Tag Archives: Christian faith

Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand

04 Friday Sep 2026

Posted by in Psalm 98, Psalms

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Today’s quote and prayer from
“Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer”


Today’s Reading: Psalm 98:7-9 (NIV)*

Listen to today’s reading by Jonathan Dent:

LORD God,
in the past I have dreaded your judgment,
but now I recognize your goodness.
Come quickly, Lord Jesus.
I want to see this world
set right through your power and grace.
Amen.

   — — — —

Gospel Reading:
Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand

The apostles gathered around Jesus
and reported to him all they had done and taught. 
Then, because so many people were coming and going
that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, 
“Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”

So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. 
But many who saw them leaving recognized them
and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. 
When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd,
he had compassion on them,
because they were like sheep without a shepherd. 
So he began teaching them many things.


By this time it was late in the day,
so his disciples came to him.
“This is a remote place,” they said, “and it’s already very late.
 Send the people away so that they can go to the surrounding countryside
and villages and buy themselves something to eat.”

 But he answered, “You give them something to eat.”

They said to him, “That would take more than half a year’s wages!
Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?”

“How many loaves do you have?” he asked. “Go and see.”

When they found out, they said, “Five—and two fish.”

Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. 
So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. 
Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven,
he gave thanks and broke the loaves. 
Then he gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people.
He also divided the two fish among them all. 
They all ate and were satisfied,
 and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish. 
The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand.
(Mark 6:30-44).

* * *

God sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.
We saw his son and are now telling others about him.
(1 John 4:14 NIV)

Para la publicación de Salmos 365 de hoy en español haga clic aquí.

bgbg_v4.3_1501818
* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

Pray for peace in Israel, Iran and the Middle East
and continue to pray for peace to return
to Ukraine and Russia!

Volume I of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer won the Best Book of the Year Award from The Word Guild and Volume II has won the Best Devotional of the Year Award. For those who love God’s word, this three-book series is an ideal way to daily meet with the Lord. To purchase or for a closer look click here.

New from David Kitz.

To view further details or purchase click here.

Jesus Sends Out the Twelve

03 Thursday Sep 2026

Posted by in Psalm 98, Psalms

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Today’s quote and prayer from
“Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer”


Today’s Reading: Psalm 98:1-6 (NIV)*

Listen to today’s reading by Jonathan Dent:

LORD God,
 am so grateful
for the salvation you purchased for me
through the blood of Jesus.
I want all the ends of the earth
to know about that great salvation.
Thank you, Jesus.
Amen.

   — — — —

Gospel Reading:
Jesus Sends Out the Twelve

Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village. 
Calling the Twelve to him,
 he began to send them out two by two 
and gave them authority over impure spirits.

These were his instructions: 
“Take nothing for the journey except a staff—
no bread, no bag, no money in your belts.
 Wear sandals but not an extra shirt.
 Whenever you enter a house,
stay there until you leave that town.
 And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you,
leave that place
and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.”

They went out and preached that people should repent.
 They drove out many demons
and anointed many sick people
with oil and healed them.
(Mark 6:7-13).

* * *

God sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.
We saw his son and are now telling others about him.
(1 John 4:14 NIV)

Para la publicación de Salmos 365 de hoy en español haga clic aquí.

bgbg_v4.3_1501818
* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

Pray for peace in Israel, Iran and the Middle East
and continue to pray for peace to return
to Ukraine and Russia!

Volume I of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer won the Best Book of the Year Award from The Word Guild and Volume II has won the Best Devotional of the Year Award. For those who love God’s word, this three-book series is an ideal way to daily meet with the Lord. To purchase or for a closer look click here.

New from David Kitz.

To view further details or purchase click here.

A Prophet Without Honor

02 Wednesday Sep 2026

Posted by in Psalm 97, Psalms

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Today’s quote and prayer from
“Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer”


Today’s Reading: Psalm 97:8-12 (NIV)*

Listen to today’s reading by Jonathan Dent:

 

LORD God,
it is my prayer
that all people will see your glory
and bow before you,
the magnificent King of Righteousness.
Extend your reign I pray.
Let the distant shores rejoice because you reign.
Amen.

   — — — —

Gospel Reading:
A Prophet Without Honor

Jesus left there and went to his hometown,
accompanied by his disciples. 
When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue,
 and many who heard him were amazed.

