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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21 Oct 11
Good morning, dear people.
Wow! The adventure doesn’t quit. Yesterday was a big one. Today is another. And here we are at the end of Psalms. I’m still not sure which way to jump next. And with all the work pushing on me right now, I don’t even have time to think about it right now.
Please have a blessed day. Please keep breathing…and praising.
Love, Dad/Ray
21 October 2011
Psalm 150
Focus: “Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD.” Psalm 150:6.
Time for a breath test. We’re not concerned here with “bad breath” that emits unpleasant odors. We simply want to establish the presence of one of essential vital signs of life—respiration—breathing. So if you are able to light a candle, then blow it out, that’s a foolproof indication that you are breathing—you’re still alive. And according to the psalmist, that means you have an obligation to praise your Maker.
Accepting this obligation and responsibility is entirely a matter of choice. And once it is accepted by means of the internal illumination that Paul describes in Ephesians 1, praising our Maker should be as automatic as breathing. Let’s listen in on Paul breathing a prayer for the Ephesian believers: “I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way” (Ephesians 1:18-23, NIV).
Wow!—only one period in that paragraph of prayer—implying only one breath. At least he’s using his breath the right way! And I don’t think he’s in need of mouth wash—he’s already submitted to heart wash. For it is out of the clean condition of his heart that his mouth speaks (Matthew 12:34). Now there’s a concept to live by.
Sign in a veterinarian’s office: “Doctor will be with you shortly. Sit! Stay!” Sign on a music shop: “Gone Chopin. Bach in a Minuet.”