Take a Journey through Holy Week

24 Sunday Mar 2024

Posted by davidkitz in Books by David Kitz

Tags

bible-based, book, Christ's Passion, empty tomb, Roman centurion, the cross, triumphal entry

A stunning story of Holy Week through the eyes of a Roman centurion.
Watch the triumphal entry of the donkey-riding king through the eyes of Marcus Longinus, the centurion charged with keeping the streets of Jerusalem from erupting into open rebellion.

To download a free study guide for this high-impact, bible-based novel visit: https://www.davidkitz.ca/centurion.php/free study guide PDF

A biblically accurate portrayal of Christ’s Passion. For book purchases of The Soldier Who Killed a King try Amazon or the author’s Canadian website.

Here’s a journey to the cross and the open tomb you will never forget. Reignite your love for the One who first loved you.

The King of Glory

24 Sunday Mar 2024

Posted by davidkitz in Palm Sunday

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Easter, gates, Jesus, Lent, Palm Sunday, praise the LORD, the cross, the LORD

I will praise the LORD!
Today’s Palm Sunday reading from the Psalms

Reading: Psalm 24:7-10

Lift up your heads, you gates;
    be lifted up, you ancient doors,
    that the King of glory may come in.
Who is this King of glory?
    The LORD strong and mighty,
    the LORD mighty in battle.
Lift up your heads, you gates;
    lift them up, you ancient doors,
    that the King of glory may come in.
Who is he, this King of glory?
    The LORD Almighty—
    he is the King of glory. *

* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

Please pray for peace to return to Israel, Gaza, 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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Lent is here. Easter is approaching.
Are you ready for a journey to the cross?
For a closer look or to purchase click here.

My Salvation

23 Saturday Mar 2024

Posted by davidkitz in Psalm 35, Psalms

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

armor, fight, Lent, praise the LORD, Prayer, Psalms, salvation, the cross

I will praise the LORD!

Reading: Psalm 35:1-4

Of David.
Contend, LORD, with those who contend with me;
    fight against those who fight against me.
Take up shield and armor;
    arise and come to my aid.
Brandish spear and javelin
    against those who pursue me.
Say to me,
    “I am your salvation.”
May those who seek my life
    be disgraced and put to shame;
may those who plot my ruin
    be turned back in dismay.*

* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

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

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Lent is here. Easter is approaching.
Are you ready for a journey to the cross?
For a closer look or to purchase click here.

Good and Pleasant

21 Thursday Mar 2024

Posted by davidkitz in Psalm 133

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Tags

compassionate, humble, Lent, love one another, Prayer, Psalms, sympathetic, the cross, unity

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

Reading: Psalm 133

Father God,
help me sow words of love and unity.
Open my eyes to see
where I can bring a word of encouragement
and affirmation to those around me.
Make me an instrument of peace,
love, and unity today.
Amen.

Finally, all of you,
be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another,
be compassionate and humble.
Do not repay evil with evil
or insult with insult.
On the contrary,
repay evil with blessing,
because to this you were called
so that you may inherit a blessing.
(1 Peter 3:8-9, NIV)*

* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

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

Lent is here. Easter is approaching.
Are you ready for a journey to the cross?
For a closer look or to purchase click here.

A Journey to the Cross

16 Saturday Mar 2024

Posted by davidkitz in The Soldier Who Killed a King

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Easter, forgiveness, Lent, pilgrims, power of God, saved, the cross, The Soldier Who Killed a King

The words of Paul, the apostle, ring true:
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God (1 Corinthians 1:18, NIV).

If Paul’s words are true then we as eager pilgrims should routinely journey to the cross. Why? Because there we are saved. There the mercy and grace of God flowed down. Love flowed blood red for you and me. At the cross we are changed by the power of God. Sin loses it’s grip on us. Forgiveness breaks chains and we are set free.

Let’s take that journey to the cross.

Lent is here. Easter is approaching.
Are you ready for a journey to the cross?
For a closer look or to purchase click here.

He Is on My Side

05 Tuesday Mar 2024

Posted by davidkitz in Psalm 124, Psalms

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Tags

competition, competitive, devotion, football, help from God, Israel, Psalms, Super Bowl, the cross, the LORD, World Cup, World Series

Today’s Devotion from the Psalms

Reading: Psalm 124
A song of ascents. Of David.
If the LORD had not been on our side—
let Israel say—
if the LORD had not been on our side
when people attacked us,
they would have swallowed us alive
when their anger flared against us;
the flood would have engulfed us,
the torrent would have swept over us,
the raging waters would have swept us away.
Praise be to the LORD,
who has not let us be torn by their teeth.
We have escaped like a bird
from the fowler’s snare;
the snare has been broken,
and we have escaped.
Our help is in the name of the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth (NIV). *

athletes in red and white ice hockey jersey

Photo by u0421u0430u0448u0430 u041bu0430u0437u0430u0440u0435u0432 on Pexels.com

Reflection
We live in a highly competitive world, and I’m not just talking about sports. Businesses compete for customers; advertisers compete for eyeballs; corporations strive for a competitive advantage. Nations jockey for leadership and influence on the world stage.

