"He also chose David His servant, and took him from the sheepfolds; from following the ewes that had young He brought him, to shepherd Jacob His people, and Israel His inheritance. So he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart, and guided them by the skillfulness of his hands " Psalm 78: 71-72
As I come to the Lord this day I am reminded of God's unconditional love for me. Of my husbands unconditional love for me. Of my love for God, my love for Randy and my love for our family. Of my love for my family in Christ Jesus.
I think of February and I am always reminded of "love" as we all are. This month the word Valentines Day is seen everywhere and the message of love is written across balloons, on cards throughout the stores, on candy beautifully displayed and its symbolism seen in roses tied together with ribbons...all reminding us of LOVE and the many ways we can express our love to those in our lives. I encourage each of you reading this to love all those God has put in your lives; more and more each day...to never give up, to never stop loving...this is a commandment of God...and He blesses our obedience....work hard on the relationships He has given you. Love, love and love even more.
This 'holiday of sorts' Randy chose to take ownership of each year. He demonstrated the greatest love to each of us in the most specific ways...he wanted to bless me and our two daughters each February 14th, and eventually our grandchildren as they were born...wanting to set this day aside to let us know how much he loved us all. His reminder each year came with balloons, candy, roses, cards...and the greatest reminder of how thankful he was to God for us...and to ultimately remind us how much God loved each of us. His heart and hands always found tangible ways to "shepherd us according to the integrity of his heart", and "he guided us skillfully by his hands", Psalm 78:71-72, This verse reminds me of his love and life. This month carries many wonderful memories; our marriage 37 years ago, his ordination in ministry at CCR, and the truest meaning of LOVE that is encapsulated through this all, Gods love. Gods love in Randy demonstrated because of his love for Christ, me, his family, friends, and the people he served.
Last year on February 14th was no exception. Randy insisted once again to have dinner together. To remind the children of Gods love for them and his love for us. Dinner usually consisted this day with everything red! Red drinks, pizza, spaghetti and meatballs, red cake, heart shaped cookies, hearts covering the dinner table, flowers...and red lights and candles. The children each year exchanged cards and candy as we read of Gods unconditional love for them in John 3:16 and His love for us all.
These words in Psalm 78: 71-72 speak of David's life, and his example to us all through his heart and his hands in his service to God, in leading the people. It speaks of him being a chosen instrument. It speaks of an ordinary life who was then chosen to be king and how this mans story resonates with all of us who are in Christ. David's story speaks of a great love and the heart of a "man after God's own heart". How that love produced an understanding of his calling on his life. David's story tells us that our background is not a hinderance for God's purposes in our lives. If anything, our past is a very important part of how God 'wills' to use us. He uses all things for His good the scriptures tell us. As David cared for the sheep He probably had no idea of how his shepherding skills would be used and help him as king. As with us, God plans our life and desires to use the skills He has given us - the experiences we have had - in a way that will bring the greatest rewards. So may we always rejoice in our story, and tell our stories, for this is God's glory alone in action.
True love began in the heart of a young man when he met Christ in Ft Lauderdale Yankee Stadium locker room years ago as 4 years of college baseball just ended at the University of Miami. He was to go to Milwaukee with the Brewers but God interrupted those plans and the NY Yankees offered him a contract. Growing up in NJ, this was a dream of his. Little did he know that in that locker room a Bible study would begin to take place through a baseball Chaplain, and through an invitation of another player he went. There, he was also invited to accept Christ into his heart. Randy had so many things going good for him at this point and baseball provided him with great achievements through school and college but his heart was still incomplete and he felt a great void and disconnect from God and a need for forgiveness...and the purpose in knowing Him. He accepted Christ and his life begin changing. A couple months later, at the same stadium, after a game, he met me. His love for baseball God used to ultimately bring him to the Lord and to bring me to him. With these new changes came marriage, a baby and another baby...and a decision to leave baseball and not travel and get traded continually with the dream of waiting each year to get moved up into the big leagues. He had Christ, he had contentment and he had a family now.
This love that was born new in him in Christ grew as he grew as a husband and father. All the gifts he had that he used throughout baseball, his leadership on the field, his endurance and perseverance to win, his understanding to not give up against the opponent...all that he was given by God to play the game and understand the game was preparing him for yet more.
Fast forwarding to 1999, new to Virginia now and at church/CCRichmond, and the feeling he had of God stirring in his heart was not new...as God always worked this way as He prepared him for his next steps. A very unexpected and serious surgery soon led him to be still for a couple months and God confirmed to him his calling. On February 1st he was ordained to assist in shepherding this new flock. This calling came with great conviction. What God would do Randy could not even imagine. It was never his focus to think about the next big thing, only to do what was right in front of him. He trusted God to lead, to teach, to guide and to thoroughly equip him for this work. God was making it very clear to him and he was using all God had given him, preparing him early on. All that he used throughout baseball he know was using in his service to the Lord....as he kept his eye on home...which was eternal...as his early years first prepared him to run and always keep his eyes on 'home plate'.
With this calling came a heart to love with his heart and hands. This picture of a Shepherd is so rich in scripture. A heart to protect, love and guide. A picture of a shepherd who leads his sheep. The spiritual health is so critical in His church and in our families and the condition of 'our flocks' are always parallel to those who are leading. This calling begins in the flocks within our homes. This calling is our Highest calling.
