Christian Photographers Community

---

Morning Devotional...


[td]


The Shepherd Psalm--
Part (i) [/td]
[td] [/td] [/table]


What do you think is the most loved portion of Holy Scripture? It may well be that great Gospel verse "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:16). Thousands of children over the centuries have learned it at their mother's knee. I know I did and so did my children. What a wonderful statement it is. Many people down through the ages, since the Lord Jesus spoke these words, have received the peace and joy of eternal life through realizing their truth.

Perhaps one day I shall write an article on this grand old theme. But not today. Instead I want us to focus our attention on another great passage of scripture, almost as well loved, and dear to many since David, the shepherd king, was inspired by the Holy Spirit to write its lovely words. The portion of the scripture to which I refer is, as you will probably have guessed from my title, the twenty-third Psalm:

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Yea, 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 runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."

A jewel is best appreciated in all its sparkling beauty when it is viewed against the setting chosen for it by a skilled artisan. This brilliant gem is no different in this respect although more precious than all the world's lovely stones. What then is the setting chosen for this rare and beautiful rock of divine comfort? Well on the one side we have a prophetic picture of the Shepherd on the cross. See for example, Psalm 22:16-18. This is indeed an example of crucifixion written long before the awful death of crucifixion was invented by wicked minds. On the other side in Psalm 24, we are given a view of our Lord Jesus Christ Our Great Shepherd in His present glory and coming kingdom.

An old Irish preacher, James Irvine of Newcastle, Co. Down, used to explain it this way... "In Psalm 22, we see the Shepherd on the cross dying for His sheep. In Psalm 23, we have the Shepherd with His crook in his hand defending His sheep while in Psalm 24 we have the Shepherd with the crown on His head ruling His kingdom."

There is one who died for His people and now lives to reign eternally on the throne of the universe and I can call Him "My Shepherd". Is there anything more lovely, more comforting, more reassuring than this? If we bear this in mind as we study the depths and delights of the "beloved Psalm", its intrinsic value will be appreciated more and more.

Let us first look at the Person of the Shepherd.
Who is He, what is His character and what are His attributes? This world and the universe of which it forms a part had a beginning somewhere in the ancient past. This Shepherd of whom the Psalm speaks, entered this world of beginnings, yet He had no beginning. John's gospel, chapter 1 tells us that in the beginning was the Word. That is, when everything that had a beginning, began, He already existed. He goes on to inform us that the Word was God and was with God and then, Oh glorious truth, we learn that "the Word became flesh and dwelt among us." (John 1:14).

Mary was given the inestimable privilege of becoming the virgin mother of the humanity of our Lord, but in His eternal being as deity, He had no mother, no birth, no beginning. He always was and is the second person of the Godhead. He is also "My Shepherd." He is and always has been absolute in holiness, unlimited in knowledge, power and glory. Yet if we are of His flock, we can say with full confidence, "The Lord is My Shepherd."

When our Lord walked upon the green hills of Israel in the days of His flesh, He said, "I am the good Shepherd: the good Shepherd giveth His life for the sheep." (John 10:14). This is why it is so appropriate that the Shepherd Psalm is placed directly after a Psalm which prophesied the awful events of Mount Calvary.

You see, my dear friends, we cannot claim the wonderful blessings of the Shepherd Psalm unless, we have trusted Him in His life-giving death and are thereby counted among His sheep. The words of the Lord Jesus Christ as recorded in John's Gospel, 10:26-30 are very important.

"But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand. I and My Father are one."

Have you believed in Him as your personal Saviour and Lord? He does not call on us to place our faith in anyone other than Himself. He does not tell us to hope in the apostles or any other persons, no matter how holy, blessed and exalted they may be. It is He who has loved us unto death. It is He who has borne our sins and carried our sorrows. It is only He who saves us from sin and to such as trust the good Shepherd, He gives eternal life, and they shall never perish.

Even if there were no other blessing to be found in Christ, this by itself would be wonderful news for sinners. Yet there are a multitude of blessings in store for all who come to Him for salvation from the penalty and the power of sin.

Many years ago, Thomas Kelly wrote a fine hymn which very nicely expresses the wonderful work that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished in His role as "The Good Shepherd."


