Reflections on the Road: Week Eleven

Reflections on the Road

Week Eleven

Corrected by the Good Shepherd

Focus Passage: Psalm 23

Focus Verse: Psalm 23:4

Bible Reading: John 3-9

      There was an interesting article from a newspaper in Saint Joseph Missouri.  Dennis and Cindy Kovac, concerned when their daughter collected her second speeding ticket, issued a warning—to other drivers.  They put a bumper sticker on her car that reads, “If I’m Speeding, Call My Parents,” and lists the family’s phone number.  So far at least at the time of the publication of this article, there have been no calls and no more speeding tickets—just a little ribbing from schoolmates. Her parents are pleased with the results. “That sticker may save some lives,” Cindy Kovac said.

       Each one reading this can recall a time when your parents had to correct you or discipline you.  That correction was not very fun at that moment but it left an imprint (not just a handprint) on your life.  The Bible makes it clear that if a parent loves their child they lovingly correct them.  To allow a child to go wild without boundaries and discipline is one of the most unloving things a parent could do.  The same can be said about our relationship with the Good Shepherd.  The sheep continues his testimony in verse four with these closing words "Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me."  The rod and the staff were traditional tools for each shepherd.  The shepherd would wield them against wild animals that came against his flock or use them to direct sheep back on the correct path.  It could also be a tool of rescue.  But that isn't their only use.  These tools were also used by the shepherd to correct a sheep that was disobedient.  Sheep wander aimlessly and need constant correction.  The Good Shepherd uses these tools to gently tap the animal to go the right way.  God does the same thing with us.  We need correction because we stray and disobey.  We become stubborn and bullheaded and think that our way is better.  We wonder in the fields of sin grazing and Jesus comes to correct us.  He lovingly disciplines us as His spiritual children because He has better things for us than the trifles of sin.  His fields, waters, and ways are better.  But notice when the sheep seems most tempted to stray, in the valley of the shadow of death, in a moment of defeat and difficulty.  It is in those moments where we fear or our faith melts like snow in the heat.  In those moments we try to recoil to our own judgment or understanding.  God sees this and knows this and jumps to action with tools of correction...tools to put us back on the right back to obedience.  Remember, God does not correct you because He's angry or mad at you, but because He loves you!

Reflections on the Road

Take a moment to look back at the moments when the Good Shepherd corrected you.  We didn't have a party saying "Yippy I'm being disciplined" but we rejoice in the aftermath, we rejoice that God loved us enough and we were of such high value to God that He would patiently and lovingly correct you.  He didn't leave you to your devices and in the mire of sin.  He chose to let you know that there was a better way, His way.  If God is correcting you right now, repent, surrender, yield.

CIM May Update

 

Churches In Missions  P.O. Box 1559 Sanford, NC 27331

“Mobilizing the Church Through Short-term Missions”

Blessed friends,

      A famous preacher one time said that God’s power is unleashed when God’s people pray.  My family and I have been encouraged and humbled by your prayers for us these past months.  Your prayers have been much felt as we have continued to minister at Locust Valley Bible Church.  This precious church has been such an incredible blessing.  One of CiM’s missions is to aid churches that are looking for full time pastors by filling their pulpit and assisting them in the process of finding a new pastor.  Churches looking for pastors often panic and make poor choices, feeling the need to make a quick decision. We fill the gap allowing them to be patient as they seek God’s face.  Pray that God would give this church a man that would love them and encourage them.

      Your prayers have also been felt as we have continued a growing work at our rescue mission.  In the past month we have had over a dozen people team up with us to provide physical and spiritual food at the Martinsburg Union Rescue mission!  Because of your unending prayers and support people are hearing the Gospel and getting saved!

