12/1/2021 Hope is not what we will get for Christmas but Christmas itself. Christmas means Christ mass meaning Christ in the flesh. In the manger Jesus wrapped Himself in human flesh and walked among us for about 33 years. Such a God showing such a love is hope!!!

This is an entry from my Hope Journal which helps me have hope, beyond hope.

Grace is not what we will give for Christmas but Christmas itself. Christmas means Christ mass meaning Christ in the flesh. In the manger Jesus wrapped Himself in human flesh and walked among us for about 33 years. Such a God showing such a love is grace!!!

From my Grace Journal. It was suggested to start a Grace Journal as a reminder of our need not for agreement but grace to guide our relationships.

 

11/30/2021 The season before Christmas day is Advent. Christmas is more than a single day but a season of preparation and waiting for the advent of God the Creator into Creation. It is a season of the advent of the coming of Jesus as a child to bring the fullness of grace and the advent of the coming of Jesus Christ as King to complete grace and bring a new heaven, a new heaven and a new us!

This is a combination of my Hope and Grace Journals.

 

11/29/2021 Hope is a mystery to us. A mystery in how it works. A mystery where it comes from. A mystery it knows when we need it most. But maybe the mystery is answered in that God is the source of hope and is indeed hope itself.

This is an entry from my Hope Journal which helps me have hope, beyond hope.

If we were to apply grace to the worst circumstances in the world what would happen? How would grace impact fear, anger, hatred, rioting, genocide and so many other human “traits”? How would grace impact these if it were applied by both sides? To quote from the King and I “it is a puzzlement”!

From my Grace Journal. It was suggested to start a Grace Journal as a reminder of our need not for agreement but grace to guide our relationships.

 

11/28/2021 If today is filled with pain and suffering should I give up on hope? Some days are filled with pain and suffering for me. At times physical, emotional, spiritual and sometimes a combination of any of the three. In these days I most need hope. Mark Lowry says one of the most important statements in scripture is “it came to pass”. We have the hope that whatever we face is not for the rest of time or for eternity but “it came to pass” and it will.

This is an entry from my Hope Journal which helps me have hope, beyond hope.

Grace means God treats me better than I deserve. Grace means I treat others better than they deserve.

From my Grace Journal. It was suggested to start a Grace Journal as a reminder of our need not for agreement but grace to guide our relationships.

 

11/27/2021 Thanksgiving can be more than just a holiday (holy day) if we practice it every day. And as giving thanks is not natural to us like complaining and being grouchy it does take effort and practice. Thanksgiving can be especially helpful to hope. Remembering all the good God has done in our lives encourages us to have hope in God’s faithfulness in the future.

This is an entry from my Hope Journal which helps me have hope, beyond hope.

Grace is beyond human reason and natural experience and is indeed supernatural in its nature. As a gift of God grace does what is not possible and enables us to act in impossible ways! We can forgive those who have harmed us and love even our enemies! Give thanks for grace and even more for the God who offers it to us!

From my Grace Journal. It was suggested to start a Grace Journal as a reminder of our need not for agreement but grace to guide our relationships.

 

11/26/2021 There is a way to give strength to hope and seeing grace in our lives and that is by giving thanks. Giving thanks is not just a one day a year time when we can do everything but give thanks. Giving thanks should grow from giving thanks for what we have to giving thanks what we have is enough! The enemies of giving thanks are ingratitude, envy and selfishness. These three blind us to hope and pervert our understanding of grace. Give thanks in all things, for what you have, for what you don’t have and most of all for the God Who makes all this possible.

This is a combination of my Hope and Grace Journals.

 

11/25/2021 Thanksgiving is not natural to fallen humans but requires thought and effort. Thanksgiving is harder when it seems we have little to be thankful for. President Abraham Lincoln called for a day of Thanksgiving for the nation to pray when the Civil War seemed to be. Lincoln saw the need for thanksgiving even in the face of losing your community and even country. We may even need it more in the face of such loss! In the end we have everything if we have God, for then God has us!!!

This is a combination of my Hope and Grace Journals.

 

11/24/2021 Just as joy is so much more than happiness hope is so much more than a wish. A wish and happiness have a short life and are not dependable while joy and hope not only continue in bad times but can actually strengthen you in them.

This is an entry from my Hope Journal which helps me have hope, beyond hope.

Grace is so much more than mercy. Mercy is forgiving someone who hurt you but grace is paying for what they did so they can be declared not guilty. God did this for us as Jesus died on the cross paying for our sins.

From my Grace Journal. It was suggested to start a Grace Journal as a reminder of our need not for agreement but grace to guide our relationships.

