A Perfect Restoration

“He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.” Psalm 23:3

Restoration is a most excellent word.  The idea of something dirty and decayed returned to its original state is a beautiful thing. Early in my ministry the LORD gave me the ability to repair broken vehicles. While this was a way to support my family and ministry I have found great pleasure in looking at the result of the repair and seeing the vehicle returned to its original beauty.  I must say however, I always found something about my job that I didn’t care for, some imperfection was always found.

When the Good Shepherd restores the soul it is perfect without any imperfection, just perfect!  When GOD looks upon His restoration He can look at you without seeing all the imperfections you once had. You are cleaner than a new baby!

The Good Shepherd never leaves the restored, He never forsakes them to be on their own.  He leads them gently on His path of righteousness.  Your soul is stamped with the Name of JESUS!

I feel the vigor deep in my soul.

I’m raptured in His grace.

I feel so very fresh and clean

And fear can’t find it’s space.

I follow behind the Shepherds lead,

His path so crystal clear.

He watches every step I take,

That like Himself, I will appear! 

“The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.

The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.

The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.

More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.” Psalm 19:7-10

Grassy Fields and Fresh Water

“He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.” Psalm 23:2

The Good Shepherd leeds His sheep to the tender grass. These are the first shoots that break the ground not the old bitter grass about to seed.  Sweet to the taste and pleasant to take in.  The Good Shepherd always gives the best for His sheep!

He takes His sheep to the still waters where there is no confusion or fear.  Not still in the sense of stagnant but the ones that run with a gentle flow.  Fresh, clean water to refresh and strengthen the sheep. The Good Shepherd brings His sheep to pure undulated waters! 

The Shepard brought me to a place so fine.

With gentle waters, fresh grass sublime.

When I laid my head down to rest and sleep.

I found myself at the Shepards feet.

Oh, the perfect peace the Shepard gives.

To all the sheep, that are continually His.

“He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.” Isaiah 40:11

Seeking Our Shepherd (SOS)

“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.” Psalm 23:1 

This Psalm and the LORD’s prayer are most likely the two most committed to memory from the Bible.  Within these two runs the same thought, a relationship between man and GOD!

The idea of having a personal relationship with the ALMIGHTY is beyond comprehension and yet it’s fact.  He is “my” Shepherd!  Yes, He can be the shepherd of others, but He is mine! 

It is important for sheep to follow the shepherd. If we claim this verse we must also be following.  If not it does not pertain to you and this rest of this beautiful Psalm are just words for those that have a real, “born again” relationship with the SHEPHERD!  Is He your Shepherd?

Once I strayed in the field

Not knowing where to go.

Wandering from here to there

Going along with all the flow.

Life had no real meaning to me

I was aimlessly moving along.

Thinking this was all there was

And all my hope was gone.

Then I heard the Shepherd’s voice,

“Come follow Me”.

I no longer I walk without great hope

“The Good Shepherd” mine you see! 

“Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.” John 10:7-18

Proclamation and Declaration

“They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this.” Psalm 22:31

Out of Heaven and to the ends of the earth comes the proclamation and declaration, “It is finish!”, CHRIST has come, He has defeated sin and death! No longer does sin, suffering and shame have to take control over mankind.  

This Psalm is the story of the redeemer, the “Good News” of the victory we have in JESUS, “He hath done this”! He took our sins, all sin, past, present and future and nailed them to the cross.  CHRIST took the sin of the Garden of Eden to the Garden at Golgotha and buried it forever!

We started with the suffering and ended with the victory, “He hath done this”, all of it without help, He did it alone, for you and for me!  This is “Good News” it’s effect should cause all to join with the choir of Heaven in the proclamation and declaration from generation to generation.  

This Psalm ends as Matthew’s Gospel does. They both exhort  us to go and tell the story.  It is impossible to understand how anyone could even help but not tell of this so great grace.  Even those JESUS told to keep quite couldn’t stop themselves!  How about you?

Freedom lives and death sting dies.

My JESUS, He does amaze.

Now all of the days, of my life,

I’ll shout of His Glory with praise!

Now I’ve been accused of talking to much,

About my SAVIOR divine.

But there’s nothing I can do but speak of His grace,

JESUS gave His own life for mine!

