Category: Protection

Posted on

The Shepherd at the Gate

Jesus was called the Lamb of God because He came to be the sinless sacrifice, the atonement for our sins. He was meek and humbled Himself to death.

Yet the lamb became the Shepherd. He recognized that we were vulnerable as lambs and promised to be our good shepherd.

“Jesus said: I tell you for certain that only thieves and robbers climb over the fence instead of going in through the gate to the sheep pen. 2-3But the gatekeeper opens the gate for the shepherd, and he goes in through it. The sheep know their shepherd’s voice. He calls each of them by name and leads them out. 4When he has led out all of his sheep, he walks in front of them, and they follow, because they know his voice. 5The sheep will not follow strangers. They don’t recognize a stranger’s voice, and they run away. 6Jesus told the people this story. But they did not understand what he was talking about.

7Jesus said: I tell you for certain that I am the gate for the sheep. 8Everyone who came before me was a thief or a robber, and the sheep did not listen to any of them. 9I am the gate. All who come in through me will be saved. Through me they will come and go and find pasture. 10 A thief comes only to rob, kill, and destroy. I came so that everyone would have life, and have it in its fullest.” John 10:1-10 ERV

In this parable Jesus is trying to make his ministry and purpose easy to understand. Since raising sheep was a common profession in that day, Jesus used something they were familiar with to teach his lesson.

At night the sheep were kept in a gated penned for their protection and early each morning the shepherds would come and lead their sheep out to pasture. The sheep had become accustomed to the shepherd’s voice and so when he called, they would follow. They wouldn’t follow someone who would sneak in and lead them astray.

Jesus was telling them that if they spent time with Him, listening to His word and getting to know Him, that they would follow Him and keep His commandments and He would lead them “in green pastures” (Psalm 23).

He also went on to say that He was the gate of the sheep pen. This was the first line of defense in their protection – He would provide for them and keep them safe. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.” (Psalm 23)

Jesus said His purpose was to give us life and life more abundantly. He also warned that there is a thief that comes to kill, steal and destroy – that’s the devil. Everything that falls in one of those categories – stealing, killing and destroying – doesn’t come from God.

Those things that bring life, abundance and fullness to life comes from God. “Every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father who created all the lights in the heavens. He is always the same and never makes dark shadows by changing.” James 1:17

Follow the right voice today – He will lead you on the right path and He’ll never leave you or forsake you.

Posted on

A Time for Review

Our youngest grandson is going to be taking some standardized tests in the next few days. Classroom time and home time are being used to review information that may be included on the test. It’s being taken very seriously.

This morning, I was reviewing some of my favorite Scripture verses. I realized that these verses are so much a part of my thinking that I quote them without even realizing it. King David said, “Your word I have hid in my heart that I won’t sin against You”.

We will all be faced to difficult situations. Our enemies maybe physical, mental, emotional or spiritual but testing will come. God isn’t the One who tempts or tests; we have a real enemy who tries to defeat us. Jesus is here to give us victory.

Remember when Jesus went to the desert to fast and pray? He was there 40 days, and the devil came to tempt Him three times. Jesus was ready for the test. Each temptation was answered with it is written, it is written, it is written. And in frustration the devil left him alone for a more convenient time.

I’m here today and every day to prepare you for tests that you will be facing. Let’s take a look at the answers to questions.

“So overflowing is his kindness toward us that he took away all our sins through the blood of his Son, by whom we are saved;” Ephesians 1:7 TLB

“Your love is faithful, Lord, and even the clouds in the sky can depend on you. 6 Your decisions are always fair. They are firm like mountains, deep like the sea, and all people and animals are under your care. 7 Your love is a treasure, and everyone finds shelter in the shadow of your wings.” Psalm 36:5-7 CEV

“The Lord will keep you safe from secret traps and deadly diseases. 4 He will spread his wings over you and keep you secure. His faithfulness is like a shield or a city wall.” Psalm 91:3-4 CEV

“The Lord forgives our sins, heals us when we are sick, 4  and protects us from death. His kindness and love are a crown on our heads. 5 Each day that we live, he provides for our needs and gives us the strength of a young eagle.” Psalm 103:3-5 CEV

“The Lord gives perfect peace to those whose faith is firm.” Isaiah 26:3 CEV

Only a couple more to share with you – but I want you to see the power and protection that God places over us. He will not abandon us, he will not leave us helpless!

He is faithful and His word is true!

“Our Lord, you keep your word and do everything you say. 14 When someone stumbles or falls, you give a helping hand. 15 Everyone depends on you, and when the time is right, you provide them with food. 16 By your own hand you satisfy the desires of all who live. 17 Our Lord, everything you do is kind and thoughtful, 18 and you are near to everyone whose prayers are sincere.” Psalm 145:13-18 CEV

“4 I am grateful that God always makes it possible for Christ to lead us to victory. God also helps us spread the knowledge about Christ everywhere, and this knowledge is like the smell of perfume. II Corinthians 2:14 CEV

I pray that our arsenal is filled with spiritual ammunition so that when the enemy strikes, the first words out of our mouths are “it is written”. When we make our favorite verses a part of our daily review Christ will lead us to victory!

Posted on

Why Can’t I?

A long list of do’s and don’ts – that’s the way some people see the Bible. They think if they follow the teachings the Lord has given us it will cramp their style, stifle their freedom of creative expression, limit them in their pursuit of happiness. And yet it is just the opposite.

How many of you who are parents have stopped your children from playing in the street; or perhaps you have smacked their hands or their little bottoms when they have reached to touch a hot coal in a campfire or the hot pan on the stove? Maybe you stopped them riding their bikes down the steep hill with the big kids or even prevented them from swimming in the lake when they had no supervision.

Man, you have inflected a lot of restrictions on your kids! You parents are just trying to spoil their fun and stifle their creativity, aren’t you? Not hardly. You know that your love for them drives you to protect them even if they don’t understand.

And so we have God and His instructions in the Bible. They are there to do the same. The first commandment He gave to the children of Israel was

“Do not worship any god except me.” Exodus 20:3 CEV but let’s look at the verses before this.

“God said to the people of Israel: 2 I am the Lord your God, the one who brought you out of Egypt where you were slaves.” verses 1-2 CEV

Why do you think He prefaced verse 3 with 1 & 2? It was a reminder. God was wanting them to remember why they didn’t need any other god. He was the one who delivered them from slavery, He was the one who opened the path across the Red Sea, He was the one who turned bitter water to good and gave them manna every morning and quail at night. He was the one who provided them with warmth from the pillar of fire at night and He was the one who gave them shade from the cloud during the day. He was the one who gave them victory over the enemies in battle!

He was the one who provided for all their needs and He wanted them to remember that He provided for them because He loved them and there was no one else who could take care of them the way He did! He was, He is and always will be the I AM that we need for each day.

The 2nd commandment is very similar – don’t make and/or worship any idols. Plain and simple keep the Lord first place. We might not make idols of gold or silver but we are guilty of worshipping other gods; the gods of pleasure, education, relationships, professional advancement, financial security, health and well-being. When we make these things our primary goals and requirements for happiness, we have God take the back seat and these become our idols.

Jesus taught his disciples a strong lesson in Matthew 6 when he told them they didn’t need to seek after food, clothing, a place to live because the Lord knew they had need of all these things. His instruction was clear

” But more than anything else, put God’s work first and do what he wants. Then the other things will be yours as well.” Matthew 6:33 CEV

Instead of chasing after things, if we chase after God all these will be added.

God wants us to have a fulfilled life. In fact, Jesus said that He came so we could have life but not just a meager, sad, sullen existence of a life but life more abundantly, to the full, till it overflows!

Seek Him first and all the rest will be added!

Posted on

Don’t Stand Back

Did you ever see The Wizard of OZ as a kid? I did and it scared me – I didn’t like the flying monkeys or the wicked witch. But one thing that stuck out to me was the appearance of the wizard – all the smoke, the lights, the thunder…

It reminded me of the stories I had read about the children of Israel being protected by the pillar of cloud and pillar of fire that God used to lead them. By no means am I comparing the wizard to God the Father, just giving you a visual you can relate to.

However, the children of Israel had come to a place where God wanted to speak with all of them. God wanted them all to come close to Mt. Sinai and He wanted Moses to come up into His cloud as He spoke.

It had only been 2 months since they left Egypt. They have seen many miracles, some in the final days of their time in Egypt and others as they traveled to Mt. Sinai. It had been a miraculous journey. All that time the Lord spoke directly to Moses then Moses told the people what He has said.

“Once more the Lord spoke to Moses: Go back and tell the people that today and tomorrow they must get themselves ready to meet me. They must wash their clothes 11 and be ready by the day after tomorrow, when I will come down to Mount Sinai, where all of them can see me.” Exodus 19:10 CEV

“On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning. A thick cloud covered the mountain, a loud trumpet blast was heard, and everyone in camp trembled with fear. 17 Moses led them out of the camp to meet God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.

18 Mount Sinai was covered with smoke because the Lord had come down in a flaming fire. Smoke poured out of the mountain just like a furnace, and the whole mountain shook. 19 The trumpet blew louder and louder. Moses spoke, and God answered him with thunder.” Exodus 19:16-19 CEV

“Then he said, ‘Moses, go and warn the people not to cross the boundary that you set at the foot of the mountain. They must not cross it to come and look at me, because if they do, many of them will die.” vs 21 CEV

Now I want to contrast this with what we find in the New Testament.

“Jesus understands every weakness of ours, because he was tempted in every way that we are. But he did not sin! 16 So whenever we are in need, we should come bravely before the throne of our merciful God. There we will be treated with undeserved kindness, and we will find help.” Hebrews 4:15-16 CEV

The instruction goes from stay back to come boldly…all because of Jesus!

“So we are made holy because Christ obeyed God and offered himself once for all.” Hebrews 10:10 CEV

When we come to the Father based on what Jesus has done for us, dying for the forgiveness of our sins, we have complete access to His throne – to His presence and there we find a loving heavenly Father welcoming us to a place where we find grace and help.

This is a lesson for us today.

Don’t be afraid, don’t stand back but instead come running to the Father’s throne – crawl up on His lap, tell Him your need and He will be there to help!

Posted on

Leaving on a Jet Plane

Well, this wonderful trip has come to an end.

We pack up this morning, drive back to Jacksonville, turn in the rental car and board a plane, headed for home. One stop over in Dallas and arrive in Phoenix later today. It’s been fun and exciting – but home is sweet.

That’s my day. What’s yours got in store? Whatever it is the Lord has designed a path and is waiting for us to follow Him.

“Roll your works upon the Lord [commit and trust them wholly to Him; He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will, and] so shall your plans be established and succeed.” Proverbs 16:3 AMPC

“You, Lord, are my shepherd. I will never be in need. 2 You let me rest in fields of green grass.
You lead me to streams of peaceful water, 3 and you refresh my life. You are true to your name, and you lead me along the right paths.” Psalm 23:1-3 CEV

“ If you will obey the Lord your God, all these blessings will come to you and be yours:

3 “He will bless you in the city and in the field…6 He will bless you at all times in everything you do.” Deuteronomy 28:2-6 ERV

I am praying for your day to be filled with the blessings of the Lord. That’s the kind of day He has designed for us.

I’ll be with you tomorrow from my living room in Queen Valley.

Enjoy the blessings of the day!

Posted on

Start Your Day with a Song

Here I am all the way across the country from my Arizona home. We flew from Arizona to Florida yesterday – Kim, Austin, Dave and me. A bit jet lagged but filled with joy and praise.

