the

The Lord is my Shepherd  -  That’s Relationship!

I shall not want  -  That’s Supply!

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures  -  That’s Rest!

He leadeth me beside the still waters  -  That’s Refreshment!

He restoreth my soul  -  That’s Healing!

He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness  -  That’s Guidance!

For His name sake  -  That’s Purpose!

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death  -  That’s Testing!

I will fear no evil  -  That’s Protection!

For Thou art with me  -  That’s Faithfulness!

Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me  -  That's Discipline!

Thou prepareth a table before me in the presence of mine enemies  -  That’s Hope!

Thou annointest my head with oil  -  That’s Consecration!

My cup runneth over  -  That’s Abundence.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life  -  That’s Blessing!

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord  -  That’s Security!

Forever  -  That’s Eternity!

opportunity

Then Agrippa said to Paul, "You almost persuade me to become a Christian (Acts 26:28)

Years ago, Walter took his friend Arthur to see some land in open country where cattle were idly grazing. Walter explained about his dream for developing this area. He told his friend that in time the area would be surrounded by many restaurants, hotels and convention centers. He told Arthur that his plan would take all of his money and he needed others to develop the surrounding area. He wanted his friend to have the first opportunity to buy into this project.

But Arthur thought to himself, "Who in the world is going to drive twenty-five miles for this crazy project?"

He said to Walter that he would think about it and decide later on. "Later on will be too late," Walter cautioned Arthur. "You'd better move on it right now."

"And so Art Linkletter turned down the opportunity to buy up all the land that surrounded what was to become Disneyland. His friend Walt Disney tried to talk him into it. But Art thought he was crazy."

Life's like that. King Agrippa had the opportunity to accept Christ and become a Christian. He turned it down. Judas had one of the greatest opportunities in all history to become a follower of Jesus. Instead, he betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. Unbelievable! The two thieves who were crucified with Jesus also had the opportunity to receive the gift of eternal life. One accepted. The other didn't.

Life offers all of us many opportunities. We all have the opportunity to become followers of Jesus.  That choice is ours.... Today!  We do not know what tomorrow holds. 

 

As God's Word says, "For he says, I have heard you in a favorable time, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.  Behold, now is theaccepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." (2 Corinthians 6:2)

hopeless

"Lord, you know the hopes of the helpless. Surely you will hear their cries and comfort them." (Psalm 10:17 NLT)

"The hopes of the helpless." Interesting phrase don't you think? What are the hopes of the helpless? Help. Escape. Relief. Freedom. Deliverance. Strength. Energy. Light. Refreshment. Revival. Renewal. Dreams. "Immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine."

"The hopes of the helpless." Would those descriptive words apply to you? Weak. Weary. Worn-down. Restless. Barely holding on. Holding on to hope even though there are times you wonder why? Hoping that something totally beyond your power and beyond your comprehension will happen. Hope that something will bring about a change. Hope that something will happen that you have never even dreamed of... something "out of the blue."

A hope of the helpless might involve the doctor coming into your hospital room with a puzzled look on his face saying, "The tumor is gone. We can't explain it, but it's gone."

A hope of the helpless might be waking up in the middle of the night concerned about your husband but not sure there is anything you can do to encourage him or lift his spirits.

A hope of the helpless might take the shape of accidently bumping into the professor of the class you're struggling in and having her say, "I think you can do this. Just don't give up."

A hope of the helpless might come from meeting a new family after they visited your church and hearing them say, "We loved it! We want to be involved."

The hopes of the helpless may come in all shapes and sizes that surfaces at the least expected time. The hopes of the helpless may come at a time when you feel totally drained. The hopes of the helpless may come may come at a time when you wonder if there is any reason to hang on to your hope.

According to David there are at least three reasons for the helpless to have hope.

First, the Lord knows the hopes of the helpless. 

