Monthly Archives: February 2014

John 3:1-2

27 Thursday Feb 2014

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Have you ever put yourself in the shoes of a Bible character? B.J. Richardson puts himself in the shoes of Nicodemus in this highly inspirational post. When like Nicodemus, we encounter Jesus, we get far more than we expect or bargain for.

Beejai's avatarTHE RIVER WALK

Nicodemus Edit

There was a man named Nicodemus, a Jewish religious leader who was a Pharisee. After dark one evening, he came to speak with Jesus. “Rabbi,” he said, “we all know that God has sent you to teach us. Your miraculous signs are evidence that God is with you.” (John 3:1-2)

Daily Bible Reading: Leviticus 7:1 – 8:36

Relate: I like Nicodemus. He’s my kind of guy. First off, his name is both idealistic and pragmatic at the same time. It means “victory of the people” which shows that his parents (or himself if it is an adopted name) had a zealot streak longing to become free from Roman oppression. Yet Nicodemus is a Greek name (Nike = victory, Demos = people) so they or he recognized that to truly engage the world, there had to be some concessions with a thoroughly Hellenized society beyond and within Israel’s borders. And engage…

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There is a place of peace in the midst of the storm.

26 Wednesday Feb 2014

Posted by in Psalm 29, Psalms

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Reading:                                   Psalm 29

A psalm of David.

Ascribe to the LORD, you heavenly beings,
ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.

Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;
worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness.

The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders,
the LORD thunders over the mighty waters.

The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is majestic.
The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars;
the LORD breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.
He makes Lebanon leap like a calf, Sirion like a young wild ox.

The voice of the LORD strikes with flashes of lightning.
The voice of the LORD shakes the desert;
the LORD shakes the Desert of Kadesh.
The voice of the LORD twists the oaks and strips the forests bare.
And in his temple all cry, “Glory!”

The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; the LORD is enthroned as King forever.
The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace. (NIV)

Reflection

In Psalm 29 we see and hear the LORD, the God of the storm. There is an evocative poetic style to this psalm that helps the reader to picture the fury of the approaching tempest. But we not only see the flashes of lightning and the power of the wind, we also hear the booming thunder as it shakes the desert. The voice of the LORD twists the oaks and strips the forests bare. And in his temple all cry, “Glory!”

Nine times the psalmist repeats the phrase the voice of the LORD. In this psalm, the voice of the LORD is a very active force. The voice of the LORD thunders, breaks, strikes, shakes, twists and strips. The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is majestic.

The voice of the LORD spoke the world into existence, set the planets in their orbit, and scattered the starry hosts across the heavens. A thunderstorm sweeping down from Lebanon is as nothing to Him.

But the LORD of the storm is also the LORD of peace. One day on the Sea of Galilee Jesus our Lord brought peace to the storm. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”

He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm (Mark 4:37-39).

Response: You are the LORD of the storm and the LORD of peace. Help me trust you completely. Amen.

Your Turn: Jesus says to us, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” (Mark 4:40).

How to Claim Scripture When You Pray

24 Monday Feb 2014

Posted by in Psalms

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For today’s post I am re-blogging a post by a fellow writer and retired teacher, Janis Cox. Her thoughts on using scripture in prayer are excellent. We need to surround our loved ones in a scripture-based circle of prayer. (My regular Psalms blog returns tomorrow.)

Janis Cox's avatarUnder the Cover of Prayer

How to Claim Scripture When You Pray

prayer-circle-family

Do you wonder about all the verses in the Bible? I do. There are so many and each verse can mean something to me a different way at a different time.

I learned something even more fantastic as I read through The Circle Maker. If we take a verse from God’s Word we can pray it back to God. I have done this a couple of times before. Now, though, it feels like it should be something I do on a more regular basis. We have written about praying the Scripture in previous posts. Here are some. You can search for more by using the search button on the sidebar.

Praying God’s Promises

Have You Prayed the Scriptures?

How Can We Pray Using the Scriptures?

When we circle someone in prayer, we can add Scripture to that prayer. For instance let’s say…

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A Come from Behind Olympic Victory

21 Friday Feb 2014

Posted by in Psalm 28, Psalms

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Reading:                                       Psalm 28

(Verses 6-9)

Praise be to the LORD,
for he has heard my cry for mercy.
The LORD is my strength and my shield;
my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.
My heart leaps for joy,
and with my song I praise him.

