Sunday, June 4, 2023

You Know This One!

 

Click the image or the link or

Copy and paste the link into your browser

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAaMPxDO2Wc

Or search YouTube for ‘Psalm 23:  The Lord’s My Shepherd’

By Sounds Like Reign

 

“The Lord is my Shepherd to fee, to guide and to shield me, I shall not want.  He lets me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still and quiet waters.  He refreshes and restores my soul and life; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. 

 

“Even though I walk through the sunless valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod to protect and Your staff to guide, they comfort and console me. 

 

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.  You have anointed and refreshed my head with oil; my cup overflows.  Surely goodness and mercy and unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell forever, throughout all my days, in the house and in the presence of the Lord.” Psalm 23 - The Amplified Bible

 

When I was nine years old, I got my first Bible because I was invited to a Vacation Bible School for a week.  I only remember that it was a hot summer, the house we met in was very fancy and had sheer curtains that made the sunshine look soft. 

 

We all memorised Psalm 23.  It made little sense to me then.  I had no personal relation with the Lord Jesus Christ, and yet this simple Psalm, that I heard repeated at funerals, burned the need to be saved from my sin deeply into my heart. 

 

It took the Lord ten more years to convict me of my immense need for His grace to change my life…yet, it all started with this familiar Psalm.  Do you have any memories about Psalm 23 that you could share with me? 

 

Take care with love, especially His, Darlene (who still prays for you daily)

 

PS:  Find my statement of faith:  https://especiallyhislove.blogspot.com  (where you will also find a series of beginner Bible studies to share). You can easily find the WeakDay Devotion online by doing a Google search for ‘WeakDay Devotion’.  (Also, there is an android ‘Google Blogger’ app you can download to read them on your phone.  Not sure about Apple.).  For the books, go to Amazon books.  

 

NEW PRAYER REQUESTS (any updates?)

·      URGENT - India train derailment – please pray.  At the time of this writing there are more than 300 individuals confirmed dead and nearly 1,000 injured in the crash of three trains together.  Pray for those still waiting to be rescued, rescuers working tirelessly, the medical staff and for comfort for those who have lost loved ones.  Pray for those supporting the survivors and pray for India, because this nation has the fourth highest growth in the Christian faith in the world. 

·      UPDATE - Peggy – a dear friend and colleague of my sister-in-law who has been battling with cancer in her neck for years.  Her new oncologist has noted the cancer is getting worse and she is back in hospital where they will rebegin the chemo and radiation.

·      Barbara – the beloved wife of my brother (who recently passed) – thank you for praying for her (and for me as we are both struggling with the loss of Tim).  Please pray God places people in her path who will help her with all the things He knows she needs help with.  Pray for her peace and protection at night.

·      UPDATE – Ray and Kathy – have left for ten days of rest and relaxation.  Please give them travelling mercies and special quality time with each other to refresh their devotion and appreciation of each other and give them new energy for their labours for the Lord.  Give Ray confidence that someone else will be there to care for his mother (Alzheimer’s) during this time. 

·      Joni – a long-time friend who is wandering through the challenges of cancer treatment.  Pray for her health carers and for her strength and all the adjustments she must now make during her recovery.

·      Jake - A friend of my brother, living with COPD (emphysema) and heart problems.  Please pray for his daughter, Tiffany and for other friends and health carers to help him through his health journey.

·      UPDATE - Ian – continue to pray that his desire to grow his understanding and effectiveness with personal evangelism is fulfilled. 

·      UPDATE - Peyton and Carter - Grandchildren of Jeff and Rachael.  Payton is their eldest granddaughter and now a senior in university.  Carter, their son is already a freshman in college.  Both are exceptional students and love the Lord.  Pray they are not distracted by worldly things, that the Lord watches over and protects them, that they continue to do well in their studies and that their love of the Lord increases daily.

·      UPDATE - Callilah- a lost child.  Pray in thanksgiving that the Lord is softening her heart and that the Lord has placed Patti just where she needs to be.  Pray for Patti’s safety and patience.

·      Sarah and Andrew – he left his job, and she has gone to work in a new and exciting role.  Pray for this precious Christian couple that they focus on family balance to the glory of the Lord.

·      Wayne B – is slowly losing his beloved wife, Lyn, (diagnosed with frontal temporal dementia three and a half years ago).  She has been in care since May of 2020 but recently had a succession of falls and is now in a psycho-geriatric facility. She sometimes knows who he is but is no longer able to respond.  Pray for comfort for Wayne as he deals with this difficult situation. 

·      Jenlost her only sister and still needs your prayers to get through this difficult time and pray her health remains good.

·      Demi and John – one evening he went out his backdoor to run an errand and was attacked by someone with a knife who stabbed him several times (one pierced his heart).  He has recovered physically, but please pray for him and his wife as they pull their lives together – that they might find the Lord in all the chaos left behind.

·      Megan (for emotional healing) and Scott, her husband (for patience and wisdom) and wisdom for his sister, Clare, as she seeks to support them through troubled times.

·      Sue and Rob - need prayers for wisdom and resolute spirits as they deal with their adult nephew, Luke.  They invited him to stay with them during a difficult time in his life, but he refuses to leave now and is ungrateful and disruptive.  Pray for salvation for Luke and that he accepts their request.

·      Christine – give her strength as she journeys to heart-healing and pray her husband gives his heart to the Lord.

·      Bettina – continue to pray for her as she grows into a new phase of her life in the Lord.  Pray each of her five married daughters, their spouses and 17 grandchildren grow to love and follow the Lord Jesus Christ.

·      Robin – lost her beloved mother (was 93 years old), please pray for strength and healing for her as she navigates through this time of mourning and for her daughter who is comforting her.

·      Family of Eric – Eric died suddenly at 52 leaving his 47-year-old wife and three girls (ages 16, 19 and 23).  Pray the Lord brings strength to them as they regroup into a new life.  Pray for trustworthy, honourable, Bible-based friends to continue to support them.

·      Pray for true, Christ-centered revival in America.

 

Pray for those in full-time service

Pray the Lord uphold our Christian leaders – that they never compromise God’s Word and remain bold and courageous in the face of evil.  Pray for their wisdom, safety, ingenuity, strength and for their families.

Pray for those with ongoing health concerns

Many of us have family, friends and loved ones with fragile health.  Pray God takes special care with them and protects them in practical ways and that the Lord will have mercy on them during this challenging time.

Pray for the World

No comments: