Jesus, The Good Shepherd

"What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture, and go after the one which is lost, until he finds it?" (Luke 15:4) "I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep" (John 10:11). --Jesus

"מה אדם ביניכם, אם יש לו מאה כבשים איבד אחד מהם, לא לעזוב את 99 במרעה פתוח, ללכת אחרי אחד אשר אבד, עד שהוא מוצא את זה?" (לוקס 15:04) "אני הרועה הטוב, הרועה הטוב מקריב את חייו למען הכבשים" (יוחנן 10:11). - ישו

Jesus, the Promised Messiah, Our Eternal Salvation

Praise God for the release of Gilad Shalit and pray for God to bless and strengthen him with His grace, love and peace as he transitions to freedom and reunites with family and friends. May the Lord Jesus, the Messiah (Ps 45:7), also make known to Gilad the riches of His love and grace given freely to all who believe that He is Lord, the risen Son of God (Ps 2; Ps 110:1; Romans 10:9). Jesus Christ came in the flesh through the seed of David and bore the full wrath of God on the cross on behalf of sinners. Jesus was crucified and buried. And on the third day, God raised Him from the grave, evidence of Christ's victory over sin and death on behalf of all who believe in Him. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life." (John 3:16). Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, a Man familiar with suffering and by whose wounds, we are healed. (Psalm 22; Isaiah 53). Jesus is the promised seed through whom Yahweh promised "to crush the head" of satan (Gen 3:15). Jesus is the seed of Abraham in whom "all the families of the earth shall be blessed" (Gen 12:3, Galtians 3:16). Just as God raised Jesus to life from the dead, all who receive Christ by faith, confessing that He is the Son of God, will be saved, passing out of judgment, and raised to new life. "For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes. For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son, in order that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear shall live (John 5:22-25). Before His own crucifixion, Jesus spoke words of comfort, "Let not your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In my Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way where I am going...I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me." (John 14:1-4).

השבח לאל למען שחרורו של גלעד שליט ומתפללים לאלוהים לברך ולחזק אותו עם חסדו, אהבה ושלום כפי שהוא מעברים לחופש reunites עם בני משפחה וחברים. Ps 110:1; האדון ישוע, המשיח (תהלים 45:7), גם להפוך ידוע גלעד העושר של אהבתו וחן נתון באופן חופשי לכל המאמינים כי הוא אלוהים, הבן עלה של אלוהים (תהלים מאי 2 ; אל הרומיים 10:9). ישוע המשיח ... הגיע הבשר באמצעות מזרע דוד ונשא את זעמו של האל מלא על הצלב מטעם חוטאים. ישוע נצלב ונקבר. וביום השלישי, העלה אותו אלוהים מן הראיות, קבר הניצחון של ישו על החטא ועל המוות מטעם כל המאמינים בו. "כי ככה אהב האלוהים את העולם, כי הוא נתן את בנו יחידו, כי כל המאמין בו לא יאבד, אבל יש חיי נצח." (יוחנן 3:16). ישוע הוא המשיח, בן האלוהים, גבר מכיר את הסבל של מי הפצעים, אנחנו נרפא. (תהילים 22: ישעיהו 53). ישוע הוא זרע הבטיח שבאמצעותו יהוה הבטיח "למחוץ את ראשו" של השטן (בראשית 3:15). ישוע הוא זרע אברהם אשר "כל משפחות האדמה יהיה מבורך" (בראשית 00:03, Galtians 03:16). בדיוק כמו אלוהים הקים את ישוע לחיים מן המתים, כל המקבלים המשיח באמונה, מתוודה כי הוא בנו של אלוהים, יישמרו, עובר מתוך שיקול דעת, והעלה לחיים חדשים. "במשך בדיוק כמו האב מעלה את המת ונותן להם חיים, גם כן בן חיים גם נותן למי הוא רוצה. לקבלת אפילו לא אחד האב השופטים, אבל הוא נתן כל פסק דין על הבן, על מנת שכל עשוי כבוד הבן, גם הם לכבד את אבא. מי שאינו מכבד את הבן אינו מכבד את האב אשר שלח אותו. באמת, באמת, אני אומר לכם, מי שומע מילה שלי, ומאמין לו ששלח אותי, יש נצח החיים, לא מגיע לתוך פסק הדין, אך עבר מן המוות אל החיים באמת, באמת, אני אומר לכם, שעה מגיע ועכשיו, כאשר מת ידון את קולו של בן האלוהים:. ואלה מי שומע יחיה (יוחנן 5:22-25) לפני הצליבה שלו, דיבר ישו מילים של נחמה, "בוא לא הלב שלך להיות מוטרד;. מאמינים באלוהים, מאמינים גם אותי. בבית של אבא שלי הם מקומות מגורים רבים, אם זה לא היה כך, הייתי אומר לך, כי אני הולך להכין לך מקום. ואם אני הולך להכין לך מקום, אני אבוא שוב, לקבל את עצמי, כי במקום שבו אני נמצא, שם אתה יכול להיות גם. ואתם יודעים את הדרך שבה אני הולך ... אני הדרך, ואת האמת, החיים, אף אחד לא בא אל האב, אלא דרכי "(יוחנן 14:1-4)..