 

“Maybe what we need is not self esteem, but God esteem! For God values you so much He gave His only begotten Son for you! It wasn’t enough for the Father to die but the value God has placed on you is more than that. For the greater and harder sacrifice is to give your beloved child for others!” Ronald Ramsey

 

11/23/2021

Psalm of the Good Shepherd Part 13

“1 ¶ And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. 2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. 3 Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. 4 Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, 5 so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. 6 In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. 7 If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. 8 If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly. 9 Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good.” (Romans 12:1-9 NLT)

How can you respond to such love? You can sit back and just receive God’s love and blessing but there is a warning throughout the Bible that if we get complacent we can lose our appreciation of God’s love and maybe even God!

In the book of Romans Paul helps us see how to respond to God’s love and sacrifice for us. Each of us can discover the way God desires us to personally respond to His love for us.

From the scripture above what can you do to respond to God’s love for you?

What do you think is God’s will for your life? If you don’t know how can you find out?

What are your gifts and how best can you use them?

Thank you so much for finishing this study. I pray God will use it to bless your life and help you understand the passion God has for you!

 

11/22/2021

Psalm of the Good Shepherd Part 12

“1 ¶ “I tell you the truth, anyone who sneaks over the wall of a sheepfold, rather than going through the gate, must surely be a thief and a robber! 2 But the one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice. 5 They won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don’t know his voice.” 6 Those who heard Jesus use this illustration didn’t understand what he meant, 7 so he explained it to them: “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who came before me were thieves and robbers. But the true sheep did not listen to them. 9 Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. 10 The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. 11“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep. 12 A hired hand will run when he sees a wolf coming. He will abandon the sheep because they don’t belong to him and he isn’t their shepherd. And so the wolf attacks them and scatters the flock. 13 The hired hand runs away because he’s working only for the money and doesn’t really care about the sheep. 14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, 15 just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock with one shepherd. 17 “The Father loves me because I sacrifice my life so I may take it back again. 18 No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what my Father has commanded.”” (John 10:1-18 NLT)

In the Gospel of John Jesus often declares I tell you the truth. John shares with us this amazing revelation Jesus made of what a good shepherd is and who Jesus is as THE Good Shepherd.

The Bible reveals Jesus does not just tell the truth but is the Truth. Each word (Remember Jesus is also THE Word.) is a true depiction of who Jesus is and the meaning of what he is doing and will do.

List the characteristics of the Good Shepherd.

Compare the Good Shepherd to the hired man or thief.

What to you do verses 17 and 18 mean?

 

11/21/2021

Psalm of the Good Shepherd Part 11

“1 ¶ «A Psalm of David.» The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. 3 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. 4 Yea, 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. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever.” (Psalm 23:1-6 NKJV)

I have often taught there could not be a Psalm 23 without Psalm 22. How can I trust the Good Shepherd without knowing about His love for me and that He will be faithful? Because of Psalm 22 we can trust Jesus to be with us as we “walk through the valley of the shadow of death”. Because of the Passion of Jesus for us we have the promise that we will dwell with God forever!

Write what some of the promises in Psalm 23 mean to you.

“I shall not want”

“Restores my soul”

“Leads me in the path of righteousness”

“Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me”

“You anoint my head with oil”

“My cup runs over”

“Goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life”

Meditate on how Psalm 22 and Psalm 23 connect and what that means to you.

 

11/20/2021

Psalm of the Good Shepherd Part 10

“26 The poor will eat and be satisfied. All who seek the LORD will praise him. Their hearts will rejoice with everlasting joy. 27 The whole earth will acknowledge the LORD and return to him. All the families of the nations will bow down before him. 28 For royal power belongs to the LORD. He rules all the nations. 29 Let the rich of the earth feast and worship. Bow before him, all who are mortal, all whose lives will end as dust. 30 Our children will also serve him. Future generations will hear about the wonders of the Lord. 31 His righteous acts will be told to those not yet born. They will hear about everything he has done.” (Psalm 22:26-31 NLT)

What a description of the outcome of the Passion of Jesus! The sacrifice of Jesus was for everyone whether they were poor or were Jew or Gentile. And the effect of the Passion would work not only for all people but all people of all time.

Is this similar to the words Mary spoke about her role as the mother of Jesus and what that would mean?

(It is important for us to understand as a woman pregnant but not married Mary could be stoned to death or kicked out by her family leaving her destitute and without the protection of family!)

Even the word Passion has more meaning than we often think because the Passion does mean the suffering of Jesus but Passion also means the deep passion God has for us to be willing to go to such lengths to save us so we can be with Him!

