Quieting the Heart

While all of the things going on in the world are distressing, God reminds me in His Word and through His Creation that He is Yahweh ... powerful, sovereign, trustworthy, enduring.  

He goes before His sheep and is with us.  While I'm feeling fearful and losing sleep and praying for the things that are troubling me, He is sovereignly working things out and will bring His children safely Home one way or another.  He answers prayer, and He even works things out that we don't even know to pray about.  Sunshine, tulips, daffodils, grape hyacinths, squirrels, robins, red cardinals, rabbits, etc., are reminders of our Creator's constancy and faithfulness.  Old Testament accounts remind us how God works even in and through times of turmoil and war.  God's purposes and plans don't fail even when evil looks like it's winning.  Even the death of Jesus was His plan, and all of the details of Christ's life.  

Persecution and suffering have a purpose in God's plan.  The evil plans of men cannot thwart Him, and He even is working through them for His good eternal purposes.  Physical trials are not meaningless either though they make us feel helpless and vulnerable.  They are reminders to trust God for the present and future no matter what and to focus more on eternal things.  Oh, that I would but trust God more and love Him the way I want to.  So, I remind myself that I need to look to God and His perfection in His purposes.  I may fail often, but He hasn't.  He won't.  He can't.  That's not who He is.  

I need to focus on God.  So, today in my weakness, tiredness, and distress, I read Psalm 23 and have kept it on a tab to keep going back to.  I watched an ocean video.  I spent a little less time listening to distressing things this morning...the things that I can't change.  I went out and saw the tulip and some birds, and the beauty of the day is also calming.  I must continue to pray and realize all the workings of things and details are still in God's hands, and I must remind myself that His purposes are good.  I know these things in my mind, but my mind always thinks of how God's people do still suffer.  We don't always escape the trials.  We still have to go through them at times.  That doesn't negate His good eternal purposes though or even His purposes in time here on earth.    I'm thankful that God doesn't give up on His weak sheep, and that He pursues and will keep us forever.  This life and its trials are short compared with an eternity of joy with God.

LSB Online & Psalm 23 Hymn

Legacy Standard Bible

They already have the New Testament, Psalms, & Proverbs available to read online!

I'm excited about this new translation in which they worked so hard to focus on accuracy and consistency rather than simply readability.

You can find it HERE.

The Lord is My Shepherd (Psalm 23)

I've heard this song in recent times, and it's worth sharing.

It's also in the Hymns of Grace hymnal!

From Death to Life - A Book Review - Part 2 + Bonus James Phillipps Music Video

This is my second installment of reviewing From Death to Life: How Salvation Works written by Allen Nelson IV.

I will try to continue with brief comments by chapter for now.

Chapter 3 talks about ways to proclaim the Gospel, and it gives an excellent description of what the bad news and the good news is.
I think it is a good reference to review (possibly to bookmark) what it is that Christians should actually be sharing with unbelievers.

My only discomfort with the chapter, that I recall, was trying to use Old Testament situations as Gospel examples (which I didn't quite see as what the particular OT situations were about).
However, knowing someone else who loves to use life situations to springboard to the Gospel, I find it interesting (though I would not see it as an actual exposition of the texts).  I do wholeheartedly agree with the author that the ways others sometimes misuse the texts are not helpful.

Chapter 4 discusses God's work in salvation.

Chapter 5 in the book moves from God's regenerating work into a detailed explanation of what faith and repentance are.
It also touches on baptism.
After having recently responded online to a Roman Catholic, and remembering some other discussions with people who have veered off one way or another, I thought the details in this chapter were good reminders for Christians.
We can't argue people into believing what is true, but it's good to understand what Scripture teaches for ourselves.
There are dangers of getting the Gospel wrong one way or another.  People try to add works (baptism and/or good deeds) to faith (like Catholics, the Judaizers, etc.), or people may claim to be believers yet do not have any signs of a living faith that others can see.
Then there are people who want to wrongfully take at least partial credit for what God alone does.
This chapter is corrective of those wrong views.


MUSIC FOR YOUR DAY
I love to hear James Phillipps sing (having watched him via Grace Community Church live-streaming), and I have discovered a video from 7 years ago that has a song from Psalm 23.
Please pray for James.
He's been going through difficult times.

James Phillipps - Psalm 23 from Poemas de Barro on Vimeo.