I will praise Him!
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You Knit me Together
26 Saturday Jan 2019
Tag Archives: Psalms
PSALMS ALIVE! Endorsements
18 Thursday Oct 2018
Posted in Books by David Kitz, Psalms, Psalms Alive!
Tags
Bible study, connecting heaven and earth, David Kitz, devotional, dramatization, Psalms, Psalms Alive!
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 in Bible, Devotionals, Psalms
Tags
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 in Bible, God's word, Psalm 17, Psalms
I will praise Him!
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 in Books by David Kitz, Devotionals, Psalms
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.php
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 in Bible, Devotionals, God's word, Psalm 135, Psalms
Tags
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).
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?
My Favorite Psalm
13 Friday Apr 2018
Posted in Bible, Devotionals, Psalm 103, Psalms
Tags
accuser, anger, character, compassionate, Durham ON, forgiveness, grace, gracious, love of God, Moses, Psalms, Satan, the LORD, transgressions
Reading: Psalm 103
(Verses 7-12)
He made known his ways to Moses,
his deeds to the people of Israel:
The LORD is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.
He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever;
he does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us (NIV).
Reflection
Here is a little secret that will be a secret no longer: Of all the psalms, Psalm 103 is my favorite.
Seeing God’s grace in the setting sun, near Durham, ON — photo by David Kitz
Why do I have such a deep love for this psalm? The answer lies in what the psalm tells us about God. The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.
That sentence should be etched on our hearts and minds. The character of God is revealed in these traits. I stand in need of a God who has these qualities because by nature I am the polar opposite. In various situations I have lacked compassion. I have reasoned that those who suffer are getting what they deserve. Rather than extent grace, I have a tendency to be judgmental. When things don’t go my way, I can be quick tempered rather than slow to anger. I like to think I am loving, but I’m not sure others would always agree.
The amazing truth is that despite all our shortcomings God still loves you and me. He [the LORD] will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.
Satan is the accuser; God is the merciful forgiver. Sometimes I think in our minds we have reversed those roles. That’s why this psalm acts as such a powerful antidote to wrong thinking. Do you think God cannot forgive you because of some past transgression? Think again. Psalm 103 tells us to view God differently. He is more compassionate than we can imagine, more loving than we can fathom, more patient than we can comprehend.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
Infinite—our God’s love and compassion are infinite. Enough said.
Response: Father God, because of your love, mercy and grace I want to serve you. Please accept my feeble attempts at loving you back. Your forgiveness leaves me with a debt of love I cannot pay. Amen.
Your Turn: What is your favorite psalm? Why?
Walking off the Pages
22 Wednesday Nov 2017
Posted in book review, Books by David Kitz, Devotionals, Psalms
Tags
author, Bible, David Kitz, God's word, literature, Psalm, Psalms, Psalms Alive!, word of God
There’s something innately powerful about good literature. The characters and events we read about can become very real to us. We come to know these people; their experiences become our own.
For nearly 3,000 years people have been getting in touch with God through the sacred literature from the Book of Psalms. Generation after generation has drawn strength, comfort and inspiration from the words of the psalmist.
In times of calamity the psalms bring peace. When storms rage within, a psalm can provide a haven of rest. When anger erupts, a psalm can act as a release valve. When God seems distant, the psalms bring us near.
Collage composed by Lila Diller with photos selected from Unsplash
Psalms Alive! Connecting Heaven and Earth is a devotional study of thirteen selected psalms. Each chapter is designed to help the reader interact with God’s word, and connect with their Creator in a fresh and living way.
There is something surprisingly practical about the psalms. They are meant to be lived.
237 pages, trade paperback
The Bible is in fact a living document that must be applied to life to be effective. This should not surprise us since, “The word of God is living and active” (Hebrews 4:12a). Author David Kitz draws from other biblical sources and real life experiences to make these psalms come alive for you.
There is power in the unchanging word of God. Why not experience that power for yourself? Discover Jesus, the Good Shepherd, walking off the pages of the psalms and into your life.
Psalms Alive! Connecting Heaven and Earth
11 Wednesday Oct 2017
Posted in Bible, book review, Devotionals, Psalms
Tags
author, book, book review, David Kitz, devotional, devotional study, dramatist, pastor, Psalms, Psalms Alive!, teacher
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 
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!
Praising God for Answered Prayer
24 Thursday Aug 2017
Posted in Bible, Devotionals, Psalm 34, Psalms
Tags
actor, answered prayer, author, David, Gath, glory, God, Jesus Christ, justice, King Achish, King David, king of Gath, King Saul, leader, madmen, Messiah, musician, Philistine, poet, praise, prophet, Psalms, skills, talents, warrior, wisdom
Reading: Psalm 34
Of David.
When he pretended to be insane before Abimelek, who drove him away, and he left.(Verses 1-7)
I will extol the LORD at all times;
his praise will always be on my lips.
I will glory in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together.
I sought the LORD, and he answered me;
he delivered me from all my fears.
Those who look to him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame.
This poor man called, and the LORD heard him;
he saved him out of all his troubles.
The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him,
and he delivers them (NIV).
Reflection
David was a man of many talents. He was a gifted musician and a poet—the author of many of the psalms. He was a battle-hardened warrior and a leader of men. After many years of struggle he became the king of all Israel, and in that role he governed an unruly people with wisdom, justice and demonstrable success. David was also a prophet. Many of his psalms are infused with prophetic significance as they point to the coming Messiah—Jesus Christ.
Photo Credit: http://www.joydigitalsa.com
In addition to this long list of David’s skills and accomplishments, we should also add actor. In an early episode in David’s flight from King Saul, he escaped to the Philistine city of Gath. But he was recognized by some of the people who said, “Isn’t this David, the king of the land? Isn’t he the one they sing about in their dances: “‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands’?” (1 Samuel 21:11).
To escape certain death, David pretended to be stark raving mad. He must have been a convincing actor because the king of Gath released him saying, “Look at the man! He is insane! Why bring him to me? Am I so short of madmen that you have to bring this fellow here to carry on like this in front of me? Must this man come into my house?” (1 Samuel 21:14-15).
In response to his release from King Achish, David composed Psalm 34—one of the most joyous of all the psalms. Nothing inspires praise like answered prayer when your life is on the line. David did not take the credit for his skill as an actor. Neither did he take credit for conceiving the idea for this clever deception. He gave all the glory to God and he invites us to join in his celebration of praise. Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together. I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.
Along with David we have good reason to rejoice; we have a God who saves us. This poor man called, and the LORD heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles.
Response: Those who look to him are radiant. LORD, we look to you. Today let me shine for you. Amen.
Your Turn: What talents can you thank God for? How has he answered your prayers?
