  Spiritual
This week: Edited by: Becky Simpson  
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What does the word spiritual mean? Here are the definitions:
• noun: a kind of religious song originated by Blacks in the southern United States
• adjective: concerned with or affecting the spirit or soul
• adjective: lacking material body or form or substance "
• adjective: concerned with sacred matters or religion or the church
• adjective: like or being a phantom
You might ask yourself, “Why did she spend the time to define the word spiritual?” It is because this is a spiritual newsletter and in the past few issues I have seen more than a few comments about the content of the newsletter.
Whether the content of this newsletter comes from the Bible, Koran, Torah, or simply secular history, the goal remains the same for me. I do not preach to you, tell you your life is a mess, or you are doing something wrong; I just offer a point of view for you to consider. I have often begged forgiveness if I offended you by doing so, but I do not seek your approval for my belief in God. One thing that we should all be able to agree on is there is beauty in almost everything if you only seek it. I think one of the most beautiful parts of the Bible is the 23rd Psalm, but have you really understood it?(user:becky_hayes)
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Years ago I sat in church and listened to a sermon that has stayed with me through the years. It was based on the 23rd psalm and the life of David. It also encompasses the life of Jesus. As you read it keep in mind that Jesus was also called the Good Shepherd.
1 The LORD is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
3 He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the LORD
Forever.
The preacher started his sermon with a short narrative concerning the life of King David. It wasn’t David’s later years he wanted to discuss; it was the king’s humble beginnings that interested him. As we go back to the point before David was selected to be King, we see a young boy in the fields tending his father’s sheep. This image is one that we see many times in the Bible, and indeed even today shepherds tend their sheep. Jesus was Good Shepherd in some places and in others the Lamb of God. It should also be noted that the elders in the church are called shepherds of the flock. This speaker wanted us to consider this and in doing so look at the beauty of the 23rd psalm in a new light. So here goes.
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
A shepherd such as David had to prepare before he took his sheep out to the pastures. Once he left the safety of his father’s home he was completely on his own. He had to travel light because heavy packs and large amount of supplies would make the mountain passes almost impossible. They would also slow him down to almost a crawl. So he packed light. He would carry a small bag with, his food, some oil, balm, sling, pebbles and his rod or staff. With these tools he saw to the every need of his charges. Indeed they would not want for anything while under his care. God is our shepherd! He knows our every need, and he has provided everything we need to be happy and fulfilled. Jesus often traveled with nothing not even the bag that shepherds carried, yet every need was taken care of.
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
A shepherd such as David had to prepare before he took his sheep out to the pastures. Once he left the safety of his father’s home, he was completely on his own. He had to travel light because heavy packs and large amount of supplies would make the mountain passes almost impossible. They would also slow him down to almost a crawl. So he packed light. He would carry a small bag with his food, some oil, balm, sling, pebbles, and his rod or staff. With these tools he saw to every need of his charges. Indeed they would not want for anything while under his care. God is our shepherd! He knows our every need, and he has provided everything we need to be happy and fulfilled. Jesus often traveled with nothing, not even the bag that shepherds carried, yet every need was taken care of.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures
I do not know how much you know about sheep but I have learned a lot. For instance sheep are very sensitive to heat; too much and they die. So in the heat of the day when it is the hottest, a good shepherd will make his sheep lie down in green pastures. Green pastures are tall grass where the bottom grass remains cool through the heat of the day. The shepherd would have left very early to make sure he had found an appropriate place for his charges to rest. God also does this as things around us get too hot for us to handle, or they get too hard for us to face. He prepares for us a place to rest from the daily worries and woes so that we find ourselves with a safe haven in the storm.
He leadeth me beside the still waters.
Another thing I learned about sheep is that they are very skittish; they are afraid of everything. They are so scared of moving things that they will not drink from moving water. So the good shepherd must know where the calm waters or still waters are that his sheep will drink. Because of heat, it is important for sheep to drink just as temperature can kill a flock. Not enough water, and a sheep can die. The shepherd of our lives, God, leads us to the still waters; His word, there he invites us to drink deeply and receive nourishment from them. These words are his living waters that he offers us to guide our lives and to bring us eternal life. He tells us that if we drink of them we shall never thirst again.
