4/4/2022
From a small room
For six years we prayed
Joining heart and soul
God has answered each
And has changed the world
People are alive even now
Some have been saved
The weary given strength
And hope has been received
The glory of God on display
Shining from a small room
Across the world lives touched
Some whom we never knew
Heaven invaded darkest earth
And evil forced to flee
As God's power flowed out
God's desire came to be
4/3/2022
Daddy's Lap
Today I come tired and sad
So much seems slipping away
Daddy can I sit in Your lap awhile
And maybe the pain will flee?
You reach and pull me up
I snuggle in Your lap
You gently touch my brow
And so much falls away
You smile with Your embrace
I long to see Your face
You heal with Your loving touch
My heart breaks and heals
I do not know when I came
But I do not want to leave
"My child return to the fray
I will hold you through today."
I slide into this broken world
Healed to serve once more
But when I weary once again
I will seek Your lap once more.
4/2/2022
Prayer is my breathing You in my Heart and then You breathing out.
Prayer is a friend enjoying time with a Friend.
Prayer is God finishing your sentence and beginning the next one.
Prayer is unloading my guilt, fear and sin onto He who already bore it.
Prayer is "bringing the pains of earth to heaven’s door."
Prayer is at its best when you run out of words.
Prayer is when You hug me and I can make You smile.
Prayer let's God peel the scales of self from my eyes to see others and their pain.
Prayer opens me to see the glory of God rather than the power of evil.
Prayer let's me touch people around the world with the power of God.
Prayer makes me homesick for heaven, a place I long to be.
Prayer is telling God before anyone else.
Prayer is releasing Gods' holy power into a fallen and broken world.
Prayer is the source of power, grace, love, faith and hope in Jesus Christ.
Prayer is humbly admitting I can't and that I need God.
Prayer is God's way of helping us to love our enemies. It is hard to hate someone you are really praying for.
Prayer is God's attempt to remind me everything He did was so He could walk with me again.
Prayer is despair seeking hope and joy expressed to He who is the source.
Prayer is revealing your heart to He who knows it best.
Prayer is how God makes you more like Him.
Prayer is how you touch the glory of God!
Prayer is sitting in your Daddy's lap!
Prayer in not something a Christian can do but something we must!
Prayer is more than what you do, it is who you are!
Prayer is freedom for the prisoners, healing for the sick, love for the lonely, and life for the dying.
Prayer is our introduction to God and who we really are.
Prayer is how we discover who God wants us to be.
Prayer is my attempt to reach God who already reached out to me.
Prayer is when the Trinity is experienced as I pray to the Father, by the Holy Spirit in the Name and authority of Jesus Christ!
Prayer unites me with those I pray with in an intimate way.
3/31/2022
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 do 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!
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!
Putin’s war against Ukraine continues as one of the most armed nations is being stymied by one of the least armed nations. Other nations are supporting Ukraine with weapons and pressure on Russia. Some Russians are leaving the war and are even supporting Ukraine. People around the world are praying for the people of Ukraine and Russia and Putin. Even in the midst of this terrible war we see God’s hope and grace alive and growing!
3/30/2022
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)
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?
3/29/2022
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 that 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.
3/28/2022
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.
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?
3/27/2022
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?
3/26/2022
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 of our sin 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 used for dog means to “yelp or to attack”, the word lion means violence and wild oxen means “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.
3/25/2022
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 that the only description of the crucifixion of Jesus is not found in the New Testament but here in Psalm 22. Doctors and other experts 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 fit into the New Testament description of the crucifixion of Jesus.
Death from crucifixion usually comes from asphyxiation or from 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 these verses is that the Father not only allowed this but laid Jesus in the dust. What does this say about God?
3/24/2022
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.
But God doesn’t ask us to come to Him through religion but through an admission that 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?
3/23/2022
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!”
3/22/2022
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 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. The ones that hurt the most are the ones where we are most vulnerable because we ourselves feel this.
The verses above bring us back to the last lesson and we see that the cries of those who really feared Jesus hit so close to home with the questions of His heart.
Please understand that bully’s and put downs are only the attempts of those who fear to bring everyone down to the level they feel they are!
Are there “words” that have wounded you?
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 that you now regret?
Looking not just at this lesson, but the whole Bible what can you do to find forgiveness and make it right with you and those you hurt?
3/21/2022
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 like this? It is amazing to think that Jesus felt that the Father was not there for Him as He suffered upon the cross but from lesson 2 we see that 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?
3/20/2022
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 that 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?
