The Lord is
MY shepherd
Psalm 23: It's one
of the most familiar chapters in the entire Bible. Maybe we memorized
it as a child or read it during a crisis. But the question is can we fully
trust it as the Truth? There have been many times, when
I would have been so much more peaceful, confident and rested if only
I had trusted the truth of this passage. The first verse says it all:
The Lord is MY Shepherd…
The Lord is not, in this case, the Shepherd of the World. He is MY
shepherd. But, lately in all my busyness and hard work and caring
about and for others, I've not felt him near. When it seems I'm alone
and overwhelmed and think there's no one to care for my soul, when I don't
see anyone else walking right where I'm walking, I must not forget MY
shepherd is there. I also must not forget that I'm not too big or
strong or proud to need MY shepherd. I cannot forget his invisible,
yet eternal nearness. He sees me here. What am I thinking when I try to
"Just Do It" or just deal with things by myself?
The Lord is my Shepherd! His every thought is for my health,
my peace of mind, my comfort and my security. His every action is for
my success, my growth, my perfection. What was I thinking when I forgot
the Lord (Almighty) is my shepherd? How could I forget that he
delights to shepherd me full-time? No one forces him to do this. It's
his career, his hobby, his passion and his pleasure all rolled into one.
And since this is true, why do I continue to look to and hope for everyone
else to do for me what only he can do? Why do I continue to expect heavenly
care from mere humans? I should know this by now. Other people can't be
my Shepherd. They have their own problems.
What was I thinking the times I've wasted time worrying about myself, and all my dilemmas? My shepherd knows what I need even before I ask. And the times I don't know what's going on or what's going to happen next---he's got me covered. What was I thinking, standing out there in the battle, and taking all those hits, devising all those plans to counterattack the enemy? All the time my sword gets heavier and heavier to swing. And as I plant myself in front of the Fortress fighting with all my might, the crook of the shepherd's staff appears around me and pulls me toward the Door that's always open to My Refuge---where all is calm and all is bright. Then after I've caught my breath My Shepherd sits me down at his right hand and says, " A very heroic gesture, that scene out there. But, who invited you to fight MY battles? That battle and every other one is mine. And I've never lost yet. You're not cut out for this. You start messing with these kinds of things and you're out of your league. So, don't even try. Besides, we already have a victory. No sense you going and getting all beat up over a little border dispute!"
What was I thinking?
Obviously, I wasn't thinking. Sheep don't fight… they feed. It's
the shepherd who does all the tending and mending and defending.
It's about this time that I look at him and say: Shepherd, my very
own Almighty Shepherd…you can take care of me all you want. I never
stopped needing you to care for me, but it did slip my mind for a while
that you've got my life and everything else in control. I don't even want
to be classified as an "adult sheep." That seems to get me to
thinking I know my way around here. So, if it's all right, I'll be calling
myself a child sheep---a lamb, just to make sure I'm in a position to
get all the attention from you I can possibly get. Oh, and you can have
your sword back. I won't be needing it any more. Someone could get hurt
with one of those things.
Called to Shine
It is courage building to know that when Jesus calls us out of the crowd
to join him in his work he takes us right where we are. He knows we question
our own competency. He is aware of our insecurities. And the first thing
he does to alleviate our fear is to call us by name. There is something
in a name and Jesus, better than anyone, knows the value of personal acknowledgement.
Just as it was with Zacchaeus, in spite of our limitations and liabilities, before we've even tried out, Christ writes our name on his roster and puts us on his team. But there is one thing he asks of us before we take the field. He asks us to sit down and have a meal with him so we can power up, talk over strategy and calm our shaky nerves.
No matter where we have been, or where he found us, if Christ has singled us out, sooner or later he will hand us a mandate to motivate others. He will call us to light up the darkness, to shine like stars in the universe and hold out his marvelous life.
From The
Words That Inspired the Dreams
By Caron Loveless
The Church is the Hope of the World
If one day, you happen to see me at a bookstore or the mall --- and you're in a really big hurry to get somewhere -whatever you do--- don't ask me how I feel about the church-- because you just might be there awhile…You see, the church is something I'm highly passionate about. In fact, I'm willing to go so far as to say that- I believe it's the only real hope for this world.
No one pays me to say this. It's just that I pretty much owe my entire existence to the people of the church. So… while I have you here-I might as well tell you about the time when I was 9 years old and Mrs. Ward---the mother of the kids next door-- asked me to go to church with her. My family didn't go to church. I guess she figured that out--- so one Sunday Mrs. Ward drove me to church with her family and let me sit next to her in the pew and at the end of the message…when the pastor asked if anyone would like to invite Jesus into their heart---it was Mrs. Ward who leaned over and asked me if I wanted to do that-and said I yes…a very enthusiastic nine year old yes…and then things just took off from there.
But you best not get me started - because then I'd have to tell you the time---4yrs later --when my daddy was dying of cancer-and a man from the church stopped by the hospital to comfort and pray with him. And on the day of dad's funeral the man's wife came by our house to say she how sorry she was and to leave us a pie she had baked. Even though it's been 32 yrs. since I've seen my dad---thanks to that man from the church-I'll know exactly where to find him when my time comes.
Another reason I'm incurably jazzed about the church is because of the Mrs. Pierce-- who got up every Sunday morning for 15 years to tell teenage girls a number of things that all teenage girls need to hear---but most importantly that Jesus loved them more than they could ever possibly imagine ---I was one of those girls ---"her girls" -which is what she liked to call to us-and something I liked being called. And every now and then---even though she's got plenty of other things to be worrying about---80 yr. Old Mrs. Pierce still cares enough to pick up the phone and remind keep going to church because Jesus still loves me more than I could possibly imagine.
