He restores. [ Matthew 11v 28- 30

He restoreth my soul [ Psalm 23 v3 ].We often apply this to a backslider but it has another meaning to it here, it applies to the child of God, who is exhausted, weary and sad. Oh yes Christians can feel like that ,the fact that David is inspired to write these words, bears out the truth that even the greatest of saints ,can feel washed out . Behind that smile there can be a sad heart,we must not judge others, or even ourselves, but simply be honest to ourselves and to our God. I like this reading from Matthew 11 v 28- 30 in the Message,/Are you tired? Burned out on religion, come to Me. Get away with me, and you will recover your life.I will show you how to take a real rest. Walk with Me and work with Me, watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I wont lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with Me and you will learn to live freely./ Last Sunday I went to minister at a church , and as I arrived , I felt weary,so I whispered a prayer, when I began to take the service, I felt God infused me, and enabled me to minister.
A prayer ...../ God, we are prone to so many things that wear us down , restore our souls
in Jesus name Amen.

Gods spoilt children. [ Psalm 37 v 3 -4 ]

Psalm 23 v 2. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures, he leadeth me beside the still waters/ Now I want you to imagine that you are a sheep , you are walking through a dry and barren landscape, with not to much to eat or drink,what you are dying for, is lush pastures, and cool water to drink. The shepherd knows this, and I suppose he will deney them their hearts desire, no of course he wont, he loves his sheep, so he gladly leads them to the place of plenty. Our Lord is not out to deprive His sheep, He delights to bless ,sometimes we give the impression that all God wants from us is to suffer and go without, and He wouldnt give us a smile. Now I am not into the prosperity so called Gospel, but sometimes I think He loves to spoil us His children,in the nicest sort of way. I see this in so many ways, in the small things He gives me, and in the gracious way He treats me.
A prayer.....Dear Father in heaven, thank You for treating us Your children in such a generous
and loving manner, at times we feel that You spoil us, we offer our thanks to You
in our Saviours name Amen.

A dependable Father. [ Matthew 6 v 24 - 34 ]

The Lord is my shepherd. [Psalm 23 v1 ], and then we read, /I shall want/, how often I have read those words, and depended on them. Why are these words there? to mock us in our times of need, no ,emphatically no, they are written out of Davids experience, in God, who keeps His word. It was God who moved David to write these words, so you and I ,would be encouraged to trust in the Lord ,who would provide for His children.When I was very young , my mum and dad seperated,a magisrtate made an order that my father was to pay my mother 25 shillings a week to help support his family,I had two older brothers and a sister ,well sad to say my dad never did pay my mother that princely sum of 25 shillings.The fact of the matter is, some fathers can not be depended on ,but from experience let me assure you, my loving Heavenly Fath er, can be depended on to look after His childrens needs.
His love in time past
Forbids me to think
He will leave me at last
In trouble to sink,
Each sweet Ebenezer
I have in review
Comfirms His good pleasure
To help me quite through.
A prayer..../Dear God we thank You for past mercies and trust You to undertake for us, all
our days, in Jesus name. Amen .

I will remember their sins no more. [ Jeremiah 31 v 31 - 34 ]

The Lord is my shepherd.[Psalm 23 v1] In John 10 we read how those hired to look after the sheep, will leave the sheep to their fate, if they are threatened, but not so with the one whose sheep they are. He will defend the sheep to the point of dying for them, all this reminds us of what Jesus did for His sheep, He died for them. The laying down of His life had to be ,if we were going to be saved, if He had not been willing to lay down His life, then there have been no salvation, we would have all perished in our sin, with all the consequences that would mean. No forgiveness, no acceptance with a holy God,there would be bo promise of a heavenly home, for nothing that defileth can enter heaven [Revelation 21 v 27 ] In His death that awful thing called sin was dealt with totally ,completly, [ Hebrews 7 v 27 ], Let me share another story from the book Ragamuffin Gospel, by B Manning. A minister was told that a lady in his church , was claiming to have visions of Christ [B M points out, that there is always a thin line between the authentic mystic and the lunatic fringe]so the minister goes to her, and says,is it true that you have visions of Christ?, yes the lady replied. Well the next time you have a vision ask Him what sins I last confessed to Him. The woman was stunned. Did I hear you right, you actually want me to ask Him this, to tell me your sins. Exactly, please call me if anything happens. Ten days later the lady notified the minister of a recent apparition, so the minister went to see her. He arrived and questioned her, so you saw Jesus?, well did you ask Him what I requested?. Yes I did ,and you know what He said, these are His exact words, I Cant Remember.
A prayer...../Dear God we praise You for our Saviour who died to save us,that through Him our
sins are forgiven , help us to accept this wonderful blessing, in Jesus name Amen ./

