, a small, overlooked town most people never thought about.

People in that day didn’t expect anything important to come from Nazareth. Nathanael even asked, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Yet that’s exactly where God sent the angel.
He chose Mary, an ordinary young woman, living an ordinary life, in an ordinary place. No position. No status. Just a heart that belonged to Him.

Scripture shows this pattern again and again. God chose David, the youngest son, left out in the field, not the strong impressive brothers who looked like kings. God chose Amos, a shepherd and farmer, not a trained prophet from the temple.

Why?

Because, as 2 Chronicles 16:9 says, “the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him.”

God looks for hearts that are His, hearts that are humble, contrite, and ready to receive His word. Isaiah 66:2 says, “This is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.” That’s Mary.

She’s troubled by the angel’s greeting. She doesn’t understand what’s happening. But she doesn’t run, argue, or resist. She listens.

And when she asks her question, it’s not, “Can You do this” but, “How will this be” (Luke 1:34). That’s not unbelief. That’s availability seeking understanding.

God is still looking for that kind of heart. Not the most talented. Not the most impressive. But, the most available.

II. God Interrupts the Comfortable

Mary’s life was headed in a clear direction. She was engaged to Joseph. Her future looked simple and stable. Marriage, a home, and a quiet life in Nazareth.
Then God interrupted.

Gabriel’s message shattered every expectation she had. She would conceive by the Holy Spirit. She would carry the Son of God. Her reputation would be questioned. Her relationship with Joseph would be tested. Her life would never be “normal” again.

God’s plan was beautiful, but it was also a massive disruption.

We like the idea of God guiding us. We like the idea of God speaking to us. But often we assume His leading will fit neatly inside the life we’ve planned for ourselves.

Scripture tells a different story.

God told Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you” (Genesis 12:1). No map. No full explanation. Just “Go.” God interrupted his settled life in order to write a better story.

God told Jonah, “Arise, go to Nineveh” (Jonah 1:2). Jonah had his own ideas about justice and who deserved mercy. God’s call collided with his preferences, and Jonah ran. Yet God pursued him, corrected him, and still used him to bring an entire city to repentance.

Jesus walked up to fishermen on an ordinary workday and said, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19). They left their nets and followed Him. His call disrupted their livelihoods, their routines, and their sense of security, but it led them into the only life worth living.

Mary stands right in the middle of that same pattern. She didn’t ask for scandal, suspicion, or a place at the center of history. But God chose her, spoke to her, and interrupted the life she expected so He could give her a life filled with eternal purpose.

God’s interruptions are never random. They come from His wisdom and His love. Jeremiah 29:11 reminds us that He knows the plans He has for us, not the plans we have for ourselves.
Sometimes He has to interrupt our plans so He can lead us into His.

III. God Transforms the Surrendered

If God finds the available and interrupts the comfortable, what does He do next? He transforms the surrendered.

Mary’s response to Gabriel is one of the clearest pictures of surrender in the Bible. After hearing this life-altering message, she says:

“Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38)

She doesn’t have all the answers. She doesn’t know how everything will play out. But she trusts the One who is speaking. That is surrender.

Compare that to Zechariah. He wanted proof. “How shall I know this” was his question. Mary wanted understanding. “How will this be” was hers. Zechariah’s question came from doubt. Mary’s came from faith.

Hebrews tells us that, “faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). You cannot surrender to a God you do not trust. But when you trust Him, you can say, “Lord, have Your way,” even when you don’t see the outcome yet.

Surrender is not weakness or giving up. It’s placing your life in God’s hands and saying, “Shape me however You want.” Romans 12:1 calls this being a “living sacrifice”. That is worship.

And God doesn’t leave surrendered lives unchanged. He shapes them, stretches them, uses them, and transforms them.

The Security Guard and the Tapping in the Wall

At the beginning of the message, we talked about Daniel, a night security guard in a quiet office building. Most nights were the same. Routine. Predictable. Pretty boring in fact.

