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THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD

Read Psalms 23–25; John 10:11–18

     The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake. Psalm 23:1–3 NKJV

* * *

     King David, a former sheep herder, knew all about tending flocks of sheep. Without a shepherd to follow, the lambs would wander into dangerous territory, falling down ravines or being attacked by wolves or lions. Jesus spoke of Himself as the Good Shepherd who cares for His sheep–not as a hireling–but as one who owns His flock. He said, “I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.” (John 10:14 NKJV)

* * *

     Like sheep, we are prone to wander into precarious situations. Only when we fix our eyes on our Shepherd will we be safe and secure from Satan who loves to disrupt and destroy. Peter warns believers to “be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. “ (1 Peter 5:8 NKJV)

* * *

     Lord, I praise you for your leading and protection for our family and our church. With You as our Shepherd we can say with David, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. (Psalm 23:6 NKJV)

* * *

     Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. Psalm 25:4–5 NIV

HIDDEN FAULTS

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MORE PRECIOUS THAN GOLD

Read Psalm 19

     The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple… They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey… Psalm 19:7b, 10

* * *

     David praises the Scriptures as trustworthy, right, radiant, pure and altogether righteous. Then he asks the question, "Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults."(19:12) Meditating on God’s Word gives us discernment. The voices of the world and the devil are ever with us and Satan often presents his ideas in a reasonable way. The only way to correctly sort out our own thoughts is by time spent in the Word. “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12)

* * *

     Thank You Lord when the message is sweeter than honey from the honeycomb. Thank You also, when it convicts me and motivates me to correct my sinful thoughts and misguided actions. What wisdom and riches we have in Your trustworthy Word! We need that wisdom as we seek to cultivate a love of Scripture in the hearts of our children.

* * *

     May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:14 NIV

AN IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT

I have to interrupt this journal to announce that David and Elizabeth are expecting our 14th grandchild - a boy! That makes 13 boys and one girl! What a lively bunch we have - did I ever worry about empty nest? :)

ETERNAL PLEASURES

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THE PATH OF LIFE

Read Psalm 16

You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. Psalm 16:11 NIV

* * *

In this Psalm David expresses joy and security in the knowledge that God has long range plans for him: The promised Messiah would come through David’s descendants, and would one day be crucified, buried and arise from the dead. The apostle Peter quoted from Psalm 16 on the Day of Pentecost: "David said about Him: my body also will live in hope, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy one see decay." (Acts 2:26b-27)

* * *

Heavenly Father; I praise You for making "known to me the path of life." Because I received the message of the gospel, I can say like David, "you have made my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance…Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure.(Psalms 16:5-6, 9) Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!

* * *

I said to the LORD, "You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing." Psalm 16:2 NIV

LET THE CHILDREN COME

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CHILDREN PRAISE HIM

Read Psalm 8:1–9

     LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise… Psalm 8:1–2a NIV

* * *

      Our majestic Lord, Creator of the heavens, has ordained the praise of infants and children – how important then, must those little ones be to Him! Whether we work outside our homes, or in our homes, there is no job more significant than teaching, training and loving our children. These are the ones who Jesus says will make up his kingdom. We must introduce them to Him at the earliest opportunity for He has said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. (Mark 10:14b)

* * *

      Dear Jesus, You said that “Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.” (Matthew 18:5 NKJV) May my actions today be a blessing to our children and may our home be a welcoming place where they can bring their friends. I ask You for the wisdom I need to accomplish what You have ordained this day. Thank you for entrusting me with this awesome responsibility

* * *

     "I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.   Mark 10:15–16 NIV

IN THE MORNING

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PRAYER FOR PROTECTION

Read Psalm 5:1–12; 143:8

     In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation. Psalm 5:3

* * *

     The Psalmist David found his strength each morning as he prayed and lifted up his requests to God. He believed that God heard him and he waited in expectation. On one occasion, he prayed, “Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, For in You do I trust; Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, For I lift up my soul to You." ( Psalms 143:8)

* * *

     Each day should find us praying for the children God has given to us. Whether they are small and still at home or going off each morning to school, sports or work–they need the cover of our prayers. 
     We can pray like David, “Spread your protection over them that those who love your name may rejoice in you. For surely, O LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield. (Psalm 5:11-12)

* * *

      Dear Heavenly Father, watch over our children today wherever they are. I rejoice in You this morning because I know that You hear my voice. I lift up to You my specific requests and wait in expectation for Your answer.

* * *

     How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings. Psalm 36:7 NKJV

A TREE PLANTED BY WATER

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FRUIT IN SEASON

Read Psalm 1

      Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly… His delight is in the law of the LORD and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.
Psalm 1: 1a, 2-3 NKJV

* * *

      God's Word never goes out of vogue for Christians. It is relevant for every stage of life, and is the source of life itself. Believers who ask the Lord for wisdom with their children will find it, for he has promised, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. (James 1:5-6 NKJV) Then when the children are grown, God's Word says that those parents will still bear fruit in old age and be fresh and flourishing. (Psalm 92:14 NKJV)

* * *

       Lord, I want to meditate daily on Your Word so that I can sort out the many voices of advice that the world gives. Only by knowing the truth can I recognize error, and find that narrow way that leads to life. Help me to influence our children so that they too will "delight in the law of the Lord." and avoid the "counsel of the ungodly."

* * *

      Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. Psalm 119:105 NIV

A WORTHY EXAMPLE

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JOB

Read Job 1–2;  Job 42

     Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil." Job 1:8 NIV

* * *

     The story of Job is quite frightening to a believer’s heart. The interaction between God and Satan is something that we really cannot comprehend. But God did not expect Job, or his friends, to understand everything that transpired in Heaven. One thing we know; Job was living righteously and God was proud of him. Those of us, who want to please God, would do well to look at his example.

     Job prayed for his children even into adulthood. He raised them to love each other and enjoy one another's company, but he also maintained a discerning attitude, knowing that they could fall into sin.
     Job maintained his integrity in spite of the most adverse of circumstances, and when it was all over, he prayed for his friends who had completely misjudged him.

* * *

     Lord, I would never ask for the trials that Job and his wife endured, but I do want to be the kind of person who would make You proud. You taught us to pray, do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one." (Luke 11:4 NKJV) I am praying this for myself and my family and friends today. Amen

* * *

     "After Job had prayed for his friends, the LORD made him prosperous again and gave him twice as much as he had before."
     "The LORD blessed the latter part of Job's life more than the first."
Job 42:10, 12a NIV