My God in whom I trust

My God in whom I trust.

The Psalmist writes,

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High

 will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. 

I will say of the LORD, 

"He is my refuge and my fortress, 

my God, in whom I trust." 

                                                Psalm 91 1,2.

As a believer in Christ Jesus for over forty years. I have no doubt about who I trust. I trust in God to lead me through even the worst of times. I believe what the psalmist states, “He is my refuge and my fortress...”
In my life I have gone through many things, triumphs and tragedies and through it all God has been with me. I truly believe the psalmist when he writes,

 “The LORD is my shepherd, 

I shall not be in want. 

He makes me lie down in green pastures, 

he leads me beside quiet waters, 

he restores my soul. 

He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

 I will fear no evil, for you are with me; 

your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. 

You anoint my head with oil; 

my cup overflows. 

Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,

 and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”

                                                                                     Psalm 23.

Thus my question to you; who is your God and can you trust him to be your shepherd through even the darkest periods of your life?
Please think about it.

Our Journey

Our Journey
The Psalmist writes,

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. 

He makes me lie down in green pastures, 

he leads me beside quiet waters, 

he restores my soul. 

He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, 

I will fear no evil, for you are with me; 

your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. 

You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 

Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, 

and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. 

                                                                                      Psalm 23.

Life is never smooth sailing over calm waters. Life is more like a journey to a distant land. To get there we must walk not only through green pastures on pleasant sunny days, but  through storms and dark valleys.
The end however for anyone who believes in Christ Jesus, is entering into the house of the LORD. Where we will dwell forever.
Please think about it.

Peace

Peace
Jesus said,
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27.
Matthew’s gospel records Jesus as saying,

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened,

 and I will give you rest.  

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, 

for I am gentle and humble in heart, 

and you will find rest for your souls.  

For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” 

                                                  Matthew 11:28-30.

Someone once said to me being a Christians is following a lot of do’s and do not’s. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Yes God expects believers in Christ Jesus to follow a moral code of conduct. Doing so however is no more difficult than anyone who plays sports and must follow the rules of the game.
Most who play sports don’t think about the rules. They follow them instinctively, as a result the game becomes enjoyable.
It is the same for Christians. A true believer in Christ Jesus knows what God expects of him or her and does it without thinking.
Not only that when one has a personal relationship with Jesus one knows that no matter what they go through Jesus is there for them.
Psalm twenty-three says,

"The LORD is my shepherd, 

I shall not be in want. 

He makes me lie down in green pastures, 

he leads me beside quiet waters, 

he restores my soul. 

He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, 

I will fear no evil, for you are with me; 

your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. 

You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 

Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, 

and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever." 

                                                                                                    Psalm 23.
I personally know this to be true. In my life I have gone through many things, some life threatening. Yet though it all I have had peace for I know my Lord and Saviour has been with me through it all.
Do you have such peace. If not why not look to Jesus. Take time to read the New Testament and see for yourself the Peace Jesus offers to you.
Please think about it.

Storms

Storms
“Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him.  
Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping.  
The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” 
He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. 
The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!” Matthew 8:23-27.
Here is one of those things I often ask those who don’t believe in Christ about and it goes for all miraculous things mentioned in the Bible. Why put the miraculous in the New Testament? If not true they would take away from the truth of the scriptures.
The answer is they are true. Sometimes truth can be harder to believe than fiction.
Here we have a story of Jesus sleeping when a storm come up. The disciples some of whom were fishermen were afraid, so it must have been severe. Jesus then wakes up and calms the storm.
This incident showed the power of Jesus.
The incident can also be a metaphor to the storms in our life. We all have them at one time or another. Such storms can cause us to have great fear as regards to the outcome.
As a Christian however I have found that no matter the storms that come in my life, and I have had numerous very serious storms, I can get through them with the peace of mind that Jesus is there with me. That God is with me.
Jesus truly is a port in a storm. The one who gives me strength to go through the problems of life.
He is also there for me in the good times.
I as a Christian can say with the Psalmist,

"The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. 

He makes me lie down in green pastures, 

he leads me beside quiet waters, 

he restores my soul. 

He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, 

I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. 

You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 

Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell

 in the house of the LORD forever." 

Psalm 23.

Can you?
Please think about it.

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving

“Worship the LORD with gladness; 

come before him with joyful songs. 

Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, 

and we are his; we are his people, 

the sheep of his pasture. 

Enter his gates with thanksgiving 

and his courts with praise;

 give thanks to him and praise his name. 

For the LORD is good 

and his love endures forever; 

his faithfulness continues 

through all generations.” 

