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.
| Daily Reading Guide | 2011 Devotion Archives | 2010 Devotion Archives |
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25 April 11
Hello, folks.
It’s a blustery day so far. I did some running of the mill already this morning…needing to use ski goggles again as the wind and sawdust in your eyes and face sure messes up visibility.
May your vision be clear…and your day blessed.
Love, Dad/Ray
25 April 2011
Proverbs 25
Focus: “Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land.” Proverbs 25:25.
Being hot and dehydrated and tired is a condition that I’ve experienced in my life course. The situation that comes to my memory as an extreme example was way back when I was young, about 1963, following a successful climb to the summit of Mount Olympus, the tallest peak in the Olympic range in Washington State. I was pretty spent and foolishly allowed myself to get terribly sun burnt on the mountain besides facing the added physical gruel of hiking the 24 miles out with a poorly-designed heavy pack. After returning to our vehicle we soon stopped at a store where I bought a quart of chocolate milk. I remember glugging that down in one go without stopping. That cool liquid in my wiped-out condition was about as refreshing as it gets!
We also know something about GOOD NEWS FROM A DISTANT LAND. Having lived in the Pacific Islands for many years, we still have a lot of friends and contacts there. It’s always good to hear good news from them. Of course, we also have some experience with BAD NEWS FROM CLOSE TO HOME.
Life where we are has a way of inflicting us all with WEARINESS. I think that’s inevitable in one way or another. Can you imagine how additionally WEARY it would be if we were convinced that things could not and would not get better?—no hope beyond where we are?—bound to the notion that this is all you get and as good as it gets? That is a description of DEPRESSION—the kind that influences people to give up and blow their brains out.
Can we agree that HEAVEN on the other side of this life is a DISTANT LAND (which may not be very far away at all). Can we agree that Jesus is the BEST NEWS we could ever hear? We just celebrated EASTER yesterday. That awesome marvelous supernatural story of hope and victory is like wonderfully GOOD NEWS FROM A DISTANT LAND. “’Where, O death, is you victory? Where, O death, is your sting?’ The sting of death is sin…But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:55-56). The fact that Jesus’ life here as GOD INCARNATE was vindicated by a virgin womb and an empty tomb is substantial evidence that this NEWS is not only GOOD, but it’s TRUE!
“There is one thing which gives radiance to everything. It is the idea of something around the corner.” - G. K. Chesterton