Category Archives: Friday’s Focus

When I Groan

25 Friday Mar 2016

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Listen, LORD, as I pray! Pay attention when I groan (Psalm 5:1, CEV).

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Glory Behind the Cross – photo courtesy of Donald Adam

Reflection

This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is prayer.

There is glory on the other side of the cross. Today’s photo illustrates that truth beautifully. The light of God shines beyond the pain and suffering of the cross.

Today is Good Friday, the day when Jesus hands and feet were pierced. Today through agony and blood, Jesus purchased my redemption. He groaned under the weight of the sins of the world. The psalmist expresses it this way:

Listen, LORD, as I pray! Pay attention when I groan (Psalm 5:1, CEV).

We should never gloss over or rush by the horror of the cross. The cross carries the cost of our sins. There we see a full accounting for the horror of our sins. We ought to consider well the price of our blood-spattered redemption.

But glory be to God! Beyond the cross—on the other side—shines Jesus’ resurrection.

Response: LORD God, help me see your love for me through the suffering of Jesus. You suffered to bring me eternal joy. I bow my head in thanks. Amen.

Your Turn: How can there be glory in the cross—an instrument of death?

The Fruit of Forgiveness

18 Friday Mar 2016

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But you forgive us, and so we will worship you (Psalm 130:4, CEV).

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Plum Blossoms, Nagoya, Japan — photo courtesy of Matthew Taylor

Reflection

This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is forgiveness.

Worship is the fruit of forgiveness. Those who have been forgiven by God worship God. Jesus said this of a sinful woman,  “So I tell you that all her sins are forgiven, and that is why she has shown great love. But anyone who has been forgiven for only a little will show only a little love”  (Luke 7:47, CEV).

Jesus forgave this woman’s sins and so she poured out her love to him by kissing his feet and washing them with her tears.

Our heartfelt worship is our expression of love for God. Today’s verse from the Psalms captures this thought succinctly.

But you forgive us, and so we will worship you (Psalm 130:4, CEV).

Forgiveness is like a heaven-sent love potion. It restores our relationship with God and draws us into His arms of love.

Response: LORD God, a thousand words of thanks are not enough. Your forgiveness draws me to worship you with a grateful heart. I praise you, LORD of heaven and earth. Amen.

Your Turn: Does God’s forgiveness move you to worship?

New Life

11 Friday Mar 2016

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You made me suffer a lot, but you will bring me back from this deep pit and give me new life (Psalm 71:20, CEV).

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The Waters Edge — photo by David Kitz

Reflection

This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is suffering.

If you look closely at the photo above, you can see new leaves that have emerged on the shrubs. The long winter is over; new life is stirring. It will be another month before we see shrubs at this stage here in Ottawa, Canada, but the great snow melt has begun. The sap is beginning to flow.

We are witnessing a resurrection in nature. We see the same resurrection theme in today’s verse from the Psalms.

You made me suffer a lot, but you will bring me back from this deep pit and give me new life (Psalm 71:20, CEV).

Jesus, our Savior and Lord, suffered a lot. He suffered the penalty of sin that we deserved. But God the Father brought him back from the deep pit of death and gave him new life. Through faith in Jesus, the promise of this verse is ours as well. Whatever state you find yourself in—in suffering or rejoicing—make that promise your own today.

Response: LORD God, through the death and resurrection of Jesus, I receive new life now with the promise of eternal life. A thousand thanks are not enough. Amen.

Your Turn: Have you received new life through Christ?

Powerful Hands

04 Friday Mar 2016

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Rescue the weak and homeless from the powerful hands of heartless people (Psalm 82:4, CEV).

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Image courtesy of alex_ugalek at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Reflection

This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is power.

Today’s verse from the Psalms reminds us that some humans have powerful hands.

Rescue the weak and homeless from the powerful hands of heartless people (Psalm 82:4, CEV).

We are not powerless though the world and the devil would like us to believe that we can’t change anything. The truth is when we work with the Lord, we have tremendous power.

When more than 5,000 hungry people gathered to hear Jesus, he told his disciples, “You give them something to eat” (Matthew 14:16). And that’s exactly what they did. Jesus did the miracle, but their hands distributed the bread and fish.

God does not work alone. He chooses to work through people. Today you can be the hands of Jesus at work in the world.

Response: LORD God, thank you for the opportunity to work with you today. I want to use my hands to work powerfully for you. Amen.

Your Turn: Has God worked through your hands recently?

Greater Glory

26 Friday Feb 2016

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All creation, come praise the name of the LORD. Praise his name alone. The glory of God is greater than heaven and earth (Psalm 148:13, CEV).

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Autumn Splendor, Gatineau Park – photo by David Kitz

Reflection

This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is glory.

There’s a rather common saying: The sum is greater than its parts. While that may not be strictly correct in mathematics, it makes perfect sense in real life experience. The full picture is so much better than segments seen in sequence.

If I divided the autumn picture above into six equal portions, and showed you them sequentially, they would not have the same impact as the entire picture seen as a whole.

In the same way, our picture of the glory of God is like many small snapshots. I am not sure we could handle the full glory of God, if it was revealed to us. But today’s verse from the Psalms calls us to see that greater sum.

All creation, [me included] come praise the name of the LORD. Praise his name alone. The glory of God is greater than heaven and earth (Psalm 148:13, CEV).

