My Shepherd #233

1 Peter 2:25

For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls. (NAS)

Have you ever had someone who really took good care of you? It may have been as a child that your parents watched over you and protected you. Maybe you have a best friend that you know is watching out for your well being. What do you call that person? Do you refer to him or her as a caregiver, friend, parent, BFF or some name that relays the meaning of someone special.

God calls himself the Shepherd.  David, the psalmist, declares the Lord is my Shepherd. God often compares people to sheep and those who care for the sheep as shepherds. You may call the person who cares for your church as Pastor or Elder or Shepherd. The Apostle Peter called himself a fellow elder and admonishes fellow elders to; 1 Peter 5:2 “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them.”                

Peter who is an elder of the church and a shepherd of the flock rejoices with the returning of the people to the Shepherd and Guardian of their souls.  Our soul is that part of us that wanders from the Lord through neglect and sin. It is that part of our lives that continually needs nourished and treated with constant care. As we return to the Lord it is He who really cares for us. He is the only one who can adequately be our true Shepherd.

The Book of Isaiah says in chapter 53 verse 6 “All of us like sheep have gone astray,
Each of us has turned to his own way;
But the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all
to fall on Him.”

We are sheep that not only needs someone to watch over us, feed us, and care for us; we need someone to remove our sin. It was prophesied in Isaiah that one would come that would take away the iniquity of us all. That one was Jesus. Be thankful that God loved you so much that He provided you with a Savior, Jesus Christ.

Peter reminds the people that it is easy to go astray in sin and rebellion. He reminds them that they were constantly straying but now at last have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of their souls. Would you come to Jesus and allow Him to be your Shepherd and Guardian of your soul. 

____________________Today's personal note from Dennis

Greetings from Starbucks in beautiful Tempe, AZ

Maybe I should say COLD Tempe. We have broken records for cold weather this past week. A few days it was actually warmer in Chicago than in Tempe. 

We desert rats are not used to cold temperatures. As a matter of fact we don't like it. We live here because it is supposed to be warm. When the temperatures drop into the teens and twenties it is toooo cold. Enough for my complaining about the weather. 

I do have a major prayer request. As of this writing Justin Thomas Koleszar, newest grandson, is in the hospital. He has RSV and has been in the Pediatric Intensive Care for almost a week. Of course our whole family is greatly concerned. Sandy and I have been helping watch Johnny. Mandy has been staying all night with Justin while John stays home with Johnny. Please keep them in your prayers. 

Sandy and I were scheduled to be in Quartzsite beginning the 16th. Needless to say that did not happen. We will wait until Justin is out of the hospital before 

going. 

Collin and I are leaving for Carlsbad NM on a field trip on Friday night (18th) at 10PM. We will see the caverns and other educational opportunities and return on 

Sunday night (20th) at 11PM. I will see the oncologist on Monday morning and Lord willing return to Quartzsite for the rest of the week. I will be teaching during the week and preaching on Sunday the 27th in Quartzsite. 

February 4th-5th Sandy and I will be sharing with the Mission Service Corp's annual retreat. The purpose is to encourage the missionaries who serve with Mission Service Corp. They serve in various ministries around AZ. 

February 17th I will be preaching at FBC in the Intersect Service at 9:30AM. The church is beginning a study of Revelation in two weeks. I will be preaching from Revelation chapter 2 on the subject of returning to our first love, Jesus.

Mike Blaine is an old friend, former deacon, and member of Southview Baptist Church in Lincoln, NE. I will be preaching a revival in his church in Memphis, MO April 21-24. I look forward to time with Mike and his wife, Pam, and his church. 

The oncologist felt it necessary to take an MRI of my liver and abdomen again. The chemo I was taking was not helping. So I did not receive it this week. I will not have a report until next week. I will let you know how things went. I would just appreciate your prayers. 

Several of you looked up the blog site last week to check out The Encouragers that were written during the past four years. The blog site is: 

www.dgtheencourager.blogspot.com     Do not subscribe. The site is no longer available for automatic delivery.

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God bless you. I pray God will bless your week with expressions of love and appreciation. I also pray you will be the giver as well as the receiver of such expressions.  ~ DGW