The Lord Is My Shepherd

Psalm 23 KJV; 20th Sunday after Pentecost: The Shepherd's Psalm a prayer of affirmation that the Good Shepherd is with us.

I Dwell With The Lord Forever

Psalm 23 KJV; Make the Shepherd's Psalm a daily prayer.

For His Mercy Is Great

Psalm 136:1-9 KJV; 10th Sunday after Pentecost; The mercy of the one who created all things and is above all things is great.

Jesus Seeks Out His Flock

Ezekiel 34:11-15; 22-24; Psalm 23 KJV The Shepherd seeks out his flock. That good shepherd is Jesus.

Jesus The Same Yesterday; Today; Forever

Hebrews 13:8-17 KJV What he has done for us by dying on that cross is the gift that last for all of eternity. He hasn't changed his mind. It is finished.

Forgive As God Has Forgiven You

Ephesians 4:30-32

He Was Dead Yet Lives

Revelation 1:4-18 KJV

The Gates Of Righteousness Are Open

Praise Him And Bless His Holy Name Psalm

can also be viewed on Rumble https://rumble.com/vxcsa5-praise-him-and-bless-his-holy-name.html

Time With God

But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble.

Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my defence, and the God of my mercy. 

                  (Psalm 59:16-17 KJV)

Early morning is my time with God. He is with me all day and I pray often throughout the day. But, in the early morning hours it is quiet and still enough that I can spend intentional time with him without interruptions.

And... when I do spend intentional time with him in this way, I find that I am more aware of his presence throughout the day. Every day brings at least a challenge or two; but, I know that God is with me. He is my defense.  When the challenges come, I find my mind going to the promises found in scriptures and more and more lately I find myself singing songs of praise and thanksgiving as I meet those challenges.

God is with you. He has a good purpose for your life. He will defend you. He will lead you through each trial. If out of love for us he would send his only begotten Son to die for us; to die for our sins, would we suppose that he would not continue to protect and care for us?

He has shown us mercy through the shed blood of Jesus. He continues to show us mercy. He is our refuge and strength.

Give thanks to the Lord for his mercy endures forever!

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Buildings Fall While The Word Endures

And as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples saith unto him, Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!

And Jesus answering said unto him, Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. 

                                                                              (Mark 13:1-2 KJV)

One of the biggest mistakes that I've witnessed in house or mission churches is the rush to have a "real" church building.  Too often it costs the mission too much. As the congregation struggles to pay for the building and all of the regular costs and upkeep the mission of the church suffers.  

The mission of the church is as Jesus told the disciples:

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 

Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.                                                                            (Matt 28:19-20)

Buildings are temporary. The building that you worship in one day will be gone. 

But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you. (1 Pet 1:25)

God's Peace - Pr. J

His Mercy Endureth Forevev

Psalm 42 KJV

As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.

My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?

My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?

When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday.

Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.

O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar.

Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.

Yet the Lord will command his lovingkindness in the day time, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.

I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?

As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God?

Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

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Where are you, Lord?  There are times we may feel totally deserted; completely alone. There are times when we long to feel and know His presence most fully. We may even question why God has left us. But, He has not forgotten us. He is with us and is working out good things for those who love Him. (Rom 8:28)

Praise ye the Lord. O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. (Psalm 106:1)

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Once Was Enough

And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:

But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.

Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;

Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.

For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore. 

                                                                                                   (Heb 7:23-28 KJV)

Pastors come and go. They do not live to serve the world forever. We live. We die. But, Jesus lives!. He is risen! He is ascended! He is with you now and always!

The ancient priests interceded for humankind. Prayers and blood offerings were made on the behalf of the people. There is no more bargaining with God. We can't buy Him off because Jesus paid for the price for our sins. He was the ultimate sacrifice. The only begotten Son suffered and died for us and that was enough.

We are saved by God's grace through faith in the one who lived and died and lives again for us!

Thanks be to God!

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Even In The Shadow Of Death

Manatee in Bulow Creek

 PSALM 23 KJV

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

He restoreth my soul: he leadeth 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 thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

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.

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The LORD is our shepherd! Thanks be to God that He is with us now and always, guiding us even as we walk through the valley of the shadow of death. 

As long as we live in this world, death looms large in front of us. But, God is larger. Thanks be to God, Christ has overcome the power of death for us. On this side of physical 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 even while rejoicing for we know that even as these days might present themselves as a shadowy darkness, God is with us and for us. He restores and keeps our souls no matter what darkness we might encounter.

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

His Mercy Endures Forever

PSALM 107:1-9 KJV

O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;

And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south.

They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in.

Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them.

Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses.

And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation.

Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.

