Psalm 23 verse 5

You set a table before me
in front of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.

Psalm 23 verse 5

This verse may describe a gracious host as he provides a banquet for an honored guest, or it may continue the metaphor of the shepherd-sheep relationship. If it refers to a host preparing a banquet, David views himself as the Lord's honored guest with David's enemies present as captive onlookers.

If it refers to a shepherd-sheep relationship, David compares the Lord's generosity to that of a shepherd who generously prepares a feast for his sheep, spreading the food on a table or trough. As the sheep slept, they were protected by a circular stone wall and the shepherd who slept across the opening. Jesus identified Himself as the door to the sheepfold (John 10:7–9).

A gracious host would anoint his guest by applying a soothing oil to the guest's head. A shepherd would use oil to treat his sheep's wounds. David may have been thinking about the Lord as his host or shepherd when he wrote, "you anoint my head with oil" (Psalm 23:5). The cup David depicts as overflowing may refer to the brimming cup the host provided or to the large cup a shepherd used to give water to thirsty sheep. Either interpretation leads to the conclusion that the Lord provides for us more generously than the heart can desire.

https://www.bibleref.com/Psalms/23/Psalm-23-5.html

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john 14:27

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"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid." John 14:27

MEDITATION

"HE promises HIS followers a final blessing: HIS Peace. This is not just any Peace; Jesus says, “My Peace I Give.” The Peace of Jesus—the Peace that surpasses understanding, the Peace that remains constant even in suffering, the Peace that cannot be stolen or shaken—this is the Peace HE freely gives to us! In a world full of uncertainty and conflict, there is no greater gift than the Peace of Christ…” www.wau.org

PRAYER

"Lord Jesus, may YOUR Peace be always with me. ...YOU, alone, O Lord, are my Peace. May I always reside in that Peace by believing YOUR Word and by doing YOUR Will.” ~ www.dailyscripture.net

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if faith in God is personal, then why are there so many religions?

The internet has answers for everything--even "if faith in God is personal, then why are there so many religions?" Here's what the internet says:

https://mwtb.org/blogs/seeklife/why-are-there-so-many-religions

19 For what can be known about God is evident to them, because God made it evident to them.

20 Ever since the creation of the world, his invisible attributes of eternal power and divinity have been able to be understood and perceived in what he has made. As a result, they have no excuse;

21 for although they knew God they did not accord him glory as God or give him thanks. Instead, they became vain in their reasoning, and their senseless minds were darkened.

Romans 1: 19-21

"Do all religions lead to God? No. All people—religious or otherwise—will stand before God some day (Hebrews 9:27), but religious affiliation is not what determines your eternal destiny. Only faith in Jesus Christ will save. “Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life” (1 John 5:12). It’s as simple as that. Only Christianity—faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ—leads to God’s forgiveness and eternal life. No one comes to the Father except through the Son (John 14:6). It does make a difference what you believe. The decision to embrace the truth about Jesus Christ is important. Eternity is an awfully long time to be wrong."

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faith vs. religion

https://www.biblestudytools.com/topical-verses/bible-verses-about-religion/

I no longer associate myself with a religion. It's a long story.

I am a Christian. I believe in the Trinity: Almighty Creator God the Father, Jesus, God the Father's only Son, and God the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus promised will be an advocate for faithful Christians until the end of the world when God's plan will be fulfilled.

I believe that God speaks to us through our conscience, prayer and the bible. 

I believe that God loves His creations, including humans. I believe that God wants us humans to believe in God and to love God with all our heart and soul and to love our neighbor. 

I believe that if we are faithful to God, love God and are sorry for our sins that God will forgive us and will provide for us according to God's will after we die.

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Matthew 28: 1-10, The Resurrection of Jesus

1 After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb.

2 And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, approached, rolled back the stone, and sat upon it.

3 His appearance was like lightning and his clothing was white as snow.

4 The guards were shaken with fear of him and became like dead men.

5 Then the angel said to the women in reply, “Do not be afraid! I know that you are seeking Jesus the crucified.

6 He is not here, for he has been raised just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.

7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him.’ Behold, I have told you.”

8 Then they went away quickly from the tomb, fearful yet overjoyed, and ran to announce this to his disciples.

9 And behold, Jesus met them on their way and greeted them. They approached, embraced his feet, and did him homage.

10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”

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Holy Saturday prayer

O Lord Jesus Christ, for our sins you endured the cross and the grave, and on the third day you rose again from the tomb.