“Where did this man get these things?” they asked.
“What’s this wisdom that has been given him?
What are these remarkable miracles he is performing?
 Isn’t this the carpenter?
Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon?
Aren’t his sisters here with us?”
And they took offense at him.

 Jesus said to them, 
“A prophet is not without honor except in his own town,
among his relatives and in his own home.” 
He could not do any miracles there,
except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. 
He was amazed at their lack of faith.
(Mark 6:1-6).

* * *

God sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.
We saw his son and are now telling others about him.
(1 John 4:14 NIV)

Para la publicación de Salmos 365 de hoy en español haga clic aquí.

bgbg_v4.3_1501818
* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

Pray for peace in Israel, Iran and the Middle East
and continue to pray for peace to return
to Ukraine and Russia!

Volume I of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer won the Best Book of the Year Award from The Word Guild and Volume II has won the Best Devotional of the Year Award. For those who love God’s word, this three-book series is an ideal way to daily meet with the Lord. To purchase or for a closer look click here.

New from David Kitz.

To view further details or purchase click here.

Jesus Calms the Storm

01 Tuesday Sep 2026

Posted by in Psalm 97, Psalms

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Today’s quote and prayer from
“Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer”


Today’s Reading: Psalm 97: 1-7(NIV)*

Listen to today’s reading by Jonathan Dent:

LORD God,
it is my prayer
that all people will see your glory
and bow before you,
the magnificent King of Righteousness.
Extend your reign I pray.
Let the distant shores rejoice because you reign.
Amen.

   — — — —

 

Gospel Reading:
Jesus Calms the Storm

That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, 
“Let us go over to the other side.”
 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along,
just as he was, in the boat. 
There were also other boats with him.
 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.

 He said to his disciples,
 “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

They were terrified and asked each other,
“Who is this?
Even the wind and the waves obey him!”
(Mark 4:35-41).

* * *

God sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.
We saw his son and are now telling others about him.
(1 John 4:14 NIV)

Para la publicación de Salmos 365 de hoy en español haga clic aquí.

bgbg_v4.3_1501818
* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

Pray for peace in Israel, Iran and the Middle East
and continue to pray for peace to return
to Ukraine and Russia!

Volume I of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer won the Best Book of the Year Award from The Word Guild and Volume II has won the Best Devotional of the Year Award. For those who love God’s word, this three-book series is an ideal way to daily meet with the Lord. To purchase or for a closer look click here.

New from David Kitz.

To view further details or purchase click here.

The Parable of the Mustard Seed

31 Monday Aug 2026

Posted by in Psalm 96, Psalms

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Today’s quote and prayer from
“Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer”


Today’s Reading: Psalm 96: 7-13(NIV)*

Listen to today’s reading by Jonathan Dent:

LORD,
I want to see your glory and strength.
I acknowledge your attributes.
You are holy, merciful, and just.
Thank you for your righteous judgments.
Help me see the good in others.
Amen.

   — — — —

Gospel Reading:
The Parable of the Mustard Seed

Again he said,
“What shall we say the kingdom of God is like,
or what parable shall we use to describe it?
It is like a mustard seed,
which is the smallest of all seeds on earth.
 Yet when planted,
it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants,
with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.”

With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them,
as much as they could understand.
He did not say anything to them without using a parable.
But when he was alone with his own disciples,
he explained everything.
(Mark 4:30-34).

* * *

This is how we know that we live in him and he in us:
He has given us of his Spirit.
(1 John 4:13 NIV)

Para la publicación de Salmos 365 de hoy en español haga clic aquí.

bgbg_v4.3_1501818
* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

Pray for peace in Israel, Iran and the Middle East
and continue to pray for peace to return
to Ukraine and Russia!

Volume I of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer won the Best Book of the Year Award from The Word Guild and Volume II has won the Best Devotional of the Year Award. For those who love God’s word, this three-book series is an ideal way to daily meet with the Lord. To purchase or for a closer look click here.

New from David Kitz.

To view further details or purchase click here.

The Parable of the Growing Seed

28 Friday Aug 2026

Posted by in Psalm 96, Psalms

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Today’s quote and prayer from
“Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer”


Today’s Reading: Psalm 96: 1-6(NIV)*

Listen to today’s reading by Jonathan Dent:

LORD God,
I want to praise you.
Give me news songs and new melodies to sing your praise.
Your goodness and love abound.
Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise.
Amen.

