THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD

PSALM OF THE DIVINE SHEPHERD

___________________________________________

PSALM 23

English Standard Version (ESV)

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2     He makes me lie down in green pastures.

He leads me beside still waters.

3     He restores my soul.

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

4 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.

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

6 Surely[d] goodness and mercy[e] shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell[f] in the house of the Lord forever.

Key Lessons in Faith

1-6 Expect Jesus’ shepherding care.  Know that He will keep us from want, protect us, and restore our lives.

Comfort

23:4 originally may have meant "to breathe intensely because of deep emotion." In some references, the word is translated "repent," the idea being that regret causes deep sighing.  In its sense of comfort, nacham does not describe casual sympathy, but rather deep empathy.  It is like "weeping with those who weep." Or actually "sighing with those who sigh."  From nacham are derived the names "Nahum" ("Comforting") and "Nehemiah" ("Comfort of Yahweh")

23:1-6 This refreshing pastoral psalm reflects absolute trust and peaceful confidence in God.  It is divided into two metaphors: the Shepherd (vv.1-4) and the Host (vv.5, 6). 

  23.1 Jesus is the good shepherd who went one step beyond David’s list of provisions-He gave His life for the sheep (John 10:11).

  23.3 Daily restoration of the anxious, weary soul is a major human need (2 Cor. 4:16). 

  23:4 The key to provision is the presence of God. (Jos. 1:5-9).  This awesome thought causes the psalmist to change from mere statements (He…) to spontaneous heavenward praise (Thou art with me.)

  23:5 Of the two kinds of oil, the priestly anointing oil and 

the Oriental perfumed oil, this is the latter.  This act shows favor and excellent hospitality.

  23:6 Mercy (Hebrew chesed) is the unfailing, steadfast covenant love of God.  This loving-kindness is similar to the NT word "grace" (John 1:16, 17).

In Christ,

Janet Irene Thomas

Playwright/Screen Writer/Director

Producer/Published Author

Founder/CEO

Bible Stories Theatre of

Fine & Performing Arts

HOLD ON

ALTHOUGH THINGS ARE NOT PERFECT__

 Because of trial or pain

 Continue in thanksgiving

 Do not begin to blame

 Even when the times are hard

Fierce winds are bound to blow

God is forever able

Hold on to what you know

 Imagine life without His love

 Joy would cease to be

 Keep thanking Him for all the things

Love imparts to thee

 Move out of "Camp Complaining"

 No weapon that is known

 On earth can yield the power

 Praise can do alone

 Quit looking at the future

Redeem the time at hand

 Start every day with worship

 To "thank" is a command

Until we see Him coming

 Victorious in the sky

 We'll run the race with gratitude

 X alting God most high

 Y es, there'll be good times and yes some will be bad, but...

 Z ion waits in glory...where none are ever sad!

In Christ,

Janet Irene Thomas 

Playwright/Screen Writer/Novelist/

Gospel Lyricist/Producer

ON THE OTHER SIDE

For therein is the righteousness of  God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, the just shall live by faith.                   Romans 1: 17 NIV

A sick man turned to his doctor, as he was preparing to leave the examination room and said, "Doctor, I am afraid to die. Tell me what lies on the other side."

      Very quietly, the doctor said, "I don't know."

    "You don't know? You, a Christian man, do not know what is on the
            other side?"

 The doctor was holding the handle of the door; on the other side of which came a sound of scratching and whining, and as he opened the door, a dog sprang into the room and leaped on him with an eager show of gladness.

Turning to the patient, the doctor said, "Did you notice my dog? He's never been in this room before. He didn't know what was inside. He knew nothing except that his master was here, and when the door opened, he sprang in without fear. I know little of what is on the other side of death, but I do know one thing...I know my Master is there and that is enough".

In Christ,

Janet Irene Thomas

Playwright/Director/Screen Writer

Producer/Gospel Lyricist

DANGER OF DRIFTING

Before reaching an unwanted destination,let’s be sure we’re going in the right direction.

         

CHANGE THAT OCCURS SLOWLY is difficult to detect. For instance, the earth’s crust moves an estimated 1-10 centimeters per year, but we don’t notice until two tectonic plates push so hard against each other that they suddenly shift, causing an earthquake. A similar process can happen spiritually as well.

The further we go on the detour, the duller our spiritual ears become. At this point we can’t hear god calling out, "You’re going the wrong way! Come back to me!" That’s why He sometimes has to send an "earthquake" to grab our attention.

We think we’re doing fine until God shakes us awake with a situation so big it makes us stop and wonder what’s happening. We ought stay in God’s Word

In Christ,

Janet Irene Thomas

Playwright/Director/Screen Writer

/Producer/Gospel Lyricist

JUDGMENT AND SALVATION

Romans 11:11-12

I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall?

