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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18 July 11
Greetings, dear special ones.
There is some sunshine in the works this morning. Good. Becki and I did a walk/jog already. She’s been joining me lately. A doctor’s advice helped to add some motivation. To be sure, we all need motivation in this regard.
Well…the pigeon is gone. I think he got a little ticked that I didn’t let him in the pole barn Saturday night. Oh well.
Lots on the agenda today…a lot needs to get done before taking on a portable sawmill job tomorrow.
May your day be blessed. Love—Dad/Ray
18 July 2011
Psalm 77
Focus: “I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds.” Psalm 77:12.
Quite honestly, as I began reading this psalm this morning, I had to wonder why I was reading it. I mean, it’s kind of depressing to read about someone’s depression. That’s not my favorite topic—especially when I’m seeking inspiration and encouragement. What do I need that for? And depression is exactly where Asaph begins. But hey!—that’s life—we all encounter depressing circumstances that, if not managed well, can put us into depression—at least the temptation thereto. As I carry on and examine the flow of this composition, it becomes a good deal more positive than it appeared at the beginning. In fact, I think it can be appropriately regarded as a recipe for the proper management and/or avoidance of depression. Consider this outline approach:
DEPRESSION—verses 1-9. I don’t know what was going on in Asaph’s life during the episode he is describing, but it wasn’t pretty. He was definitely in the dumps.
REFLECTION—verses 10-12. He reviews the historical past, God’s faithfulness, and wonderful works in behalf of His people. They are facts that Asaph cannot deny, giving him a better handle on his own future that appears pretty dismal.
AFFIRMATION—verses 13-15. After taking a moment to count his blessings and meditate on God’s goodness and deliverances of the past, suddenly Asaph bursts into exultation and praise—he put on “a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair” (Isaiah 61:3).
IMAGINATION—verses 16-20. His new upbeat perspective gives inspiration for poetic imagery as he recounts God’s spectacular deliverance of Israel from Egypt. After all, if God can do the big, He can certainly do the small.
Bingo!—depression abated.
“Depression comes, not from having faults, but from the refusal to face them. There are tens of thousands of persons today suffering from fears which in reality are nothing but the effects of hidden sins.” - Fulton John Sheen