Reflections on the Good Shepherd and a Big Blessing!

 
This is a picture of how I've felt over the past year, Gail-Friends.  I hope you laugh -- I did when I saw it.  It's a perfect depiction of how confused and helpless I was.

 

This photo is a picture of my spirit right now.  The "Son" is coming up over a beautiful field of flowers.  That's how I feel  Haleluyah!  

 

 

 

The year 2020 and the last six months have been extremely difficult. Grief and loss have visited me  over and over.  Thankfully, the Good Shepherd has held my hand as we walked through the valley of the shadow of death together.  Thank you, dear Gail-Friends, for your prayers, kind words, and support you've shown.  

 

I confess to you, dear Gail-Friends, that I have failed to be vigilant in battle against the evil one.  There were times I grew weary.  I wanted to just stay at home and not go out.  I could not write.  But praise God, when I stumbled, He helped me up.  Psalm 23 has been my consistent meditation when tears flowed through the night. 

With God's help, I have reached the place that Psalm 23 speaks of:

•   He has prepared a table for me in the presence of my enemies.  Even though the evil one has   been attacking me steadily, I am experiencing God's joy again.
•   He has anointed my head with oil.  I once again feel His presence and comfort.  I know His favor is upon me, even though at times I felt like a female Job.  
•   My cup is running over.  Once again, God has taught me lessons as I walked through the dark valley  -- truths that no one can take away from me. 

One thing I learned is that I have to be extremely vigilant about my thought life.  The evil one was roaring and roaming like a lion.  I can't just complain that there's a lion in the street.  I have to get up and destroy him. (Proverbs 22:13).  

 

Here's what the Word says about that:  

 

  Stay sober, stay alert! Your enemy, the Adversary, stalks about like a roaring lion

 looking for someone to devour. (I Peter 5:8 CJB)

 

 and

 

 Therefore, submit to God. Moreover, take a stand against the Adversary, 

and he will flee from you.(James 4:7 CJB)

I hope hope to share more about this lesson as well as some of other things I experienced and learned in the days and weeks ahead.  

 

And now for the BIG BLESSING!!

God has answered my prayers -- we have a new grandson!  

And here he is - Elijah Love.  Don't you love his name?  

 

Can you tell I am over the moon with JOY!!!?

 

 Have a great week, Gail-Friends, and a Good Shabbos.

Lord willing, I will post again next week.

P.S. - and very important:

Recently, the Feedburner team released a system update, that the email subscription service (up top on the right of this blog) will be discontinued in July 2021. After July 2021, the automated emails to my subscribers will no longer be supported. If you’d like to continue getting updates on my blog, please consider switching to Feedly, Blog Lovin, or some other system. In the meantime, I will see what options I can offer on my end. Thank you for understanding and subscribing! Love, Gail

 

Sabbath Music - Surely Goodness & Mercy

Greetings, Sweet Gail-Friends!

Isn't this sign perfect for the Sabbath?  It brings to mind one of my favorite Bible verses:

"He leads me beside the still waters, and restores my soul."

(Psalm 23:2-3)

I memorized the 23rd Psalm as a nine-year-old girl, and it stuck.  I remember learning it, and thinking, "None of this makes sense to me."  But, how I praise G-d and thank Him for the Sunday School teacher who led us to do this.  The Psalm has comforted me many times, especially as I've walked through dark valleys.  In those times I cling to the Good Shepherd's hand . . . and He has made every verse of this psalm vividly come to life.  

My dear Gail-Friends, if you're going through trouble, read this Psalm out loud, and think of Him there beside you.  

Even if life is trouble free right now, meditate on this Psalm, especially this verse:

"You have anointed my head with oil, my cup overflows.  

Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the House of Adonai forever."

(v 5 - 6) 

This song is an adaptation of Psalm 23, and I hope it will be a blessing for your Sabbath:  Psalm 23 - Surely Goodness, Surely Mercy

This is a perfect psalm for the Sabbath.  I pray you will rest in those green pastures, and sit beside those still waters, and receive the rest your Good Shepherd desires to give you. 

Shabbat Shalom.

