#paternus

Proverbs 23:7 For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.

“What comes into our minds when we think about GOD is the most important thing about us.” A.W. Tozer

      “I read in a periodical the other day that the       fundamental thing is how we think of GOD.

      By GOD HIMSELF, it is not!

      How GOD thinks of us is not only more       important, but infinitely more important.

Indeed, how we think of HIM is of no importance except in so far as it is related to how HE thinks of us.

      It is written that we shall “stand before” HIM,       shall appear, shall be inspected.

The promise of glory is the promise, almost incredible & only possible by the work of CHRIST, that some of us, that any of us who really chooses, shall actually survive that examination, shall find approval, shall please GOD.

To please GOD ...

to be a real ingredient in the divine happiness ...

to be loved by GOD, not merely pitied, but delighted in as an artist delights in his work or a father in a son —it seems impossible, a weight or burden of glory which our thoughts can hardly sustain.

But so it is.”

      “I decided I would do nothing trying to       secure myself or gain advancement.

      I am very much a literalist in terms of the BIBLE.

The BIBLE says promotion does not come from the East or the West, it comes from the LORD.

So OK, I don’t have to do anything about promotion.

But what I did was this: I said,

      “I am going to do the best work I can       by GOD’s help,” & that meant in       writing & teaching.

And once again, it wasn’t that I was smart.

The LORD just guided me.

So I worked on papers, & my idea was that, if it was any good, I would be able to send it to the best journals [where no one knew me], & it would be accepted.”

Dallas Willard

The LORD Is MY Shepherd

A Psalm of David.

23 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2   HE makes me lie down in green pastures.      HE leads me beside still waters. 3   HE restores my soul.      HE leads me in paths of righteousness      for HIS Name’s sake.

4  Even though I walk through the valley of the     shadow of death, I will fear no evil,     for YOU are with me;     YOUR rod & your staff,     they comfort me.

5  YOU prepare a table before me     in the presence of my enemies;     YOU anoint my head with oil;     my cup overflows. 6  Surely goodness & mercy shall follow me     all the days of my life,     & I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Psalm 8:3-5

3  When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,     the moon & the stars, which you have set in place, 4  What is man that you are mindful of him,     & the son of man that YOU care for him?

5  Yet YOU have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings     & crowned him with glory & honor.

Isaiah 40:11

11 HE tends HIS flock like a shepherd:      HE gathers the lambs in HIS arms      & carries them close to HIS heart;      HE gently leads those that have young.

John 10:11

11  “I am the good shepherd.

The good shepherd lays down HIS life for the sheep.

Matthew 18:12-14

12  “What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep,        & one of them wanders away, will he not leave the        ninety-nine on the hills & go to look for the one that        wandered off?

13  And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about       that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did       not wander off.

14  In the same way your FATHER in heaven is not willing       that any of these little ones should perish.

Isaiah 53:6

We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; & the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

“I pray according to my greatest conception of the good.

GOD answers according to his.” Jeff Tacklind

“If you watched a movie about a guy who wanted a Volvo & worked for years to get it, you wouldn’t cry at the end when he drove off the lot, testing the windshield wipers.

You wouldn’t tell your friends you saw a beautiful movie or go home & put a record on to think about the story you’d seen.

The truth is, you wouldn’t remember that movie a week later, except you’d feel robbed & want your money back.

Nobody cries at the end of a movie about a guy who wants a Volvo.

But we spend years actually living those stories, & expect our lives to be meaningful.

The truth is, if what we choose to do with our lives won’t make a story meaningful, it won’t make a life meaningful either” Donald Miller

Philippians 4 4 Rejoice in the LORD always.

I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all.

The LORD is near.

6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer & petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to GOD.

7 And the peace of GOD, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts & your minds in CHRIST JESUS.

8 Finally, brothers & sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice.

And the GOD of peace will be with you.

Questions

–Do I truly believe that GOD is my Good shepherd?

  Do my actions & the state of my heart reflect   contentment & trust or anxiety & frustration?

–Where am I experiencing discontent or fear of GOD’s   lack of provision?  What would happen if I let go of   those things I’m wanting?

  How is GOD asking me to trust HIS provision & timing?

–What would my day look like if I were to reorient it   around being with GOD?

  What things would have to change?  What might I gain?