In Lent the Lord is my Shepherd....

Christ Jesus our Lord is the Good Shepherd. He laid down His life for us.
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During this Lent season you have probably been asked this question "what are you giving up for Lent?" Many people give up chocolate, coffee or some other favorite food. Some give up computer time etc. In the church I attend we have been discussing grief, suffering, depression and sickness during our Sunday morning sessions. I think the 23rd Psalm is a good fit for Lent. Let me explain why.

 Jesus says in John 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. 
And this is exactly why we are preparing to celebrate Easter. Jesus our good Shepherd gave his life for us - He died on the cross to pay for our sin. We are his sheep. Jesus had no sin but He took our sin upon Himself and went to the cross in our place.

So in Psalm 23 we read these words: 
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.

In this season of Lent we are reminded of God's provisions for us.

First of course being Jesus sacrifice on the cross to redeem us back to God and someday we "will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever."  But we can also be fully confident of His love and care for us in the here and now. The path in which the Lord is leading us along has good times as well as rough times. In the midst of our life's circumstances, He is with us! He  leadeth me beside the still waters, restoreth my soul,  leadeth me in the paths of righteousness, and even through the valley of the shadow of death He promises to go with us.  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.

So as this Lent season is drawing to a close, let us be filled with renewed hope and assurance of the presence of the Lord. He is here with us, He will never abandon us. He continue to lead us though the path is dark and dangerous, He is there holding us with His powerful right Hand. We can depend on our Lord. We can count on Him. He will never disappoint us.

Psalm 20:6 Now know I that the Lord saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand.

Psalm 63:8 My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.

Psalm 73: 23-24 Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.

Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.

Sickness and Suffering - Why?

Luke 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

Sunday, March 17, 2013
This is a sermon review from my home church that I attend regularly. This year for our Lent season we are doing a series on grief and suffering. We are learning how to be the hands and feet of Jesus in difficult situations. The topic this Sunday was   Sickness - what to say to a friend who is suffering.
Our speaker was Mike. He is a Chaplain at one of the larger hospitals in my area.

2 Corinthians 1: 3-4 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; 
 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

Here is some of what Chaplain Mike said:
What do you say when someone has just received bad news from the doctor? How do you speak to a person who is suffering?

We all experience pain. In some ways pain is a good thing. If you bump your toe you experience pain. If you get near a hot stove, the thought of pain from a burn will keep you from touching the hot stove. 

Suffering involves pain, also emotional pain - pain of a life cut short.
There are heartaches that no level of medication can cover. 

The longer the period of suffering lasts, the heavier it becomes, the harder it is to hold up under it.

Comfort
- comfort comes from God.
2 Corinthians 1:3  describes our Heavenly Father as the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all of our troubles. It is a promise. God wants to comfort you and He will comfort you.

What is comfort?
To comfort someone is to encourage them with compassion. It is urgent and life changing.
The comfort we have experienced in our own trials is meant to be used to comfort others in their situations.

Many times, when we are in a time of suffering we just want it to be over. But we need to give it time to allow God to work in us.

Three Reasons why God allows Suffering
1) It gives us the capacity to enter into other people's suffering.
* your suffering is not just for you
* don't waste what you are going through
* use it as a ministry tool when possible

2) We can learn to rely on God
* 2 Corinthians 1: 8-9 ... that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:  But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:
* the suffering is so bad we want out but we need to rely on God
* suffering makes the lesson stick
* suffering makes us realize how much we need God ALWAYS

3) It helps us to learn to give thanks in everything
* we learn to know the Hand that feeds us and takes care of us
Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

Way to Comfort people
Key - to say very little
1) be present - just be there even if it is uncomfortable or awkward
* don't be afraid when nothing is being said
* don't be afraid if it is awkward

2) listen - 
* by listening you validate the suffering person's feelings
* just sit, allow them to talk and just listen
* you will hear them say things like: money has not fulfilled life's dream, generosity is important, family is important, wish spent more time with loved ones, etc

3) Pray - ask the person if you can pray with them
* we serve a loving God who cares for us

What suffering have you experienced?
It was not meant to be wasted.
You have been ordained to comfort others.

