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| "The Lord is my shepherd..." Five words that speak volumes. The LORD who is the true Master of the Universe. God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit in His entirety. He is my shepherd or so the Psalmist (David, the man after God's own heart) said. I'm grasping some extras from Philip Keller ( a former shepherd) on this 23rd Psalm. The shepherd would actually spend his money for the sheep. He paid for the sheep, so they were his sheep. Consequently, he had cause for care and concern for the sheep. He wasn't just some guy get $4,50 an hour to watch sheep that belonged to someone else. The shepherd would take a sharp knife and mark his sheep in the ear with a special marking to denote that it belonged to him. He knew them by name. Then there is the sheep part. He is the shepherd and I am the sheep. If we were playing a game and we said who wants to be the dumb-guy? No one would probably choose that guy. However, we are that guy...the sheep is dumb. He has to be fed, guided, rescued and all sorts of other things that just go to show sheep are stupid. I could take offense to being considered stupid, but instead I'll just be honest. It's true. Why do we do the same things over and over? Why do we do things without even considering the consequences? Before we do something wrong, why do we look to see if someone is watching? Why does history repeat itself over and over? We're stupid! Stupid sheep need a shepherd. With that said... I have the best shepherd, the Lord is my shepherd. He takes me to green, plush pastures (I'll stop...I'm getting ahead of myself)...
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This picture spoke volumes to me. At various times in life it seems like the fight between my spirit nature and flesh nature are like the alligator and python fighting it out. It's kind of hard to tell who's winning. 
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19:4 Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself.
God's purpose was not to merely bring Israel to the Promised Land. His purpose was to bring them to Himself. --A Relationship-- Likewise, God does not desire religion for us; He desires a relationship. He went to a lot of trouble, so we could live with Him forever. Why do you run? Why do you hide? He really wants to be with you.---Before we can pray effectively, we have to get to know this Great God who desires relationship ("brought you unto myself"). Take the ears He has given you and listen to Him. Take the mouth He has given you, and praise Him. Take the hands He has given you, and lift them up to Him. Listen: spirit to Spirit. ---One has to admit, we are built for relationship. Use what you've got and get to know this Mighty God!
(my Takeaway from the message today)
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It's funny, but sad when a person doesn't know the name of the Pastor of the church they call "My Church."---The church is the body of Christ and assembles regularly for fellowship, for teaching, for remembrance and for prayer. If the body is there then the bride is there, for they are one and the same. So what happens when Christians skip church services?We would look down on a husband and wife who did not live together except to put in an appearance on birthdays and major holidays. So how does Jesus feel when He hears a member of His body, the church, say, "I don't need to go to church to be a Christian"? How does He feel when a member of His body never fellowships, is never subject to teaching, never remembers the Lord's death through communion or never consents in prayer with the rest of the body? The person who called the church, "her church," claimed a church she never attends except for certain special occasions. Her influence and her wealth are not there. That is why the writer of Hebrews, in the midst of a discourse on what it truly means to be a Christian (Hebrews 10:19-23) wrote, "And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching." Hebrews 10:24,25 The writer then follows this warning with another one concerning willful sin. Bottom line? You can claim whatever church you wish to. But if you have no investment in it of your time, talent or treasure, then is it truly yours?
The title "My Church" got my attention...thought I would share it.
*'Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life' Copyright 2008 © Tom Kelly.
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| Well, it's been quiet on the blog-front and quieter at the house. One facet of living the middle-aged life is your kids become adults and fly away. It's a natural part of life filled with mixed emotions. It's TIME, and a little ...uh...I don't know what to call it yet. We dropped Britt off in B'ham and I know she will do just fine...I think...I hope. Well, this is where you start hoping you did a few things right as a parent. This is where the mixed emotions come in. Where's my faith? God took care of her when she toured the big state of Florida on missions (with a group of kids that knew as much as she did at the time). God took care of her when she was ministering in inner-city Arlington, Texas for three months. God took care of her in Niger, Africa for three months. ---Each time we gave her away to God...the God who gave her to us. In God we trust. Go Britt...be free!
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