Guarding the Flock Against Wolves

-meme

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The Autumn, Winter, Spring, Summer Race

Today we drove up north for the Piper to play at a funeral.

What a lovely day it was. The landscapes were full of the trees subtly changing colors, the colorful fields of crops ready to be harvested with others already harvested, and the gentle breezes blowing. 

The LORD's beautiful creation lifted my head in His Glory.

So many difficult, sad things surround us, but we have a great God whose Son, Jesus Christ, came to save us.

One perfectly wonderful thing is that Jesus has already done it! He suffered, died, was buried, and then was raised from the grave to life again! He paid our huge debt with His own sinless life so that we could live forever with Him.

As our known world seemingly falls apart before our eyes we can know that Jesus will return His second time some day. We do not know the time or the day, but we sure know He will come. As a Christian this is our hope and our joy!

As we watch evil seemingly triumph we can continue to do what is before us, sharing with others who want to here the Truth, doing our next things in His strength, encouraging the Saints, and keeping our eyes on Jesus. He is the Perfecter of our Faith.

Hebrews 12:1-3

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."

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Get "running" in this race: the Autumn, Winter, Spring, and Summer Race! 

It is the Race of our lives! 

Glory to His Name!

"I am just a rebel"

One of my dearly loved ,godly, elderly women I know has often said to me, "I am just a rebel".

She is silly and sweet so when I first heard her say this years ago I thought she was being silly. Eventually, she said this again to me, and that was when I realized she was stating a truth to me. 

A real truth.

I began to understand this real truth. Yes, she is a sinner, saved by God's grace in Jesus Christ! but she is still a rebel, a sinner in her own life. She loves the LORD, but she acknowledges that she is still a rebel.

I began to look at myself in this way. Yes, I am a sinner, but now with more of a genuine understanding, I am a rebel. Somehow this gave me a deeper meaning of "sinner", a rebel really wants their own way!

And so in my life I have come to realize even more and more how much Jesus gave me when He died on that cross. I still commit sins, I am still a rebel, but thank God and praises to His Name that I am at His feet and saved by His marvelous grace!

Romans 5:6-8
"...For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us..."

Ephesians 1:7-8a
"...In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us..."

1 Timothy 1:15-17
"...It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen..."

Acts 4:12
And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved..."
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Narrow Little Road

I believe in the love of God
It is an orphan's wildest dream
It is a narrow little road
It is an ever-widening desert stream

Oh I, and I
I will leave this road
For the narrow

It is portrayed in the bread and wine
Let it fortify my bones
It is more than just a sign
It is the fountain from that desert stone

Oh I, and I
I will leave this road
For the narrow

It is the path where the humble go
It is the narrow not the broad
It is the pathway down the hill
To the graveyard of the living God

Oh I, and I
I will leave this road
For the narrow

The love of God is the hymn of hope
Let the needy join the throng
Let the widow hear and cope
Let the crippled rise to sing this song

Oh I, and I
I will leave this road
For the narrow

Matthew 7:13-14
“Enter through the narrow gate; 
for the gate is wide and the way 
is broad that leads to destruction, 
and there are many who enter through it. 

For the gate is small and the way 
is narrow that leads to life, 
and there are few who find it."
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Happy Mother's Day. Wisdom and Instruction: It was All for Their Protection

Proverbs 1

"To know wisdom and instruction,


To discern the sayings of understanding,

To receive instruction in wise behavior,


Righteousness, 

justice and equity;

To give prudence to the naive,


To the youth knowledge 

and discretion,

A wise man will hear and increase in learning,


And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel,

 To understand a proverb and a figure,


The words of the wise and their riddles.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;


Fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Hear, my son, your father’s instruction


And do not forsake your mother’s teaching;

Indeed, they are a graceful wreath to your head


And ornaments about your neck.

My son, if sinners entice you,
Do not consent.

