Journal for Christ

Friday, April 15, 2016

Getting in the rut (part 1)

Notice a rather large gap of days between my last journal entry and today's entry? Those gaps continue till today. Nevertheless, I press on. Therefore, let me encourage you to keep going in your quiet times. If you miss a day or two, or even as much as a week, don't let that deter you or discourage you. Just keep pressing on.

"But I have tried to get started and keep failing after a few day."

"I was doing so well and then I just stopped and it's been a month
since I last got into doing any sort of quiet time, devotions, or Bible Study."

Do not let these excuses keep you from getting started again. Press on! There are many false starts, detours, and distractions on the path of righteousness. We are sheep and sheep stray, but our Good Shepherd seeks after us and rescues us. This study is the first part of a study of when being in a rut is a good thing.

October 2, 2015

Worship: God Will Make a Way by Don Moen

God will make a way
Where there seems to be no way
He works in ways we cannot see
He will make a way for me

He will be my guide
Hold me closely to His side
With love and strength for each new day
He will make a way, He will make a way

Oh, God will make a way

Where there seems to be no way
He works in ways we cannot see
He will make a way for me

He will be my guide
Hold me closely to His side
With love and strength for each new day
He will make a way, He will make a way

By a roadway in the wilderness, He'll lead me
And rivers in the desert will I see
Heaven and Earth will fade, but His Word will still remain
And He will do something new today

Oh, God will make a way
Where there seems to be no way
He works in ways we cannot see
He will make a way for me

He will be my guide
Hold me closely to His side
With love and strength for each new day
He will make a way, He will make a way

Songwriter
Donald James Moen

Published by
INTEGRITY'S HOSANNA! MUSIC
Read more: Don Moen - God Will Make A Way Lyrics | MetroLyrics

https://youtu.be/RsMAXhc0QTs

Witness:

Well, it's been several days since I have been able to just sit down and have a quiet time with the Lord. I’m at a loss for what to talk about. No deep insights from God have come my way. I’m just plain tired. My schedule has been altered by having to pick up my grandkid’s from school. That is 3 of my 12 grandkids. These grandkids live next door to me. So, I have lost sleep in the last few days and I’m still feeling the effects. I am going to have to lay down in fifteen minutes to rest or I will be no good at work tonight. One thing I pray for each day is wisdom for each day. God has impressed on me the need for having margin in my life so I can handle this change in my schedule. As the song says, “God Will Make a Way”.

WORD:

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.

2He makes me lie down in green pastures,

he leads me beside quiet waters,

3he refreshes my soul.

He guides me along the right paths

for his name’s sake.

4Even though I walk

through the darkest valley,^a

I will fear no evil,

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff,

they comfort me.

Just one brief thought for the day. When we say we are “stuck in a rut” we are not saying something positive about our life situation. However, according to Psalm 23:3, being in a rut can be a good thing. How's that, you ask? Let’s look at the word for “paths” in this verse.

Brown-Driver-Briggs defines this word as:

ma`gal

OT:4570 ma`gal or (feminine) ma`galah —

an entrenchment, a track

a) a circumvallation, an entrenchment

b) a track

(from The Online Bible Thayer's Greek Lexicon and Brown Driver & Briggs Hebrew Lexicon, Copyright © 1993, Woodside Bible Fellowship, Ontario, Canada. Licensed from the Institute for Creation Research.)

The KJV commentary says:

The word translated paths (Heb ma˓gal) means the ways clearly marked by wheeled traffic.

Hindson, E. E., & Kroll, W. M. (Eds.). (1994). KJV Bible Commentary (p. 1011). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

The Bible Exposition Commentary Says:

The word "paths" in verse 3 means "well-worn paths, ruts.”

These are the paths Our Great Shepherd leads us into and we are glad. More on this tomorrow.

Sunday, April 10, 2016

Right paths or paths of righteousness?

September 29, 2015

Worship: He Leadeth Me by Joseph H. Gilmore, Be Thou My Vision by… ?

He Leadeth Me

Words: Joseph H. Gilmore

Music: William B. Bradbury

Ps 23:3

Topics: Guidance

He leadeth me, O blessed thought!

O words with heav'nly comfort fraught!

Whate'er I do, where'er I be

Still 'tis God's hand that leadeth me.

Refrain

He leadeth me, He leadeth me,

By His own hand He leadeth me;

His faithful follower I would be,

For by His hand He leadeth me.

Sometimes mid scenes of deepest gloom,

Sometimes where Eden's bowers bloom,

By waters still, over troubled sea,

Still 'tis His hand that leadeth me.

Refrain

Lord, I would place my hand in Thine,

Nor ever murmur nor repine;

Content, whatever lot I see,

Since 'tis my God that leadeth me.

Refrain

And when my task on earth is done,

When by Thy grace the vict'ry's won,

E'en death's cold wave I will not flee,

Since God through Jordan leadeth me.

Refrain

https://youtu.be/Zwm7MlUtDa0

Be Thou My Vision

Words: unknown author, translated to English Mary E. Byrne

Music: "Slane" (folk Irish tune)

Num 10:31

Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;

Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art

Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,

Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;

I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;

Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;

Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

Be Thou my battle Shield, Sword for the fight;

Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight;

Thou my soul's Shelter, Thou my high Tower:

Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.

Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise,

Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:

Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,

High King of heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

High King of heaven, my victory won,

May I reach heaven's joys, O bright heaven's Sun!

Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,

Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.

https://youtu.be/6CMclLT_Hjg

Witness: Today is certainly different than yesterday. It is as if I switched days and today was Monday and yesterday was Tuesday. Usually I get a lot done on Monday and am too tired to do anything on Tuesday. This week was the opposite. Needless to say, by the time Monday was over, I was frustrated and discouraged. I thought nothing would get done this week. After all, Tuesdays was always a day marked by sleepiness and lethargy for me, wasn’t it? However, after getting up at 6:15 am to go to work for some meetings and returning home, suddenly I had energy and was able to clean the house, vacuum, mop the kitchen floor, empty the dishwasher, do 4 loads of wash, clean and straighten up the garage, and mow the front and side yard. I had energy I didn’t expect I’d have.

A spiritual application came to mind as I wrote this. Many times we are tired and weary in the Christian walk. We are waiting for strength to come today, but it doesn’t, and we are frustrated and discouraged. But wait, though strength tarries today, tomorrow is coming. Rest and wait. The disciples were told to wait for the promised coming of the Holy Spirit and when He did, oh the power they received. Child of God, though your strength be weak today, rest, wait, and trust God. The power will come. Use the time to seek the Lord in prayer. That is what the disciples did while waiting for the promise (Acts 2:14).

WORD:

Psalm 23:2-4
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. KJV

Psalm 23:2-4

2He makes me lie down in green pastures,

he leads me beside quiet waters,

3he refreshes my soul.

He guides me along the right paths

for his name’s sake.

4Even though I walk

through the darkest valley,^a

I will fear no evil,

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff,

they comfort me. NIV

Psalm 23:2-4

2He makes me lie down in green pastures,

he leads me beside quiet waters,

3he refreshes my soul.

He guides me along the right paths

for his name’s sake.

4Even though I walk

through the darkest valley,^a

I will fear no evil,

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff,

they comfort me. NIV

Before I go any further with this verse; I must clear up one issue. Is it “paths of righteousness” or “right paths”? The NIV 2011, NLT, NET, and the HCSB have “right paths”. The KJV, NIV84, NASB, ESV, and the ASV have “paths of righteousness”. So which is it? Well, the latter versions mentioned are considered, for the most part, to be more literal, so that settles it right? Not really. Both are correct. One may be more literal than the other and I found two different resources saying the opposite in reference to what was the literal translation. I think sometimes that term is over worked. If you look in any lexicon of the Hebrew, or Greek, for that manner, you will not see just one word listed as the meaning of the word. Consult any concordance of the various versions that include Hebrew and Greek and you will see that a particular word is translated differently in various passages throughout the bible. The context often determines the translation. I will quote some various sources and let you decide. In any event, with God as my Guide, He will never lead me down a wrong path, nor will He lead where unrighteousness prevails!

