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When will I see your face?
Petrie Island at sunset — photo by David Kitz
He spoke and it came to be
18 Sunday Sep 2016
Posted in Psalms, Sunday's Psalm
Tag Archives: Creator
Strongholds in Ruins
08 Thursday Sep 2016
This is a repeat of a post that was inadvertently published on Sunday, September 5th.
Reading: Psalm 89
Verses 38-45
But you have rejected, you have spurned,
you have been very angry with your anointed one.
You have renounced the covenant with your servant
and have defiled his crown in the dust.
You have broken through all his walls
and reduced his strongholds to ruins.
All who pass by have plundered him;
he has become the scorn of his neighbors.
You have exalted the right hand of his foes;
you have made all his enemies rejoice.
Indeed, you have turned back the edge of his sword
and have not supported him in battle.
You have put an end to his splendor
and cast his throne to the ground.
You have cut short the days of his youth;
you have covered him with a mantle of shame (NIV).
Reflection
Though we cannot be absolutely certain, it seems likely that Psalm 89 was written during the time of the Babylonian invasion of Judea. These were days of disaster brought on by idolatry as the people turned away from God. The rebellious King of Judah suffered a catastrophic defeat as the words of this psalm state: You have put an end to his splendor and cast his throne to the ground. You have cut short the days of his youth; you have covered him with a mantle of shame.
Via-Dolorosa in Jerusalem — photo courtesy of Lois Morrow
In the last few decades the church in North America has also experienced a number of defeats or setbacks. Enemies of the Christian faith have risen up and become bold in their attacks. Just as ancient Jerusalem was attacked and laid low, so too Christian belief systems have been under constant assault. The walls and strongholds of our faith have been undermined.
Two unshakeable biblical truths have come under relentless attack. The first is the truth of creation. Our God is the Creator of the universe—the source point of all matter and life. Since the days of Darwin, who incidentally believed in God, atheists have mounted a ferocious attack on this foundational truth. The Christian response has often been jingoistic or at best disjointed. A more coherent and scientifically sound defense is needed.
The second truth that has been under continual attack is the veracity of the Bible. God’s holy word is mocked and routinely discredited especially at our universities. The word of God is our stronghold. Over and over again it has been proven to be accurate, reliable and true. Archeologists and scholars have marvelled at the veracity and authenticity of God’s word. But the real proof of the inerrancy of God’s word does not come from scholarly research. It comes from the transformed lives of believers.
Response: LORD God, my trust is in you and your word. Creator God, I want my faith to be as secure for me as the earth beneath my feet and the air in my lungs. You are all around me. Thank you, Lord. Amen.
Your Turn: Have attacks on your faith caused doubt? How did you overcome?
Strongholds in Ruins
02 Friday Sep 2016
Reading: Psalm 89
Verses 38-45
But you have rejected, you have spurned,
you have been very angry with your anointed one.
You have renounced the covenant with your servant
and have defiled his crown in the dust.
You have broken through all his walls
and reduced his strongholds to ruins.
All who pass by have plundered him;
he has become the scorn of his neighbors.
You have exalted the right hand of his foes;
you have made all his enemies rejoice.
Indeed, you have turned back the edge of his sword
and have not supported him in battle.
You have put an end to his splendor
and cast his throne to the ground.
You have cut short the days of his youth;
you have covered him with a mantle of shame (NIV).
Reflection
Though we cannot be absolutely certain, it seems likely that Psalm 89 was written during the time of the Babylonian invasion of Judea. These were days of disaster brought on by idolatry as the people turned away from God. The rebellious King of Judah suffered a catastrophic defeat as the words of this psalm state: You have put an end to his splendor and cast his throne to the ground. You have cut short the days of his youth; you have covered him with a mantle of shame.
Gatineau Park picnic area — photo by David Kitz
In the last few decades the church in North America has also experienced a number of defeats or setbacks. Enemies of the Christian faith have risen up and become bold in their attacks. Just as ancient Jerusalem was attacked and laid low, so too Christian belief systems have been under constant assault. The walls and strongholds of our faith have been undermined.
Two unshakable biblical truths have come under relentless attack. The first is the truth of creation. Our God is the Creator of the universe—the source point of all matter and life. Since the days of Darwin, who incidentally believed in God, atheists have mounted a ferocious attack on this foundational truth. The Christian response has often been jingoistic or at best disjointed. A more coherent and scientifically sound defense is needed.
The second truth that has been under continual attack is the veracity of the Bible. God’s holy word is mocked and routinely discredited especially at our universities. The word of God is our stronghold. Over and over again it has been proven to be accurate, reliable and true. Archaeologists and scholars have marveled at the veracity and authenticity of God’s word. But the real proof of the inerrancy of God’s word does not come from scholarly research. It comes from the transformed lives of believers.
Response: LORD God, my trust is in you and your word. Creator God, I want my faith to be as secure for me as the earth beneath my feet and the air in my lungs. You are all around me. Thank you, Lord. Amen.
Your Turn: Have attacks on your faith caused doubt? How did you overcome?
