The Lord Is Our Shepherd
This section will ultimately be the only thing that matters one day. I can share my life with you, pictures of my family, our ranch; share it’s history with you, but some day all of that won’t matter much. And when that day arrives I don’t want the Lord to ask me why I shared all of that…but never mentioned Him to you. Today more than ever I feel the need to do that.
We are truly in the midst of an amazing transformation movement set on dismantling our nation by removing God and any reference to him from our schools,our lives, our nation. I believe as Christians we must stand up and declare him as our Lord and Savior. I’m dedicating this section to sharing any positive reinforcement I get with you.
Andy
My folks have been instrumental in keeping our family intact. Their faith in God has always been center of our world. Everything has revolved around it. My dad has served on many boards and committees and held many offices, but the highlight of his life was when Oklahoma Christian University awarded him his Honorary Doctorate degree. He had served that college for over 40 years as a board member when he received this honor.
“For they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run and not grow weary, they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31
This verse from Isaiah is inscribed on the cross monument that overlooks our family’s cemetery. I guess you could say, it’s our mission and vision statement all wrapped up in one. Our mission is to serve God. Our vision is to “keep on keeping on” Without the Lord, that just won’t happen, especially in this day and age.
Check out this YouTube video for some poignant inspiration
My dear friend, Betty, suggested the following site to me. It is very uplifting. I’ll share…
“Andy, this is the devotion subscription that I was telling you about the other day. Lorenzo wrote today, some days his wife, Jennifer, writes and sometimes one of their older children writes. I think it is so down to earth and needed, as well as very good and inspirational.”
Betty
Luke 5:27-28 New International Version
After this, Jesus saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. “Follow me,” Jesus said to him, and Levi got up, left everything and followed him.
Marvin Gaye, the late great soul singer of the 70’s, had a hit entitled, “Oh Mercy, Mercy Me!” Some of you may be too young to remember it, but it could just as well have been called, “Levi’s Song,” because mercy is the moral of this man’s story. Known as Matthew the disciple by most, Levi was undeniably an outcast. His nation, Israel, considered him a traitor because he collected taxes from them for the Roman Empire. And the religious community considered him unclean and unfit for God. But along came Jesus, strolling by his tax office one day, ready to change his life forever. There is an old Hebrew word for mercy called hesed which means “covenant love.” This is a love born out of desire, not duty. This love can never be earned and it cannot be known by hard work, or following all the rules perfectly. It is the result of one’s willingness toward another. And for that reason, religious, “high and mighty” people might not ever taste its fruit. And that’s exactly what Jesus gave to Levi that day.
I love the picture the Message Bible paints of Jesus’ attitude toward Levi and his friends, verses the self-righteous Pharisees: Later when Jesus was eating supper at Matthew’ house with his close followers, a lot of disreputable characters came and joined them. When the Pharisees saw him keeping this kind of company, they threw a fit, and lit into Jesus’ followers. “What kind of example is this from your Teacher, acting cozy with crooks and riff-raff?” Jesus, overhearing, shot back, “Who needs a doctor: the healthy or the sick? Go figure out what this Scripture means: ‘I’m after mercy, not religion.’ I’m here to invite outsiders, not to coddle insiders.”
Levi (Matthew) is yet another testimony of God’s unconventional style of leadership selection. He is all about the heart. He is all about real relationship. Human perfection isn’t worth “a hill of beans” to him. He is all about mercy, or hesed. Don’t hurt your brain by trying to comprehend it, just open up your heart, get up from your tax booth, like Levi, and receive His love for you. You and I are chosen by God and He longs for us to share His mercy with everyone around us. In a world that often judges by demand, duty, and appearance, a little mercy goes a long way! We are evidence to the world that God loves them. And it is only through mercy and kindness that most people can ever get it. Help find a way to bring mercy to someone’s life today, and take some for yourself while you’re at it!
Dunford Family Ministries
click to sign up
Climb Happiness Hill
A book I’d like to suggrest: “Climb Happiness Hill” by Alan Bryan. My folks have had this book for over 25 years. My dad has used it for his adult and teenage bible class many times over the years. It’s a simple little book, but with so many great suggestions for living a Christian life. I believe you can still get them on Amazon.
Here are Mr. Bryan’s 12 Rules for Happiness which he covers in detail in the book
- live a simple life
- spend less than you earn
- think constructively
- cultivate a yielding disposition
- be grateful
- rule you moods
- give generously
- work with right motives
- be interested in others
- live in day tight compartments…one day at a time
- have a hobby
- keep close to God
Mmm I think I need to reread it.
Some More Great Christian Links
America Is a Christian Nation (click video”America A Christian Nation”)
I have a wonderful friend who guided me to her church’s website; Central Church of Christ from Amarillo, TX. I just got on tonight and listened to the first sermon on Joshua. It was a wonderful message. I’m looking forward to listening to all of them.
Central Church of Christ in Amarillo