Take Refuge!

Clay fists raised in rage against the Christ,
Cries of the crazed
Clanging chimes of the condemned creatures,
Corralled chaos.

"He who sits in the heavens laughs,
The Lord scoffs at them" (Ps 2:4).

The sleepy flock settles in the green meadow,
By still water,
The Shepherd sings a song of comfort,
Secure shelter.

How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!" (Ps 2:12b)



,

Silver Sabers, Bloody Chaos

Careless words question truth
Like a silver saber
Slashing the absolute
Into bloody chaos.

Preach the truth of Jesus--
Christ crucified, risen.
And on one foundation
Refuse to surrender.

"All Scripture is God-breathed, and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness" (2 Tim 3:16).

"Preach the Word . . . " (2 Tim 4:2)

"For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power." (1 Cor 1:17)

"My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive power, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power" (1 Cor 2:3-5).

"May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world" (Gal 6:14).

Praying God's Word for God's Leaders

A prayer for the present and future leaders of the Church who have been charged with preparing the Bride, children of God who have been renewed by the Spirit, to meet her Bridegroom, Jesus Christ, King of kings and Lord of lords, the Messiah who came in the flesh as Savior and will return in His resurrected flesh to judge mankind....

Yahweh Adonai,

May the leaders who have been called by Christ be given wisdom generously, without finding fault. May they believe and not doubt the truth (James 1:5-6). May they recognize the Spirit of truth, and discern and reject the spirit of falsehood (1 John 4:6-7). May they be diligent in these matters, giving themselves wholly to them, so that everyone can see their progress. May they watch their lives and doctrine closely, persevering in them...saving both themselves and their hearers (1 Tim 4:15-16). May they engage and believe and teach all Scripture which is God-breathed, useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work... May they preach the Word, be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke; and encourage---with great patience and careful instruction. May they not put up with unsound doctrine or turn their ears away from the truth to myths. May they keep their head in all situations and endure hardship, doing the work of an evangelist, discharging all the duties of their ministry (2 Tim 4:2-5). May they do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than themselves (Phil 2:3). May they live by the Spirit and not gratify the desires of the sinful nature, bearing the fruit of the Spirit in increasing measure, crucifying the sinful nature with its passions and desires, keeping in step with the Spirit, not becoming conceited, provoking and envying each other (Gal 5:16-26). May they burn with compelling passion for Jesus Christ, in the love of the Father, and live to make Him known in anticipation of His glorious return.

And may the Lord bless us and keep us, the Lord make his face shine upon us and be gracious to us, May the Lord turn His face towards us and give us peace. In the Name above all names, Jesus Christ, I pray, Amen.

In my prayer closet, I have a list of present and future leaders in the cause of Christ for whom I pray. Will you join me in prayer for those whom the Lord has gifted to impact the kingdom of God with the cause of Jesus Christ? I encourage you to pray God's Word which has the power to throw down strongholds and unite the body of Jesus Christ in pursuit of His glorification in the world. Pray without ceasing and watch with anticipation the power and glory of God to be revealed....

Self Portrait

The Artist sits before the canvas,
drawing lines and
brushing colors
over textured surface,
creating from beauty and desire
a portrait of His own eternal love.

Soulless Searching

Holy Father,
Words can mimic and mock, but your Word hushes the noise of empty chatter and needless clatter. Your Word is meant to be read, spoken and heard. It is as unfailing and unchanging as You are. If we dont' stand firmly in Your Son and on the foundation of Your promises and prophecy, then we won't stand at all.

Forgive us, Father, for the frivolous frailty of soulless searching when the depths of Your grace and love call us to bend and bow at the footstool of Your Son's throne. In Christ.