Tag Archives: devotional

The End Is Here

12 Friday Oct 2018

Posted by in Bible, Devotionals, Psalms

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20181009 Round Lake L Kranz

Quiet beauty, Round Lake, Ontario — photo courtesy of Liz Kranz

Yesterday’s Psalm 150 post signals the end of the Book of Psalms. But is it really the end? Technically, Psalm 150 is the last of the biblical psalms, but God’s people have not stopped writing psalms. Down through the ages, God’s spirit has continued to move on people’s hearts, and in response they have written psalms and hymns and spiritual songs.

Paul, the apostle, gave this advice to the Ephesian church: Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 5:18-20).

Psalm writing and singing have never ended, just as worship has never ended. It will continue through all eternity.

Those who have faithfully followed this post have journeyed through the entire Book of Psalms—from Psalm 1 to Psalm 150. In total I have written 365 devotional posts on the Psalms; a devotional post for every day of the year. At some point I hope to have these posts published in book form. If you think this is a good idea, please let me know in a comment below.

Is this really the end of my daily posts? 
No. On Monday I will start the sequence once more beginning at Psalm 1. I hope you will continue the journey. Each time through we can gain new insights.

Response: LORD God, thank you for your holy word. Help me to read, study and apply it to my daily life. Amen.

Your Turn: Have you enjoyed this journey through the Psalms? Is there some aspect of these posts that you have particularly appreciated?

PSALMS ALIVE! CONNECTING HEAVEN AND EARTH

13 Thursday Sep 2018

Posted by in Books by David Kitz, Devotionals, Psalms

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How do you connect with God? For three thousand years, God has been connecting with humankind through the prophetic prayer, praise and poetry of the biblical Psalms.  Come follow David, the shepherd king, the man after God’s own heart, as we begin a journey to intimacy with God. Discover for yourself what a soul-bonding relations with God looks like.

As never before, let the psalms come alive for you!

In the art of effective communication, context is everything. David Kitz’s gift of communications is clearly demonstrated in Psalms Alive! as one is brought into the context in which the selected psalms were  written.

Ted Seres, NATIONAL DIRECTOR, Canadian Bible Society

Author Bio: David Kitz is an ordained minister, a teacher and an award-winning author. He is passionate about bringing the Bible to life through the medium of drama.

For more information on the PSALMS ALIVE! book visit: https://davidkitz.ca/psalms.phpJames Tht

For more information on purchasing the book  visit: https://www.davidkitz.ca/bookcart/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=62&search=psalms

 

For more information on a PSALMS ALIVE! dramatization visit: https://davidkitz.ca/psalms.php

Psalms Alive! Connecting Heaven and Earth by David Kitz

09 Wednesday May 2018

Posted by in book review, Books by David Kitz, Devotionals, Psalms

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How do you connect with God?

For three thousand years, God has been connecting with humankind through the prophetic prayer, praise and poetry of the biblical Psalms. Come follow David, the shepherd king, the man after God’s own heart, as we begin a journey to intimacy with God. Discover for yourself what a soul-bonding relationship with God looks like.

As never before, let the psalms come alive for you!

Psalms Alive! can be best described as a 237-page devotional study of thirteen selected psalms spanning a total of twenty-six chapters.


In typical devotional style each chapter begins with a psalm or psalm portion. Then for five or six pages the author discusses this portion by bringing other scripture to bear, drawing from his personal life experience or relating powerful stories that illustrate the key thoughts highlighted in this psalm. Each chapter then ends with a number of questions or action prompts that are aimed at bringing the psalm to life for the reader. By including these questions, the book lends itself easily to group study and discussion.

The twenty-six chapter format provides a half year of curriculum material for churches or study groups that wish to grow their love for God through engaging with the Psalms.  Of course Psalms Alive! works equally well as a personal study anchored in the unchanging truths of God’s word.

Endorsements for Psalms Alive!

“A timely call to stop our mad rush and encounter God in the stillness of prayer and Bible study. David Kitz paints pictures with words, taking lessons from Scripture and nature to offer us a three-dimensional, multi-sensory relationship with God.”

Robert L. Briggs, Executive Vice President, American Bible Society

David writes with a dramatic and compelling flair, enticing us to meet with God and therein find life. His intent to let God’s Word speak through the psalms is accomplished with theological sensitivity to the sitz im leben and creative application to the context of our lives today. Well done, David! Psalms Alive! helped me inhabit the Word and know Him more.

Rev. Dr. Lawson Murray, President – Scripture Union Canada

American readers can click on this link to purchase Psalms Alive! Connecting Heaven and Earth. 

This 237 page devotional study is also available directly from the author by clicking here.

A Recent Review of “psalms alive!”

