Volume 5: "Christmases Past"

I know that memory can be burdensome sometimes, but it can be a beautiful thing as well. In this spontaneous writing endeavor, I choose to focus on beautiful memories -- specifically, "What I Miss Most About Christmases Past".

So, what do I miss most about Christmases Past? I truly miss seeing our little children take part in a live Bethlehem nativity presentation in the yearly church Christmas pageant.

My memory has a lovely picture stored away of our little boy decked out like a shepherd, complete with a bathrobe, a cloth head-dress, and a stuffed sheep under his arm. Then, there's our little daughter. She's wearing a tinsel-decorated, white angel's outfit with a halo made of shiny-gold garland scotch-taped around her head.

Seeing our own children in a humble, live nativity made the birth of a Savior more personal for me. 

Yes, "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son", however, knowing "God included my own family" in that amazing love, simply and profoundly takes my breath away. 

In this instance, memory is indeed a very beautiful thing to me. 

Grateful

Yours Truly... Humbled

Today, the pastors of our local church (including "yours truly") were showered with appreciation that was truly over-the-top touching. I always sign my blog posts "Grateful". Today, another word seems even more appropriate...

Humbled

I just read through many cards. One precious church member wrote,"Please never leave our church. We would surely be lost without your leadership."

Talk about "touching". I am humbled, indeed! Yet, I am keenly and confidently aware that while they might find themselves at a temporary loss if and when God ordains my departure, the local church would still be ultimately led by the True Shepherd Who laid down His Life to find His lost flock -- Jesus. After all, His name is on the sign -- Church of THE NAZARENE.

Read John, chapter 10.

Yours Truly... Humbled.

Pray for a Vision of the Harvest

Really, is there a sadder verse in the whole written Word of Holy God than Jeremiah 8:20?

“The harvest is finished, and the summer is gone,” the people cry, “yet we are not saved!” -- Jeremiah 8:20 (NLT)

This Old Testament verse speaks to "opportunity lost", yes in two words the weeping prophet is crying out: "TOO LATE!"

And then, in Matthew 9:35-38, we find this description of what Jesus was up to while on planet earth and we also hear Him in these verses calling on us to ask, yes, to pray to the Lord of the harvest for more harvesters, yes workers and witnesses to partner with the Lord, to bring lost souls into safety before it's too late:

(35) Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And He healed every kind of disease and illness. (36) When He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. (37) He said to His disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. (38) So pray to the Lord Who is in charge of the harvest; ask Him to send more workers into His fields.”

Lord of the harvest, place Your fire in me. More than praying for the harvest, give me a vision for the harvest, yes, I want to see the world You bled and died for through the eyes of Your compassionate heart. I want to be Your Holy-Spirit-filled witness! Amen.

Click here: - Shout to the North - Delirious

Count it all joy.
Grateful

The "Good" Shepherd Disciplines His Own

Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word.
-- David, The Shepherd-boy King's Words in Psalm 119:67 (NIV)

(5b) “My child, don’t make light of the LORD’s discipline, and don’t give up when He corrects you. (6) For the LORD disciplines those He loves, and He punishes each one He accepts as His child.” (7) As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as His own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? (8) If God doesn’t discipline you as He does all of His children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really His children at all. -- Hebrews 12:5b-8 (NLT)

Roy Gustafson, who has led many parties to The Holy Land, tells in his book "In His Hand" (p.46) that on one of his visits, on the road down from Jerusalem through the Judean wilderness to Jericho, they met a shepherd carrying one of his sheep with a splint and a bandage on its leg. Said their guide, who'd lived nearly fifty years in that area, "The shepherd broke that sheep's leg himself."

And it was true! It was explained that this was a sheep that was always wandering off, and in the process leading other sheep astray. Membership in the flock carries certain responsibilities, and as much as the shepherd feels a real affection for his animals, discipline is the only thing that will keep them together, as they must be kept together for their well-being and their safety. So to cure this sheep of its self-willed ways, the shepherd had broken its leg, and then hand fed and carried it till the bone was mended ... and (hopefully) its waywardness.

