Tag Archives: Christ’s birth

Christmas Eve Quote and Prayer

24 Tuesday Dec 2024

Posted by in Psalm 69, Psalms

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Today’s quote and prayer from
“Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer”
by David Kitz.Psalm 69_2-5 - 365 winter

Reading: Psalm 69:1-5

LORD God,
thank you for showing us mercy
when we don’t deserve it.
Thank you on this Christmas Eve
for coming to rescue the likes of me.
For this mercy and a thousand more,
I give you thanks.
Amen.

— — —

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree
that a census should be taken
of the entire Roman world.
(This was the first census that took place
while Quirinius was governor of Syria.)
And everyone went to their own town to register.

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.
(Luke 2:1-7)*

On the eve of our Savior’s birth
let the peace of Christ flood your heart.

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

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

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

New from David Kitz
Winner of the 2024 Word Award of Merit in Biblical Studies
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To purchase or for a closer look click here.

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

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Christmas in June?

06 Tuesday Jun 2017

Posted by in Psalm 10, Psalms

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Reading:                                          Psalm 10

Verses 1-4
Why, LORD, do you stand far off?
Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?
In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak,
who are caught in the schemes he devises.
He boasts about the cravings of his heart;
he blesses the greedy and reviles the LORD.
In his pride the wicked man does not seek him;
in all his thoughts there is no room for God (NIV).

Reflection

As I write these thoughts on Psalm 10, we are a long way from Christmas. But there is a line in today’s reading that has me thinking about the Christmas season.

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Take time to seek God — photo by David Kitz

The author of this psalm is describing the heart of those who are far from God. “In his pride the wicked man does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God.”

For many the celebration of Christ’s birth has become nothing more than a commercial bonanza completely devoid of any spiritual meaning. For them it is nothing more than a buying and selling frenzy—a pursuit of trinkets signifying nothing—nothing of eternal value.

No matter the season, we too can fall into a trap. Rather than seeking the LORD, we can find ourselves boasting about the cravings of our heart. As the psalmist says, we bless the greedy and in so doing, we revile the LORD.

No room for God… in today’s world? In a perverse way it seems rather appropriate. There was no room for God in Bethlehem on the night Jesus was born. No room for God… no room for the Maker and Savior of the universe! That sounds insane, but then it seems we live in a world gone mad.

For you and me, it doesn’t have to be that way. While there was no room for God incarnate in Bethlehem, the magi were busy seeking Him. Regardless of the season, you and I can set our hearts to be God seekers.

Response: Jesus, I seek after you. Open my eyes to see you at work today. Show up in my world today. I wait expectantly for you. Amen.

Your Turn: Have you seen Jesus in others? How can you seek God this week?