Then one night, as he made his rounds, he heard a faint, steady tapping sound. It cut through the silence. It didn’t belong. It interrupted the normal. So he followed it. Down the hallway. Around the corner. Past the dark offices. Finally he realized the sound was coming from inside a wall. When he listened closely, he heard the flutter of wings.

A bird was trapped inside the wall cavity.

That interruption suddenly had a purpose. The sound that broke the silence led him to something that needed to be set free. If the bird had not struggled, he never would have known it was there.

Because he responded to the interruption, he rescued it and released it back into the night air. The breaking of the silence led to restoration.

That is often what God’s interruptions do in our lives. They lead us to something that needs to be freed, healed, surrendered, or obeyed.

Putting It Into Practice

• Here are a few ways to live out this message this week:
• Ask where God might be interrupting you. Look at the areas of your life that feel disrupted, uncomfortable, or unexpected. Instead of dismissing them, ask, “Lord, are You speaking here?”
• Move from resistance to availability. Instead of saying, “Why is this happening” begin to pray, “Lord, I am Your servant. What do You want to do through this?”
• Surrender one specific area. Maybe it is a plan, a habit, a fear, or a calling you have been avoiding. Bring it honestly before God and give Him permission to lead.
• Encourage someone else. Share Mary’s story with a friend who is going through an unexpected season and remind them that God’s interruptions are full of purpose.

Consider This...

• Where in my life am I clinging so tightly to my plans that I am resisting God’s interruption?
• Am I coming to God like Zechariah, asking for proof, or like Mary, asking for understanding and offering surrender?
• What might God want to set free, heal, or begin in me through the very interruption I’m frustrated by right now?

Closing Thought

Mary’s life shows us that God doesn’t always break the silence in temples or on stages. Sometimes He speaks in small towns, quiet rooms, and ordinary days. He looks for hearts that are available, lives that are willing to be interrupted, and people who will say, “Let it be to me according to Your word.”

If God is breaking the silence in your life this season, don’t ignore it. Don’t simply try to get back to “normal.”

Ask instead:

“What if God’s interruption is the doorway to His greatest work in my life?”

And like Mary, may we be able to say, with open hands and surrendered hearts,
“Lord, I am Your servant. Let it be to me according to Your word.”

– Pastor Charley Munro
 Living Grace Church, Tyler, Texas

This week at Living Grace, we continue our journey through the Psalms together. Each week, we read a portion of Scripture as a church family to help us stay rooted in God’s Word and united in His truth. The Psalms teach us how to worship, how to pray, and how to walk faithfully with the Lord through every season of life.

This week’s reading is Psalm 119:41–80. These verses remind us of the power of God’s steadfast love, the strength that comes from His promises, and the peace His commandments bring in seasons of affliction and uncertainty.

Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in Scripture, and these middle sections highlight the hope, comfort, and endurance God gives through His Word. They teach us that confidence is found in God’s salvation, that comfort comes from His promises, and that a steadfast heart is shaped through meditation on His truth.

Psalm 119:41–48 focuses on confidence in God’s steadfast love and the freedom that comes from walking in His commandments.

Psalm 119:49–56 shows how God’s promises comfort and sustain us in affliction.

Psalm 119:57–64 reminds us that the Lord is our portion and calls us to obedience from a thankful heart.

Psalm 119:65–72 teaches that even God’s discipline is for our good and draws us deeper into His truth.

Psalm 119:73–80 is a prayer for understanding, steadfastness, and comfort in God’s unfailing love.

As you read these verses throughout the week, take time to reflect on what they reveal about God’s faithfulness, His guidance, and His desire to strengthen your heart through His Word.

WAW

⁴¹ Let your steadfast love come to me, O Lord, your salvation according to your promise.
⁴² Then shall I have an answer for him who taunts me, for I trust in your word.
⁴³ And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, for my hope is in your rules.
⁴⁴ I will keep your law continually, forever and ever,
⁴⁵ and I shall walk in a wide place, for I have sought your precepts.
⁴⁶ I will also speak of your testimonies before kings and shall not be put to shame,
⁴⁷ for I find my delight in your commandments, which I love.
⁴⁸ I will lift up my hands toward your commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on your statutes.

