Tag Archives: the LORD

Tell Every Nation

29 Tuesday Mar 2016

Posted by in Mid-Week Medtiation, Psalms

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Day after day announce, “The LORD has saved us!” Tell every nation on earth,
“The LORD is wonderful and does marvelous things! (Psalm 96:2-3, CEV).

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Easter Sunrise 2016 — photo by David Kitz

Reflection

This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is proclamation.

We live in the afterglow of the resurrection. Unlike an afterglow that fades over time, this afterglow ought to intensify within us like the power of the rising sun. And why should this be the case? Because with each passing day, the day of redemption and regeneration of our physical bodies is drawing closer. Today, I’m one day closer to seeing my resurrected Lord face to face.

Within us there should be a growing desire to declare the goodness of the Lord. The psalmist expresses it this way:

Day after day announce, “The LORD has saved us!” Tell every nation on earth,
“The LORD is wonderful and does marvelous things! (Psalm 96:2-3, CEV).

We are tasked with the job of joyous declaration. Good news is not difficult to share. We are not tasked with announcing the death of a loved one. We have the joy of sharing the news that one man—Jesus Christ—has defeated death. By faith his resurrection victory becomes our victory as well.

Response: LORD God, I want to glow with the joy of knowing you and your resurrection power. Give me the privilege of telling someone else the good news today. Amen.

Your Turn: Is your resurrection afterglow growing or fading?

Healing Forgiveness

17 Thursday Mar 2016

Posted by in Psalms, Thursday's Thought

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The LORD forgives our sins,
heals us when we are sick, and protects us from death (Psalm 103:3-4, CEV).

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River of Healing — Photo courtesy of Donald Adam

Reflection

This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is forgiveness.

Jesus taught us to pray, “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” Our forgiving Lord expects us to be forgiving toward others—to pass on the forgiveness we have freely received from Him.

There is something deeply therapeutic about forgiveness. We can see that in today’s verse from the Psalms:

The LORD forgives our sins, heals us when we are sick, and protects us from death (Psalm 103:3-4, CEV).

Forgiveness and healing are linked. James, the brother of our Lord, writes, “If you have sinned, you should tell each other what you have done. Then you can pray for one another and be healed. The prayer of an innocent person is powerful, and it can help a lot” (James 5:16, CEV).

Forgiveness is the Lord’s prescription for ailments of body, soul and spirit.

Response: LORD God, I need your forgiveness, healing and protection. Help me start on the road to healing by forgiving those who have wounded my spirit. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Your Turn: Have you received forgiveness and healing through Christ?

Through Suffering

10 Thursday Mar 2016

Posted by in Psalms, Thursday's Thought

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The LORD’s people may suffer a lot, but he will always bring them safely through (Psalm 34:19, CEV).

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Grey Nuns Park, Orleans, ON — photo by David Kitz

Reflection

This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is suffering.

Many believers have wrong expectations of God. We believe that if we choose to follow the Lord, He will be spare us from experiencing pain and suffering. We view our relationship with God as a kind of insurance policy that will protect us from heartache and loss. The truth is no such insurance policy exists. On the contrary, the opposite may be true.

The LORD’s people may suffer a lot, but he will always bring them safely through (Psalm 34:19, CEV).

The people that God chooses often suffer greatly. His chosen people suffered much as slaves in Egypt. When the Lord Jesus arrested Saul/Paul on the way to Damascus, he was told the road ahead would be marked by suffering. Jesus said,  “I will show him [Paul] how much he must suffer for worshiping in my name” (Acts 9:16).

Though the path—your path—may be marked by suffering, we have this promise. The Lord will bring you safely through.

Response: LORD God, I trust you to bring me safely through to the Promised Land. You are my inheritance. Help me to endure hardship as your faithful follower. Amen.

Your Turn: Have you viewed God as your insurance policy against suffering?

The Conclusion of Solomon’s Prayer

08 Tuesday Mar 2016

Posted by in Psalm 72, Psalms

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Reading:                                     Psalm 72

Verses 12-20

For he will deliver the needy who cry out,
the afflicted who have no one to help.
He will take pity on the weak and the needy
and save the needy from death.
He will rescue them from oppression and violence,
for precious is their blood in his sight. Long may he live!
May gold from Sheba be given him.
May people ever pray for him
and bless him all day long.
May grain abound throughout the land;
on the tops of the hills may it sway.
May the crops flourish like Lebanon
and thrive like the grass of the field.
May his name endure forever;
may it continue as long as the sun.

