Insightful Musings on the Scripturesby
Ray Sparre, NU class of '67
Ray has a wealth of experience as a Husband, Father, Pastor, Missionary, and student of the Word. He believes and practices his faith where the rubber meets the road. You'll find his writings to be practical, insightful, and grounded in a truly Christ-centered world view.
Below are links to a printable daily Bible reading guide which Ray has followed, and an archive of all his daily devotional writings for 2010 and 2011.
| Sparre Home Page | Daily Reading Guide | 2011 Devotion Archives | 2010 Devotion Archives |
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30 May 11
Good evening, dear special people.
Sitting here in front of this computer I can sure feel the sleepies coming on. Interesting day. I headed out to work about 7am…before I was able to launch this composition. A guy came and picked up an order of special lumber. Then I had to hurry to mill out 7 big timbers for another guy that was supposed to come just after noon. It was a rather heavy work day…definitely not a holiday. I never left the property.
There’s a great old fellow that has resided at Pheasant Pointe. He actually has Alzheimer’s…but he hasn’t forgotten a very good quip…and repeats it often: “We’re one day closer home.” I hope I can remember that well when (if) I have Alzheimer’s.
Good night. Love, Dad/Ray
30 May 2011
Psalm 28
Focus: “The LORD is my strength and my shield, my heart trusts in him, and I am helped.” Psalm 28:7a.
Let’s do a little strength and agility test. On the count of three, jump straight up into the air as high as you can. One, two, three—JUMP! Whew!
OK. How high did you get? I guess we’ll just have to estimate. I am painfully aware that many of us with large numbers of years and pounds upon us would have to estimate our jump height abilities at about zero—maybe even dipping into the minus side of the scale.
Cheer up! It doesn’t really matter much. In fact, your rather negative jump height score actually helps to confirm a very positive Biblical fact and benefit. Let me quote from 2 Corinthians 4:16-18. “Therefore we do not loose heart (though it’s a big temptation sometimes). Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” It could be a good routine to review this tenet of our Biblical worldview every day.
Now—how does all this relate to Psalm 28? Well, I only quoted the first part of verse 7 in the FOCUS VERSE above. Here’s the rest of it: “My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.” I’m sure you see the connection now. With your body, you may not be able to leap over a paper clip—but the REAL YOU is not limited by physical abilities. At heart level, you can be a slam dunker. In fact, you not only can, you should. This word of encouragement is nothing new. Just keep eating and exercising in the Word and you will remain “strong in the LORD and in his mighty power” (Ephesians 6:10).
Let me finish up by quoting from Hebrews 12:1-2: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.”
“Don’t resent old age. A great many are denied the privilege.”