“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” Matthew 28:18-20

From Hollow to Holy

“A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation.” Psalm 22:30

What JESUS did for mankind on the cruel cross of Calvary, made it possible to change a barren land into the land of the free and living.  A place once ugly with pain and strife could now be changed.

He was planted in a tomb but it couldn’t hold Him!  He rose from the grave!  His love and kindness spreads across the barren lands from generation to generation giving hope to the hopeless and life to the dead in sin!

Just a single seed

Planted for a lawn.

Seems to be so silly.

Until the dirt was gone.

What used to be so barren

Turned to green, with life.

It spread across the empty

Beauty replaced the strife. 

“Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.” Isaiah 53:10

Who Owns You

“All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive his own soul.” Psalm 22:29

It has been said that the prosperous receive their reward in this life.  The statement is contrary to the Word of GOD.  It was not only the lowly and feeble that CHRIST died for, it was for all, for the rich and the poor, the weak and the strong, to all He prepared the way of life.  Making it possible for all to sit at His table and eat.

It is not what we possess on this earth that brings peace.  If so we are misunderstanding what real peace is.  It is what possesses us that really counts!  That is, “Christ in you the hope of glory” and “GOD is not a respecter of persons”.  

Which one of us has the ability to keep ourselves from the penalty of sin? “it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment”.  Only JESUS can save the souls of men.  It’s not what you own but who owns you!

Peace is forgiveness 

A promises to all.

To the rich and the poor

For the big and the small.

JESUS gave His life

To all that receive.

Forgiveness of sin.

To all that believe.

Only JESUS can give you peace!

“And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7

OVER ALL

“For the kingdom is the LORD'S: and he is the governor among the nations.” Psalm 22:28

Who is the King of the Kingdom of the LORD? The answer is of course written within the sentence. The LORD is! He is the Potter that made the pottery! He is the Master Builder and without Him there was nothing made that was made.  

The SON is at the right hand of the FATHER. It is He alone that conquered death and the grave.  There is none other to look for other than Him.  He is the Head of the Church and watches over it as the hen does her chicks.

The HOLY GHOST regenerates and lives within those that place their trust in JESUS. He is gathering together the Saints, the Bride of CHRIST whom JESUS is preparing a place in Glory.  

The Saints are those that were washed in the Blood of The LAMB, They will rule and reign with Him as His Priests. They will follow their King on white horses at the second coming when JESUS returns to take full position of His Kingdom on earth.

Glory to the KING of KINGS

Who reigns from on high.

One day be sure, He will return.

He’ll come from the eastern sky!

He will be followed by the Saints.

On white horses they will go.

Watching as the KING of KINGs

Completely takes control!

“And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” Revelation 19:11-16

I Remember When

“All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.” Psalm 22:27

To all the world, to all people everywhere comes the story of GODs only begotten SON, His purity as man, His temptation and the sacrifice for our sin.  His brilliance and His purity illuminates the minds of sinful men and they see themselves as they are.

I remember when my sin, 

It was common place.

A life of disobedience, 

Full of much disgrace.

I never had the ability 

To keep the law of GOD.

I was my own worst enemy

Living a life, full of fraud!

Here’s the rest of the story

Of the SAVIOR pure and true.

He took my place on Calvary

And He’ll do the same for you.

Now once you see yourself

And exactly what you are.

Then take a look at JESUS

All your sin He’ll cast afar!

“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;” Titus 3:5

Full Satisfaction

“The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.” Psalm 22:26

Once those who were destitute and alienated from full satisfaction, now have the ability through CHRIST to understand what satisfaction is.  

We live today when all things but CHRIST are temporary. We eat and in a few hours or even minutes we are hungry again.  We buy something new and our satisfaction only lasts for awhile.  We have hope for a special day to come and once it comes it’s over and hope dissipates as the morning dew. Things we once thought beautiful turn to decayed memories.

The satisfaction we receive in CHRIST is everlasting, it never tarnishes or decays, our hope is real.  While we wait for the coming of our LORD we remain satisfied in His grace.  What we have today in CHRIST is but a glimpse into our future when we are complete in Him and our satisfaction is full!

I reached for dreams that never came

With a hope that wouldn’t last.

I watched as others seemed to succeed

But downward my life was cast.

Then one day I saw the Light of GOD

He took my hand in His.

He gently pulled me down my path.

Full satisfaction, now He gives!