Then all nations will be blessed through him,
and they will call him blessed.

Praise be to the LORD God, the God of Israel,
who alone does marvelous deeds.
Praise be to his glorious name forever;
may the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and Amen.

This concludes the prayers of David son of Jesse (NIV).

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More glorious than Solomon — photo by David Kitz

Reflection

This is the concluding portion of Solomon’s prayer. Many scholars view this as David’s prayer for Solomon, rather than a prayer written by Solomon. In either case, it is a prayer calling for God’s blessing on the king and the nation. This brings us to a question. What is the purpose of God’s blessing? Is it only for personal benefit?

The answer can be found in the first few lines above. The righteous king is blessed and given wealth and authority so that he can be a blessing to others. He will take pity on the weak and the needy and save the needy from death. He will rescue them from oppression and violence, for precious is their blood in his sight.

The great danger for any of us is that when blessings come, we accumulate these blessings for ourselves alone. Along with God’s blessings comes a responsibility to share and identify with those in need within our borders and beyond. We serve a God with a big heart. His love extends far beyond our narrow interests. God blesses His people abundantly, so that we can in turn bless others.

What a privilege we have to reflect the LORD’s character in a hurting world!

Response: LORD God, help me to see my many blessings as a gift from you. Show me today how I can be a blessing to others. You are my source. Amen.

Your Turn: Are you tempted to keep all of God’s blessings for yourself?

Greater Glory

26 Friday Feb 2016

Posted by in Friday's Focus, Psalms

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All creation, come praise the name of the LORD. Praise his name alone. The glory of God is greater than heaven and earth (Psalm 148:13, CEV).

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Autumn Splendor, Gatineau Park – photo by David Kitz

Reflection

This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is glory.

There’s a rather common saying: The sum is greater than its parts. While that may not be strictly correct in mathematics, it makes perfect sense in real life experience. The full picture is so much better than segments seen in sequence.

If I divided the autumn picture above into six equal portions, and showed you them sequentially, they would not have the same impact as the entire picture seen as a whole.

In the same way, our picture of the glory of God is like many small snapshots. I am not sure we could handle the full glory of God, if it was revealed to us. But today’s verse from the Psalms calls us to see that greater sum.

All creation, [me included] come praise the name of the LORD. Praise his name alone. The glory of God is greater than heaven and earth (Psalm 148:13, CEV).

Response: LORD God, let me catch glimpses of your glory today, but remind me too that you are so much bigger than I can think or even imagine. You are an awesome God! Amen.

Your Turn: Do you think your picture of God is too small?

Reflected Glory

22 Monday Feb 2016

Posted by in Monday Meditation, Psalms

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Our LORD and Ruler, your name is wonderful everywhere on earth! You let your glory be seen in the heavens above (Psalm 8:1, CEV).

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Reflected Field of Dreams – photo by David Kitz

Reflection

This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is glory.

Last May at the close of the day, I snapped this photo through the window of a bullet train (shinkansen) as it raced through the Japanese countryside.

I think the verse from the psalm fits beautifully with the picture. Our LORD and Ruler, your name is wonderful everywhere on earth! You let your glory be seen in the heavens above (Psalm 8:1, CEV).

The LORD is ruler over all and no matter where you live–on every continent–His name is wonderful. Some of the most loving, committed Christian believers I know live in Japan.

The LORD lets us see His glory in the heavens, but it’s also reflected on the earth. In the photo the flooded rice paddy reflects the sky, so the LORD’s glory is reflected by all of creation and especially by his people.

Response: LORD God, this week help me to reflect your glory to those around me. I want my life and actions to shine for you. Fill me with the love of Jesus. Amen.

Your Turn: How can you reflect the glory of God as you go about your day?

The Window of Faith

18 Thursday Feb 2016

Posted by in Psalms, Thursday's Thought

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Be patient and trust the LORD. Don’t let it bother you when all goes well for those who do sinful things (Psalm 37:7, CEV).