We’ll be here for a week taking in all the sights and sounds of the Daytona 500 races. This trip was a 50th birthday bucket list adventure for Kim and she invited us to come along since she knew this is one of her dad’s Top 10 too.

Last night as we were driving to our B-n-B we were greeted by the full moon over the ocean. I plan to be on that beach this evening to take in the full beauty of it. And this morning, there is a chorus of unidentified birds singing their melodies outside my window. It seems that all of creation has joined in welcoming us here and giving glory to God.

“Each morning let me learn more about your love because I trust you. I come to you in prayer, asking for your guidance.” Psalm 143:8 CEV

Maybe that’s why the birds start their songs before the crack of dawn – they want us to join in their praise to the Father.

Oh, there have been days when I woke up dreading what the day had in store – those were dark days. It’s so much better to be filled with joy from the moment my eyes open and my feet touch the floor. I’ve learned to take my cue from my feathered friends.

“ I tell you not to worry about your life. Don’t worry about having something to eat, drink, or wear. Isn’t life more than food or clothing? 26 Look at the birds in the sky! They don’t plant or harvest. They don’t even store grain in barns. Yet your Father in heaven takes care of them. Aren’t you worth much more than birds?” Matthew 6:25-26 CEV

These sentinels of song aren’t worried about how many bugs, worms, or seeds they are going to find today. No – they just know they will be provided for like they were the day before. They don’t worry about how high they will fly – they just fly. Why? because our Father in heaven takes care of them.

Maybe we should be a little more “bird-brained”!

Don’t worry – we are much more valuable to the Lord than the birds.

“Each morning let me learn more about your love because I trust you.” Each morning as we learn more about His love for us, we trust Him more.

Then we can start your day with a song!

Posted on

The Gift of Protection

At first this may not seem like a message of love, but it is! This goes back to the words we’ve been focused on from the 23rd Psalm.

“You prepare a table (a banquet table) for me in the presence of my enemies”.

God’s love provides us with protection. The following verses are from the end of the book of Joshua. Joshua had led the Israelites into the Promised Land. They had taken many cities, and the Lord had brought them victorious through many battles. They had walked through the valley of the shadow of death on more than one occasion and that’s the whole point. They walked through – they didn’t stop there; they didn’t camp there – they walked through.

Now look at these words.

“The Lord gave the Israelites the land he had promised their ancestors, and they captured it and settled in it. 44 There still were enemies around Israel, but the Lord kept his promise to let his people live in peace. And whenever the Israelites did have to go to war, no enemy could defeat them. The Lord always helped Israel win. 45 The Lord promised to do many good things for Israel, and he kept his promise every time.” Joshua 21: 43-45 CEV

The Lord promised to do many good things for Israel and He kept his promise every time!

He has also promised to do many good things for you and me. And guess what, He will keep his promise every time.

“ For as many as are the promises of God, in Christ they are [all answered] “Yes.” So through Him we say our “Amen” to the glory of God.” II Corinthians 1:20 AMP

All of God’s promises are answered with a yes to those of us who are in Christ. We are God’s children and He hasn’t made any promise to us that He isn’t willing to keep.

“You who love the Lord, hate evil; He protects the souls of His godly ones (believers), He rescues them from the hand of the wicked.” Psalm 97:10 AMP

He can’t lie and what’s just as important, He doesn’t want to.

“My dear brothers and sisters, don’t be fooled about this. 17 Everything good comes from God. Every perfect gift is from him. These good gifts come down from the Father who made all the lights in the sky. But God never changes like the shadows from those lights. He is always the same. 18 God decided to give us life through the true message he sent to us. He wanted us to be the most important of all that he created.” James 1:16-18 ERV

Now that’s worth a big shout. What an amazing gift of love – Someone who fights our battles! He keeps His promise, every time.

Posted on

Father Knows Best

As a follow up to yesterday’s blog, Getting to Know the Father, I thought it was important to share these thoughts with you.

