Pasture Living

 

Oh come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker! For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. (Psalm 95:1-7 ESV).

 

If you are a parent with adult children then you undoubtedly have experienced some of the same nostalgia that I have, especially during the holidays. We have a digital picture frame with over 1,200 pictures loaded into the perpetual loop. This morning as I was drinking a cup of coffee and aimlessly watching the picture I’ve attached came into view. It was taken over 20 years ago (almost to the day) at a deer lease I shared with some of my friends near Abilene, Texas. David was home from college and wanted to go deer hunting. My dear friend, Jaime McClain, was with us and we decided the best way to get David a deer was to go out to a spot where there was a clear field of view and “rattle one up.” Jaime and I were positioned a bit away from David who was concealed in some brush so he would have a good angle on the likely approach of a buck. Sure enough after a bit of horn rattling a nice 8-point came in. After a few anxious moments, David took the shot and ended up with a very nice trophy and a freezer full of tasty meat.

 

Since this was the first really good buck that he had taken with this method of hunting, it was very exciting. And, while he posed for the inescapable pictures, I couldn’t have been more happy and proud of being able to share that moment. This is what I call “pasture living.” Those moments have been scattered throughout the years. They are a delight to recall. It reminds me of all the moments God has given me through the years and calls me to gratitude.

 

In God’s pasture, there is no scarcity of goodness. God’s gifts of his Spirit to us and of faith, hope, and love do not diminish when they’re given to others as well. These things simply multiply; there’s always more than enough! I encourage you to recall the moments of joy, grace, protection, and provision God has lavished on you, even during those hard times.

 

Count Your Many Blessings

 

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods, for his steadfast love endures forever. It is he who remembered us in our low estate, for his steadfast love endures forever; and rescued us from our foes, for his steadfast love endures forever; he who gives food to all flesh, for his steadfast love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever. (Psalm 136:1-2; 24-26 ESV).

 

“Count your blessings, name them one by one…” These words are part of an old hymn Christians have sung for more than 100 years, and the message is still important today. Central to the pilgrim journey we travel is taking stock of the gifts God has given us. Psalm 136 has reminded people of this fact for well over 2,000 years, and it urges us to remember God’s goodness in community. In this psalm we can see a clear call and response. As God’s people sang this psalm together, a worship leader would sing the first phrase, and the people would respond with the refrain “His love endures forever.” Again and again they would recount what God had done for them from freeing them, to feeding them, to remembering them. And as they counted their blessings, they would say, “His loves endures forever.”

 

Sometimes while worshiping with God’s people, I notice echoes of this psalm’s graceful rhythms. The wonders of God’s grace and forgiveness are declared, and the people sing a hymn of thanksgiving. The good news that Jesus saves and that God’s Spirit is at work among us is preached. Often I have seen God’s promise of blessing spoken over the people, and they receive it joyfully with an “Amen.” It is reminiscent of the refrain often spoken… “God is good”… and the answer always a resounding… “All the time”!

 

However you worship, use this psalm as a reminder of the many blessings God has given you. Use the lyrics of the ancient hymn to prompt you to a deeply moving sense of gratitude. All of things God did for Israel He has repeated eternally in the gift of redemption through His Son, Jesus.

 

Count your many blessings, name them one by one!

 

Thanksgiving Every Day

 

Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice, and let them say among the nations, “The LORD reigns!” Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it! Then shall the trees of the forest sing for joy before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth. Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever! Say also: “Save us, O God of our salvation, and gather and deliver us from among the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name and glory in your praise. Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting!” (1 Chronicles 16:31-36 ESV).

 

While we have a specific day in the United States for “Thanksgiving,” many countries don’t have such a holiday. I find that a bit odd. After all, aren’t there as many reasons to celebrate with gratitude as there are nations? Actually I could expand the question and ask whether our gratitude ought to prompt us to celebrate every day with thanksgiving. That’s the encouragement of our reading today: “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.” This precious teaching runs throughout the Bible. Sometimes it’s repeated word for word (ie.: 1 and 2 Chronicles, Psalms, and Jeremiah). At other times its meaning is clearly present; and, that is the case in every Bible book.

 

Our earthly relationships are so fragile. We often get separated from each other by new experiences and fading memories, by long distances and impenetrable borders. Eventually we are separated by death itself. Yes, all our earthly relationships are insecure, except for one — the relationship we have with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. This relationship is so enduring because of the Lord and his eternal love for us. Jesus showed this love in the most vivid way by dying for us on the cross. Then he rose from the dead to be seated at the right hand of God the Father.

 

Perhaps the reason this is not so apparent to us each day is found in our basic nature. We crave the “new.” We chase after the “bigger-better-faster” in life. I am very happy with the development of so many new things in our lives. I am not an advocate for the “good old days.” While they were good in many ways, so is today. The only real constant in the decades we have lived is that of our loving Savior, Jesus. And, perhaps that’s the reminder we need today. He is “the same yesterday, today, and forever”… and that is GREAT news indeed! Use that truth to prompt your gratitude!

 

The One Who Leads

 

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. (Psalm 23:1-4 ESV).

 

Today I want to bring your attention to one of the most beloved of the Psalms. Our reading was written by David when he was running from the death threats of Saul. If ever there was a time when He needed someone to lead and protect him this was such a time. As I read these verses again I was reminded of another passage when Jesus called himself the good shepherd who sacrifices his own life in order to save his lost sheep:

 

[Jesus said] “I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.” (John 10:14-15 ESV).