I've written on this Psalm before, and you might enjoy reading those posts HERE

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I sometimes share my posts with these friends:

Spiritual Sundays      THE SUNDAY COMMUNITY – #GIVE ME GRACE @SEE SPEAK HEAR MAMA Kathy’s Return to Loveliness at A Delightsome Life     GRAND Social       The Beauty in His Grip Link-Up   

Modest Mom Monday Link-up         Growing Homemakers Link-Up        The Gathering Spot Link-Up 

MOTIVATION MONDAYS – @EMBRACINGHISWILL      SHARING HIS BEAUTY – @THEBEAUTYINHISGRIP

The Art of Homemaking Mondays
Monday of Many Blessings 

Titus 2 Tuesday     Share Your Stuff Tuesday    TITUS TUESDAYS @CORNERSTONE CONFESSIONS    

Wordless Wednesdays    Jennifer Dukes Lee Tell His Story  Teaching What Is Good Link-Up

Classical Homemaking Link-Up    Judith’s Wholehearted Wednesday     Raising Homemakers Wednesday     A Wise Woman Builds       Wake Up Wednesday     A Little R & R Wednesday     Wednesday's Prayer Girls & Link-Up Party Thought Provoking Thursdays at 3D Lessons 4Life     Thursday  Favorite Things 

 Home and Garden Thursday at Delightsome Life 

Friendship Friday 

Sabbath Music - My Good Shepherd

I've been meditating on Psalm 23 over the last couple of days.  I remember memorizing this passage when I was nine years old.  I'm so thankful that my Sunday School teacher, Mrs. Bertie Lee Burton, led her class to commit it to memory.  I've never forgotten it, and it has helped me through many hard times.  I've used it to encourage others as they walk through dark valleys. 

"Yea, though I walk through valley of the shadow of death, 

I will fear no evil.

His rod and His staff (the Word and Spirit) comfort me."

My heart aches for those who don't know the comfort of the Good Shepherd, whose hand I have held since I was five years old.  He is good...so good.  I say this even though we're seeing many things happen in the world that are not good.  I know Him, and know His goodness.  I know His love, even though bad things have happened in my own life.  Every hard thing I've walked through has taught me more of Him and His goodness.

If you're going through a dark valley, draw near to Him and He will draw near to You.  Take His hand and He'll lead you through.

This song is the 23rd Psalm, sung in Hebrew.  The beautiful images enhance the restful melody.  Rest and worship Hashem and may your Sabbath rest be sweet.

"Mizmor leDavid" by Gadi Elon"

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 I sometimes share my posts  with  friends at: 

Spiritual Sundays      THE SUNDAY COMMUNITY – #GIVE ME GRACE @SEE SPEAK HEAR MAMA Kathy’s Return to Loveliness at A Delightsome Life     GRAND Social       The Beauty in His Grip Link-Up   

Modest Mom Monday Link-up         Growing Homemakers Link-Up        The Gathering Spot Link-Up 

MOTIVATION MONDAYS – @EMBRACINGHISWILL      SHARING HIS BEAUTY – @THEBEAUTYINHISGRIP

The Art of Homemaking Mondays
Monday of Many Blessings 

Titus 2 Tuesday     Share Your Stuff Tuesday    TITUS TUESDAYS @CORNERSTONE CONFESSIONS    

Wordless Wednesdays    Jennifer Dukes Lee Tell His Story  Teaching What Is Good Link-Up

Classical Homemaking Link-Up    Judith’s Wholehearted Wednesday     Raising Homemakers Wednesday     A Wise Woman Builds       Wake Up Wednesday     A Little R & R Wednesday     Wednesday's Prayer Girls & Link-Up Party Thought Provoking Thursdays at 3D Lessons 4Life     Thursday  Favorite Things 

 Home and Garden Thursday at Delightsome Life 

Friendship Friday 

Thankful Thursday - Sentimentality

Years ago, one of my art teachers accused me of being sentimental because of the subjects I chose to draw and paint.  I didn't think it was something to disdain, so I continue to be hopelessly sentimental to this day.  I had a sentimental journey this week, as a matter of fact. We were blessed to visit my old stomping grounds of Jacksonville, in northeast Florida.  

The photo above is taken from the Ortega Bridge on the west side of the city, and has a nice view of the downtown skyline.  I love riding the roads of my memories, and this spot is one of my favorites.  I've spent many hours here writing, praying, meditating, and listening to G-d's voice.  

While in the neighborhood, we saw a nursery with hundreds of flowering plants for sale, so I just had to stop and take photos.  We also brought back some new ones for our yard.  Sorry I don't know the names of these, but aren't they joy giving?

