Comfort and Peace

Leviticus 26:5 (NET) - I will grant peace in the land so that you will lie down to sleep without anyone terrifying you. I will remove harmful animals from the land, and no sword of war will pass through your land. A young friend recently called me. He had just experienced the death of his mother. I understood the loss only too well as I experienced it personally years ago. Although much time has passed for me, I remember only too well the initial shock and pain. Unfortunately, the pandemic prevents me from putting my arm around my friend. The only comforts I could offer him were words spoken...

The Good Shepherd

Psalm 23:3 (NRSV) - he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake. Psalm 23 is something special. It is among those passages of scripture we memorize very early on. We find comfort in its words. We turn to it when we are grieving the loss of a loved one. We have heard it recited at funeral services time and again. Psalm 23 begins with these timeless words… “The LORD is my shepherd.” That is why my attention currently turns to the third verse. Particularly the phrase, “He leads me in right paths.” After all, that is exactly what a good shepherd does for his sheep. He...