MUGGED

(After Matthew Henry was mugged)

"Let me be thankful first because I was never robbed before;

Second, although they took my purse, 

they did not take my life;

Third, because although they took my all,

it was not much. 

And Fourth, because it was I who was robbed, 

not I who robbed."

Matthew Henry

(Quoted by Billy Graham/ Unto The Hills)

Sure a better response than anger, self-pity, depression or hopelessness. 

God, help me reframe some of life's ugly circumstances;

for my good and Your glory.

lonnie

INPUT------OUTPUT

"It is said that the food of certain worms colors

the cocoon of silk that they spin;

and just so the nutriment upon which 

a man's inward nature lives

gives a tinge to 

every

word and deed proceeding from him."

Charles Spurgeon

Morning By Morning  (November 28)

Barbour  2005

The truth hasn't changed from Jesus' day to today's high tech computer days.

What the heart is full of the mouth speaks . . . (Luke 6:45)

If you program, into a computer, that two plus two equals ten, it will operate on that principle.

And if you feed a baby too many carrots . . . 

their skin takes on a tinge of orange. 

I don't know what happens with broccoli,
lonnie

FIGHTING FOR YOU

 "There is no greater comfort than to know that someone will 

protect you,

fight for you 

and rescue you--

risk his very life for you. 

This is the description of your Good Shepherd."

Jennifer Rothschild

Pslam 23:The Shepherd With Me  p.129

Lifeway Press   2018

My heart is racing with excitement. 

Rothschild directed her readers to 1 Samuel to see the heart of a shepherd. I believe the heart of your shepherd, and mine.

Check this out:

" . . . your servant was tending his father's sheep. When a lion or bear came and took a lamb from the flock,

I went after him and attacked him, and 

rescued it from his mouth;

and when he rose against me, I seized him by his beard and struck him and killed him."  1 Samuel 17: 34-35  NAS

God takes an attack against His sheep personally.

Think Prodigal.

If you are responsible for pulling

 God's child away from Him, you better be scared.

If you are a Prodigal's

parent, spouse, or friend,

CELEBRATE AND ANTICIPATE.

You're on the winning team!

Gentle Shepherd?

Not so much

Not when His sheep are in danger.

Loving Him,

lonnie

CAN FEAR AND FAITH CO-EXIST?

"Fear and faith can share the same heartbeat."

Really?

Do you agree?
Do I?

Paul tells us that 
". . .everything that does not come from faith is sin (Romans 14:23)."

Well, fear doesn't come from faith; but what if we put it this way?

"Though fear and faith can share the same heartbeat, they 

don't share the same perspective.

. . .

"Fear focuses on the shadows. 

Faith focuses on the Shepherd."

Jennifer Rothschild reminds us of the man in Mark 9. Dare I say, 'a man in process? Someone like me?'

"Lord, I believe.

Help my unbelief."

John Piper might add these 2 cents:"The reason faithless acts are sin, is that they don't glorify God as trustworthy." (desiringgod.org)

I do believe;
God, help me trust more and fear less,

lonnie

Psalm 23: The Shepherd With Me  p.120

Lifeway Press   2017

LOSS

"When we've suffered loss, 

starting again always feels like a gamble."

Maria Goff

Love Lives Here   p. 9

Broadman&Holman  2017

What has amazed me, lately, is the vulnerability of authors. It is SO refreshing and comforting to know that I'm not the only one that's struggled with "that" whatever the "that" may be.

Sometimes I cry because it hurts again.

Sometimes I cry because I am so grateful that someone understands. 

Back To My Book,

lonnie

VALLEYS

"Valleys are part of life's journey.

And even when they last a long time,

they are still 

temporary."

Jennifer Rothschild

Psalm 23: The Shepherd With Me  p.  116

Lifeway Press   2018

This fact gave me the first step out of depression and, yes, a  l o-n-g valley. I sat at our dining room table, looking out our patio door. It was a beautiful day with birdsong, but I was crying in hopelessness.

I heard these words in my heart:

"No matter what it is, its temporary." 

No matter how hard;

No matter how ugly:

Temporary.

And for those of us who know Jesus, it absolutely is!

He has gone to prepare a place for us.

lonnie

HE IS STRONGER

" . . . The people of Israel are oppressed,

and the people of Judah as well.

All their captors hold them fast, refusing to let them go.

Yet

Their redeemer is stronger."

Jeremiah 50: 33b-34a  NIV

I love this!

WHATEVER we are going through,

OUR REDEEMER IS STRONGER!!

I can't see Him, 

But I've come to trust that

HE CAN SEE ME.

lonnie