The LORD is the strength of his people,
a fortress of salvation for his anointed one.
Save your people and bless your inheritance;
be their shepherd and carry them forever. (NIV)

Reflection

David’s ends Psalm 28 with a doxology of praise. Yes, it is good and fitting to praise the LORD. He hears our cry for mercy. He is not a God of harsh judgment or we would all perish. He is my shield and strength despite my frequent failings. David declares, “My heart trusts in him, and he helps me.” I can join in David’s declaration and personally testify to the truth of these words, “My heart trusts in him, and he helps me.”

Our God does not stand afar off. He is near to those who call on Him.

David was not one to be shy or reserved in his expression of praise. He exults, “My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.” When David brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem, he gave full expression to his joy.  Wearing a linen ephod, David was dancing before the Lord with all his might, while he and all Israel were bringing up the ark of the Lord with shouts and the sound of trumpets (2 Samuel 6:14-15).

Yesterday I watched as Canada’s women’s Olympic hockey team scored a late-rally, come-from-behind, overtime victory over a shocked American team. There was no shortage of leaping, dancing and rejoicing in the Canadian ranks. The outburst of praise and jubilation was completely fitting.

But as born-again children of God, redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, we have a far greater reason—an eternal reason—for bursting forth in praise. Our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ has scored a late-rally, come-from-behind, overtime victory over death, hell and the grave. And he scored that victory for you and me, who are on an international team—Team Believer. What a victory! What a celebration!

We join with David in declaring, “The LORD is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one.”

Response: Lord God, hear my prayer, “Save your people and bless your inheritance; be their shepherd and carry them forever.” Amen.

Your Turn: Why do we put limits on our expressions of praise to God, when our praise is boundless in sporting events?

 

Do you want justice in this life?

20 Thursday Feb 2014

Posted by in Psalm 28, Psalms

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Reading:                                Psalm 28

Of David. (Verses 1-5)

To you, LORD, I call;
you are my Rock, do not turn a deaf ear to me.
For if you remain silent,

 I will be like those who go down to the pit.
Hear my cry for mercy as I call to you for help,
as I lift up my hands toward your Most Holy Place.

Do not drag me away with the wicked,
with those who do evil,
who speak cordially with their neighbors
but harbor malice in their hearts.
Repay them for their deeds and for their evil work;
repay them for what their hands have done
and bring back on them what they deserve.

Because they have no regard for the deeds of the LORD
and what his hands have done,
he will tear them down
and never build them up again. (NIV)

 Reflection

David begins Psalm 28 with a plea for God to hear him. As the psalm progresses it becomes clear that this is a plea not only for mercy, but also for justice. Hear my cry for mercy as I call to you for help, as I lift up my hands toward your Most Holy Place. Do not drag me away with the wicked, with those who do evil, who speak cordially with their neighbors but harbor malice in their hearts.

The cry for fairness is perhaps the most universal of all human desires. What is the most oft repeated phrase is in a kindergarten class? If you guessed, “That’s not fair!” you win the gold star. A desire for equality of opportunity and fairness is simply part of our human constitution; it’s bred into us. Governments are defeated and revolutions happen when leaders fail the test of fairness and equality under the law. But all too often we do not see justice served in this life. The murderous Pol Pot was never brought to justice though three million Cambodians died under his regime. When we become aware of such heinous crimes, David’s call for justice rings true and clear. Repay them for their deeds and for their evil work; repay them for what their hands have done and bring back on them what they deserve.

The oppressed and the oppressor will meet the God of justice in the afterlife. But the redeemed have this assurance, ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

Response: Lord God, have mercy on me. Do not drag me away with the wicked, with those who do evil. I put my trust in the redeeming sacrifice of your Son, Jesus. Amen.

Your Turn: When you see injustice around you, do you take it to God in prayer?

Jesus Wants the Rose

19 Wednesday Feb 2014

Posted by in Psalms

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I believe this four minute video is well worth watching and thinking about.

Chris Martin's avatarChris Martin Writes

There isn’t much I can really add to this post. The message from Matt Chandler is very powerful. Jesus wants us in our current condition. He doesn’t expect us to clean up our act, and then offer ourselves to His service. Dirty, filthy rags don’t scare Him one bit.

We should also look at others the same way. Accept people for exactly who they are. Don’t put conditions on our love. Don’t judge others thinking we are any better. The Bible says Jesus died for us while we were all sinners.

Jesus wants the rose.

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Does God hear you when you pray?

18 Tuesday Feb 2014

Posted by in Psalm 27, Psalms

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Reading:                                       Psalm 27

(Verses 7-14)

Hear my voice when I call, O LORD;

Be merciful to me and answer me.

