MY FOREVER SHEPHERD!

FOREVER!

TIMELESSNESS!

All the days of my life---now and later in heaven with Him!

That's ETERNITY!

One Word that seems to say it all while touching my heart!

THE LORD OUR PROTECTING SHEPHERD!

I will fear no evil.

That's PROTECTION!

Fear itself can have a devastating effect on the sheep in GOD'S household. In today's evil times, protection is needed even in one's thought life. Be vigilant to guard your thoughts. Don't let the voice of today's culture lead you.

Time in His Presence is key.....from care in the day to watch in the night. (Laniak p. 112)

Courage comes from the shepherd's role of protector. It's part of the Good Shepherd's ID. (John 10:11) His sheep know him as he calls them by name. Aloneness disappears, displaced by an abundant life given freely by the "Protecting Shepherd".

MY SHEPHERD---MY SUPPLIER

The Lord is my Shepherd....
 

I shall not want---

THAT'S SUPPLY! 

May the Lord provide insight into my soul as He provides for my true needs to be found in stillness before Him. An intentional choice!

* Sometimes He uses family to supply closeness in times of need.

CAMPING OUT IN THE PSALMS!

What does camping out in the Psalms look  like if one is camping indoors? Messy for me. LJJ even plays relevant, uplifting spiritual songs as she cleans!

At different ages/seasons or addresses. Steve Rd.,585,3958,1093,1152 or 125 it often looked like this, whether for meditation or teaching.

Psalm 23     I will not FEAR. (The Psalmist says)

Often, when unable to relax from medical maladies or other stresses, I have used this psalm as my sleeping pill. Think, "nite-nite" from relaxing words of Scripture or hymns playing quietly.

Psalm 27     Whom shall I FEAR? (We ask; God answers)

When God is our light and strong hold, there is nothing or no one to fear. The Lord gives "heart" courage as we wait for Him to answer.

Psalm 46     I/We will not FEAR! (Our response of Worship)

Be still before Him and Know He is GOD as I/we seek Him through prayer and His Word allowing us to exalt Him as our fortress.

Once again may "camping out in the Psalms" bring songs to my soul.

A musical interlude of sorts to help ease my mind and overlook my mess.

LANGUAGE OF HOPE!

Worries have you sleepless?

Fear have you tossing and turning?

What's does one do when she hopes for a good night's sleep, "safe and secure from all alarms"?

The LORD is my Shepherd.....He leads me beside still waters...He restores my soul....He is with me.......He comforts me.......I will dwell with Him forever. 

"FIL' ER UP!"

Fill 'er up, please! 

Ever used that phrase when having a cuppa with friends?

Have you ever been distracted and literally filled to overflowing?

compliments of Doris 

An overflow can happen in your spiritual life and not always for the best reason. First, one must empty self of distractions, expectations, obstacles of worry and opinions, to fully fill up with God's wisdom strength and mercy for the moment.   

Paul David Tripp (New Morning Mercies, 6/07/23) diagnosis is dubbed, "eternity amnesia." A malady that causes one to focus on self-centered wants......which our broken world cannot deliver. The world's inability to deliver disappoints every time.

But God, in his love and mercy, refills us day after day once we've emptied ourselves. (Valley of Vision, Fullness in Christ)

Take your morning empty cuppa, and ask God to "fill 'er up.....so His blessings will runneth over! (Psalm 23)

SERVICES OF WORSHIP FOR QUEEN ELIZABETH II

From singing of phrases of scripture and the "Twenty Third Psalm" to family and attendees reciting together The Lord's Prayer, her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was laid to rest honoring the One True Majestic King, her Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Truly services of WORSHIP!

"Love Divine All Love Excelling" at her funeral along with "All my Hope of God is Founded" at her committal service left no doubt of this stalwart's Christian's faith!

Though the Queen's piper played a lament, there was no lamenting.

There is rejoicing in heaven for one who knows the Triune God; the One who is the  Alpha and Omega with whom she will spend eternity!