Response: LORD God, let me catch glimpses of your glory today, but remind me too that you are so much bigger than I can think or even imagine. You are an awesome God! Amen.

Your Turn: Do you think your picture of God is too small?

Always, always, ALWAYS!

19 Friday Feb 2016

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You are merciful, LORD! You are kind and patient and always loving (Psalm 145:8, CEV).

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God’s Paintbrush – photo courtesy of Donald Adam

Reflection

This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is patience.

Sometimes I don’t see something because it’s too obvious. I stare into the fridge looking for that jar of fruit, but can I see it? Of course not! My wife has to come over and point it out.

I think the same is true when it comes to seeing God. He is always there – at work right in front of us, but like that jar of fruit, it seems we can’t see Him.

The sunset photo above is a beautiful example of God at work painting the sky. What a work of art! What an artist! God paints a gorgeous sky-scape twice a day, but do we even notice? Sometimes I need someone to point out to me that God is always loving, kind and patient.

Response: LORD God, open my eyes to your patience and love. I know it’s always there, but I want to see it daily with the eyes of my heart. Help me to see you today in the world around me. Amen.

Your Turn: Do you have trouble seeing God?

The Greatest Discovery

12 Friday Feb 2016

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Discover for yourself that the LORD is kind. Come to him for protection, and you will be glad (Psalm 34:8, CEV).

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Gatineau Park trail – photo by David Kitz

Reflection

This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is kindness.

I don’t know about you, but I love heading off the beaten path and doing some exploring. I like trying new foods, enjoy meeting new people, and seeing new sites. I suppose it’s because I’m incurably curious. There are things to discover.

Today’s verse from the Psalms invites us to do some exploring and make a discovery. Discover for yourself that the LORD is kind. Come to him for protection, and you will be  glad (Psalm 34:8, CEV). 

We can read about the kindness of God. We can hear about it from others, but there is nothing quite like experiencing God’s kindness firsthand.

Exploration and discovery always require a step of faith. God invites us to give Him a try—to take that step.

Response: LORD God, give me the courage to take steps of faith that bring me closer to you. I want to discover and experience your love and kindness for myself. Amen.

Your Turn: Have you discovered God’s kindness firsthand?

Speak for Justice

05 Friday Feb 2016

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Words of wisdom come when good people speak for justice (Psalm 37:30, CEV).

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Sunset photo courtesy of Eric E. Wright

Reflection

This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is goodness.

Bad things happen when good people remain silent. It’s always right and good to speak up for justice. Why then do we remain silent?

In many cases the answer is fear. We are afraid of being ridiculed or attacked. Criminals get away with murder because good people are afraid to speak out. But it’s not just criminals, who are allowed to strut their stuff. The devil gets his way whenever God’s people remain silent and don’t take a stand.

Today’s verse from the Psalms puts a more positive spin on this topic. Words of wisdom come when good people speak for justice (Psalm 37:30, CEV).

Wisdom is often in short supply. You can be absolutely right about a matter, but absolutely wrong about how you address it. Both wisdom and goodness need to come from our lips.

Response: LORD God, help me stand for what is fair and just. Give me wisdom to speak into the situations around me. Help me overcome the fear that allows evil to triumph. Amen.

Your Turn: Is there a situation that you need to speak into?

Always Loving

29 Friday Jan 2016

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You are merciful, LORD!
    You are kind and patient
    and always loving (Psalm 145:8, CEV).

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Sunset over Lake Ontario – photo by Eric E. Wright

Reflection

This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is mercy.

What is God like? Gaze into the sunset pictured above and you will get a very good idea of what God is like. He is splendid, glorious and creative–a God of diversity and variety. We can deduce this from observing nature.

God puts on a splendid show before our eyes every day. The heavens keep telling the wonders of God, and the skies declare what he has done (Psalm 19:1, CEV).

But today’s verse from the Psalms also tells us the LORD is merciful, kind, patient and always loving. The word of God reveals more fully to us the character of God. That’s why I read the Bible.

We see God in nature, we learn about Him through His book, the Bible, and we experience Him through the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

Response: LORD God, I want to know you better. I want to see more of you in my life. I want to experience your mercy, kindness and love. Open my eyes to see you all around me. Amen.

Your Turn: Where do you most often see God?

His Holy Name

15 Friday Jan 2016

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Celebrate and worship his holy name with all your heart (Psalm 105:3, CEV).

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Frosted beauty — photo by Donald Adam

Reflection

This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is holiness.

Here’s a quick question for you. Do you like celebrations?

If you answered, yes, then you should love being around God. He loves wholehearted celebrations. Today’s verse from the Psalms reminds us of this aspect of God’s character. Celebrate and worship his holy name with all your heart (Psalm 105:3, CEV).

After telling the parable about finding the lost coin, Jesus reminds us that heaven is a place of celebration.  Jesus said, “In the same way God’s angels are happy when even one person turns to him” (Luke 15:10, CEV).

If you have turned from a life of sin to worship your holy Creator, you have a heaven full of reasons to celebrate. Why not start today?

Response: LORD God, I praise you because you found me and took me into your family. I celebrate your goodness and undeserved kindness. Amen.

Your Turn: What do you do to celebrate God’s love?