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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1 Oct 11
OK, dear ones…
This day is in full motion…and not quitting any time soon. Thano and I just delivered 1 ∏ cords of firewood…and actually sold a half cord to a guy who just happened in earlier. Rain and cold are coming. And I’m sure not ready. Wish we could carry on with more weather like yesterday. It was about as perfect as it gets. Thano is now off to work…and Becki and I need to be off soon to a wedding.
Have a blessed day…as you refuse to allow your hope to be dislodged from where you decide to put it.
Love, Dad/Ray
1 October 2011
Psalm 130
Focus: “I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope.” Psalm 130:5.
I remember the comment of a senior citizen I visited years ago. He asked me, “Do you know what you do when you’re retired and get as old as me?” “I’m not sure I know,” I said. He followed, “You look for stuff.” All the while he was rummaging around trying to find something he wanted to give me.
Do you think some people forget where they put their hope? I’ve been made aware of some very sad cases of people doing so recently—being so overwhelmed with the complexities of life with its disappointing circumstances that depression sets in, hope is lost, and the only perceived way of relief is death—so they do it.
The psalmist is decisive in where he puts his hope—“…in his word I put my hope.” Then he exhorts his peers, “O Israel, put your hope in the LORD, for with the LORD is unfailing love and with him is full redemption” (Psalm 130:7). May I suggest that we do the same—and not forget where we put it?
My simultaneous reading in Hebrews 6 offers some very compatible encouragement. “We want you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure. We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised” (Hebrews 6:11-12). The writer expounds on the principles of God’s plan for our salvation and adds, “God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf” (Hebrews 6:19-20).
Having had some boating experience, I have to agree that it is difficult to anchor a boat securely without a good anchor.
“Security is not the absence of danger, but the presence of God, no matter what the danger.”