A woman got on a bus holding her baby. When she did the bus driver said: "That's the ugliest baby I've ever seen." In a huff, the woman slammed her money into the fare box and took a seat near the back of the bus. The man sitting next to her saw that she was angry and asked her what was wrong. "The bus driver insulted me," she said. The man sympathized and said: "Why, he's a public servant and shouldn't say things to insult the passengers." "You're right," she said. "I think I'll just go up there and give him a piece of my mind." "That's a good idea," the man said. "Here, let me hold your monkey."The shepherd would never treat his sheep as that. As a matter of fact now its been a whole year in a sheep’s life. They've gone from the green pastures; to the still waters; to up the mountain passes of the summer range; Now fall is coming with its colder weather and its back to the ranch for a long winter. Psa. 23:6 Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. This speaks of sheep who came back well-fed, safe and more trustful in the shepherd. Goodness is mentioned 240 times in OT. So here the sheep were making a statement.
3 things God’s goodness does:
1. He forgives our sins - Ps 103:1-3
Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. 2 Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits 3 who forgives all your sins. The Bible says it is, "the goodness of God that leads us to repentance.” Ps 32:1 says, "What happiness for those whose guilt has been forgiven! What joys when sins are covered over! What relief for those who have confessed their sins and God has cleared their record.” The word blessed means happy; Fortunate; to be envied.
1. He forgives our sins - Ps 103:1-3
Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. 2 Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits 3 who forgives all your sins. The Bible says it is, "the goodness of God that leads us to repentance.” Ps 32:1 says, "What happiness for those whose guilt has been forgiven! What joys when sins are covered over! What relief for those who have confessed their sins and God has cleared their record.” The word blessed means happy; Fortunate; to be envied.
2. He provides for our needs -Ps 103:5
"who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. " We can be so picky at times. Once when Vera was still alive, me and her were passing on a busy street. We looked across, and saw that a house had a very large plot of land that the city had, I guess, taken a part of the land. Maybe by eminent domain. I laughed and said, "Hah! The city took a piece of their land, to widen the street! Hah!" Here's the funny thing, its the same house God gave to us. How crazy is that?! And there's a story in that too! That house, or may I say, this house. It was the last one we saw. After being desperate along with our real estate agent, in looking for a house. We were at our wits' end. We saw at least 50 houses, searching for the right one, to no avail. Finally I saw some of the last comps, the very last. We had already begun talking, 'Well, If we have to stay in the apartment another year, well, its gotta be." I went to look at the house with my son, at night with a few friends. The door was locked. So we found the side door unlocked (You know how we do it). I secured a flashlight, then took a look inside. I looked around, examined. And perfect. Everything we prayed about. A fireplace, A good size living room. Decent back yard. Laundry nook, wood floors, nice good sized kitchen, and dining room nook. I called Vera and told her, 'You better get over here right now." She came and her heart was overwhelmed. The real estate agent was amazed, and came right over in her sweats. It was like 11:00, 11:30 P.M. We signed papers, and the rest is history. Talk about being blessed. Can't get better than that. But you better be careful at what you laugh at. Hah! Hah! Hah!
"who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. " We can be so picky at times. Once when Vera was still alive, me and her were passing on a busy street. We looked across, and saw that a house had a very large plot of land that the city had, I guess, taken a part of the land. Maybe by eminent domain. I laughed and said, "Hah! The city took a piece of their land, to widen the street! Hah!" Here's the funny thing, its the same house God gave to us. How crazy is that?! And there's a story in that too! That house, or may I say, this house. It was the last one we saw. After being desperate along with our real estate agent, in looking for a house. We were at our wits' end. We saw at least 50 houses, searching for the right one, to no avail. Finally I saw some of the last comps, the very last. We had already begun talking, 'Well, If we have to stay in the apartment another year, well, its gotta be." I went to look at the house with my son, at night with a few friends. The door was locked. So we found the side door unlocked (You know how we do it). I secured a flashlight, then took a look inside. I looked around, examined. And perfect. Everything we prayed about. A fireplace, A good size living room. Decent back yard. Laundry nook, wood floors, nice good sized kitchen, and dining room nook. I called Vera and told her, 'You better get over here right now." She came and her heart was overwhelmed. The real estate agent was amazed, and came right over in her sweats. It was like 11:00, 11:30 P.M. We signed papers, and the rest is history. Talk about being blessed. Can't get better than that. But you better be careful at what you laugh at. Hah! Hah! Hah!