   — — — —

Gospel Reading:
The Parable of the Growing Seed

He also said,
“This is what the kingdom of God is like. 
A man scatters seed on the ground.
Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up,
the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how.
All by itself the soil produces grain—
first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head.
As soon as the grain is ripe,
he puts the sickle to it,
because the harvest has come.”
(Mark 4:26-29).

* * *

This is how we know that we live in him and he in us:
He has given us of his Spirit.
(1 John 4:13 NIV)

Para la publicación de Salmos 365 de hoy en español haga clic aquí.

bgbg_v4.3_1501818
* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

Pray for peace in Israel, Iran and the Middle East
and continue to pray for peace to return
to Ukraine and Russia!

Volume I of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer won the Best Book of the Year Award from The Word Guild and Volume II has won the Best Devotional of the Year Award. For those who love God’s word, this three-book series is an ideal way to daily meet with the Lord. To purchase or for a closer look click here.

New from David Kitz.

To view further details or purchase click here.

A Lamp on a Stand

27 Thursday Aug 2026

Posted by in Psalm 95, Psalms

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Today’s quote and prayer from
“Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer”


Today’s Reading: Psalm 95: 7-11(NIV)*

Listen to today’s reading by Jonathan Dent:

LORD, give me ears that hear your voice
gently speaking to me.
Give me a heart that is quick to obey.
I want a tender heart
that reflects your love for me and for others.
I pray in Jesus’ name.
Amen.

   — — — —

Gospel Reading:
A Lamp on a Stand

He said to them,
 “Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed?
Instead, don’t you put it on its stand?
 For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed,
and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open.
 If anyone has ears to hear, let them hear.”

 “Consider carefully what you hear,” he continued. 
“With the measure you use,
it will be measured to you—and even more.
 Whoever has will be given more;
whoever does not have,
even what they have will be taken from them.”
(Mark 4:21-25).

* * *

This is how we know that we live in him and he in us:
He has given us of his Spirit.
(1 John 4:13 NIV)

Para la publicación de Salmos 365 de hoy en español haga clic aquí.

bgbg_v4.3_1501818
* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

Pray for peace in Israel, Iran and the Middle East
and continue to pray for peace to return
to Ukraine and Russia!

Volume I of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer won the Best Book of the Year Award from The Word Guild and Volume II has won the Best Devotional of the Year Award. For those who love God’s word, this three-book series is an ideal way to daily meet with the Lord. To purchase or for a closer look click here.

New from David Kitz.

To view further details or purchase click here.

Silence

21 Saturday Feb 2026

Posted by in book review

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

A Review of Silence by Shusaku Endo

For me Shusaku Endo’s book Silence was a difficult read. It was difficult because I knew the outcome of the story. I had watched the Scorsese movie shortly after it was released in 2016. Furthermore, in the mid 1980ies I served as a Christian missionary in Japan. So, I am familiar with Japanese landscapes, beliefs, and culture. For reasons of faith and culture this is a heartbreaking story.

What Endo does very well is slowly build tension as the story advances. For most of the book we are living a hidden and confined life—confined and hidden in the mind of the Catholic priest Rodrigues. The constant fear of discovery and torture by the Buddhist Japanese authorities is palpable.

When Rodrigues is finally captured the fear of inevitable torture continually builds as he witnesses other believers and priests succumb to torture, apostasy, and death. The anticipation of torture in many respects is worse than the torture itself. This acute psychological torment builds till it reaches a dramatic climax.

Throughout this novel silence is the underlying theme. After initially enjoying great success the original Portuguese missionaries to Japan hit a vicious wall of state led persecution, violence, and death. The once vibrant Japanese church is destroyed. What follows is silence. Two young Portuguese missionaries are sent to investigate and see if any believers remain. This book is a fictionalized account of the experience of these two early seventeenth century priests whose names are recorded in the annals of Japanese and Portuguese history.

For the priest, Rodrigues, the most troubling silence is the silence of God amid carnage and suffering. But this is where the book departs from the movie script. In the novel, God breaks the silence. Rodrigues finally hears God’s voice.

In this respect I found the novel more gratifying than the movie. Nevertheless, the end of the book is grim and disturbing. If there is hope in this book it can be found in this implicit truth:

Despite the pervasive evil and cruelty of man, the God of mercy still speaks.