[/color]

Can you honestly say, "The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want" for time and for eternity?

God willing we will continue our study in Psalm 23 tomorrow as we examine some of the blessings we can experience in Him on life's path.

---

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

Beautiful Pat, Beautiful.

The Lord Jesus is "my" Shepherd.

"All the Way to Calvary He went for Me".

Jenny X

Yesterday was Janice and Earl Hudspeth's Wedding Anniversary.  So belated wishes to you from all of us at CP, Janice!

Hope you look in here...

Oh, thank you, Pat!  I am finally here tonight, and it is exactly midnight (I just looked at the little clock on my computer!)
Yes, it was our 47th anniversary yesterday.  How time flies!  
Thanks again.
Love, Janice

10.14 in Holland  Good morning

PAT thank you very much for the devotional also writen by your dear husband Jack and the hymn this morning one of my lovely Psalm 23.

YES I ALSO CAN SAY THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD.

BELATED ANNIVERSARY WISHES FOR JANICE AND EARL.

NOW I MUST SOON GO TO MY FAHTER
HE HAS A YOUNG NEIGHBOUR HE WAS COMING AT 1.00AM HOME AND SAW MY FAHTER LYING ON THE GROUND HE HAS CALLED MY BROTHER HE IS GONE TO MY FAHTER HAS CALLED A DOCTOR AND US.
HIS HEARTPULSE IS TO SLOW THE DOCTOR SAY THAT IS COMING FROM THE MEDICINES THEY HE USE.
BUT THIS MORNING THE OWN DOCTOR IS COMING.
SO I AM GOING TO HIM.

BYE LOVE AND PRAYERS RIA

"His Love to the utmost was tried, but firmly endured as a rock"

Yes I'm back again 2nd go this morning...having another look at our dear Jack's Devotional and the words of Thomas Kelly's hymn.

This set me thinking of the degrees of love which we all experience in our lives...sometimes "warm" sometimes "lukewarm". The relationships that begin so well and end so tragically. Most of us have known such experiences or someone in our family has perhaps suffered a divorce when "love grew cold".

Dear Ones, today we read about "The Love" that never grows cold, that is always "The Same". That Love suffered and died for us on the Cross at Calvary

Now this is love:-

" We were still helpless when at His appointed moment Christ died for sinful men. It is not easy to die even for a good man - though of course for someone really worthy, a man might be prepared to die - but what proves that God loves us is that Christ died for us while we were still sinners.  Having died to make us righteous, is it likely that He would now fail to save us from God's anger?.......we are filled with joyful trust in God, through Our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have already gained our reconciliation." Romans 5:6-11

Help us Lord Jesus to grow "in love"

Amen!

cont..

We have already gained our reconciliation with God when we know Jesus.Through His death upon the cross.

Fear not sister

10.15 a.m.England.


                   For Jan. Ria's father

Urgent prayers needed please

Jan, Ria's Father is very ill now

I have posted in "Prayers".

Hello  Hello  Hello  Hello

Morning  Morning  Morning  Morning

Nice (((echo))) we have in this room.  hehehehee...

Happy Belated Anniversay, Janice!   47 years! That is so cool!  

Hi Ria! I sure hope your dad will be ok.  That must be hard.   (((hug)))

I get to relax today.  I don't have much going on today.  School, dance for Chandraya and swimming.  I got my grocery shopping done yesturday.  I think prices go up when I go into the store.    Does that happen to anyone else?

I walked 9.23 miles yesturday which is 16,258 steps for me.  Wow!!!

Janet, how are you doing today?  Better I hope.

Jenny~You were up pretty early.  What kind of dog do you have? Do you have a cat the dog can chase? hehee...


I will be back later.
Soni

HI Jenny!  I see you online.

Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts.
Proverbs 4:23

Hi Soni My dear little sis.

2 long haired black pussy cats and 1 adorable little Yorkshire terrier...a bit like the American terrier..only smaller.

t.t.f.n.
Jenny  

hello ya'll,
how are you on this fine day. it's rather cold outside although i haven't been out yet my weatherbug says its 9*F with a -6*F wind chill. for all from kansas HAPPY KANSAS DAY!!! today i will go to school, the dr, basketball practice, run some of the concession stand for the Jr High games, then go to EMT class! what a busy day no time to stop inbetween either!! well ttyl
Sarah

Good morning!!

It is good to see all of you here this morning, sounding so chipper and cheerful!

Hi, Soni!!  I should follow you around for a few days, then I would lose the 5# that found me since before Thanksgiving!    (I love your colorful posts full of cute graphics!)  Be sure and go check out the photos I posted last night, okay?  

Ria, I do hope your father's regular doctor gets him on meds that will help him.  I have had a similar experience, with blood pressure meds.  I cannot take beta blockers; they slow my pulse down so that I can barely put one foot in front of the other!  Please know we are praying for Jan.

Hey there, Jenny!  Maybe Sunday dog needs a longer leash, so you can stand inside while he/she goes to do the business?  Don't get so chilled!!  We need you in here!  (((hugs)))

JANICE!!!  Good to see you!!  Happy belated anniversary!!  You and Earl are closing in on the Golden one!  Congratulations on 47 years together, that is an inspiration.

Sarah, have a good day at school today!

Yes, Sonja, I am better today, but my sore mouth doesn't let me forget it for a minute.  Ugh.  And it looks so awful, too.  I teased Darrel by telling him that when people ask me what happened, I was going to say, "Well, I was TRYING to explain to Darrel, but....."  

Pat, thanks again for your help last night. (And all the other times, too!)  Love you!

Good morning to you all from down under the snow here in Guelph.....man do we have a heaping pile o snow here in Canada...at least inour part of it.......and it just keeps on coming down.....

finally one of our real canadian winters......
anyway...just wanted to wish Janice and her hubby a very warm HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to the both of you...God bless you both.

well am off for now.....bye folks. Paulette

Hello there, Paulette!!

Good morning all!  

It is quite cold here.  I don't know the temp.  I haven't put a weather bug on here yet.  But I just know it is cold!!!  And we are suppose to have more of the white stuff today or tonight.  Just hope it isn't too much because I have an appointment for my mammogram tomorrow morning.  But if it is a lot of snow, I can have Nick open up the drive again.  When I went to my garage yesterday, the snow had blown inside.  I had snow on my car, on my shopvac, wheel barrow, grill...just about everywhere!!!  I never saw that the last two years!

We do complain a lot of the cost of everything.  Seems like everything is higher than yesterday.  And the income stays the same.  But thank God, we have an income, have a cover over our heads, have heat, water, and transportation.  We are so used to our luxuries that we forget there are some who are thankful for clothing.

»ïÏï«,¸¸,»ïÏï«,¸¸,»ïÏï«,¸¸,»ïÏï«,¸¸,»ïÏï«,¸¸,»ïÏï«,¸¸,»ïÏï«,¸¸,»ïÏï«,¸¸,»ïÏï«
"If you talk too much you'll probably say too much."

Wonderful devotional, Pat - I always love to sit at Jack's feet for that one!  Oh what a tremendous thing it is to know that He, the Almighty Lord God, is willing to stoop down to be our Shepherd!  Oh may I follow Him in every step!
WELCOME GREGG!!!
May God grant you to carry out your intended mission.

Good Morning Thank you Pat for another of Jack's wonderful teachings.

I can't stay this morning as I have to go to work shortly and this afternonn I am babysitting  next door. Gilbert is taking a welding class and has to be at school today at 4:30 to get his books etc. Sarah doesn't get home from school unitl 6:30.

I was here earlier but didn't post here in NEM I had things to do, my car needed water and I had to check the oil, do my dishes and get ready for work.

Must go now TTYL

Good Morning to you all...


Thanks Al...  Yes, that is a wonderful thing to know!  I love to read Jack's little studies with my Bible open here.


Glad you enjoyed Jack's first part of The Shepherd's Psalm too, Jenny.  Jenny, thanks also for putting into the Prayer area the news of Ria's father.  We'll be praying for him for sure!


Great to see you drop in Janice.  Happy to see your upbeat post that you'll for sure make it to the big 50 years!  Take care and come back soon.


How's your father now, Ria?  I sure hope he's doing much better.  How wonderful that the young neighbour found him.  I'm so sorry.  Keep us posted as you can.