If you are suffering, tell someone, reach out to others and allow them to comfort you.
Use your own suffering to help and comfort others.
We will all face suffering.

Develop a strong faith in Jesus now. Develop a strong relationship with Jesus now!

Next Sunday Pastor Ben will answer questions that have come in over the last couple of weeks.

Thought for the week: Christians keep the faith.... but not from others!

The LORD is my Shepherd!

Psalm 23 is a favorite of many many people. It has brought much comfort to many people grieving the loss of a loved one. But I would like to suggest that the comfort and assurance that it brings is what we need for our everyday lives. So let's consider Psalm 23.
Psalm 23... ¹The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
 ²He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
 ³He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
 ⁴Yea, 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.
 ⁵Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
 ⁶Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

First of all I notice that the word LORD is in all capital letters which indicates that it refers to the name of God Himself, (YHWH ) God who is has no beginning and has no end, God who created the universe, the planets, the earth, people, animals, everything. The only true and living God!. That is who we are talking about here.
The LORD is my shepherd -  He is my personal shepherd. I am one in His fold, I am in His care, He takes the responsibility upon Himself to watch over me.
I shall not want. - He will supply what I really need. He is the giver of every good thing, however large or small, it is a gift from Him. He has given good to me way beyond what I deserve. ( As a sinner, I deserved hell but He came and rescued me and saved me from that). What good thing do we really possess  that does not come from the Hand of the LORD? Whether it be health, our homes, family, our abilities such as being able to breathe, work, walk, sing , speak, read, write, drive, see, smell, taste, hear, sleep, - I mean the list is pretty much endless. Glory to the LORD for these wonderful gifts.
He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters -my good Shepherd provides for me. A sheep that would lie down in green pastures has all needs met. I can depend on the LORD to provide all. He provides all and in His care I am secure.
I notice that He restores my soul, leads me in paths of righteousness for His Name sake.  As followers of Christ we are separate from the world. There is a difference between us and the non-Christians in our goals, lifestyles and values. God has set forth the standard what is right and what is sin. He wrote the handbook for living and it is the Bible. In Christ we are saved by grace and then from then on we seek to live a God honoring life as decribed in the Bible. So when God says it is sin to commit murder, lie, steal, live in drunkenness or commit adultery we believe Him and do things His way. He says marriage is only between one man and one woman and that for life, and that the marriage bed is to be kept undefiled, God  says fornication which is sex outside of marriage is sin, we believe Him and live accordingly. If we claim His name "Christian" we have an obligation to live like Christ would have us live. We should be careful to not drag His Holy name in the dirt.  Hebrews 12:14 -Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord
The valley of the shadow of death , I will fear no evil - The valley of the shadow of death could well mean our own passing through death but the "shadow of death" could also be an illness that we or a  loved one is experiencing, or the death of someone close to us.  The LORD holds us in life and in death. And we need not be afraid when He is with us. It says "Thou art with me". I believe that nothing can come into our lives (as believers) except that God gives the OK so to speak for it to come. If a hardship comes into our lives, He is not taken by surprise and He already knows how He plans to use it for good  in us if we will allow Him to. Satan plans for hardships to  destroy us but God uses hardships in us to teach us to trust Him more and more and to make us stronger in Him.
He prepares a table before me in the presence of my enemies - we look forward to the marriage supper of the Lamb when we as His bride will be in His presence for eternity. Overflowing blessing will be there for those who remain faithful to Him to the end.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
What a blessed hope we have that He is preparing a home for each of us in Heaven that someday when our life is over down here we will go to dwell with Him forever. That is the most exciting thought ever!
John 14: 2-3
²In 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.
 ³And 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.
Amen!