shepherd

My Sermon from today – Knowing God as our Shepherd – John 10 and Psalm 23

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Blessed to share my sermon from today:

Knowing God Through Relationship – God as a Shepherd – Psalm 23 and John 10

Have you caught the media frenzy about the new pope, Pope Leo? WOW! Hard not to catch the news – I think it is like the FEEL-GOOD STORY for this month, before the next news cycle – but it IS exciting to see the excitement – don’t you think?

We love a local kid hits the big time story – even if we are not really local to Chicago – well most of us –  and I had to even be reminded that there were 2 baseball teams in Chicago – yeah I knew that but sure wasn’t on the forefront of my news every day – and whether or not you have figured out that the pope is a Chicago white Sox fan over the Chicago Cubs – what IS clear is that people have a thirst for info !!!  and as he becomes a pope for the people, the people find connections – and this brings them the sense of guidance. PEOPLE NEED AND FEEL GUIDANCE IS A WANT.

Why do I bring this up when we, as a community church, don’t follow the pope as an organization? Well, we can see that folks revere the office of the pope – many religious leaders – see the willingness of him and of all people of the church to serve. I bring it up because you may see there truly are people searching, searching for a shepherd- truly searching not just for a pope to give just an agenda, but for a person of faith to be a shepherd to lead. It’s a normal thing and I am intrigued and blessed to have this good news of faith displayed.

And this is where I want to speak about Jesus as our Good Shepherd – God with Jesus and the Holy Spirit – as a triune God – knew that “SHEPHERDING” WAS EXACTLY WHAT WE NEEDED!

I have to mention another aspect of Jesus being here on earth – He was accessible – He was with the people as He is now with us – but also in the flesh – and He had disciples including brothers who may have been so surprised AFTER Jesus rose – after they realized He was the Messiah – brother James especially in his chapter of scripture is so touching in his devotion – and giving us insight – as the other disciples did…

And yes – going back to my news media frenzy last week – Insight was key for the Pope has 2 brothers still in the US, Chicago and Florida – they really look like him – and thank God they provided that immediate media frenzy need for information – good or bad the responsiveness helped and wow did we get to that white sox over the cubs controversy answer quickly –  (scary that we learned all this stuff huh? Over real issues of the day ) but that accessibility to fulfill an insatiable appetite is SO VERY HUMAN of us -and amplified by media – and amplified by our worldliness – which is ANOTHER reason why Jesus needs us to know to be a sheep to Him as shepherd and watch out for becoming a media wolf trapped in the worldliness of the world – we need to be shepherded to look to things above…

So seriously, the shepherding that Jesus took on (and takes on) was so necessary and so fitting too. We want to know the best of God’s plan and will listen for Jesus’s voice – and gratefully we can listen with our souls to the Word – which is Jesus – Jesus is the Word made flesh…  John is the gospel of wisdom, written by a seasoned John who likely told these stories for years and was urged to write it down – John would know more fully when Jesus said: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one.”

Jesus fully God, fully human and accessible to us through the holy spirit, His Word resonates to tell us that no one – no one can pluck us out of His hand… We pray and seek Jesus, knowing Him, reach for Him, and be shepherded by Him.

Because you know there are evil forces around – no sugar coating the wolf that comes after the sheep – the evil one in the devil is on the prowl – and yet we can speak the name of Jesus and tell the devil to stand down – that is the relationship that Jesus wants us to have with Him – with God – to know how to stay safe – Jesus tells us – also from the gospel of John that Jesus Shepherd is also the Gatekeeper. Jesus gatekeeper “I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

Jesus – such a GOOD Shepherd – and the Chosen one – not a chance that Jesus would turn away from His work. John 10:11-18 again records this amazing passage by Jesus: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.”

Ah yes – not the hired hand – Jesus is true and forever – and being God, He will never change. You can’t fall out of God’s LOVE because God IS LOVE – that is key to our relationship because it is about God’s plan – never to be snatched out of Jesus’s hand. Here is more from Jesus:

“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me – just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. “

AH – sheep from other pens  – that is Jesus speaking of the Gentiles in addition to the Jews – that is Jesus speaking about us – in addition to the people of the time – Jesus for all generations is unchanged and still the Shepherd.

“The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again.  No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”

Ah – so Jesus wasn’t forced or “voluntold” – Jesus chose this path – Jesus chose to save – Jesus chose us – Jesus chose to serve God – and to be the LOVE.