“The poet glories that Jahve leads him carefully and without risk or wandering in

ma±gleey-tsedeq, straight paths and leading to the right goal”

23:3 b. The third blessing that comes from the Lord's leading is guidance in the right way (paths of righteousness). A good shepherd knows the right paths on which to bring the sheep home safely.

(from Bible Knowledge Commentary/Old Testament Copyright © 1983, 2000 Cook Communications Ministries; Bible Knowledge Commentary/New Testament Copyright © 1983, 2000 Cook Communications Ministries. All rights reserved.)

Psalms 23:3

In right paths, or right ways. He conducts me in the straight path that leads to Himself;

Paths of righteousness - "the way of the just" (Isa 26:7); that justification whereby He graciously accounts believers righteous through faith, and enables them to be righteous by His inworking Spirit.

He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the ^cpaths of righteousness for his name's sake.

When we need to know which way to go, He shows us the right path and then goes before us to prepare the way

Wiersbe, W. W. (1991). With the Word Bible Commentary (Ps 23:1). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

in the paths of righteousness] Usage is decisive in favour of rendering thus, and not, in straight paths. The word for righteousness nowhere retains its primary physical meaning of straightness.

http://biblehub.com/commentaries/psalms/23-3.htm

Saturday, April 9, 2016

Lead me... Guide Me

I decided to include two journal entries today to catch up a little and to give context to what I said in the entry to my previous opening remarks.

September 28, 2015

Worship: Onward Christian Soldiers by Sabine Baring-Gould;

Onward, Christian Soldiers

Words: Sabine Baring-Gould

Music: "St. Gertrude" by Arthur S. Sullivan

2 Tim 2:3

Topics: Spiritual Warfare

Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,

With the cross of Jesus going on before.

Christ, the royal Master, leads against the foe;

Forward into battle see His banners go!

Refrain

Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,

With the cross of Jesus going on before.

At the sign of triumph Satan's host doth flee;

On then, Christian soldiers, on to victory!

Hell's foundations quiver at the shout of praise;

Brothers lift your voices, loud your anthems raise.

Refrain

Like a mighty army moves the church of God;

Brothers, we are treading where the saints have trod.

We are not divided, all one body we,

One in hope and doctrine, one in charity.

Refrain

What the saints established that I hold for true.

What the saints believed, that I believe too.

Long as earth endureth, men the faith will hold,

Kingdoms, nations, empires, in destruction rolled.

Refrain

Crowns and thrones may perish, kingdoms rise and wane,

But the church of Jesus constant will remain.

Gates of hell can never gainst that church prevail;

We have Christ's own promise, and that cannot fail.

Refrain

Onward then, ye people, join our happy throng,

Blend with ours your voices in the triumph song.

Glory, laud and honor unto Christ the King,

This through countless ages men and angels sing.

Refrain

https://youtu.be/Znf6Uy3IRJ8

"Break Every Chain"

There is power in the name of Jesus
There is power in the name of Jesus
There is power in the name of Jesus
To break every chain
Break every chain
Break every chain (2X)

All sufficient sacrifice
So freely given
Such a price
Bought our redemption
Heaven's gates swing wide

[repeat 1st verse]

There's an army rising up
There's an army rising up
There's an army rising up

To Break every chain
Break every chain
Break every chain (2X)

To Break every chain
Break every chain
Break every chain

[repeat 1^st verse]

To Break every chain
Break every chain
Break every chain

A-Z Lyrics - JESUS CULTURE Lyrics

https://youtu.be/rOyjD5Zw2ew

Witness:

I am very frustrated. I cannot seem to get going in the Word portion of my Journal. I get up to it and have to go to work or asleep. Even now I am very sleepy, but I am going to push through, Lord willing. So determined was I to get going, that when I saw things that need to be done in the house I said NO! I then cried out, half in humor and half in all seriousness, “Onward Christian Soldier!” That’s why I included it in my worship tonight. I also included “Break Every Chain” to compliment the theme.

