Thursday: Psalm 23 (day 4)

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me.

Good Morning God, and Good Morning, my dear brothers and sisters. Folks, when we wake in the morning and say good morning to our spouse and to our family and even our pets, I think we should remember to just say good morning to God ... in just those words. Good morning, God.

It is Thursday, and that means it is family day on this line. Let's get something started, let's get it moving across this line. We pledge our flag by saying "One Nation Under God". Let's get this started. How about "This Family, Under God" and we teach our children this. I know our family is just that ... "This Family, Under God". I could see bumper stickers that might read, "One Nation Under God & This Family Under God" on one sticker. Or we could have a sticker saying "This Family Under God" with a cross or a set of three crosses on them.. Yes, I am going to talk to Sharon Ogden who makes our front licenses plates for us to put something together. I know she will read this and get started on it. Yes ... "This Family Under God" and that no one can take from you.

Psalm 23 (Day 4)
Psalm 23: 1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul; He leadeth 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 thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth 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 for ever. (King James)

Today, verse 4: Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me. (King James)

Back in 1984 Dolores and I had art work on our motorcycles. On one cycle we had the Statue of Liberty painted on it, and in front of that the display of the Three Crosses on Calvary. Our dear friend, Mr. Neil Enloe, wrote the words and music to a wonderful gospel song called "The Statue of Liberty". The song tells of the cross being our Statue of Liberty, standing for our personal freedom. Also on this cycle we had an open bible painted to verse 4 of the 23rd Psalm and just change the wording a tad... Yea, though I "ride" through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil.

Folks, the Psalm tells us that as we walk though that valley we feel no evil but the fact is, it does not matter if you are walking, riding a cycle, driving a car, or in a lot of cases you are face down crawling, you need not fear evil. Let's relate this to a flock of sheep and a shepherd.. Regardless of where those sheep were led by the shepherd, they trusted in him to take care of them, and we need to do just the same. I want you to really think about this. Before I even came fully to the Lord, when I was on one of my "walk away" times, I found myself face down ... no not in the pig pen, but just down ... going though a divorce, I found my whole world as I knew it then, falling apart. But Jesus was right there with me, even though I was not yet fully with Him.
Back now to the sheep. You know that old shepherd carried that Staff and was it a walking stick, yes and more for it was used when needed to fight off those evil animals. As for our Lord Jesus who is our Good Shepherd, what would be His Rod and Staff that would comfort us? Let's look at what we might just call His Rod and Staff. Let's make a short list.

First how about His word, what we find in our Bibles, The truth about things? And the instruction book it is.

Next, how about the fact we can talk to Him? We just need to say, Dear Father in Heaven, and He is right there with us. We can talk to Him and if we listen, IF WE LISTEN, we will hear Him answer. Might not always be what we want to hear, but He will answer us.

Then comes The Holy Spirit. Now you will not get full power from this until the time you invite Jesus into Your heart, then and only then will you really feel the power of the Holy Ghost.

Then we have the support system of angels, yes, I believe in them. If old Gab can come and talk to Elizabeth and to Mary, why not us? One time I was in a motorcycle accident. I was sitting in a line of traffic on my cycle and was slammed in the back by a large car. I was sent through the air through the windshield of the big Honda Goldwing and it was like I was in slow motion being carried in the air and placed on the street between two lines of traffic one which was moving.

And we also have our Christian brothers and sisters. Watch this one, for some might want to step on you when you are down, but in the most part, a real Christian, one who really follows Jesus, will come to your side and be with You, help you through it. It might be your pastor, or just a friend from church. It might even be a stranger. One who helped me, listen to this. After many back surgeries, I was recovering from one in the Holy Spirit Hospital, our Local Catholic Hospital. Now here I am, now born again and really hurting, and in walks one of the Nuns. What a sweetheart. She was full of the Holy Ghost, and we talked and then we started singing, and we sang and sang. Oh how I love this ... the pain would ease, as this "Lady working for the Lord" was just working for Him. And she helped me remember that Jesus was still in the room, and this also would pass ... and it did. God is good.

Yes, The Rod and Staff will comfort us. For Our Lord Jesus is the Good Shepherd, so fear not.

Dear Father in Heaven ... Thanks for being with us always. Help us to know You are there, and let us feel You. Lord, be with all those today on this line and for the ones who are down, let them feel You. Send them someone as You did me when you sent in the Nun. Use us today as that person. Let us be Your Rod and Staff. Help us today and Lord please bless families. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Go forth, helping others, and you can do this by sharing your blessings, going to retirement homes and helping, taking food to those in need, cooking for those who might need kitchen help. Just remember to work for God, and when you are down, and it does happen, call on Jesus and watch for His Rod and His "Staff" His Staff of workers to help you. Be on the staff of Jesus always ... love ya, dan.