I will praise Him!
From everlasting to everlasting — photo courtesy of Donald Adam
Our Dwelling Place
23 Sunday Jul 2017
Monthly Archives: July 2017
Celebrating the Love of the LORD
22 Saturday Jul 2017
Tags
celebrate, faithfulness, God's presence, justice, love, praise, rejoice, Righteousness, rose blossoms, the LORD
I will praise Him!
Rose blossoms celebrating the goodness of the Lord — photo by David Kitz
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne;
love and faithfulness go before you.
Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you,
who walk in the light of your presence, LORD.
They rejoice in your name all day long;
they celebrate your righteousness.
(Psalm 89:14-16, NIV)
David: Brave Heart or Lonely Heart
21 Friday Jul 2017
Posted in Bible, Devotionals, Psalm 25, Psalms
Tags
brave heart, Christian, confidence, confidence in God, David, deliverance, Departure Bay, enemies, forgiveness, humble, integrity, lonely heart, Nanaimo, the LORD
Reading: Psalm 25
(Verses 16-22)
Turn to me and be gracious to me,
for I am lonely and afflicted.
Relieve the troubles of my heart
and free me from my anguish.
Look on my affliction and my distress
and take away all my sins.
See how numerous are my enemies
and how fiercely they hate me!
Guard my life and rescue me;
do not let me be put to shame,
for I take refuge in you.
May integrity and uprightness protect me,
because my hope, LORD, is in you.
Deliver Israel, O God,
from all their troubles! (NIV)
Reflection
David begins Psalm 25 on a note of confidence, but as this psalm draws to a close he truly bears his heart. David plaintively calls out to the LORD, “Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted.”
Sunrise over Departure Bay, Nanaimo, BC — photo by David Kitz
The warrior king let’s his guard down and we see into his soul. There is a time for putting on a brave face, and there’s a time for open and transparent honesty. Here within the context of this psalm we see both; David the brave heart and David the lonely heart. Earlier in this psalm David showed absolute confidence in his God, but now he pours out his soul in humble petition. Hear the cry of his heart, “Relieve the troubles of my heart and free me from my anguish. Look on my affliction and my distress and take away all my sins.”
David recognized his greatest need. David’s greatest need was forgiveness. That’s our greatest need too. We need the peace of mind that forgiveness brings.
David was surrounded by mortal enemies, but then so are we. The legions of hell are arrayed against the Christian believer. At this moment worldly philosophies and demonic forces are conspiring to destroy your home, your marriage and your life. Along with David we pray, “See how numerous are my enemies and how fiercely they hate me! Guard my life and rescue me; do not let me be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.”
Our hope must always be centered in the LORD. Integrity and uprightness form a wall of protection around the people of God. But our deliverance comes from the LORD. Along with David we affirm, “No one who hopes in you [LORD] will ever be put to shame.”
Response: Lord Jesus, help me to be open and transparent before you. Take away all my sins. My hope is in you. Protect me the attacks of the enemy. Deliver me from all my troubles. Amen.
Your Turn: How much do you need God? Do you need His forgiveness?
Seeking guidance for your life?
20 Thursday Jul 2017
Posted in Bible, Devotionals, Psalm 25, Psalms
Tags
confess, gentle, God, guidance, guidance for life, humble, humility, instructs, Jesus, Orleans, sin, sinner, teach, teacher, teaches, the LORD
Reading: Psalm 25
(Verses 8-15)
Good and upright is the LORD;
therefore he instructs sinners in his ways.
He guides the humble in what is right
and teaches them his way.
All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful
toward those who keep the demands of his covenant.
For the sake of your name, LORD,
forgive my iniquity, though it is great.
Who, then, are those who fear the LORD?
He will instruct them in the ways they should choose.
They will spend their days in prosperity,
and their descendants will inherit the land.
The LORD confides in those who fear him;
he makes his covenant known to them.
My eyes are ever on the LORD,
for only he will release my feet from the snare (NIV).
Reflection
Some truths are self-evident: Water flows downhill, always has and always will. Darkness is an absence of light. The first line of today’s psalm reading is also one of those self-evident truths. Good and upright is the LORD. The LORD is always good and He is always upright in all His ways. There is nothing devious or corrupt about Him. That’s simply the nature of our God.
Early Morning Sunrise, Grey Nuns Park, Orleans, ON — photo by David Kitz
Because the LORD is good and upright, righteousness and grace flow from His throne. The LORD instructs sinners in his ways. He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way. His love cascades down upon those who are humble of heart. Jesus in his earthly ministry exemplified the very nature of God, because he came as the LORD in human flesh. He said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:27-29).
Are you learning from Jesus? Have you positioned yourself to hear and follow him? The LORD is our teacher, but he only instructs those who humbly fear and reverence Him. The obstinate sinner has shut his ears to the voice of God. There is no guidance from heaven for him, nor does he seek it, because in rebellion he has chosen his own path.