Now here is a question for you. In all this does the LORD take sides? Is He rooting for my football team—my business—my city—my country? Is He a Blue Jays fan, a Patriots fan, or is He rooting for Real Madrid? Will He be tuned into the big game?

Let’s tackle the easy question first. Yes, the LORD will be tuned into the Super Bowl game, the World Cup final, and the World Series. But He will also be watching a cricket match in Mumbai and a pick-up hockey game at an outdoor rink in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. Oh, and let’s not forget that newborn taking its first breath in a tin-roofed shack in Tanzania, or the grandma drawing her last breath in a hospital in Sweden. The LORD will watch it all.

Yes, but whose side will He be on? According to Psalm 124, that too is an easy answer. The LORD is on our side. If the LORD had not been on our side—let Israel say—if the LORD had not been on our side when people attacked us… the raging waters would have swept us away.

The LORD is always, always, always on our side. He is rooting for you. Three iron nails in a wooden cross drive home that point far better than words on a page or a screen. The real question is, and always has been, whose side are we on? Are you on the LORD’s side? Are you His man or woman?

Response: LORD God, I am so thankful that you are on my side, on the side of your redeemed people. This is my confession: Our help is in the name of the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. Amen.

Your Turn: Are you on the LORD’s side? How have you signaled that you are on God’s side?

* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

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

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Are you ready for a journey to the cross?
For a closer look or to purchase click here.

I Have Strayed

27 Tuesday Feb 2024

Posted by davidkitz in Psalm 119

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devotion, forgiveness of sins, God's word, good shepherd, Jesus, Prayer, Psalm 119, Psalms, stray, the cross, word of God

Today’s Devotion from the Psalms

Reading: Psalm 119:169-176
ת Taw
May my cry come before you, LORD;
give me understanding according to your word.
May my supplication come before you;
deliver me according to your promise.
May my lips overflow with praise,
for you teach me your decrees.
May my tongue sing of your word,
for all your commands are righteous.
May your hand be ready to help me,
for I have chosen your precepts.
I long for your salvation, LORD,
and your law gives me delight.
Let me live that I may praise you,
and may your laws sustain me.
I have strayed like a lost sheep.
Seek your servant,
for I have not forgotten your commands (NIV). *

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Reflection
This is the final reading from Psalm 119. Today’s reading features Taw, the final letter in the Hebrew alphabet. Day by day we have been making our way through this acrostic poem—reading as it were from A to Z in the Hebrew language. All of it is written in praise of God’s word and His promises. It is difficult to fully appreciate the structural beauty of this lengthy poem, when it is translated into English.

This line from today’s reading is typical of the psalmist’s praise for the Word of God: May my tongue sing of your word, for all your commands are righteous.

At times the psalmist appears to be proud, even boastful of his obedience to God’s Word, but here at the conclusion of this magnificent poem, he takes on a humbler stance. I have strayed like a lost sheep. Seek your servant, for I have not forgotten your commands.

There is something very human about this prayer—about this ending. We are very prone to stray. The prophet Isaiah reflects on this human characteristic. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the LORD has laid on him [Jesus] the iniquity of us all (Isaiah 53:6).

Jesus is our carrier—our iniquity carrier. He carried our sins to the cross where he suffered and died, so that his blood could cover those sins—my sins—your sins. But our sin carrier is also our Good Shepherd, who goes out to find those who are lost. He is the answer to the psalmist’s prayer. This is the purpose for his coming. “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10).

Response: Father God, I confess I am prone to stray. Help me to stay to the straight and narrow way that leads to life. I thank you, Jesus, for seeking me and saving me by your shed blood. Amen.

Your Turn: Are you a wandering sheep? Have you been found by the Good Shepherd?

* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

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

To purchase or for a closer look click here.

Are You Shackled or Free?

19 Monday Feb 2024

Posted by davidkitz in Psalm 119

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enslaved, God's word, Jesus, Prayer, Psalms, Savior, sinful habits, temptations, the cross

Reading: Psalm 119:129-136
פ Pe
Your statutes are wonderful;
therefore I obey them.
The unfolding of your words gives light;
it gives understanding to the simple.
I open my mouth and pant,
longing for your commands.
Turn to me and have mercy on me,
as you always do to those who love your name.
Direct my footsteps according to your word;
let no sin rule over me.
Redeem me from human oppression,
that I may obey your precepts.
Make your face shine on your servant
and teach me your decrees.
Streams of tears flow from my eyes,
for your law is not obeyed (NIV). *

Winter creek-side photo by David Kitz

Reflection
Slavery is distasteful. Distasteful is a rather mild term. Let’s call it what it is—an abomination. It’s difficult these days to find someone who is in favor of slavery. We all seem to be in favor of personal liberty. But are we?

