What in the World is Happening? By Vicky Pope
Keeping Focus by Sharon Rabon
Tiny Puppy by Jacqueline Palmani
Jesus – Good Shepherd
Jesus – Good Shepherd
John 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
A shepherd is one who tends sheep. The duties of a shepherd can be quite cumbersome at times. He must keep a careful watch over his flock at all times. In fact, shepherds are often subjected to great peril, sometimes even sacrificing their lives for their sheep.
Similarly, Jesus was born to be our Good Shepherd, willingly sacrificing His life for ours. He came to seek and to save that which was lost (Luke 19:10; Matthew 20:28). In declaring that He is the Good Shepherd, He speaks of laying down his life for his sheep (John 10:15-18).
Jesus – Emmanuel
Jesus – Emmanuel
Isaiah 7:14 – Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
In the verses preceding, God told King Ahaz to ask for a sign of His protection. The king refused due to his lack of trust in God.
Our distrust grieves God, but our distrust will not make God’s promises any less effective. The Lord sent His own sign instead – Immanuel.
The name Immanuel (Emmanuel) means ‘God with us’, which describes His nature. He is God who became man, born of Jewish kin, bringing a new life. This act of ultimate sacrifice proved His unconditional love for us.
Thankful that God loves me inspite of my faults and failures.
Something Beautiful
But now, O Lord, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand. Isaiah 64:8
“I will serve Thee because I love Thee
You have given life to me.
I was nothing before You found me,
You have given life to me.
Chorus:
Heartaches, broken pieces,
Ruined lives are why You died on Calvary.
Your touch was what I longed for,
You have given life to me.”
It’s amazing to think that God has the power to put back together the broken pieces of our lives. We are the clay and He is the Potter. Clay when placed in the Potter’s hand can be formed into something wonderful and new.
Our heartaches don’t have to mean the end of hope. We just need to place our trust in Him and allow Him to work in and through our lives. He will take our broken pieces and form them into something beautiful in His time.
Written: 4 October 2018
Faith
KJV Dictionary defines faith as the “Belief; the assent of the mind to the truth of what is declared by another, resting on his authority and veracity, without other evidence; the judgment that what another states or testifies is the truth. I have strong faith or no faith in the testimony of a witness, or in what a historian narrates.”
Webster Dictionary Defines faith as the “belief and trust in and loyalty to God; belief in the traditional doctrines of a religion.”
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1
Faith is a vital part of our relationship with God. Through faith, we have eternal life. Without faith we cannot please God.
Faith through the Holy Spirit will help the truth to be received. Faith is the firm persuasion and belief that God will perform all He has promised.
Faith goes beyond the physical senses. We cannot hear, smell, see, taste, or touch it. Faith allows us to believe that a God that we cannot currently see can do what seems humanly impossible. Therefore, our faith grows spiritually rather than physically.
Faith trusts that when we cannot see God working we can have the confidence that no matter what our situation may be God is working on it for our good and His glory.
Additional Scripture: Genesis 15:6, Matthew 21:21-22, Romans 10:17, Hebrews 11:1-6, Ephesians 2:8-10, Proverbs 3:5-10, 1 Corinthians 2:1-5, 2 Corinthians 5:7, James 2:14-26, James 1:5-6, Mark 11:22-24, Ephesians 2:16-17, Romans 16:13, John 11:40, James 1:1-5, Mark 9:23,
Prayer:
Lord, please help my family & me to fight the good fight of faith, taking hold of the eternal life to which we are called, and help us to be a faithful witness to all who cross our paths. 1 Timothy 6:12
Songs of Praise:
- Blessed Assurance
- Faith of our Fathers
- How Firm a Foundation
- The Solid Rock
- ‘Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus
