In the Service of the Shepherd King

Part 1

The battle outside was raging. It's not as bad as it's going to get though. Things are going to escalate. These clashes with the enemy are precurser to the war. I am tired nevertheless, and feeling the need for rest and food, warmth and safety where it seems not to be found.

But our King and Lord – the Good Shepherd - has provided respite in the midst of all Hell breaking loose. He can be found everywhere. The desperate cry of His soldiers always reaches His ears, and brings them into the safety of hidden places – places that the enemy cannot see or find. They are caves perfectly camaflouged and nestled in between the rolling foothills. They are sheepfolds hidden in plain sight in the fields frequented by lowly shepherds - where the King lays His body across the only door. His soldiers are safe within those walls – for now.

I enter the cave and am welcomed by the sight and delicious smells of an early morning feast on a plain table in the center of the room. The room is dimly lit by a warm light emanating from the candles set upon the table. I do not see anyone else, but feel the presence of the Shepherd King's servants. I enjoy the fragrance of coffee freshly made and poured into the mug that warms my hands as they are cupped around it – steam rising....... My hunger is awakened at the sight and smell of bacon and eggs with buttered toast and jam. There is a bowl of luscious fruit in small bite sized pieces that nevertheless drip down my chin as I eat. There are fried potatoes and other delicacies. I eat my fill, and I am refreshed. But I am also sleepy. There is a warm bed in the corner of the room, inviting me to rest.......... I had scarcely pulled the warm blankets up, sinking deep into the feather bed, when sleep overtook me. I think I dreamnt of green pastures and still waters – crystal clear. There were valleys in my dreams but always the Shepherd King led me safely through them.

I slept until my body was strengthened and refreshed – maybe for days. My armor, had been taken from me and shined and polished until it gleamed. Again, I am conscious of the servants of the Shepherd King. They are silent but benevolent. I am helped by these silent giants as I take up my breastplate and shield; my shoes and helmet; my belt and my sword............ Once more the table is set with a wonderful array of food, and I eat. I can feel His warm presence. He quiets my heart and feeds my spirit. He has left a small book for me. In it, the King has left instructions for me. I am to go out while it is still dark. I am to have my sword in hand before I open the door and step out. His words fill my mind. My shield will deflect the arrows that burn. I am to sing praises to Him as I walk. Everywhere my voice can be heard, so goes His light and the enemy dare not approach!

The Day is Late

Today, I added many serious requests for prayer to our church's prayer list.  They are coming in faster and there are more of them, and they are of a more serious nature than even just a few years ago.     I am aghast at the suffering so many are going through.  If you have P.D, then I can say with assurance that you have suffered.  And guess what?  And after being born again, this qualifies you to be a servant in God's kingdom.  Your experiences are different than someone else's, but the pain is the same.

You have paid a high price in order to be able to minister to others who are in pain.  It's not what I set out to learn, but it's what I have learned.

We think of pain as bad and unproductive, but it doesn't have to be.  The good kind brings about good  changes.  I know that a major part of my ministry is praying for people, and with people.  I have had to learn that prayer doesn't always get you something, but get's you through something.  Never underestimate the power of a single prayer.

It's time to start praying seriously for one another.  While there is opportunity and while we can do this, we must do this!  Ask God to show you how to pray; ask Him what exactly He wants you to pray; ask Him to give you His mind and His heart; ask for His perfect results; and ask that He would change you through prayer.

It's not the prayer so much that matters (though that is important), but more important is WHO you are praying TO.  If you are praying in any other name than Jesus Christ, God's only Son, who  died for us and paid the penalty for our sins, then your prayers are worthless.

Some have spent their lives wasted on their own pleasures, with no goal, and have rejected God.  If that is you, then I pray God may open your eyes before it is too late and that you will repent.  There is coming a day when those who do not belong to Him will finally get their way.  They will forever be separated from God who has loved them so much.  There will be a final line of crossing over, and then the dye is cast; there will be no 2nd chance as we still have today.  It will be too late to change our minds.

If this is where you are headed, I hope that you have someone who is praying for you............

Prayer

I believe when we are so full of God's broken heart - when we are brimming full of gratitude to Him - when our need is desperate enough - when we have the tiniest sense of His infinite grace - then we pray.  It is what wells up in our hearts and overflows like the shepherd's cup.  It overshadows every other thing and it must be released to rush back to its source - El Elyon (the most high God) the great I AM.

Prayer never ceases where God is worshipped.

Prayer is like the waters that rush from the mountains to the sea.......carving new paths, changing shorelines, slowing to pool here and there - sustaining life or speeding up to dash the enemy to pieces......always moving back to the heart from which it was broken.

Be still before Him!  Know His heart!  Embrace all that He is.  Trust Him in high waters and low.  Pray His heart.

Like the spray from the waterfall that joyously flings itself over the edge - so should our prayers be - finding their way back His heart.

He is Risen!

He is RISEN!!!!  All praise and glory to the King Who defeated death!  He is our hope.  I am IN Him and He in me - safe and secure - never alone - always sufficient and more.........  I love my King and my Lord.  Because He has risen, I am risen....above all sin, above death, above disease and every power that would raise itself up in pride before Him.  He is the answer to every question.  Every bondage, every addiction, every wrong way established will have to stand before Him.  And when they do, they will be no more...........!
People with Parkinson's Disease need to hear good news.  And what better news could there be than the truth that Jesus Christ has been raised from the dead?

A Moment With God

Slowly consciousness dawns on me.  It's still dark.  Lord....  I'm here...............  We are silent .  Whatever may come today, give me the courage and strength I will need to live for You.   Lord, I remember each of my children to You this morning.  Please protect them.  Save them from whatever intends evil toward them.  Lord, what is my life without You?  There is no life without You.  Your Word is in my mind and in my heart, and I will speak Your Words to someone today, somewhere.  I'll wait for You to nudge me so that I'll know when.
A tear rolls down my cheek and a sound comes from my throat.  I love those children You gave me,  Father..  I don't want to be with You without them.  Everywhere I look there are lost and dying people who don't even know they are sick. I want to help.  But my words won't make any difference.  So lead me to speak Words of life - Your Words.
Your Word is my sword of the spirit...........my heart rises some as I think on how my Beloved loves me.  You know, Lord, You make me laugh.  That funny story we wrote together about Ellen yesterday made me laugh so hard, the tears were blinding me.
Help me keep a sharp mind would You?  I feel so bad when I think that I might become someone's job - someone's problem as I grow older.  I don't want to be a crazy old woman that can't remember things and spells all the words wrong.............  I still feel guilt and shame when I think of my impatience with my grandmother who lost a little more and more of herself each time I would see her.  I'm quiet, while this sinks into my mind.
You know, this really doesn't matter, but I want to feel pretty today.  I want to look like someone who loves you.  I'm quiet once again and in my mind I see You sitting next to me, listening and watching me.
C'mon, Lord.........I want some coffee.......You come too..........  And I'll listen while You fill me in on what the plan is today.................

My Valentine

On this day of love, where the standard gifts are candy in heart shaped boxes, flowers and cards with lots of pink and red, I want to talk about the true love of my life.  He is my heart's desire....  There is nothing "standard" about Him.
The first thing that drew me to Him, was the love He has for me:  crazy, intense, never-lessening love for me.  He is taken with me.  This love that He has for me, moves me....  It moves me to regret over the times I have failed to love Him; it fills my mind and heart with an ecstasy that makes me thirsty for more; it astounds me at the value of His gifts, for they cost Him dearly.  No, these gifts were never a last minute rush of hollow words and soon to be forgotten trinkets.  But they are gifts that were planned long before I was.  They are intensely personal and precious to me.
What did He give me?  My life.  He gave me life.  He redeemed me - bought me back from Death who had a tight grip on me.  He is the key that unlocked my frozen heart; He is the door between Life and Death; the portal into safety.
My heart lay in the cold, dark ice of death, but He did not leave me there!  Death's horrible fingers rightly held onto me, until He put me aside and off this altar - stepping onto the large platform - becoming the sacrifice that paid the dear price of my freedom forever .  He... the One who never sinned - became what I was, so I could be like Him.  He took my shame of a life lived for me, and gave me dignity and honor.

But it doesn't end there.  He makes my heart beat, He fills my lungs with with the breathe of praise.  I find Him beautiful.  He stirs up and wakes my love - it is in response to Him....

"The voice of my Beloved!  Behold He comes leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills....   My beloved spoke, and said to me:  'Rise up my love, my fair one, and come away.  For lo the winter is past, the rain is over and gone.  The flowers appear on the earth; the time of singing has come,,,,"  (Song of Soloman 2:8,10-12)

"My beloved is mine and I am His."   (Song of Solomon 2:16)

If there are valentines that did not come on this day, forget your dissappointment.  Instead remember....  You will one day hear His voice calling out to you to rise up and come away.  Come, Lord Jesus!

Sharing the Help I Have Been Given

Everywhere I turn I'm hearing stories of sadness, loss and uncertainty.  I'll bet you are too.  It frustrates me that I really cannot DO anything about any of this.  But as I think on this, I realize that I have my own stories of sadness, loss and uncertainty.  I realize I have a well that is deep and ever enlarging from which I draw to cope with it all.  You do too.
It is both necessary and freeing to share the God given knowledge and wisdom I have accrued through the years of living in the storms of PD.  You and I know things about dealing with life's disappointments, that others do not possess.  And we must share discreetly and with all discernment and wisdom these roads and inlets of life and living.  We must help others who are not as deep into the journey as we ourselves are.  We must stand as beacons of light and hope to those who are lost and buffeted by the giant waves and deadly currents of PD.
I am reminded of a time long ago that a certain man named Jesus was awakened by his terrified disciples to ask him for help in the sudden storm that was threatening to take their boat under.  They  were overwhelmed with fear of the unknown, even though these waters were not unfamiliar.  In fear and frustration they cried out to Jesus, asking Him for help, but actually doubting His power to subdue these great winds and waves.
Sound familiar?  How many times has PD become a storm of epic proportions in your life, and all you could see was imminent destruction?   All you could do was cry out for help.........but doubting that it would ever come?
If you have lived very long with PD, I'm sure you have many stories that you could share - much wisdom and encouragement to impart to others who seem to be going down.......
Don't waste the gifts of wisdom and the bits of light that God has given you by not being thankful for them and sharing with others.
And remember Who it is that calms those terrifying storms.  Remember Who it is that keeps you alive and loves you.......and saves you.  Remember the name of Jesus.  Remember how He has taken the wind right out of the sails and cleared the storm in an instant.  There are people around you and in your life who need to know they are not without help.  Share with them what you know.