Tag Archives: Psalms

Wise Words from Phil Callaway

11 Friday Jun 2021

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Here are some wise words from author, Phil Callaway:

I’m not certain I’d be alive without the Psalms. While my wife was losing her family to Huntington’s disease we lived in its inspiring pages. We still do. David’s devotional is a welcome companion on this journey, particularly for those needing a fresh shot of hope.

Phil Callaway
award-winning author & Christian humorist, www.laughagain.org

And here is a look at Volume II of the devotional series Phil is talking about.
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For nearly 3,000 years people have been getting in touch with God through the sacred literature of the Psalms. Generation after generation has drawn strength, comfort and inspiration from the words of the psalmist.  

Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer is a devotional study that takes you through all of the Psalms during the course of a full year. The author’s goal is to help the reader interact with each psalm and connect with God in a fresh and living way.

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.

There is something surprisingly practical about the psalms. They are meant to be lived. 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 a range of biblical sources and real life experiences to make the psalms come alive. 

Volume II of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer by award-winning author David Kitz is available now. For a closer look at Volumes I and II click here.

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

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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For those who love historical fiction a gripping read from David Kitz. An ideal Christmas gift.
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To purchase or for a closer look click here.

 


The God of Forgiveness

24 Monday May 2021

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Today’s quote from “Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer” by David Kitz
Psalms 365 moral accountant 130

Volume II of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer by award-winning author David Kitz is available now. For a closer look at this #1 new release click here. For a look back at Volume I click here.

If you routinely follow this blog, you have a good idea what the devotions in this 266 page book look like. They are the in-print version of my weekday posts. Volume II covers Psalm 52 through Psalm 104. And yes, you guessed correctly. Volume I covers Psalm 1 to Psalm 51. Volume I was released in December, 2020. Volume III will be released in late summer, and will conclude the three-book series bringing us through to the final psalm, Psalm 150. The full series provides a Psalm reading and devotional for every day of the year.

When do you want to start the series? Now is as good a time as any. Psalms Vol 2 Front Print

Connecting with God daily through the Psalms is a great way to allow the Good Shepherd to guide you to the center of his will.

Volume II of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer by award-winning author David Kitz is now available. For a closer look at Volumes I and II click here.

Psalms of Ascent

10 Monday May 2021

Posted by in Psalm 120, Psalms

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Reading: Psalm 120
A song of ascents.
I call on the LORD in my distress,
and he answers me.
Save me, LORD, from lying lips
and from deceitful tongues.
What will he do to you,
and what more besides,
you deceitful tongue?
He will punish you with a warrior’s sharp arrows,
with burning coals of the broom bush.
Woe to me that I dwell in Meshek,
that I live among the tents of Kedar!
Too long have I lived
among those who hate peace.
I am for peace;
but when I speak, they are for war (NIV).*

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Petrie Island in early May — photo by David Kitz

Reflection
Psalm 120 is the first in a series of fifteen psalms that are called Songs of Ascent. Each psalm begins with this statement or title: A Song of Ascents. Some of the psalms also add this phrase: Of David.

Of course, this title begs the question, what are the Songs of Ascent? And furthermore, to what are we ascending? This compilation of fourteen psalms was composed for the use of pilgrims who were making their way to worship at the temple in Jerusalem. These are psalms of pilgrimage. They are called Songs of Ascent, or Psalms of Ascent, because Jerusalem is built on a high point in the land of Israel. Specifically, the temple compound was constructed at the summit of Mount Zion, so pilgrims were literally and figuratively ascending to worship at the House of God.

This first psalm in the series is really a lament. The psalmist is living in a distant place—a place far from God. All of us begin our pilgrimage—our journey to God—from a distant place. Just like the prodigal we find ourselves in a distant land, a land where there is no peace. Sin has its fleeting pleasures, but it brings no lasting peace, no deep contentment. We have wandered far from the Father’s warm embrace. The psalmist laments, “Woe to me that I dwell in Meshek, that I live among the tents of Kedar!”

