Insightful Musings on the Scriptures
by
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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17 June 11
            Hello, dear ones.
            Whew! It’s been intense.  So much so, that I didn’t get the epistle done for yesterday.  I wish I was more supernatural.  Oh well.  
            I need to run to another objective.  Blessings on your night.  Love, Dad/Ray
 
17 June 2011
Psalm 46
Focus: “Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”  Psalm 46:10.
            I believe “The Sons of Korah” got it right in this one.  It is a psalm that profusely praises God, His greatness, and the wonderful security we have in Him.  And tucked away in all this praise and worship is this one verse presented as a quotation from God Himself: “Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
            Herein is the best reason you will ever find for establishing a daily routine of personal devotions.  Another popular title for this routine is “Quiet Time.”  I think that’s a very good title—and a very very important daily discipline.  You have most likely been around the block enough times to know how easy it is to allow life to stretch and stress you, to push you into frenzy mode where you are beating the water foamy just to stay afloat.  I learned that daily devotions was a vital principle of life a long time ago.  But one of my biggest problems is that I keep forgetting what I learned a long time ago.  Even with this routine in place, there are times when I have to grab myself by the collar and say, “Hey!—you’re getting way too worked up over stuff that really isn’t all that important!  Sit down!  Be quiet!  Focus on God, His greatness, goodness, and grace!  Meditate on His Word!”  I can’t talk to everyone like that—but I can talk to me like that.  Do you talk to you like that?  I’ll bet there are times when someone should talk to you like that.
            Consider the second part of the FOCUS VERSE when God is presented as saying, “I will be exalted among the nations.  I will be exalted in the earth.” Many people seem to have a problem with that.  I hope you don’t.  The expression is very compatible with what we call “The Lord’s Prayer” that says, “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”  Are we aware of what that means and what it entails?  May I remind you that everything on earth does indeed exalt the Lord God automatically?  There is only one facet of creation that is given a choice—you and me.  You and I are earth too—composed of the dust of the earth—“earthen vessels” (2 Corinthians 4:7).   So here is the big question is this as it relates to me personally: Is my will in harmony with His will?  If it is His will that I exalt Him, am I?  The way I am processing and perceiving, I cannot draw any other conclusion that that THE PURPOSE OF MY EXISTENCE IS TO HONOR AND EXALT THE KING.  That is what composes the Kingdom of God.
            Even while working on this little production, the song WORTHY OF WORSHIP was flowing through my little bald head.  How about we sing it together?