Recently I was blessed when listening to a sermon by Adrian Rogers. It has an odd title, but the sermon was comforting and encouraging. I share it here and pray it will bless and comfort someone else as well.
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Reflections on Psalm 23 Verse 1 - Sufficiency 1The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. The LORD is my Shepherd, my guide, my caretaker, the one who watches over me. I shall not want. I do not have to provide my own needs. The Lord supplies all I need. It is sufficient, and I do not need to worry. Verse 2 – Rest and Refreshment 2He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. My Shepherd gives me rest. He leadeth me beside the still waters. My Shepherd gives me refreshment. He leadeth me, He shows me the way to refreshment. The waters are still, quiet. My Shepherd wants me to be still and quiet. That is how I learn to know God. “Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10a) Being still and knowing God brings peace. God is my peace. Verse 3 – Restoration and Righteousness 3He restoreth my soul: My Shepherd restores my soul, my innermost being, the inmost part of me. He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Righteousness is freedom from guilt or sin; rightness. After I am rested, refreshed, and restored, then my Shepherd leads me in the path in which I am to go. He leads me in the paths of righteousness; He leads me into the right way. My Shepherd leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake, to bring glory to Him. He does this because He is the Shepherd. Verse 4 – Trust and Confidence 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. Even if the right way looks like it leads in the paths of death, yet that is the right way. God is with me in that way. I do not need to fear. God protects me, keeps evil from doing me harm, keeps me from slipping with His staff. I can trust my Shepherd completely and have complete confidence in Him. Verse 5 – Nourishment and Health 5Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Even if the paths of righteousness lead me among enemies, my Shepherd will be with me there. He will feed me there. The LORD also anoints my head with oil. He sees when I am hurt or in need, and He is my Healer. My cup runneth over. Not only does my Shepherd lead me and heal me, but He also gives me blessings so numerous I cannot contain them. My Shepherd provides the nourishment and health I need. Verse 6 – Calm Assurance 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. Whether I am in a place that feels safe, or in a place of danger, goodness and mercy will follow me. No matter what, goodness and mercy will follow me – all the way to the end. Goodness and mercy will follow me until the time I go to dwell in the house of the LORD forever. Goodness and mercy all my life. Goodness and mercy for all eternity. Rock of Ages 1. Rock of ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee; Let the water and the blood, From Thy wounded side which flowed, Be of sin the double cure, Save from wrath and make me pure. 2. Could my tears forever flow, Could my zeal no languor know, These for sin could not atone – Thou must save, and Thou alone, In my hand no price I bring, Simply to Thy cross I cling. 3. While I draw this fleeting breath, When my eyes shall close in death, When I rise to worlds unknown And behold Thee on Thy throne, Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee. ~Augustus Toplady Again, wisdom speaks in this verse. Wisdom is better than silver, gold, or rubies. Nothing we may desire can be compared to true wisdom. Jesus Paid it All 1. I hear the Savior say, “Thy strength indeed is small, Child of weakness, watch and pray, Find in me thine all in all.” Chorus: Jesus paid it all, All to Him I owe; Sin had left a crimson stain – He washed it white as snow. 2. Lord, now indeed I find Thy power and thine alone, Can change the leper’s spots And melt the heart of stone. 3. For nothing good have I Whereby thy grace to claim – I’ll wash my garments white In the blood of Calvary’s Lamb. 4. And when before the throne I stand in Him complete, “Jesus died my soul to save,” My lips shall still repeat. ~Elvina M. Hall This is "wisdom" speaking. This shows what true wisdom is and helps us understand how to recognize true wisdom. Wisdom speaks excellent things and right things with no wickedness, perverseness, or frowardness.
Lead Me to Calvary 1. King of my life, I crown Thee now, Thine shall the glory be; Lest I forget Thy thorn-crowned brow, Lead me to Calvary. Refrain: Lest I forget Gethsemane, Lest I forget Thine agony; Lest I forget Thy love for me, Lead me to Calvary. 2. Show me the tomb where Thou wast laid, Tenderly mourned and wept; Angels in robes of light arrayed Guarded Thee whilst Thou slept. 3. Let me like Mary, through the gloom, Come with a gift to Thee; Show to me now the empty tomb, Lead me to Calvary. 4. May I be willing, Lord, to bear Daily my cross for Thee; Even Thy cup of grief to share, Thou hast borne all for me. ~Jennie E. Hussey
Music for Romance The Bible contains one of the most interesting Romance songs ever written. This is the book of the Song of Solomon. It is the love song between Solomon and his wife. It is a love song picturing the love between Jesus and the church. It is not like the vain song of fools (Ecclesiastes 7:5), but is the song of loves. It is beautiful because it is God’s word and pictures Jesus’ love for us and ours for Him. There is another passage in the Bible that talks about music for Romance. This is Hosea chapter 2. Here the love of Hosea to his wayward wife is a picture of the love of God toward wayward Israel. Verses 14,15 say, “14Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her. 15And I will give her her vineyards from thence, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope: and she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt.” In the early days of their relationship, Hosea’s wife would sing to him. Now other lovers had drawn her away and given many things to her to entice her. Hosea would allure her himself and restore to her her vineyards. Then she would sing to him like she did when she was young. In the early days of their relationship, God brought Israel up out of Egypt into the wilderness. Israel loved God and sang to Him. (See Exodus 15:1-21) Then God gave to Israel the Promised Land with vineyards and many other beautiful things. After a while, other lovers enticed Israel and drew her away from God with the promise of giving her many things. God longs for the day when Israel will return to Him, and He can restore her vineyards and all her beautiful things to her. Then Israel will sing to Him again, just as she did in the days of her youth. When love is kept young and alive, there can be beautiful songs of romance between the lovers. It can be kept pure so as to be a song of love, so different from the song of fools. God is thrilled when those who trust in Him sing to Him, and God in turn delights over us with singing. “The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17) So, sing God a song of love today and listen and see if you can’t hear Him sing one to you as well. God's love for you never changes. It is always the same. |
About the Author
Hello! My name is Connie, and I live in North Carolina. The Lord has blessed me with wonderful parents, a wonderful sister, and a great church family . The past few years have been difficult in many ways, but God has been with me all the way. Much praise goes to the Lord for His guidance and wisdom in starting this website. I would also like to express my thanks to Valerie who has joyfully and willingly given of her time to help design this website and do much of the technical work. She and her family are faithful servants to the Lord. They also have gone through many trials in the past few years, but they have allowed God to use these trials to make them sweeter and more like His Son Jesus Christ. Rights:
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