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Window of Faith – photo courtesy of Donald Adam

Reflection

This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is patience.

I am often amazed at how two people can look at the same picture and see two completely different things. One person may see nothing but problems, while the other sees huge potential just waiting to be tapped.

One person is looking through the window of faith, while the other is staring through a window of doubt and discouragement.

Today’s verse from the Psalms reminds us to, “Be patient and trust in the LORD.” 

Things are not always as they first appear. Over time God’s will often becomes clear if we wait patiently for Him and that requires faith.

Response: LORD God, help me look at life through the window of faith. I want to trust you in all I do. Help me to measure success by your standard and not the world’s standard.  Amen.

Your Turn: How do you see the world, with eyes of faith or doubt?

Always Patient

17 Wednesday Feb 2016

Posted by in Mid-Week Medtiation, Psalms

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Please, LORD, remember, you have always been patient and kind (Psalm 25:6, CEV).

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Red Sunrise – photo courtesy of Donald Adam

Reflection

This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is patience.

Let’s be honest. While I may not always be patient with others, I certainly want them to be patient with me. That’s why I find today’s verse from the Psalms so interesting. It’s really David’s prayer. Please, LORD, remember, you have always been patient and kind (Psalm 25:6, CEV).

The unspoken side of David’s prayer might go something like this, “Though I have been impatient with you, Lord, and I’ve blown my cool, please don’t be impatient with me.” 

We really need God to be patient with us. If God responded to me in the same way, I have reacted to others, I might be reduced to a cinder in the blink of an eye. My need for God’s patience is extreme. 

I am so thankful the LORD is a patient God.

Response: LORD God, you have been so good to me. You have shown me undeserved kindness. Please continue to be patient with me and help me to become more like Jesus every day. Amen.

Your Turn: Are you impatient with God sometimes?

Patient Love

15 Monday Feb 2016

Posted by in Monday Meditation, Psalms

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The LORD is merciful! He is kind and patient, and his love never fails (Psalm 103:8, CEV).

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Wild Flower – photo courtesy of Donald Adam

Reflection

This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is patience.

Can love be impatient? I certainly can be. But true love is not about me. It’s always about the other person. Impatience is all about me. The other person has not moved according to my schedule, so I am irritated or displeased.

Today’s verse from the Psalms reminds us that God is loving and patient with us. The LORD is merciful! He is kind and patient, and his love never fails (Psalm 103:8, CEV).

I wonder if the apostle Paul had the words from this Psalm in mind when he penned those famous lines: Love is kind and patient, never jealous, boastful, proud, or  rude. Love isn’t selfish or quick tempered. It doesn’t keep a record of wrongs that others do (1 Corinthians 13:4-5, CEV).

My impatience reveals my need for a greater level of God’s love, and mercy in my life. The love, mercy and patience that I have received from the LORD needs to be extended to others.

Response: LORD God, fill me with unselfish love so that I can be patient with those that don’t quickly conform to my wishes. Give me patient love. Amen.

Your Turn: How do we break our habits of self-focus?

The Greatest Discovery

12 Friday Feb 2016

Posted by in Friday's Focus, Psalms

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Discover for yourself that the LORD is kind. Come to him for protection, and you will be glad (Psalm 34:8, CEV).

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Gatineau Park trail – photo by David Kitz

Reflection

This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is kindness.

I don’t know about you, but I love heading off the beaten path and doing some exploring. I like trying new foods, enjoy meeting new people, and seeing new sites. I suppose it’s because I’m incurably curious. There are things to discover.

Today’s verse from the Psalms invites us to do some exploring and make a discovery. Discover for yourself that the LORD is kind. Come to him for protection, and you will be  glad (Psalm 34:8, CEV). 

We can read about the kindness of God. We can hear about it from others, but there is nothing quite like experiencing God’s kindness firsthand.

Exploration and discovery always require a step of faith. God invites us to give Him a try—to take that step.

Response: LORD God, give me the courage to take steps of faith that bring me closer to you. I want to discover and experience your love and kindness for myself. Amen.

Your Turn: Have you discovered God’s kindness firsthand?