Goodness and Mercy

As a sojourner in life, sometimes I turn around to review my trek thus far. Some of the things in my past are joyous and some are comforting. However, some are hurtful and some are shameful.

But when I look behind me, at my past, what comes into focus are the twin rear guards, Goodness and Mercy. They follow me into the future, they cover my past. God has placed them at the back of the procession of my life so when I turn around and look at the things I have experienced, I see them through the veil of His grace.

 "Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life..." Psalm 23:6

Overflowing cup

In the 23rd Psalm, verse 5, we read, "my cup overflows."  Or as The Message renders it, "my cup brims with blessing."

I don't offer to God a bucket or a tub to fill. I offer him a cup and He then fills it beyond what it can hold. If I knew he was going to pour that much, why didn't I just grab a bigger cup? Then I would be able to collect more of what he gives, and less would spill out.

Unless of course, the spillage is part of the plan.

What if I offered even a smaller cup; what if it took even less for me to be satisfied? Would there be even more spillage, more to splash out onto others?

Maybe instead of praying as Jabez did, "Enlarge my borders," my prayer should be, "Reduce my container."

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When the Lord is my shepherd

The well-beloved 23rd Psalm starts with an assumption: "The Lord is my Shepherd." It then goes on to describe what life is like WHEN the Lord is the Shepherd. The summary line is, "I have all I need," and then tells us what those needs are:

• rest
• peace
• strength
• guidance
• protection
• comfort
• sustenance
• goodness and mercy covering my past
• life forever prepared for my future.

But what if those needs are not being met? What if I lack these these things?

Honesty then requires this consideration, "WHO is my shepherd?" Because WHEN the Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. I do not want. I don't need a thing. 

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Arming the enemy

When I choose to sin or give in to temptation, I hand the Accuser new arrows for his quiver. I arm him with the very fiery darts he will now hurl at me:  Shame. Discouragement. Fear. Doubt. Lies.

Just Like He Said

"He is not here. He is risen. Just like he said."  (Matthew 28:6)

I guess no one believed him, because no one was hanging around the tomb to welcome him back.

Hmm. Wonder what else He said that they (we) missed?


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Looking in the wrong place

"Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive?"  asked the angels to the women at the tomb on Easter morning.

"Why are you standing there staring into heaven?" asked the angels to the disciples at the ascension.

May God send messengers to redirect me when I, too, have fixed my gaze on where I think He should be.

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He doth protest too much

 “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” protests Pontius Pilate.

But despite his denial and self-proclaimed absolution, no one quite got it.

For through the ages,
generation after generation after generation,
the Church has declared
over and over over again
that Christ,
"suffered under Pontius Pilate, 
was crucified, dead, and buried..."


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Barabbas 2

So, Barabbas,

        where did you go
            when the crowd cheered
               and you walked away
                                          free?

           where did you go
               when your life was restored
                     and your crime was excused,
                                            forgiven?

            where did you go
                 when his body hung high
                       and his blood poured out
                                               for yours?

See also: I Am Barabbas
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I am Barabbas

I am Barabbas,

Chosen by the crowd.

He is Jesus,

Abandoned for this hour.

I am Barabbas,

The guilty one set free.

He is Jesus,

Who died instead of me.

See also Barabbas 2
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Happy Birthday

God...
Fashioned me in my mother's womb.
Prepared good works for me to walk in.
Knows the good plans He has for me.
Rejoices over me with singing.
Loves me with an everlasting love.
Inscribed my name on the palms of His hands.
Wrote everyday of my life in His book before even I lived my first day.
Calls me by name.
Turns my mourning into dancing.
Knows my every thought from afar.
Gave me the gift of salvation and the faith to receive that gift.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME.

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