We Have A Good Shepherd

Good Morning!! Those who know sheep describe an animal with limited intelligence, timid but stubborn, easily frightened, given to wandering, and totally unable to defend itself. The Bible likens us to sheep and Jesus to the shepherd. A good shepherd cares for his sheep. Jesus is the good shepherd,...He guides, protects, and provides for his sheep an abundant life.

 

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.—Psalm 23:1 (NIV)

 

All this shepherd does for his sheep comes from the love He has for them. Four times Jesus says, "I lay down my life for the sheep" (John 10:11, 15, 17, 18). His is a sacrificial love. He gives his life willingly to save the sheep because they belong to him.

 

Is Jesus really your shepherd? Why would you not follow Him?

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Sweet and Holy, Spirit of God, stir our hearts to follow our Good Shepherd today and every day. Amen.

" Our hope is that; the joys of Heaven will more than compensate for the difficulties of earth."

Just Ask

Good Morning!! Sometimes we want to take the easy way out,...even though we know it is not the right way. We all make choices on a daily basis. We decide what to wear, what to eat, where to go and how to respond to people and to situations,...should I give an honest answer, even though it might keep me from getting what I really want?...should I forgive this person who hurt me so badly, even when I don't think they care?...should I tell the cashier she gave me too much change,...even though they seemed so rude?
Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this:—Psalm 37:5 (NIV)

At times, we can feel as though we don’t have the need, or strength, to make the right choice. The good news is that we don’t have to be alone in the making of any choices. God is standing by, wanting to help us,...He is just waiting for an invitation. He knows what is best for us,...and He wants to guide us into right choices,...and give us the strength to make them.

We don't have help, only because we have not asked,...and we refuse to accept any.

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Lord, You know about the choices we struggle with. Please help us to know the right thing to do,...and then give us the strength to just do it. Thank You for not allowing us to go it alone. Amen.

 

" Instead of being set apart to God, many so-called Christians have become too comfortable in our society, or simply doing as the world does."

Anger, For Good?

Good Morning!! Anger: right or wrong? The answer is that anger is right,...but it can be wrong. Anger; is God-given emotional energy,...designed for good. Right anger against injustices and wrongdoing in our communities, can motivate us to do something positive about the situation. Our wrong anger can, and often does, lead to sinful acts of selfishness, unkindness or even aggression. It is our responsibility to use our anger-induced energy in positive ways,...even if it just motivates us to remove ourselves from a bad situation.

"In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.—Ephesians 4:26, 27 (NIV)

The Bible tells of many times when anger was a positive force for good. Moses' anger when the Israelites worshiped idols resulted in their repentance.(Exodus 32:19-35)  Jesus' anger motivated Him to clear abusers from His Father's temple (house). (Luke 19:45-48)

The next time you feel angry,...remember that it doesn't have to be a bad thing,..it's our choice

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Father God, forgive us for the times we've used our anger in sinful ways, instead of as a positive force. Help us control our thoughts and actions,...and learn to use our anger in positive ways. In Jesus' name, Amen.

 

" Instead of being set apart to God, many so-called Christians have become too comfortable in our society, or simply doing as the world does."

What's Really Behind The Anger?

Good Morning!! One vital key to controlling anger is to correctly identify the cause. Sort out what you did, and what others did, to produce the anger. Sometimes the incident that seems to trigger the anger is not actually the root cause. For example, if you get angry because your car stopped on you, are you really angry that the car quit working?...or are you afraid of being late and facing whatever that brings with it? Or maybe you are angry because if the car is broken,...meaning you'll have an additional financial burden, and of the stress that it might carry.

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.—James 1:5 (NIV)

First try to learn to accept responsibility for your anger,...and then try to locate the true cause of it. A variety of needs such as insecurity, fear, pride, loneliness, inferiority and as I mentioned the other day; unrealistic expectations can all cause us to feel anger. You might get angry with a friend who attempts to encourage you to take on a new challenge. You accuse them of being pushy,...when in fact, it may have been something you indicated you'd like to do, but are afraid to try,...a fear of failure.