The Lord knows what you are going through. He knows the pain you are feeling. He knows that the pain has been with you for longer than you can remember. He knows that you have exhausted yourself trying to fix things, restore things, and rebuild things. He knows you feel helpless.

Second, the Lord hears the cries of the helpless. 

He hears your heart. He hears the words that you cannot speak. He hears voice inside you crying out for help. He hears the cries for an end to the suffering.

Third, He the Lord comforts the helpless. 

Not only does He know the hopes of the helpless and hear their cries, but He also comforts them. There may be no human way to describe this comfort from the Lord, but when you experience it, you will know it. You will have no doubt about the One who providing the comfort. It will be clear that your hopes known and your cries are being heard.

He knows. He hears. He comforts. There is hope for the helpless.

-tom norvell

...rule

Last night, while watching the Woman's Softball Tournament, I was remined of one of the most touching moments in women's sports history.  It took place at a women's softball game on April 26, 2008.  Central Washington and Western Oregon faced off against each other, with the winner to receive a bid to the NCAA's Division II playoffs.

Sara Tucholsky, a Western Oregon player, came to the plate in the second inning with the score tied 0-0 and two runners on base .  Sara had never hit a home run in her lifetime.  However, things were about to change.  She connected on a pitch and hit the ball over the center field fence.  Due to her excitement, she missed first base.  So she stopped and turned to go back to the base.  But when she made the sudden stop and turn, she collapsed to the ground, having torn her ACL.

Her first base coach wanted to run out and help her, but if she touched Sara, she would have been counted out.  As Sara lay on the ground, umpires conferred and determined that the best thing to do was to allow Western Oregon to substitute a pinch runner at first base (which would have canceled the home run).

The coach prepared to make the substitution when she heard a voice:  "Excuse me, would it be OK if we carried her around and she touched each bag?'"  You see, in softball, a teammate can't touch a player while running the bases, but there's no rule that says the opponents can't touch her.  So Mallory Holtman and Liz Wallace, two players on the opposing team offered to carry Sara around the bases so that her home run would not be counted as a single.  These two players gently picked up Sara, and carried her around the bases, allowing her to tap each base along the way.  After reaching home plate, these two girls handed Sara off to her own teammates.

When asked later why she did it, Mallory Holtman said, "Honestly, it's one of those things that I hope anyone would do it for me..."  In other words, she was practicing the "Golden Rule" - "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."  (Matthew 7:12)

There's not much I can add to a touching story like that.  May it serve as an inspiration to find ways in your own life to look for people who could use a hand.  When we are less concerned about "winning" than we are about helping others, we can truly begin to reflect Jesus Christ in our lives.

"Therefore, whatever you want men to do for you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets." (Matthew 7:12)

becoming

The famous actor Gregory Peck was once standing in line with a friend, waiting for a table in a crowded Los Angeles restaurant.  They had been waiting for some time, the diners seemed to be taking their time eating and new tables weren't opening up very fast. They weren't even that close to the front of the line. Peck's friend became impatient, and he said to Gregory Peck, "Why don't you tell the maitre d' who you are?"

Gregory Peck responded, "No, if you have to tell them who you are, then you aren't."

There's a great deal of wisdom in that statement.  There's a big difference in who we think we are, who others think we are, and who we really are.  Someone has well said that, "Reputation is who others think we are.  Character is who we really are."  As Christians, we ought to be more concerned with character than with reputation.  Christianity is more than just knowing the right facts.  It's more than going through the right motions.  It begins in the heart; it's who we are.

There is a continual process of growing and adding Christ-like virtues to our lives.  Peter wrote, "Add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance brotherly kindness, and to brother­ly kindness love." (2  Peter 1:5-8).  We never stop "becoming"; it's an ongoing process.  There's always some­thing positive to add to our lives, always something negative to try to get rid of.