Another problem I face is interruptions. I pray, then I sing. After that, it seems like it takes a time to get going, because of the interruptions. It maybe the washing machine is out of balance, the desire to snack on something, nature’s call or the neighbors arguing… uh… loudly discussing something. All of these happened tonight and kept me from getting anywhere. Do you find that to be a problem with you too? Well, “momma said there would be days like this”, never-the-less press on. Don’t let it deter you from faithfully coming to the scriptures to find things that are profitable for, “teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, NIV.”

WORD:

2He makes me lie down in green pastures,

he leads me beside quiet waters,

3he refreshes my soul.

He guides me along the right paths

for his name’s sake.

4Even though I walk

through the darkest valley,^a

I will fear no evil,

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff,

they comfort me.

Well, we are beginning to unpack all the blessings of having the Lord as our Shepherd. We have seen that He leads, feeds, quenches, and refreshes. Now we come to the portion where we see Him as our Guide. The King James has the word “leadeth” here like in verse two, but the NIV has the word “guides”. Is there a reason? Is the NIV just translating the same word differently for stylistic reasons? A simple referring to Strong’s Concordance or an interlinear Bible will clear this up. In verse 2 the root word of the verb used here is “nahal (naw-hal')” and means:

a primitive root; properly, to run with a sparkle, i.e. flow; hence (transitively), to conduct, and (by inference) to protect, sustain”

The TWOT says:

Our root, which occurs in the Piel and Hithpael, denotes a shepherd's loving concerned leading of his flock, especially those with young (Isa 40:11) …

It is this loving concerned shepherd-like leading that typifies God's conducting his people to Palestine (paralleled by ‎naha‎, Ex 15:13). David confesses that God gently leads him beside still waters (parallel to "makes me lie down in green pastures," Ps 23:3), and prays God's continued care (Ps 31:4 *, parallel to naha). The eschaton will attest God's tender leading of his people (Isa 40:11; Isa 49:10).

The idea of tenderly leading extends to tenderly conducting, e.g. feeble ones on asses (2 Chron 28:15), the weak through threatening enemies (2 Chron 32:22), and the hungry through a famine (Gen 47:17).

The word used in verse 3 is “nachah (naw-khaw')” and means:

primitive root; to guide; by implication, to transport (into exile, or as colonists)

Different words but both can be translated lead or guide. I think making a distinction here is important for the reasons I spoke of on another day previously. I also think it makes a difference, because the word used in verse 2 means to gently lead, whereas in verse 3 the word used does not always carry that connotation. In fact, it can have a grittier meaning attached to it. So we see that He leads us gently to the waters, but there is no guarantee that it will always be easy to go down the “paths of righteousness” or “the right paths”. I’ll stop here for you and me to take that in.

I have everything I need

On this day, I was unable to even get to my study in Psalms. Hence, the missing WORD segment. I speak of my frustration in the journal entry that follows this one. Nevertheless, the WORD is present in my witness section and I found it refreshing to be reminded of the sufficiency of Scripture in declaring all that we have from God our Savior.

September 24, 2015

Worship: Restoration by David Brymer

Restoration
by David Brymer

Album: Unceasing

You bring restoration,
You bring restoration,
You bring restoration, to my soul.

You've taken my pain
and You call me by a new name.
You've taken my shame
and in its place, you give me joy.

You take my mourning, turn it into dancing.
You take my weeping, turn it into laughing.
You take my mourning, turn it into dancing.
You take my sadness, turn it into joy.

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, You make all things new,
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, You make all things new,
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, You make all things new,
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, You make all things new.

https://youtu.be/yBhqrcfp87k

Witness:

Today I faced a dilemma. I wanted to make tacos today. However, when I started to get the meat out, I realized that I had forgotten the taco seasoning mix. What was I going to do? I had to go to the store, right? Well, I did not feel like going all the way to Wal-Mart. Then the light bulb appeared over my head as I got an idea on how to solve this seasoning situation. I googled, “What are the ingredients in taco seasoning” and “Bam!” (to quote a well-known chef) there it was, the ingredients for making taco seasoning. The list of ingredients was rather long and I thought, “certainly I don’t have all the ingredients”, but much to my surprise and delight, I indeed did have all the ingredients. So I followed the directions and used the recommended portions for each spice. When I finished cooking the meat and taco seasoning and shredded up the lettuce; I began to look for the taco sauce. Okay, where is it? I know I bought some. At least, I thought I did. Now what am I going to do? It’s almost time for church. I can’t go to the store now. So after I have looked frantically for several minutes, I remembered that I had saved some Taco sauce packets in the refrigerator. Praise the Lord. Problem solved.