ZAYIN

⁴⁹ Remember your word to your servant, in which you have made me hope.
⁵⁰ This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life.
⁵¹ The insolent utterly deride me, but I do not turn away from your law.
⁵² When I think of your rules from of old, I take comfort, O Lord.
⁵³ Hot indignation seizes me because of the wicked, who forsake your law.
⁵⁴ Your statutes have been my songs in the house of my sojourning.
⁵⁵ I remember your name in the night, O Lord, and keep your law.
⁵⁶ This blessing has fallen to me, that I have kept your precepts.

HETH

⁵⁷ The Lord is my portion. I promise to keep your words.
⁵⁸ I entreat your favor with all my heart. Be gracious to me according to your promise.
⁵⁹ When I think on my ways, I turn my feet to your testimonies.
⁶⁰ I hasten and do not delay to keep your commandments.
⁶¹ Though the cords of the wicked ensnare me, I do not forget your law.
⁶² At midnight I rise to praise you because of your righteous rules.
⁶³ I am a companion of all who fear you, of those who keep your precepts.
⁶⁴ The earth, O Lord, is full of your steadfast love. Teach me your statutes.

TETH

⁶⁵ You have dealt well with your servant, O Lord, according to your word.
⁶⁶ Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I believe in your commandments.
⁶⁷ Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word.
⁶⁸ You are good and do good. Teach me your statutes.
⁶⁹ The insolent smear me with lies, but with my whole heart I keep your precepts.
⁷⁰ Their heart is unfeeling like fat, but I delight in your law.
⁷¹ It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes.
⁷² The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.

YODH

⁷³ Your hands have made and fashioned me. Give me understanding that I may learn your commandments.
⁷⁴ Those who fear you shall see me and rejoice, because I have hoped in your word.
⁷⁵ I know, O Lord, that your rules are righteous, and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me.
⁷⁶ Let your steadfast love comfort me according to your promise to your servant.
⁷⁷ Let your mercy come to me, that I may live, for your law is my delight.
⁷⁸ Let the insolent be put to shame, because they have wronged me with falsehood. As for me, I will meditate on your precepts.
⁷⁹ Let those who fear you turn to me, that they may know your testimonies.
⁸⁰ May my heart be blameless in your statutes, that I may not be put to shame.

This week at Living Grace, we began a new Advent series called “When God Broke the Silence.”

Our first message, “The Silence Before the Savior,” looked at Luke 1:5–25 and the story of a priest named Zechariah.

Between the last prophet of the Old Testament and the opening of the New, there were roughly four hundred years without a word from God. No prophet, no angelic message, no new revelation. Just silence. Yet in that quiet season, God was not absent. He was preparing the moment when He would speak again and set His plan of salvation in motion.

Zechariah’s story helps us understand what God often does in our own seasons of silence, doubt, and obedience.
 
SILENCE TESTS OUR FAITH

Most of us know what it feels like to pray and hear nothing in return. We cry out to God, we ask for direction, and all we seem to get is quiet. In those moments, it is easy to wonder if God has forgotten us.

Psalm 13 gives words to that ache. David cries, “How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever?” That is not a polished, neat prayer. It is the cry of a heart that feels abandoned, even though it is not. Scripture is honest about this struggle. Faith is not the absence of questions. Faith is clinging to God when the questions are loud, and the answers are slow in coming.

In the Old Testament, Israel saw God work in powerful, visible ways. They watched the Red Sea part, ate manna from heaven, and followed the pillar of cloud and fire. Yet even with miracles right in front of them, they still doubted. That should humble us. If they struggled while seeing God move, it is no surprise that we wrestle when God seems quiet.