How could we ask for anything else??? 
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Our often favorite Psalm is psalm 23 – it is a tremendous reading to recite if you are able to – or us the colors to help you remember this comfort –  it is a key “go-to” it in times of trouble and in reflection – I can imagine David writing it from processing so much that God had done in his life.  Here is the beginning: The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 

Yes – we shouldn’t want – and we should be grateful and see what we have FROM the Lord – we are shepherded – and provided for:

As I went to find the psalm to paste into my writing and came across a very succinct description of how encompassing these short phrases are – this is from “bibleinfo” webpage:

”The restored soul is then led on to another stage in God’s plan for his life – ‘He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.’ That is, God leads us into work, into service for Him. Rest in the green pastures and refreshment by the still waters are to fit us FOR work. – In the gospel plan, works do not precede but FOLLOW rest. The restoration of the soul comes first, then the works of righteousness. We are not saved by our works BUT WORK because we are saved. We are not justified by works, but FOR works.” 

 YES – I appreciate this – that our relationship with God is being shepherded to be MOVED.   Not just kept inside a gate but moved through life.

Here is an important part of life: the next part of Psalm 23: Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me…

HMMM… I question – have I walked thru the valley of the shadow of death? Don’t think we have to have a near death experience – so what does that mean to us? David experienced it –  We could take that to mean that we have been in awful situations – near death – or that we know those who were near death – or especially that we have seen the shadow of death with life but we are walking past it with salvations.

I have been watching a Netflix documentary of the “Blitz” in London – the WW2 stretch where they were bombed – unbelievable the horrors of war and the scariness of them – this but a fraction of the fear and the devastation seen in war – in any attack – the people in the streets of London went out during the day on their normal business but at night they pulled black out curtains to block the light from showing where population was – and at night they would take their families down into “the tubes” the underground train stations – they packed in for safety. And yeah the bombings were devastating – I is amazing to see the colorized film reels – brings it more to life  – These are situations where these people surely felt they were walking thru the valley of the shadow of death – needed Jesus, need peace…

And there is footage of Winston Churchill in the reels – and I remember a quotation from Winston Churchill: “If you are walking thru hell – keep walking” sounds like Psalm 23 doesn’t it – and great advice for us – to KEEP WALKING!!!

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Evil exists. Evil makes the conflict bigger.  War is awful – we can’t even imagine.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies

Yes – a rod and staff are shepherding tools – God’s ability to keep us moving in the RIGHT direction – the Holy Spirit shepherding we experience. The table – surely a heavenly banquet. And going after us – we are shepherded if we go astray:  one sheep. Even was reading this for my upcoming prep for vacation bible school this summer – Jesus will leave the 99 and go after the one sheep.
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I want to talk about a very personal time that I was shepherded – still am – by Jesus and this going after the one sheep story is so fitting – Jesus really does go find us – really loves us – really leaves the salvation up to HIM not to us wandering sheep….

I know that I was shepherded by Jesus when my dad was sick and then passing – going downhill and then just a few weeks left became a few days and even a few hours – – and I have told at least some of you previously in a sermon that I write a daily devotion – this was a whole month specifically on dealing with my dad’s death – already was prewriting in my head – I have a chapter which will eventually become a book – I feel it would help others – and it was and is extremely healing to write – and  I was and am shepherded – and clearly in journaling – which I implore all of you to try – I also found comfort in that my dad was shepherded too… the one sheep …

So – I have a friend who is like an editor and voracious reader and child of God – and she is 92 now – and I gave her this chapter about my dad – and one of the writings included Psalm 23 which we have talked about for shepherding – and the copy from my dad’s prayer card from his funeral –  And we checked this card over greatly because the misspellings of my maiden name – people put an N in it…  well – we were good – and surprised even…  the N is a running joke in my family…  OK – no N – good to go…

Well, Sue – never saying “been there done that” with scripture – she took a moment to  actually read the Psalm 23 to herself. And WOW – she showed me and said: “Debbie, there’s an extra ‘N’ !!!” WOW – I was shocked – did we miss it in our name? No. then how and why???  “… thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over…”  Psalm 23   OH  – THERE WAS THE N – AN EXTRA “N” IN ANNOINTEST – WOW

I LAUGHED SO LOUD – it was both laugh and tears because it may not mean anything to you – certainly was just a typo to sue – but to me – oh the lord found the UNIQUE littlest of shepherding – the funniest thing – to let me know he was still listening and watching and shepherding and encouraging… and being there… Shepherding is SO UNIQUE to us!!!

