Psalm 23 - The LORD Is Our Shepherd!

Well, here is one I don't have to read.  I pray it every day, not just for me, but for all of you, as well. 

The LORD is our shepherd!  Thanks be to God that He is with us now and always, guiding us wherever He would lead us!  Yea, though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we shall fear no evil, for God is with us. 

As long as we live in this world, death looms large in front of us.  It is still before us and we live in its shadow.  But, God is larger.  Thanks be to God, Christ has overcome the power of death for us. On this side of death there will always be trials and challenges to overcome.  We will endure persecution for the sake of the Gospel (that is the good news of the Kingdom in Jesus the Christ).  We will suffer, but we know that even as these days might present themselves as a shadowy darkness, God is with us.  Our shepherd is is with us in the face of the enemy, even as He anoints our heads with oil, leading us to green pastures and still waters. 

His goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our lives.  We are confident that the LORD, our Shepherd, will be present with us even as we dwell in His presence, in His House, in His Kingdom, forever!  Amen!
God's Peace - Pr. J
 

1 Chronicles 14 - The Enemy Within

God has blessed David.  He has blessed him with more wives (David probably thought that was a blessing) and many sons and daughters.  God blessed David with the defeat of his enemies. 

David said, "God has broken through my enemies by my hand, like a bursting flood." (vs 13 ESV)  That verse reminds me of the Psalm (Psalm of David) 23:5  "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows." God has broken David's enemies before him.  Often though, I think that our enemies are not so much before us, but within us.  We can be our own worst enemy.  It's easy to blame others for our misfortunes.  It might even be inborn in us to do that.  Adam did it when he blamed Eve.  Or... maybe Adam was blaming God because he gave that woman to him.  Regardless of what Adam did, how often, when we get in a tight spot, do we blame others?  When in reality the enemy who caused the problems dwells within us. 

God blesses us greatly.  He breaks our enemies.  He breaks the enemy within us, so that He might live and dwell in us more fully.  It's a tough lesson when we have to learn it.  May God help us to learn it quickly so that we might enjoy the blessings that He has given us.