The Lord Is My Shepherd and King

What's so good about a shepherd king? That was the theme for our Advent Service last night. What's so good about having a king that knows how to lead their flock? Everything. The ability to lead others even through the darkest shadows of the valley of death is a very important trait for someone who would be king or maybe president. The ability to protect and comfort them when times are troubling is an awesome trait for a ruler.

David was a good shepherd and a great king. But, we have one who is even greater. He is the King of Kings. He looks after us as only a good shepherd can. He will reign forever over us.

The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
Forever.

Psalm 23

 

What's so good about a king who is also an experienced shepherd? Everything!

 

God's Peace - Pr. J

Refrain From Strife

It is honorable to refrain from strife,
    but every fool is quick to quarrel. Prov 20:3

Lately I have been biting my tongue and restraining my fingers from typing words that are best left unsaid, an awful lot, in order to keep from quarreling with some who appear to be provoking quarrels and strife. It is not always easy for me; but, I do try. Every now and then something slips through my lips or the tips of my fingers and I am confessing that sin before the day's end.

The world appears to be in quite a mess right now. ISIS has caused and continues to cause much devastation. But, it's not all that helpful for those whom ISIS threatens with death to be fighting with each other. There are way too many conflicts going on all over the world (there always are) for any country or people to expend any more time or energy stirring up more conflict amongst themselves.

Is it not time for us to refrain from strife and quit quarreling amongst our brothers and sisters here and around the world so we can focus on taking care of the imminent and very real dangers that ISIS is bent on bringing?

I am fortunate to live in a country where we have freedom of speech; freedom of religion; and a whole lot of freedoms that many in this world do not have. I am very disappointed that we often take those freedoms for granted and use them to cause strife and quarrels. Instead of being thankful for these freedoms we abuse the privileges by using them to cause more strife and quarrels. We do not have the time to argue with or slander one another; we have way too much to do. There is enough suffering in the world without adding to it.

I do not think that I will be repenting of this blog by this day's end.

May God help us to live and work in unity to protect all whose lives are being torn apart and even ended.

God's Peace - Pr. J 

Do not Steal: Stealing and Semantics

The Seventh Commandment.

Thou shalt not steal.

What does this mean?--Answer.
We should fear and love God that we may not take our neighbor's money or property, nor get them by false ware or dealing, but help him to improve and protect his property and business [that his means are preserved and his condition is improved].
(http://bookofconcord.org/smallcatechism.php)

Recently, I spoke with a woman who swore that she had never stolen any money. She was quite adamant, in spite of the fact, that she had been convicted of credit card fraud. She could not relate stealing to using someone else's identity to obtain credit cards. Frankly, this conversation was pretty frustrating. It is beyond me how someone can steal something, get caught, go to prison and still deny that they have ever stolen anything. Of course, this person did not claim to be a Christian. But, she does claim to be a "good" person because according to her she has never stolen (paper) money. Semantics! It sort of reminds me of my grandchildren. I use to make the mistake of asking them who they were talking to when they were busy on their cell phones. Their response was usually "no one." Of course, they weren't talking to anyone. They were texting or messaging. Now, I ask, "With whom are you communicating?" That seems to cover most everything they might be doing on their phones. Semantics!

Semantics won't make one less a thief. Either you have stolen from someone or not. It's best to be "Not!" It is also best not to be compounding the sin by lying about it. Confess and live in a way that brings peace and harmony to life with your neighbors. As Christians, we are not only commanded to not take our neighbor's property or money; we are to do all that we can to help our neighbor keep his or her property and even improve it. Whenever we do anything unjustly that would cause our neighbor to lose use or possession of his property we are stealing whether we end up with physical possession of the property or not. All the semantics in the world will not justify our sins. Only the blood of Jesus will justify.

May God help us to help and support our neighbors.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Hebrews 1 - Ministering Angels

Hebrews 1 NIV

One of my most often used prayers for little children is that the Lord would send his warrior angels to guard and protect them. As I lay my hands on their heads and pray for them, I can see their little faces just light up with hope. Their parents' faces usually light up as well. You see, the world can get pretty yucky for adults; but, for many children it can be most horrendous. Children need protection. Many live in fear, sometimes in fear of their parents. All it takes is to watch or read the local news and we see verification for their many fears. Most of them probably do not even understand the whole reality of the dangers that are out their lurking for them. Am I a pessimist when it comes to the world? In some regards, most probably. But, I have hope in the Kingdom of God and the one who rules that Kingdom, Jesus Christ, our Lord.