3. He gives us constant opportunities to do his will.
A prospect; An occasion of possibility; A strategic chance.” Some once said, "The reason a lot of people can’t find opportunity is that it is often disguised as hard work.” That, “Between tomorrow’s dream and yesterday’s regret is today’s opportunity.” and "The reason some people don’t go very far in life is that they sidestep opportunity and shake hands with temptation.”
A man named Art, took a friend took for a ride one day out in the country. They drove off the main road and drove through groves of trees to a large uninhabited expanse of land. A few horses were grazing, and a couple of old shacks remained. The friend, Walter, stopped the car, got out, and started to describe with great vividness the wonderful things he was going to build. He wanted his friend Art to buy some of the land surrounding his project to get in on the ground floor. But Arthur thought to himself, Who in the world is going to drive twenty-five miles for this crazy project? The logistics of the venture are staggering. And so Walter explained to his friend Arthur, “I can handle the main project myself. But it will take all my money. But the land bordering it, where we're standing now, will in just a couple of years be jammed with hotels and restaurants and convention halls to accommodate the people who will come to spend their entire vacation here at my park.” He continued, “I want you to have the first chance at this surrounding acreage, because in the next five years it will increase in value several hundred times.” “What could I say? I knew he was wrong. I knew that he had let this dream get the best of his common sense, so I mumbled something about a tight-money situation and promised that I would look into the whole thing a little later on.” “Later on will be too late,” Walter told Art as they walked back to the car. “You’d better move on it right now.” And so Art Linkletter turned down the opportunity to buy up all the land that surrounded what was to become Disneyland. His friend Walt Disney tried to talk him into it. But Art thought he was crazy.
6 Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,
1. It is a blessing to be used by God.
1. It is a blessing to be used by God.
This is a promise from the Lord. That if we follow Him, if we allow Him to lead, if we place our life in his hands, this will happen. We'll be blessed, then walk right into heaven at the end!
David was saying to the Christian, everyday is a good day.
For the Christian there are no bad days. There are hard days. There are evil days. The attacks of the enemy. But there are no bad days. When we were lost, now those were bad days. When someone pulled a gun in our face. When we were facing certain jail time. Now those were bad days. When you lost your family, and marriage, due to negligence and abuse. Those were bad days. With Jesus, everyday is a good day. We might think, "Well, today, is a bad day." Yet, Jesus has a plan for us everyday. He is in control. Rom. 8:28. If He was not in control, then, Oh, boy', watch out! That's a bad day!
And one thing is for sure in life: We leave a trail behind us in our journey. What do people say about you? “Well, I can’t let her borrow nothing, because she never returns it." "I trust them because they always direct me to God.” “They go out to eat, but they never pay.” "That family took the time to teach me the word of God.” "Man, I sent him for some eggs, and they brought me a chicken!, Duh!" Could you say, the memory of me brings to others a glad thankful smile or would they rather forget about me?”
and I shall return to the house of the LORD forever. and I will dwell in this sheepfold for the rest of my life, forever and ever.