I know my sheep. [John 10 v 14 ]

The Lord is my shepherd[ Psalm 23v1 ]Now most of us dont know much about a shepherd, in John 10 we have things mentioned that help us to understand their role. In verse 3 we read that the shepherd knows his sheep by name, in the shepherds eyes they are not just a number.The worlds population is reckoned to be 7 billion ,we do not know how many of them are Christians,but the good Shepherd Jesus does ,he knows them by name. Next we read that He leads them,He goes before them ,and here is the important thing,the sheep follow Him. Now it should be a great comfort to have the assurance that Jesus our good shepherd is leading us. Joseph H. Gilmore wrote,/He leadeth me, O blessed thought. O words with heavenly comfort fraught. Whate,er I do, where,er I be. Still tis Gods hand that leadeth me/.This is a blessed thought, a great comfort, but has this implication for His sheep, for we may not appreciate what this fully means, for the hymn goes on to say./Sometimes mid, scenes of deepest gloom. The vital thing for us all,I believe is to trust, the one who is leading. I read this story recently,/ A two story house caught fire, most escaped but a little boy panicked and ran back upstairs and into his room. Suddenly he appeared at a smoke filled window,crying like crazy. His father ,outside ,shouted, jump son, jump, I,ll catch you, but daddy the boy cried, I cant see you.His father called, I know son, but I can see you./For that little boy if he was going to be saved , he would have take a leap of trust, it is the same for us all we are called to trust the one who is leading.
A prayer..../Lord I would clasp Thy hand in mine
Nor ever murmur nor repine.
Content, whatever lot I see,
Since tis my God that leadeth me. Amen.

The new covenant.[ Jeremiah 31v31 ff/ Hebrews 8 v13ff]

David declares ,that the Lord was his shepherd[ Psalm 23 v1],yes it was possible even under the old covenant to have this very personal relationship with God. During the period of the old covenant fellowship with God was possible ,but this fellowship included adherence to the ceremonial laws, the offerings,the Sabbath keeping. But when we come into the new covenant these things are swept away, and for those who put their trust in Jesus ,there is a relationship with God, that is free from legalisim, and the only barrier is sin.Through the good Shepherd, Jesus, we can come boldly into the presence of a God[ Hebrews 4 v16 ] who accepts and loves us freely and unconditionally. These words of a poem declare a wonderful truth,/ Near, nearer I cannot be, for in the person of His Son, Im just as near as He/,amazing but true.
A prayer..../Dear Father in heaven , for Your unconditional love in Jesus we thank You. Amen/

The Lord is my Shepherd. [ Psalm 23 ]

We will begin looking at the 23 rd Psalm , next to the Lords prayer , the 23rd Psalm must be the best known of the scriptures. So let us commence our study. ...../ The lord is my shepherd, consider how wonderful these words are, and yet how amazing. A little boy whispered into the ear of his new born baby sister,tell me what the God is like, for I have forgotten. What knowledge people once had of God is long forgotten most people are like Pharaoh, who declared, who is the Lord/ I know not the Lord [ Exodus 5 v 2 ].There is a darkness throughout our land, Christmas is but a commercal occassional, we who are Christians continue to tell people the true message of Christmas,but to little avail, these are not words of despair, for I believe in the Sovereignty of God. They are as it is, I wish it was not so, but alas Santa is as real to most people as our dear Saviour. Unless God reveals Himself, the dark ignorance will continue, such is mankinds condition they have forgotten what God is like.
A prayer..... Dear God we ask that in Your mercy,that You shine into the darkened hearts of people , and bring them to a true knowledge of Your Son Jesus. Amen .