We have different ways of measuring growth.  When Sueanne and I would take our children to see the pediatrician, the nurse would always check their height and weight.  Then that information was written onto a chart that gave us a picture of how they were growing.  When we get to be adults, we measure our growth by whether or not we can fit into last year's pants.

But how does a person measure his growth in Christianity?  In Ephesians 4:15-16, Paul says, ".but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into him who is the head -- Christ -- from whom the whole body.causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love."  Paul says that it's time for us to grow up, it's time for us to mature.  But what is the goal of our growth?  Jesus Christ is!

My favorite picture of the growth of Christianity is found in 2 Corinthians 3:18:  "But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord."  Paul says it's as if we're holding a mirror in our left hand, and a picture of Christ in our right hand.  Now when we look in the mirror and see our reflection, and we then we look at Christ, they don't look much alike.  But every day as we mature, we grow up, we become more like Christ, striving for the day when we look in the mirror and see the reflection of Jesus Christ.

Knowledge, conduct, and character must always go together.  We learn God's will so that we might obey it; and in obeying it, we serve him and grow in Christian character.  While none of us is perfectly balanced in these three areas, we ought to strive for that balance.

    

May God bless you as you seek to "know" His will better, "do" more in service to Him, and "become" more like Jesus Christ!

-alan smith

...enough

"You have circled this mountain long enough. Now turn north." (Deuteronomy 2:3)

Will the second half of 2018 be any different than first half?  Will you "press on" in your faith this year or will you continue to wallow in self-pity or live in the "Land of  What If" or the "Land of If Only"?  Will you focus on what lies ahead or will you continue to focus on your past?

Listen to this wonderful challenge from Ruth Graham.  "Either we can be victimized and become victims, or we can be victimized and rise above it. Often it is easier to play the victim than take off our masks and ask for help. We get comfortable with our victim status. It becomes our identity and is hard to give up. The Israelites often played the victim card, and I love what God finally tells them, 'You have circled this mountain long enough. Now turn north' (Deuteronomy 2:3).   Turn north! It's time to move on! Self-pity, fear, pride, and negativity paralyze us. Taking off our masks takes courage, but if we don't do it, we will remain in our victim status and end up stunted."

What about you?

Do you keep talking and talking and talking about something you just can't get over?

Are you living in the past because you just can't "let it go"?

Do you keep wallowing in self-pity wondering what "could have been"?

Have you discussed it over and over with different people but you've never taken action?

Have you worried and worried about it but you've never done anything?

Are you still living in misery because it's something you can't forgive or forget?

Have you circled and circled and circled this issue all your life?

    The time has come!!!

    You have circled this mountain long enough.  Now turn north!!!

-david langerfeld

ppp

"Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him." (Psalm 34:8)
 
I'm a "foodie". Not only do I enjoy eating, but I pay a lot of attention to how things taste and what the ingredients are. Last night I prepared a hot fudge sundae for myself after dinner. As I was sprinkling on some granulated mixed nuts, I read the label. Serving size 2tbsp; calories 100 etc. When I got to the ingredients list, I was amused to discover that in addition to pecans, peanuts, filberts, Brazil nuts - which incidentally are a type of seed and not a nut - the nut topping contained potato.

Potato?

If I had to decide whether I wanted to use those mixed nuts as a topping for my ice cream based on ingredients alone, I think I would have declined. In my mind the foods potato and ice cream do not mix. In fact, they are so different in flavor that I almost gag just thinking about a hot fudge sundae with potato-nut topping. It sounds ridiculous doesn't it?

There are times when our life is sprinkled with some very unappealing ingredients. God has a way of using the things that are bitter or unsavory and making them into a more appetizing blend. All of us go through periods where life makes sense for the most part. Things go smoothly and we are able to experience a satisfying peace.