If they say, 

“Come with us,


Let us lie in wait for blood,


Let us ambush the innocent without cause;

Let us swallow them alive like Sheol,


Even whole, 

as those who go down to the pit;

We will find all kinds of precious wealth,


We will fill our houses with spoil;

Throw in your lot with us,


We shall all have one purse,”

My son, do not walk in the way with them.


Keep your feet from their path,

For their feet run to evil


And they hasten to shed blood.

Indeed, 

it is useless to spread the baited net


In the sight of any bird;

But they lie in wait for their own blood;


They ambush their own lives.

So are the ways of everyone 

who gains by violence;


It takes away the life of its possessors.

Wisdom shouts in the street,


She lifts her voice in the square;

At the head of the noisy streets she cries out;


At the entrance of the gates 

in the city she utters her sayings:

“How long, O naive ones, 

will you love being simple-minded?


And scoffers delight themselves in scoffing


And fools hate knowledge?

“Turn to my reproof,
Behold, 

I will pour out my spirit on you;


I will make my words known to you.

“Because I called and you refused,


I stretched out my hand 

and no one paid attention;

And you neglected all my counsel


And did not want my reproof;

I will also laugh at your calamity;


I will mock when your dread comes,

When your dread comes like a storm


And your calamity comes like a whirlwind,


When distress and anguish come upon you.

“Then they will call on me, 

but I will not answer;


They will seek me diligently 

but they will not find me,

Because they hated knowledge


And did not choose the fear of the Lord.

“They would not accept my counsel,


They spurned all my reproof.

“So they shall eat of the fruit of their own way


And be satiated with their own devices.

“For the waywardness of the naive will kill them,


And the complacency of fools will destroy them.

“But he who listens to me shall live securely


And will be at ease from the dread of evil.”

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Life is Tough, but Live Enthusiastically Everyday for the LORD

Ephesians 2: 1-10,19-22
And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, 
in which you formerly walked according to the 
course of this world, according to the prince of 
the power of the air, of the spirit that is now 
working in the sons of disobedience.

Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts 
of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and 
of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, 
even as the rest.

But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love 
with which He loved us, even when we were dead in 
our transgressions, 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 ages to come He might 
show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness 
toward us in Christ Jesus.

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and 
that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as 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 so 
that we would walk in them...

...So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, 
but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are 
of God’s household, having been built on the foundation 
of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being 
the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being 
fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord,
in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling
 of God in the Spirit."
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Jesus Conquered Death! Those who Follow Him are Safe!

Ephesians 2

"...You were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly 
walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince 
of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons 
of disobedience.

Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, 
indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by 
nature children of wrath, even as the rest.

But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which 
He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, 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 ages to come He might show the 
surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of 
yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as 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 so that we would walk in them..."
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Beware of False Humility

Years ago I read of a woman who sounded so godly, so spiritual. She knew how to write well and it all sounded so genuine. Time would play out and her true nature was not able to be hidden any longer. Oh...how many women have followed her teachings, and how many have been hurt and damaged by her evil intent?

As a child of God we must be so aware of our surroundings. We must hold ourselves back from eagerly following any teacher, man or woman, until we see their godly, biblical, righteousness lived out. 

We must tread carefully in our lives not only for the purpose of keeping ourselves and others from being duped, but for the greater purpose of avoiding emotional, spiritual, psychological, and even physical damage to ourselves and to those for whom we love and care. 

The LORD told us of the Wolves around us. He told us of the tares among the wheat. He told us to be as shrewd as serpents.

Precious women...be careful out there!  Remember the LORD is with you!

Matthew 7:13-20
“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

“Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, you will know them by their fruits."

Matthew 10:16
“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves."

Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43
"Jesus presented another parable to them, saying, 

“The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went away. But when the wheat sprouted and bore grain, then the tares became evident also. 

The slaves of the landowner came and said to him, 

‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’ 

And he said to them, 

‘An enemy has done this!’ 

