Category Archives: Monday Meditation

Justice and Mercy

25 Monday Jan 2016

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The LORD will bring justice and show mercy to all who serve him (Psalm 135:14, CEV).

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October glory – photo by Karen Kitz

Reflection

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

Can there be justice without mercy? The opposite question is also valid. Can there be mercy without justice?

When I have been wronged, I call out for justice. When I am the one who has committed the wrong I call out for mercy.

It takes a wise judge to bring both justice and mercy together in the decisions he or she renders. Fortunately for us, the LORD is a wise judge. The LORD will bring justice and show mercy to all who serve him (Psalm 135:14, CEV).

The question we need to ask ourselves is, “Am I serving Him or am I serving myself?”

Response: LORD God, give me eyes to see your mercy and justice at work in my life and the lives of others around me. Give me a willing heart to serve you. Amen.

Your Turn: Is there a time you remember calling out for justice? Do you remember asking for mercy?

Turn and Come

18 Monday Jan 2016

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Turn and come to my rescue. Show your wonderful love and save me, LORD (Psalm 6:4, CEV).

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Lake Ontario surf – photo by Eric E. Wright

Reflection

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

In today’s verse from the Psalms, the psalmist pleads with God to, “Turn and come to my rescue.”

Though I don’t doubt the psalmist’s sincerity, I wonder who really needs to do the turning. Does God turn His back on us, or is it we who turn our back on God?

From personal experience I can say I am prone to walk away from God until…

Until I get in trouble, and then I come running back to Him pleading to be rescued.

Fortunately, God continues to show us His wonderful love despite our blunders. He is the LORD, who saves us from ourselves.

Response: LORD God, thank you for being the God of my salvation. You have rescued me over and over again. You are a kind and loving Savior. Amen.

Your Turn: Is your heart turned to God or are you prone to wander?

 

Mercy and Holiness

11 Monday Jan 2016

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Because of your great mercy, I come to your house, LORD, and I am filled with wonder as I bow down to worship at your holy temple (Psalm 5:7, CEV).

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Landestreu Church, near MacNutt, SK — photo by Donald Adam

Reflection

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

Mercy and holiness belong together. When I think about my personal holiness, or rather the lack of it, I am reminded that I need God’s mercy. Without His mercy there is no forgiveness and no peace.

Rather than frighten us away, God’s holiness should draw us to worship Him. In His holy temple we bow down. This is where we find mercy and the strength we need day by day.

Take some time to bow before God today. Swallow your pride and open your heart to the mercy of God. Even as I write this, I know it’s what I need to do.

Response: LORD God, you are perfectly holy. I am not. I need your mercy, your love and forgiveness. Wash me clean by the blood of your son, Jesus. Amen.

Your Turn: How do mercy and holiness come together for you?

The Song in Your Heart

04 Monday Jan 2016

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I will praise you, LORD! You always do right. I will sing about you, the LORD Most High (Psalm 7:17, CEV).

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Rideau Canal Skateway, Ottawa, ON -photo by Karen Kitz

Reflection

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

Singing and praise fit together like a hand in a glove. They are made for each other. David, the psalmist praised the LORD with music and song.

Paul, the apostle, urged first century Christians to lift their voices in songs of praise. 

Let the message about Christ completely fill your lives, while you use all your wisdom to teach and instruct each other. With thankful hearts, sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God (Colossians 3:16).

Let a song of praise spring up in your heart today.

Response: LORD God, as I begin this year and this work week I want to sing my praise to you. You are a good and loving God. Amen.

Your Turn: Do you have a favorite praise hymn or chorus?

Filled with Wonder

28 Monday Dec 2015

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Because of your great mercy, I come to your house, LORD, and I am filled with wonder as I bow down to worship at your holy temple (Psalm 5:7, CEV)

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Von Trapp Estate Northern Vermont —Photo by David Kitz

Reflection

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

God’s mercy is a magnate. It draws us to worship Him. It drew the wise men from afar to the little town of Bethlehem where they worshiped a baby born in a stable. They too were filled with wonder as they bowed to worship before God—God templed in the flesh of an infant.

Take some time to bow down and worship before Him today.

Response: LORD God, thank you for showing me great mercy in the face of Jesus Christ. I am filled with wonder. I worship you.

Your Turn: What draws you to worship?

As Sure as the Sunrise

21 Monday Dec 2015

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I trust your love, and I feel like celebrating because you rescued me (Psalm 13:5, CEV).

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Photo by Donald Adam

Reflection

As we count down to Christmas the I Love the Psalms theme is love.

I went to bed last night fully expecting the sun to rise in the morning. The sun always rises in the morning—always has always will. We can trust the sun to rise due to a flawless record of performance.

In the same way we can trust in God’s love for us. The LORD’s kindness never fails! If he had not been merciful, we would have been destroyed. The LORD can always be trusted to show mercy each morning (Lamentations 3:22-23 CEV).

Watch for God’s love and mercy today. He has a flawless performance record.

Response: LORD God, thank you for loving me even when I don’t deserve love. Your love is as sure as the sunrise, as sure as a babe in a manger, as sure as Jesus’ death on the cross and as sure as his resurrection on Easter morning. I celebrate your love. Amen.

Your Turn: Have you come to trust in God’s love even in hard times?

The Joy of Forgiveness

14 Monday Dec 2015

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Our God, you bless everyone whose sins you forgive and wipe away (Psalm 32:1 CEV).

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One falling leaf, Gatineau Park, QC — photo by David Kitz

Reflection

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

What is your greatest joy? For me many things spring to mind. But the more I think about joy, the more the thought of forgiveness presses to the forefront. God through the grace of a babe laid in a manger has forgiven me.

I am accepted. I am redeemed. I am forgiven. Those thoughts bring joy.

Response: LORD God, thank you for the forgiveness you extend to all through Jesus suffering, death and resurrection. Lord Jesus, I find my joy in you. Amen.

Your Turn: Does forgiveness bring you joy?

You Give Hope to People Everywhere

07 Monday Dec 2015

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Our God, you save us, and your fearsome deeds answer our prayers for justice! You give hope to people everywhere on earth, even those across the sea (Psalm 65:5 CEV).

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Syrian Refugees – Alan Parker blogs.canoe.com

Our theme for this week is hope.

Does God give hope only to our kind of people, or is God more generous than that? Today’s psalms meditation makes it clear that God has a bigger view of humanity. He is the giver of hope to people everywhere.

Response: LORD God, we look to you for hope. Help us to be like you, heavenly Father,  giving hope and help to those in need. Amen.

Your Turn: What can you do today to give hope to someone in need today?

 

Who Deserves Praise?

30 Monday Nov 2015

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We don’t deserve praise! The LORD alone deserves all of the praise, because of his love and faithfulness (Psalm 115:1 CEV).

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Central Park, New York, NY — Photo by David Kitz

Reflection

In keeping with the Advent season, this week’s I Love the Psalms theme is faithfulness.

I must admit I like to be praised. It stokes my ego. But do I deserve praise? That’s not always the case. But there is One who is always worthy of praise—the Creator of the universe and the Redeemer of my soul.

Response: LORD God, I thank and praise you for your love and faithfulness. You have been my help in times of need. Amen.

Your Turn: Has the Lord shown you His love and faithfulness in recent days?