“Jesus said to his disciples: I tell you not to worry about your life!” Luke 12:22 ERV

Now I tell you it just doesn’t get much plainer than that!

Not a suggestion or a nice idea. Not an impractical concept but a direct admonition from Jesus, himself. Plain – simple – truth!

I love that the Lord knew we would have multiple opportunities to worry each and every day, yet His instruction is that we do the exact opposite. How can this be?

Well, He knew something we all should be learning daily. He knew how much the Father loves and cares for us.

Take yesterday for instance. It started out to be a pretty normal day but at 10 a.m. everything changed. Strong winds started and shortly after we could smell smoke and could see it in the air. We didn’t know where it came from at first, but it was close.

Immediately one of the ladies I work with, and I grabbed hands and prayed. We prayed for protection of the homes in our community and safety for our residents. Within a few minutes we received a “ready” notice and then within another 20+ minutes we received the order to evacuate.

As we went from home to home to give the evacuation order many of our neighbors told me that they were praying too.

“God will save you from hidden dangers and from deadly diseases. 4 You can go to him for protection. He will cover you like a bird spreading its wings over its babies. You can trust him to surround and protect you like a shield.” Psalm 91:3-4 ERV

We were so thankful for the quick response of the local Fire Department, and the added support of other departments nearby. Within a few hours the fire was extinguished, and we were able to return to our homes.

“Don’t worry about having something to eat or wear. 23 Life is more than food or clothing. 24 Look at the crows! They don’t plant or harvest, and they don’t have storehouses or barns. But God takes care of them. You are much more important than any birds. 25 Can worry make you live longer? 26 If you don’t have power over small things, why worry about everything else?

27 Look how the wild flowers grow! They don’t work hard to make their clothes. But I tell you that Solomon with all his wealth wasn’t as well clothed as one of these flowers. 28 God gives such beauty to everything that grows in the fields, even though it is here today and thrown into a fire tomorrow. Won’t he do even more for you? You have such little faith! 29 Don’t keep worrying about having something to eat or drink.” Luke 12:22-29 CEV

“If you don’t have power over small things, why worry about everything else?”

This must also mean that we don’t have to worry about the finances that we need to buy the groceries, our clothing or a place to live. Our Father knows our needs and we can trust Him.

Remember the old television show Father Knows Best? Well, in this case He does and we need to trust Him!

We can’t trust and worry at the same time. They are contrary to one another. So, I encourage and implore you trust and worry not!

Posted on

Filled With Song

You all know that I am a fan of songs – hymns, praise, country, classic, jazz, old rock, musicals. Music fills my soul. I guess that’s why I love the psalms and also love the early mornings when the birds start their chorus.

Music brings healing and peace. Composers have an amazing God-given talent. He is the One who gave each bird their voice, unique and distinct and He also fills man’s heart with song.

I did a search on singing birds this morning and it produced many individual images but what surprised me was how many hour-plus long videos of birds singing were a part of the result.

“ Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul! 2 I will praise the Lord as long as I live. I will sing praises to my God as long as I live. 3 Do not put your trust in princes, in a son of a man, who cannot save us. 4 When his spirit leaves, he returns to the earth. His thoughts end on that day. 5 Happy is he whose help is the God of Jacob, and whose hope is in the Lord his God. 6 The Lord made heaven and earth, the sea and all that is in them. He is faithful forever. 7 He helps those who have a bad power over them. He gives food to the hungry. And He sets those in prison free.

8 The Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord raises up those who are brought down. The Lord loves those who are right and good. 9 The Lord keeps the strangers safe. He takes care of the children who have no father and the woman whose husband has died. But He destroys the way of the sinful. 10 The Lord will rule forever. Your God, O Zion, will rule over all people for all time. Praise the Lord!” Psalm 146 NLV

I will sing as long as I live because the Lord loves me!

