Blessings from Barb...

[Barb]

As I have been asked by a few, and even heartily encouraged by another, I will set up this thread.

I don't know how often I may submit something here, so I invite anyone with a word of encouragement or a burning Scripture to please add to this...for you see, folks, I am not the only encourager here...not the only one with a good word. Some of you have blessed and encouraged me in ways I cannot begin to mention.

So, once again, let me encourage YOU to let the Lord speak to you and then through you. You know, that's what He did with the Apostle Paul...God emptied him out, filled him up, sent him out, used him up and took him home.

May as much be said of each of us...

[Barb]

The Lord is my Shepherd...

This is personal...MY Shepherd. I can lay claim to the fact that He cares for me. As the shepherd in the field will keep watch over his flock, so the Shepherd of my soul is ever watchful, protecting and guiding as only He can.

I shall not want...

I shall never lack. TLB makes it more plain, and says that because the Lord is my Shepherd, I have everything I need. The reason for this...

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside still waters...

Knowing I have a personal and loving Shepherd, I am free from the fear of predators, thus I can rest, assured that the green pastures are safe and comforting...the waters are still and will not entrap me with the currents of rushing water.

I can lie down in peace and be refreshed by the water, knowing that I am watched and cared for just as if I were the only somebody in the world. It allows me to not yearn for things out of my grasp, for everything I need is provided in the green pastuures and beside the still waters.

He restoreth my soul...

When my heart is heavy...when I feel that I am at my weakest or lowest point, the Almighty God of creation sends a word in due season. He restores my soul, bringing my heart and mind into alignment with His Word. He sets me on a straight and narrow path, lifting my bowed head and making me over again.

When man says it is all over, that crimson stream cleanses and restores and brings me once again in fellowship with the lover of my soul.

He leadeth me in the path of righteousness for His Name's sake...

A shepherd will direct, prod, motivate, and command to ensure the safety of the sheep. Why would I not think that the Master Shepherd would not do this and more, leading me in paths that are right and holy?!

For His Name's sake and for the sake of the call on our lives, He leads and directs us away from the dangers of this world and onto the road of right living.

Just a few thoughts...

[Rhoni]

Dear Sis. Barb,

This portion of scripture gives peace to my spirit... Glad to see that our encourager is still among us!

Love & Blessings, Rhoni

P.S. There may be other encouragers but none like you

[Barb]

Originally Posted by Rhoni

Dear Sis. Barb,

This portion of scripture gives peace to my spirit... Glad to see that our encourager is still among us!

Love & Blessings, Rhoni

P.S. There may be other encouragers but none like you

Praying for blessings to be returned, Sis. Rhoni...

[Barb]

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil...

I always took this portion of the Psalm to mean, when I'm at death's door, looking St. Peter in the eye, I will not fear. However, there are other valley's of death which are not the ultimate end of us all.

The valley of death can be any ending or what we feel is an ending...divorce, end of friendship, family squabbles/division, loss of employment, church split...any number of things can lead us to think it is all over.

But, when the valleys of defeat and despair come, and they will, we have the assurance in this Word that we can walk through them AND without fear.

You may say that on your own you cannot do this, and you would be correct...on our own we cannot, BUT we are NOT alone...

For thou art with me...

The Lord of Hosts is our strength...our sustainer...our refuge...our ONLY hope!!

When man turns his back, we are not alone. When the enemy comes in, like a flood the Spirit of the Lord lifts up a standard against him. When we feel it is all over and we might as well throw it all aside, Christ says, "My grace is sufficient...I am here!!"

Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me...

A shepherd will use the rod and staff to pull the sheep away from danger. When he moves too close to the edge of the cliff or is near the river bank, he gently extends the rod and staff of protection, guiding them back into place.

It is a comforting thing that allows the sheep to feel the presence of the shepherd even when he can't see him or when the shepherd is silent.

So it is with the Great Shepherd, who has designed the rod and staff of His Word. In this we find solace and rest...we receive strength and comfort.

What a loving God...

OH sis...this is so wonderful to read this morning...thank you...I am so glad your hear and I figured out who you were...I was really missing you!!!



Thanks I will be coming here when you post something new...


One thing that RonB had in his signature for awhile was

"dance on your dilemma" I can't remember who the quote was from...but it's one of the things I think we forget when we are going through a trial...we always have hope if we are willing to accept it...

Love and blessings to you!!!

[Barb]

Originally Posted by Sister Truth Seeker

OH sis...this is so wonderful to read this morning...thank you...I am so glad your hear and I figured out who you were...I was really missing you!!!



Thanks I will be coming here when you post something new...


One thing that RonB had in his signature for awhile was

"dance on your dilemma" I can't remember who the quote was from...but it's one of the things I think we forget when we are going through a trial...we always have hope if we are willing to accept it...

Love and blessings to you!!!

Nice to see you...yes, I am here...for the moment anyway...

[Barb]

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies...

The shepherd goes out and finds/prepares what is known as a tableland...a high mountain level land...a well furnished plateau of nourishment and safety. Though the enemy...wolves and coyotes, mountain lions and the rest may be lurking in the shadows, the sheep are well provided for and carefully watched.

Our Lord does this for us and often we do not even realize the lengths to which He may go to set up a feast in the very presence of those who appear to despise us. We are blessed and fed and favored even when it may look like we are left defenseless and starving to death.

Though man may be lurking in the background, waiting for the death knell to toll, God sets a table of encouragement and strength and healing.

Thou anointest my head with oil...

When the sheep are bitten by the insects and whatnot that attack animals of the field, or when they are wounded or attacked by the enemy, the shepherd will take oil and pour it over the head or wound of his sheep. He soothingly will anoint the place that hurts the most with the care that only a loving shepherd can give.

The anointing oil that is applied to our wounds is the Holy Spirit of God. The Holy Ghost will actually heal our wounds and bind our hurts and supply the ointment of restoration and renewal. We need not look to this source or the next, but to the Spirit residing within.

Will you allow Him today to supply the necessary meds to meet your need? Can you trust Him this day to deal every broken place? And can we, as a Church, allow the Lord to do His thing and heal, restore, and renew?

[whollyHis]

SIs....I recite this chapter to my grandbaby every night while putting her to sleep...she almost knows it by heart!! LOL

LOVE LOVE LOVE this scripture...

[Barb]

My cup runneth over...

It is a never ending supply of grace and blessings, so much so that our cup or storehouse cannot contain them.

It doesn't happen because of our heritage or senority in the church or our abilities or calling...God forbid that we ever begin to think that it is all about us. It is ONLY through His bountiful love and grace that we live and move and have our being.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me...

The twins, known as Goodness and Mercy, shall follow me...I imagine them running close behind, right on my heels, present at my every move.

I don't have to seek for them or plead for them or wonder if they are there...if I have the Holy Ghost abiding within, the fruit of this is goodness and mercy.

All the days of my life...

It never ends. When we don't feel like they are there, goodness and mercy keep on keeping on. When we make a mistake and feel as if we are God-forsaken, we can be assured that we are not, for goodness and mercy are ever present.

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord...

The words I will indicate that this is a conscious decision. We make a choice to dwell in His presence, not because of what we have done, but because of what HE did on the Cross. His Blood and grace appropriated to our lives, we gladly choose to receive it, not just for a moment or a day, or even a lifetime, but...

Forever...

Time without ending, eternally dwelling in the presence of the Good Shepherd...