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Morning Devotional...

WALKING IN THE OLD PATHS Jeremiah 6:16 By the late Jack Scott 10.  The Shepherd's Psalm--Part (iv)

Some years ago, I was hiking alone in England. The trail (or as the English say, the "footpath") was isolated and very poorly marked. This is a rare situation in England, known to hikers as the land of well marked trails. At one point, as I later discovered, only a couple of miles from the end, I became disoriented. I was tired and lonely and hungry. There seemed to be no other humans for miles. What should I do now? I longed to meet another hiker, or a local resident; even a friendly dog would have been a relief. No one suddenly or miraculously appeared. No laughing border collie wagged its welcoming tail.

What would you have done in similar circumstances? Well, I found a comfortable rock, slipped off my rucksack and sat down. Then I ate the lunch I should have eaten about two hours earlier and drank a half of a liter of water. My energy returned. Using my map and compass, I figured out my location and with a spring in my step, walked to the bus stop in the little town that marked the end of my hike.

As we move on to verse three of Psalm 23 and meditate upon it, we see the wonderful promises it contains for life's journey. "He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake" (Psalm 23:3) The words are overflowing with comfort and encouragement for all the members of the Good Shepherd's flock. No believer is left out and it is applied on an individual basis. The lovely truths of this psalm are not mere generalities. We do not read: "He restores our souls" Such a statement would be welcome encouragement for God's people, but how grandly greater is the assurance "He restores my soul". He cares about me! He loves the world but, praise His name He loves me. Yes, my friend, if you are His you can personally claim this blessing of restoration, no matter how withered and drooping you feel.

Day by day we all move along, sometimes reluctantly on the journey of life. At times our happy feet march to the triumphant music of success. At other times we drag ourselves weary and worn, and perhaps even broken along the ruggedly steep paths of life over rocks and ridges and along precipices dangerous and frightful. This lies in the nature of being human. Sometimes we have cheerful and supportive companions on this great trail of life. These may include a spouse, family, friends or fellow Christians. But at times we plod on not only tired but seemingly alone and perhaps unwanted. The way seems miserable, the going is rough and the shadows are lengthening.

When the traveling is wearisome and lonely, and our minds are stretched, elastic like, to their limits the awful ghosts of past sins and desires are inclined to haunt us. Regrets dart from the dark recesses of the mind and mingle with the cares of today and the fears of tomorrow. Like a delicate flower on a dry and windswept hillside we begin to wither, and the serene look gives place to frowns and wrinkles.

When our spiritual pilgrimage becomes unbearable, we need to take time out. We must take time to rest in God's presence. As the Bible enjoins us we must be "Be still and know that I am God." (Psalm 46:10)

If we take time to rest in His presence we can refresh our spirits as we enjoy the sustenance of God's word and drink deeply at the "wells of Salvation". Then using the compass of God's truth, we can set our course towards home in the eternal City, just as our great spiritual forefather Abraham did. "By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God." (Hebrews 11:8-10).

If our own foolish misconduct, our own sin and rebellion is the root of our withered and miserable condition, restoration is, bless God, still available.  And who among us has not sinned over and over again in the years since first we trusted Christ? God calls us to confession and repentance and provides cleansing for the sinning hart. The gospel for the sinning saint is found in I John 1:6-9, "If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us, If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." And believing this we can humbly say amen to the words, "He restoreth my soul".

King David cried out to God in anguish of soul "Hide Your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me by Your generous Spirit. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways and sinners shall be converted to You." (Psalm 51:9-13).

God heard his heart rending wail "Hide thyself from my sins and blot out all my iniquities." God graciously restored David to fellowship with Himself and gave him back the joy of salvation.

David and every other repentant, sinning believer can claim with joy overflowing: "He restoreth my soul." Only the forgiven can appreciate the warmth of His tender love.

Perhaps one of my friends will confess in his or her own heart. "I have repented oh, so often; but I keep falling on the rocks of temptation and sliding on the slippery scree of evil desire. What can I do? I've tried to gain the mastery over a particular weakness and failed again and again. I think I am doomed--sin is in my very nature". Like David, you cry out "Behold I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me." (Psalm 51:5)

There is good news in the verse before us for those who are in such a predicament. Look at Psalm 23:3, "He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake."
God's children have yearned over the centuries for power to break the binding habits of sin. The Lord Jesus taught His own disciples to pray, "Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil." Does God answer this prayer? Yes, if we obey His command in Jeremiah 6:16, "Thus says the Lord: 'Stand in the ways and see, And ask for the old paths, where the good way is. And walk in it: Then you will find rest for your souls. But they said, 'We will not walk in it'."

We are to ask after the old way, and upon finding it we are to walk therein. Many professing Christians, like Jeremiah's hearers, sadly refuse to walk in the old paths; they are doomed to keep on repeating the same old sins, and living the same old life of spiritual mediocrity. The path can be found where the Lord Jesus is. After the resurrection, two of His disciples made a journey to Emmaus. These two disciples don't appear to have been any of the twelve apostles, and it seems probably that they were a married couple. In any case, they were sad and discouraged. Their hopes had been dashed--the one they thought would deliver their nation from the iron yoke of Roman bondage was dead and buried. There was something however, that they didn't know about. Christ had risen from the dead in triumph over sin and the grave.

A marvelous thing happened as they trod the weary Emmaus Road that day. "So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them." (Luke 24:15) These two dear people didn't recognize their beloved master until later but something should have tipped them off--the presence of the Man of Calvary made a great difference to their walk that day, "And they said to one another, 'Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?'." (Luke 24:32).

If we walk in His company and seek to know Him in the scriptures, our hearts too will burn within us. They will burn with love to Him and with a strong desire to obey His commandments. Then shall we understand in a spiritual sense the words of Isaiah 35:1, "The wilderness and the wasteland shall be glad for them." And they shall walk in "the Way of Holiness" (Isaiah 35:8 ) and we will experience the promise of Psalm 23:3, "He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake".

---

Jack Scott loved his Lord! He passed away on January 10, 2001 after a lengthy illness.
He is missed greatly by his family.

Hope you enjoy this one, Rob! 

Morning All,

Thank you Pat for the wonderful encouragement found in today's devotional.

Also, thank you all for your prayers for my mom. Her second surgery went fine.

Every Blessing to you all,
<><Jeannine

Jeannine, that's wonderful news of your mother's surgery.  Now on to the recuperation! 

Keep us posted.

Good Morning this is the beginning of my days off. I do have a couple  of errands to do today and clean my house.  More later

Hi Marilyn..

Nice to see you.  Enjoy your days off.

We're sure going to have to do something to get more people posting in here.

Hey all. hope things are going great! it's been awhile since i was last online. my old laptop broke and now i've gotten a new one. things around here have been a little hectic since school is starting once again. i've got 16 hours in 2 days plus a 40 + hour job.  so its interesting to say the least.. anyways hi to all and i'll be around!
Sarah

Sarah you graduated High School didn't you already?  Are you working as an EMT yet or still?

Great to see you, Sarah!

Pat:  Thank you for today's devotion - a very nice "footpath" devotion.

We are just returned from Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming.  Windy in Wyoming as usual and the scenery is always stark and stunning.   

I am way behind in things.

Carol

WELCOME HOME, CAROL!!

Great to have you back.

Pat, as a preacher I can certainly say that Jack's use of the illustration of his own pause in hiking was absolutely excellent!

I am home again.  And we don't go back to Grand Rapids until next Spring and only then if Walter is walking on his own with a cane...no wheelchair.  But I am still to take them to Indiana University for speech therapy some until Spring. 

I called Kitty last night and she was here trying to get Ali to take her pill and Ali wanted nothing to do with Kitty.  Ivalou came over and Ali scratched her while she was trying to hold her and Kitty trying to get the pill into Ali's mouth.  So they gave up.  Kitty called this morning and she failed again...Ali said absolutely NO!  I got home this evening and within 10 minutes, Ali had an antibiotic down her.  She loves Pounce treats but isn't suppose to have them now since she is on the Urinary cat food but I figure it is more important to get the antibiotic down her instead of watching the food.  Two Pounce treats won't hurt her.  I slit a treat and inserted the pill and Ali gobbled it down! 

I am tired.  My legs are swollen and in need of getting them up.  And I know I will sleep well tonight! 

Ohhh, Etta Sue, what a service you've been for these folks going to Grand Rapids.  I've been praying for you as you've been on the busy highways.  God bless you richly.




Well, I posted two photos in the Garden Visitors topic this evening.  Hope you look.

I  don't have much more to do until my quilt top is ready. I have been working on it most of this afternoon.

Gilbert and Savannah came by for a short visit and that was so nice to a big hug from my son and granddaughter.

Just checking in here to see if there were any new posts and there were, Hi Etta Sue and Carol glad to hear you are both back home and safe.\

TTYL

Thank you for posting that encouraging message, Pat! Believe me, I needed it, & it ministered God's love and grace to my crusty heart, will, & emotions and, along with listening to Dick Anthony's, 16 Singing Men's, "Give Me Jesus" CD while reading it, drew tears from my eyes ! 

Jack obviously had a tender touch of God's Spirit residing on his life and ministry!
Jim/UHS

Thank you Jim.   That encourages me as well. 

Well, since this is Friday, I'm not opening up a new NEM.  We'll just continue in our old one.

May I brag?

I posted two photos in the "Garden Visitors" and one of those is Photo of the Day on the Photography Cafe!  I can't believe it.


Here's what Kathy has posted in the Coffee Counter tonight:


.

More news?

Ellette (Sara) gave some news that is exciting too for those of you who are in Oregon...



Well, I got the results of the Oregon State Fair photography competition in the mail today.  They had 1132 pictures submitted and only about 35% were accepted.  It was open to professional photographers, not just rank non-professionals like me.  There are only 3 categories you can win anything in right now...colour, b&w, and then the theme of the fair "road trip" (none of mine would work for road trips).  There will eventually be an audience favourite you can win, but since the fair hasn't even started yet...well, they can't award it yet.     

