Psalm 23

The Good Shepherd’s Staff

/ pastorpete51 / 3 Comments 
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!

Waits Past the Door

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Waits Past the Door

He the Good Shepherd we must learn to trust
Through the valley of shadows and fears
His is the word and a rod and a staff
That comforts in weakness and fears

Then to His banqueting table prepared
Where a cup full of blessing awaits
While my enemies watch His sure mercy pours out
Jesus comes and He never forsakes

Last we will travel to Father’s own home
Where a place that He purchased is ours
He commands us fear not, enter in by its gate
There forever life waits past the door

In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 
John 14:2 KJV

          Past the Door by Peter Caligiuri           
                             copyright 2021 all rights reserved                               
Use by author's permission only

Counting Blessings

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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. Psalm 23:1-2 ESV

The Lord is not only my shepherd He is a good shepherd for everyone who comes to Him and He fills our lives with blessings. It may be that having spent a lifetime learning that reality is why “Count Your Blessings” is one of the all time favorites at the Nursing Home meetings I lead every week. You might ask how people sitting in wheel chairs and often without any family or friends can sing about being blessed. It could be that because they are in a place where neither money nor position matter any longer they see more clearly  what is truly a blessing. They have a perspective that includes delighting in different kinds of blessings.  Featured Image -- 18926

Walking into most rooms, you will notice that usually one of the personal items on the nightstand or hung on the wall includes a photograph of their family. Whether it is a faded wedding picture from many years ago or a more recent shot of children and grandchildren it is a reminder of blessings of a lifetime to be thankful for. Then if you stay for a longer  visit some people will begin to show you hand written birthday cards from a grandchild or a box of candy from a friend. Stay a bit longer and they will tell you how much they appreciate you coming by to give them some of your time. Small blessings we pass by in our hurry to go places are instead savored by folks whose life is now lived day by day.

Last of all if you peek into the corner in some rooms you will often see a Bible, a cross or their rosary beads. Today; though the journey has not lead to where they ever imagined they have found that the greatest blessing of all does not lie anywhere here on earth. The blessing that they now value highest of all is the one that is to come when every blessing is found in Christ!