Now, why do I record this experience? Because it reminds me of a passage in 2 Peter 1:3-4:

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption n the world caused by evil desires. NIV

Just like the ingredients in my taco seasoning, I have everything I need in my Christian walk provided to me through His Word (precious promises) and His Holy Spirit (divine power). Provisions for “life and godliness”. These verses are so rich in content that I can’t unpack them at the moment. I would exhort everyone reading this, to study these verses and see what riches they can find in them.

Tuesday, April 5, 2016

Come to the quiet waters and drink deeply.

September 23, 2015

Worship: At Calvary by William R. Newell, pub.1895

1. Years I spent in vanity and pride,
Caring not my Lord was crucified,
Knowing not it was for me He died
On Calvary.

o Refrain:
Mercy there was great, and grace was free;
Pardon there was multiplied to me;
There my burdened soul found liberty
At Calvary.

2. By God’s Word at last my sin I learned;
Then I trembled at the law I’d spurned,
Till my guilty soul imploring turned
To Calvary.

3. Now I’ve giv’n to Jesus everything,
Now I gladly own Him as my King,
Now my raptured soul can only sing
Of Calvary!

4. Oh, the love that drew salvation’s plan!
Oh, the grace that brought it down to man!
Oh, the mighty gulf that God did span
At Calvary!

https://youtu.be/Kace3TBloZo

Witness: “Years I spent in vanity and pride, caring not my Lord was crucified”. So begins an old familiar favorite hymn. The years I spent were until 8^th grade, when a 5^th grader neighbor who accompanied me on my paper route shared the gospel – the Good News - and in the “upper room” of his bedroom, I knelt and gave my heart and life to Christ. Hitherto, I had not known what the Good News was, so it was not that I cared not that He was crucified for me. It was that the church I was brought up in did not preach the Good News nor believe in the Bible. Furthermore, my priest believed that all religions led to God. Yesterday, I spoke of rancid (I speak euphemistically) waters. Many are led (misled) to these waters by well-meaning ministers who “having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power.”(2 Tim. 3:5) It goes on to warn us to: “Avoid such people.” Why, because they are false shepherds, wolves in sheep’s clothing:

"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.” Matt. 7:15

They certainly are not restoring souls or leading us in paths of righteousness. Take heed to the exhortation: “Avoid such people!”

WORD:

Psalm 23:2-4

2He makes me lie down in green pastures,

he leads me beside quiet waters,

3he refreshes my soul.

He guides me along the right paths

for his name’s sake.

4Even though I walk

through the darkest valley,^a

I will fear no evil,

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff,

they comfort me. NIV

Green Pastures, Still waters – sounds wonderful. And it is! But you say, “it doesn’t describe what I am experiencing at the moment. So what gives here? Is there something wrong with my walk? Is there something wrong with the Shepherd? May it never be!

First, we must remember that when we come to Scripture, we must look at the whole and not just the parts. We must see the big picture. We know from the beginning when Adam sinned, that life wasn’t going to be easy. The Lord’s people have always faced hard times. David himself is often seen crying out to the Lord in distress. Our Lord said, “In this world you will have trouble” (John 16:33), but he also said immediately afterward as our Lord and great Shepherd, “But take heart! I have overcome the world.” He spoke of great turmoil in the days ahead before He returns.

