The Lord is My Shepherd

 

In his book “A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23”, Phillip Keller talks about how important it is to have a good shepherd.  He tells of a sheep ranch in his district with a tenant shepherd who should not have been allowed to keep sheep.  His sheep were unloved, not cared for, thin, weak, and riddled with disease.   That story made me begin to think of and be grateful for the characteristics of my Shepherd.  I remember my mother teaching the attributes of God in her Bible class, but I couldn’t recall how many attributes were taught, so I searched “attributes of God” on the internet.  Depending on what theologian or group you ask, there are 5, 7, 14, 17..(etc.) attributes or characteristics of God.  I began to laugh at myself.  How like man to put a finite number on an infinite God!  

What an honor it is to be able to declare proudly, “The Lord, HE is my shepherd!”  To list all of His qualities is impossible for He is truly immeasurable.  But I can tell you that my Shepherd is good (John 10:11), He is the Creator who willingly lays down his life for the sheep, merciful, grace giving, holy,  omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent, just, loving, righteous, sovereign, and on and on!!  He knows his sheep intimately.  It is vital for me to hear His voice and follow Him!   To say His sheep are to be envied is an understatement.  To be a member of His flock is to be diligently cared for, taught, understood, seen, known, loved, disciplined, provided for, fiercely protected, guided, searched for, and forgiven.  His gentle care for the sheep is unending.  As Phillip Keller said, “It links a lump of common clay to divine destiny - it means a mere mortal becomes the cherished object of divine diligence…to think that God in Christ is deeply concerned about me as a particular person immediately gives great purpose and enormous meaning to my short sojourn upon the planet.  And the greater, the wider, the more majestic my concept is of the Christ - the more vital will be my relationship to Him”.   No wonder King David began his poem with the boast of  “The Lord is my Shepherd!”  My Shepherd takes his responsibility seriously.  

Forever

 

 

BIG APPETITES

Nabal (whose name means "fool") had a big appetite.   1 Samuel 25 tells us that he was a surly and mean man.  When David and his men asked for food from the festival time during sheep shearing, as payment for having provided protection for Nabal's workers, Nabal responded with "why should I take my bread and water, and the meat I have slaughtered and give it to men coming from who knows where?"   Later in the story, we're told that he was in the house holding a banquet like that of a king.  He was in high spirits and very drunk.   His appetite put his wife, family, and servants in grave danger.  In fact, David later states that his plan was to leave no man alive.  Because of Abigail's quick thinking and willingness to humble herself,  those men were saved. I think Abigail was accustomed to Nabal's greediness and surliness.  The servant knew he could come to her for help!   She already had supplies stored away for just such an occasion.  She was able to quickly gather 200 loaves, 2 skins of wine, 5 sheep already dressed, five measures of parched grain, 100 clusters of raisins, and 200 cakes of figs - according to notes in my bible, that was exactly enough provisions for David's 600 men!  Nabal's actions were not just a one-time event, but an example of a lifestyle of greediness (a big appetite) that Abigail had learned to survive under.  Nabal paid the price for his appetite with his life.

Another man in the Bible that had a big appetite was Esau.   Isaac had prayed much to the Lord for his wife Rebekah because she couldn't have children.  God answered "yes" to his prayers and Rebekah had twins.  Esau and Jacob. The twins had struggled together in Rebekah's womb.  God told her that there were the founders of two nations in her womb! (can you imagine??)  Gen. 25:23 says, "The Lord said to her, 'Two nations are in your womb, and the separation of two peoples has begun in your body; the one people shall be stronger than the other, and the elder shall serve the younger."  Growing up hearing this story, I always thought that God had told Rebekah that the elder son (Esau) would not have the birthright.  But He didn't!  He did say that Esau would serve the younger brother (Jacob), but not that he would lose his inheritance.  Maybe Esau had been told the story of his birth while growing up and heard it the same way I did because he didn't value his birthright.   One day he was coming home after being in the field and was faint with hunger.  Jacob was cooking stew and traded Esau a bowl of stew for Esau's rights as a firstborn son.    Esau scorned his birthright as beneath his notice, his appetite was so big he traded it for a bowl of food.  He didn't try to get the food any other way.  He could have offered something else in trade for the food, cooked something for himself, or even found someone else to cook for him.  No, his appetite was big and he sacrificed big to get what he wanted.  But Esau had been taught this by example.  Issac, his father had a big appetite too.  He sacrificed relationship with his son Jacob for his appetite.  Genesis 25:28 tells us "And Isaac loved [and was partial to] Esau because he ate of Esau's game..."  Esau's story has a happier ending than Nabal's did.  I think his story shows that there is a place for redemption after you have been a devourer if you humble yourself.   Jacob was returning home years later, after having fled for his life because he had also stolen Esau's blessing, (though Esau was given a blessing, just not the one his father had intended for him).  Trying to make amends with Esau, Jacob sent gifts ahead to give him.  Esau saw Jacob coming and ran to embrace him.  Jacob's first words to Esau were "These are the children whom God has graciously given YOUR SERVANT". Several times Jacob calls Esau "my lord".  I think the gifts were a returning of the inheritance to Esau and the calling himself  "servant" and Esau "lord" were a return of the status of firstborn to Esau.  We see that Esau has prospered, fulling the blessing his father had given him, "Your blessing and dwelling shall all come from the fruitfulness of the earth and from the dew of the heavens above: By your sword, you shall live and serve your brother, But the time shall come when you will grow restless and break loose, and you shall break his yoke from off your neck."  Esau had learned to forgive and to set aside his big appetite. (He tried to refuse Jacob's gifts.)   

