June 17, 2010 The 23rd Psalm 4

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for Thou art with me.

Good Family Day morning, what a great morning here at the Southern Location of the North Pole. We had a couple of really heavy rain showers overnight, and this morning is just beautiful. Just like God made all of you, just beautiful. Do you want to see the best of the best of God's work? Do you, just go and stand in front of the mirror and look deep into it. Yes, the beauty you see looking back is what God made, take a good, good look and you will see just a tad of what God looks like, for we are made in His Image.

Today is family day and please today be sure to pray for that family in the White House. The other evening he did talk about praying, well, if we keep praying for him and his family we might just get him and then his family turned to Jesus. And yes, please pray for my family while I pray for yours. And pray for the family of God.

Psalm 23 (Day 4): Psalm 23:4 - 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 they 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. (KJV)

A few years back when Dolores and I rode motorcycle all the time, on one of the bikes I had an artist paint a picture of an open Bible; on it the 23rd Psalm, verse 4, and it read like this: "Yea, though I ride through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil for Thou rides with me." The point I was making then and now it does not make a difference if you are walking, riding a motorcycle, a pedal bike, driving a car, or in your pickup truck or even like my dear friend Ross, on roller skates. God is with you if you just ask Him to be. And you can be in some really bad spots and He will protect you, although we should not do stupid stuff. But when we think of the evil that God protects us from do not just think of high crime areas, or places like that, for sometimes our enemies hide themselves by saying they are our friends.

One of the most important parts of this Psalm in my opinion is the fact that it points out that our Lord is our Shepherd and He will comfort us. It talks about the Shepherd's Rod and Staff, the shepherd's hook, some might call it. Was it just something for the shepherd to lean on, no, it could be used to chase off animals coming after the flock, or it could be used to sort of help along one of the sheep lagging behind. It was a tool of the shepherds. Well, our Lord God, our Great Shepherd, our Good Shepherd, as Jesus even refers to Himself, has many tools that He has offered out to us. Let's just take time to look at a few of these, and let me call them His rod and staff.

Ok, let's start with the Holy Spirit which was left with us when Jesus went on to heaven to prepare a place for us. The 23rd Psalm is mainly the comforter, the Holy Spirit, talking to us. What else? God has given us an open line to talk to Him through His Son Jesus, it is called prayer. So we have God to talk to and we also know, if we listen He will talk to us. And yes, He will comfort us. We have our Bibles, the inspired word of God with many, many, many direct quotes from our Lord Jesus. We have folks today that are anointed and blessed by God to talk to us, to comfort us and yes, to do His work for Him as we are the disciples of this day. We who are working for God are the James, John, Simon and others today. Those to me are just a few examples of our Good Shepherd's rod and staff that comfort us...

Now just a minute on verse 5. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies. What does this say to me? It is very clear that if I love Him, if I live for Him, I will have my needs furnished, every one of my needs will be supplied and it will be done regardless of who is watching or who is trying to destroy me. I don't remember ever, not once that when I was hungry I did not have something to eat. Always, and my parents did not have much money. I can remember being sent with a dime to the corner store and asking for a "dog bone" and the owner, knowing we did not have much money, would let some meat on it. Mom would cook it and cook and and then make soup out of it. As for the dime, I don't remember him ever taking it. Today we have people who have trouble feeding their families who would not cook off a bare bone, but would spend their last dime on a cell phone.

But I must bring this up. A lot of times our Lord uses us to prepare the table for others, like our food pantry. And folks, God has taught most in America well, for we do have a giving nation... we really do, and the more we work for God and for this Nation and know that we would not even have a nation if it were not for God, the better off we will be. One Nation Under God, with a table before us, even when people want to take us apart. Let's give thanks now.

Dear Father in Heaven, Thank You for the table before us that is loaded with food and supplies, and thanks for all the comfort that You have given us. Thanks for Your word, thanks for a prayer line, thanks for the Holy Spirit... In the mighty name of Jesus, I give thanks this day... Amen.

Now go forth, and share those blessings, and as you share your blessings know that you are helping God to preparest a table before people... Love ya, Pastor Dan.

Carry The Light Ministries
16 Dewalt Drive
Mechanicsburg, Pa. 17050