Goodness and Mercy are following us

May 12, 2019 Psalm 23 Mother’s Day Year C 4th Sunday of Easter Children’s sermon – doing what we want to do and listening to our mom. I once again had Children's Sermon., now this was kind of fun since it was Mother's Day. So I started by asking the kids that if they had any of the following living at their home to raise their hand and then I went through the following list: a transportation director a personal dietitian or nutritionist a fashion coordinator a landscaper an accounts manager a pediatric physician a domestic engineer an interior designer a family historian an arbitrator or a personal coach TO almost all of these I got "no" or "huh?" Then we went back through each one and explained what these jobs would be in simple language and who most likely in the homes of our kids performed these duties. I explained that Mom's tend to be the ones who arrange for rides to where we want to be. That Mom is the one who decides what we can or cannot have to eat. "Can I have 1 more oreo?" and that sometimes mom says no because it is good for us NOT to have 1 more cookie. Then the fashion coordinator is the person who buys, washes and let's us know if what we are wearing is appropriate for the occasion and if it matches.The landscaper is the one who might mow the lawn or plants the flowers or shrubs or adds decoration outside to make your home look nice. The accounts manager is someone who makes sure that the bills are paid that there is money for groceries and all the activities that kids would like to do. The Pediatric physician - this I had to explain was "a kid doctor" and who do we go to when we have a sore throat or a splinter? - MOM. A domestic engineer - is someone who makes sure the the home runs properly. The interior designer is the one who makes the inside of our houses look nice and helps keep it clean. The family historian - is the person who helps keep track of our lives, either in photos, or journals or scrapbooks. They are the ones that when asked "What was it like the day I was born?" will be the one that can remember that day and explain it in detail. The arbitrator is the one who breaks up fights or arguments with siblings or friends. And finally the personal coach - I hope that we all have personal coaches as those are the people who encourage us all the time, they are the ones who challenge us and teach us new skills that we need to get through life. But the amazing part of all of this is that all those big titles we sum up with 3 letters -MOM. But when we read Proverbs 31:29-31 we find that "...that a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Give her reward she has earned, and let her works be known at the city gates." Now you knew that mom did all these things for you, but I challenge you to learn 1 new thing about your mom today. Find out what your mom's favorite color is, what is her favorite flower, or her favorite food. Take time and talk to your mom because she is a lot more than you think. Posted by Schick fun ideas at 8:32 PM Labels: Children's sermon Psalm 23 Common English Bible (CEB) Psalm 23 A psalm of David. 23 The LORD is my shepherd. I lack nothing. 2 He lets me rest in grassy meadows; he leads me to restful waters; 3 he keeps me [a] alive. He guides me in proper paths for the sake of his good name. 4 Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no danger because you are with me. Your rod and your staff— they protect me. 5 You set a table for me right in front of my enemies. You bathe my head in oil; my cup is so full it spills over! 6 Yes, goodness and faithful love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live[b] in the LORD’s house as long as I live. Footnotes: a. Psalm 23:3 Or my soul b. Psalm 23:6 LXX; MT I will return Common English Bible (CEB) Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible One of my earliest memories of visiting my grandmother, was her giving me the little golden book of the Lord is my Shepherd. I remember studying that scripture as a child trying to understand it. As I learned how to read, my grandmother gave me that book again and told me to read and study it. My mother gave me this book as I was learning to read, and I have held onto to it. My grandmother would also make sure that each night before I went to bed she would walk me through Now I lay me down to sleep and my evening prayer. So if you want to blame anyone for me becoming a pastor – it is all my grandmother’s fault. – she had a plan for my life, and expected me to follow it step by step. The psalms in general are important, they capture the gamut of human experience, there are happy psalms, sad psalms, psalms for when you are on a journey, when you are at peace. They were an important part of the jewish life. Jesus learned to recite them throughout his life, many times if you don’t know the psalms. You think Jesus is speaking from the heart, many times he is quoting an appropriate psalm. My God why have you forsaken me – a psalm. The spirit of the lord is upon me – a psalm. There are monks who have learned all 119 psalms by heart. I would love to get to that point one day – but unfortunately, I don’t get the chance to study the psalms very often. There is one every week in the lectionary of scripture – but the problem with preaching on them is that there is not a lot of commentary on their meaning, so don’t have the material to develop a sermon. I try to get us to read them during lent, but reciting the words is not the same as really thinking about the meaning of a psalm Today’s Psalm is the exception. Psalm 23 is read at every point in our lives. Children read it, adults read it. It is used at funerals, and at weddings and today it is the reading for Mother’s Day. I love this version, which uses the theme of a mother “All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel mother.” — Abraham Lincoln “Is this the long way?” asked the young mother as she set her foot on the path of life. The Guide said, “Yes, and the way is hard, and you will be old before you reach the end of it. But the end will be better than the beginning.” The young mother was happy, and she would not believe that anything could be better than these years. So she played with her children, she fed them and bathed them, taught them how to tie their shoes and ride a bike, and reminded them to feed the dog and do their homework and brush their teeth. The sun shone on them and the young mother said, “Nothing will ever be lovelier than this.” Then the nights came, and the storms, and the path was sometimes dark, and the children shook with fear and cold, and the mother drew them close and covered them with her arms. The children said, “Mother, we are not afraid, for you are near, and no harm can come.” The morning came, and there was a hill ahead, and the children climbed and grew weary, and the mother was weary. At all times, she said to the children, “A little patience and we are there.” So the children climbed and as the climbed they learned to weather the storms. With this, she gave them strength to face the world. Year after year she showed them compassion, understanding, hope, but most of all unconditional love. When they reached the top, they said, “Mother, we could not have done it without you.” The days went on, and the weeks and the months and the years. The mother grew old and she became little and bent. Her children were tall and strong, and walked with courage. The mother, when she lay down at night, looked up at the stars and said, “This is a better day than the last, for my children have learned so much and are now passing these traits on to their children.” When the way became rough for her, they lifted her, and gave her strength, just as she had given them hers. One day, they came to a hill, and beyond the hill they could see a shining road and golden gates flung wide. Mother said, “I have reached the end of my journey, and now I know the end is better than the beginning, for my children can walk with dignity and pride, with their heads held high, and so can their children after them.” The children said, “You will always walk with us, Mother, even when you have gone through the gates.” They stood and watched her as she went on alone, and the gates closed after her. They said, “We cannot see her, but she is with us still.” A mother is more than a memory. She is a living presence. Your mother is always with you. She’s the whisper of the leaves as you walk down the street, she’s the smell of certain foods you remember, flowers you pick and perfume she wore, she’s the cool hand on your brow when you’re not feeling well, she’s your breath in the air on a cold winter’s day. She is the sound of the rain that lulls you to sleep, the colors of the rainbow, she is your birthday morning. Your mother lives inside your laughter. She’s crystallized in every teardrop. A mother shows through in every emotion – happiness, sadness, fear, jealousy, love, hate, anger, helplessness, excitement, joy, sorrow – and all the while hoping and praying you will only know the good feelings in life. She’s the place you came from, your first home, and she’s the map you follow with every step you take. She’s your first love, your first friend, even your first enemy, but nothing on earth can separate you. Not time, not space – not even death. I love this beautiful story about mothers love written by Temple Bailey. It appeared in Good Housekeeping Magazine in 1933. On this Mother’s Day when you feel a little tug at your heart, remember your mother lives with you always. Happy Mother’s Day! This story first appeared in Good Housekeeping in 1933 written by Temple Bailey. On this Mother’s Day when you feel a special tenderness tugging at your heart, remember your mother lives within you always. My mom is my shepherd; I shall not want. She makes me lie down under cool, downy comforts. She watches me play beside still waters. She restores my soul. She leads me in paths of respect, responsibility, and goodness, for I am her namesake! Yea, even though I walk past monsters in the dark, I will not be ascared, because my mom is always near me. Her hands and her voice, they comfort me. Mama sets the table and cheerfully calls me to dinner even in front of big, mean bullies. She anoints my skinned knees and broken heart with kisses. She smiles and throws me a towel when my cup runneth over. Surely God's peace, power, and mercy shall uphold me all the days of my life, for my Mother taught me to dwell in the house of God forever. Psalm 22 Re-Interpeted The Lord is my Shepherd... That's Relationship! I shall not want... That's Supply! He maketh me to lie down in green pastures... That's Rest! He leadeth me beside the still waters... That's Refreshment! He restoreth my soul... That's Healing! He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness... That's Guidance! For His name sake... That's Purpose! Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death... That's Testing! I will fear no evil... That's Protection! For Thou art with me... That's Faithfulness! Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me... That's Discipline! Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies... That's Hope! Thou annointest my head with oil... That's Consecration! My cup runneth over... That's Abundance! Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life... That's Blessing! And I will dwell in the house of the Lord... That's Security! Forever and ever... That's Eternity! The previous psalm ended by speaking of the joy of salvation, that is, of discovering what it means to have been put into a right relationship with God, brought back home into fellowship with him in the Covenant. This psalm, which almost surely stems from David himself, describes what it feels like thus to be back at home with God. It is expressed in language that really spoke home to the country folk of his day. David had been a shepherd. Now he was the shepherd of his people. In what way must he now care for them? This problem opened up for him a new awareness of what God, the true Shepherd, is himself like in his relationship with his people. As I have been studying this psalm this week, I find that the greatest lesson for us in the psalm is trust. It is important for us to have a relationship with God based on trust. If we have trust in God all that we need to live will be provided. I have to find my copy of the Tanakh. Tanakh is the Jewish version of the Hebrew bible. What is interesting is that there is a difference sometimes between the Jewish version of a scripture and the Christian version. For instance, for us the last words of this psalm is I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever, whereas the Jewish version says I shall dwell in the house of the Lord all of the days of my life. there is a little bit of a difference. Another difference is our image of goodness and mercy following us. For Christians we think of a little puppy quietly following, but the Hebrew word for follow is much more aggressive, it means I will stalk you and hunt you down until I catch you. In other words there is nothing that you can do to escape God’s love. God is determined that we have all that we need to have a wonderful life no matter what. A mother’s love can be like that. In many ways mothers are shepherds, they are our caretakers. Timmy was a little five year old boy that his Mom loved very much and, being a worrier, she was concerned about him walking to school all by himself when he started kindergarten. She walked him to school the first few days, but one day he came home and asked if he could walk by himself. He wanted to be like the "big boys." Not wanting to disappoint him, she decided to allow him to walk without her, via plan B (which consisted of recruiting a neighbor, Mrs. Goodnest, to repetitiously follow him to school, at a distance far enough behind him that he would not likely notice he was being followed, but close enough to keep a watch on him). Mrs. Goodnest was agreeable, since she was up early with her own toddler anyway, and it would be a good way for them to get some exercise. So, the very next school day Mrs. Goodnest and her little girl, Marcy, set out to follow behind Timmy as he walked to school. Timmy was accompanied by another neighbor boy he knew. As the boys walked to school each day, chatting, and kicking stones and twigs, the little friend of Timmy began to notice that a lady seemed to be following them every day. "Have you noticed that lady following us all week? Do you know her?" he asked Timmy. "Yea, I know who she is," Timmy replied "Well who is she?" "That's just Shirley Goodnest," Timmy said. "Shirley Goodnest? Who the is she? Why is she following us?" "Well," Timmy explained, "Every night Mom makes me say the 23rd Psalm in my prayers 'cuz she worries about me so much. And in it the Psalm says, 'Shirley Goodnest and Marcy shall follow me all the days of my life,' so I guess I'll just have to get used to it." Surely, goodness and mercy shall follow us. when you think about the psalm – What is most valuable, is not what we have in our lives, but WHO we have in our lives! Surely goodness and mercy shall follow us all of the days of our life no matter how old we get. What is most valuable, is not what we have in our lives, but WHO we have in our lives! Surely goodness and mercy shall follow us all of the days of our life no matter how old we get. How can we reply to the love that our mothers gave us. what is it that we can give them to say thank you. Studies say that no matter what we may give them that all they really want is for us to know that they love them. For us to be able to acknowledge all that they have done for us, and to realize that it is all about love. Amen. Other illustrations…….. How can we reply to the love that our mothers gave us. what is it that we can give them to say thank you. Studies say that no matter what we may give them that all they really want is for us to know that they love them. For us to be able to acknowledge all that they have done for us, and to realize that it is all about love. Surely, goodness and mercy shall follow us. when you think about the psalm – Psalm 22 Re-Interpeted The Lord is my Shepherd... That's Relationship! I shall not want... That's Supply! He maketh me to lie down in green pastures... That's Rest! He leadeth me beside the still waters... That's Refreshment! He restoreth my soul... That's Healing! He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness... That's Guidance! For His name sake... That's Purpose! Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death... That's Testing! I will fear no evil... That's Protection! For Thou art with me... That's Faithfulness! Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me... That's Discipline! Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies... That's Hope! Thou annointest my head with oil... That's Consecration! My cup runneth over... That's Abundance! Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life... That's Blessing! And I will dwell in the house of the Lord... That's Security! Forever and ever... That's Eternity! No language can express the power, and beauty, and heroism, and majesty of a mother's love. It shrinks not where man cowers, and grows stronger where man faints, and over wastes of worldly fortunes sends the radiance of its quenchless fidelity like a star. — Edwin Hubbell Chapin