Let me briefly tell you about one more man we are told about in the Bible that had a big appetite:  David.  His appetite was so big, he lived in such abandon that when he came against the giant Goliath, he RAN toward the fight.  His appetite was so big that it earned him the title of "a man after God's own heart".  In Psalm 34 he gives us a glimpse of the big appetite he has - an appetite to know God intimately.  "I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.  My life makes its boast in the Lord..."   I believe that David's life, though not perfect, shows that our big appetites are God-given!   In fact, he calls us to follow his example in Psalm 34:8 "O taste and see that the Lord (our God) is good!  Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man who trusts and takes refuge in Him."  Our appetites have a purpose!   It's much like I shared with my Sunday School girls last week.  Where you fix your gaze determines where you go.  If our focus is on worldly affections, then our appetites devour people and things.  That is when our appetites are misused.  BUT if our focus is fixed on God and his greatness, then they are an asset!  Our appetites draw us close to God and His desires for our lives.   

During my cancer treatments, I lost my sense of taste.  When it returned, the first taste that I had was bitter.  I couldn't taste anything but the bitter pills I had to take.  Then one day my sister-in-law asked me if my sense of taste was returning, and I suddenly realized that I was at that moment tasting sweet pie!   Later, my taste of savory dishes returned.  Maybe that is a picture of our redemption, much like Esau.  We need to taste the "bitter" pill of repentance to be healed.  We need to see that we have held grudges, had unforgiving, murderous attitudes, and focused on wrong things, misusing our appetites. We must change and turn away from that.  Then comes the sweet taste of redemption, coming back into right standing, close relationship with God.  Returning just as the prodigal son did, with our Father waiting with outstretched arms.   But then, oh my!  Then comes the savory.  The deep, rich, spicy, savory taste of growing intimacy with Father.  A taste that satisfies our big appetites beyond our imagining.   

Father,  Thank you for big appetites and the advantages they can bring when they are focused on You!!  May the desires of my heart never be in opposition to Your desires!   Forgive me for all the times I've settled for lesser things to try and satisfy my appetite.  Lord, I want to want You most - to follow You with the abandon that David did as he ran into the fight! May I live with a heart of surrender to You.  Help me not to compromise by looking anywhere but at You to satisfy my appetite. In Jesus' worthy-of-worship name I pray, Amen.    

 

On Earth As It Is In Heaven

Heaven came to earth in the form of a newborn baby. All the Majesty of heaven in human form. As Max Lucado said, "Heaven touched the earth and, as a result, earth can know heaven. " Matthew 6:10 says "on Earth as it is in heaven". God's will done. His presence known just as in heaven. I love that. As I typed that, my spell check changed "I love that" to "I live that". I want that to be truth: I live it. Aware of His presence moment by moment. Thank you, Jesus, for coming.

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The Woman

Luke 8:42 - 48...But as Jesus went, the people were crowding against Him [almost crushing Him]. And a woman who had suffered from a hemorrhage for twelve years [and had spent all her money on physicians], and could not be healed by anyone, came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His outer robe, and immediately her bleeding stopped.  Jesus said, “Who touched Me?” While they all were denying it, Peter and those who were with him said, “Master, the people are crowding and pushing against You!”  But Jesus said, “Someone did touch Me because I was aware that power [to heal] had gone out of Me.”  When the woman saw that she had not escaped notice, she came up trembling and fell down before Him. She declared in the presence of all the people the reason why she had touched Him, and how she had been immediately healed.  He said to her, “Daughter, your faith [your personal trust and confidence in Me] has made you well. Go in peace (untroubled, undisturbed well-being).

