Thursday, October 15, 2020

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 over the phone.

But I trust that God will comfort my young friend just as he comforted me.

Philippians 4:7 (NET) - And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

True comfort can be found in Jesus.

Thanks to Him, death is not the end but merely a transition.

True peace can be found in God; the peace that exceeds all understanding.

One day, my young friend will truly discover this just as I did.

He will also learn something else.

The love we have endures.

No matter how much time passes, we continue to love those who have died.

Not even death has the power to alter that.

In reflection, one thing does concern me.

Although the LORD provides true peace and comfort, we are meant to comfort others as well.

We were meant to be part of a community.

One day the pandemic will be but a memory.

Will we have grown comfortable with distance?

I certainly hope not.

I pray God will help us truly be close once more to comfort one another.


Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, October 23, 2020.

I’ll be back here on Friday, November 6, 2020

 

Thursday, October 1, 2020

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 leads them where he wants them to go, to places where they need to be.

These may not necessarily be places where they would go on their own.

I know people who have raised sheep.

Being compared to them is not necessarily a compliment.

Sheep are stubborn.

Left on their own. they can quickly find themselves in trouble.

That is why sheep require a good shepherd in order to thrive… and so do we.

Jesus reminds us that He is the Good Shepherd.

John 16:14 (NRSV) - I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me,

Christ knows us and we know Him.

Just like a good shepherd guides his flock, so Jesus guides us.

His is the voice that tells us to love God and to love our neighbor.

In a world full of uncertainty, we can take comfort.

We can completely rely on our Good Shepherd to guide us.

 

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, October 9, 2020.

I’ll be back here on Friday, October 16, 2020

Because Jesus is THE Way, THE Truth and THE Life

Jesus

Jesus is the Way, the Truth and Life

God Bless You

Blessings