Certainly not!

(Rom. 11:11a)

In this verse that lie ahead, Paul probes deeply into the purposes and ways of God. As he unveils the mystery (v.25) of God’s plan of redemption, he breaks forth in praise for God at the end of the chapter. As we study this portion of God’s Word, pray that your vision of the Father would be enlarged and your heart moved to praise Him.

In Christ,

Janet Irene Thomas

Playwright/Director/Screen Writer

/Producer/Gospel Lyricist

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

Since the Pledge of Allegiance 

and
The Lord's Prayer
are not allowed in most
public schools anymore
because the word "God" is mentioned....
a kid in Arizona wrote the following
NEW School prayer

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Now I sit me down in school
Where praying is against the rule
For this great nation under God
Finds mention of Him very odd.

If Scripture now the class recites,
It violates the Bill of Rights.
And anytime my head I bow
Becomes a Federal matter now.
Our hair can be purple, orange or green,
That's no offense; it's a freedom scene.
The law is specific, the law is precise.
Prayers spoken aloud are a serious vice.
For praying in a public hall
Might offend someone with no faith at all.
In silence alone we must meditate,
God's name is prohibited by the state.
We're allowed to cuss and dress like freaks,
And pierce our noses, tongues and cheeks.
They've outlawed guns, but FIRST the Bible.
To quote the Good Book makes me liable.
We can elect a pregnant Senior Queen,
And the 'unwed daddy,' our Senior King.
It's "inappropriate" to teach right from wrong,
We're taught that such "judgments" do not belong.
We can get our condoms and birth controls,
Study witchcraft, vampires and totem poles.
But the Ten Commandments are not allowed,

No word of God must reach this crowd.
It's scary here I must confess,
When chaos reigns the school's a mess.
So, Lord, this silent plea I make:
Should I be shot; My soul please take!
Amen 

In Christ,

Janet Irene Thomas

Playwright/Director/Screen Writer

Producer/Gospel Lyricist

FROM THE MOUTHS OF BABES!

The children were lined up in the cafeteria of a Catholic elementary school for lunch.  At the head of the table was a large pile of apples.  

The nun made a note, and posted on the apple tray: "Take only ONE. God is watching." 

Moving further along the lunch line, at the other end of the table was a large pile of chocolate chip cookies.  

A child had written a note, 

 "Take all you want God is 

watching the apples".

In Christ,

Janet Irene Thomas

Playwright/Producer/Screenwriter

Gospel Lyricist/Novelist

THE WEEDS IN THE GRAIN

TARES IN THE GRAIN

Matthew 13:24-29

King James Version (KJV)

24Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:

25But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.

 26But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.

 27So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?

 28He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?

 29But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.

To GOD be the glory!  The central message of this parable is that the consummated kingdom of God will be different from the present kingdom (reign) in that the consummated kingdom will be in a perfected environment of only sons of the kingdom. Currently, sons of the kingdom and sons of the Evil One live together in human society.

Tares were very common in Palestine and closely resemble wheat; they are not really distinguishable from wheat until the grain appears at havestime.

The question of separation ore relative purity in conduct or doctrine among the disciples and the church is answered by Jesus’ directive. This is not to be done by the disciples nor by the church-but will ultimately be done by God’s angels (vv. 39, 41).  Premature separation in the present age is out of the question and becomes more destructive than it is purifying.

Matt. 13: 37, 38 His Field –  A Promise of Harvest.   

     

WORLD EVANGELISM

To the farmer, the field is a promise of harvest.  This area of land prompts his vision of a yielding crop. 

The field is the world.” Christ’s own imagery points to the process of world evangelism: Go and sow The field may or may not appear fertile; the field may be ravished by drought (spiritual need) or insect (spiritual opponents), but in either case the field is itself the summons.  Lift up your eyes (Prov.29:18; John 4:35-37). (Is.40:8-11/Matt. 24:1-4)

REFLECTIONS

What can malicious weed-sowing tell us about the kingdom of God? The image Jesus uses here is a common everyday example of planting, harvesting, and sorting the good fruit from the bad. Weeds can spoil and even kill a good harvest if they are not separated and destroyed at the proper time. 

Uprooting them too early, though, can destroy the good plants in the process. Just as nature teaches us patience, so God's patience also teaches us to guard the word he has planted in our hearts and to beware of the destructive force of sin and evil which can destroy it. God's word brings life, but Satan seeks to destroy the good seed which has been planted in the hearts of those who have heard God's word. God's judgment is not hasty, but it does come. And in the end, God will reward each according to what they have sown and reaped in this life. In that day God will separate the evil from the good. Do we allow God's word to take deep root in our heart?