Psalm 100:2-5

Today is the Thanksgiving holiday here in Canada. A time when we give thanks for all we have.
As a Christian I praise God for all He has done for me. My life has not been a constant high. Even the American Evangelist Billy Graham said,
“The Christian life is not a constant high. I have my moments of deep discouragement. I have to go to God in prayer with tears in my eyes, and say, 'O God, forgive me,' or 'Help me.'” Billy Graham.
Still in Good times and in bad times God has always been there for me. Helping me thorough the bad times. Giving me peace knowing that no matter what I am going thorough He is with me.
I as a Christian can honestly say with the Psalmist,

“The LORD is my shepherd, 

I shall not be in want. 

He makes me lie down in green pastures, 

he leads me beside quiet waters, 

he restores my soul. 

He guides me in paths of righteousness 

for his name’s sake. 

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

 I will fear no evil, for you are with me; 

your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. 

You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 

Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, 

and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” 

Psalm 23

Can you?
Please think about it.

Know Peace

Know Peace
“Peace is not the absence of affliction, but the presence of God.”Author Unknown.
Jesus said,

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, 

for I am gentle and humble in heart, 

and you will find rest for your souls.  

For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” 

Matthew 11:28-30.

Knowing Jesus as one’s Saviour does indeed give us peace, as anyone who has undergone persecution or health issues can tell you.
Someone once said,
“No God, no peace. Know God, know peace.” Author Unknown.
This is true. I have found it in my life and Christians the world over will tell you they too have found it to be true.
In my life I have undergone many tragedies but through it all God has been there for me. He has indeed been a Rock in times of trouble.
The writer of proverbs writes,

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 

in all your ways acknowledge him,

 and he will make your paths straight.”

Proverbs 3:5,6.

The Psalmist writes

The LORD is my shepherd, 

I shall not be in want. 

He makes me lie down in green pastures, 

He leads me beside quiet waters, 

He restores my soul. 

He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, 

I will fear no evil, for You are with me; 

Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. 

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. 

You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 

Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,

 and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. 

                                                                                                    Psalm 23

Never was there a truer statement. With Christ in your life you can go through anything. In Acts chapter sixteen we here of Paul and Silas being dragged before a magistrate. The were beaten then placed into jail. Acts 16:25 records
“About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.”
They were praying and singing hymns to God despite being in chains in jail, in a very difficult circumstance.
I hope as Christians we never have to be in such a circumstance. Never the less in whatever situation we are in I would hope you as a Christian can sing praises to God.
Please think about it. 

My Shepherd in the words of others

My Shepherd in the words of others

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. 

He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 

he restores my soul. 

He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, 

I will fear no evil, for you are with me;

 your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. 

You anoint my head with oil; 

my cup overflows. 

Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,

 and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

                                                                                                                                 Psalm 23
The above is a Psalm of David. It tells how God comforts and protects him and of his choice to be faithful to him.
Over the years I’ve come across several interesting Psalms inspired by the twenty-third psalm. I put them here for you to think about.

Psalm of Tranquility

                                                                                  by Joan Stephen

Everything that’s needed

Is given us each day;

Reflected in still waters

and grasses by the way.

Our souls are guided daily

By an unseen welcome hand,

Leading ever onward

To some sweet peaceful land.

There is no fear of evil

Or death or shades of gloom.

Constant is our comfort 

Even beyond the tomb.

Goodness will always follow;

Forever and a day

So all may live in paradise

With no need to repay.

                     Joan Stephen

The Nun’s Twenty-Third Psalm

The Lord is my pace-setter, I shall not rush.

He makes me stop and rest for quiet intervals;

He provides me with images of stillness, 

which restore my serenity.

He leads me in ways of efficiency 

through calmness of mind.

And His guidance is peace.

Even though I have a great many things to

accomplish each day,

I will not fret, for His presence is here.

His timelessness, His all importance will keep me in

balance.

He prepares refreshment and renewal in the midst of

my activity

By anointing my mind with His oils of tranquillity.

                                                                                                     All Saints convent
                                                                                                     Cantonville, Maryland
                                                   
                                                My Shepherd is the living Lord,
                                                                              by Isaac Watts

My shepherd is the living Lord,

Now shall my wants be well supplied,

His providence and holy word

Becomes my Safety and my guide.

In pastures where salvation grows,

He makes me food - he makes me rest -

There living water gently flows,

And all the food divinely blessed...

Through I walk through the gloomy vale,

Where death and all its terrors are,

My heart and hope shall never fail;

For God, my Shepherd’s with me there.

                                                                                                          Isaac Watts
Is the Lord Jesus Christ truly the Shepherd of your Life?
Please think about it.