Psalms on Sunday

 

Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord;
    let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.
 Let us come before him with thanksgiving
    and extol him with music and song.

For the Lord is the great God,
    the great King above all gods.
In his hand are the depths of the earth,
    and the mountain peaks belong to him.

The sea is his, for he made it,
    and his hands formed the dry land.

Come, let us bow down in worship,
    let us kneel before the Lord our Maker;
for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture.

 

Psalm 95:1-7a

The Good Shepherd

 

"He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: He shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in His bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young."  Isaiah 40:11

 

Jesus, Our Good Shepherd

 

"I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep."  John 10:11

 

 

The following is an excerpt from a book I'm reading to the boys in the morning.  It is called The Tanglewoods' Secret and if you haven't read it to your children, could I please encourage you to?  Be sure to have a box of tissues within arms length though.  We just got to chapter 9 this week and this is where the story begins to get good.  Little Ruth, in a fiery temper runs away and spends the night in a church in a small village.  The next morning, the Vicar of the church finds her and brings her to his study.  He leaves Ruth in his study while he goes to telephone her aunt.  It is here that Ruth has her first life changing encounter with Christ, although she doesn't yet know it or understand it. 

 

"I wandered around the room looking at the pictures.  They were mostly photographs and not very interesting, but there was one I liked so much that I moved my chair over in front of it so that I could gaze at it. 

 

It was the picture of a sheep lost on a rocky mountainside.  Overhead hovered a fierce bird, waiting for it to die, and the sheep looked up and cried to be rescued.  Someone had heard its cry, for the shepherd with his crook was leaning over the edge.  In another moment he would pick it up and carry it safe home in his arms."

Oh how I want to go on and share it all with you but I fear I would ruin it for you.  Ruth and the Vicar have a very serious talk about the little lamb and the Shepherd...  He asks Ruth some very thought provoking questions and shares Jesus Christ with her. 

Quick - add it to your list books to read or better yet, order it now so you don't forget.  Amazon currently has paperback version for $4.42.  It is also available on Kindle!  ☺

We read the story two years but my youngest only remembers a very little bit of it so I'm glad we can re-visit again.  After the first reading I took the above image and printed out a copy onto cardstock and then laminated it for a bookmark for each of us.  I still have mine in my Bible. 

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever." 
Psalm 23

 

Sunday's Psalm

Psalm 111

  Praise ye the Lord. I will praise the Lord with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation.

² The works of the Lord are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.

³ His work is honourable and glorious: and his righteousness endureth for ever.

⁴ He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the Lord is gracious and full of compassion.

⁵ He hath given meat unto them that fear him: he will ever be mindful of his covenant.

⁶ He hath shewed his people the power of his works, that he may give them the heritage of the heathen.

⁷ The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure.

⁸ They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness.

⁹ He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name.

¹⁰ The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.