THE SHEPHERD'S VOICE
THE NEWSLETTER FOR THE SAN FRANCISCO, SAN LEANDRO AND TRACY CONGREGATIONS OF THE WORLDWIDE CHURCH OF GOD
September, 2001
Volume 1, Issue 2
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Highlights From this Issue
I am Blessed Above All
The Baptism
Things Aren’t Always What They Seem
Thoughts to Live By
In the Valleys I Grow
We Never Walk Alone
I am Blessed Above All
Name Withheld by Request
I am blessed above all because in my poverty I have far more than most who live on this earth. Each day, I throw more in the trash than most families in other countries have to survive on. I rarely miss a meal. I have so much food to chose from that it is difficult to avoid eating too much.
I am blessed above all because I have a small run-down house. I don't have to live in a tent or a hut with a dirt floor like so many who have gone before me. I have hot and cold running water so I don't have to carry my water from the village well. I sleep in a warm bed in a heated house. When I am cold, I turn the heater on. I don't have to chop wood to keep from freezing to death. When I am bored I listen to high fidelity audio or choose from hundreds of television channels. Even kings in past times did not have the luxuries that I take for granted.
I am blessed above all because I don't have to work in the fields all day long. I work in an air-conditioned office and complain about how tired I am after sitting all day in a chair. I have never lived like a slave, in fear of the whip. I have never worked myself to death just trying to survive. I am blessed above all be cause my car is not new and luxurious. I have never had to carry all my possessions on my back. I have to make myself get up and walk once in a while. I forget that many don't even have shoes to wear. My car is old, but reliable.
I am blessed above all because I am sick. I dread the medical procedures I have to face, but I forget that most of the world has never seen a doctor. I have already lived longer than most people did in times past. And most of my illnesses are self-inflicted because I eat too much and forget to exercise.
I am blessed above all because I live in a country that cherishes freedom. I can go to church and worship God in the way I choose. I don't have to worry about being executed for daring to preach Christ. I don't have to hide my Bible for fear that the police will arrest me. Instead, I have to admit that I have sometimes hidden my Bible in shame because I did not want to be different from my friends.
I am blessed above all because I live in a peaceful country. For most of my life, I have seen peace. In many parts of the world, all that the people have seen is war and suffering.
I am blessed above all because my community is safe. I can leave the house at night without fear of being shot down in my tracks. I don't have to fear renegade militia or organized criminals that control the government. I am protected by laws that are designed to let me live in peace. In other parts of the world, the laws protect the wealth of the few in power and allow everything to be taken away from the weak.
I am blessed above all because God has seen fit to protect my country. I hear others say that God is judging my country for tolerating homosexuals or abortionists. I remember that it is the very freedom that blesses me which allows others to live without my values. I marvel that even though some of my leaders have no morals and poor character, in times of crisis, it seems that the right person is always in charge.
I live in a nation that has more wealth, prosperity and freedom than any other nation in human history. The wealth of my nation has blessed every other country on the globe, including my nation's enemies. Even when my enemies strike at me, I know that I am safe.
I am blessed above all because I live in a country unlike any other country on earth, at any time in human history. I know that government conceived by human minds can never be perfect, but until Jesus Christ returns, this is the best that the human race has ever seen.
I am blessed above all because I am an American!
The Baptism
By Jeanette Sherron
The water covered my body as I was slowly lowered into it. I was thinking, am I doing this for the right reasons? Do I understand fully what it means to let my old self be drowned in the water, and my new self be born again in Christ? I'd thought about it for days now - studied about it, and for it.
I feel afraid - not unsure of my decision, but can I be right enough, clean enough inside for Jesus to live in me? To keep my thoughts pure, to pray, study the Bible and witness like I'm supposed to? I now have to take action on my decision - I have to do these things!
As I came up out of the water everyone was smiling, clapping, holding hands and singing. (Bind us Together.) I was thinking "That is what I'm doing! Binding together with Christ."
We are having a Potluck today. It is a double service and I'm the guest of honor! No really, Christ is the guest of honor. What I must do now in my every thought is that I must put him first.