At the end of Psalm 78 we read of Davids heart and hands in leading Gods people. Even when Gods people were so rebellious, God was faithful and His grace and love was displayed through Davids leading. Gods grace shown towards His people has always been displayed through godly leaders. And the importance for us to follow. Its where we understand the hope God gives, the hope of Deliverance, restoration and holy living...the hope of God as a refuge from our enemies. David was appointed to bring about the will of God in the hearts of the people...this is what godly leadership does. "THEN they REMEMBERED that God was their Rock and Most High Redeemer" Ps 78:35. A godly leader is a gift and one who inspires others...giving others a vision of all they can be in Christ. In Christ we all are called to be leaders to others in our faith - in our behavior, our words, in our actions - others are watching and following us as we think of our homes, our jobs, our ministries, our communities, our relationships...each of the places God has assigned to us. Our mandate as Ambassador's in Christ is carrying His name and representing Him... first with the aim of sharing the gospel but also in sharing our life.
The scriptures tell us that God "chose' David His servant and 'took him from the sheepfolds' (vs 70) This word I found in Greek to mean - "hairetizo" = [meaning - to take that which is eligible and suitable -- equipped by God] God himself raises us up as fathers and mothers...He raises us up to lead in Word and by through example those in our path. To lead/mentor the hearts of our children, those new in the faith, those in need of Christ. One of the most common images to this example is in the scriptures of the shepherd and his sheep. It is seen in the life of David. Shepherding is a beautiful image in that it pertains to a calling appointed by God to lead and ensure the safety of others...to guide them to green pastures and fresh waters (Ps 23), showing compassion, care, skill, hard work and suffering and love.
I love how we are reminded of Davids "leadership training" that took place in "sheepfolds" where he learned much of all that he would need later. When David volunteered to fight the giant Goliath, King Saul doubted Davids ability...isn't this the voice of the enemy? King Saul only 'seen' David as a young boy and very unprepared to do this work and fight this giant warrior. This should give us all great encouragement and especially to our young children. God equips us and gives us all we need, He prepares us for the battles and all that is before us. He equips us for every good work. God sees our heart, and man only sees the outside. David reminds King Saul when the King questioned his ability "the time when he rescued his fathers sheep from a lion and a bear with his bare hands...I Samuel 17:36...and we see again how Davids preparation took place in pastures where he needed to learn of the Lords deliverance and to lean on God.
We read his story, Gods glory in action...as God prepared him and led him with each new step and for all the future challenges. Gods purposes for us cannot be seen through the eyes of others but with a conviction of who we are in Christ. We must know that the first thing in each new day is to first remember who God made us to be in Christ. I have to remember first who Jesus is and my calling in Him. This is the conviction we walk in, not what the world says or thinks of us. Even those who knew David best, his father Jesse, his brothers and even the prophet Samuel were surprised at first to find out that it was him who God wanted to use for this specific purpose, to be raised up as King. This boy, the youngest of brothers and a young boy who was a shepherd in the fields. A lesson for us all. Our preparations in schools of the highest learning, wealth, the greatest of jobs or the business world and all its ways don't prepare us more for Gods service and for our callings than our relationship with Christ and His empowering us by His Spirit …and our love and commitment to Him. Its in the most mundane places, the ordinary moments in a day, even in a pasture with many sheep God sees us and is preparing us for His next steps to bring Him the greatest glory yet!
Psalm 78:72 speaks of His heart and hands. I think of my husband. His strong heart and hands which God prepared long ago...a strength many may have applauded in sports but how much greater is this strength when given by God regarding His Eternal Kingdom. These are the rewards that are everlasting. His legacy he leaves is his legacy of Christ, and that it what he would want us all to remember. Christ alone, who takes us all as He took David....the ordinary, and who makes us royalty in Him.
Today I am learning and growing and living each day with a reckless abandon for Christ. I know my complete trust must continue to be in the Shepherd of my heart who leads me beside still waters and who restores my soul. I am blessed to remember my husbands words and example and I grew so much because of him as he lead me each day. God always knew what I needed and the first day I met him I knew he was my love and protector and in him I could truly trust. As I became a believer I knew it was Jesus in him that I loved. God had been preparing me along the way and Randy always taught me how to take those next steps. I glean too this day from Davids example. Both godly men. Both not perfect. But men after Gods own heart.
One commentary writes of Psalm 78:71-72 as it is a great example for us all....
* "David led with the "skillfulness of hands" and Israel loved him for it. He led them to battle, got them back home and made right decisions by the Word of the Lord"
* "this scriptures speaks too of "integrity of heart". Integrity - speaks of completeness, wholeness. Honesty, maturity, reliability. It is a heart fixed on God and it brings about a trust in others who are led. It is courage to face and meet demands..to uphold doctrine and ethical standards regardless of the intensity of opposition. It disciplines sin, confronts internal strife and stands against all odds.
Jesus is the perfect example to us all of what a true loving Shepherd looks like. David always gave glory to God knowing his story was Gods glory in action. May we pour into others who God has put in our care, in our day, on our path..."according to the integrity of our heart and guide them with the skillfulness of our hands"......May we always tell our stories, for this is God's glory in action.
Michelle A. Guerra
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