The Twenty-Third Psalm (KJV)
(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.
(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.
(5) Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
(6) Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

Baa. Baa.
Grateful

Biblical Roots of Revival & Renewal

I heard Dr. Dennis Kinlaw beautifully share this New Testament passage as one of the Biblical roots from which we understand revival and renewal in our own lives and revival and renewal within the community of the local church and then beyond:

Like sheep you wandered away from God, but now you have returned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls who keeps you safe from all attacks. -- 1 Peter 2:25 (NLT)

IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.

For His Name's Sake

In the shepherd's fields and folds surrounding Bethlehem, one learns that the undeniable character of the shepherd is known by the overall condition of his individual sheep. If the flock is well-fed and content then the shepherd is known as a good shepherd. If the flock is hungry and harrassed the shepherd is known as a bad shepherd.

The shepherd-boy who would be king, yes the Psalmist, David, wrote these words to define the character of his Lord, yes his Shepherd: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake.

Today when we pray, let us ask our Shepherd to please continue to prove Himself "Good" not only for the good of His sheep, but most of all for the good of His own name, yes for His name's sake.

IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful

Forever?

I challenge you to come up with a definition for the word forever. It will be a frustrating but inspiring experience if the Lord is Your Good Shepherd.

Psalm 23:6 (TLB) -- Your goodness and unfailing kindness shall be with me all of my life, and afterwards I will live with You forever in your home.

IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful

The 23rd Psalm -- Breathe Again

This morning my devotional reading beautifully led me to The 23rd Psalm from the Message Paraphrase of the Holy Bible. How awesome and compassionate our Good Shepherd is to those who know His voice and call Him Lord. In His Holy Presence our eternal souls can breathe again... and again... and again... yes, for forever.

God, my Shepherd!
I don’t need a thing.
You have bedded me down in lush meadows,
You find me quiet pools to drink from.
True to Your word,
you let me catch my breath
and send me in the right direction.
Even when the way goes through
Death Valley,
I’m not afraid
when You walk at my side.
Your trusty shepherd’s crook
makes me feel secure.
You serve me a six-course dinner
right in front of my enemies.
You revive my drooping head;
my cup brims with blessing.
Your beauty and love chase after me
every day of my life.
I’m back home in the house of God
for the rest of my life.

IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful

"Baaask" in the Good Shepherd's Presence!

Have you saturated in the 23rd Psalm lately? I invite you to join me there today, yes, to "Baaask" in the blessed presence of the Good Shepherd. "Baaask... Baaask..."

ALL JOY!
Grateful

Our Wounded Healer Heals

* He heals the heartbroken and bandages their wounds.
Psalm 147:3 (MSG)
*...and by His wounds we are healed.
Isaiah 53:5 (NIV)
* Heal me, O LORD, and I will be healed...
Jeremiah 17:14 (NIV)
* ...and all who touched him were healed.
Matthew 14:36 (NIV)
* You anoint my head with oil (my Good Shepherd enters my pain).
Psalm 23:5 (NKJV)

Our Wounded Healer Heals -- if not immediately, surely ultimately.

*And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes;
there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying.
There shall be no more pain,
for the former things...
have passed away.
Revelation 21:4 (NKJV)

"Let us ever love and trust Him, in His presence daily live."
Yes, "Let us surrender all" to Jesus, Our Wounded Healer.

ALL JOY!
Grateful

Fear Not!

Do you pray the Holy Scriptures? If not, why not? I invite you to practice the presence of the Lord by echoing His Holy Word back to Him in prayer. These ten powerful words from Psalm 23:4 have been on my heart as a personal prayer to the Lord this week. Let's echo God's Holy Word back to Him in prayer together now:

I will fear no evil, for You are with me!

In the Name of the Lord, my Shepherd. Amen.

ALL JOY!
Grateful