“As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.” Psalm 17:15

Absolute Praise

“My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him.” Psalm 22:25

There can be no greater praise given to GOD than to tell the story of His grace!  The love of the FATHER that gave His only begotten SON to redeem man from the curse of law. The perfect sacrifice of the LAMB without blemish. The resurrection of the SON that defeated death and the grave.  The promise of the HOLY GHOST and the new birth for all that call on the LORD!  This is absolute praise!

People get caught up in many so called forms of praise but if you have not told the story of the wonderful grace of the FATHER, the sacrifice of the SON, the resurrection and the new birth,  you have not praised GOD at all!

I will forever proclaim the the Grace of GOD

Wherever this life will lead me.

I will praise Him with my mouth opened wide,

That all in my path can hear me!

Praise to the FATHER that gave His SON!

He heard man,s cry before Him.

And praise to the SON who suffered for all!

And the grave that could not hold Him!

Praise to the One sent, The HOLY GHOST!

And His presence that lives within me.

A new creation I am in JESUS CHRIST

Praise all Three for the grace They gave me!

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.” 2 Corinthians 5:17-19

Thank You Father

“For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard.” Psalm 22:24

The answer to every prayer ever spoken came through the death, burial and resurrection of CHRIST. 

The FATHER heard the cry of mankind and saw the need for their salvation.  Because GOD is fully righteous the obstacle that stood in the path of man was his sin.

To understand GODs eminence love for man is indeed hard to comprehend. He was not only willing to give His only begotten SON but applauded what His SON went through to accomplish the “victory that overcomes the world, even our sin"!

When I cry out to GOD, I will think of the cross

And from the grave that JESUS rose.

I will think of the pain and suffering He took

And how the FATHER, He never opposed!

In delight He looked on, at what JESUS went through

It was a “sweet smelling savour" to Him. 

All praise to the FATHER, who gave His SON

Who’s victory would remove all of man’s sin!

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:5-11

The Most Precious Jewel

“Ye that fear the LORD, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel.” Psalm 22:23

Let all creation give honor and glory to the LORD. Those that respect and love Him, all His people!  Those that were, those that are and those to come.  Give the LORD of Glory His due praise!  Let the small and the great, the simple and the wise honor His Majesty, The King! 

The fields of wheat, wave in the wind and bow their heads to The LORD.  Blades of grass and the flower stretch themselves toward the Son of the heavens!  The wolf cries out to Him and the birds sing His praises. The butterfly floats along through air giving a glimpse of His beauty.

There is no end to the praise of GOD.

Let the ends of the earth proclaim Him!

Whether man or beast simple or great.

Let us bow ourselves before Him!

He is the Master of life, the Sovereign King

And in all His Glory, let us behold Him!

He gave His most Precious Jewel, as life’s gift!

Now! with all that I have, I adore Him!

“Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.” Colossians 1:15-20

Be a Big Mouth

“I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.” Psalm 22:22

It is inconceivable for me to understand how anyone that has tasted the glorious salvation of CHRIST, to then keep quiet about it!  There are only two reason this happens.  Either that person has never truly consummated the “born again” experience or their love and appreciation for the SAVIOR is lacking.  In each case it disregards what happened on the cross and cries aloud in disgrace!

What you don’t say is as important as what you do say.  Others see your heart both ways.  If you don’t have anything to say there is something dreadfully wrong and this can be cured with a good dose of the Gospel.  

I got off my knees and began to speak

The wonderful grace of JESUS.

I had no control and I never will cease

To tell of the peace He brings us.

I’ll shout from the hill and walk the street

Proclaiming the forgiveness He gave me.

It is impossible to stop it’s deep within.

JESUS, I’ll always proclaim Thee!

“And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region.” Acts 13:49

Our Turn to Praise

“I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.” Psalm 22:22

The completion of the purpose of JESUS is now fact!  HE HAS RISEN! He has defeated death and the grave!  He has provided THE WAY for the salvation of all mankind!

Now, “I go prepare a place for you.” were His words.  “It is finished”, and done!  JESUS told them, “I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter”, The Unknown Servant, The HOLY GHOST!

Once The HOLY GHOST would indwell them, they would have The Power to proclaim and declare the so great grace of CHRIST.  “The victory that overcometh the world”!

There is no greater praise or worship you can give GOD than to spread the saving grace of JESUS!  CHRIST gave His all for us, now it is our turn to give our all for Him!  Tell someone about JESUS!