Soni, did you do that walking all at once or was that off and on all day?   That's terrific!  Keep up the good work.  Enjoy your restful day!  
That's a good verse in Proverbs that you shared with us.  Terrific to realize that.


Nice to see you, Sarah.  Have a great day at school!  Is it REALLY Kansas Day??


Oh, you're welcome, Janet.  I hope I DID help you.  Sometimes it's difficult to help from afar!  LOL  Enjoy your day at your class.  Great photos you posted.


Oh, Paulette, hasn't it been awful?  Just as I get the driveway cleared (somewhat), it dumps again!  Oh, for spring to arrive!  It's so good to see you in here.  Just think--if eveyone who is registered on CP would post just one message each day in NEM, we'd have 157 messages to read!  


Wow, Etta Sue!  That's quite the snow blowing around if you had it in your garage!  HAHAHA!  My garage is so tightly closed up since I'd never want anyone to see the condition it's in!  You can't even walk in it.


So, Marilyn, you're back to work?  You be careful, there.  Even if you feel well enough, you could do damage if you overdo it.  Praying for you.


Well, I'm off to do some much needed tidying.

....................

And anyone who'se gone away....please come back to stay...

Come on home folks...C.P.  the best place on the ww. web.

I love you Pat.  You make me so welcome. God Bless.  

Click here to see a cute picture.

I this goes well with the devotion today.

Hi everyone.  I am posting from the library and Pat is at the computer next to this one checking her e-mail.  Sorry to say our system at home is still down.  Don't think there is anything wrong with the computers just the network.  Another call to Earthlink this morning resulted in no help.  Think I am about ready to switch to cable.  

I have read thru the postings here quickly but will not take the time to write anymore as others may need to use the computer and I want to look at a couple of other things.  

Oh, Sonja, what a cute link!  And I encourage each and everyone to click on the Psalm 23 link at the bottom of the page.  What a lovely little reader of God's word!

Thanks for that.  Yes, it certainly does go well with today's devotional.


I'm so sorry, Larry that you're having these problems.  

Back home already Was at Bea's for a short time, all I did today was take out the trash, wash a few dishes and put a clean bottom sheet on her bed. I am not doing more that I should. No lifting, moving furniture or digging in the yard.

By back/left arm is still huting from time to time and this is one of those times. It hurt all the time at Bea's this morning. Tomorrow morning Iam having all of that xrayed neck/back/shoulder/arm. Then to the doctor.

Brrrrrrrrrrr what a cold house I am in.  The hydro came and shut down the hydro so the electrician could do his work.  It was 2:30 before it was turned back on.  The inside house temp is 12 * C  or 53*F  It is going to take a while to get back up to temp.

Well John has blown the socks off everyone at Bakke's again!  he was the first truck in on the first drop and continued to be the first truck.  They expected him to take all day and it is 2:30 when I spoke to him and he is on his way home.  Woohoo 5 drops later. . . .  It helps having the knowledge he has about LTL (Less than Full Truckload)  He makes a game of it and that keeps the job interesting.

Got to go and will be back later.
Judy

Ria

I called Mother and told her about your father.  

Know we are praying as well.

Hi Folks, thanks for your prayers and good wishes, I  am now feeling somewhat better.

Jack was a great preacher Pat, we just pray that God will raise up more like him, who preach in love, but preach scripture, not feelgood rubbish, like so many do.
We must never water down His word, just to be liked, or to give people what they want!
No, we must give them what they NEED.

I've posted two photos in "Scripture Photos" which will give you a laugh, but they also show what we roofing contractors have to suffer!
And by the way, these photos are just three days apart!
Our love to all of you, and prayers for sick friends,
and also sick computers also.
Chris and Margit too

Etta Sue says:

QuoteWe do complain a lot of the cost of everything. Seems like everything is higher than yesterday. And the income stays the same. But thank God, we have an income, have a cover over our heads, have heat, water, and transportation. We are so used to our luxuries that we forget there are some who are thankful for clothing.

You are right Etta Sue.  We should be thankful each day for the many blessings we have instead of complaining.  

1 Tim 6:6-11
6   But godliness with contentment is great gain.
7   For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.
8   But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.
9   People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.
10   For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
11   But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.  (NIV)


 
--- Papa John    <)))><<
[/font][/size][/color]