      We also look forward to your prayers for future ministry adventures on the horizon.  Due to the pandemic two VBS’s have been canceled along with countless other Sunday engagements.  But not all is lost.  We are scheduled to speak at Frizzelburg Bible Church in Westminster Maryland on June 21^st for Father’s Day and we are still are speaking at three weeks of camp in our area, the first being the week of June 22^nd.  That week we will be at Good News camp in Waynesboro PA.  We are the camp missionaries and will be teaching Bible classes to young children.  Pray that God would give us the words to share and that the Gospel would reach into tiny little hearts.  We will also be camp missionaries in Fulton County during the week of July 13^th and teaching Bible classes at Camp ToHiGlo for their pre-teens during the week of July 20^th!  SO EXCITING!

Will you prayerfully consider partnering with us?  Missionaries are not islands in an ocean, they need a team, a strong network of people who pray for them and financially support them. A winning team is composed not of one all-star but players who work together in unison to win games.  Many of you have already joined our team and by your partnership you have allowed us to be the hands and the feet of Jesus.  We could NOT do this without you. Without you we would not be able to speak in churches, lead camps and children’s ministries in the tristate area, lead evangelism and discipleship seminars, nor plan missions’ trips in the future that will further the Gospel unto the uttermost part of the earth.  We would love to have you join the team!

Gifts sent to:  P.O. Box 51519 Durham, NC 27717

Or give online via www.churchesinmissions.org      Designate for Matt & Tiffanie Robinson

Reflections on the Road: Week Ten

Reflections on the Road

Week Ten

The Presence of the Shepherd

Focus Passage: Psalm 23

Focus Verse: Psalm 23:4

Bible Reading: Luke 20-John 2

      Storms, thunder, lightning, rain, and wind.  None of those things usually equate to a good night's sleep for anyone, but especially not for children.  There was a time a few years ago when a particularly bad storm rolled through the Panhandle of West Virginia.  The intensity of the storm shook our windows, lightning filled our rooms, and rain drove against our house.  Needless to say, our three children woke and they quickly traversed messy bedrooms, somehow by a miracle they did not get injured, and they jumped into our bed.  They were noticeably scared.  Their hearts were racing, and a few tears were being shed.  But as they nestled closer to my wife and me, their hearts became calm, their tears dried up, and they were so calm that they fell asleep.  What I found interesting is that the storm did not end when they came into our room, nor did it diminish in the least (if anything the storm got worse).  The only thing that changed in the equation was the presence of my wife and me.

      The same truth can be said about our walk as Christians.  Our last devotion ended with the valley of the shadow of death.  We mentioned that this valley is scary and doesn't seem to contrast with the green pastures and calm waters.  But this is the place where the shepherd leads.  His leading is the same, He did not direct you to this moment by mistake.  The Good Shepherd reminds us that not all of life will be mountain tops, but there will be valleys mingled along the way.  How do we manage those valleys?  Psalm 23:4 says "I will fear no evil, for thou art with me."  Notice the testimony of the sheep is not the absence of evil.  No Christian can say "I've lived a life of total ease devoid of problems."  Evil surrounds us, we are not immune to it but we need not fear it.  Evil is rearing its ugly head in our world.  Hatred, division, and depravity as evident but that does not mean we recoil to fear.  Instead, we can rest in the promise given to all of God's sheep, thou (Good Shepherd) art with me.  O' the rapture of this beautiful promise from God, o' the joy that should flood our souls!  No matter if it is the valley high or the mountain below we can know without a shadow of a doubt our Good Shepherd is with us.  Joshua 1:9 says "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”  God has not called His sheep to be enslaved to fear but to rejoice knowing that He is with us.  He has not left us nor abandoned us in the moment of distress.  He is there and He will never leave you.

Reflections on the Road:

Have you found yourself lately distressed, discouraged, depressed, etc?  Has the dark shadow of fear started to take hold of your heart?  If so, please turn off the screen and the noises that drive fear and instead open the Word of God and rest in the promise of verse four "I will fear no evil, for thou art with me."  You need not fear, the shepherd has not left you high and dry.  He is with you in the midst of this scary and uncertain time.  The Good Shepherd is Jesus, who goes by another name, Immanuel, God with us.  He is here for you and He cares for you.  Rest in His leading and unending presence.