So why the seeming incongruity between this Psalm and the rest of Scripture, and even our own experience in life? If that’s a question you are asking, then let me say this. Perhaps you have failed to see the underlying theme running through this Psalm. Another problem may be that we don’t understand the life a Shepherd and his sheep in Biblical times. Unger describes it this way:

The office of the Eastern shepherd, as described in the Bible, involved much hardship and even danger. He was exposed to extremes of heat and cold (Gen 31:40); his food frequently consisted of the precarious supplies afforded by nature, such as the "sycamore fig" or Egyptian fig (Amos 7:14), the "pods" of the carob tree (Luke 15:16), and perhaps the locusts and wild honey that supported John the Baptist (Matt 3:4); he had to encounter attacks of wild beasts, occasionally of the larger species, such as lions, wolves, leopards, and bears (1 Sam 17:34; Isa 31:4; Jer 5:6; Amos 3:12); nor was he free from the risk of robbers or predatory hordes (Gen 31:39). To meet these various foes, the shepherd's equipment consisted of the following articles: a robe, made probably of sheepskin, with the fleece on, which he turned inside out in cold weather, as implied in the comparison in Jer 43:12 (cf. Juv. 14. 187); a pouch, containing a small amount of food (1 Sam 17:40); a sling, which is still the favorite weapon of the Bedouin shepherd (17:40); and, last, a staff, which served the double purpose of a weapon against foes and a crook for the management of the flock (1 Sam 17:40; Ps 23:4; Zech 11:7).

Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary says of sheep:

By nature, sheep are helpless creatures. They depend on shepherds to lead them to water and pasture, to fight off wild beasts, and to anoint their faces with oil when a snake nips them from the grass.

With these things in mind, we see that this little seeming “sunny psalm”, as someone described it, is really full of the grittiness and weariness of life. Why do we need to be made to lie down in green pastures? Why do we need the quiet or still waters? Just to be nourished, rested, and hydrated? The first clue comes in the first part of verse three. “He restores my soul”. Why does one need restoration if this psalm is just painting a rosy picture of a believer’s life? No, life is hard. Sheep have to trek through many dry and/or dark places before they get to the green pastures and quiet waters to be refreshed and restored. Barnes says:

[He restoreth my soul] literally, "He causes my life to return." DeWette, "He quickens me," or causes me to live. The word soul" here means life, or spirit, and not the soul in the strict sense in which the term is now used. It refers to the spirit when exhausted, weary, or sad; and the meaning is, that God quickens or vivifies the spirit when thus exhausted. The reference is not to the soul as wandering or backsliding from God, but to the life or spirit as exhausted, wearied, troubled, anxious, worn down with care and toil. the heart, thus exhausted, He re-animates. He brings back its vigor. He encourages it; excites it to new effort; fills it with new joy.

I agree mostly with what Barnes says here, however, I must disagree when he says the “reference is not to the soul as wandering or backsliding from God”. We know that sheep can stray along the way to the green pastures and quiet waters, so I would add the other side which Benson takes:

He restoreth my soul — Hebrew, נפשׁי ישׁובב, naphshi jeshobeb, my soul he bringeth, or, will bring back, namely, from its errors or wanderings. No creature is more ready to go astray than a sheep, or more at a loss to find its way back. And all we like sheep have gone astray, and are still too prone so to do; to leave the right way of truth and duty, and to turn aside into by-paths. But when God shows us our errors, gives us repentance, and brings us back to our duty again, he restores our souls; and if he did not do so, we would wander endlessly and be undone.

I believe both to be true. Do you need restoration? Do you need refreshing? Come to the quiet waters and drink deeply.

JohnGill says:

“he leadeth me beside the still waters, or "waters of rest and quietness" (u); not to rapid torrents, which by reason of the noise they make, and the swiftness of their motion, the sheep are frightened, and not able to drink of them; but to still waters, pure and clear, and motionless, or that go softly, like the waters of Shiloah, Isaiah 8:6; and the "leading" to them is in a gentle way, easily, as they are able to bear it; so Jacob led his flock, Genesis 33:14; and Christ leads his, Isaiah 40:11; by these "still waters" may be designed the everlasting love of God, which is like a river, the streams whereof make glad the hearts of his people; these are the waters of the sanctuary, which rise to the ankles, knees, and loins, and are as a broad river to swim in; the pure river of water of life Christ leads his sheep to, and gives them to drink freely of: also communion with God, which the saints pant after, as the hart pants after the water brooks, and Christ gives access unto; moreover he himself is the fountain of gardens, and well of living waters, and streams from Lebanon; and the graces of his Spirit are also as rivers of living water, all which he makes his people partakers of; to which may be added, that the Scriptures, and the truths of the Gospel, are like still, quiet, and refreshing waters to them, and are the waters to which those that are athirst are invited to come, Isaiah 55:1; and in the immortal state Christ will still be a shepherd, and will feed his people, and lead them to fountains of living water, where they shall solace themselves for ever, and shall know no more sorrow and sighing, Revelation 7:17.”

http://biblehub.com/commentaries/psalms/23-2.htm

Monday, April 4, 2016

Are you drinking from restful or rancid waters?

September 22, 2015

Worship: The Good Shepherd by Fernando Ortega

I Am the Good Shepherd;
I lay down my life for you;
enter in.

I Am the Good Shepherd;
as the Father knows me,
I know you.

And no one can take you away.

You are the Good Shepherd;
you lay down your life for me;
enter in.

You are the Good Shepherd;
as the Father knows you,
you know me.

And no one can take you away.

https://youtu.be/5lpMma_eHHQ

Witness:

Today started off well enough. I had lunch with a brother and some good fellowship. However, when I went home, I began to feel weary, unlike yesterday when I had energy and got a lot done. When I am tired, my emotions also follow. I sat down in the afternoon and began to review what I had written so far on Psalm 23 only to be interrupted by an AT&T salesman selling cable, internet, and phone deals. I finally ate dinner, then decided that I just couldn’t go on and lay down and rested till now. It’s after nine o’clock and it's almost time to get ready for work. I rest in the fact that my Good Shepherd knows me and no one can take me away from Him, and no one can Him away from me! As I was writing that last thought I received two texts almost simultaneously, one from my wife wishing me a good night at work, and one from my daughter who lives next door wishing me the same and that she loved me. It was as if God was reaching out and saying to me, “I LOVE you and will be with you at work. In Me you have joy. Cheer up and rejoice because you are Mine and I am yours”.

WORD:

Psalm 23:2-4

2He makes me lie down in green pastures,

he leads me beside quiet waters,

3he refreshes my soul.

He guides me along the right paths

for his name’s sake.

4Even though I walk

through the darkest valley,^a

I will fear no evil,

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff,

they comfort me. NIV

I don’t have much time left. It seems that I spend so much time thinking about the day and sharing it in witness that by the time I get to the WORD I don’t always have much time left. I want to share one thought that came to me the other day as I was looking at the word for the “water” in the Hebrew. I don’t know Hebrew so I am relying on those who do. Perhaps it is appropriate that I share this thought tonight because of how I have felt today.

The word for water in Hebrew is very interesting in its uses in the Bible. Commentators on this passage usually focus on the adjective “still” or “restful”. Pointing out that the water was not so still it was stagnant, making it unhealthy to drink nor too swift that the sheep were frightened by it. These are important observations. I thought of another type of water that symbolizes to me the waters that Satan offers. A water that is gross and has an awful stench, and yet how often we can drink of these waters when we let the devil lead us astray and we sink in the cesspool of despair because of it. The root word for water here is mayim (mah'-yim) and is defined as a: “dual of a primitive noun (but used in a singular sense); water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine”.

I apologize for bringing up this picture in your mind, but the figurative use as “urine” describes appropriately the waters Satan offers us. So the next time you want to be lead astray in your thoughts or feelings or actions, just think of the waters you are drinking!

Friday, April 1, 2016

Our Shepherd feeds us and leads us

It's been a while since I've blogged. Extremely busy days. I haven't been able to journal or share from my journal. I long for the restful waters and hope to visit them tomorrow.

