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Thought of the Week ( 3 – 2023 )

Psalm 23

The 23rd Psalm is one of the best-known and most-loved literary works in the world, and it may well be the best poem ever written.

It is also a fine example of the power of figurative language:

We read deep things into the vision of ourselves as sheep, led to green pastures and good water by a kind shepherd. It’s empowering to feel the confidence to go fearlessly into the valley of the shadow of death, and to feel the love and caring of a table prepared by the Lord and a cup so full it overflows.

This poem actually describes the path to heaven, and the fierce desire the Lord has to lead us there.  So what is our first step this week!

The first step is to let the Lord be our shepherd, to accept His teaching and His leadership as we walk together through the green pastures and the still waters.

He will prepare us for the journey by restoring our souls and leading us in the path that He is asking us to follow!

Yes, we will still face the everyday challenges, but, if we listen, His rod and staff will be there to guide us through the darkness into the light of His love, where He will prepare a table for us all filled with love (the anointing oil) and wisdom (the overflowing cup).

One of many beautiful things about this is, the fact that, it is the Lord who really does all the work! All we have done as the sheep is to walk through the valley of the shadow of death. ‘Sheep follow their shepherd’.  Where they find peace with the Lord, as we will if we trust, believe, follow, love with all our hearts, we simply need to give ourselves to the Lord and let Him bless us!

God bless you all

Crissie

Thought for the Week (43)

Even with absolute faith in God,
When sadness and hardships fill our lives,
We will have our ups and downs, maybe
feel lost and alone, depressed and discontented,
Maybe we feel that God know longer hears our cries,
that he has abandoned us in our time of need.
This is when we have to remember that God
is on our side and still walking with us.
He will never leave us, when to going gets tough
this is when he starts carrying us
(Deuteronomy 1:31) ‘and in the desert you saw
how he brought you safely all the way to this place
Just as a father would carry his son or daughter.
We will all have good days and bas days, especially
now with the rising energy costs and food bills.
This is where we have to hold on tight knowing
that God will never leave us, he will deliver us
from any situation as long as we trust and
believe in Him. Psalm 59:16
But I will sing about your strength;
Every morning I will sing aloud of your constant
love. You have been a refuge for me in my time
of trouble.
The Lord said,’ My precious child I love you and
I would never leave you during your time of trial
and suffering, when you saw only one set of
‘footprints’ it was then I carried you and always will.

Thought of the week (42)

Although there is no doubt that we in the UK, and also in other countries across the world, are going through difficult times at present. Increasing costs across most of our purchases, such as food and energy to warm our homes and cooking, washing and cleaning. Also the dreadful suffering taking place with the war in Ukraine, floods and fires across many nations and crop failure due to lack of rain causing starvation.

However if we turn to John Ch. 14 in the Bible, Jesus said….
“Let not your heart be troubled neither let it be afraid, you believe in God, believe also in me”
May we find comfort and peace in that message.

Melvyn

Thought of the Week (41)

In one of his New Testament letters, the Apostle Paul writes that he never stops praying for God’s people. He prays that God’s people might be filled with a knowledge of God’s will for their lives and live lives which bear fruit in every good work as they grow in their knowledge of Him.
When we pray what do we ask God for others? If we echoed this prayer taken from the first chapter of the Book of Colossians, and remembered others in that way, what might happen? Not only would we all know more of God’s will for us, but it would transform our lives, the lives of others and ourcommunity as we put the work of God into practice in our local area.
Think of someone who you can bring to God in prayer this week and make Paul’s prayer for the early church your prayer for others. Douglas