The 23rd Psalm

The twenty-third Psalm

This is an eye opener; some probably never thought nor looked at Psalm 23 in this way, even though they say it over and over again.

The Lord is my Shepherd That's Relationship!

I shall not want That's Supply!

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures That's Rest!

He leadeth me beside the still waters That's refreshment!

He restoreth my soul That's Healing!

He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness That's Guidance

For His name sake That's Purpose!

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death

That's Testing!

I will fear no evil That's Protection!

For Thou art with me That's Faithfulness!

Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me That's Discipline!

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies
Thou anointest my head with oil That's Consecration!

My cup runneth over That's Abundance!

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life

That's Blessing!

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever That's Eternity

Face it, the Lord is crazy about about you. What is valuable, is not what we have in our lives but WHO we have in our lives. God provides our every need.
Today was a good day, I woke up breathing.

Have a good one.

pray for our troops

"Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. I ask this in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Amen."

A little prayer

In case anyone is interested, Saint Theresa is known as the Saint of the Little Ways. Meaning she believed in doing the little things in life well and with great love.

She is also the patron Saint of flower growers and florists. She is represented by roses.

St. Theresa's Prayer:

May today there be peace within.
May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.
May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith. May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you....
May you be content knowing you are a child of God....
Let His presence settle into your bones,
and allow your soul the freedom to sing,
dance,
praise
and love.
It is there for each and every one of us.

In Jesus' Name,
Amen

Dietrich Bonhoeffer | International Dietrich Bonhoeffer Society

Dietrich Bonhoeffer | International Dietrich Bonhoeffer Society

Have you ever heard of this guy? There was an awesome biography on him on PBS the other night. He was a German pastor and theologian who was part of a plot to assasinate Hitler.

Very cool stuff, read some of his writings, he's excellent.

Church History Book & Blog

I am putting together a history of our church for it's anninversary comittee. Since I had all these stories and pictures. AndI thought I'd throw a "blog" together.

Follow this link -http://stjohnchrteroak.blogspot.com

My home church in Phoenix, Christ Church Lutheran had a website-http://www.cclphoenix.org

Our Church in California, Bethlehem Lutheran had an AWESOME website- www.followthestar.com or http://forministry.com/USCALUCMSBLC1

I guess that I'd love to see our church now have a website. But, the committee has concerns that this new blog may make people decide not to buy a copy of the history book... so I may end up deleting it soon. Take a look and let me (or the church office) know if you like it.

Daddy's Chair

Daddy's Chair

A man's daughter had asked the local minister to come and pray with her father. When the minister arrived, he found the man lying in bed with his head propped up on two pillows. An empty chair sat beside his bed. The minister assumed that the old fellow had been informed of his visit. "I guess you were expecting me, he said. "No, who are you?" said the father. The minister told him his name and then remarked, "I saw the empty chair and I figured you knew I was going to show up," "Oh yeah, the chair," said the bedridden man. "Would you mind closing the door?" Puzzled, the minister shut the door. "I have never told anyone this, not even my daughter," said the man. "All of my life I have never known how to pray. At church I used to hear the pastor talk about prayer, but it went right over my head," " I abandoned any attempt at prayer," the old man continued, "until one day four years ago, my best friend said to me, "Johnny, prayer is just a simple matter of having a conversation with Jesus. Here is what I suggest. "Sit down in a chair; place an empty chair in front of you, and in faith see Jesus on the chair. It's not spooky because he promised, 'I will be with you always'. "Then just speak to him in the same way you're doing with me right now." "So, I tried it and I've liked it so much that I do it a couple of hours every day. I'm careful though, If my daughter saw me talking to an empty chair, she'd either have a nervous breakdown or send! Me off to the funny farm."

The minister was deeply moved by the story and encouraged the old man to continue on the journey. Then he prayed with him, anointed him with oil, and returned to the church.

Two nights later the daughter called to tell the minister that her daddy had died that afternoon. Did he die in peace?" he asked. Yes, when I left the house about two o'clock, he called me over to his bedside, told me he loved me and kissed me on the cheek. When I got back from the store an hour later, I found him dead. But there was something strange about his death. Apparently, just before Daddy died, he leaned over and rested his head on the chair beside the bed. What do you make of that?" The minister wiped a tear from his eye and said, "I wish we could all go like that."

Send this to four people or more, and do not break this, please. Prayer is one of the best free gifts we receive.

I asked God for water,
He gave me an ocean.
I asked God for a flower,
He gave me a garden.
I asked God for a friend,
He gave me all of YOU...

If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.
Happy moments, praise God.
Difficult moments, seek God.
Quiet moments, worship God
Painful moments, trust God.
Every moment, thank God.

Prayers for all week

Monday
Wash Day

Lord, help me wash away all my selfishness and vanity, so I may serve you with perfect humility through the week ahead.

Tuesday
Ironing Day

Dear Lord, help me iron out all the wrinkles of prejudice I have collected though the years so that I may see the beauty in others.

Wednesday
Mending Day

Oh God, help me mend my ways so I will not set a bad example for others.

Thursday
Cleaning Day

Lord Jesus, help me to dust out all the many faults I have been hiding in the secret corners of my heart.

