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| Another Shepherd was coming - a greater Shepherd. He would be called the Good Shepherd (JSB 135) |
Ornament: StaffPsalm 23:1-6
Ezekiel 34:11-24
Luke 15:3-7
John 10:7-17
Verse: John 10:11
Christmas Song: While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks
Hymn: Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us
Jesus Storybook Bible: The Good Shepherd (130-135)
The Ology: The Bible is Our Spiritual Food (233)
The Gospel Story Bible: David the Psalmist (118-119)
Psalm 23: some of the first verses I memorized as a child and now, two of my children have memorized. I love these wonderful words. The days are few when I don't find myself reciting them as I rock my sweet baby, or as I put my older three to bed, or as we sit at the table, or as I calm one of them from a bad dream. When the nights are long and sleep eludes me, I say these words - over and over again. These words are filled with comfort and hope because they point us to Jesus being our Shepherd - our very good shepherd. These are good words, because they are God's Words. Keep coming back to them. Say them as you rise and sit and work and play and drive and run and discipline. God provides for His people, because He is our good shepherd. Psalm 23 points us to Jesus because if we trust Jesus as our Savior and Good Shepherd, we will "dwell in the house of the Lord forever," or as I say to my children: we will be welcomed into God's good kingdom forever. We have a picture again of the very good ending. Only because of Jesus. This, my friends, is GRACE in all its fullness.
Isaac Watts wrote this beautiful text based on Psalm 23.
Tidings and Tidbits:
Hymn: Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us
Jesus Storybook Bible: The Good Shepherd (130-135)
The Ology: The Bible is Our Spiritual Food (233)
The Gospel Story Bible: David the Psalmist (118-119)
Psalm 23: some of the first verses I memorized as a child and now, two of my children have memorized. I love these wonderful words. The days are few when I don't find myself reciting them as I rock my sweet baby, or as I put my older three to bed, or as we sit at the table, or as I calm one of them from a bad dream. When the nights are long and sleep eludes me, I say these words - over and over again. These words are filled with comfort and hope because they point us to Jesus being our Shepherd - our very good shepherd. These are good words, because they are God's Words. Keep coming back to them. Say them as you rise and sit and work and play and drive and run and discipline. God provides for His people, because He is our good shepherd. Psalm 23 points us to Jesus because if we trust Jesus as our Savior and Good Shepherd, we will "dwell in the house of the Lord forever," or as I say to my children: we will be welcomed into God's good kingdom forever. We have a picture again of the very good ending. Only because of Jesus. This, my friends, is GRACE in all its fullness.
Isaac Watts wrote this beautiful text based on Psalm 23.
My Shepherd will supply my need:
Jehovah is His Name;
In pastures fresh He makes me feed,
Beside the living stream.
He brings my wandering spirit back
When I forsake His ways,
And leads me, for His mercy’s sake,
In paths of truth and grace.
Jehovah is His Name;
In pastures fresh He makes me feed,
Beside the living stream.
He brings my wandering spirit back
When I forsake His ways,
And leads me, for His mercy’s sake,
In paths of truth and grace.
When I walk through the shades of death
Thy presence is my stay;
One word of Thy supporting breath
Drives all my fears away.
Thy hand, in sight of all my foes,
Doth still my table spread;
My cup with blessings overflows,
Thine oil anoints my head.
Thy presence is my stay;
One word of Thy supporting breath
Drives all my fears away.
Thy hand, in sight of all my foes,
Doth still my table spread;
My cup with blessings overflows,
Thine oil anoints my head.
The sure provisions of my God
Attend me all my days;
O may Thy house be my abode,
And all my work be praise.
There would I find a settled rest,
While others go and come;
No more a stranger, nor a guest,
But like a child at home.
Attend me all my days;
O may Thy house be my abode,
And all my work be praise.
There would I find a settled rest,
While others go and come;
No more a stranger, nor a guest,
But like a child at home.
Tidings and Tidbits:
- There are many settings of Psalm 23 that are good and worth listening to. Here is a more modern setting that I love and sing with the kids often, and here is an older setting that has a beautiful melody
- There are also many ways you could make today's ornament. We are making shepherd/staff shaped gingerbread cookies later today and will talk about Jesus as the good shepherd and learn verses as we make the cookies and then eat them. Yum!
- Talk about sheep and shepherds with your children. Look up pictures to show them.
Resource Corner
Here are a couple of great resources if you are looking for a way to introduce Scripture memory to your child and don't know where to start. As a bonus, you talk about the alphabet and have stories to read too. I have gone through both of these with my two older children, and they can quote all of them. My little 1 year old can even fill in the blanks on several verses. Repetition and review is key for retaining these truths. The first book is My ABC Bible Verses: Hiding God's Word in Little Hearts (Susan Hunt)
The second one is based on the Psalms ( My ABC Bible Verses from the Psalms - Susan Hunt). I picked this up at TGC this past summer and really enjoyed going through it.
Here is a resource that goes along with the Big Picture Story Bible. We do these readings with our family in the evenings. One thing that I love about this approach to catechism and questions is that David Helm wisely asks the question and has the child respond with an actual verse of Scripture. He also goes through and teaches through the questions - some of the questions are difficult to explain and really help parents. David Helm has a heart for sharing the big picture with children and families. I highly recommend this if you are looking for something for your family.
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