 

I have heard many stories through the years from those who felt as if their history was so bad they had no hope. Often they despaired to the point that they wanted to forfeit their lives. I remember one young lady in particular who recounted her early teens when she had become involved in drugs and been driven to a life of promiscuity, ultimately becoming pregnant and having an abortion. Her words echo still in my recollection: “How can I ever be forgiven? I’m a murderer of the innocent.” After taking her to several passages of Scripture to read we ended up with the one above. I asked her, “Aren’t you ready to have someone like that; someone who is willing to lay down His life to protect and lead you?” With a flood of tears, sobbing, she whispered, “Yes.” I have stayed in touch with her through the years. She is married to a kind, godly man, and they have three wonderful children. She found the One who leads!

 

That’s the power of God’s love! It doesn’t matter how bad or hopeless your circumstances are, there’s always hope. The good shepherd has already died for you, and he has risen from the dead! He is looking for you. He wants to give you a full life and fill your heart with thanksgiving. Make this season the time when you discover Him!

 

Believing in Jesus

 

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. (Romans 1:18-23 ESV).

 

I’ve never spent much time with people who are truly atheists. I’ve met and had many conversations with those who believe that a careful observation of nature is good enough to be reassured of God’s existence and love. They believe there is a “higher power” who is responsible for creation and this indicates the goodness of such a being allowing for life beyond this plane of existence based on the goodness of the individual’s life. They simply see no basis for believing in the specific work of grace we see in Scripture. The Apostle Paul addresses this in our reading today.

 

According to the Bible, God does reveal himself to all people through his creation, by which we become aware of his presence and clearly see “his eternal power and divine nature.” Whatever we can learn about God from observing his creation is often called general revelation. However, general revelation does not reveal Jesus to us. And Jesus is our only hope for fully knowing God. So we also need the special revelation that describes the way of salvation in Christ. And that comes to us in the Bible, God’s Word.

 

Only when we discover our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, can we give full thanks to God for saving us from the destruction that follows from sin. The only way to meet him is in the teaching of Scripture and by the preaching of his Word. That’s why the habits of worshiping God and reflecting on the Bible are so important.

 

Thank God as you walk through this month that every question has been answer about our salvation; every need for the affect of that salvation has been accomplished; and, it is through Jesus alone that we may have eternal life.

 

A Work of Art

 

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 1:4-10 ESV).

 

The picture I’ve included was taken a year or so ago. It is the “before and after” of a candlestick I made from a piece of firewood. I often lightheartedly say that I let the wood tell me what it wants to be, though that is entirely true. I do begin with a simple piece of wood, sometimes wood right off the firewood pile. As I begin to work with the wood I notice the characteristics of the wood, things like the grain and general shape. From that information I can determine what I may fashion best from it. Some would say that this a part of the artistic perogative when creating something. I do not claim to be an “artist,” though I certainly enjoy making things from wood.

 

It is interesting to note how often we forget the artistry of God in our lives. Our reading today describes believers as “God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works.” In this context “handiwork” can also be translated as “work of art.” We are unique and special creations in God’s eyes. Of course I’m not saying that doing good works earn us our salvation. We are saved totally by God’s grace. Rather, doing good is an exciting way to live out our faith and express our gratitude to God for his gift of grace and deliverance.

 

This month perhaps it would be profitable for you to ask what you can do as God’s handiwork to show how thankful you are to the Lord for his salvation. What good works do you see prepared for you by God? Maybe you can volunteer at your local church or food pantry. Maybe you can help an elderly neighbor. There are many people out there who are hungry for God’s love and our care. This is just the expression of beauty that God desires for each of us in our own unique way to show His glorious majesty to others. If you’re having difficulty figuring out what “that thing” might be, call your church minister and ask what they think might be of help in serving others.

 

Feeling Hungry?

 

When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick. Now when it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” But Jesus said, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” They said to him, “We have only five loaves here and two fish.” And he said, “Bring them here to me.” Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over. And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children. (Matthew 14:14-21 ESV).

 

Physical hunger is very real in our world today. The United Nations estimates that up to one billion people in the world struggle with food insecurity. That’s about one out of every seven people. It is easy to think of these “hungry” people as being outside of our country; however, hunger has been increasing dramatically in the United States over the past decade. Regardless of the physical hunger that exists in our world, there is a much more destructive hunger that affects all of mankind. It is the spiritual emptiness and insecurity that extends from the poor to the rich, and from the young to the old. Of course, precise statistics on spiritual hunger are impossible to determine. But it’s safe to assume that the number of those who are spiritually hungry in this world is much higher than a billion.

 

In today’s reading Jesus reaches out to people who are both physically and spiritually hungry. Taking five loaves and two fish, he looks to heaven and gives thanks. After breaking the loaves, he gives them to his disciples to distribute to the large crowd of people. And the miracle happens! Everyone eats and is satisfied, and there are lots of leftovers.

 

Some readers of this passage try to give “rational” explanations as to what happened. But it was a true miracle. God promised that with the coming of the true Shepherd the wilderness would become a rich pasture where his sheep would be gathered and fed (Ezekiel 34:23-31). Jesus is the Shepherd who provides for all our needs. AS we come closer to our traditional celebration of “Thanksgiving,” please remember those who are not able to eat as well as we will; and, remember to give thanks for the spiritual bounty of God’s provisions through His grace.