Friday
Shopping Day

Oh God, give me the grace to shop wisely so I may purchase eternal
happiness for myself and all others in need of love.

Saturday
Cooking Day

Help me, my Savior, to brew a big kettle of brotherly love and serve it
with clean, sweet bread of human kindness.

Sunday
The Lord's Day

Oh God, I have prepared my house for you. Please come into my heart so I may spend the day and the rest of my life in your presence.

Wild Art

Check out WILD ART
that's where you'll find...

1. My paintings, drawings, and prints
2. My photographs & digital images
3. My cartoons
4. Artworks or photos by some of my students
5. Some of my favorite paintings by famous artists and why I like them.

St. Patrick's Day Prayer

I arise today Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity, Through a belief in the Threeness, Through confession of the Oneness Of the Creator of creation.

I arise today
Through the strength of Christ's birth and His baptism,
Through the strength of His crucifixion and His burial,
Through the strength of His resurrection and His ascension,
Through the strength of His descent for the judgment of doom.

I arise today
Through the strength of the love of cherubim,
In obedience of angels,
In service of archangels,
In the hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
In the prayers of patriarchs,
In preachings of the apostles,
In faiths of confessors,
In innocence of virgins,
In deeds of righteous men.

I arise today through the strength of Heaven
the rays of the sun,
the radiance of the moon,
the splendor of fire,
the speed of lightening,
the swiftness of the wind,
the depth of the sea,
the stability of the earth
the firmness of rock.

I arise today through the power of God: God's might to comfort me, God's wisdom to guide me, God's eye to look before me, God's ear to hear me, God's word to speak for me, God's hand to lead me, God's way to lie before me, God's shield to protect me, God's Heavenly Host to save me from the snares of the devil, from temptations to sin, from all who wish me ill, from near and afar, alone and with others.

May Christ shield me today
against poison and fire,
against drowning and wounding,
so that I may fulfill my mission
and bear fruit in abundance.
Christ behind and before me,
Christ behind and above me,
Christ with me and in me,
Christ around and about me,
Christ on my right and on my left,
Christ when I lie down at night,
Christ when I rise in the morning,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone that speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.

Death

A sick man turned to his doctor, as he was preparing to leave the examination room and said, "Doctor, I am afraid to die. Tell me what lies on the other side." Very quietly, the doctor said, "I don't know." You don't know? You, a Christian man, do not know what is on the other side?"
The doctor was holding the handle of the door; on the other side came a sound of scratching and whining,

and as he opened the door,

a dog sprang into the room

and leaped on him with an eager show of gladness. Turning to the patient, the doctor said, "Did you notice my dog? He's never been in this room before. He didn't know what was inside. He knew nothing except that his master was here, and when the door opened, he sprang in without fear. I know little of what is on the other side of death, but I do know one thing ... I know my Master is there and that is enough."

pick four

God still sits on the throne.

Each and everyone one of us are going through tough times right now, but God is getting ready to bless you in a way that only He can. Keep the faith.

My instructions were to pick four (4) people that I wanted God to bless, and I picked you. Please pass this to at least four (4) people
you want to be blessed and a copy back to me.

This prayer is powerful, and prayer is one of the best gifts we receive. There is no cost but a lot of rewards. Let's continue to pray for one another.

The prayer:

Father, I ask You to bless my friends, relatives and those that I care deeply for, who are reading this right now. Show them a new revelation of Your love and power. Holy Spirit, I ask You to minister to their spirit at this very moment. Where there is pain, give them Your peace and mercy.

Where there is self-doubt, release a renewed confidence through Your grace.

Where there is need, I ask you to fulfill their needs. Bless their homes, families, finances, their goings and their comings. In Jesus' precious name.

Amen.

(If the Lord lays upon your heart to send this to more than four "4" people, you are truly blessed).

From 'Feelings Buried Alive Never Die' By Karol K. Truman

Repeat the phrases with each beginning (example: I choose to be joyful. I feel joyful I am joyful.)

Prayer:

I choose Forgiveness

I feel Forgiveness

I AM Forgiven.

I choose Honor

I feel Honored

I AM Honored

Spirit, please locate the origin of the feelings that keep me from liking and loving myself, Take each and every level, layer, area. and aspect of my Be-ing to this these origins. Analyze and resolve it/them perfectly with Gods truth. Come through all generations of time and eternity healing ever\ incident and its appendages based on the origin. Do it according to God s will until I’m at the present, filled with light and truth. God peace and love: forgiveness of myself for my incorrect perceptions: forgiveness of every person, place. circumstance and event which contributed to these feelings. With total forgiveness and unconditional love I allow every physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual problem and inappropriate behavior based on the negative origin recorded in my DNA. to transform. I choose liking myself. I feel to like myself. I am liking myself. I choose loving myself. I feel love for myself. I am loving myself. I give myself permission to like and love myself. I feel worthy of this love.

It is done. It is healed. It is accomplished now!

Thank you. Spirit, for coming to my aid and helping me attain the fulI measure of my creation. Thank you, thank you, thank you! I love You and praise God from whom all blessings flow.