How many ways does the scripture say that the suffering of Jesus was for all people?

Why do you think so many groups limit the people who can be saved?

If you or someone you know believes they are not “worthy” or able to be saved does this verse help? If so, how?

What do these verses teach you about God?

 

11/19/2021

Psalm of the Good Shepherd Part 9

“22 ¶ I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters. I will praise you among your assembled people. 23 Praise the LORD, all you who fear him! Honor him, all you descendants of Jacob! Show him reverence, all you descendants of Israel! 24 For he has not ignored or belittled the suffering of the needy. He has not turned his back on them, but has listened to their cries for help. 25 I will praise you in the great assembly. I will fulfill my vows in the presence of those who worship you.”(Psalm 22:22-25 NLT)

We asked in the last lesson about the “Lord” answering the prayer of Jesus. You could say God didn’t answer His prayer, but here we see the celebration of all who believe in God because the “Lord” did not relieve the suffering of Jesus.

By not saving Jesus the “Lord” brought salvation to His people as He heard their cries for help.

In response to God’s work in Jesus His people respond with praise and worship.

Find the meaning of the words God’s people used to express their response to Jesus.

Proclaim

Praise

Honor

Reverence

Fulfill my vows

Worship

What does it means that most of the response seems to be as a group or assembly?

 

11/18/2021

Psalm of the Good Shepherd Part 8

“19 O LORD, do not stay far away! You are my strength; come quickly to my aid! 20 Save me from the sword; spare my precious life from these dogs. 21 Snatch me from the lion’s jaws and from the horns of these wild oxen.” (Psalm 22:19-21 NLT)

When Jesus was on the cross He took on all the sin of all of humanity for all time and indeed became sin! It is impossible for me to understand how the Trinity could be broken as God had to “forsake" Jesus and how God can die!

Interestingly the word dog comes from the word meaning to “yelp or to attack”, the word lion from the word meaning violence and wild oxen from “unicorn” and could mean a rhinoceros which used to live in the Holy Land.

As you hear the pleading of Jesus from the Gospels how did the “Lord” respond?

Does it make God mean or terrible for not answering His Son’s prayer?

Does it make God mean or terrible for not answering your prayer?

Do you think Jesus meant animals or the root meaning of the words?

Looking at verses try to imagine what Jesus saw. Please write what you saw.

 

11/17/2021

Psalm of the Good Shepherd Part 7

“14 My life is poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart is like wax, melting within me. 15 My strength has dried up like sunbaked clay. My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. You have laid me in the dust and left me for dead. 16 My enemies surround me like a pack of dogs; an evil gang closes in on me. They have pierced my hands and feet. 17 I can count all my bones. My enemies stare at me and gloat. 18 They divide my garments among themselves and throw dice for my clothing.” (Psalm 22:14-18 NLT)

It is amazing to realize the only description of the crucifixion of Jesus is not found in the New Testament but in Psalm 22. Doctors see this description of the suffering of a person on the cross as detailed and authentic. Verse by verse we see not only a description of crucifixion but a description that fits into the New Testament description of the crucifixion of Jesus.

Death from crucifixion usually is by asphyxiation or by the heart bursting from the severe loss of blood. From the description of the Gospels the heart of Jesus burst which is why we see water and blood from the spear.

Why do you think the description of the crucifixion is in the Old Testament?

What does this say about God?

How do you think Jesus felt going through this and hearing the screams and watching people throw dice for His clothing?

What does this say about God?

The implication of the scripture is the Father not only allowed this to take place but laid Jesus in the dust. What does this say about God?

 

11/16/2021

Psalm of the Good Shepherd Part 6

“11 ¶ Do not stay so far from me, for trouble is near, and no one else can help me. 12 My enemies surround me like a herd of bulls; fierce bulls of Bashan have hemmed me in! 13 Like lions they open their jaws against me, roaring and tearing into their prey.” (Psalm 22:11-13 NLT)

At times it seems the angriest and meanest people are those who are religious. Jesus ran into those people in His day.

Over the years I have come to believe that religious people are angry because they are trying to fulfill every jot and tittle of the law. Unable to do this they are left angry at themselves and at the God who “made” them do this. They are also angry at those who do not suffer as they do.

But God doesn’t ask us to come to Him through religion but through an admission we cannot keep the law and thus need to seek forgiveness through Jesus so we can have a relationship with Him.

Have you been hurt by someone in the Church or by the Church itself?

If you are honest was it a personal attack or someone seeking to call you to repentance?

If it was a personal attack how does it make you feel that Jesus suffered personal attacks?

Who is Jesus asking to stay “not far from Me”?