We stopped in at my happy place, the Chamblin Book Mine.  This place is book lover's dream, and I've written about it in previous posts.  They sell used and new books in a grocery store sized building, with shelves from floor to ceiling and boxes of overflowing books lining the aisles.  It's worth the visit if you're ever near Jacksonville.  They do trades, so we always take some for credit on our next purchase.  I love this place!  See how happy I am?

Rabbi Jem is collecting adventure type books for our grandson, and he was tickled to add a couple of new ones to his collection.  I found a Susan Branch cookbook for my own stash.  I love her artwork, and am working at collecting all of her titles.   

I couldn't resist taking a picture of Jem and this sign.  How creepy is it to have a "horror" room?  You'd be amazed by how many books were in this section.  It reminded me of the Scripture, "All who hate me love death."  I want no part of it.

We stopped by mama's place to check on things, and I saw this happy little patio.  Isn't it inviting?   The lady who lives there is very creative and hospitable.  I enjoyed a visit with her.

Back at home, the Confederate jasmine is blooming, and the scent is so sweet.  Couple that with the orange blossoms in our area, and you have a purely heavenly perfume.

My cranberry hibiscus is also in bloom for the first time.  I bought the plant because of the medicinal properties of the leaves, not knowing it had such lovely flowers.  What a happy surprise.  

Our tomatoes are coming out.  This one will be a big beauty, if the bugs don't get it.  Farming is not easy, Gail-Friends.  Growing vegies has made me very thankful for the farmers.  

This week, I am very thankful for the strength of the L-rd.  My life has been super busy lately.  I'm also walking through the shadow of death.  My mother is eighty-four and in a nursing home near us.  She is declining rapidly, both mentally and physically.  Seeing her slip away is sad, and I constantly cling to Psalm 23: 

"Yea, though I walk through valley of the shadow of death, 

I will fear no evil.

His rod and His staff (the Word and Spirit) comfort me." 

His promise is real, Gail-Friends.  I don't know how people go through hard times without His love.

What are you thankful for this week?

Thankful Thursday is my day to focus on and be thankful for the good things in my life.
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I'm sharing this post with some of my friends at :

Judith’s Wholehearted Wednesday

Jennifer Dukes Lee Tell His Story

A Little R & R Wednesday

Lyli at Thought Provoking Thursdays at 3D Lessons 4Life

Hope in Every Season Homemaking Party

Laura on Faith Filled Friday at Missional Women

Fellowship Fridays at Christian Mommy Blogger

Charlotte at Spiritual Sundays

My Fresh Brewed Life with Barbie – Weekend Brew

Janis with Sunday Stillness
 Kathy’s Return to Loveliness at Delightsome Life
 The Gathering Spot Link-Up
GRAND Social
All Things Bright and Beautiful Link-Up

Modest Mom Monday Link-up 

Meet-Up Monday

Growing Homemakers Link-Up

Titus 2 Tuesday 

Share Your Stuff Tuesday Teaching What Is Good Link-Up

A Hope in Every Season Homemaking Link-Up   Wordless Wednesdays 

A Wise Woman Builds

Wake Up Wednesday

Jenny Marie's Wordless Wednesday  Favorite Things 

Friendship Friday  

 Freedom Friday

The Good Shepherd

Do you have a prodigal loved one?  I pray you will find comfort in this prayer based on Psalm 23. 


As you, pray this prayer, picture each scene in your mind:

The L-rd is ________'s tender, loving, caring shepherd ; 

The L-RD is providing what _______ needs and is with _______ even though ______ has strayed on to a dangerous path away from the sheepfold.
 
He will lead ________ to lie down in green pastures: He will lead ______ to still waters and restore ______'s soul.

He will  lead _______ to the paths of righteousness for His Name's sake.

Yes, even though ______is walking through the valley of the shadow of death right now, I will not give in to fear: because  The L-rd is with _______; 

The L-rd's  rod and His staff  (Holy Word and Spirit) are guiding _______ to His path of righteousness.

 The L-rd prepares a table (is bringing good out of what the evil one is trying to do) , and  ______ is learning lessons that will anoint _______'s head with oil and cause _______'s  cup to run over with blessings.

Surely goodness and mercy  follow _______ all the days of  his/her life: and ________ will dwell in the house of the L-rd for ever.


I'm linking up to:
 Faith Filled Friday
 and Spiritual Sundays