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Paradigm Shift

December 25, 2010 by Fritz

“Thou preparest a table before me” – Psalm 23:5a

The focus of Psalm 23 shifted, becoming no longer “He”, but “Thou”. It happened when speaking of God’s protection – Thy rod, Thy staff…” No longer is the speaker telling someone about God but is speaking directly to God.

Life in Christ is a one-on-one, “Thou and Me” experience, which can’t be explained to others.

As the refrain of C. Austin Miles’ 1913 hymn, In the Garden,1 says

And he walks with me, and he talks with me,
and he tells me I am his own;
and the joy we share as we tary there,
none other has ever known.

– fritz
1 – http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh314.sht

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Protection From 2 Kinds of Evil

December 24, 2010 by Fritz

“The LORD is my shepherd … I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” – Psalm 23:1a, 4b

We need protection from two (2) kinds of evil – evil done to us by others, and evil done to us by ourselves.

Evil we do to ourselves is, really, our biggest problem. If God gave us everything we asked for in prayer we would be in a terrible fix.

We take comfort knowing our shepherd is protecting us from others and ourselves – he is our defender, he has the way out when there is no other (and when there is).

-fritz

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Doing My Part

December 23, 2010 by Fritz

“The LORD is my shepherd … Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil;” – Psalm 23:1a, 4

So what’s my part in this sheep to shepherd kind of relationship with God? I walk – choosing not to fear even if/when I am in dreadful times and places.

This is, really, the ONLY thing he expects – to follow him in my daily life trusting even in tough times he will keep me safe and lead me through; it’s just that simple.

I can’t always see the big picture or understand the “why”, but by God’s grace I can put one foot in front of the other, choose to be brave, and trust God will make things right.

The senior pastor where I once served took me aside one day and said, “Your faith is just too simple for real life”. The only response I could give – “I guess the only way I’ll survive is by the grace of God!” He agreed but not in the positive way I meant it. That was almost 30 years ago.

God’s grace has always been sufficient for my need. I walk and choose not to fear, God handles the rest.

– fritz

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