He restoreth my soul
With each step of the travel to the higher fields [ , ] the shepherd provides plenty of opportunity for his charges to rest. This rest is very important to the sheep. They cannot run far without suffering grave damage. Each rest is designed to restore them and to bring them back to their best condition. God also does this with us. As we go through life He provides us with opportunities to restore ourselves. We do so through prayer and contemplation of God’s goodness. Sometimes all that is needed is to stop and sit down under a tree and contemplate the Lord’s handiwork. Nature is one of God’s greatest blessings and one of the ways he provides for us to restore our sense of self.
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake
As they leave the bottom lands and head uphill to the higher fields, the shepherd must carefully guide his sheep. He does this by walking the path ahead of the sheep and removing larger rocks. He also uses his rod and staff. Should a sheep fall off the path, the shepherd will use the crook of the staff to pull his charge back up to the path. Just as the shepherd cares for his sheep, God cares for us. It does not matter whether we believe in Him or not. He has prepared for us a path. Should we stray from the path, He will find a way to lift us up and return us to the path that leads to Him. One of the most moving inspirational works that I know is “Footprints in The Sand”; in it when there is only one set of footprints, the work states that is when God is carrying us.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil
A shepherd is the only thing standing between the sheep and their natural enemies. Wolves and other predators will track them and attempt to make dinner out of one. The shepherd is always prepared. He has in his little bags of supplies a sling and some small pebbles. The shepherd has practiced for years, and his skill with a sling is truly a sight to see. He can use it to kill or maim any animal that preys on his sheep. David also used his sling to kill the giant Goliath, and after he had killed the giant, David cut his head off. For us, God’s word is our shield and our strength. With them we have no need to fear any evil; for with practice they will find their place in our hearts and stand guard. They are also a two edged sword dividing man’s intentions and the soul, or as is said elsewhere; our weapon against evil.
For thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me
The rod and staff have three uses, one we have already mentioned. Another is to gently guide the sheep along the path and prevent them from wandering too far. The third and final use is when the shepherd stops for the night. He gathers his sheep to a safe place with rocky cliffs around and one entrance or exit. He will place his rod and staff across the entrance and even his own body to prevent wild animals from getting to the sheep. God also gently guides us, He sends shepherds to guide us in His word and place our needs above their own if necessary. They are charged with the protection of their charges: the flock, better known as the church.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies
Sheep are sensitive to foods, and in many fields wild plants grow that are fatal. The shepherd must know every plant that is dangerous to his sheep. Then he must go ahead of the sheep and make sure the poisonous plants have been removed from the fields in which he plans to bring his sheep. This knowledge takes years to learn. This is exactly what we do when we choose which TV programs to watch or what books to read, even which friends are suitable for us to have. Choose unwisely, and the result is the death of our souls. Your friends can lead us to the wrong part of town or into situations that we do not recognize as dangerous. Possibly they could show us drugs and pressure us to use them. Our shepherd would have us safe and happy.
Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over
In the little sack that the shepherd carries there are small vials of oil; these are necessary because a sheep is susceptible to infection. The smallest cut or scratch can lead to a serious and often fatal wound. The vial of oil is used by the shepherd to massage the wound and protect the sheep from infection. This is another example of the goodness of the shepherd; and the cup represents the blessings that he bestows on the sheep. He cares for their every need making sure they want for nothing. God likewise provides for us every thing we need to have a fulfilling life. A good shepherd will even carry his charge when he has been wounded until he is strong enough to carry himself.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:
Once the bond has been made between the shepherd and his sheep, it is a life long relationship. The flock knows their master’s voice and will come to him at his beckoning. They will follow him anywhere he leads. It isn’t so much a blind following as a faithful following. The shepherd has proved his love, and the sheep accept it. Jesus and God showed us their love. Jesus, in dying for our sins without a single complaint, showed us love. Yes, I know He prayed in the garden to be released from the need, but He did so within the will of His Father.