September 21, 2015:

Worship: In My Heart There Rings a Melody by Elton M. Roth; Come Thou Fount Of Every Blessing by Robert Robinson (sung by Fernando Ortega)

I have a song that Jesus gave me,
It was sent from Heav’n above;
There never was a sweeter melody,
’Tis the melody of love.

Refrain

In my heart there rings a melody,
There rings a melody with Heaven’s harmony;
In my heart there rings a melody,
There rings a melody of love.

I love the Christ who died on Calv’ry,
For He washed my sins away;
He put within my heart a melody,
And I know it’s there to stay.

Refrain

’Twill be my endless theme in glory,
With the angels I will sing;
’Twill be a song with glorious harmony,
When the courts of Heaven ring.

Refrain

https://youtu.be/RwxWOzo8kb4

Come, Thou fount of every blessing
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace
Streams of mercy, never ceasing
Call for songs of loudest praise
Teach me some melodious sonnet
Sung by flaming tongues above
Praise His name, I'm fixed upon it
Name of God's redeeming love

Hitherto, Thy love has blessed me
Thou hast drawn me to this place
And I know Thy hand will lead me
Safely home by Thy good grace

Jesus sought me when a stranger
Wandering from the fold of God
He to rescue me from danger
Bought me with His precious blood

O to grace, how great a debtor
Daily I'm constrained to be
Let Thy goodness, like a fetter
Bind my wandering heart to Thee

Prone to wander, Lord I feel it
Prone to leave the God I love
Here's my heart, O take and seal it
Seal it for Thy courts above

Read more: http://artists.letssingit.com/fernando-ortega-lyrics-come-thou-fount-of-every-blessing-59jb8jw#ixzz3mRRSYYK6
LetsSingIt - Your favorite Music Community

https://youtu.be/FU1u6Lmz27A

Witness:

Today was a good day overall. Very busy and very early. Spent time in the early morning with our campus pastor, which I enjoyed very much, then went home and cleaned the house and worked on finances until dinner time. After dinner, I went and picked up my mom at the airport, then came back and cleaned some more. Perhaps the last thing I did was a mistake because now I am falling asleep for moments at a time and haven’t even gotten into the WORD. Today was more of a Martha Day than a Mary day. If, as a guy, I can speak that way (just getting in touch with my feminine sideJ).

I do have one issue that I have to deal with. A decision I have to make which is extremely difficult and to which I will dedicate much prayer to, consult the Lord in His WORD, and the counsel of others before I act. This is the way we should always seek guidance if possible. Quick responses to complicated issues will only lead to further complications.

WORD:

Psalm 23:2-4

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. KJV

Psalm 23: 2-4

2He makes me lie down in green pastures,

he leads me beside quiet waters,

3he refreshes my soul.

He guides me along the right paths

for his name’s sake.

4Even though I walk

through the darkest valley,^a

I will fear no evil,

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff,

they comfort me.

NIV

My eyes grow heavy and I feel I need to lay down in the green pastures of rest. The Lord has provided me with food to eat and I rest comfortably knowing the enemy may be lurking in the surrounding bushes, but also knowing my Shepherd is watching over me. He has led me to the still waters of worship and I have drunk of His restful Spirit. From these verses we see the feeding and leading of the Lord as well as the rest and refreshment, He provides and thus we feel satisfied and secure as we abide with our Great Shepherd. Warren Wiersbe puts it succinctly in his “With the Word Commentary”:

The Shepherd feeds us and leads us. Sheep must have grass and water to live, and the shepherd finds those essential elements for them. God meets the everyday needs of your life as you follow Him (Ps. 37:25; Phil. 4:18). Never worry!

Wiersbe, W. W. (1991). With the Word Bible Commentary (Ps 23:1). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

The word restful or still waters is interesting and I will say more about this later today (it’s 2:19 AM). An “old” Gaither song is playing right now declaring another truth that calms our fears as well. It is a comforting thought as I go to bed:

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,
Because He lives, all fear is gone;
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living,
Just because He lives!

Friday, April 15, 2016

Sunday, April 10, 2016

Saturday, April 9, 2016

Tuesday, April 5, 2016

Monday, April 4, 2016

Friday, April 1, 2016

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