When we least expect it, the status quo can change on us. The important thing to remember is that the challenging parts of life are nothing more than a different ingredient being tossed into the mix to add flavor. At first we may not like the way it tastes, especially if it is initially overpowering. Over time, God gives us the appetite we need to be able to taste and see that the things He allows - as part of the flavor of our lives - are good. When we put our hope in Him and trust Him as our constant refuge, even life's stomach-churning recipes can be salvaged.
-lauren beyenhof

...spider

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Hebrews 12:1-2)

Last Sunday our pastor told an interesting story and, had it not been serious, it would have been funny. He told about a fellow in a support group who for months on end kept praying about a personal problem but never did anything about it. Week after week he would pray with seemingly great conviction, "Oh God, clean the cobwebs out of my life... clean the cobwebs out of my life!"

Finally, in utter frustration the leader of the group broke into the man's prayer and prayed rather boisterously, "Oh God, KILL THE SPIDER!" 

I can identify with this leader in that I, too, know of people who have been confessing the same sin and/or problem for years, asking God for deliverance but never doing anything about it.

If we are struggling with a besetting sin or bad habit, what can we do about it? Certainly pray and ask God for deliverance - but also pray that he will show us the root cause of our problem because, more often than not, our repetitive failures are the fruit of a deeper root. God not only wants to deliver us from habitual sins but also free us from the deeper root cause.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank you that you have already done for me what I couldn't do for myself in that you gave your Son, Jesus, to die for and free me from a life of sin and failure. Please help me to see the root cause of my besetting sin or problem [name it] and help me to find the help I need to overcome. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

-dick innes

ebenezer

There's a peculiar line in the classic hymn "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing".  It's in the second stanza; and it says, "Here I raise my Ebenezer." Most people are probably not familiar with the single verse from which that line originated. Robert Robinson apparently not only knew of the verse but also understood its meaning and importance, for it was he who wrote those words into his beautiful and timeless hymn.

In 1 Samuel 7:12 we are told that "Samuel took a stone and set it up... and called its name Ebenezer, saying 'Thus far the Lord has helped us.'"  That stone was a reminder to the Israelites of God's faithfulness and might.  It was set up so that no matter what situation they were in, they would be able to hark back to their defeat of the Philistines in which God was faithful to deliver them.

What reminders do you have of God's faithfulness in your life?  It may be a picture, a song, a powerful verse that really spoke to your heart during a difficult time.  Whatever it is, keep it at hand so that when you are discouraged you can not only use it to recall how God has blessed and helped you, but you can also look forward to His future faithfulness.

Ebenezer - from two Hebrew words pronounced together: "Even Haazer" - "Stone of Help."

-david jeremiah

hesitant

I had an uncomfortable experience at a wedding recently. Everything was going along as planned until it came time for the minister to ask that all-important question of the bride, "Do you take John to be your lawfully wedded husband?"

Just then, for some unknown reason, there was an incredibly long and unbelievably awkward silence. No one, at the time, knew for sure if thebride had just zoned out for a moment, or if she was actually contemplating how she wanted to answer. I certainly hope it was the former, but not being a close friend, I never found out.

No groom deserves to have a hesitant bride on his wedding day.

This incident made me think of how the Church is the Bride of Christ, and how we can be reluctant in committing ourselves to Him. Just as it would crush a groom for his bride to have second thoughts about her commitment, it must be so disappointing to Jesus when we hesitate in our commitments to Him.

The good news, however, is that He doesn't turn and walk away. He waits patiently - however long and awkward our pause might be - always remaining at the altar, always waiting for us to say, "I do."

"Let us be glad and rejoice, and let us give honor to him. For the time has come for the wedding feast of the Lamb, and his bride has prepared herself" (Revelation 19:7, NLT).

-thomas bevers

storms

"Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd" (Matt. 14:22)

We can be smack in the center of God’s will and still go through terrible storms. Christ loved the disciples with all His heart, yet He "made" them get into the boat when He knew a storm was coming. They were exactly where they were supposed to be and still experienced frightening turbulence.

Can you relate to the disciples? Have you experienced a time when you knew you were where God wanted you to be, but the storms were overwhelming?