1. The House of the LORD – The family of the Good Shepherd
What a blessing it is to live a life protected and nurtured by our Good Shepherd. We are blessed indeed. We are sanctified. We are separated to God. We do struggle. But we still live a blessed life. There is no better life. I would not trade it for the world. At times I sit back, or I stop and think, "God, You have blessed me. You are with me. I love you." I live at the end of a cul -de-sac. What a blessing it is. Once again, I tell my son, "Dude, We have the best house on the block." Reason being, is in the summer it is hot. Our house is at the end. And when the breeze gets going, it comes unhindered to us. While the other houses face the street, ours is at the end. But, in the winter, oh' yeah, its get cold, with those cold gusts of wind. But still its a blessing from the Lord's hand. And still yet, there are many dying of thirst, and hungering for the words of God to come into their communities. They are hungry sheep. We must, wherever we reside, tell hungry sheep. That's why Jesus in Matt. 9: 35 Yearned and said because he saw the sheep as scattered without a shepherd. The world is looking for leadership. The inner cities are looking for leaders. Oh, If God would open doors, Oh, How we need more leaders. Leaders who are willing. Who are willing to meet needs. Willing to allow God to use their lives. Willing to take God at His word. Willing to step out of their comfort zones, especially in Southern Calif. and in the U.S of A. In our ministry in Anaheim, Ca. We communicate, that God "Has not called us to reach an audience, God has called us to fill pulpits". For me, its not who has the largest church. Its who's making the biggest difference and the biggest impact. And that impact is not measured by what others in the body of Christ think. It is measured first, If God is pleased, because of our motive. It is measured by, if real lives are truly being touched by God's power in the city. It is measured if we are implementing a biblical ministry and if we are being obedient to God's heavenly vision. Too many today, are simply playing church. Seminar after seminar, teaching after teaching, and when it comes down to it, people refuse to go. Rare are the ones, who say yes, then go. What about you? Are you a disciple, much less a leader? We must get out of your comfort zone. We only have one life to live. That's all we have! I tell my son, "Elias, when you talk to me, make sure you know what you're saying and where you're going. I don't have time for wrong turns, and dead ends. I don't have time to waste." Every move I make is strategic. I like what a friend who is now in heaven told me (Pastor Steve Pineda) and some disciples on the way to LAX. He said, "Roy, you and your disciples, every time you get the ball, (As in Football or baseball) You must get some yardage. You must get on base. Everytime, you must bring your team a little closer to winning. Every move is strategic." I have tried to heed his advice. There's hungry sheep all around us.
In our ministry, Victory Outreach International, I value those early pioneers who blazed the way. The veterans of the faith who blazed a trail. I value the many saints of old, the John Bunyan's and the Polycarps. Those who gave their lives away to the Lord. Those who abandoned themselves into the hand of God.
2. Heaven Forever will I be content with God in Heaven. Forever will I be with my shepherd, therefore do I live with joy, power and vision. Forever will my Faithful Shepherd lead me beyond the celestial shores." Are you saved? How do you know? Get right with God. Make it right with Him. If you are saved, good. Press on and endure. Work out our own salvation as it says in Phil 2:12-13. Your life has great potential, like a gold mine or a field, and He wants to help us fulfill that potential. For God is at work in you.
A Texas minister who had a speaking engagement at an all- day conference was running late because his alarm didn’t go off. So when he started shaving, he cut himself. Then he had to iron his clothes. Going outside in hurry, he found out he had a flat tire. After changing the tire, he hurried on the road in a hurry. Racing through town, he failed to see a stop sign and went through it. And wouldn’t you know there was a policeman. He jumped out of the car angry and frustrated, and said, “Go ahead and give me a ticket, everything else has gone wrong today!” The policeman walked up to him and said quietly, “Sir, I used to have days like that before I became a Christian.”
Because the Lord is my Shepherd, I have everything I need! 2-3 He lets me rest in the meadow grass and leads me beside the quiet streams. He gives me new strength. He helps me do what honors him the most. 4 Even when walking through the dark valley of death I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me, guarding, guiding all the way. 5 You provide delicious food for me in the presence of my enemies. You have welcomed me as your guest; blessings overflow! 6 Your goodness and unfailing kindness shall be with me all of my life, and afterwards I will live with you forever in your home. 6 Your beauty and love chase after me every day of my life, and afterwards I will live with you forever in your home.
and I shall return to the house of the LORD forever. and I will dwell in this sheepfold for the rest of my life, forever and ever.
1. The House of the LORD – The family of the Good Shepherd
What a blessing it is to live a life protected and nurtured by our Good Shepherd. We are blessed indeed. We are sanctified. We are separated to God. We do struggle. But we still live a blessed life. There is no better life. I would not trade it for the world. At times I sit back, or I stop and think, "God, You have blessed me. You are with me. I love you." I live at the end of a cul -de-sac. What a blessing it is. Once again, I tell my son, "Dude, We have the best house on the block." Reason being, is in the summer it is hot. Our house is at the end. And when the breeze gets going, it comes unhindered to us. While the other houses face the street, ours is at the end. But, in the winter, oh' yeah, its get cold, with those cold gusts of wind. But still its a blessing from the Lord's hand. And still yet, there are many dying of thirst, and hungering for the words of God to come into their communities. They are hungry sheep. We must, wherever we reside, tell hungry sheep. That's why Jesus in Matt. 9: 35 Yearned and said because he saw the sheep as scattered without a shepherd. The world is looking for leadership. The inner cities are looking for leaders. Oh, If God would open doors, Oh, How we need more leaders. Leaders who are willing. Who are willing to meet needs. Willing to allow God to use their lives. Willing to take God at His word. Willing to step out of their comfort zones, especially in Southern Calif. and in the U.S of A. In our ministry in Anaheim, Ca. We communicate, that God "Has not called us to reach an audience, God has called us to fill pulpits". For me, its not who has the largest church. Its who's making the biggest difference and the biggest impact. And that impact is not measured by what others in the body of Christ think. It is measured first, If God is pleased, because of our motive. It is measured by, if real lives are truly being touched by God's power in the city. It is measured if we are implementing a biblical ministry and if we are being obedient to God's heavenly vision. Too many today, are simply playing church. Seminar after seminar, teaching after teaching, and when it comes down to it, people refuse to go. Rare are the ones, who say yes, then go. What about you? Are you a disciple, much less a leader? We must get out of your comfort zone. We only have one life to live. That's all we have! I tell my son, "Elias, when you talk to me, make sure you know what you're saying and where you're going. I don't have time for wrong turns, and dead ends. I don't have time to waste." Every move I make is strategic. I like what a friend who is now in heaven told me (Pastor Steve Pineda) and some disciples on the way to LAX. He said, "Roy, you and your disciples, every time you get the ball, (As in Football or baseball) You must get some yardage. You must get on base. Everytime, you must bring your team a little closer to winning. Every move is strategic." I have tried to heed his advice. There's hungry sheep all around us.
In our ministry, Victory Outreach International, I value those early pioneers who blazed the way. The veterans of the faith who blazed a trail. I value the many saints of old, the John Bunyan's and the Polycarps. Those who gave their lives away to the Lord. Those who abandoned themselves into the hand of God.
2. Heaven Forever will I be content with God in Heaven. Forever will I be with my shepherd, therefore do I live with joy, power and vision. Forever will my Faithful Shepherd lead me beyond the celestial shores." Are you saved? How do you know? Get right with God. Make it right with Him. If you are saved, good. Press on and endure. Work out our own salvation as it says in Phil 2:12-13. Your life has great potential, like a gold mine or a field, and He wants to help us fulfill that potential. For God is at work in you.
A Texas minister who had a speaking engagement at an all- day conference was running late because his alarm didn’t go off. So when he started shaving, he cut himself. Then he had to iron his clothes. Going outside in hurry, he found out he had a flat tire. After changing the tire, he hurried on the road in a hurry. Racing through town, he failed to see a stop sign and went through it. And wouldn’t you know there was a policeman. He jumped out of the car angry and frustrated, and said, “Go ahead and give me a ticket, everything else has gone wrong today!” The policeman walked up to him and said quietly, “Sir, I used to have days like that before I became a Christian.”
Because the Lord is my Shepherd, I have everything I need! 2-3 He lets me rest in the meadow grass and leads me beside the quiet streams. He gives me new strength. He helps me do what honors him the most. 4 Even when walking through the dark valley of death I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me, guarding, guiding all the way. 5 You provide delicious food for me in the presence of my enemies. You have welcomed me as your guest; blessings overflow! 6 Your goodness and unfailing kindness shall be with me all of my life, and afterwards I will live with you forever in your home. 6 Your beauty and love chase after me every day of my life, and afterwards I will live with you forever in your home.
Jesus, tender Shepherd hear me
Bless thy little lamb tonight;
Through the darkness be thou near me
And keep me safe till morning light
Through this day Your hand has led me
And I thank You for thy loving care
You have warmed me, clothed and fed me;
Please listen to my prayer
Let my sins be all forgiven;
Bless the friends I love so well;
Take me, when I die, to heaven,
Happy there with You to dwell
Bless thy little lamb tonight;
Through the darkness be thou near me
And keep me safe till morning light
Through this day Your hand has led me
And I thank You for thy loving care
You have warmed me, clothed and fed me;
Please listen to my prayer
Let my sins be all forgiven;
Bless the friends I love so well;
Take me, when I die, to heaven,
Happy there with You to dwell
This was the last of this series. Hope God ministered to you. Leave your comments, if not, keep up as the Shepherd leads you.
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