GOD SAVE THE QUEEN!

God did save Queen Elizabeth II on September 8, 2022 when He welcomed her into heaven! Saved her for eternity with Him.

What a blessing!

I loved hearing them singing Psalm 23 at St. Giles' Cathedral in Scotland---as part of "her" plan to be followed after her passing.

I have known a few people who have met the Queen and new King Charles but my favorite connection is that of Dr. Chubby Andrews and  his wife and family. His son Dr. Rad Andrews teaches our Sunday School class. I recall at Chubby's funeral that his family received condolences from the gatekeeper of the Queen!

Thx Drew Holcomb for that tweet. I loved remembering the story. It's a great read!

Thanks be to God who "saved" the Queen for His glory!

SITTING STILL !

SITTING STILL---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

-------can be much more than a physical posture.

Alone. In solitude.

Solitude can be companionable.

Alone with the LORD. Yahweh Rohi.

STILL SITTING!.

CHOOSE: THE SHEPHERD'S LEADING

"Savior like a shepherd lead us...." would ring out many a Sunday in the sanctuary of Clarksville, TN's First Christian Church. I remember snickering when the word "bosom" would appear in the singing. As small as Mama Davenport was, she could give a BIG look to squelch any giggles.

I also remember the church was located on Madison. I remember the street name because I always walked there, with "Mama". She didn't drive and as far as I know, my grandfather's (Dang-Dang) feet never crossed the threshold of said church.

An early morning cuppa from my fave Mary Alice Hadley Country Collection''s
"lamb" reminds me of my gentle, godly grandmother, Mama Davenport.

Maybe that's why her tender voice would enthusiastically join with all the  worshippers, because she knew she needed the care of a Shepherd! 

I never knew a time when Mama Davenport did not choose to let her Shepherd lead her. (Psalm 23:3) My spiritual mentor, "Mama," showed me the importance of choosing the Shepherd's leading.

difficul-TEA

I will give you the treasures of darkness And hidden riches of secret places, That you may know that I, the Lord, Who call you by your name, Am the God of Israel. (Isaiah 45:3, NKJV)            

Have you ever felt like a lone sheep?  As if wolves in the distance were waiting to devour you? Especially in the dark of night. Isn't that when fear is greatest? During the night watch.

You're not alone---even though you might feel alone. 

Pain is unavoidable in life. Yet, we try everything to keep it at bay. Pain avoidance is common in our culture. We run from it. Both ease and convenience are promoted. There's even a credit card that will "pay" for it. Difficul-TEA is a fact of life, regardless of what the ad-men say. Even money can't always "buy" your way out of it.

So what does one do with the unwanted, sometimes unwarranted, pain of struggle?

The Psalmist David tells us in Psalm 23, that our Shepherd is with us in the shadow of death. Not just death, but any dark ravine of pain through which life leads us. Those detours of darkness. 

We need to seek the face of the One whose face gives light during those days---and nights. According to the words of Isaiah the prophet, God can use those dark times and actually give them to us as treasures. Life lessons of struggle learned with the One who calls us by our name---just like the psalmist's shepherd.

Some of life's best lessons are taught in the most difficult times. 

A cuppa difficul-TEA might not be our choice....But God.....can use it for our good. Just knowing that, soothes my heart.

"shor-TEA-ning"

The Teacher searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true. (Ecclesiastes 12:10, NIV)

Shor-TEA-ning was the only "tea" word I could create to get across this idea of finding just the right words---and the right number of words. Less is more. Simplicity over verbosi-TEA.

I needed to pare down the words of my lesson on fear from Psalms 23, 27 & 46, before teaching it to the night class, which has a shorter timeframe. Thus, shor-TEA-ning is needed. What do I cut out? What MUST be left in?

Somewhat like my morning cuppa---if I want a more robust tea due to my time constraints, I brew a half a cup----but my tea is stronger. I use loose tea because it gives the strongest flavor in half the time BUT I only allow myself half a cup because I don't need extra energy from the caffeine. I just need the right amount for the time allotted---without skimping on the flavor. 