Isaiah reminds us, “They who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength” (Isaiah 40:31). Waiting is not wasted time. It is often the place where God deepens our trust, strengthens our character, and teaches us to depend on Him rather than on what we can see or feel.

In Israel’s four hundred years of silence, God was not inactive. He was arranging kings and kingdoms, moving history, and preparing the exact moment when He would speak again through an angel in the temple. In the same way, His silence in our lives is often the quiet before His next move.
 
WHEN DOUBT MEETS GOD’S CALL

When God finally broke the silence, He did not send Gabriel to a palace or a crowd. He sent him to a faithful priest named Zechariah who was serving in the temple. Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth were described as righteous and blameless, yet they carried the deep disappointment of childlessness.

Gabriel’s message was unbelievable in human terms. Their prayer had been heard. They would have a son, and this son would be the forerunner of the Messiah. After years of silence from heaven and years of unanswered personal prayers, Zechariah struggled to believe. “How shall I know this?” he asked. In other words, “How can I be sure?”

His response was not rebellion. It came from a heart that had been disappointed many times. Yet his doubt still mattered. God took away his ability to speak until the promise was fulfilled. It was not cruel punishment. It was merciful discipline that would teach Zechariah the cost of unbelief and the power of obedience.

James writes that the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind (James 1:6). When doubt is in control, it is difficult to stay steady. We hesitate. We delay. We pull back from what God has clearly asked us to do.

God often invites us into His work. He nudges us to encourage someone, share the gospel, give generously, or step into a ministry opportunity. When we hesitate, He can still accomplish His plan through someone else, but we miss the joy of being part of it. Zechariah’s story is a sober reminder that doubt can cost us more than we think.

At the same time, God is patient. He understands our fears and questions, yet He still calls us to trust Him. He expects obedience even when the path is not clear, and His timing feels slow. We do not measure His call by what we see. We measure it by who He is.
 
WHEN OBEDIENCE GIVES US A VOICE

The turning point in Zechariah’s story comes when the child is finally born. Everyone assumes the baby will be named after his father. That is what tradition expects. But God had already spoken. “You shall call his name John.”

Elizabeth insists on the name John. The crowd turns to Zechariah for the final word. Still unable to speak, he asks for a writing tablet and writes, “His name is John.” At that moment, his tongue is loosed, and he begins to praise God.

God did not restore Zechariah’s voice when the angel left, or when Elizabeth became pregnant, or even at the baby’s birth. His voice returned when his obedience lined up with God’s word. Obedience opened his mouth.

Scripture connects blessing with obedience again and again. “Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart” (Psalm 119:2). Jesus says, “Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me” (John 14:21). We can call Jesus “Lord,” but it means little if we refuse to do what He says (Luke 6:46).

Once Zechariah obeyed, God not only restored his speech. He filled him with the Holy Spirit and gave him a prophetic word about the coming Savior. The man who had been silent for months suddenly became a loud witness to God’s mercy, faithfulness, and salvation.

That is what obedience does. It does more than change our behavior. It changes our desires, our words, and even our identity. God takes our weakness and turns it into a testimony. He takes our doubt and turns it into a declaration. He takes our silence and fills it with praise.

When we obey, we step into the flow of what God is already doing. Like Zechariah, we find that our story becomes part of a much larger story that points to Christ.
 
PUTTING IT INTO PRACTICE

Here are a few simple ways to live out Sunday’s message this week:

• Take a few minutes each day to be quiet before God and honestly tell Him where you feel His silence the most.
• Ask the Lord to show you one area where you have hesitated to obey, then take one small step of obedience in that area.
• Encourage someone who is walking through a long season of waiting. Remind them that God has not forgotten them.

 
CONSIDER THIS…

• Where in my life do I feel like God has been silent, and how might He be using that silence to shape my faith
• Is there an area where doubt has slowed down my obedience to what I already know God has asked me to do
• What might God want to do through my life if I fully trusted and obeyed Him in this season

 
CLOSING THOUGHT

The story of Zechariah shows us that God is at work even when He seems quiet. Silence tests our faith. Doubt tests our obedience. Obedience opens our mouths.

