Life's Little Frustrations

A winter cold is bad enough,

But there's something worse, I'm told.

Sniffles any time are rough,

But everyone hates a summer cold!

Rod and Staff

Psalm 23:4a,  "Your rod and your staff, they comfort me."

      These two pieces, the rod and the staff, have been the standard equipment for shepherds for generations.  The rod is a club which was specially selected and shaped to fit a shepherd's own hand and size and strength.  The shepherd then practiced until he could throw the rod with great accuracy.  This was his defensive weapon to protect both himself and his sheep.  He also used it to correct any wandering sheep that insisted on straying away.  The rod was an instrument of the shepherd's power and authority.

      The rod represents God's Word, which expresses His will and carries His authority.  We find great comfort in knowing there are absolute truths and standards which God expects us to believe and obey.

  God's instructions to us are clear and straight forward, eliminating confusion and uncertainty.  It is also reassuring to know that when we disobey God's commands, He will use His Word to reprove us, correct us, and set our feet back on the right path.

      God's Word also reminds us of God's power to protect us as well as direct us.  Time and time again we can use God's Word to deflect the assaults of our enemies just as Jesus used it during His temptation experience.  Three times he told Satan,  "It is written," and quoted Scripture.  The Word of God is the Christian's offensive weapon, our rod to protect us, direct us, and comfort us.

Father, Thank You for Your Word and all that it tells us and does for us.  May we believe it, obey it, and use it.  Amen.

Life's Little Frustrations

The beach is ever so much fun

As long as there is lots of sun,

But pleasure there begins to wane

As soon as it begins to rain.

Paths of Righteousness

Psalm 23:3b,  "He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake."

      When I married John Eyster and moved to his home town of Decatur, Alabama to live, I was delighted to find a warm welcome everywhere I went because of the Eyster name and reputation.  Since I became an Eyster, I have been careful not to do anything which would reflect badly on the family name.

      When we accept Christ as Savior, we are born into God's forever family, and we are given the family name of Christian.  And since I have become a Christian, I try to be very careful not to do anything which would reflect badly on the family name.

      The Bible gives us another name for Christians, and that name is

"saint."   Unfortunately, my behavior is not always "saintly," but I

can say along with Paul that I want to "live up to what we have already

attained."   (From Philippians 3:16)  That means living a holy,

righteous life, being a good example of the kind of person a Christian should be.  But I don't do a very good job of that sometimes.  God has delineated the path of righteousness for us in His Word, but we need more than instruction.  We need to be empowered to stay on that righteous path.  That's why we need a Shepherd to lead us along.  When we stray from that path, our Shepherd reminds us that we need to repent and confess.  It is our Shepherd who forgives our trespasses and puts us back on the path of righteousness and helps us to stay on that right path.

      A good shepherd is very interested in the well-being of his sheep.

  He leads the flock on a path that will give them the greatest opportunity to be healthy and happy.  Following our Shepherd along the path of righteousness is undoubtedly the way to find the best, the happiest, the healthiest, the most fulfilled life that we can possibly have.

Father, thank You that You are our Shepherd!  You will always lead us in the right path if we follow You.  Amen.

Life's Little Frustrations

I'm headed to the beach to have some fun.

I love the ocean and the sand and lying in the sun.

The only thing I really hate is: I don't look so cute

At my age and stage of life in a bathing suit!

Cast Sheep

Psalm 23:3b,  "He restores my soul."

      Have you ever heard of a cast sheep?  Sheep have short legs and heavy bodies.  Sometimes when they lie down, especially if there is a small depression in the ground, they roll over in such a way that they are unable to get up without help.  They are easy prey for predators, and they will eventually die if no one comes along to set them back on their feet.

      Good shepherds are always watching their flocks closely to be sure there are no cast sheep.  If a shepherd sees such a sheep, he hurries to its side, gently stands it back up, and supports it until it can walk steadily again.

      I don't know about you, but there have been times in my life when I felt like a cast sheep, times when I was so overwhelmed with circumstances or grief or my own sinfulness that I was unable to get up and get going again without help.  Fortunately, we have a Good Shepherd Who watches over us carefully.  When we are down and out and struggling to recover, He comes alongside.  He doesn't chide us for our weakness, as we might expect Him to do.  Instead, He gently sets us back up on our feet, encourages our hearts, patiently steadies us as we wobble along, and works with us until we are ready to go again.  He may do some of this through other people.  After all, people are the hands and feet of Jesus in the world.

      Our Good shepherd walks with us to guide us, to watch over us, to protect us, to forgive us, to comfort us, and to strengthen us all along lilfe's pathway.  When we depend upon Him, we are less likely to become helpless again, but, if we do, we can be assured that he will be right there with us to give us the help we need.

Thank You, Good shepherd, that You are the help of the helpless.  May we be Your hands and feet to others when they need encouragement and support.  Amen.