 Pithy with a punch. Just like my cuppa "shor-TEA-ning."

SABBATH SNAPSHOT: Readabili-TEA

Max Lucado is a best-selling author amassing  over 80 million books sold. Why? Readabili-TEA! He is the king of readability. Not shallow books but books that can be easily read and understood and yet still linger in our minds. Worthy of pondering for life applications.

Friend Charlotte recently recommended Traveling Light, an "old" (2001) Lucado book. She knew I was knee- deep in lesson prep on three of the Psalms, one of which is Psalm 23.
As I often do with a new work of non-fiction, I read the conclusion or author's notes first. (I could blog for a week on those gems.) Then, I scan the table of contents and often turn right to a chapter.....one I "need," one I am "drawn to" or one that just "catches my eye." This perusal was no different, though eventually I got around to reading chapter one which offered this wisdom.

• For the sake of those you love, travel light. 
• For the sake of  the God you love, travel light.
• For the sake of your own joy, travel light.

Those nuggets alone had me thinking, on a personal level, all week.
Hubby and I have different traveling styles. When we physically travel, especially by air, he packs lots of bags---at least in the days of "free" checked bags. He also is more likely to pack last minute. I, on the other hand, decide my "light" wardrobe, make a packing list and check off items as I put them in the suitcase. Of course, if I'm missing something, I've learned that he probably has it stuffed somewhere in his bag.
With hubby as a travel companion, I can leave my luggage unattended, knowing that he won't fill it with an explosive, as the airport seems to constantly announce. He pulls my rollerboard, when I tire out. He stows my carry-on in those overhead bins so that they don't shift during the flight and fall out injuring me or others. At baggage claim he's good at identifying my bag and grabbing it off the carousel. Even with his bags, he almost always ends up carrying LOTS of my baggage.
But......when it comes to emotional baggage, he travels light whereas my mind is too often filled to capacity. This baggage can't be carried by hubby-----or others, it's all mine. I need to put it down, setting it at the foot of the cross and allowing the Lord to lay claim to it on my behalf.

The sub-title says it all.
Releasing the Burdens You were Never Meant to Bear. The Promise of Psalm 23.

As Lucado put it....."the bags we gather are not made of leather; they're made of burdens. The suitcase of guilt. The trunk of discontent. A backpack of anxiety and a hanging bag of grief. Add on a briefcase of perfectionism, an overnight bag of loneliness and a duffel bag of fear. No wonder we're so tired at the end of the day."
What's your chapter of choice? There's "Readabili-TEA" at its best in each one.

SATURDAY RE-BREWS: TEAch-able

1/18/14 Weekends are times for wandering.....so for a season, the Saturday blogs will be a re-brew. A Re-write. I hope to re-write some blogs from the last 5 years. More concise. More focused and in the same format.

TEAch-able will be the first cuppa.

But the Comforter, even the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said unto you. (John 14:26, ASV)

Re-reading my 2/28/09 blog entry today, had me asking myself, "How teachable am I in 2014?" 

"Why do I seem to continue to need re-teaching, especially in the area of trust?" Remedial trust classes?" Or.....maybe be sent to "time-out" to see if "being still" can make a difference in my recall of God's word and all He has done in my past to prove His faithfulness.

In 2009, my classroom was a cancer diagnosis with a grim prognosis. An initial surgery could last 18-22 hours. Possibility of 8-10 surgeries spanning over a year. A good chance of losing my gums and having to rebuild my sinus cavity with titanium. Such a medical foreboding had my listening ears perked. I desired to "hear" more from the Lord, knowing that though "he slay me," as Job said, I was ready to praise HIm.
Suffering can bring one into a TEAch-able position---prostrate before the Lord.

Psalm 23 is a psalm of trust and confidence in the God for not only the moment but for all one's future moments as well. Psalms---a good place to go for re-teaching IF one has a TEAch-able spirit.