HOW CAN WE NOT BE THRILLED AT THE LORD SHEPHERDING US – AND PRAISE HIM ! Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. Psalm 23       

AMEN

PRAYER: LORD THANK YOU FOR BEING OUR SHEPHERD – FOR US TO REALIZE IT – MAY WE GROW IN RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU TO WANT TO BE SHEPHERDED TO HAVE DIRECTION – TO HAVE SECURITY – TO HAVE A FUTURE AND TO HAVE A HOPE TODAY – AND EVERY DAY – Lord – thank YOU for YOU. AMEN

A State of Shepherding Christmas

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My friend is reducing the volume of her estate to move out of state (please keep her in prayer). She is reducing her items plus that of her mother’s and others. She has shepherded their belongings and their memories so well. She has enjoyed these items, but knows the next chapter is so important with her grandkids, and those are the times and new chapters where they will develop special new memories together. Any book chapter page is flat, but a memory heart chapter is multidimensional with depth and love.

Recently she preciously gave me one beautiful ornament containing the Nativity scene. This ornament was her grandmother’s. I love vintage for sure, but it’s the subject matter that she and I share: a deep love of Jesus and the appreciation that we ourselves are shepherded. Jesus is our Lord and Savior, Jesus is King. 

The shepherd on the ornament is clear, remarkably so. Kneeling, dressed, reverent. Shepherded by the angels to visit the baby, he will learn from his heart that this is no ordinary baby, this baby will and already did Shepherd our hearts, tending to the tender moments, shoring up the tough times, making a way where there was no way, and laying His body down for the sake of our salvation. We are shepherded by God and God is love. 

We can be a part of shepherding in Christmas and Christ for others, as long as we ourselves be the sheep Shepherded by our Savior, listening for His Word, comfort, and correction. And for us to be Shepherded by the faith instilled in us, we can do hard things too.

This is tough, for her to move, and I cheeringly said: “the best vintage item your kids and grandkids want is you.” We all need to remember that the items are just items, even the ornaments, but Jesus is our All in All. Follow the Shepherd. Be a Flock on the move, then rest with Him at the gate.

Amen 

“For with God nothing shall be impossible.” An angel speaking to Mary. Luke 1:37

 Jesus said: “I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.” John 10:10-11, 14-18

And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. Luke 2:20

One King Above All, foretold Ezekiel 37

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One in God, under God, with God, having peace with God.  We all long for that peace and in Ezekiel, we are told the WHO brings it to us: a lineage that forms under King David and leads directly to Jesus. God both lays the groundwork and adds the prophecy, hundreds of years in advance. We know now that Jesus is our One King – but did these people? If we have so many now who don’t know – then throughout the ages, God has pointed to a One King to come to earth – but not an earthly king – a Heavenly One.

The logistics of Jesus’s lineage in the nation of Israel (and back to Abraham, Noah, Adam…), meant in advance, the Lord set aside re-mending of the people of Israel. And getting the people to be re-membering that the kingdom traced back to King David, and the lineage back to Jacob and his 12 sons – and further back.In a mini-version, God brought Jacob’s son Joseph back to his people, his brothers, his father – after the brothers abandoned him and left him to his own devices… God promised and promises peoples will return to Jerusalem (over and over again). And even when people abandon God, God does not abandon them: “for I will save them from all their sinful backsliding, and I will cleanse them.“

Here is one of the best lines of the Old Testament: “They will be my people, and I will be their God.”  And this is reinforced with the follow up line: “and I will put my sanctuary among them forever. My dwelling place will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be my people.”

Perhaps in years of exile, the israelites whisked away to Babylon – or run away to Egypt – would have the time to think and ponder the lineage, the promises of God – and the writings of David in Psalms – and then the writing of Ezekiel in prophecy:  David being a shepherd in mini proportions to our Great Shepherd – and a mini king to our One King – an earthly lord to The Lord.