Let us pray: "Lord, may your word take deep root in our hearts and that we may bear good fruit for your glory. May we hunger for your righteousness now that we may look forward to the Day of Judgment with joy rather than with dismay". 

In Christ,

Janet Irene Thomas

Playwright/Director/Screen Writer

Producer/Lyricist

Founder/CEO

Bible Stories Theatre of

Fine & Performing Arts

THE DOORKEEPER

or

THE FAITHFUL SERVANT

Mark 13:33-37 KJV

 33Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.

 34For the Son of Man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter  to watch.

35Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:

 36Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.

 37And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.

⟵⟶

Watching for the Lord’s return does not mean idly speculating about the time of His Coming or setting dates that the Father has not revealed.  Neither does it give license to neglect earthly responsibilities and the penetration of kingdom authority in daily situations.

REFLECTIONS

All of us ought to be always upon our watch, in expectation of his return. Our Lord will come, and will come as the Master of the house, to take account of his servants, of our work, and of the improvement (s) we’ve made. 

(2.) We know not when he will come; and he has very wisely kept us at uncertainty, that we might all be always ready. He may come at evening, at nine at night; or it may be at midnight, or a cock-crowing, at three in the morning, or perhaps not until six. 

This is applicable to his coming to us in particular, at our death, as well as to the general judgment. Our present life is a night, a dark night, compared with the other life; we know not in which watch of the night our Heavenly Father will come, whether in the days of youth, or middle age, or old age. I read in my studies that as soon as we are born, we begin to die, and therefore, as soon as we are capable of expecting anything, we must expect death. 

(3.) Our great care must be, that, whenever our Lord comes, he do not find us sleeping, secure in ourselves, off our guard, indulging ourselves in ease and sloth, mindless of our work and duty, and thoughtless of our Lord’s coming; ready to say, He will not come, and unready to meet him. 

(4.) His coming will indeed be coming suddenly; it will be a great surprise and terror to those that are careless, and asleep, it will come upon them as a thief in the night.

Finally, it is therefore the vital task of us all, Christ’s disciples, to watch, to be awake, and keep awake; “What I say unto you four (Mark 13:37), I say unto all the twelve, or rather to you twelve, I say unto all my disciples and followers; what I say to you of this generation, I say to all that shall believe in men, through your word, in every age, Watch, watch, expect my second coming, prepare for it, that you may be found in peace, without spot, and blameless.”

In Christ,

Janet Irene Thomas

Playwright/Director/Screen Writer

Producer/Lyricist

Founder/CEO

Bible Stories Theatre of

Fine & Performing Arts

THE BASIS OF INTERCESSION

              NOW LEAVE ME ALONE SO THAT MY ANGER MAY                                          BURN AGAINST THEM…                                               THEN I WILL MAKE YOU INTO A GREAT NATION.                                                           ˜Exodus 32:10

Most people would have stumbled over themselves trying to get out of God’s way. God was angry! And he had every reason to be. The first commandment God gave to his people was to have no other gods (see Exodus 20:3). However, the first thing the people did when Moses was out of the picture was to have a pagan orgy around an idol. But Moses remained standing before God. Interceding for his people. This chapter is the first of three consecutive chapters in Exodus that give a rich picture of the prayer life of one of the Bible’s greatest men of prayer. They also provide a model for the prayer life of any follower of Christ.

 Moses’ intercession was based on three realities. The first was God’s self-chosen relationship with his people. When God spoke to Moses and called the people "your people," whom you brought up out of Egypt" (32:7-11). The basic of all prayer is the relationship God has taken the initiative to form with us. When we pray, we pray in his name, the name he gave -"our father."   

Moses also prayed on the basis of God’s reputation, pleading with the Lord to consider how he would be thought of by the Egyptians if he executed his fierce anger, "why should the Egyptians say, 'It was with evil intent that he brought them out, to kill them?" (verse 12). Moses truly wanted God to get glory in all things. And we can learn from this. As Jesus taught, we intercede by praying, "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name" (Matthew 6:9).

Finally, Moses prayed for the people on the basis of God’s promises: "Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, to whom you swore by your own self: 'I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky" (verse 13). In his usual picturesque way, Martin Luther describe what Moses did in this prayer as 'throwing the sack of God’s promises at [God’s] feet', and he couldn’t step over them! It is beyond exhilaration to pray the promises God, for they go far beyond the best we could ever think of on our own.

In Christ,

Janet Irene Thomas

Playwright/Director/Screen Writer

Producer/Lyricist

Founder/CEO

Bible Stories Theatre of

Fine & Performing Arts

THORN IN THE FLESH

GOD'S GRACE IS SUFFICIENT

2 Corinthians 12:7-10

New International Version (NIV)

 

7 or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.