Do you think this would be a proper response for you to personal attacks?

Did Jesus give up on the Church because religious people attacked Him? Should you?

 

11/15/2021

Psalm of the Good Shepherd Part 5

“9 Yet you brought me safely from my mother’s womb and led me to trust you at my mother’s breast. 10 I was thrust into your arms at my birth. You have been my God from the moment I was born.” (Psalm 22:9-10 NLT)

Have you ever felt that God was distant from you? In times of trouble and pain we can so center on the “giant” before us that we can no longer see God.

But look at the intimate part of God in your life God has played and still is playing.

Looking at verse 9 what does this say about God’s care and concern for you?

Looking at verse 10 what does this say about God’s care and concern for you?

Hopefully you have read all of Psalm 22 by now, does Psalm 22 help you believe God cares for you?

What does verse 10 and indeed all of Psalm 22 say about how God values each person?

“Maybe what we need is not self esteem, but God esteem! For God valued you so much that He gave His only begotten Son for you! It wasn’t enough for the Father to die but the value God has placed on you is more than that. For the greater sacrifice is to give your beloved child for others!”

 

11/14/2021

Psalm of the Good Shepherd Part 4

“6 But I am a worm and not a man. I am scorned and despised by all! 7 Everyone who sees me mocks me. They sneer and shake their heads, saying, 8 “Is this the one who relies on the LORD? Then let the LORD save him! If the LORD loves him so much, let the LORD rescue him!”” (Psalm 22:6-8 NLT)

“Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me”

We say this childhood ditty to help us feel better but we all know of words spoken either to us or about us that still bruise and tear our soul. Words can be more harmful than and beating or physical abuse. The words that hurt the most are the ones where we are most vulnerable because we ourselves believe them.

The verses above bring us back to the last lesson and we see the cries of those who really feared Jesus hit so close to home with the questions of His heart at this time.

Please understand bully’s and put downs are only the attempts of those who fear others and seek to bring everyone down to the level they feel they are!

Are there “words” that have wounded you? How?

You may think God doesn’t understand your pain. Does this verse change that?

What “words” have you said to God that make you part of the crowd at the cross?

What “words” have you said to others you now regret?

Looking not just at this lesson, but the whole Bible how can you find forgiveness and make it right with you and those you hurt?

 

11/13/2021

Psalm of the Good Shepherd Part 3

“2 Every day I call to you, my God, but you do not answer. Every night you hear my voice, but I find no relief. 3 Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. 4 Our ancestors trusted in you, and you rescued them. 5 They cried out to you and were saved. They trusted in you and were never disgraced.” (Psalm 22:2-5 NLT)

I wonder if there is a person who hasn’t felt God was silent and didn’t care? It is amazing to think Jesus believed the Father was not there for Him as He suffered upon the cross. A separation between God the Father and God the only begotten Son seems impossible but from lesson 2 we see this is true!

But His answer was to understand that God still deserved praise and that by remembering God’s faithfulness in the past Jesus could have faith now.

When have you prayed and experienced only silence from God?

How should you respond to that silence?

Thinking of the Hymn “Count Your Blessings” list the times God was faithful in the past.

As you look over the list does this increase your faith and hope?

 

11/12/2021

Psalm of the Good Shepherd Part 2

“For the choir director: A psalm of David, to be sung to the tune “Doe of the Dawn.” My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why are you so far away when I groan for help?” (Psalm 22:1 NLT)

Sometimes we forget the Psalms were meant to be sung. They are hymns from the Old Testament times that still speak to our hearts. I always find an irony in the tune “Doe of the Dawn” which is used to sing this Psalm. As you read this passage remember the Trinity prayer and ask God to reveal Himself to you.

Why do you think the tune “Doe of the Dawn” was used for this Psalm?

Have you heard these words used in other places in the Bible? If so where and why do you think God did this?

Have you ever felt abandoned by God?

How could this verse help those who feel abandoned?

Can this verse help you as you minister to those who are suffering?

 

11/11/2021 To prepare for Thanksgiving I share a study that helped me discover hope in the pain and suffering faced as I went on disability. May it help you see all we sheep have to thankful for.

Psalm of the Good Shepherd

By Ronald Ramsey

June 2017

Introduction

The crucifixion of Jesus has always been a part of being a Christian to me. All my life I have experienced a lot of pain and as I grew up without Jesus I began to drink to not deal with the pain and ended up with a terminal blood disease. When I came to Jesus He healed me from the blood disease and the addiction to alcohol though I still struggle with an addiction to pornography.

