Author Archives: davidkitz

Counting the Days

29 Tuesday Dec 2020

Posted by in Psalm 90, Psalms

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Reading: Psalm 90
(Verses 7-12)
We are consumed by your anger
and terrified by your indignation.
You have set our iniquities before you,
our secret sins in the light of your presence.
All our days pass away under your wrath;
we finish our years with a moan.
Our days may come to seventy years,
or eighty, if our strength endures;
yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow,
for they quickly pass, and we fly away.
If only we knew the power of your anger!
Your wrath is as great as the fear that is your due.
Teach us to number our days,
that we may gain a heart of wisdom (NIV).*

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River ice — photo by David Kitz

Reflection
As we draw near to the close of this momentous year, this Psalm offers much for us to consider. The finite nature of our lives here on planet earth should cause us to give serious thought to how we spend the days that we have been allotted. Once we reach the age of forty, roughly half of our life is over. Some claim it’s all downhill from that point forward. Life seems to speed up—to pass by quickly— as we careen toward our demise.

Moses concludes his prayer here in Psalm 90 with these words: Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

No one wants to reach the end of their days and then realize that they have wasted their life. In our hearts, we all want to have a meaningful life filled with purpose. Much of that striving for success and our drive for a long list of accomplishments comes from a desire for meaning and purpose in life. Moses certainly had a string of achievements on his resume before the LORD called him home. He was after all the liberator of a nation. He was revered as a great leader and the great law giver. But was that due to Moses’ great ambition?

The Bible paints a different picture of Moses. When God called him into service, Moses resisted. The adopted son of Pharaoh was content to shepherd a few sheep on the backside of the desert. But God had other plans—bigger plans. This is what we are told about Moses. Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth (Numbers 12:3).

Perhaps true wisdom begins with humility—with knowing our place in the grand scheme of things. It starts as it did for Moses by hearing God’s call and ultimately being willing to obey, whatever that takes and wherever that takes us.

Response: LORD, teach me to number my days, so I may gain a heart of wisdom. Give me ears to hear what you are saying to me. I want to live a meaningful life filled with purpose coming from you. Amen.

Your Turn: Are you numbering your days or are they numbering you? Are you following God’s call and purpose for your life?

* New International Version, Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica

The first volume of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer by award-winning author David Kitz is now available. For a closer look at this 265-page daily devotional book visit Amazon and enter David Kitz into the search bar.

A Daily Devotional

28 Monday Dec 2020

Posted by in Psalms, Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer

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Are you looking for a daily devotional to start the new year?

Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer may be just what you need to help you get 2021 started on the right path.

Why dig into the Psalms? The Psalms are a poetic feast for the mind, soul and spirit. In them, you will find intimacy with God. For a hundred generations, hungry souls have found spiritual nourishment there.

Psalms 365P 365-120120 is specifically designed to help you develop a life of worship and prayer like the biblical David. Let author David Kitz take you on a journey—a journey to a deeper understanding of God’s will and his ways for your life. Each daily reading provides insight and inspiration for practical Christian living, allowing the Good Shepherd to guide you to the center of his will.

This 265-page volume packs a punch. It’s slightly larger format results in a cover and print content that is easy on the eyes.

In total, this volume has 120 daily readings, spanning Psalm 1 through Psalm 51. Volumes two and three will be released as 2021 progresses. This will allow readers to journey through the entire 150 Psalms in the span of a year, hence the title Psalms 365.

Now is an ideal time to commit to a daily, year-long, devotional journey through the Psalms. Psalms 365 is written by award-winning author David Kitz, is published by Elk Lake Publishing, and is available through Amazon and other book retailers.

Morning Mist and the Ageless One

28 Monday Dec 2020

Posted by in Psalm 90, Psalms

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Reading: Psalm 90
A prayer of Moses the man of God.
(Verses 1-6)
Lord, you have been our dwelling place
throughout all generations.
Before the mountains were born
or you brought forth the whole world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
You turn people back to dust,
saying, “Return to dust, you mortals.”
A thousand years in your sight
are like a day that has just gone by,
or like a watch in the night.
Yet you sweep people away in the sleep of death—
they are like the new grass of the morning:
In the morning it springs up new,
but by evening it is dry and withered (NIV).*

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2020 Christmas morning mist, Ottawa, ON — photo by David Kitz

Reflection
In case you have not noticed, your life on this earth is temporal. It won’t last forever. In fact, there is very little on this earth that fits into the “lasts forever category.” My car fits well into this rusty, temporal category. My physical body will suffer a similar fate. My morning aches and pains remind me of this outcome. In this psalm Moses states the obvious when he makes this declaration: You turn people back to dust, saying, “Return to dust, you mortals.”

James, the brother of our Lord, makes a similar observation:  You should know better than to say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to the city. We will do business there for a year and make a lot of money!” What do you know about tomorrow? How can you be so sure about your life? It is nothing more than mist that appears for only a little while before it disappears (James 4:13-14, CEV).

Only God stands apart, above and beyond this temporal world. He is the ageless One, untouched by time. This assertion holds true. A thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night.

The entire book of Ecclesiastes addresses the topic of the temporal nature of human life. Glenn Fobert has written an excellent book that explains the true meaning of that puzzling book: Everything Is Mist: Ecclesiastes on Life in a Puzzling and Troubled Temporary World

Life is not meaningless or vanity. According to Fobert, scholars have mistranslated the Hebrew word for mist in Ecclesiastes. Life is like a morning fog that lifts and it is gone. Where has it gone? It goes to the eternal One, the Creator of all life. How then should we live? Ecclesiastes gives us the answer. Simply live in full reverence and praise to your Maker.

