Tag Archives: Psalms

A New Review of “Psalms Alive!”

12 Thursday Sep 2019

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A book review by Tina Williams

Psalms Alive! Connecting Heaven and Earth by David Kitz explores the Psalms through personal vignettes of the author’s reflections on various Psalms. As I read I felt that the author was sitting across from me in a comfy chair sharing the great goodness of God from the heart of a shepherd. The author includes discussion questions at the end of each chapter which helps the reader connect heaven and earth by spending some time meditating on scripture and driving those truths deeper into our hearts so that we are not merely readers or hearers, but also actors in God’s great drama of life!

At times, a sentence or two seems out of place, when the author laments the current state of affairs with our culture, but the main points are brought home in pointing us to the character of God.

One of my favorite quotes which encourages all believers, like athletes, to be engaged with scripture is found in the chapter, From Strength to Strength. “The busy, world-engaged laity is far too often content to coast on the second-hand faith of church leadership. In reality, our own faith muscles need development and regular exercise. If regular spiritual conditioning isn’t taking place, we become weak in our faith. We are fit for the couch, not the pilgrim’s route. We stumble when others question our beliefs. Temptations overwhelm us. Doubts drain us of our spiritual vitality. We conform to the thinking of this world. We are not reaching the world with the message of Christ; the world is reaching us, and pressing us into its mold.”

This book will encourage and inspire the reader to dig deep into the Psalms as the author draws from personal object lessons which help further understand and connect the word to the heart.

Take a moment to vote

Psalms Alive, has been nominated for the Book of the Month award hosted by Interviews and Reviews.

To cast your vote for Psalms Alive, click here.

Thanks! Note: You can vote daily until September 30th.

Voting Has Begun

04 Wednesday Sep 2019

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A brief book review by Kandace Perry 

Page after page of God’s Word comes to life through David’s down to earth and Sample Coverpassionate approach. David reminds us that the Bible is “still alive; still breathing,” and it is just as applicable today as it was thousands of years ago. God is still very much alive, loving us, waiting for us, drawing us to Him.

Psalms Alive! awakens our soul, inspires our mind and warms our heart.

Take a moment to vote

Psalms Alive, has been nominated for the Book of the Month award hosted by Interviews and Reviews.

To cast your vote for Psalms Alive, click here.

Thanks!

Note: You can vote daily until September 30th.

A Review Worth Repeating

12 Wednesday Jun 2019

Posted by in book review, Psalms, Psalms Alive!

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Much thanks to west coast writer Violet Nesdoly for the following review of Psalms Alive! 

In Psalms Alive! author, pastor, and dramatist David Kitz takes us on a journey through thirteen selected psalms. In the Preface Kitz explains why he wrote the book:

“For the past number of years I have been bringing the Psalms to life for audiences through the medium of live drama. Here now in book form, from a dramatist’s perspective I provide a glimpse into the prayers and praise of the psalmists.”

Each of the book’s 26 chapters begins with the quoted scripture passage under discussion. This is followed by Kitz expanding on it in a variety of ways that include personal stories, explanations of biblical customs and settings, devotional inspiration, and a challenge to apply the scripture’s advice to life. Each chapter ends with a “Bringing Life to the Psalms” section consisting of three to four discussion and personal application questions.

Kitz’s writing is lively, picturesque, and wise. He expands liberally on the ideas presented in the Bible passage. He doesn’t leaves us in the theoretical clouds though, but makes sure his conclusions connect to everyday living. My book is full of underlined sections. Here are a few of my favourite quotes:

From the Preface: “When we handle the Word of God, we are handling life. When we take hold of the Word of God, it takes hold of us” – P. 17.

From a chapter on Psalm 19: “Your heavenly Father does not need a stethoscope to check on the condition of your heart; he needs only to listen to the words coming out of your mouth” – P. 43.

From a chapter on Psalm 103: “Relationship is always the wellspring of all revelation. It is while we are in God’s presence that we discover the mind of Christ” – P. 149.

I used this book, along with others in an online creative Bible study and found much inspiration in it for Bible art journaling. It has deepened and broadened my appreciation of the psalms discussed. It would make an excellent textbook (along with the Bible, of course) for a men’s or women’s Bible study.

For further information on this 240 page book, visit https://davidkitz.ca/psalms.php.

For information on the direct book purchase from the author, click here.

For purchase from Amazon click here.

For information on a live dramatization of the Psalms visit
https://davidkitz.ca/psalms.php.