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If you are a sinner (and we all are) give thanks to the Lord for his mercy that endures forever. Give thanks that he has redeemed you even from yourself for in Christ Jesus you have been forgiven all of your sins. Once forgiven they do not reappear. God doesn't bring back what He has already forgiven through Jesus. Once forgiven, always forgiven. As God forgives us, we must remember that He has forgiven us and so we ought to forgive ourselves. 

Do not give sway to your enemy the devil and cling to your guilt. Your guilt has been washed away by the blood of Jesus. Let it go. Clinging to the sins that Jesus died for will only cause you more grief. Focusing on your past guilt will cause many distresses. Your soul will continue in anguish as it is filled with hunger and thirst. Continually remembering and grieving sins that have been forgiven by God will stop you in your tracks. It will keep you from following in the right way. 

Focus not on your sins; rather, focus on following Jesus that you might be led forth in the way that he would have you go.

Grieve your sins for a moment as you confess them and then let them go giving thanks to God for His mercy endures forever. He forgives you. Speak it aloud! The Lord is good. He has redeemed me and His mercy endures forever!

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Bless The Lord

Youth Is Renewed Like An Eagle

Bless the Lord O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;

Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;

Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

The Lord executeth righteous: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

Psalm 103:1-6 KJV

If we took the time to consider what a mess we really can be; if we considered what we really deserve we would thank the Lord with our whole hearts. He has been most gracious to those of us who show so little grace. He has been so loving to those of us who can be so unloving. When we are down, He lifts us up.

Count the blessings! Give thanks to the Lord for His mercy is great and His love endures forever!

God's Peace - Pr. J.

God Is In Charge

Snow, be thou on earth

God thundereth marvellously with his voice; great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend. For he saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth; likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of his strength. (Job 37:5-6 KJV)

God is in charge. He has been from even before the beginning and will be forever. God, who can still even the snow and rain, can calm the hearts of any anxious person. Whatever He sees fit to do, He can do.

Let God be in charge. Quit trying to do everything and have everything your way. Only He can comprehend what is truly good for us so quit fighting His will and follow in the way that He would have you go.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Death Is Not The End

For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:

But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.                                                                    

                                                                                        (1 Peter 1:4-5 KJV)

We will all die. Unless the Lord comes before that time and takes us bodily to himself, we will all die. Death of the flesh is inevitable. But, thanks be to God through Jesus Christ this is not the end. Despite that some (including some clergy) say that death is the end, according to the word of the Lord, it is not the end! 

In St. Paul's first letter to the Corinthians he wrote:

Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

                                                                                 (1 Cor 15:50-55)

Christ has destroyed the power of death with his death. If we do not have to fear even death than why do we so often fret over the little obstacles in this world. Jesus, himself, tells us that we should not be worried; but to believe in him; to trust that he will take us to be with him.

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. 

                                                                                (John 14:1-3)

Do not be afraid. Trust in the word of the Lord and live in peace no matter what would attack you; no matter what obstacles you might have to face. Just as the grass withers and the flowers fade so must our flesh. But, the word of the Lord stands forever. That word is the gospel, is the good news, of the eternal kingdom of God is at hand and is for you through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Do not fear. Trust in the word of the Lord that brings you such good news!

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 

                                                                                 (John 14:17)

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Good Shepherd Lead Me

He leadeth me beside the still waters.

 

Psalm 23 KJV

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

He restoreth my soul: he leadeth 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 thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

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.

Tomorrow is the fourth Sunday of Easter and the psalm for the day is the Shepherd's Psalm. How many Christians have not heard this psalm? How many have not memorized it? It is a psalm of comfort and of promise. It is a reminder that God, our shepherd, is with us. He is with us and for us. He will guide and protect us. His goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our lives and we will dwell in his presence for all of eternity. 

May you always dwell in his peace.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

The Word Endures Forever

For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:

But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

                                                                                    (1 Pet 1:24-25 KJV)

My Easter flowers are fading fast. Today, I will replant the lilies and throw away the cut flowers. Winter has died. With spring flowers and trees are beginning to  to show beautiful signs of life again. The grass has also returned to a point where it must be mowed every week. The flowers and the grass each have their own short seasons to live. But, each spring, sometimes with a lot of extra care, they rise from their sleep and live again.

We too have a short season to live here on earth. But thanks be to God and to His Word, who is Jesus the Christ, we too will rise from death and live. Through His Word we have His promise that though our flesh will die; yet shall we live. (John 11:25-26) The Word, the promise of good news, endures forever. Thanks be to God for Jesus Christ, our Savior, our Lord, our Redeemer!

God's Peace - Pr. J.