The Good Shepherd Gives His Life For His Sheep

John 10:11-18 KJV; The false shepherds run when wolves approach; but, the Good Shepherd stays and protects the sheep. He even lays down his own life for them.

Praise Ye The Lord

Psalm 116:12-19 KJV

What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward me?

I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord.

I will pay my vows unto the Lord now in the presence of all his people.

Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.

O Lord, truly I am thy servant; I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid: thou hast loosed my bonds.

I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the Lord.

I will pay my vows unto the Lord now in the presence of all his people.

In the courts of the Lord's house, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. Praise ye the Lord.

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What, indeed, shall we render to the Lord for of his benefits toward us? 

Because he loves us so much that in spite of our sinful natures he has saved us we give him thanks and praise. We do not worship him in order to be saved. We worship him and give him thanks and praise because he has already done this marvelous thing. 

"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.

Be Kind

And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. (Eph 4:32 KJV)

It really doesn't take that much to be kind and to help ease the burden of others. Or, we can be unkind and add to their burdens. 

We have no clue what other people may be going through; what challenges they face each day. If we find that our attitudes are such that we cannot be kind; then walk away; stay home. Do whatever you must; but, how we treat others is on us.

There is sp much to be thankful for. Do a mental or a written list of all the things you have to be thankful for when you find that you feel the urge to snap at others. Life can be hard for everyone. It's not up to us to make it worse for others. It is up to us to be there for them to ease their burdens. And, if we can't due to our sinful natures then we should stay away until we can.

Every now and then some preacher or teacher will ask the congregation or class to share what they are thankful for. To tell you the truth, when I am asked that question, I usually don't respond. That's not because I don't find anything to be thankful for; but, because the list of things that I am thankful for each day is so overwhelming I do not know where to begin.

But, first and foremost, we thank God for the love that he has for us.

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. 

                                                                      (Rom 5:8-11)

Because he first loved us, we love him and ought to love; we ought to be kind to one another, as well.

A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. (John 13:34)

God's Peace - Pr. J