If you struggle with anger, ask God to give you wisdom and insight,... ask Him to help you identify the real source of your anger, and then to deal with it appropriately.

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Holy Spirit, we need Your help, Your wisdom. Help us to understand our anger, so that we may overcome it. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

 

" Instead of being set apart to God, many so-called Christians have become too comfortable in our society, or simply doing as the world does."

Be Slow To Offend

Good Morning!! One key to controlling our temper, is to have realistic expectations of others. No one is always wrong,...or right, all of the time. It is wrong to expect others to always be happy and helpful. None of us can be "up" all the time. We all have times that we are sick, stressed or just plain tired. And, right or wrong, these things do affect our moods. We need to remember that other people are affected by these same things. They may have reasons for their seemingly rude or insensitive behavior.

A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.—Proverbs 19:11 (NIV)

Let's try to avoid getting offended whenever people don't respond or act the way we think they should. They might just be having a bad day. We also need to remember that everyone and everything, does not just exist for our convenience or purpose. We will control anger better if we don't say things like "I can't stand this …" or "They better never …" These statements lock us into emotionalizing rather than thinking.

Don't let everything bother you to the point that you "lose it" over other people's behavior. Show other people the same kind of understanding, we'd like to have on our challenging days.

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Holy Spirit, help us not to expect others to be perfect or to always do things our way. Move us to be more willing to overlook offenses,...to see people's hearts, and be sensitive to their needs. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

" Instead of being set apart to God, many so-called Christians have become too comfortable in our society, or simply doing as the world does."

Back Away

Good Morning!! The sin of proximity is not the same for everyone. What may constitute an occasion for sin for one person, may not even tempt another. We all have our triggers that, if pulled, will likely lead us to acting on our impulses. We need to learn to avoid these sin traps,..and remove ourselves from the things we know push our buttons. If you don't want to get burned, watch yourself around the stove.

In you, Lord my God, I trust in you; do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me. I put my trust. Look on my affliction and my distress and take away all my sins.—Psalm 25:1, 2, and 18 (NIV)

Doing this requires making decisions, and taking action before we are confronted with the situations that exploit our weaknesses. If we can recognize these occasions for sin, and learn how to avoid them, we will have greater chance of being more Christ-like,...and victory against the sin.

Life is change, not everything is meant to last,...know when to let go, and trust God.

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Father God, we really want to do what’s right. We realize now, however, that we can’t do it on our own. Forgive us for our failures. Teach us how to avoid circumstances, people, and things that would move us to sin. Then, give us the strength to stay away. Help us to live in a way that reflex and pleases You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

" When we walk in the Spirit, when the Spirit controls us, He produces joy in our lives just as He produces love."

What About Me Lord?

Good Morning!!  How long, Lord? Have you every had to ask God that question?...How long until my prayer is answered? How long until things get better? How long do you want me to do this without seeing any results?When is my time going to come? When Joseph was sold into slavery and later spent years in prison, he must have asked, "How long, Lord?" When Moses led the Israelites round and round in the wilderness, he surely thought, "How long, Lord?" When Noah was ridiculed for more than 120 years while he built an ark on dry land, he had to have wondered, "How long, Lord?"

I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him.—Psalm 40:1-3 (NIV)

Yet, while each one of these godly heroes may have asked "How Long Lord?",...they never stopped trusting God. They feared (respected) Him enough, to continue obeying Him,...even when it seemed as if they had been forgotten, and that all hope was gone.

Remember; God loves us. He has good plans for our lives. His timing is always perfect. We must keep on, as others before us have,..."Trusting God."

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Father God, help us to honor You, by trusting You and being willing to move when You say so. Even though we get discouraged at times, help us remember that You are in control,...and that Your way is the best way,...Your time the best time. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

" When we walk in the Spirit, when the Spirit controls us, He produces joy in our lives just as He produces love."