Ownership
22 Wednesday Jun 2016
Posted in Mid-Week Medtiation, Psalms
Tags
belonging, created, Creator, Gatineau Park, gender, God, Ottawa River, sexuality, the LORD
You know the LORD is God! He created us, and we belong to him; we are his people, the sheep in his pasture (Psalm 100:3, CEV).
The Ottawa River Valley as seen from the Gatineau Park Escarpment — photo by David Kitz
Reflection
This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is creation.
So many of the divisive issues that convulse our society have a deeper root. Whether it is issues around gender and sexuality, or race and ethnicity, scratch below the surface and you soon discover the foundational issue. The foundational issue is do you believe in God. More specifically, do you believe God created you? Do you believe He has an ownership claim on your life?
The psalmist states this root issue quite succinctly:
You know the LORD is God! He created us, and we belong to him; we are his people, the sheep in his pasture (Psalm 100:3, CEV).
If you accept the premise that God created humanity and therefore has ownership of our lives and “Creator’s rights,” then we know our bodies belong to Him. We are ultimately accountable to Him for how we use the gift of our sexuality. We are his people, the sheep in his pasture.
Furthermore, there are no racially superior people. The LORD God made them all and offered up His Son to redeem them all.
The root issue is ownership. Do you belong to God or are you god?
Response: LORD God, I acknowledge that you created me. I belong to you. I was bought by the precious blood of Jesus. Help me to daily reflect the great love you have for me. Amen.
Your Turn: Whom do you belong to? Do you believe in Creator’s rights?
Creator of Nations
21 Tuesday Jun 2016
Posted in Psalms, Tuesday's Truth
You created each nation, and they will all bow down to worship and honor you (Psalm 86:9, CEV).
Shinkansen (Bullet Train), Nagoya, Japan — photo by David Kitz
Reflection
This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is creation.
There’s an old saying that I heard as a child. It goes like this, “God created the world, but the Dutch created Holland.”
There is an element of human pride in that statement, but there’s also a measure of truth in those words. A good deal of the Netherlands is below sea level, but by building huge dikes and drainage systems the Dutch have been able to claim the land they live on from the sea.
Today’s reading from the Psalms states that God is the creator of every nation. Nations are God’s idea. He establishes them.
You created each nation, and they will all bow down to worship and honor you (Psalm 86:9, CEV).
Every nation takes pride in its accomplishments—the Dutch in their land reclamation, the Japanese in their ultra fast rail system, America in its military prowess. But there is a time coming when they will all bow down to worship and honor the LORD. That is a day we should all be looking forward to with expectant joy. What a privilege we have to worship Him now in advance of that great day!
Response: LORD God, my first allegiance is not to my country. My first allegiance is to you, my Creator—the Creator of nations. I want to worship and honor you today. Amen.
Your Turn: Are you proud of your country? Does that pride come ahead of your allegiance to the Lord?
Creative Words
20 Monday Jun 2016
Posted in Monday Meditation, Psalms
As soon as he spoke the world was created; at his command, the earth was formed (Psalm 33:9, CEV).
Early Morning Sunrise, Grey Nuns Park, Orleans, ON — photo by David Kitz
Reflection
This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is creation.
The beauty of the natural world is astounding. The morning sunrise is an example of that beauty. Even more astonishing is the thought that the world—this grand creation—came into existence through the power of spoken words.
Today’s verse from the Psalms reminds us of that truth.
As soon as he spoke the world was created; at his command, the earth was formed (Psalm 33:9, CEV).
If God’s words have such incredible power, what about our words? Do they have power too? Absolutely. We are created in the image of God and the words we speak can create a world of good or stir up the dark forces of hell. The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit (Proverbs 18:21).
Consider this. Today you have an opportunity to create a better world by the amazing power of your words.
Response: LORD God, today I want to use my tongue for good rather than lashing out in angry hurtful ways. Help me bring encouragement and positive change where needed. Amen.
Your Turn: Have your words hurt or helped someone lately?
Your Wisdom Made So Many Things
13 Monday Jun 2016
Posted in Monday Meditation, Psalms
Our LORD, by your wisdom you made so many things; the whole earth is covered with your living creatures (Psalm 104:24, CEV).
Monarch Butterfly — photo by David Kitz
Reflection
This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is wisdom.
At 4:20 this morning I heard a robin sing his brilliant song to welcome the new day. Before I wrote this post, I saw a squirrel scamper across the walkway to hide a peanut in the soil beneath our lilies. The monarch butterfly in the photo above closed and then opened its wings, so I could capture its beauty in glory spread wide. As we behold all this and so much more, is it any wonder that the psalmist makes this statement:
Our LORD, by your wisdom you made so many things; the whole earth is covered with your living creatures (Psalm 104:24, CEV).
The infinite variety and diversity of God’s creatures is astounding. The word infinite is appropriate. Every year biologists add newly discovered species to the catalog of God’s creation. We are nowhere near discovering them all. Yet somehow we have the audacity to consider ourselves the superior ones—the ones who know how it all was formed.
Real wisdom knows its limitations. Real wisdom knows when to bow its head in praise.
Response: LORD God, in humility I bow before you. You are the awesome Creator whose wisdom I cannot begin to fathom. All praise belongs to you. Amen.
Your Turn: Are you amazed at God’s creation? Have we forgotten the One who set it all in motion?
I love the Psalms 