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever
The blessings of God do not end with our death, far from it. His best gift He withholds until after this life is spent. That gift is eternal life. In our analogy the sheep spend their life with the same shepherd for many years. Since I don’t know the life span of a sheep, I cannot say that it is for sheep’s lifetime, though it very well could be. If our hearts are truly dwelling in God’s house, we will make it our home not only for this life but for the eternal life to come.
Now for the non-Christians out there, almost every belief has a similar analogy. The Indians believed in Mother Earth; and so long as they remained faithful, they believed she would provide them with food and shelter. So I am not suggesting you discount your own beliefs; however, like the Athenians who had a statue to numerous gods including the unknown god, we should keep an open mind and perhaps consider well one very simple thought. What if? What if you could spend a few otherwise useless hours and discover the beauty described above? Would it be worth it? Take some time and discover the beauty in the Bible.
As always I am at your service.
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Ode to Worship
Vast angelic voices avow, with shouts
Of joy, how great Thou art, God Most High.
In robust hymn, our hearts embrace, as one,
Your amazing grace that brings us nigh.
Of the breath of God, an inhale of life,
A lone nightingale lends melody.
While willows weep, limbs of elm sway and, in
Passionate display, worship freely.
As sparkling dew, the Spirit, borne on wings
Of faith, comes each morn, a gentle dove.
At evening, when the crimson sun goes down,
We wait for the Son, God’s light of love.
larryp
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The following members of Writing.Com are some of my favorite writers on Writing.Com. They exhibit and understanding and skill that, simply put, amaze me. I hope those I have forgotten will forgive me, but as time goes on and my memory prods, me this list will change.
Vivian 
Puditat
Dreams - Anon, who are you?
Lexi 
intuey of House Lannister 
Andrea
revdbob
Brother Don
SUGGESTED READINGS:
My suggested readings for this month:
Another point of view on beauty.
Bittersweet
Find out for yourself.
A voice echoing in time.
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The prayer of a dear friend.
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Questions and comments from last month my thanks to those who wrote in, if you wish to comment this month feel free, I shall answer them individually.
Submitted By: werden
Submitted Comment:
Awesome newsletter. You hit the forgiveness issue right on the head.
I look forward to reading your articles about spiritual writing.
I have one observation though. In your third question about how you are going to represent, what is the difference between a sermon and a sermon? :) Sorry, couldn't resist. Still a great newsletter.
Hi, Werden, Thank you for the kind comments about the newsletter. Unfortunately I did not write the piece about spiritual writing. That was from our guest speaker, she did an excellent job. I do hope you will continue to read the newsletter. Hugs– Becky
Submitted By: Chanons first book published
Submitted Comment:
How did "A dark tale of madness in 600 words" get into a spiritual NL?
Chanon
Ummm, we had a guest editor. Thanks for reading and asking pointed questions. Hugs – Becky
Submitted By: Sara Fox
Submitted Comment:
Becky, you have hit upon an especially important topic. I'm sure that forgiveness is the most widely known, yet, widely forgotten virtue. In this world full of self-righteous people, where an eye for an eye is touted as fair, it's easy to get caught up in 'settling scores'. Little do we know, that the only way to regain balance is to do the opposite of what’s been done to you. Fighting fire with fire will burn down the whole world. Its simple science, if you'd like to extinguish flames, just add water... I have been looking for forgiveness for my own offences- but I was sure glad to be reminded that I also need to put some of the good stuff out there to get it. God bless you; you have a way with words that makes me believe that God told you what I needed to hear. Thank you!
Hi Sara, I think you got past the guest editor to my own thoughts and thank you for you kind comments. We are all responsible for only one soul OUR OWN. How sad would it be to lose our soul because of someone else mindlessly made an unkind comment that we could not let go of. I couldn’t care less about scores, mine is zero, and I hope it stays that way. Hugs –n- love Becky
To the rest of you kind readers who made comments about last month’s newsletter; thank you. If it were not for your kind words, I would be inclined to find another way to spend the time I spend here.
If you have a question, comment or just an observation concerning this edition of the Spiritual Newsletter, please feel free to send it to me. I would also like our newsletter readers to send me their favorite work. Please include the writer’s name. I prefer works from Writing.Com.
Next weeks editor:Puditat
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Spiritual: January 10, 2007 Issue [#1480]
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