Response: LORD God, I thank you for being the author of this wonderful thing called life. Today I want to live in humble thanksgiving and praise to you. Let my work, words and conduct honor you. Amen.

Your Turn: Is the Lord your dwelling place? Are you at home with Him?

* New International Version, Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica

The first volume of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer by award-winning author David Kitz is now available. For a closer look at this 265-page daily devotional book visit Amazon and enter David Kitz into the search bar.

The LORD and His Strength

27 Sunday Dec 2020

Posted by in Psalm 105

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Today’s quote from the Psalms
Psalm 105_4

Heavenly Father,
all too often I rely on my own strength
and ingenuity.
But Lord, you are the Creator
and the source of all strength
and inspiration.
Help me.
I am your servant.
Help me to tap into your unlimited resources.
In Jesus’ name, I pray.
Amen.

The first volume of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer by award-winning author David Kitz is now available. For a closer look at this 265-page daily devotional book visit Amazon and enter David Kitz into the search bar.

Look to the LORD

27 Sunday Dec 2020

Posted by in Psalm 105

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I will praise the LORD!

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Racette Park, Orleans, ON — photo by David Kitz

Give praise to the LORD, proclaim his name;
    make known among the nations what he has done.
Sing to him, sing praise to him;
    tell of all his wonderful acts.
Glory in his holy name;
    let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.
Look to the LORD and his strength;
 seek his face always.

(Psalm 105:1-4, NIV)*

* New International Version, Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica

Growing in Strength and Wisdom

26 Saturday Dec 2020

Posted by in Bible

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Today’s quote from Luke’s GospelLuke 2_40

Heavenly Father,
growth should not just be a childhood experience.
Lord Jesus, in the gloom of this dark year
By your grace,
I want to continue to grow like Jesus
in strength and wisdom.
In His name,
I pray.
Amen.

The first volume of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer by award-winning author David Kitz is now available. For a closer look at this 265-page daily devotional book visit Amazon and enter David Kitz into the search bar.

Greatness and Sorrow Foretold

26 Saturday Dec 2020

Posted by in Christmas

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I will praise the LORD!

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Winter sunrise — photo by David Kitz

Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required,  Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:

 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
    you may now dismiss your servant in peace.
 For my eyes have seen your salvation,
     which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
    and the glory of your people Israel.”

The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.

(Luke 2:25-40, NIV)*

* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

Mary’s Treasure

25 Friday Dec 2020

Posted by in Christmas

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Today’s quote from Luke’s GospelChristmas Card

Heavenly Father,
thank you for sending your Son
into this dark world.
Lord Jesus, in the gloom of this dark year
your abiding love shines forth.
Light of the world,
light our way forward,
we pray.
Amen.

The first volume of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer by award-winning author David Kitz is now available. For a closer look at this 265-page daily devotional book visit Amazon and enter David Kitz into the search bar.

The King Is Born

25 Friday Dec 2020

Posted by in Christmas

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I will praise the LORD!

Christmas-Greeting-Card-Nativity-Scene-by-Dona-Gelsinger

Christmas-Greeting-Card-Nativity-Scene-by-Dona-Gelsinger

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

(Luke 2:4-20, NIV)*

* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

Mary’s Song

24 Thursday Dec 2020

Posted by in Christmas

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Reading: Luke 1
(Verses 30-37)
And Mary said:
“My soul glorifies the Lord
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
    for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
    holy is his name.
His mercy extends to those who fear him,
    from generation to generation.
He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
    he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones
    but has lifted up the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things
    but has sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
    remembering to be merciful
to Abraham and his descendants forever,
    just as he promised our ancestors” (NIV).

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Mary Comforts Eve—crayon & pencil drawing by Sr Grace Remington

Reflection
Mary’s Song, also known as The Magnificat, is not numbered among the Psalms, but in style and substance it is patterned after the Psalms. There are some striking similarities between Mary’s Song and Hannah’s Prayer as recorded in 1 Samuel 2:1-10. Both are songs, or prayers of praise for deliverance.

And what deliverance are they celebrating? Clearly they are celebrating deliverance from oppression. But who or what is the oppressor. The angel that visited Joseph in a dream provides the clearest answer to that question. The angel said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:20b-21, NIV).

The angel makes no mention of the Philistines the oppressors of Hannah’s time, or the Romans the political oppressors of Mary’s era. Instead, this Jesus, which means Savior, will save us from our sins. This is an oppression with a far longer history—a history extending back to Adam and Eve, our first parents.

This Savior will break the curse spoken over Adam, Eve and the serpent.
     And I will put enmity
         between you and the woman,
         and between your offspring and hers;
     he will crush your head,
         and you will strike his heel” (Genesis 3:15).

Through his death and resurrection our Savior has crushed the serpent’s head, as pictured in the artwork above. The One born of a woman—the Christ of Christmas—has brought us deliverance from sin and death.

Response: LORD God, I am thankful for Jesus. I am thankful that in the dark long ago, you devised a plan to send a Savior to this world. Thank you, Jesus, Prince of Peace, for coming to this strife-torn world and saving all who call on your name. Amen.

Your Turn: Can you imagine what Mary might say to Eve if they were to meet? Take time to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas.

* New International Version, Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica

The first volume of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer by award-winning author David Kitz is now available. For a closer look at this 265-page daily devotional book visit Amazon and enter David Kitz into the search bar.