I will spread Your name where ever I go.

The saving grace of JESUS.

I’ll go to the mountain high and speak aloud

That Your Kingdom always increases.

But my LORD let me not forget the neighbor

That lives beside me.

For if not me, who will it be

To tell them the story of JESUS!

“These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” John 14:25-26

Save Me

“Save me from the lion's mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns.” Psalm 22:21

The greatest deliverance ever accomplished, was the victory over sin!  It took a sinless life to pay the penalty for sin.  Only JESUS had the ability to end the curse of death and the grave.  

Never think this was easy to accomplish.  Even though JESUS was GOD in the flesh, He faced every temptation, every vile thought and all the weakness of the flesh and He sinned not!

Every deliverance starts with two words, “Safe Me”!  This prayer to the One with the authority to answer will always bring the victory.  Yes, I said always!  Only the faithless believe otherwise!  

So when you are at your wits end,

There is a place to go.

To the One that’s been there before,

JESUS will make you whole!

He will lift you from your pain.

He will hear your cry.

Just ask Him to save you now.

His love, He will apply!

“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:12

"My Darling"

“Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog.” Psalm 22:20

JESUS is now faced in a state of total mental exhaustion.  It has all come tumbling down upon Him.  The weight of all the elements of depression and anxiety were present with Him.  Every mental challenge you, I or anyone has ever faced, JESUS felt all at one time!  I can’t even imagine what He was going through!

“Deliver  my soul” was His cry.  The word ‘deliver’ in the text means, ‘snatch away’, to remove and ‘rescue’.  JESUS cries out to His “Darling”!  To whom else could He go? The FATHER was His Only One!

The example JESUS gives us is to always understand in the end of everything GOD is our Darling, our Only One.  There is no other help greater then His!  When we are faced with the impossible we must go to the One that makes all things possible!

The FATHER delivered JESUS, 

Now JESUS will deliver you!

Trust wholly in the SAVIOR

Deliverance will come through!

Release all your burdens.

Place them at His feet.

Trust your Darling JESUS

Your trials He’ll defeat! 

“Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.” John 6:67-69

* “My Darling” most likely refers to soul.  The thought in this was my own.

At the End of Self

“But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me.” Psalm 22:19

While it is difficult for us to comprehend the extreme pain the SAVIOR went through for us leading to and on the cross, it is equally hard to understand the mental pressure as well.

The cross was the consummation of thirty three years of agony for JESUS!  From the beginning, even at His birth, His life was faced with constant trouble!  As man CHRIST was at the end of Himself and knew His only help came from the FATHER.

I don’t believe JESUS was asking the FATHER to spare Him from the death of the cross, that was His goal, but I do believe He was asking the FATHER for the help to Conquer what He was faced with.

We the people the LORD came to save, must understand we also have to come to the end of ourselves and rely on Him. This alone will put an end to the sting of death and conquer the grave!

Here I was now all alone, 

Not knowing where to turn.

All my strength had left me, 

My heart began to churn.

Where could I go to get the help, 

I so desperately need to know?

I will look to the cross of Calvary 

And trusting JESUS, I will go!

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:6

Naked for Our Shame

“They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.” Psalm 22:18

The LORD was stripped of His clothes, as was the custom of the Roman crucification.  There He was hanging helplessly naked before the world to see.

This still another picture of the humiliation JESUS took upon Himself!  It was our humiliation, all ours!

The Word of GOD has much to say about nakedness within its pages, mostly of the disgrace of it.  After the fall in the garden Adam and Eve stood naked exposing themselves before GOD.  Once the beauty of their creation was polluted it now became shame and needed to be covered!  Hence the need of sacrifice!  JESUS was the naked sacrifice before the world.  The blood sacrifice that covers sin!

Isn’t it strange how the world misguides and changes the Word of GOD?  We are told nakedness is beautiful to behold, it is art.  While GODs word calls it shame, man says it isn’t, we should be proud of what we are.  Something to think about, when naked in the garden, God clothed them and ever sense the world has tried to remove clothes to expose their nakedness!  Cloth yourselves with CHRIST!

JESUS was there in all my shame 

Naked for all to see!

It was my sin that put Him there, 

Hanging from that dreadful tree!

Oh LORD forgive all my sin

And keep me close to Thee.

Thank You for my shame you took

Upon the wretched tree!

“Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:” Revelation 3:17