The Songs of Ascent are all about drawing near to God. They are about going to the heart of worship and finding peace—true peace in the arms of God. But first we must recognize where we are. We are dwelling in Meshek—in a world far from the LORD. We need to acknowledge our true condition. Change happens when we recognize the truth about ourselves and our need for a Savior. Only then can we begin our journey toward peace.

Have faith in this promise. I call on the LORD in my distress, and he answers me.

Response: Father God, today I am continuing my journey toward you. Lord Jesus, I need you as my Savior. Help me set aside those things that hinder my journey to intimacy with you. Amen.

Your Turn: Are you living in Meshek? Have you begun your pilgrimage to arms of the Father?

* New International Version, Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica

Volume II of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer by award-winning author David Kitz is available now. For a closer look at Volumes I and II click here.

A Topnotch Endorsement

23 Friday Apr 2021

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The main body parts for reading the Bible aren’t the eyes and brain; it’s the hands and feet. This theme is woven throughout Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer. As it should be! The focus on living the Word, or as James puts it, “doing it” (James 1:25) is what makes this study in the Psalms top-notch.

Dr. Lawson Murray
President, Scripture Union Canada

Living the Word—now that’s a challenge. Are you up to the challenge? Can you get beyond reading the Word to the point of doing it. Yes, are you living out the Word in real time?RGB72PsalmsVol2

My hope is that through the daily devotions in this 256 page book, you will hear the Good Shepherd calling you to a deeper relationship with him. After all, a journey through the Psalms is a journey to intimacy with God. 

What is the easiest way to get Volume II of Psalms 365?

Answer: Go to your Amazon website and in the search bar type in my name: David Kitz. A number of books I have authored will appear. Select Psalms 365, Volume II as pictured above.

Of course Volume I is also on offer for those who haven’t yet started this year long journey through the Psalms.

Connecting with God through the Psalms is a great way to allow the Good Shepherd to guide you to the center of his will.

Allow God to Be God

18 Sunday Apr 2021

Posted by in Psalms, Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer

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365 Psalm 78_50-55

For nearly 3,000 years people have been getting in touch with God through the sacred literature of the Book of Psalms. Generation after generation has drawn strength, comfort and inspiration from the words of the psalmist.  

Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer is a devotional study that takes you through all of the Book of Psalms during the course of a full year. The author’s goal is to help the reader interact with each psalm and connect with God in a fresh and living way.     

There are 150 psalms in the Book of Psalms and one of the most remarkable things about them is their emotional span. They range from giddy heights of joy and praise to great depths of depression and sorrow. The full array of human emotion and experience is on display. Whatever state you find yourself in, there’s a psalm for that—a psalm for every situation and human need. If you are in desperate straits, there’s a psalm for that. If you are soaring in the presence of God, there’s a psalm for that too. The Psalms reflect our need for God and our desire to connect with Him in all of life’s experiences.Screen Shot 2021-04-09 at 11.01.08 AM (1)

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.

There is something surprisingly practical about the psalms. They are meant to be lived. 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 a range of biblical sources and real life experiences to make the psalms come alive. 

There is power in the unchanging word of God. My prayer is that you will experience that power for yourself. May you discover Jesus, the Good Shepherd, walking off the pages of the psalms and into your life.

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

Volume II of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer will be published this week. Watch this space for more details.

A Much Appreciated Endorsement

17 Wednesday Mar 2021

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In a few weeks Psalms 365, Volume II will be released. As an author getting book reviews and endorsements is always a challenge. So it was pure elation when the following endorsement for Volume II landed in my in box:

I’m not certain I’d be alive without the Psalms. While my wife was losing her family to Huntington’s disease we lived in its inspiring pages. We still do. David’s devotional is a welcome companion on this journey, particularly for those needing a fresh shot of hope.

Phil Callaway
award-winning author & Christian humorist, www.laughagain.org

Perhaps like me, you have enjoyed hearing Phil Callaway’s humor and inspiring anecdotes on radio. Despite those lighter moments, Phil is also someone who has tasted suffering and heartache.  He’s been steeped in hard knocks, and sharpened by life’s difficulties. Though he traffics in humor, there’s a serious side to his message that cuts to the chase. Unerringly, he brings us to the cross and the Savior he loves.