There is hope. We have hope and salvation, spoken to us by God's firstborn Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. Included in that universe are the angels, whom He made to be ministering spirits, sent to serve all who would inherit salvation.

First and foremost we have the Son who lives and reigns at the right hand of the Father. He is with us always, overseeing all that goes on in our lives. He sends his angels to minister to those who believe. And... by the looks on the faces of the little children, they believe. Even as the angels ministered to Jesus (Matt 4:11), they are sent to minister us. We do not pray to them. Our trust is in not in the angels; rather, it is in God, our Father, and our Lord Jesus the Christ who has directed them to minister to all of God's children.

May all God's little children be protected from the evil, harm and trouble that surrounds them as they are filled with the hope of salvation through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Acts 5:1-10 Lying To God.

Acts 5:1-10 NIV
I have been lied to and about so many times that there is no way that I could even count the times. We all have. Frankly, it makes me a bit weary. Sometimes, the lies are used to make someone look like someone they are not; like they are in the right and are doing good for others; while they are in truth, not.

Ananias and his wife Sapphira attempted to make themselves look righteous. They wanted to look as generous as the others who had sold their property and gave the proceeds to the church for the good of all of the people. But, they withheld some. Their sin was not in keeping some for themselves. The sin was in attempting to lie to God the Holy Spirit. God knows everything we say and think and do. It is just a bad idea to try telling God lies. The humans that we might tell lies to; usually know that we are not telling the whole truth, as well. We may not be able to prove the lies; but, God knows the truth.

The rest of the story for Ananias and Sapphira was that when they lied to Peter and to God, they died. They died immediately. When we lie to protect ourselves and our own egos; a bit of us dies inside, as well. We are not who we were or who we can be in Christ Jesus. Make every effort then to speak and live in the truth with integrity.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Luke 10:25-37 Who's Your Neighbor?

Luke 10:25-37 NIV
I have moved around a lot! I have a had a lot of neighbors; some good, some not so helpful. By what degree do I discern whether a neighbor is good or not? Basically, it comes down to a motherly instinct. It comes down to whether my neighbors treated my children or grandchildren fairly.

If you want to irritate me quickly, go up against a child (not just mine, any child). That does not mean that I will not care for you and pray for you. It simply means I will protect those who cannot protect themselves (children, seniors, handicapped, etc..). I think that most mothers are like that and fathers, too. To be a good neighbor treat your neighbor's children with compassion and mercy. Do not hinder them; but, help them.

Love not just your neighbor as yourself; but, your neighbor's children, as well. Remember, it takes a whole community to raise up a child in the way they should go.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Ezekiel 29 - I Am the LORD

“On that day I will make a horn grow for the Israelites, and I will open your mouth among them. Then they will know that I am the Lord.” (Ezekiel 29:21 NIV)

Israel, had trusted in Egypt to protect and care for them; therefore, not only will Israel go into exile, but Egypt, as well. For forty years, the LORD promises, that the Egyptians will be scattered among the nations for thinking that they, themselves, were some kind of god, in control of even the river Nile.

God's hand extends way beyond just those who purport to be followers of Him. He is the creator of all things and all things are His. He will care for His whole creation according to His will. May He always be with those who have been exiled. May God guide those whom He has sent out into the wilderness for refining or for testing or for whatever reason He has sent us there for so that we might know that He is the LORD above all lords. We are not god. He is!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Psalm 35 - Prayer of Protection

When the little children come to the altar for a blessing, one of the prayers I find myself praying for them most often is for their protection.  Sometimes, we underestimate their fears.  Sometimes, we even underestimate the actuality of those fears. I pray that God would walk beside them protecting them all their days and I pray that He would grant them courage and peace.

Looking back to what I remember as a child, I remember a lot of fear.  Some of it was legitimate.  Most of it was not.  Most of it was just being afraid of the unknown.  There is a lot of "unknown" for little children.  They will learn to face many of their fears or simply outgrow them.  In the meantime, we pray for their protection, their courage, and for them to know God's peace.

I can't even begin to imagine what the fear of the enemy is like for children growing up in countries,  where they are dodging missiles.  But, they need our prayers.

Protect your children, O LORD.  Keep them safe from all evil, harm, and danger.

Lord, you have seen this; do not be silent. Do not be far from them, Lord. Awake, and rise to their defense! Contend for them, our Lord and our God.

God's Peace - Pr. J