But I was still left with the weariness of struggling with the addiction, the physical toll on my body and the terrible memories that filled my soul even as I tried to shut them from my mind. So the pain continued with seasons of the year and changes like the tides. Pain was always there just worse at times.

Recently the pain grew and I grew so much weaker as the memories came out and as my body dealt with what later has been diagnosed as Small Fiber Neuropathy and had to leave a wonderful Congregation and people at First United Methodist Church in Jefferson City, TN.

As I go through the process of disability I have asked the Lord for healing but this time He said “I will heal you through the pain and suffering.”

Psalm 22 has always been a favorite of mine since it spoke to me about how Jesus suffered for me and teach us how to deal with suffering. Christianity is a life and relationship with God and the life which not only explains suffering but shows how redemptive it can be.

I believe Psalm 23 is not possible without Psalm 22 for how could we ever trust the Shepherd without seeing and experiencing His suffering for us! From this I learned what has become to me a central part of my theology.

God never asks anything of us He hasn’t already given to us,

and God never asks us to do anything He hasn’t already done for us!!!

As you read the scripture and work on this study I hope you will use what I call the Trinity prayer for study.

1. Before you start to read the Bible or work on a study pray God will guide you and reveal Himself to you.

2. As you study ask God to help you see what He wants you to see and reveal Himself to you. For the purpose of reading the Bible and studying is not to get knowledge, or even to be able to teach others but to allow God reveal Himself to you and to be strengthened in your relationship with Him.

3. Ask God to guide you in applying what He has revealed to you so you can become the Christian He created you to be.

It is my hope and prayer that not only will the Good Shepherd reveal Himself to you, but that you will learn how to become a better sheep!

Psalm of the Good Shepherd Part 1

“Then Micaiah told him, “In a vision I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, like sheep without a shepherd. And the LORD said, ‘Their master has been killed. Send them home in peace.’ ”” (2 Chronicles 18:16 NLT)

“Like sheep without a shepherd.” This is how God sees humanity as he looks upon our lives and how we live. We are Shepherd-less because we have sought to “kill” our Master and indeed we did.

In our desire to be our own gods we pushed God away, killed or refused to hear those who call us back to God and then in our self crowning achievement we killed the Son of our Master hoping to solidify our own godhood.

But our Master outwitted us (not a hard thing to do) and by His death redeemed even death and made it our way to be with Him. Jesus opened the tomb and made it not a place of death but a seed bed for life where even our bodies will be resurrected and become eternal!

In this study we will look in depth at Psalm 22 and experience the only scripture that gives us a view into the suffering of Jesus Christ whose crown is made of thorns. May we come to see the result of that suffering and hopefully see all suffering can be redemptive.

For so many of us Psalm 23 is the what we want to read and listen to. But in truth there would be no Psalm 23 without Psalm 22! For we are able to trust the Good Shepherd only because He has “laid down His life for us.” For not only are we the sheep of His pasture, but the sheep of His suffering!

It is my prayer you will experience the fullness of God’s love for you in Jesus but also in the offering and suffering of the Father and the Holy Spirit.

Please read aloud Psalm 22 and ask God to help you experience what is happening. It would be helpful to read the Gospel passages that show Jesus dying for us. See how they fit together and then you will be amazed the suffering of Jesus in the New Testament is described so vividly in the Old Testament.

In the room below jot down any questions or observations God has given to you.  

“A good question will lead you to a better question!”

 

11/10/2021 Does seeing your glass half empty (or even all the way empty) mean you are without hope? Being such a person I believe I can answer that question as well as anyone or better. No. Just that simple. Each of our minds, life experiences and situations are very different. Could it be those who see the difficulties and needs in life are more likely to see the need for hope and help?

This is an entry from my Hope Journal which helps me have hope, beyond hope.

The hardest part of grace for humans could be having to admit we need grace. In the fall we see our deep desire to be our own god and not need help and our arrogance to believe we can actually be our own god.

From my Grace Journal. It was suggested to start a Grace Journal as a reminder of our need not for agreement but grace to guide our relationships.

 

11/9/2021 Nations fall, people groups disappear and we see all the division and destruction surrounding us. It would be easy and very human to despair but with hope and grace we need not despair. Before all that is God was and created all that is. Creation was perfect, beyond our wildest dreams but we broke it. Indeed we killed it. The amazing power of God as Creator can be seen as creation, though dying because of our sin continues its purpose and remains to us a marvel. But soon Creation will run down like a clock and what is will be consumed in fire rather than flood. But with God there is an evermore shall be and we will once again be with God and talk with Him face to face!!!

This is an entry from my Hope Journal which helps me have hope, beyond hope and from my Grace Journal.