Do not turn your servant away in anger;

You have been my helper.

Do not reject me or forsake me, O God my Saviour.

Though my mother and father forsake me,  

The LORD will receive me.

Teach me your way, O LORD;

Lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors.

Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,

For false witnesses rise up against me breathing out violence.

I am still confident of this:

I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.

Wait for the LORD;

Be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD. (NIV)

 Reflection

Is God listening? Do I have His full attention? Is He even there? Even people of great faith ask questions such as these. Listen to David’s plea, “Hear my voice when I call, O LORD.”

David’s psalms are replete with calls for God to listen and then quickly respond to his cries for help. These pleas for a listening ear happen with such frequency throughout the Book of Psalms that one can be forgiven for wondering if God is deaf. In our minds we know that this is an absurd proposition. He who formed the ear can surely hear the faintest whispered prayer or unvoiced thought. But despite what our intellect knows, we still plead for His listening ear. Along with David we cry out, “Hear my voice when I call, O LORD; be merciful to me and answer me.”

I suspect that the problem in prayer is not that we are speaking to a deaf God, but rather we, the petitioners, are deaf to his answers. The patriarchs and prophets of old heard the voice of God. They conversed with the LORD Almighty. Many of these conversations are recorded verbatim in the Old Testament. A fine example of this is found in Exodus as Moses speaks with the LORD at the burning bush. Have we lost the ability to hear God? Has a great collective deafness settled across humanity?

In a cold world filled with rejection, there is a God. There is a God of mercy that the lonely soul can turn to. There is one who understands. There is one who listens to our anguished prayers. We can join with David and say, “Though my mother and father forsake me, the LORD will receive me.”

Response: Lord God, this is my confession, “I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.” I will, “Wait for the LORD.” I will, “Be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.” Amen.

Your Turn: Are there times when you doubt that God is listening to your prayers? How do you know He is there?

Surprised by a Valentine at Christmas

14 Friday Feb 2014

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Here’s some food for thought on Valentines Day.

davidkitz's avatarI love the Psalms

This is a one-day, St. Valentines Day departure from my usual psalms posting.

About two weeks before Christmas I got a valentine from an admirer—a thirteen-year-old girl. I was delighted. You might even say I was tickled pink about it. Now as you may have guessed, since it was delivered before Christmas this was not planned as a valentine. It was actually a language arts assignment about her favourite poem done for her grade eight teacher. But in her assignment, Esther (not her real name) expressed her love for me. I think her words say it best:

Last year when I was in grade seven my homeroom teacher was Mr. Kitz. I loved him as a teacher; he was funny, smart and loved to tell us stories like none of my other teachers did. He was one of the only teachers who could actually keep our class quiet and entertained…

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Surprised by a Valentine at Christmas

14 Friday Feb 2014

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This is a one-day, St. Valentines Day departure from my usual psalms posting.

About two weeks before Christmas I got a valentine from an admirer—a thirteen-year-old girl. I was delighted. You might even say I was tickled pink about it. Now as you may have guessed, since it was delivered before Christmas this was not planned as a valentine. It was actually a language arts assignment about her favourite poem done for her grade eight teacher. But in her assignment, Esther (not her real name) expressed her love for me. I think her words say it best:

Last year when I was in grade seven my homeroom teacher was Mr. Kitz. I loved him as a teacher; he was funny, smart and loved to tell us stories like none of my other teachers did. He was one of the only teachers who could actually keep our class quiet and entertained us while teaching. He also is a Christian like me. He said he went to my church a long time ago; I felt so happy to be in his class.

This sixty-one-year-old retired teacher was thrilled to be shown a little love. I was quite amazed that I left such a positive impression on Esther, especially since she was only in my class for six weeks. To be completely truthful I had forgotten her name. But she remembered me.

Isn’t that what we all want? We all want to be remembered; we want to be shown a little love. We want to be surprised by a little love.

Of course love comes most often to those who show love. In the rush of life and our hunger to receive love, we can forget to give it–to show it to others, whether we consider them deserving or not.

Last Friday, I paid a surprise visit to Esther’s class. I told the class a story or two and then I thanked Esther for her kind words. She was unaware that her assignment had been forwarded to me by her homeroom teacher. Needless to say, she was tickled pink. I could see that by her smile and her dancing eyes. I remembered her. I surprised her with a little love.

May the love of God be shed abroad in your heart today.

Your Turn: Who can you surprise with a little love today, tomorrow or six weeks from now?