From: "Beverly French" <frenchb@vcss.k12.ca.us>
To: "Kim Hjelm" <kimosaaby@msn.com>; "Lisa" <lisac1@flash.net>; "Jody Copeland" <jodyamc@juno.com>; "Ted & Laura Enke" <telabele@juno.com>; "Gerry Nelson" <ghaircut@juno.com>; "Bekka Enke" <wiket1@juno.com>; "Ella Enke" <Omaopa4@juno.com>; "Jonathan Enke" <VOLLYBAL11@aol.com>; "Sieg Enke" <hseee@juno.com>; "Ann Lynn Graham" <algraham@bmtc.net>; "Charlie & Phyllis Greene" <greenehouse72@juno.com>; "Diane Hudson" <lotamus@utech.net>; "Martin & Barbara Lexutt" <BnMLexutt@aol.com>; "Todd & Lori Lyche" <tlyche@vcnet.com>; "Jim McIntire" <jjkamm@vcnet.com>; "Leslie McNeill" <102421.3011@compuserve.com>; "Richard & Karen Menzie" <rkmenzi@gte.net>; "Andy Norcutt" <penguin@best1.net>; "Jeff & Jennifer O'Reilly" <jeffiner@juno.com>; "Tracey O'Reilly" <Dahlgliev@prodigy.net>; "Rosemary Otterson" <oolala@aros.net>; "Jesse & Debbie Schwartz" <djndjsch@juno.com>; "Jennifer Stallings" <daveandjennstallings@juno.com>; "Hedy Wainor" <wfamily@ma.ultranet.com>; "Craig & Jenny Thompson" <Yody9@pacbell.net>; "Mr. David O'Reilly" <doreilly@prodigy.com>; "Christina" <wilsonc@vcss.k12.ca.us>; "Dona Bryant" <trave777@ior.com>; "Delores Plaia" <plaiad@vcss.k12.ca.us>; "Jeri Holycross" <GMWTYGURU@aol.com>
Subject: Sunday Greetings
Date: Sunday, February 08, 1998 9:49 AM

"The Lord is my shepherd,
 I shall not want."  Psa 23:1

Psalm 23 is regularly included in funeral services and I am sure that verse
 4 is the reason, but this is a psalm of hope and promise to the "sheep of
His pasture" who are living.  As we read on in the Psalm David tells us how
our Shepherd takes care of us at all times.  And in our desire to KNOW HIM
there are so many things we can learn from these verses.  Let's just look
for a moment at verse 4.

"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of  death,
 I fear no evil; (why?) for Thou art with me;
 Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me." (My emphasis)

We come to know our Lord through these hard times.  It may seem as though
we are alone, but we are not.  These are times when we are pressed to Him
-- we learn to trust, to keep our eyes only on Him, to allow Him to direct
our paths.  He tells us,

"Do no fear, for I am with you;
 Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.
 I will strengthen you, surely I will help you,
 Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."    
 Isaiah 41:10

"And the Lord is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you.  He
will not fail you or forsake you.  Do not fear, or be dismayed." 
Deuteronomy 31:8

"He leads the humble in justice,
 And He teaches the humble His way.
 All the paths of the Lord are lovingkindness and truth
 To those who keep His covenant and His testimonies."  Psalm 25:9-10

Therefore, the words of Proverbs 3:5-6 should be our daily choice and pray.

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart,
 And lean not unto thine own understanding
 In all thy ways acknowledge Him,
 And He will direct thy paths."

This day let's join together in one heart and one voice and praise our Lord
Jesus Christ who is worthy of all praise, honor and glory.  He is our Lord
and our God and we are His people.  How awesome it is "that  we should be
called the children of God, and such we are."  Can we do anything else, but
give Him all honor for it only belongs to Him?  Blessings to all.