Not all the storms in life result from either sin or warfare. Some occur like clockwork to purposely rock our boats. However, if Christ has appointed our place in the storm, you can be sure He purposes a show. But, we must be looking past our own boat to see Him.

One of my family’s worst storms occurred when Michael, the child we raised for seven years, left our home to return to his birth mother. We received countless cards and letters which were a great comfort to us. Many of them attributed our loss to Satan and our storm to spiritual warfare. We understood the assumption because it was clearly the easiest explanation - albeit not necessarily an accurate one.

I am so thankful God was clear in His message to us during those days. We knew without a shadow of a doubt that Michael’s return to his birth mother was the expressed will of God. We had no idea why nor do we have any answers now, but we were certain God was directing the events.

Christ calls us to walk by faith through our storms. It seems like a big requirement until we realize Christ does far more than that - He walks on the water during our storms. God has placed all things under Christ’s feet - including the waves that break relentlessly against us. He is in charge. He is right there.

Please don’t miss an important element in this story: Christ walked on the water before He calmed the storm. If He had simply calmed the storm, the disciples would have missed His majesty. And what a shame. His majesty was the whole point.

We want Christ to hurry and calm the storm. He wants us to find Him in the midst of it first.

-beth moore

heart

"So he got up and went to his father.

But while he was still a long way off,

his father saw him and was filled with

compassion for him; he ran to his son,

threw his arms around him and kissed him."

(Luke 15:20 - The Prodigal Son)

While he was still a long way off...

The father knew the son's heart!

He did not say,

"Here comes that scoundrel...

What does he expect from me? A loan?"

Perhaps we are a long way off

from being what God expects of us.

We are so far down the road

that anyone else might suspect our motives

for calling on the Father

Perhaps we are Christian

for what we can get out of it.

But God can see...

even though the distance is great

...the direction of our steps and

...the purpose of our heart

And if that purpose is a longing

...for a renewed relationship

...or a closer tie

God's heart will go out to us

Even though we are "still a long way off".

dear

As your father, I just wanted to remind you today of how beautiful you are because there is "father of lies" who will try to deceive you. He will try to tell you that you are not good enough, not attractive enough, not thin enough, not strong enough, not smart enough, not righteous enough, and that you are simply unimportant to Me.

He will try to tell you that you have broken one too many promises, that you have fallen one too many times, that you have lived one too many lies, and that you've been going in the wrong direction so long that it is pointless to turn back now.

But guess what?

You do not belong to him.  He is NOT your father.  I AM!!!

You see, you are My creation. My workmanship. You have been born of My thought, every part of you placed together by My hands. You have My thumbprint upon you. You are a prince/princess.  Did you know that? You are My child, the child of THE KING!

I look at you and see a precious, priceless pearl. There is no ocean I would not swim, no mountain I would not climb, no price I would not pay to have you and to be with you and call you My own.

In fact, I already have.  I have done all that I could, given all that there is.

 

I desire to be with you every moment of every day. How I long for you to talk to Me every day. My love for you never grows cold. My promises are never broken (contrary to what he might lead you to believe). My character never changes. And you, my child have been made in My image.

I love you dearly, unconditionally and completely. I understand every emotion that you have. I've been there. I count every tear that you cry. I know every hair on your head.

And do you know what?   I even know your weaknesses and your failures and your fears. I know those hidden parts of you that you wish would go away. Those dark corners of your world that you stuff deep down, praying that no one will ever see. I have already seen them and they will not change my love for you.

Nothing will.  I love your heart and I desire all of it.

I just wanted to remind you today of how beautiful you are and how precious you are to Me.

With Unmeasurable Love,

Your Heavenly Father

Author Unknown

prayer

Elohim, 

I KNOW you can create something out of nothing, will you create something out of any nothing areas - impossible situations in my life.

El Elyon,

I KNOW you are in control, sovereign, and I give you my circumstances today.