There is no liberation like the liberation of full and free forgiveness. — David Kitz 

 

Connecting Heaven and Earth

28 Tuesday May 2019

Posted by in Books by David Kitz, Psalms

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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

For further information on the book, visit https://davidkitz.ca/psalms.php.

For information on the direct book purchase from the author, click here.

For purchase from Amazon click here.

For information on a live dramatization of the Psalms visit
https://davidkitz.ca/psalms.php.

There is no liberation like the liberation of full and free forgiveness. — David Kitz 

 

You Knit me Together

26 Saturday Jan 2019

Posted by in Psalm 139, Psalms

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I will praise Him!

trees by lake against sky during winter

Photo by Natalija Mislevicha on Pexels.com

For you created my inmost being;
    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,
    I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you
    when I was made in the secret place,
    when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed body;
    all the days ordained for me were written in your book
    before one of them came to be.
How precious to me are your thoughts, God!
    How vast is the sum of them!
Were I to count them,
    they would outnumber the grains of sand—
    when I awake, I am still with you.

(Psalm 139:13-18, NIV)

PSALMS ALIVE! Endorsements

18 Thursday Oct 2018

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Sample Cover

Psalms Alive! a 237 page devotional study by David Kitz

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

For further information on the book, visit https://davidkitz.ca/psalms.php.

For information on the direct book purchase from the author, visit https://www.davidkitz.ca/bookcart/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=62&search=psalms.

For information on the live dramatization of the Psalms visit
https://davidkitz.ca/psalms.php.

 

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?

The Apple of Your Eye

30 Sunday Sep 2018

Posted by in Bible, God's word, Psalm 17, Psalms

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I will praise Him!

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Late summer backyard glory — photo by David Kitz

I call on you, my God, for you will answer me;
    turn your ear to me and hear my prayer.
Show me the wonders of your great love,
    you who save by your right hand
    those who take refuge in you from their foes.
Keep me as the apple of your eye;
    hide me in the shadow of your wings
from the wicked who are out to destroy me,
    from my mortal enemies who surround me.

(Psalm 17:6-9, NIV)

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

The Psalmist’s Prescription

09 Thursday Aug 2018

Posted by in Bible, Devotionals, God's word, Psalm 135, Psalms

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Reading: Psalm 135
(Verses 1-7)
Praise the LORD.
Praise the name of the LORD;
praise him, you servants of the LORD,
you who minister in the house of the LORD,
in the courts of the house of our God.
Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good;
sing praise to his name, for that is pleasant.
For the LORD has chosen Jacob to be his own,
Israel to be his treasured possession.
I know that the LORD is great,
that our Lord is greater than all gods.
The LORD does whatever pleases him,
in the heavens and on the earth,
in the seas and all their depths.
He makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth;
he sends lightning with the rain
and brings out the wind from his storehouses (NIV).

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Backyard bluebells — photo by David Kitz

Reflection
Like many of the psalms, Psalm 135 begins by calling us to worship. Specifically, this is a call to praise the LORD. Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good; sing praise to his name, for that is pleasant.

So what is the difference between praise and worship? Worship is a broad term that expresses itself in a variety of ways. The Encarta Dictionary defines worship as “the adoration, devotion, and respect given to a deity.”

We can show devotion, adoration and respect for God in wide range of ways. We can use our bodies to express worship by bowing, kneeling, falling prostrate, or lifting our hands and faces heavenward. We read that both David and Miriam danced before the LORD as an act of worship. See 2 Samuel 6:13-15 and Exodus 15:20-21.

Praise and thanksgiving are verbal forms of worship that reflect a heart of adoration. But why do the Psalms call on us to praise God so frequently? Is the LORD a grand, heavenly egomaniac who demands our worship to satisfy His desire for recognition and importance? Hardly.

Actually, just the opposite is true. God does not need our worship. We are the egomaniacs. Praise and worship counteracts the selfishness that is at the root of our sinful nature. We desperately need to get our eyes off ourselves and onto the One who is worthy of all praise. So here to counter what ales us is a simple but powerful prescription from your heavenly Father: Praise the LORD.

Response: Father God, I worship you. Thank you for sending Jesus to be my Savior. Holy Spirit, infuse my praise and worship with joy. You are so very good—so very kind to me. Let praise in all its varied forms flow from me to you. Amen.

Your Turn: What forms or expressions of worship are most meaningful to you?