PSALM 23

With PSALMS 23 am fully covered


1 The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil,
for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

The night my mum passed away and finally met her Saviour, her Pastor came to the house and sat with her and told her it was her time to walk through the valley and gave her permission to walk THROUGH the valley.... 3 hours later her suffering had ended and she was rejoicing. I will never again read Psalm 23 the same as I did before May 22.

Jesus alone is able to cut through that which binds us

Forgive me, Lord, for my tendency to look for self-help solutions to my spiritual bondage. fears.

God was IS   preparing him  ME  for a new sighting of Jesus, this time through the prism of tears.

Who can break the seals that bind me? Not me. Not my pastor. Not my therapist  counselor. Not all the philosophers through time. Only One is worthy; His name is Jesus.
(crosspost)

All I have in Christ

I once was lost in darkest night
Yet thought I knew the way.
The sin that promised joy and life
Had led me to the grave.
I had no hope that You would own
A rebel to Your will.
And if You had not loved me first
I would refuse You still.
But as I ran my hell-bound race
Indifferent to the cost
You looked upon my helpless state
And led me to the cross.
And I beheld God’s love displayed
You suffered in my place
You bore the wrath reserved for me
Now all I know is grace.
Hallelujah! All I have is Christ
Hallelujah! Jesus is my life
Now, Lord, I would be Yours alone
And live so all might see
The strength to follow Your commands
Could never come from me.
Oh Father, use my ransomed life
In any way You choose.
And let my song forever be
My only boast is You.
© 2008 Sovereign Grace Praise (BMI), by Jordan Kauflin

"Everlasting God"

Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord

Our God, You reign forever
Our hope, our Strong Deliverer
You are the everlasting God
The everlasting God
You do not faint
You won't grow weary

Our God, You reign forever
Our hope, our Strong Deliverer
You are the everlasting God
The everlasting God
You do not faint
You won't grow weary

You're the defender of the weak
You comfort those in need
You lift us up on wings like eagles

...words of comfort: "Do not be afraid." It seems that every meaningful meeting with Jesus has the same eternal ring about it: We see Him. We fall in worship. He touches us. He gives a word for us. Our hearts are comforted and revived.
It took a while until John recognized Jesus. ~~As it does me ~~ You can almost hear John say, "Jesus, it is you!"~~ in almost disbelief that He is STILL there ~~ Doubts and questions go; hope is restored. Nothing revives the heart like a new vision of Jesus… new, yes, but laced with familiar feelings. We realize to our utter amazement that He has been there all the time, even if hidden from view.

Went to church yesterday with Elizabeth.
Sang some great songs and heard a message about God's glory and grace.
2 Cor 4 is a series of suffering, failures, trials, dignity being stripped away and YET we do not lose heart, for we see HIS glory and grace.

The condition of the prodigal son is worse than we can ever imagine ~~ they do not see His glory and grace  ... only God can bring His light and glory into their heart.

John 1:1-18
Ex 33
2 Cor 3:18- 4

(crossposted)
Again John (I) heard the voice of Jesus, the one he'd (I've) listened to intently (intently, nonchalantly, not, with fear r/t sin, intensely, wonderinly if I was still qualified to listen, as if I did not earn His voice) for over three years as a young man was (as a young woman, a vexed woman, disobedient, needing and yet not acknowledging.....)

was still powerful, continual, fresh and, above all, dependable.
Yes, my Good Shepherd is totally dependable.

 Sometimes when we are going through the dark night of trials, the Word seems dull, if not dead.

The promises that we cling to sting us in our despair. The cry of a revived believer calls out desperately to hear a word of assurance from the Lord.

Above all I NEED to know that I am His and that I am acceptable to hear His Word of reassurance.

I NEED His assurance.

I have walked through many a "blazing furnace" in my time.
Ah yes....some because I was being tried by my Lord and others because I had disobeyed.
But nothing could have prepared me for the one I live through now.... she will never come back, I have lost mum and dad.
 Passing through fires of affliction is no fun.
There is a pain, that is so difficult, it pinches the soul and grieves the very core of my soul.
Three young Hebrews found that out in Babylon where they were literally thrown into a furnace, one so hot that it killed any who came near it. But for these three, their feet were not even seared because "Someone" entered the fire with them.
I Must acknowledge that my Shepherd walks with me, no matter how I feel, it is a fact.
They were saved from certain death. Look at this amazing "Someone," His feet "like bronze glowing in a furnace"!

Jesus passed through the fires of suffering when He atoned for our sins on the Cross. He suffered anguish in spirit, soul and body in His sacrifice of self. His feet were in the fire. Now, with those same burnished feet, He walks beside us through a world of sin and destruction. "When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze" (Isaiah 43:2).

Your own suffering has eternal meaning because Christ suffers with us. Walking with Jesus in revival is a fellowship of suffering as well as unspeakable joy.
I am expecting nothing but a journey which I want my Shepherd to teach me as I follow Him.... something in my journey will bring joy as I grtieve, as I grow.....

INSIGHT
When I find myself resisting any test of faith, I repent of that unwillingness and accede to the perfect will of Jesus.

Jesus' power is subservient to His wisdom. He can do it, but His wisdom guides the use of His power. In our limited sight, we see but a small portion of the great, eternal picture. But Jesus sees it all.

Life with Jesus is a walk of faith, not of sight. When all evidence cries out that what Jesus said is not true, a humble child of faith sees Jesus as the Almighty One despite argument to the contrary.