If you are in a season of silence, it does not mean God has abandoned you. He may be preparing something far greater than you can see right now. When His word comes, the question will be whether you will trust Him enough to obey.

As we move through this Advent season, may we listen for His voice, trust His timing, and walk in obedience so that our lives can declare the greatness of the Savior who broke the silence and stepped into our world.

– Pastor Charley Munro
Living Grace Church, Tyler, Texas

This week at Living Grace, we continue our journey through the Psalms together. Each week, we read a portion of Scripture as a church family to help us stay rooted in God’s Word and united in His truth. The Psalms teach us how to worship, how to pray, and how to walk faithfully with the Lord through every season of life.

This week’s reading is Psalm 119:1–40. These verses remind us of the beauty of God’s Word, the blessing that comes from obedience, and the deep longing of a heart that desires to be shaped by the Lord’s commandments.

Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in Scripture, and these opening sections set the tone for the entire psalm. They teach us that joy is found in walking according to God’s ways, that purity flows from treasuring His Word, and that strength and hope rise out of His promises.
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Psalm 119:1–8 celebrates the blessing of living according to God’s law.
Psalm 119:9–16 calls us to seek purity and delight in Scripture.
Psalm 119:17–24 reminds us that God’s Word gives life, counsel, and comfort even in affliction.
Psalm 119:25–32 lifts a cry for revival, strength, and a steadfast heart.
Psalm 119:33–40 is a prayer for deeper understanding, obedience, and a heart fully set on the Lord.

As you read these verses throughout the week, take time to reflect on what they reveal about God’s truth, His guidance, and His desire to shape us through His Word.

ALEPH
¹ Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord!
² Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart,
³ who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways!
⁴ You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently.
⁵ Oh that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes!
⁶ Then I shall not be put to shame, having my eyes fixed on all your commandments.
⁷ I will praise you with an upright heart, when I learn your righteous rules.
⁸ I will keep your statutes; do not utterly forsake me!

BETH

⁹ How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word.
¹⁰ With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments!
¹¹ I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
¹² Blessed are you, O Lord; teach me your statutes!
¹³ With my lips I declare all the rules of your mouth.
¹⁴ In the way of your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches.
¹⁵ I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways.
¹⁶ I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.

GIMEL

¹⁷ Deal bountifully with your servant, that I may live and keep your word.
¹⁸ Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.
¹⁹ I am a sojourner on the earth; hide not your commandments from me!
²⁰ My soul is consumed with longing for your rules at all times.
²¹ You rebuke the insolent, accursed ones, who wander from your commandments.
²² Take away from me scorn and contempt, for I have kept your testimonies.
²³ Even though princes sit plotting against me, your servant will meditate on your statutes.
²⁴ Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors.

DALETH

²⁵ My soul clings to the dust; give me life according to your word!
²⁶ When I told of my ways, you answered me; teach me your statutes!
²⁷ Make me understand the way of your precepts, and I will meditate on your wondrous works.
²⁸ My soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to your word!
²⁹ Put false ways far from me and graciously teach me your law!
³⁰ I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I set your rules before me.
³¹ I cling to your testimonies, O Lord; let me not be put to shame!
³² I will run in the way of your commandments when you enlarge my heart!

HE

³³ Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes; and I will keep it to the end.
³⁴ Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart.
³⁵ Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it.
³⁶ Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain!
³⁷ Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways.
³⁸ Confirm to your servant your promise, that you may be feared.
³⁹ Turn away the reproach that I dread, for your rules are good.
⁴⁰ Behold, I long for your precepts; in your righteousness give me life!

This past Sunday at Living Grace, our message was titled From Gratitude to Godliness. If you missed it, you can watch it HERE. As we stepped into Thanksgiving week, we took time to look beyond the holiday traditions and reflect on what Scripture teaches about a grateful heart. I wanted to share a few key thoughts from that sermon and give you something meaningful to carry with you into the days ahead.