Ezekiel writes of the Words from God of The Messiah – The Ultimate ‘Son of Man’…

We get to listen in to his insights – and now remember Jesus DID come – and will come again…

Amen

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Ezekiel 37:15-28

One Nation Under One King

The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, take a stick of wood and write on it, ‘Belonging to Judah and the Israelites associated with him.’ Then take another stick of wood, and write on it, ‘Belonging to Joseph (that is, to Ephraim) and all the Israelites associated with him.’ Join them together into one stick so that they will become one in your hand.

“When your people ask you, ‘Won’t you tell us what you mean by this?’ say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am going to take the stick of Joseph—which is in Ephraim’s hand—and of the Israelite tribes associated with him, and join it to Judah’s stick. I will make them into a single stick of wood, and they will become one in my hand.’ Hold before their eyes the sticks you have written on and say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will take the Israelites out of the nations where they have gone. I will gather them from all around and bring them back into their own land. I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel. There will be one king over all of them and they will never again be two nations or be divided into two kingdoms. They will no longer defile themselves with their idols and vile images or with any of their offenses, for I will save them from all their sinful backsliding, and I will cleanse them. They will be my people, and I will be their God.

“‘My servant David will be king over them, and they will all have one shepherd. They will follow my laws and be careful to keep my decrees. They will live in the land I gave to my servant Jacob, the land where your ancestors lived. They and their children and their children’s children will live there forever, and David my servant will be their prince forever. I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant. I will establish them and increase their numbers, and I will put my sanctuary among them forever. My dwelling place will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be my people. Then the nations will know that I the Lord make Israel holy, when my sanctuary is among them forever.’”

A Palm Sunday Services Prayer to Share

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Lord we are entering Holy Week.

Greater Love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

Today Palm Sunday, we are waving our palms and saying Hosanna, seeing You Jesus as a great king. May we see You Jesus as OUR King, a Heavenly king and not just an earthly king. May we be walking with You this whole week, still saying Hosanna as we want to grow – grow from the sheep being fed – to disciples being led.

May our Hosannas come with hope everlasting and a willingness to believe. Oh Jesus, Lord, please keep us from becoming that crowd that scorns You, denies You, and leaves You hanging by Friday. We ask Lord to remain walking step by step and be a witness as we all get to Thursday, Your last supper on earth, Your Passover feast, to break bread with You. We want to try to stay awake with You in the garden. We WANT to be Your friend, but our sleepiness is shown in Your tears. And please console us on Friday, Lord, open our eyes to see why such darkness was necessary in death and then truly allow us to see the Light overcoming darkness, by GLORIOUS Sunday.  Let us not remain those wondering Saturday people, lost and hopeless. Bring us Lord to Easter and understanding, Jesus let us taste in Your resurrection and Life.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that who-so-ever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

So today Lord, we are Your people who lay down their coats and palms, may we continue all week and for all of our days to lay down our plans for Yours, lay down our expectations for Your enrichment. Kneel at Your cross and tomb then keep walking and share your Good News:

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Please Lord send your Holy Spirit. As we receive Your Word today may we be filled with Your Spirit to open our ears and hearts to hear Your Voice as Shephard, know You as Prince of Peace, and to understand You and Your plan for us.

And Sweet Jesus, may we continue this Holy Week being led in praise and in measured steps, one day at a time.

We love You Lord because You loved us first.

Amen 

Praise Be to the Lord – Christmas JOY to KNOW

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So many scriptures to touch our hearts before Christmas – David knew the Lord – and heard God’s Promise to bring salvation to all who would turn to Him. David did turn to the Lord – in asking mercy and in JOY. May we also do this always. For JOY, PROTECTION, SALVATION, STRENGTH, may we look for our Shepherd now and Christmas and always.

Amen and please read of the JOY to KNOW: Psalm 28 Of David.

To you, Lord, I call; you are my Rock, do not turn a deaf ear to me. For if you remain silent, I will be like those who go down to the pit. Hear my cry for mercy as I call to you for help, as I lift up my hands toward your Most Holy Place.

Do not drag me away with the wicked, with those who do evil, who speak cordially with their neighbors but harbor malice in their hearts. Repay them for their deeds and for their evil work; repay them for what their hands have done and bring back on them what they deserve. Because they have no regard for the deeds of the Lord and what his hands have done, he will tear them down and never build them up again.

*** Praise be to the Lord, for he has heard my cry for mercy. The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him. 

*** The Lord is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one. Save your people and bless your inheritance; be their shepherd and carry them forever.