The Lord is my Shepherd into deep valleys green
He leads with His staff by a quiet soft stream
But when sin beckons, He tells me to walk
On the straight narrow way through the cleft in the rock
And through the valley of shadows and tears
His rod and His staff comfort all of my fears
When my enemies set up an ambush ahead
He shows me a table where His banquet is spread
Then If I stop to worry about things left undone
His goodness and mercy lead me farther along
With His cross ever guiding like a good shepherd’s staff
We will come to His house when our journey is past!
As we just spent eight days with a home filled with grandchildren, our son and daughter-in-law, I am a week behind in my daily readings. Though our family is well, and we are blessed beyond measure, the events in Ukraine have left my heart heavy. The reading in Charles Spurgeons Morning by Morning reminded me that we can always have hope because though we have no true place of permanent peace anywhere on earth the presence of God will be our home forever.
“The Christian might be rich today and poor tomorrow. He could be sick today and well tomorrow. He might be happy today and in distress tomorrow. However, there is no change with regard to his relationship to God. If God loved me yesterday, He loves me today. My unmoving mansion of rest is my blessed Lord.”
Spurgeon, Charles Haddon. Morning by Morning: Daily Devotional Readings (p. 59). Aneko Press. Kindle Edition.
Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. John 11:5 KJV
Once when we were vacationing in Amish country, we decided to take a detour on a back road just for fun. Seeing a farm stand being tended by a little red-haired girl, I parked the car and we got out and began to browse through bins of fresh vegetables, homemade jams, pies and cookies. “Good morning!” I said smiling, while my wife was picking out a bag of cookies. As I went to pay for them, I asked, “And what’s your name?”
“Oh, my name is Martha.” The little girl answered quietly
Strassburg Area
“Well, I ‘ve got good news for you Martha.” I continued. The Bible says that Jesus loved Martha and her sister Mary and her brother, so you can know for sure that he loves you!”
In the children’s song it says, “Jesus loves me this I know; for the Bible tells me so.” Have you ever wondered where the Bible says that?” The answer is that His love is mentioned everywhere! It says, He knit us together before we were born, and He promises to carry us till old age. He is near us when we are broken hearted and gives us strength when we are weak. He gives streams in the desert when we are thirsty and provides daily bread when we are hungry. On every Bible page we can find His love. The song then goes on saying, “Little ones to Him belong.” So, if today you feel as small as the little Martha we met at the farm stand, then you are exactly who Jesus came to love and He is passing by you today!
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