Yahweh is my best friend and my Shepherd. I always have more than enough. He offers a resting place for me in his luxurious love. His tracks take me to an oasis of peace near the quiet brook of bliss. That’s where he restores and revives my life. He opens before me the right path and leads me along in his footsteps of righteousness so that I can bring honor to his name. Even when your path takes me through the valley of deepest darkness, fear will never conquer me, for you already have! Your authority is my strength and my peace. The comfort of your love takes away my fear. I’ll never be lonely, for you are near. You become my delicious feast even when my enemies dare to fight. You anoint me with the fragrance of your Holy Spirit, you give me all I can drink of you until my cup overflows.
Psalm 23 (TPT)
So why would I fear the future? Only goodness and tender love pursue me all the days of my life. Then afterward, when my life is through, I’ll return to your glorious presence to be forever with you.
I have included a link to a beautiful song Restore My Soul sung by Sherri Youngward
Be encouraged for our great Shepherd and best friend Holy Spirit loves us immensely. He restores and makes all things new!
-The Nest Board President Judy Parks
Joy to the World, the Lord has come! I recently learned that the words of this popular Christmas Carol were written as a poem about the second coming of the Lord, Jesus Christ. Years after the death of the author someone discovered the poem and created the music making it the song we sing today. The reason we consider it a Christmas song is because it was made public during the Christmas season.
I encourage you today to ponder the poem. Each verse makes a declaration about our Lord and King then challenges the hearer to make a choice in response to the truth of God’s word. And ends with an understanding of God’s love.
VERSE 1 Joy to the world the Lord has come Let earth receive her King Let every heart prepare him room And heaven and nature sing.
VERSE 2 Joy to the earth the Savior reigns Let men their songs employ While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains Repeat the sounding joy.
VERSE 3 He rules the world with truth and grace And makes the nation prove The glories of His righteousness And wonders of His love.
CHORUS Joy to the world All the earth sings.
JOY TO THE WORLD! For God so loved the world that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life. His first coming revealed God’s love as Savior of the world. His second coming reveals God’s love as sovereign ruler and King. What Joy that will be for all who believe in Him.
Proverbs 25:25 (TPT) Like a drink of cool water to a weary, thirsty soul, hearing good news revives the spirit. (The Message) Like a cool drink of water when you are worn out and weary is a letter from a long-lost friend. (CEV) Good news from far away refreshes like cold water when you are thirsty.
With the high heat levels, we are experiencing today, we really can appreciate a cool drink of water to revive our spirit. But what exactly is “Good News” that is like a cool drink of water?Christianity good news is the revelation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and that Is the best of all good news. However, good news does not only come from the truth of the Bible, it also, comes from many sources. The definition of good news is something that is positive, encouraging, uplifting, desirable or the like.We are waiting for the doctor’s report, we have been battling fear and the complications of the unknown. Then comes the good news, nothing is wrong. This news is really like that cool drink of water, our spirit is revived, and we are encouraged to continue on in positive actions of life.We are fearful about the confrontation that may be coming our way. Weary and worn out from the anticipation of a bad outcome has drawn us into a semi-defeated place. Then comes the confrontation and it is not at all what we expected. The good news is the confrontation is resolved and over and we are revived. Another cool drink of water to revive our spirit that all is well, and we can continue on in our relationship with positive interaction.We are in a rough spot in our life getting increasingly discouraged. Then a friend seeks you out and encourages you. Your spirit is revived and can now progress on to better things while traveling through your journey.
My challenge for us today is to be the Good News bringing a drink of cool water to those in our sphere of influence. Every one of us can say something positive, encouraging, uplifting to our worn-out and weary people around us. Philippians 4:4-9 is a well that flows for you to draw your cup of cool water to share. Verse 9 encourages us to put into practice the righteous life you have seen in the Bible and others who have given you, your cup of cool water.Be cheerful with joyous celebration in every season of life. Let your joy overflow. And let gentleness be seen in every relationship for our Lord is ever near. Do not be pulled in different direction or worried about a thing. Be saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude. Tell him every detail of your life, then God’s wonderful peace that transcends human understanding, will guard your heart and mind through Jesus Christ. Keep your thoughts continually fixed on all that is authentic and real, honorable, and admirable, beautiful, and respectful, pure, and holy, merciful, and kind. And fasten your thought on every glorious work of God, praising him always. Put into practice the example of all that you have heard from me or seen in my life and the God of peace will be with you in all things. —