The slaves said to him, 

‘Do you want us, then, to go and gather them up?’ 

But he said, 

‘No; for while you are gathering up the tares, you may uproot the wheat with them. Allow both to grow together until the harvest; and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, 

“First gather up the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them up; but gather the wheat into my barn.”’”

Then He left the crowds and went into the house. And His disciples came to Him and said, 

“Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field.” 

And He said, 

“The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man, and the field is the world; and as for the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; and the tares are the sons of the evil one; and the enemy who sowed them is the devil, and the harvest is the end of the age; and the reapers are angels. So just as the tares are gathered up and burned with fire, so shall it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness, and will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear."

Acts 20:25-32
“And now, behold, I know that all of you, among whom I went about preaching the kingdom, will no longer see my face. Therefore, I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God.

Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. 

I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.

Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears. 

And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified."

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Get in His Word and Trust the LORD!

The chaos that began and seemingly reigns has affected everyone.

We can remain calm, think sensibly, and bring some sense of peace to those we encounter.

"There's nothing we can do, but trust the LORD," is what I have said to fellow Christians.

After I have just said this I have changed my mind.

Certainly, the chaos has a mind of its own - but WE CAN do something.

If we flesh out trusting in the LORD and it becomes: 

Get in His Word and Trust in the LORD!

*That IS really something!

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Last week a dear friend of mine shared with me a precious story from a friend of his. 

His friend has a special needs teen son. One of their favorite things to do together as father and son is record special football games and then rewatch them together.

The friend related that they had just rewatched an important collage football game from  years ago. It was a special one with two famous teams and the playing was incredibly intense right up to the very end of the game. Both father and son were cheering and yelling as the excitement mounted!

Then the son stopped and said to the father, 

"Isn't it great, Dad?! we already knows who wins!"

We who are saved by God's grace because Jesus' sacrifice on the cross - He died and rose from the grave for our sins - we know who wins in the end! Because of this we can rest in His safety no matter what happens in this world.

Hebrews 9, Psalm 49, Psalm 56...

Get in His Word and Trust in Him!
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He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus!

Philippians 1:3-11
 "...3I thank my God in all my remembrance of you,
always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all,
in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now.

For I am confident of this very thing, 
that He who began a good work in you will perfect it 
until the day of Christ Jesus.

For it is only right for me to feel this way about you all, 
because I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment 
and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, 
you all are partakers of grace with me.

For God is my witness, how I long for you all with the 
affection of Christ Jesus.

And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more 
in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may 
approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere 
and blameless until the day of Christ; having been filled with 
the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, 
to the glory and praise of God.

Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances 
have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel,
so that my imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become 
well known throughout the whole praetorian guard and to 
everyone else, and that most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord 
because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak 
the word of God without fear...

...18Yes, and I will rejoice, for I know that this will turn out for 
my deliverance through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit 
of Jesus Christ,  according to my earnest expectation and hope, 
that I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, 
Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life 
or by death.

For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; 
and I do not know which to choose.

But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart 
and be with Christ, for that is very much better; yet to remain on in the 
flesh is more necessary for your sake.

Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all 
for your progress and joy in the faith, so that your proud confidence in me 
may abound in Christ Jesus through my coming to you again.

Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, 
so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you 
that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together 
for the faith of the gospel; in no way alarmed by your opponents—which 
is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and that too, 
from God.

For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, 
but also to suffer for His sake, experiencing the same conflict which you
saw in me, and now hear to be in me."
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You are not a "lost cause"! 

People are praying for you!

Don't despair!

Cry out to God for He hears you!

Psalms 34:15
"The eyes of the Lord 
are toward the righteous
And His ears are open 
to their cry."
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Be Humble,

Repent,

Relax,

and talk with the LORD.

*You are not a "lost cause".

God's Sacrificial Lamb for us!