Thankfulness is something everyone talks about this time of year, but true gratitude, the kind that transforms a person from the inside out, is something only God can produce. In Psalm 100, we are reminded that giving thanks is not just a polite gesture. It is an act of worship. It is a recognition that everything we have and everything we are comes from the goodness of God.
Biblical gratitude does not stop with words. It moves us toward a different kind of life that is shaped by holiness and devotion. That is why we said on Sunday that gratitude becomes godliness when thanksgiving turns into obedience, reverence, and surrender.

A HEART SHAPED BY GRATITUDE

Psalm 100 calls us to enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Gratitude is the doorway into God’s presence. It resets our perspective. It lifts our eyes from what we lack and anchors us in the truth of who God is.

When our hearts learn to thank God in every season, whether easy or difficult, we begin to see His hand in places we once overlooked. Gratitude softens pride. It breaks down worry. It disarms bitterness. It reminds us that God is faithful even when life is complicated.
For the believer, gratitude is not seasonal. It is foundational.

THE JOURNEY TOWARD GODLINESS

During the sermon, we talked about how true gratitude naturally produces a holy life. Scripture teaches that holiness is not about perfection. It is about belonging. It is about being set apart for God’s purposes. Gratitude keeps us aligned with that calling.

When we recognize how much God has done for us, obedience stops feeling like an obligation. It becomes a response of love. Gratitude fuels holiness because it reminds us of the grace we have received and the Savior we follow.

Paul captures this beautifully in ROMANS 12:1, urging us to present our bodies as a living sacrifice, which is our spiritual act of worship. Thanksgiving becomes transformation when it moves our feet and shapes our habits.

GRATITUDE THAT OVERFLOWS

We also looked at how gratitude affects our relationships. A thankful person is slower to anger, quicker to forgive, and more aware of the needs of others. Scripture calls us to be kind to one another, tenderhearted, and forgiving, just as God in Christ forgave us, as seen in EPHESIANS 4:32. Gratitude softens the heart so mercy can flow through it.

True thanksgiving does not stop with words directed toward God. It impacts the way we treat people, the way we speak, and the way we live each day. Gratitude that never changes our character is incomplete. Gratitude that grows into godliness becomes a powerful testimony to the world.

PUTTING IT INTO PRACTICE

Here are a few ways to carry last Sunday’s message into this week:

• Take one moment each day to name a specific blessing God has given you.
• Thank someone who has made a difference in your life recently.
• Ask God to show you one place where gratitude needs to become obedience.

CONSIDER THIS…

• What am I most grateful for that I rarely thank God for?
• How has God used gratitude to shape my character lately?
• What next step toward godliness is God calling me to take this week?

CLOSING THOUGHT

Thanksgiving is not just a date on the calendar. It is an invitation to remember the goodness of God. When gratitude becomes a way of life, holiness begins to grow in places we never expected. A grateful heart is a heart God can use.

This week, as you gather around tables and spend time with the people you love, take time to remember the One who has been faithful through every season. Gratitude begins with words, but it grows into worship.

Let's live that out together, and Happy Thanksgiving!

– Pastor Charley Munro
Living Grace Church, Tyler, Texas

This past Sunday, our message at Living Grace was titled Say the Word. If you missed it, you can watch it here. I wanted to share a few thoughts from that sermon and give you something to think about as you walk through the week.

We use words all day long. We use them to plan our day, talk to our families, send emails, and post online. A single word can bring comfort, or it can hurt someone deeply. A few angry words can start a fight. A gentle word can bring peace. We know that human speech carries weight.

But in Matthew 8:5–13, we are reminded that there is a word that carries a different kind of power. This is not just human speech. This is the Word of the Son of God. And a Roman centurion, of all people, understood that better than most.