23rd Psalm--final visit

3/2/09 Psalm 23:5-6

More from verse four---
Darkness continues to give me pause for thought/reflection---and here’s what I know:
• Scripture is light---it sheds His light on truth thus giving understanding. Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things from Thy law. (Word) Psalm 119:18
• God’s truth can set me free from the darkness brought by worry and fear.
• I can trust God in the darkness---He will lead me.
• The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom (or what) shall I fear? Psalm 27, which I love (Claudia has permitted me to love it b/c it’s her psalm)

Someone asked me, How do you “spout off” this scripture---I don’t know---verses learned as a child do come back---yet, as an adult, trying to memorize scripture has been very difficult for me. But God…..during this time, has allowed those words that are written in His Word, that I have been privileged to study, to come to mind whenever I need His guiDANCE. I know it doesn’t make sense for someone with such a pitiful memory to recall anything, but it’s been happening. It’s as if the essence of His word is residing deep in my heart “for such a time as this”----can’t explain it anymore than that.

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
Verse 5—God as a provider—providing hospitality for His people—not by taking them away from "enemies" in order to lavish them with a banquet---but by giving His presence in the midst of harm or those who harm.
thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Annointing with oil in scripture is an example of God bestowing His Holy Spirit on the believer and David’s cup symbolized his lot/portion in life and how he was overflowing with God’s blessing. (Constable)
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: A four-year old at my son’s church recited the 23rd Psalm which her dad posted on GodTube. It is precious. It also spoke volumes to me when she kept trying to add “surely” before many of the verses---that’s the way I see it now—surely He restores my soul, surely He is with me and surely His goodness and mercy will pursue me---It’s a sure thing.
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
This might indicate heaven but my marginalia indicates a present happening---like Psalm 27:4 ….that I shall seek, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life----building a relationship of oneness, experiencing His presence. (Dotsy THOT)

I’ve found out a few things about sheep this week----they need a shepherd---and so do I. Do you?

R + S = C

3/1/09 23rd Psalm Revisited
Journal jottings: Steeped my tea, while looking at my backyard steeped in snow, opening my Bible to again "steep" in God's word from Psalm 23....while contemplating whether to have homemade sourdough bread from one of my dancers or homemade banana bread from a MS friend.
Wouldn’t we feel blessed if those were the hardest choices we had to make in life? But I, my friends, can tell you that God’s children are blessed, even in the places of deep difficulty---“independent of all circumstances.” (Jesus Calling)

Streams in Desert 3/1 says, “Your situation is filled with uncertainty and is very serious, but it is perfectly right…..for it is a platform from which God will display His almighty grace and power. He will not only deliver you….(He) will impart a lesson that you will never forget.”-----which brings me back to my "steeping" of Psalm 23.

Verse 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

As a teenager I spent many days traipsing back and forth between my house on Virginia Street and the Fairleigh’s house on Alumini Avenue. The quickest, and in those days, safe, path was the alley. Winslow and I knew it by heart b/c most days found us together at one house or the other. But at night it was pitch black and though we pretty much knew the way like the back of our hand, we much preferred to travel it together. Some nights we would leave from my back porch, cross the yard cut through behind the garage, where our baby blue Valiant was housed, just past the vacated house of John Tom, Clara Lee and Hattie May, on the old Albritton place, and scoot down the alley to Alumni where there was a street light ---though dim by today’s standards. Then we’d race to her 1962 turquoise Corvair (w/ tab shift, trunk in the front & motor in the back) and she’d drive me around the corner to my front door---Virginia Street was well lit. You see, light dispels darkness.

Death, even the “shadow of death,” and fear can be synonymous with darkness. And darkness can be overwhelming without “protection.” Winslow and I had each other---silly as that sounds---and that made all the difference. Today, the Lord understood that my MAC fear, not only of the endurance of pain, but the fear of the unknown, would begin to creep in as I neared the time of the Dallas departure----so, He’s had me in this psalm for three days now. He also had “no-fear” verses written on my Dotsy quilt and a "fear" entry today in Edges of His Ways.