"Behold!
The Lamb of God
who takes away
the sin of the world."
John 1:29
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The Mighty One has done Great Things

Luke 1
Mary said:
“My soul exalts the Lord,

And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.

“For He has had regard for the humble state 
of His bondslave;
 For behold, from this time 
on all generations will count me blessed.

“For the Mighty One has done great things 
for me;
 And holy is His name.

“And His mercy is upon generation after 
generation
 toward those who fear Him.

“He has done mighty deeds with His arm;
He has scattered those who were proud 
in the thoughts of their heart.

“He has brought down rulers from their 
thrones,
 and has exalted those who 
were humble.

“He has filled the hungry with good things;

And sent away the rich empty-handed.

“He has given help to Israel His servant,

In remembrance of His mercy,

As He spoke to our fathers,

To Abraham and his descendants forever.”
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Luke 2:1-7

"Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, 
that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth.

This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria.

And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city.

Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, 
to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house 
and family of David, in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged 
to him, and was with child.

While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth.

And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, 
and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn..."
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Jesus suffered silently so that the guilty may go free!

Across the Lands

“You’re the Word of God the Father
From before the world began.
Ev’ry star and ev’ry planet
Has been fashioned by Your hand.
All creation holds together
By the power of Your voice.
Let the skies declare Your glory;
Let the land and seas rejoice!

You’re the Author of creation;
You’re the Lord of ev’ry man;
And Your cry of love rings out across the lands.

Yet You left the gaze of angels,
Came to seek and save the lost,
And exchanged the joy of heaven
For the anguish of a cross.
With a prayer You fed the hungry;
With a word You calmed the sea;
Yet how silently You suffered
That the guilty may go free!

You’re the Author of creation;
You’re the Lord of ev’ry man;
And Your cry of love rings out across the lands.

With a shout You rose victorious,
Wresting vict’ry from the grave,
And ascended into heaven,
Leading captives in Your way.
Now You stand before the Father,
Interceding for Your own;
From each tribe and tongue and nation,
You are leading sinners home!”

You’re the Author of creation;
You’re the Lord of ev’ry man;
And Your cry of love rings out across the lands.

--BY GETTY & TOWNEND

Hebrew 1:1-12

God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers 
in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, 
in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, 
whom He appointed heir of all things, 
through whom also He made the world.

And He is the radiance of His glory and 
the exact representation of His nature, 
and upholds all things by the word of His power. 

When He had made purification of sins, 
He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
having become as much better than the angels, 
as He has inherited a more excellent name than they.

For to which of the angels did He ever say,

“You are My Son,
 
Today I have begotten You”?

And again,

“I will be a Father to Him

And He shall be a Son to Me”?

And when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says,

“And let all the angels of God worship Him.”

And of the angels He says,

“Who makes His angels winds,

And His ministers a flame of fire.”

But of the Son He says,

“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever,

And the righteous scepter 
is the scepter of His kingdom.
“You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness;

Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You

With the oil of gladness above Your companions.”

And,

“You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth,

And the heavens are the works of Your hands;
They will perish, but You remain;

And they all will become old like a garment,
And like a mantle You will roll them up;

Like a garment they will also be changed.

But You are the same,

And Your years will not come to an end.”

The old things have passed away!

Precious Christian:

"Never be a prisoner of your past.

It was just a lesson, not a life choice."

2 Corinthians 5:14-21

"For the love of Christ controls us, 
having concluded this, that one died for all, 
therefore all died; and He died for all, 
so that they who live might no longer 
live for themselves, but for Him who died 
and rose again on their behalf.

Therefore from now on we recognize 
no one according to the flesh; 
even though we have known Christ 
according to the flesh, yet now 
we know Him in this way no longer.

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, 
he is a new creature; 
the old things passed away; 
behold, new things have come.

Now all these things are from God, 
who reconciled us to Himself through Christ 
and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, 
that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, 
not counting their trespasses against them, 
and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, 
as though God were making an appeal through us; 
we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, 
so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."

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