As I think about it, this is the single most important thing that has ever affected my life; in absolutely everything I do and think. I must constantly remind myself not to think in certain ways, to forgive people who I think have offended me and understand people who are different from me. I must love my fellow man, and that is a very hard thing for me to do in some cases.
I feel bad some days because I know that I fall short of the Glory of Christ. I think about how he suffered on the cross for me, to forgive me and I realize that I am only human after all. That is why I'm still here. I think about it a lot while hoping that I can maybe touch someone's life today or help someone. That is what makes it worthwhile to live on this earth.
Some days I think that I won't make it. I'm down on myself, but that is just what the forces that fight against my new birth want me to think. I know that I have been warned against this, so why do I continue to think negative thoughts? I also have to fight the desire to go back to my old self or my old habits - I don’t want to do this but I still do. I don't know why I've let myself slip again, let other things get in the way. I haven't studied scriptures lately. What's wrong with me? I'm getting lax. Father, I need your help to focus me again. I know that I slipped. Just pull on my hand to get me back on the path. I know you aren't going to let me get too far away from you. You never have. You love me.
Sometimes I wonder why you let me slip? I guess you're just testing me, but you know how weak I am and you know how far you will let me slip before you snatch me back. Sometimes I get worried. Then I remember Job and I realize that the little I go through is nothing. I know that you are teaching me your ways.
Lord, as long as we can have these talks I'll be OK. I'll be strong to fight the good fight.
Things Aren't Always What They Seem
Submitted by Robert Jackson
Two traveling angels stopped to spend the night in the home of a wealthy family. The family was rude and refused to let the angels stay in the guest room. Instead, the angels were given a small space in the cold basement, with no blankets. As they made their bed on the hard floor, the senior angel saw a hole in the wall and repaired it. When the junior angel asked why, the senior angel replied, "Things aren't always what they seem."
The next night the pair came to rest at the house of a very poor, but very hospitable farmer and his wife. After sharing what little food they had, the couple let the angels sleep in their bed where they could have a good night's rest.
When the sun came up the next morning the angels found the farmer and his wife in tears. Their only cow, whose milk had been their sole income, lay dead in the feld. The junior angel was infuriated and asked the senior angel, "How could you have let this happen?" "The first man had everything, and was rude to us, yet you helped him", he accused. "The second family had little but was willing to share everything, and you let the cow die."
"Things aren't always what they seem," the senior angel replied. "When we stayed in the basement of the mansion, I noticed there was gold stored in that hole in the wall. Since the owner was so obsessed with greed and unwilling to share his good fortune, I sealed the wall so that he wouldn't find it. Then last night as we slept in the farmer’s bed, the angel of death came for his wife. I gave him the cow instead."
Things aren't always what they seem.
Thoughts to Live By
Submitted by Jeanette Sherron
And last but not least—God gave the angels wings, and He gave humans CHOCOLATE!
In the Valleys I Grow
Submitted by Robert Jackson
Sometimes life seems hard to bear,
Full of sorrow, trouble and woe.
It's then I have to remember
That it's in the valleys I grow.
If I always stayed on the mountain top
And never experienced pain,
I would never appreciate God's vast love
And would be living in vain.
I have so much to learn
And my growth is very slow,
Sometimes I need the mountain tops,
But it's in the valleys I grow.
I do not always understand
Why things happen as they do,
But I am very sure of one thing.
My Lord will see me through.
My little valleys are nothing
When I picture Christ on the cross,
He went through the valley of death;
His victory was Satan's loss.
Forgive me Lord, for complaining
When I'm feeling so very low.
Just give me a gentle reminder
That it's in the valleys I grow.
Continue to strengthen me,
Lord And use my life each day
To share your love with others
And help them find their way.
Thank you for valleys, Lord
For this one thing I know
The mountain tops are glorious
But it's in the valleys I grow!
We Never Walk Alone
By Nita Davis
When we walk with our Creator we will never walk alone.
No matter what the distance we'll always be at home.
As we listen for His voice blows through a willow.
Never be afraid. For the palm of His hand is our pillow.