“But I will sing about your strength, my God, and I will celebrate because of your love. You are my fortress, my place of protection in times of trouble. 17 I will sing your praises! You are my mighty fortress, and you love me.” Psalm 59:16-17 CEV

Do you remember seeing the 1980’s movie Sister Act? Those kids’ lives were changed when they realized that God loved their songs, contemporary and traditional. Unconventional to some but pleasing to God.

An old hymn they featured goes something like this:

“Why should I feel discouraged,

Why should the shadows come,

Why should my heart be lonely,

And long for Heav’n and home,

When Jesus is my portion?

My constant friend is He:

His eye is on the sparrow,

And I know He watches me;

His eye is on the sparrow,

And I know He watches me.

I sing because I’m happy

I sing because I’m free,

For His eye is on the sparrow,

And I know He watches me.”

“You will teach me the right way to live. Just being with you will bring complete happiness. Being at your right side will make me happy forever.” Psalm 16:11 ERV

Being in God’s presence is a place of safety and a place of joy. Fill your life with song!

Posted on

More “Good” News

I’d like to share a story with you this morning that sometimes gets overlooked in the Bible.

John the Baptist and Jesus were second cousins; their mothers Elizabeth and Mary were cousins. John had been raised knowing his purpose in life was to prepare the way for Jesus. When Jesus started in ministry, His first stop was the shores of the Sea of Galilee where He was baptized by John in water and baptized by the Holy Spirit descending as a dove from heaven with the anointing and power of His Father.

John’s testimony of Jesus was great! He spoke with unwavering conviction of the “One coming after me, whose sandals I am not worthy to unlatch”. John preached with such power against sin that he angered the political elite.

He was thrown in prison by a lust-filled man and a revenge-filled woman.

This is where today’s message begins. John’s followers have come to prison to tell him what they’ve heard about Jesus. So, John sent them to Jesus.

“When these messengers came to Jesus, they said, “John the Baptist sent us to ask, ‘Are you the one we should be looking for? Or are we supposed to wait for someone else?’ ”

21 At that time Jesus was healing many people who were sick or in pain or were troubled by evil spirits, and he was giving sight to a lot of blind people. 22  Jesus said to the messengers sent by John, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard. Blind people are now able to see, and the lame can walk. People who have leprosy are being healed, and the deaf can now hear. The dead are raised to life, and the poor are hearing the good news. 23 God will bless everyone who doesn’t reject me because of what I do.” Luke 7:20-23 CEV

Jesus could have answered their question with a simple yes, but he didn’t. He let the miracles tell the story.

The blind see – good news. The lame walk – good news. Evil spirits are being removed – good news. Lepers are being healed – good news. The deaf hear – good news. The dead are raised – good news. The poor are hearing good news.

Good news. Good news to those receiving a touch from Jesus and good news to John who knew the Old Testament scripture about the Messiah.

“The Spirit of the Lord God has taken control of me! The Lord has chosen and sent me
to tell the oppressed the good news, to heal the brokenhearted, and to announce freedom
for prisoners and captives. 2 This is the year when the Lord God will show kindness to us
and punish our enemies.” Isaiah 61:1-2 CEV

The message and ministry of Jesus is just the same today. It’s Good News!

Good news to the sinner and the sick; good news to prisoner and the king. Good news to young and old. Good news!

“The book of Isaiah the prophet was given to him. He opened the book and found the place where this is written:

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me. He has chosen me to tell good news to the poor.
He sent me to tell prisoners that they are free and to tell the blind that they can see again.
He sent me to free those who have been treated badly 19 and to announce that the time has come for the Lord to show his kindness.”

20 Jesus closed the book, gave it back to the helper, and sat down. As everyone in the synagogue watched him closely, 21 he began to speak to them. He said, “While you heard me reading these words just now, they were coming true!” Luke 4:18-21 CEV

Good News! Jesus came to tell US the good news!

Privacy Policy Proudly powered by WordPress