I believe the church is the hope of the world because the world we live in is crawling with bad marriages -and the church was first place I saw what happy, healthy, godly marriages look like, ---of course these weren't perfect marriages…but they were committed-forever--no matter-what-we're-going-to-make-it-marriages-which was something entirely new for me---So, it stands to reason that, it would be at church on a Summer Sunday night that I first laid eyes on the skinny, little hippie boy I married at the altar of that church 26 breath-taking yrs ago.
I love the church because it has church ladies ---As our wedding drew near, it was the church ladies who noticed I had no money ---so they made my dress, baked our cake, fixed little finger sandwiches, shared their linens and silver, showered me with gifts and made sure I could upholster a couch and cook baked spaghetti…
If I start talking about the church then I'd also have to tell you about the time a whole herd of men from my church discovered a need ---and they went over to John & Brenda's house one weekend, tore their roof off and put on a brand new one---then there's the couple who is cleaning house for a cancer patient we know or the woman who has volunteered to hear people's problems and pray with them every single week for as long as I can remember.
Well, time's completely gone, but if I did have time I'd tell you the whole story about Scott & Julie-who had no children of their own-that is---until a few years ago when some kids from our student ministry needed a place to live ---so Scott & Julie looked at each other and said, "Let's do it."---and then one thing led to another and now about A Hundred thousand kids sprawl on their floor, eat up their food and cry on their shoulders each month. (One of them became my daughter-in-law.)
And of course I couldn't stop there because you have to hear about Karen who was…according to her --- far from God ---until one day a friend invited her -to Discovery Church ---and she came--and heard the news that Jesus loves her more than she could ever possibly imagine. And as a result-- every day now she sits over there in our front office patiently fielding calls, answering questions and serving the staff just so other people -like you-- can hear the same good news that she heard.
And I can't let you go without mentioning Gary - a guy with Cerebral Palsy -who comes to this church ---and who--- in my opinion --has a better excuse than anyone to not get personally involved because-though he hears & understands everything you say --perfectly --his speech is not too clear and his legs are not that straight-and sometimes people stare---but Gary shows up anyway because… if he didn't--- who would help take up the offering or lock all the doors when everyone leaves?
With all the forces of Heaven behind him --Jesus said: I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it…And he also said, "You are the light of the world"- which translated means-" I am building an indestructible church -(Discovery Church )-you are the hope of this planet----- so wake your neighbors, get the word out, crank up the music, climb a mountain and shout."
Jesus believed in the church so much that he was willing to stake his life on it…. Which is just about the most incredible thing anyone has ever heard of ----but don't get me started on That!
On the Birth and Death of Christ
Asleep in his mother's womb Jesus rode into Bethlehem on a donkey just
as he did thirty three years later amidst cheering, branch-waving children
on the road that would lead to his death.
Gold was a gift at his birth and silver was the reward for his death.
It was wise men that celebrated Christ's birth and provided gifts for his young life. And wise men grieved his death and provided for his burial.
Christ was born in common stable and he died on a common cross.
He was born poor -as some count poverty, and he died in that same condition.
At his birth a Roman ruler sought to have Christ child killed and it was a Roman ruler who ultimately declared his death sentence.
There was a star in the sky on the night of Jesus birth and the sky turned black when he died.
Christ was born in a borrowed manger and buried in a borrowed tomb.
At his birth Bethlehem was filled with people who had come from all over to be counted in the Census and at his death Jerusalem was filled with people who had come from all over for the Passover.
His mother witnessed his birth and she watched in horror-filled shock as he died.
The good news of Christ's birth was announced by angels who said, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people"…and two angels, who greeted Mary at the tomb and said, "Woman, why are you crying", attended his resurrection.
Spices were gifts at his birth and spices were gifts at his death.
At his birth he was wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger. At his death his body was wrapped with linen and laid in a tomb.
When the shepherds had seen the baby Jesus they spread the word concerning what had been told them about the child and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. Just as the two men on the road to Emmaus ran back to Jerusalem telling everyone they saw that Christ had risen and that they had seen him with their own eyes.
From beginning to end, Christ's life was a miracle. His virgin birth was a miracle, just as it took a miracle to raise his body from the dead.
By Caron Loveless
Running
On Empty
The other day I was running late for an appointment across town and when
I got in my car to take off, I saw - to my total aggravation -that the
gas gauge read bone-dry empty. Empty things are the worst! Like finding
the mayonnaise jar empty when you're making a turkey sandwich, or you're
hoping to go for a swim but the pool has been drained for repairs, or
reaching for your canteen in the desert-- only to find that it's empty.
No one likes an empty bank account, an empty pantry, or an empty mailbox.
There's a reason we're not into emptiness. We are made in the image of God.
God has a history of filling things and keeping them filled. In less than a week, he filled space with stars, the earth with plants, the sky with clouds, and the air with birds. He liked that so much that he filled wombs with babies, cities with people, jars with oil, nets with fish, baskets with bread, temples with glory, hearts with gladness, the weary with rest, the panicked with peace, and the lonely with love. If you really think about it, the only empty thing God seemed to approve of…was a tomb. But that was because his goal all along was to fill us up, forever, with Himself.
Where are you empty today? What do you need God to fill in you? Just say to Him, right now…Lord, forgive me for thinking that I can run my life on spiritual fumes. You know where I'm lacking today, where I'm dry, where my soul is shriveled and bankrupt. And right here, in this moment, I'm stopping to unscrew the lid of my heart. Come fill me again with your luscious, Living Water.
By Caron Loveless