Do you want the LORD to guide you in the decisions you face? Be of good cheer. If you fear the LORD, He will instruct you in the way you should choose. Confess your sin to Him, admit your need before Him, and then open your spirit to hear from God. We have this promise: The LORD confides in those who fear him.
Response: LORD, in humility I come before you. I need your help and guidance every moment of the day. Teach me your ways in every situation and circumstance that I face. Amen.
Your Turn: Do you routinely ask for the LORD’s guidance? How has He responded? Can you testify to situations in which the LORD has guided your steps?
Can You Avoid Being Put to Shame?
19 Wednesday Jul 2017
Posted in Bible, Devotionals, Psalm 25, Psalms
Tags
ashamed, conscience, David, forgive, God, hope, love, mercy, Ottawa, psychologists, repentance, Rideau Canal, Savior, shame, sins, sins of my youth, the LORD, youth
Reading: Psalm 25
Of David.
Verses 1-7
In you, LORD my God, I put my trust.
I trust in you; do not let me be put to shame,
nor let my enemies triumph over me.
No one who hopes in you will ever be put to shame,
but shame will come on those
who are treacherous without cause.
Show me your ways, LORD,
teach me your paths.
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long.
Remember, LORD, your great mercy and love,
for they are from of old.
Do not remember the sins of my youth
and my rebellious ways;
according to your love remember me,
for you, LORD, are good (NIV).
Reflection
Shame is often viewed as a very negative feeling, and it is. Some pop psychologists are of the opinion that this emotional response should be completely removed from our lives. They argue that it has no useful function, since it often holds us back from exploring and experimenting with new behaviors and activities in the world around us.
The Rideau Canal, Ottawa cityscape — photo by David Kitz
However, a life lived without any sense of shame is life without an active conscience. Those who lack a shame gland soon find themselves trapped in self-destructive behavior that spirals out of control. A sense of shame when we have done wrong can act as the messenger of God calling us to repentance and a change of heart.
Here in this psalm David pleads with the LORD that he will not be put to shame. That should be our prayer as well. And how can we avoid being put to shame? David gives us the answer. No one who hopes in you [the LORD] will ever be put to shame, but shame will come on those who are treacherous without cause.
If your hope is in the LORD, He will protect you from shame and disgrace. Trusting in God, rather than in ourselves is the point where freedom from shame begins. A humble teachable spirit is what God desires. Because of His great mercy and love, He forgives the sins of our youth and our rebellious ways. Praise the LORD!
Response: LORD, this is my prayer: Show me your ways, LORD, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. Amen.
Your Turn: How does trusting in God protect you from experiencing shame?
The Birth of a Literary Grandchild
18 Tuesday Jul 2017
Posted in Books by David Kitz, Psalms
Tags
baby, book, citizenship, confession, envious, envy, grandchild, grandchildren, Kregel, Ottawa, publisher, The Soldier Who Killed a King, The Word Guild
Here is my confession. I’m envious. I’m envious of all those folks around my age who are blessed with grandchildren. Whenever I see them dandling a toddler on their knee I feel a twinge of envy. I want one of those—a grandchild.
That’s me with younger brother Dale in 1957
I turned sixty-five this year and as I occasionally remind my sons, I think it’s time. But alas this is not a solo endeavor.
Writing a book and seeing it come to fruition has often been compared to giving birth to a child. I believe the analogy is fitting. Writing a book certainly is a labour of love. From conception to delivery you carry that book with you for a period of months or years. Little by little it grows within you until it is finally ready for the world.
My first book was published in November 2003. I remember bringing my baby home from the hospital—err publisher—as proud as any first-time father.
Good books have a life of their own. They kick up a fuss and generate interest. The Soldier, the Terrorist & the Donkey King certainly did just that. In 2005 it won the Word Guild Award for Historical Fiction. The first print run sold out in nine months. Two additional print runs followed.
You might say that my baby grew up. Last year it crossed the border as I signed a contract with Kregel Publications. That marriage resulted in a literary grandchild that was born in June.
Of course every new baby needs a name. The title for this new baby of dual American/Canadian citizenship is The Soldier Who Killed a King.
Guess what? Grandpa’s proud of this baby. I’m sure it will kick up a fuss and generated a lot of interest. Good books do that.
Now Lord, how about some of those flesh and blood grandchildren?
David Kitz lives in soggy Ottawa, Canada with his wife Karen. To learn more about his book and drama ministry visit http://davidkitz.ca/
David Kitz as Centurion
The official release date for The Soldier Who Killed a King is July 25th. To preorder this book visit Amazon or http://www.kregel.com/fiction/the-soldier-who-killed-a-king/
Welcoming the King of Glory
18 Tuesday Jul 2017
Posted in Bible, Devotionals, Psalm 24, Psalms
Tags
Almighty, David, Holy Spirit, Jerusalem, Jesus, king, King David, King of glory, Palm Sunday, pure, seeking God, temple, the LORD, triumphal entry, warrior
Reading: Psalm 24
(Verses 7-10)
Lift up your heads, you gates;
be lifted up, you ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
Who is this King of glory?