A commander in the Roman army came to Jesus because his servant was suffering. Jesus offered to come and heal him, but the centurion said something that made Jesus stop and marvel. He said, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed” (Matthew 8:8, ESV). That is the heart of this message. The centurion believed that all Jesus had to do was speak.

Let’s take a closer look at what his faith teaches us.

FAITH RECOGNIZES THE POWER OF JESUS’ WORD

Real faith starts by recognizing who is speaking.

The centurion did not need Jesus to put on a show. He did not ask for a sign, a ritual, or a dramatic moment. He believed that if Jesus would simply speak, that would be enough. Scripture tells us that Jesus “marveled” at this and said, “With no one in Israel have I found such faith” (Matthew 8:10).

We live in a world that constantly says, “Prove it first, then I will believe.” Yet Hebrews 11:1 reminds us, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Faith is not blind. It is anchored in the character and word of God.

Think about how often you already live with this kind of assurance. When you drive through an intersection on a green light, you trust that other drivers will stop on red right? When you sit down in a chair, you don't inspect the structural integrity first do you? When you wake up in the morning and see the light outside, are you shocked that the sun came up again? You have seen these things happen so many times that you trust them.

In a far greater way, faith takes God at His word, even when there is no visible proof yet. The centurion had never watched Jesus heal from a distance, but he knew that Jesus’ word carried divine authority. The same God who once said, “Let there be light” (Genesis 1:3) is the God whose voice still holds the universe together. Hebrews 1:3 says that Jesus “upholds the universe by the word of his power.”

If His word can hold galaxies in place, then His word can hold your life together, too.

FAITH THAT HUMBLY SUBMITS TO HIS AUTHORITY

The centurion did more than recognize power. He understood authority.

As a Roman officer, he had soldiers under him. If he told one to go, he went. If he told another to come, he came. People obeyed because he carried the authority of Rome. Yet this man, who was “large and in charge” in that region, looked at Jesus and knew he was standing before Someone greater.

That is why he said, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof.” He did not come to Jesus with demands. He came with humility. He knew that his rank, his position, and his strength meant nothing compared to the Son of God.

Faith always looks like that. It does not strut into the presence of God with a list of expectations. It bows low and says, “Everything I receive from You is grace.”

James 4:6 says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Pride builds a wall between us and God. Humility opens the door for mercy to flow. Jesus said it this way: “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted” (Matthew 23:12).

Picture a soldier saluting his commanding officer. That simple gesture is a way of saying, “I know who is in charge, and it is not me.” In the same way, faith salutes the Lordship of Jesus. It acknowledges that His word is final and His will is good.

You cannot have faith in Jesus while still clinging to the idea that you are in control. Real faith says, “Lord, I am not worthy, but You are.”

FAITH EXPERIENCES THE REWARD OF HIS PROMISE

When the centurion trusted the word of Jesus and submitted to His authority, he saw the result.

Jesus said, “Go; let it be done for you as you have believed.” Matthew 8:13 tells us, “the servant was healed at that very moment.” The miracle did not happen because the centurion had status. It happened because he had faith.

Hebrews 11:6 says, “Without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” Jesus is not handing out blank checks for our own selfish desires. He is inviting us to trust Him, to ask according to His will, and to believe that He is good.

Think of a farmer holding a bag of seed. If he refuses to plant it, he will never see a harvest. If he puts that seed into the ground, trusting that God will bring growth, he can expect a crop in due time. Faith is like that seed. When we place our trust in Jesus’ word, we are planting into the soil of His promises.

Sometimes the harvest comes quickly, like it did for the centurion. Sometimes it comes through seasons of waiting, like Abraham or Joseph experienced. But God always keeps His word. Faith may not give us the exact outcome we had in mind, but it will always bring us into the presence and power of God.

PUTTING IT INTO PRACTICE

Here are a few simple ways to live this out this week:

• Pick one promise of Jesus in Scripture, write it down, and pray it back to Him every day.
• Identify one area where you are trying to stay in control. In prayer, consciously surrender that area to His authority.
• Encourage one person who is struggling by sharing a verse about the faithfulness of Christ.
• When worry rises, pause and quietly say, “Lord, only say the word,” and choose to rest in Him.

