Your Shield and Your Shepherd

This God—his way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.- II Samuel 22:31

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in oaths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me." - Psalm 23:1-4

"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep." - John 10:11

"I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father, and I lay down my life for the sheep." - John 10:14-15

Dear God, 

You are a shield to those who trust You. You will shield me from danger and fear. You are my Sheoherd. You always watch over me. You will make sure I have everything I need. You are taking care of me. God, please keep close watch over the least of these as those monster republicans yet again attack the ACA, SNAP, and now even social security. There is not a safety net they haven't attacked this year. Please intervene and protect the least of these who rely on those safety nets. 

Thank You.

In Jesus' Name,

Amen

The Good Shepherd

Isaiah 26:7 - The path of the righteous is level; you make level the way of the righteous.

John 10:14-15 - "I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father, and I lay down my life for the sheep."

Dear God, thank You for being the Good Shepherd who does protect me from harm and refuses to allow me to go astray and leave the flock. When Tom claimed he was a shepherd when he hurt me and yet also acknowledged that what his church had done to me was wrong but still allowed it to happen, I honestly do not believe that he fully grasped the fact that a shepherd does not harm any sheep either. But he evidenced that he would rather forget the injured sheep and leave it behind instead of trying to rescue it from danger. Grace? Not there. The evil one? Was in that church. They made it clear that autistic people and other people with special needs are not welcome there. A good shepherd cares for all the sheep that enter his fold, whether they are sick or injured or whole. They never let them fall off a cliff. So thank You, God, that You are not just a good shepherd but that You are the Good Shepherd. You care about all Your sheep. And You never exclude them or throw them under a bus. Thank You. In Jesus' Name, Amen!