27 Saturday Jan 2018

Posted by in book review, Books by David Kitz, Devotionals, Psalms

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This week I came upon this review of my devotional study “psalms alive!” I find it encouraging to know the word of God is coming alive for those who read and meditate on it. Thanks goes to Pam Godard Mytroen for the following thoughts on my book:

David Kitz’s devotional, “psalms alive!” is a book I bought for my friends and family this past Christmas and I plan to read it a second time. It is one of the best devotionals I have ever read for the following reasons:

  • The Scripture is printed at the beginning of each devotional. This makes it so convenient and for me it meant reading and then re-reading that Psalm many times as I studied Kitz’s devotional which followed. Many devotionals only quote the reference which you are to study. Tell me – how many of you actually look up this passage? Lol. It’s too easy not to get your Bible and look it up. It’s such a simple thing to print the Psalm right in the devotional but it made the study so much more helpful.
  • Secondly, this was an excellent resource because of the cultural and historical insights Kitz provided. These brought the Psalms to life and helped me remember and apply them.
  • Theologically, I believe Kitz is sound and credible; he often cross-referenced his thoughts with other biblical passages.
  • The whole picture – Kitz provided each Psalm in light of the sweep of biblical history and revelation, often showing how the Psalm prophesied Christ. I appreciated this and it helped me see the relevance and power of the Psalms in my daily life.

Reading “psalms alive!” was a highlight of October/November 2017. I looked forward to it every day; it was a feast every morning that I will indulge in again. My copy is highlighted, underlined, tear-stained, and I have several pictures I drew in response to the insights I learned. It is a treasure that I recommend with the highest confidence.

http://www.davidkitz.ca/bookcart/index.php?route=product/product&path=60&product_id=62

 

Psalms Alive! Connecting Heaven and Earth

09 Thursday Nov 2017

Posted by in Books by David Kitz, Psalms, Psalms Alive!

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For all who have followed my postings on I Love the Psalms, I want to take a moment to introduce you to my devotional study book on the psalms entitled, Psalms Alive! Connecting Heaven and Earth.

Sample CoverThis 240 page, beautifully bound paperback is an in depth exploration of thirteen psalms. It’s similar to my weekly blog posting, but also different in some important respects. Unlike my one page postings, the chapters in my book are five to six pages in length and they end with a series of questions that act as prompts to bring the psalm alive. This means it’s a great book for personal study, but it works even better for small group discussion.

The longer format allows for more personal anecdotes and real-life illustrations. The goal is to discover how to live out the psalms in our daily lives.

Endorsements: David writes with a dramatic and compelling flair, enticing us to meet with God and therein find life. His intent to let God’s Word speak through the psalms is accomplished with theological sensitivity to the sitz im leben and creative application to the context of our lives today. Well done, David! Psalms Alive! helped me inhabit the Word and know Him more.
Rev. Dr. Lawson Murray, President – Scripture Union Canada

“A timely call to stop our mad rush and encounter God in the stillness of prayer and Bible study. David Kitz paints pictures with words, taking lessons from Scripture and nature to offer us a three-dimensional, multi-sensory relationship with God.”

Robert L. Briggs, Executive Vice President, American Bible Society

“Psalms Alive! is an excellent tool to help any reader engage with God’s Word (specifically 13 Psalms) and therefore engage with God. It is obvious that David Kitz has taken these Psalms into his life and by “listening in” to his thinking the reader can learn to do the same.”

Phil Collins, Ph.D., Executive Director, Taylor Center for Scripture Engagement, Taylor University, Upland, IN

Your Turn: Get in touch to get your signed copy of Psalms Alive! Connecting Heaven and Earth. Cost $17.95.

Let God speak to you and through you via the Psalms.

Psalms Alive! Connecting Heaven and Earth

11 Wednesday Oct 2017

Posted by in Bible, book review, Devotionals, Psalms

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Psalms Alive! Connecting Heaven and Earth can be best described as a devotional study of thirteen selected psalms. The writing is devotional in that its goal is to have the reader reflect, ponder and apply the truths of the psalms, but unlike a typical devotional these readings do not end after a page. Each chapter or reading is about 5-6 pages in length and it ends with a number of questions or suggested activities to make that psalm come alive for the reader. In this way the author examines thirteen psalms in the space of twenty-six chapters—237 pages. The questions or application portion of each chapter make this book ideal for small group discussion. The goal throughout, as the subtitle suggests, is for the reader to connect to connect with God—to connect heaven and earth by means of the psalms.

Jenny Burr’s Review Sample Cover
How can words written so long ago be relevant today? In Psalms Alive! author David Kitz reveals how the Lord has spoken to him through the Psalms. Kitz draws on his experiences as a pastor, teacher, writer, father and dramatist to bring these words alive. His personal accounts of the scripture and how they relate to his life provide connections for the reader to make in their own life. He adds historical background information to the Psalms and this enhances the reader’s experience. Reading “Psalms Alive!” will certainly make the Psalms come alive!

 

 

Ebook Promo

14 Monday Aug 2017

Posted by in Books by David Kitz, Psalms

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Regular readers of my “I Love the Psalms” devotional posts may be aware that I have authored a number of books. My most recent book “The Soldier Who Killed a King” is available free for today only in the ebook format on Amazon.