8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.

9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

STEPS TO DEVELOPING HUMILITY

Humility looks to God for what it needs. Humility is not shocked to discover its own weaknesses, having learned to trust God’s strength. Nor do the humble take faith for granted, always drawing near to God, distrusting self.

•  Allow Jesus’ strength to be exhibited and exalted through your weakness. 
• Know that His grace is large enough to meet you in your  problems.

12:7-10 Because of some ambiguities, it seems very unwise to form dogmatic conclusions about certain particulars of this section. What is clear, however, is a thorn in the flesh (an intense weary difficulty or affliction) had come by means of a messenger of Satan (probably a demonically instigated assault). God’s providence clearly allowed this (grammatically, a "divine passive," indicating God as the unseen Agent overseeing the entire process) that Paul might avoid being exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations.

Though it is futile to try to identify the "thorn," it caused Paul great consternation and ultimately served a good purpose, becoming the occasion for a revelation to him of the overcoming race of god, which proved sufficient in the midst of Paul’s weakness (v.9).

We must also note that though God does not respond to Paul’s repeated pleading that it might depart from him by removing it, there is no indication God is upset with Paul for so pleading. In fact, Jesus’ answer (v.9) indicates God’s concern to respond howbeit differently than Paul had prayed.

Finally, it is important to note that Jesus’ answer was not seen by Paul as punitive, nor did it cause him to resign himself to buffering with a defeatist attitude. Rather, it affirmed in Paul that whenever Satan strikes him (either directly as the destructive adversary or indirectly as God’s controlled agent to bring about character development) he can glory in his infirmities because Jesus’ grace and strength will be sufficient to enable him to continue in his apostolic ministry. Neither the thorn, any messenger of Satan, nor any character-refining test from God will cause him to cease serving God.  He can therefore take pleasure … for when he is personally weak, then he can be strong in Jesus.

In Christ,

Janet Irene Thomas

Director/Producer/Playwright

Screenwriter/Gospel Lyricist

Founder/CEO

Bible Stories Theatre of

Fine & Performing Arts

JESUS APPEARS TO HIS DISCIPLES

 

John 20-19:25

New International Version (NIV)


19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”

20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.

21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”

22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.

23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

24 Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came.

25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” 

But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

20:21-23 Commissioned with a Mandate and a Message. WORLD EVANGELISM. 

John’s Gospel presents the deity of Jesus-the Son of God. As God, He has created all things (1:1-3), and as God He has come to redeem all- to bring the fullness of forgiveness. This aspect of His mission is conveyed to His disciples as their commission as well: Go with forgiveness. It is stated here as both a mandate, and a mission:

1. "Even so send I you." Precisely as the Father sent the Son to bring salvation as an availability to every human being (3:16), so we are sent to insure that availability is understood by everyone.

2. "Whose soever sins ye remit" Indicates the conditional nature of His provision. It cannot be responded to unless it is delivered.  There is no escape from the awesome nature of His terminology here. We are not only sent with the substance of the message- salvation, we are sent to bring the spirit of its truth-forgiveness. Only the breath of His Spirit, which He breathed upon those who first heard these words, can enable us to go obediently and to reach lovingly. The message (salvation) and its meaning (forgiveness) are ours to deliver, and we need to receive the Holy Spirit to do both.

20:19 Closed doors were not a barrier to the risen Lord (see v.26).

20:20 The appearance of the risen Christ dispelled the fears of the disciples. They were convinced the He was the same Jesus who had been crucified a few days earlier, as the scars in his hands and side showed.

 

20:21-23 The commissioning of the disciples to the mission of Christ is what made the "apostles," or "sent-forth ones." The empowerment for such mission comes through the Holy Spirit poured out upon all believers at Pentecost.

20:22 Breathed. The allusion to Gen. 2:7 is unmistakable. Now Jesus breathed life into His own. Some interpret the statement Receive ye the Holy Ghost as symbolic and as anticipating Pentecost. Others understand the Greek to denote immediacy in the sense of "receive right now," and view the day of the Lord’s resurrection as making the transition from the terms of the Old Covenant to those of the New Covenant. The old creation began with the breath of God, now the new creation begins with the breath of God the Son.

20:23 The disciples are to preach both the way of salvation and the way of damnation, explaining how sinners can be forgiven and the danger of rejecting the gospel. Whether or not hearers’ sins are forgiven depends on their acceptance or rejection of Christ.

In Christ,

Janet Irene Thomas

Director, Playwright, Producer,

Gospel Lyricist, Screenwriter

Founder/CEO

Bible Stories Theatre of Fine &

Performing Arts