I come from a protestant/Pentecostal tradition, consequently I find aspects of the Catholic version of the Christian faith disturbing, or unbiblical. Nevertheless, the courage and zeal of the believers in Christ as portrayed in this book is astonishing. For this reason, I recommend it. But be warned. This is not a lighthearted read. It’s a brutal and historically accurate portrayal of systematic state-led religious repression.

Rediscovering Jesus’ Blueprint for Renewal

22 Sunday Sep 2024

Posted by in The Elisha Code

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Is positive change, revival, and renewal possible today in the church, and more broadly in society and the world? This is a valid question in our culture where many are in despair and have lost hope. Many churches are in decline, public morality is in decline, and many have abandoned the Christian faith. Can this trendline be reversed?

In their book The Elisha Code & the Coming Revival David Kitz and Dr. Ed Hird tackle these issues head-on, and they do so, from a thoroughly biblical perspective.

In this interview with Logan Crawford, David Kitz sketches out some key truths about revival that have been lost and now uncovered through an examination of two prophetic dynamic duos, Elijah and Elisha from the Old Testament, and John the Baptist and Jesus from the New Testament.

Are you ready for renewal and a new perspective?

Placed in a Spacious Place by God’s Love

16 Friday Aug 2024

Posted by in Psalms

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , ,

Reading: Psalm 31:6-8
I hate those who cling to worthless idols;
as for me, I trust in the LORD.
I will be glad and rejoice in your love,
for you saw my affliction
and knew the anguish of my soul.
You have not given me into the hands of the enemy
but have set my feet in a spacious place (NIV).

photo of man sitting on a cave

Photo by M Venter on Pexels.com

Reflection
David clearly lacked a sense of political correctness. The opening line of this psalm portion makes me want to cringe. “I hate those who cling to worthless idols” (v. 6). What an inflammatory remark! Hate has no place in our expression of Christian faith. Didn’t David know we are to hate the sin, but love the sinner? Perhaps we should send David off to a course in sensitivity training.

Somehow biblical David got away with making such a statement, and here we have it recorded in the pages of Holy Scripture for all to read. Hate is a less than desirable emotion. But is it warranted in certain instances? My Christian love for murdering rapists grows mighty thin at times, and I speak from a distance. If my life was directly impacted by an idolatrous, murdering rapist, I am not sure how I would respond. Christ-centred forgiveness is the right response, but gut-wrenching hate might well spring to life. My capacity for forgiveness in severe circumstances remains untested. I dare not boast in my theoretical ability to forgive.

The second part of David’s opening remark is of crucial importance. “I hate those who cling to worthless idols; as for me, I trust in the LORD” (v. 6).

Only trust in the LORD can break the crippling bondage of sin and hate. Vengeance belongs to the LORD, not to the seething heart tortured and taunted by anger. Secular author Malcolm Gladwell explores the extraordinary power of forgiveness in his book, David and Goliath. Gladwell’s thoughts and research on the topic make for an insightful read. He concludes forgiveness has the power to turn the world upside down. That’s the power we find in the gospel. Rather than be caught in the trap of ruinous hate, through the power of Christ we have the ability to step into the liberty of forgiveness.

By the gracious Holy Spirit, we have the ability to choose love over hate. David’s confession can then become our own, “I will be glad and rejoice in your love, for you saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul.”

When we choose love over hate, forgiveness over vengeance, trust in God over reliance on our own ability, we defeat Satan, the true enemy of our soul. Then the LORD sets us at liberty in a spacious place. With David we can declare, “You have not given me into the hands of the enemy but have set my feet in a spacious place” (v. 8).

Response: LORD God, thank you for your forgiveness. Help me to practice it daily. Give me a forgiving spirit like your Son, Jesus, who forgave those who crucified him (Luke 23:34). Amen.

Your Turn: Is there someone you need to forgive? Do it today.

Para la publicación de Salmos 365 de hoy en español haga clic aquí.

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

BGBG_v4.3_150[1818]

Please pray for peace to return to Israel, Gaza, and Ukraine!

Volume I of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer won the Best Book of the Year Award from The Word Guild and Volume II has won the Best Devotional of the Year Award. For those who love God’s word, this three-book series is an ideal way to daily meet with the Lord. To purchase or for a closer look click here.

New from David Kitz
TheElishaCodeCVR5

To purchase or for a closer look click here.