While trumpeting our personal liberty, are we letting ourselves become shackled by crippling habits? We seem quite willing—maybe even eager—to let sin enslave us.

James, the brother of our Lord, provides us with this warning: When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed.Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death (James 1:13-15).

Clearly sin has consequences. Yielding to temptations takes us down a dark path. We may think we are in control, but before long we discover we have a new master. Our sinful nature takes over. Evil desires are in control. If we persist in that pattern of behavior, the end result is a seared conscious and death.

We need a Savior to set us free. The psalmist expresses that earnest desire: Turn to me and have mercy on me, as you always do to those who love your name. Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me.

Is that your prayer and the desire of your heart?

Response: Father God, I need you to liberate me from every stronghold of sin. Establish within me a clean heart. Help my thoughts and actions to be pure. Lord Jesus, be my master. Amen.

Your Turn: Have you yielded control to sinful habits? Take some time to go to the cross of Jesus.

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

To purchase or for a closer look click here.

The Soldier Who Killed a King

18 Sunday Feb 2024

Posted by davidkitz in Books by David Kitz

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Tags

book review, crucifixion, Easter, Jesus, Lent, Pontius Pilate, resurrection, Roman centurion, the cross

A stunning story of Holy Week through the eyes of a Roman centurion.

Watch the triumphal entry of the donkey-riding king through the eyes of Marcus Longinus, the centurion charged with keeping the streets from erupting into open rebellion.

Look behind the scenes at the political plotting of King Herod, known as the scheming Fox for his ruthless shrewdness.

Get a front-row seat to the confrontation between the Jewish high priest Caiaphas and the Roman governor Pontius Pilate.

Understand as never before the horror of the decision to save a brutal terrorist in order to condemn the peaceful Jew to death.

If you’ve heard the story of Passion Week so often it’s become stale, now is the time to rediscover the terrible events leading from Jesus’s humble ride into the city to his crucifixion. The Soldier Who Killed a King will stun you afresh with how completely Christ’s resurrection changed history, one life at a time.

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Lent is here. Easter is approaching.
Are you ready for a journey to the cross?
For a closer look or to purchase click here.

The Path of Purity or One-Click-Away Porn

30 Tuesday Jan 2024

Posted by davidkitz in Psalm 119

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

God's word, holiness, Jesus, porn, pornographic websites, Psalms, purity, the cross

Reading: Psalm 119:9-16
ב Beth
How can a young person stay on the path of purity?
    By living according to your word.
I seek you with all my heart;
    do not let me stray from your commands.
I have hidden your word in my heart
    that I might not sin against you.
Praise be to you, LORD;
    teach me your decrees.
With my lips I recount
    all the laws that come from your mouth.
I rejoice in following your statutes
    as one rejoices in great riches.
I meditate on your precepts
    and consider your ways.
I delight in your decrees;
    I will not neglect your word (NIV). *

Photo by Eren Li on Pexels.com

Reflection
In the age of the internet and one-click-away pornographic websites, the opening question in today’s reading from Psalm 119 has never been more salient. How can a young person stay on the path of purity?

Why would a young man want to keep his way pure? Why not chase every skirt in town? Why not have some fun? Why not eat, drink and be merry? We only pass through this life once. Why not live it up?

But if the God of the universe has called men and women into relationship with Him, then purity and holiness are at the very core of that relationship. If we are called to be with God—to dwell in harmony with Him—then we must embrace holiness. To embrace God is to embrace holiness. Those filthy sin spots have got to go. If we are to walk with God, we must willingly walk away from mind and soul-fouling sin.

The writer of the Book of Hebrews urges on the young faith runners with these words: Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:1-2, NIV).

In a world awash in pornography, we all need fixed eyes—eyes fixed on Jesus—eyes that see the cross— eyes that see the blood-drenched cross. Purity comes at a price. It cost the heavenly Father the life of His very own Son. A young man named Jesus—in flesh like my own—in skin like my own—poured out his life’s blood to make me pure. Fix your eyes on Him!

Response: LORD, I want to live my life according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Amen.

Your Turn: Do you struggle with impure thoughts? Are you neglecting God’s word? How can we overcome?

Please pray for peace to return to Israel and Ukraine!

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I love the Psalms

~ Connecting daily with God through the Psalms

Tag Archives: the cross

Take a Journey through Holy Week

The King of Glory