For all these reasons, and a hundred laughs along the way, I value his endorsement. P 365-120120

Psalms 365 is published by Elk Lake Publishing, and is available through Amazon and other book retailers. For a closer look at this 262-page daily devotional book click here.

A Feast for the Mind, Soul, and Spirit…

12 Friday Mar 2021

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The Psalms are poetic and powerful. In them, you will find intimacy with God. For a hundred generations, hungry souls have found nourishment there. Using them as a devotional will enrich your spiritual life.P 365-120120

Psalms 365 is specifically designed to help you develop a life of worship and prayer like the biblical David. Let author David Kitz take you on a journey—a journey to a deeper understanding of God’s will and his ways for your life. Each daily reading provides insight and inspiration for practical Christian living, allowing the Good Shepherd to guide you to the center of his will.

In total, this volume has 120 daily readings, spanning Psalm 1 through Psalm 51. Volumes two and three will be released as 2021 progresses. This will allow readers to journey through the entire 150 Psalms in the span of a year, hence the title Psalms 365.

Psalms 365 is written by award-winning author David Kitz, is published by Elk Lake Publishing, and is available through Amazon and other book retailers. For a closer look at this 262-page daily devotional book click here.

5 Reasons to Read and Study the Psalms

03 Wednesday Mar 2021

Posted by in Psalms

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What benefit can you gain from reading and studying the Psalms? Here are five direct benefits as I see them:

  • The Psalms model prayer–prayer as it should be. The Psalms are the “Prayer Book” of the Bible.
  • The Psalms model praise and worship for us. How are we to worship God? The Psalms provide the pattern. Down through the ages, they have inspired thousands of songwriters. The Psalms are the “Hymn Book” of the Bible.
  • The Psalms are prophetic. With uncanny accuracy they point to the advent, suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus. The Psalms trumpet the authority and authenticity of God’s Word.
  • The Psalms hold up a mirror to our souls. They reflect the trials and triumphs of the human condition. The Psalms are about life–life lived with our Creator.
  • The Psalms are relational. They model how we are to live with God and others. They are intended as two-way communication at the deepest level. The Psalms connect us with God.

Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer is a wonderful way to daily get into reading and meditating on the the Psalms. To learn more click here.

Radio Interview

15 Monday Feb 2021

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Psalms365-330If you enjoy the Psalms as I do, you are sure to like Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer. This collection of daily devotions takes you through the entire book of Psalms from Psalm 1 to Psalm 150 over the space of a year. Volume one of this three volume set is available now.

This past week, I was interviewed by our local Christian radio station here in Ottawa, Canada’s capital. Click on this link to listen to that nine minute interview:  Psalms 365 (chri.ca)

The Psalms are a poetic feast for the mind, soul and spirit. Let the Psalms come alive for you!

Discover for yourself how the Good Shepherd can guide you to the center of his will. For a closer look at this 262-page daily devotional book click here.P 365-120120

Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer

29 Friday Jan 2021

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Are you looking for a daily devotional?

Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer may be just what you need to help you get 2021 moving on the right path.

Why dig into the Psalms? The Psalms are a poetic feast for the mind, soul and spirit. In them, you will find intimacy with God. For a hundred generations, hungry souls have found spiritual nourishment there.

Psalms 365P 365-120120 is specifically designed to help you develop a life of worship and prayer like the biblical David. Let author David Kitz take you on a journey—a journey to a deeper understanding of God’s will and his ways for your life. Each daily reading provides insight and inspiration for practical Christian living, allowing the Good Shepherd to guide you to the center of his will.

This 262-page volume packs a punch. It’s slightly larger format results in a cover and print content that is easy on the eyes.

In total, this volume has 120 daily readings, spanning Psalm 1 through Psalm 51. Volumes two and three will be released as 2021 progresses. This will allow readers to journey through the entire 150 Psalms in the span of a year, hence the title Psalms 365.

Now is an ideal time to commit to a daily, year-long, devotional journey through the Psalms. Psalms 365 is written by award-winning author David Kitz, is published by Elk Lake Publishing, and is available through Amazon and other book retailers. For a closer look at this 262-page daily devotional book click here.