The verse doesn’t stop with, I will fear no evil---that would make fearlessness possible by my own “human” effort & trust me, it’s not possible for me to conjure it up. The next phrase, "for Thou art with me,” tells us why we don’t have to fear---the Lord God, our shepherd is with us.
And He comes prepared, just as the hillside shepherds of old. He’s equipped with a rod and a staff.
Insights from Meeting God in Quiet Places---more like my loose paraphrasing:

Rod—protection from enemies---gives feeling of assurance---but if God offered protection without the care and concern of friendship (staff) it would be stern & cold

Staff –for peaceful walking and guiding---friendship, like an old walking stick but if it didn’t go hand in hand with strength and protection (rod) it would be soppy, sentimental, and without power.

The result of the two together is comfort. (Thy) Rod and (Thy) Staff = (my) Comfort(R+S = C)

Soothing Psalms

2/28/09 Psalms Soothe the Soul-- so does the falling snow out my window as I type Psalms in the Hebrew Bible is Tehillim, which means "praise songs." Descriptive praise psalms offer praise to God for Himself or for His general working rather than for a specific instance of His working. The psalms are Hebrew poetry. That’s probably why the psalms speak to my heart b/c I love poetry---a poet can say so much with few words and yet we get the big picture or the analogy. 

I need to soothe my soul. Maybe it’s because this time next week, I’ll be in Dallas. I’ll no longer be in the comfort of the familiar---my home for the last 32 years---my bed, my blankies---though I will take 2 “squish” pillows (down--that’s worn way down) with me---Those thoughts give a creature who loves habit a little pause. So, I’m turning to the most soothing psalm I know to learn from my Good Shepherd. I only know (by heart) the King James version---possibly another 4th grade memory assignment. Psalm 23 (wherein lies my security) 

 Read the entire psalm. Look closely at the first three verses. 1) The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2) He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3) He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Ever heard the story of the Sunday School teacher who asked her pre-school class is any one could recite the 23rd psalm? One little girl made quite a production out of it as she stood before the class, said, “the Lord is my shepherd, that’s all I want,” bowed and sat back down. ‘nuff said, don’t you think?---quite poetic---summing up in just a few words the big picture of that psalm. 

I am drawn to this psalm of David (the shepherd boy and then king) as a psalm of trust and confidence in God’s goodness in the present and in the future. (Constable) Verse 1--Because the Lord is my shepherd (my Yahweh Raah or named by many as Jehovah Rohi) I shall not want. I will not lack for any good thing. He, my caregiver & friend, will provide for my needs. 

Verse 2 He maketh me to lie down (be still) ---sometimes He really has to “make” me---taking out the phone or internet or putting me flat on my back---that way I have to “look up.” In green pastures---a great place for sheep to be easily fed---He nourishes/feeds me with His Word. He leadeth me---(He guides me & knows my name just as the shepherd leads & calls his sheep by name, (John 10:3) beside the still waters. ---calming, yet living water---the water of life. Bishop Handley Mouley used to say, “Even if you have not a long time to spend in the morning with your God, hem it with quietness. (Edges of His Ways, 2/22; emphasis mine) 

Verse 3 He restoreth my soul; “Unto Thee O Lord do I lift up my soul” (Psa. 25:1) spiritual rest and renewal--I can’t do it on my own. In His grace, He feeds the hunger in my soul and that nourishment keeps me. O people of God, be great believers! Little faith will bring your souls to heaven, but great faith will bring heaven to your souls. (Charles H. Spurgeon) he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness---I can trust His guidance to keep me on a level path (Psa. 27:11) His path (Psa. 25:4) for his name's sake.----as One who directs His people for His reputation, His glory. 

In every situation even ones of adversity, to God be the glory.

Assignment to self or you can join me if you choose---as you put your head on the pillow tonight, recite these 5 words.......The LORD is my shepherd---each time emphasizing a different word and just see how many different ways those words will speak to you.