To get a b&w in you had to have a minimum score of 19 and for colour it was 17.  Two of my b&w didn't make it in...on had 17 and the other 18.  The one with 17 I hadn't wanted to enter but did because my friend and my mom begged me to...they both loved it.  The one that got 18 was the "beach piggies" picture of Liam's feet in the sand.  My other two b&w got accepted but didn't win anything.  All 4 of my colour pictures got accepted.  "Chickalee" and my frog in a glass both got honourable mentions.  I was excited about that, they don't give out very many honourable mentions.  The "graceful curve" picture of a flower didn't win anything but did get accepted in. 

The thing I'm most excited about though...I got first place for all colour pictures with "Intimidation"!  Yay me!  I am shocked and pretty happy.  The only other thing I've ever won was an honourable mention in a black white and grey art show which wasn't simply photography (I was the only photographer to win anything).  The only other thing I can think of that I've won in a competition was when I got second in a math competition that was for 4 or 5 states...but that was back in high school and not as much fun as photography.


CONGRATULATIONS SARA!!!

Oh Pat...thank you for posting that.  I must say I'm wired and having a hard time sitting still I'm so surprised and excited.

Sara

Well done, Sara!  And, you too Pat!

I'm just so-o-o-o pleased for you.  I can feel the excitement!  Don't look at my spelling.  I'm tired and must go to bed.

Talk to you all tomorrow.

Thanks Carl!  I hardly ever get POTD so I'm wired tonight too--but I'm tired enough to sleep.   

Night everyone! 

Hi Pat,

I enjoyed Jack's Devotional this morning. Isn't it wonderful that he is able to continually pass on God's word, even after leaving this world. I appreciate you sharing his writings with us.  God Bless !

Pat and Sara:  congratulations on your wonderful photos! 

  Quoting something of yesterday

QuoteIf you are not content with what you have,
you would not be satisfied if it were doubled

by Spurgeon  This is so very true and it seems like the people who live with the least in Africa, Thailand and some other parts of the world are the most thrilled with any new little thing. 

Pat:  What a legacy your Jack has left. 

Deep thoughts this morning.  We stayed up late and watched a history program on 9-11. 

Carol

Congratulations, Sara and Pat! 

It was great to sleep in my own bed last night.  And greater that Ali got her morning antibiotic down with no problems whatsoever! 

I am going with Judy B (classmate Judy) for Chinese today after going to the bank.  Then this evening Ivalou and I are going to my church for a 20th Anniversary Dinner for the church.  Tomorrow will be sermons on what makes a church a church.  Tomorrow is actually the 20th anniversary. 

Cloudy and gloomy here today and my driveway is wet.  Looks like winter except everything is green.

Fog here as per usually in the early mornings.

Congratulations to Pat and Sara  on the photos. Great work ladies.

Yesterday I went to the hardware store and got those risers for my bed, It sure makes it nice and the dogs can still get up there. But the best thing about it is that I can put my cutting mat on the bed  and it is just the right height for cutting fabric. I have my sewing machine set up on my kitchen table plus other appliances that I don't have room anyplace else to put on my table. so It is rather crowded, I am going to get a rolling microwave cabinet s that I can get all that stuff off the table and put away.

Gotta go now.

Thank you everyone, I appreciate it!  I was quite surprised to have done so well.

Quote from: Carol on August 19, 2006, 09:30:07 AM

  Quoting something of yesterday

QuoteIf you are not content with what you have,
you would not be satisfied if it were doubled

by Spurgeon  This is so very true and it seems like the people who live with the least in Africa, Thailand and some other parts of the world are the most thrilled with any new little thing. 

You know, they did a study that showed people who made $100,000 a year didn't think they were rich they thought people who made $200,000 were and those who made $1,000,000 didn't think they were rich but people who made $1,500,000 were.  Those may not be exact numbers but it was amazing, almost no one in the study would admit to being wealthy and they all had an idea of what it would take for them to be happy...not what they had.  I find it so sad how many people out there simply refuse to be happy with what they have.  My sister is one and I have such a hard time with her...she's 32 but going through her terrible two's and has been since birth.  Her goal in life is to not have to work, be able to buy as much clothes as she wants whenever she wants no matter how much she has already, and to be able to spend her time working out so she stays stick skinny.  That is all she wants...that and to have parties to go to every night.   

People will never be happy with life till they decide to be happy with what they have.

Sara

Yea, congrats on the picture awards.  It is always exciting and affirming to have others like our stuff.

I hope everyone is doing well.  We Shufords are bopping along.  I should be doing some housework and Mary Kay stuff, but I "chilling" right now.  Actually, I've been chilling so much lately I think my temperature has dropped to an all time low.  Gotta get going.

The kids are growing like little weeds.  I need to post some pics of them, don't I?

Take care and laters to all