CONSIDER THIS…

Where am I struggling to believe that Jesus’ word really is enough for my situation?

​In what part of my life do I need to humbly submit to His authority instead of clinging to control?

What promise of God do I need to hold onto and expect Him to fulfill in His time and in His way?

CLOSING THOUGHT

The story of the centurion reminds us that true faith is not about our status, our strength, or our worthiness. It is about who Jesus is and what His word can do. His word is powerful enough to create, to uphold, to heal, and to save. He still responds to faith today.

So as you move through this week, let this simple prayer stay close to your heart: “Lord, only say the word.” Trust that what He speaks, He will accomplish.

– Pastor Charley Munro
Living Grace Church, Tyler, Texas

This past weekend, Denise and I had the privilege of traveling to Conroe, Texas, to attend the annual Recalibrate Conference, hosted by Texas Ministries of the Church of God and held at Wake Church. It was an encouraging and refreshing time surrounded by fellow believers from across our state. Churches from all over Texas were represented, each gathered with the same purpose: to worship the Lord, to grow together, and to strengthen one another in ministry.

The atmosphere was filled with worship and fellowship. There is something powerful about standing in a room full of believers who share a deep desire to serve Christ faithfully.

​Throughout the sessions and conversations, I was reminded that God is still moving among His people in profound ways. It was not just a conference of learning but a time to be renewed in spirit and reminded of the mission we all share.

One of the highlights of the week came as we heard from pastors and ministry leaders throughout the Church of God movement. They shared about new opportunities God is opening in various parts of the world, and one ministry that especially stood out was Children of Promise. This is a global partnership between the Church of God and local communities that allows us to sponsor children in more than 30 countries. The ministry has a personal touch since it's coordinated directly through the Church of God. Sponsors are connected to specific children, helping meet their needs through education, nutrition, and spiritual development.

If you’ve ever wanted to make a difference in a child’s life, this is a wonderful way to do it. You can learn more or become a sponsor by visiting the link here. You can also follow their work on Facebook.

During the general sessions, we were challenged to take time to rest in the Lord and to “Recalibrate.” Ministry can often become busy, and life itself can pull us in many directions, but God calls us to slow down and listen for His voice. One of the most memorable moments came when we heard a powerful and insightful message from The Church of God General Director Emeritus Monte Dillard. His sermon was titled “Good at Goodbye.” He reminded us that, as followers of Christ, we have to be willing to let go of control and accept when God changes our plans. Sometimes, He interrupts our routines and expectations not to frustrate us, but to guide us toward something better. Learning to say goodbye to our own plans is often how we make room for His.
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On Friday evening, the conference concluded with an ordination ceremony that I will never forget. During that service, I was presented with my ministerial license. It was a deeply humbling moment as Denise and one of our church elders joined me at the altar to lay hands on me in prayer. Together, we sought the Lord’s blessing that He would continue to consecrate me for the work He has called me to do. As those prayers were spoken, I could not help but think of how faithful God has been. Every step of this journey has been guided by His grace, and I am eternally grateful for the opportunity to serve Him in whatever way He chooses.


Moments like these remind me that ministry is not just a calling for a few but an invitation for all of us to participate in God’s work. Whether it is through worship, fellowship, giving, or simply encouraging others, we each have a role to play.

As we left Conroe and began our drive home, I couldn’t help but reflect on the conference’s theme. To recalibrate is to realign, to adjust the heart so that it beats in rhythm with God’s will. We all need that from time to time. My prayer this week is that we would each take a moment to pause and ask the Lord to help us do just that.
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Take time to rest in Him. Let go of the plans you thought had to happen. Trust that when God interrupts your day, He is doing it for a reason. He is faithful to lead us exactly where we need to be.

​– Pastor Charley Munro
Living Grace Church, Tyler, Texas