Just as you have cleansed us from our sins by your blood, and as we are buried with you in baptism, so by your grace, let us share in your resurrection; through your mercy, O our God, you are blessed and live and govern all things, now and forever. Amen

https://www.christianity.com/wiki/prayer/holy-saturday-prayers-jesus-burial.html

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attribution: Fritz Liess and flickr

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Jesus and Nicodemus

https://www.christianity.com/jesus/life-of-jesus/disciples/was-nicodemus-a-follower-of-christ.html

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"Take up your cross, and follow Me."

24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.

25 For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

Matthew 16

 

also found in Mark 8:34 and Luke 9: 23-25

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Matthew 21:22

(Jesus said): "Whatever you ask for in prayer with faith, you will receive.”

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Paul's prayer for the Ephesians

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psalm 62

the world is a mess:

• war
• tyranny
• genocide
• persecution
• racism
• hunger
• disease
• greed
• extortion
• dishonesty
• hate
• crime
• injustice
• pollution
• natural disasters
• etc.

question: is there hope? 

answer: there is! psalm 62:

1 For the leader; ‘al Jeduthun.* A psalm of David.

I


2 My soul rests in God alone,

from whom comes my salvation.

3 God alone is my rock and salvation,
my fortress; I shall never fall.

4 How long will you set yourself against a man?
You shall all be destroyed,
Like a sagging wall

or a tumbled down fence!

5 Even highly placed people
plot to overthrow him.
They delight in lies;
they bless with their mouths,
but inwardly they curse.


Selah

II

6 My soul, be at rest in God alone,
from whom comes my hope.

7 God alone is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress; I shall not fall.

8 My deliverance and honor are with God,
my strong rock;
my refuge is with God.

9 Trust God at all times, my people!
Pour out your hearts to God our refuge!

Selah

III

10 Mortals are a mere breath,
the sons of man but an illusion;

On a balance they rise;

together they weigh nothing.

11 Do not trust in extortion;
in plunder put no empty hope.

On wealth that increases,

do not set your heart.

12 One thing God has said;

two things I have heard:
Strength belongs to God;

13 so too, my Lord, does mercy,
For you repay each man
according to his deeds.

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Is God benevolent or malevolent?

Is God benevolent or malevolent? 

Islamic terrorists believe that murdering infidels is God's will.  

Christians believe that God is benevolent--Psalm 23, the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15: 11-32), Jesus redeeming us from our sins (gospels), etc. 

Praise God that we are Christians!

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faith is a gift that comes with a price

https://ccel.org/l/luther/romans/pref_romans.html 

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matthew 11: 28-30

attribution: Matthew 11:28-30 | Ben R | Flickr

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We are not the answer. Jesus is the answer. 

We must have faith. We must always believe that only in Jesus will we find answers to our prayers.

We must always believe that God answers our prayers even when it appears that God isn't answering us. We must have faith. We must be patient. 

We must always have faith to believe that God hears our prayers and be patient enough to wait for God's answers.

be not afraid

Be Not Afraid - YouTube 

Be Not Afraid - Lyrics, Hymn Meaning and Story 

Isaiah 43: 2-3 | Isaiah 43: 1-3 1 But now, thus says the Lor… | Flickr

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attribution: Leonard J Matthews

difference between faith and religion

faith is personal. it's what you believe. faith is between you (only) and God. 

religion has human fingerprints all over it. 

File:Nine fingerprint patterns Purkyne.png - Wikipedia

public domain

attribution: Jan Evangelista Purkyně (Life time: 1787–1869)

religious acronyms

during the 1990s a popular acronym among Christians was WWJD--What Would Jesus Do? It was coined to remind Christians "of their belief in a moral imperative to act in a manner that would demonstrate the love of Jesus through the actions of the adherents.[1][2]" 

What would Jesus do? - Wikipedia 

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WWJD has lost its steam since the 1990s--so much for "moral imperatives". 

perhaps a better acronym for the 2020s would be LLGL--Love Like God Loves. faith, hope and love: Love Like God Loves  

in 1967 there was a popular song: Louis Armstrong - What A Wonderful World (Lyrics) - YouTube  

what a wonderful world it would be if we all loved like God loves.

Romans chapters 6, 7 and 8

attribution: Dafongman

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Divine Mercy in Scripture

 "... It showed itself as what it was at the beginning, that is, as love that gives, love more powerful than betrayal, grace stronger than sin."

Divine Mercy in Scripture | The Divine Mercy 

The world gives us many reasons not to trust: lies, fraud, scams, hate, war, greed, oppression, deprivation, betrayal, etc.

Trust in God's infinite Divine mercy.

attribution: Dr. Michael D. Evans

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love

1 Corinthians 13

Dare to Love One Another for Your Best Relationships | Ginger Harrington

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