Free WWe SHARABLE-1

Holy Week as seen from a soldier’s perspective

This is your opportunity to follow Christ’s journey through the most pivotal week in human history.

“I was at the foot of the cross. I stepped inside the empty tomb. This book took me there.”  – Robert DuBroy, CHRI 99.1 FM, Ottawa, ON

Praise Him

12 Friday May 2017

Posted by in Psalm 148, Psalms

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Reading:                                        Psalm 148

(Verses 1-6)
Praise the LORD.
Praise the LORD from the heavens;
praise him in the heights above.
Praise him, all his angels;
praise him, all his heavenly hosts.
Praise him, sun and moon;
praise him, all you shining stars.
Praise him, you highest heavens
and you waters above the skies.
Let them praise the name of the LORD,
for at his command they were created,
and he established them for ever and ever—
he issued a decree that will never pass away (NIV).

Reflection

As we draw to the end of the Book of Psalms, we are slowly building to a crescendo. It’s a crescendo of praise for the LORD. Today’s reading from Psalm 148 represents another stepping stone in that rising crescendo of praise.

Eric E. Wright 5

Sunset over Lake Ontario – photo by Eric E. Wright

The word praise appears nine times in this six-verse portion of the psalm. The psalmist repeatedly calls for all of creation to praise the LORD—to praise him. In today’s reading the call to praise is focused on the heavenly realm. You would think that the angels and the heavenly hosts would need no reminder to praise the LORD, but nevertheless the psalmist calls on them to praise their Creator. Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his heavenly hosts. Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars.

If the angels need a praise prompter, then I know that I certainly do. There are days when I have a greater tendency to complain than to praise. If I am feeling a bit out of sorts or experiencing discomfort, it doesn’t take much to trip me into full-blown, grumble mode with a side order of self-pity tacked on for good measure. Praise for the LORD is a distant thought or a faint memory.

But has God changed? Has His mercy been diminished because I have a grumbly tummy or a kink in my neck? Of course not. The LORD is constantly worthy of praise—even in hard times—especially in hard times. In hard times I need to change my focus. I need to lift up my eyes to the heavens. I need to see the big picture rather than be caught up in the trifling details of my life. God is still on His throne even if I burn the toast or spill that glass of milk. Praise has greater significance at such times because it springs from a troubled heart—an overcoming heart.

In the midst of his great suffering, Job made this declaration about his faithfulness to the LORD, “Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him” (Job 13:15a). The LORD, our great Creator, remains worthy of praise.

Response: LORD God, give me a heart that is eager to praise you—even in hard times—especially in hard times. Your constant care for us does not change. Let my praise for you be just as constant. Amen.

Your Turn: Do you have a greater tendency to grumble or praise? Can you change that tendency?

Psalms Alive! Connecting Heaven and Earth

23 Friday Oct 2015

Posted by in Psalms

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Sample Cover

Reflection

For all of you who have followed my postings on I Love the Psalms, I want to take a moment to introduce you to my devotional study book on the psalms entitled, Psalms Alive! Connecting Heaven and Earth.

This 237 page, beautifully bound paperback is an in depth exploration of thirteen psalms. It’s similar to my weekly blog posting, but also different in some important respects. Unlike my one page postings, the chapters in my book are five to six pages in length and they end with a series of questions that act as prompts to bring the psalm alive. This means it’s a great book for personal study, but it works even better for small group discussion.

The longer format allows for more personal anecdotes and real-life illustrations. The goal is to discover how to live out the psalms in our daily lives.

Endorsements: David writes with a dramatic and compelling flair, enticing us to meet with God and therein find life. His intent to let God’s Word speak through the psalms is accomplished with theological sensitivity to the sitz im leben and creative application to the context of our lives today. Well done, David! Psalms Alive! helped me inhabit the Word and know Him more.

Rev. Dr. Lawson Murray, President – Scripture Union Canada

“A timely call to stop our mad rush and encounter God in the stillness of prayer and Bible study.

David Kitz paints pictures with words, taking lessons from Scripture and nature to offer us a three-dimensional, multi-sensory relationship with God.”

Robert L. Briggs, Executive Vice President, American Bible Society

“Psalms Alive! is an excellent tool to help any reader engage with God’s Word (specifically 13 Psalms) and therefore engage with God. It is obvious that David Kitz has taken these Psalms into his life and by “listening in” to his thinking the reader can learn to do the same.”

Phil Collins, Ph.D., Executive Director, Taylor Center for Scripture Engagement, Taylor University, Upland, IN

Your Turn: Psalms Alive! Connecting Heaven and Earth is available for purchase through my website: http://www.davidkitz.ca/bookcart/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=62&search=psalms

Psalms Alive! is also available internationally through the Ingraham print on demand system. Inquire at your local bookstore.