Adonai,

I KNOW you are my Lord and Master, I choose to follow you instead of the ways of the world.

El Shaddai,

I KNOW you are God Almighty, and I trust that you are sufficient for my deepest needs today.

Yahweh Jireh,

I KNOW you are my provider, and will supply everything I need today.

El Roi,

I KNOW you are the God who sees, and that I am never alone, and nothing in my life goes unnoticed, for you know it all and see it all.

Yahweh,

I KNOW you are the one and only, self-existent, eternal, covenant-keeping God and that you will always love me.

Yahweh Rophe,

I KNOW you are my healer and I come to you now with every area of me that needs healing today.

Yahweh Nissi,

I KNOW you are my banner, and the victory in every situation that threatens me today.

Yahweh Mekaddesh,

I KNOW you are my sanctifier, making me holy, doing for me what I can never do for myself.

Yahweh Shalom,

I KNOW you are my peace, and bring calm in every storm I face in life.

Yahweh Sabaoth,

I KNOW you are the LORD of hosts, and bring deliverance as you defeat my enemies.

Yahweh Ro’i,

I KNOW you are my shepherd, and intimately care for me even if no one else does.

Abba, Father,

I KNOW you are my Father and that I can run to you and rest in the security of your everlasting arms.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

-catherine martin

nothingness

"Be still and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10) .

Do you find yourself in a place of nothingness? There is a time and place in our walk with God in which He sets us in a place of isolation and waiting. It is a place in which all past experiences are of no value. It is a time of such stillness that it can disturb the most faithful if we do not understand that He is the one who has brought us to this place for only a season. It is as if God has placed a wall around us. No new opportunities - simply inactivity.

During these times, God is calling us aside to fashion something new in us. It is a place of nothingness designed to call us to deeper roots of prayer and faith. It is not a comfortable place, especially for a task-driven workplace believer. Our nature cries out, "You must do something" while God is saying, "Be still and know that I am God." You know the signs that you have been brought into this place when He has removed many things from your life and you can't seem to change anything. Perhaps you are unemployed. Perhaps you are laid up with an illness.

Many people live a very planned and orchestrated life where they know almost everything that will happen. But for people in whom God is performing a deeper work, He brings them into a time of quietness that seems almost eerie. They cannot see what God is doing. They just know that He is doing a work that cannot be explained to themselves or to others.

Has God brought you to a place of nothingness? Be still and know that He really is God. When this happens, your nothingness will be turned into something you will value for the rest of your life.

-os hillman

actor

There was once a Shakespearean actor who was known everywhere for his one-man shows of readings and recitations from the classics.  He would always end his performance with a dramatic reading of Psalm 23.

Each night, without exception, as the actor began his recitation -- "The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want"... the crowd would listen attentively.  Then, at the conclusion of the Psalm, they would rise in thunderous applause in appreciation of the actor's incredible ability to bring the verse to life.

But one night, just before the actor was to offer his customary recital of Psalm 23, a young man from the audience spoke up, "Sir, do you mind if tonight I recite Psalm 23?".  The actor was quite taken back by this unusual request, but he allowed the young man to come forward and stand front and center on the stage to recite the Psalm, knowing that the ability of this unskilled youth would be no match for his own talent.

With a soft voice, the young man began to recite the words of the Psalm. When he was finished, there was no applause. There was no standing ovation as on other nights. All that could be heard was the sound of weeping. The audience had been so moved by the young man's recitation that every eye was full of tears.

Amazed by what he had heard, the actor said to the youth, "I don't understand. I have been performing Psalm 23 for years. I have a lifetime of experience and training - but I have never been able to move an audience as you have tonight. Tell me, what is your secret?"

The young man quietly replied, "Well sir, you might know the Psalm... but I know the Shepherd."

"I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me - just as the Father knows me and I know the Father-and I lay down my life for the sheep.  John 10:14-15