The LORD strong and mighty,
the LORD mighty in battle.
Lift up your heads, you gates;
lift them up, you ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
Who is he, this King of glory?
The LORD Almighty—
he is the King of glory (NIV).
Reflection
Are you ready? The King is coming.
Lift up your head — Montebello, Quebec — photo by David Kitz
All of Psalm 24 is a psalm of anticipation. David, the shepherd king, is anticipating the arrival of the LORD. The LORD is coming to His city—to His temple. Have you prepared your heart and your mind for the moment of His arrival? Are you ready to receive Him as your King? He often shows up at the moment we least expect Him.
Undoubtedly, David, the warrior King, was reflecting on his own triumphant entry into the city after the defeat of his enemies in battle. But here in this psalm, he projects the victorious arrival of a much greater monarch—the King of glory.
There is a prophetic expectancy to this psalm that forms a very natural bridge to the Palm Sunday triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. Jesus, the long anticipated King, came suddenly to His temple. Some were ready for Him; most were not. This should infuse our preparations for the King with an element of urgency. We can miss his appearing. Earlier in this psalm David asks, “Who may stand in his holy place?”
Purity of heart and action are essential. Blessing and vindication awaits those who seek His face. Again I ask, “Are you ready?” God can show up in your life today in an unexpected way. Will you recognize Him? Or like the busy people of Jerusalem will that moment pass you by? Will you be too caught up in buying and selling and the commerce of our times? Will you be too distracted by social media to recognize the medium of the Holy Spirit?
Lift up your head. Open your eyes. Take your attention off the mundane things of this world and focus the eyes of your heart on the Lord. Seek His face in your daily routine. The King of glory may be passing by today.
Response: Come, Lord Jesus, come. I open my heart and my mind to you. I want to see you at work in my daily circumstances. King of Glory, help me to anticipate your appearing in my life today. Grant me a pure heart so I can recognize your coming. Amen.
Your Turn: Has the King of glory appeared in your life recently? What are you doing to prepare for Him?
The Generation that Seeks God
17 Monday Jul 2017
Posted in Bible, Devotionals, Psalm 24, Psalms
Tags
approaching God, blood, blood of Christ, clean hands, cleansing, Creator, holy place, Lamb of God, pure, pure heart, seeking God, Sovereign LORD, the LORD
Reading: Psalm24
Of David. A psalm.
(Verses 1-6)
The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it;
for he founded it on the seas
and established it on the waters.
Who may ascend the mountain of the LORD?
Who may stand in his holy place?
The one who has clean hands and a pure heart,
who does not trust in an idol
or swear by a false god.
They will receive blessing from the LORD
and vindication from God their Savior.
Such is the generation of those who seek him,
who seek your face, God of Jacob (NIV).
Reflection
Psalm 24 begins by establishing the sovereignty of the LORD. He alone is to be worshipped because the LORD is the Creator of all things. The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters.
Who may stand in his holy place? — photo by David Kitz
David then goes on to ask two very pertinent questions. Who may ascend the mountain of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place?
Can anyone approach this great Sovereign God? Are there any preconditions that we need to meet? According to David, the answer is yes. The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god.
David, I have a problem with that answer. You see my hands aren’t always clean, and my heart isn’t always pure. How then can I approach the LORD? In fact, my problem is a universal problem. In Psalm 14:2-3, we read this indictment against humanity: The LORD looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. All have turned away, all have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.
Is this generation seeking the LORD? With rare exceptions the answer is no. It has always been thus. The harsh words of Psalm 14 ring just as true now as they did in David’s time. But there are those who break the mold of this world—those who have received the forgiveness and cleansing of God. They will receive blessing from the LORD and vindication from God their Savior. Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, God of Jacob.
Those who have been cleansed by the blood of the Lamb of God may freely approach the throne of God. I want to be numbered among that generation.
Response: Lord Jesus, I thank you for your suffering and death on the cross. Your blood cleanses my hands and purifies my heart. Today I want to seek you. In your great mercy reveal yourself to me. Amen.
Your Turn: Are you a God seeker? On what basis do you approach the Sovereign LORD?
Heaven and Earth Are Yours
16 Sunday Jul 2017
Tags
arm of God, creation, Creator, earth, heaven, north, power of God, south
I will praise Him!
Ottawa River marsh, Orleans, ON — photo by David Kitz
The heavens are yours, and yours also the earth;
you founded the world and all that is in it.
You created the north and the south;
Tabor and Hermon sing for joy at your name.
Your arm is endowed with power;
your hand is strong, your right hand exalted.
(Psalm 89:11-13, NIV)
Who is like you, LORD?
15 Saturday Jul 2017
I will praise Him!
Who in the skies above can compare with the Lord? — photo by David Kitz
I love the Psalms 