I don't know her name, but I wish I did! There is so much to learn from this determined woman. She had been social distancing for 12 years.  Can you imagine?  She was considered unclean for 12 years. She heard that Jesus was in town and sought Him out.  That is interesting to me.  Jesus knew she was there, after all, He is God, but He waited for her to seek Him.  He didn't go to her, He waited for her to press through the crowd and touch the hem of his garment. I wonder, what is in our lives right now that we need to press through to seek Him? 
When Jesus addresses her, he doesn't ask her "what do you want?" as he did the blind beggar in Mark 10:41.  Why?  Because she already has it!!  She has already been healed she just needed to acknowledge her struggles and her healing. 
Verse 47 says "she had not escaped notice". I looked it up.   In the Greek language, it means she had not escaped being hidden.   He called her out from her hiddenness by having her acknowledge she had touched Him and by voicing what she had struggled with all those years and declaring her healing. Not only was she called out of her hiddenness, but by asking "Who touched me?" Jesus drew the attention of the crowd to her.  Peter even wonders, "Jesus, there is a crowd pushing against you, why would you ask who touched you?"  I think Jesus wanted her free from being invisible to others, free from being viewed as unclean.   Her faith brought about peace.  Untroubled, undisturbed well being.  Peace. 

Taco Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

My memories of sweet potatoes were of an opened can of candied yams with added brown sugar and marshmallows on top.  The traditional Thanksgiving side dish that everyone (but picky me!) loved.  I thought they were slimy and even the marshmallows didn't make them appealing to this sugar lover.  But my husband LOVES sweet potatoes.  In an attempt to learn to eat this root vegetable, I began roasting them and discovered I like them too!  I just peeled and diced sweet potatoes, topped with a little  oil, salt and pepper baked in a hot oven and suddenly I was hooked.  But my husband wasn't satisfied, he wanted baked sweet potatoes, thank you very much.  So, in an attempt to learn to eat them baked, I came up with this recipe adapted from the Cookin' Canuk's Turkey Taco Stuffed Sweet Potatoes.  I still prefer the roasted variety, but these may just become a regular in our house.  

 Taco Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

• 3 medium sweet potatoes
• 1 tsp coconut oil
• 1 1/2 tsp ground cumin, divided
•  salt to taste
• ground pepper to taste
• 1/4 up to 1/2 cup grated pepper Jack or Mexican blend cheese 
• 1 lb. lean ground turkey or beef
• 1/2 medium onion, chopped
• 1/2 green pepper, chopped
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1/2 to 1 cup pinto beans (optional, I had some left-overs to use up) 
• 1 10 oz. can Rotel Mexican Lime and cilantro diced tomatoes

Clean and wrap sweet potatoes in foil.  Cook in lined slow cooker on low for 8 hours or on high for 4 hours or bake in oven or microwave until soft.  Cool potatoes enough to handle.  Cut potatoes in half and scoop flesh out of potato, reserving skin.  Mash potato flesh slightly with fork and add oil, 1/2 tsp. cumin (or to taste), salt, pepper, and cheese.  Divide among the reserved skins and place in a foil lined cookie sheet.  Brown meat with onion and green pepper and drain off any grease.  Add salt, pepper, remaining cumin powder, garlic, chili powder, beans and Rotel.  Cook until warm and garlic is soft.  Spoon meat mixture on top of each potato, top with additional cheese.  Broil until cheese is melted.  

Perception

There are a lot of skewed perceptions in the story of Job. At the beginning of the story Satan accused God of having a hedge of protection around Job and in chapter 3 we hear Job's perception of that hedge: 

"Why is life given to a man whose path is hidden, whom God has hedged in?"  

God's protection felt like a trap to Job.  He felt fenced in when in reality God was keeping Satan out!

Then there are Job's friends who assume that Job is being punished for sin even though God had just told Satan that he was blameless and upright. I think why they assume that is summed up in 5:27 when Eliphaz says "this is what we have searched out; it is true".  They were so busy gossiping, trying to prove their knowledge and "searching it out" they didn't stop to think that they didn't know the whole story.  Their skewed perception caused pain and led Job to doubt his innocence.  Therefore, in chapter 7 Job is lamenting. 

His physical pain was both drawn-out and agonizing but his greatest struggle was within.  He was having a spiritual crisis and had to deal with the fact God wasn't acting the way that Job always thought God would and should act. God wasn't meeting his expectations.  In Job 7:20 he says,

 "If I have sinned, what have I done to You, Watcher and Keeper of mankind?  Why have You made me Your target, so that I have become a burden to You?"

 He had no knowledge of what was going on in the spiritual realm and thought that God rather than Satan was his tormentor.  He couldn't see the whole picture and therefore thought he was a target for God's wrath and punishment.  In reality, God was watching with silent compassion and Fatherly pride.  God was setting him up for honor and blessing!  

How often is my view distorted?  It is dangerous to think I see the whole picture. I never want to assume I know all of someone else's story and cause them pain.  I want to choose to trust God and act in faith even when it feels like God isn't meeting my expectations! He is, after all, much bigger than I can imagine and can do so much more than I expect. 

Father, today I want to ask that you keep me from skewed perceptions and help me to trust You in the big and small details of life.  Remind me that often you are working behind the scenes in ways that I can't see. Thank you for fencing me in and for being a Watcher and Keeper of mankind, seeing and knowing all!