Psalm 23
A psalm of David.
23:1 The Lord is my shepherd,
I lack nothing.
23:2 He takes me to lush pastures,
he leads me to refreshing water.
23:3 He restores my strength.
He leads me down the right paths
for the sake of his reputation.
23:4 Even when I must walk through the darkest valley,
I fear no danger,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff reassure me.
23:5 You prepare a feast before me
in plain sight of my enemies.
You refresh my head with oil;
My cup is completely full.
23:6 Surely your goodness and faithfulness will pursue me all my days,
and I will live in the Lord’s house for the rest of my life.
I love you with the love of the Lord. Through his grace, by his power and for his glory.
I am so thankful for his unending mercy. I truly love God for who He is and because of the way He loves me. No mans religion can affect my faith in the living Jesus. I have experience and evidence that informs my trust.
He is faithful to deliver you from everything that was fallen. You are upright and whole in front of the Father by the cross. The ressurection is also our blessed hope.
The rapture is a promised provision. Our time of reunion.
Jesus will return in full power with us.
I will halt here. I can continue into the next event on the timeline and the eradication of evil. There is so much to cover that my point will be lost in the defense and we will spin. (I want to keep that for ice and records)
With us. Always included in what God is doing. (The clouds)
I’m not a part of the world of darkness. My responsibility is to follow God and resist the devil in Jesus name.
I am to fully rely on and love the one who saved me? Ok. I understand now.
I didnt fully understand what i was being saved from because of my sin. If the Lord convicts you of anything He will give you the strength to release what has no hold on you. If you are struggling with strength, you are growing from weakness and relying on him is important to build trust. Because you are his child, you are always safe; Leading us back to gratitude for the way to follow, the truth of the word and the life out of living him, knowing him and the joy of transformation, for the intimate details and private realizations leading to the constancy and more.
Images that assault, world war, brokenness will be gone for good.
The desperate lament is the pining. I cant wait to be with him.
Annie had a booming laugh and a smile that scooped you up to her eyes that were so engaged you became unsettled if you weren’t and then her hug made you come around.
I had to be coaxed at times, because i was young. It was my first friend with severe disabilities. She was in her 50’s at the time with a mental capacity less than mine at pre-teen.
Her presence broke my heart. She loved the lord with all of her being. I knew how much God loved her and provided within her crushing circumstances.
Annie would belt out hymns with a voice that dropped the room temperature and heated the soul. It was a grating sound full of her unadulterated faith. I admired her full commitment, though i wanted to cover my ears. My Mom was on the piano, my Dad on the harmonica, my sister on the guitar and i gave the annoying verbrato.
Annie lived in a nursing home- a really bad one. It was my first entrance into mitigation of suffering. I had never seen mangled bodies in wheelchairs or cries for help that seemed to come from hell before. I was aware, compassionate and furious.
Annie was a part of a group of residents we brought into our family for holiday dinners, church and adventures. We were a larger family through Jesus, just the way he made it. The meals were difficult as my young eyes struggled with food management and cerebral palsy. I watched my Dad lovingly feed and i learned to let God rather than to retreat; for the best to be made out of the worst.
I was so saddened by not only the struggle, but the terrifying lack on the part of those employed, to properly care for my sweet and innocent friends. I witnessed calloused staff before my parents called it out.
Our family doubled down. I got fired up on my own, visiting more often. 11 years old taking the bus with my Bible. I checked in and started my rounds. Loving, hugging and reading the word.
Sometimes there would be opposition from the staff for sharing Jesus. The sting of hostility is buffered in the knowledge of why.
I couldnt understand the mechanics of cruelty. The mind set is demented. Bent on sabotage. Excited by overpowering innocence and sweet trust. I saw hatred for no reason- other than, i might pray about my friends in pain and He could come to their rescue and see to their demise because that is Just.
Residents are victims of sexual. Financial and emotional abuse at the hands of those caring for every aspect of a very vulnerable life. I found the staff to be traumatizing as i watched apathy, incompetence and non work take place. Nice and condescending. Rude and dismissive tones and practices of herd communication while people lay on the floor calling for help and ignored.
At 11 years old, i stare. My stomach hurts so bad. My mouth can’t speak the words. I write, read and cry on the bus ride home. I think about Annie and pray for her protection.
Annie would come meet me at the home with a her beautiful brown teeth and a chirp. I was witb her and it was cozy.
We would read the Bible in her room, take walks and make the best of it. Singing songs of praise and relishing family in Jesus. No barriers, no reservation- rest at its finest. Sparkling, clean with nothing but love between you. No offense that lasts because sorry and change are working together. Repentance for believers is as breathing; especially in a deep friendship where Yahweh is between you.
Annie fueled my young faith with the fire. She carried the Holy Spirit and poured the oil with her welcome. She was whole in Christ and a living well of refreshing acceptance from her own confidence in her redeemer.
40+ years have passed and i still get anchored by her walk with God. Her unique trial and triumph. He is close to the Fatherless, the cast down, the lowly.
This recollection showcases 2 different heart spaces of which is the current distinction. There is fruit from a person’s heart leading to life or death, blessings or destruction. Wickedness is by way of the unregenerate, carnal mind that focuses away from God because it despises both sacrifice and sanctification where selfless heart conditions are required. Back to Jesus and salvation. Repentance from sin and his loving response beyond the life he already gave, gives way to worship and prayer. Strength is given to Turn from evil and live.
When we accept Gods gift we are given everything in exchange for our life. His life assures our new life and indemnifies the covenant between God and man; written in the book of life.
Our king Jesus is fully God and lived life as a human being. He is acquainted and overcame. Friend and Lord. The Father and Son are one. We are one with Jesus in the same way by the power of the Holy Spirit. We love each other truly and madly as we flow in the same hospitable, gracious spirit of service and forgiveness.
Annie pulls back my heart walls so far I can hardly breathe. Of all the friends I have known, of all the testimonies I have witnessed,she is in the top 5 for the pain and the healing. The significance in understanding the heart of God.
Im running after God waving Annie’s flag for the rest. Anyone in need- Please come on in.
🫂❤️🔥
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