MONDAY, APRIL 26, 2021 I want you to prosper!!

 MONDAY, APRIL 26, 2021

I’m going to try something this week - “The Prosperity Gospel”  (I bet my friend AR will be intrigued about this!!).  And like normal, as I start this, I’m not sure where I will end up!!!

First - I am an amateur theologian - and not all that good at it  (but that rarely stops me!!!).  If I was a true theological scholar I would read the original texts in Hebrew, Greek, or Aramaic, but knowing none of those, I trust those scholars who labor over accurate translations from the original texts.

I say I write from the “Jewish-Christian” perspective.  I try to incorporate both sides, but I tend to write more on the Christian side as I know that better.

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Let’s start with a familiar Psalm - Psalm 23 - 

“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil, my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Okay, sure.  So, what is the big deal, Karen?

“The Lord is my shepherd”.  That somehow implies that I am (hmmm) a “sheep”.  Sheep aren’t all that smart.  I remember going to Uncle Rob and Aunt Selma’s farm and chasing the sheep.  They were in a little pen - and since I wasn’t their shepherd - when I came close to their pen, they would run away to the other end of the pen.  

I see that sheep needed somebody to watch them.  Do I need to be watching?  (Probably (absolutely) <grin>).  Can I run away (like a sheep might)?  

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Let’s see.  “I lack nothing” (or “I do not want”) - God as the shepherd provides for me.  

When I read this, I have a picture in my mind - a luscious green pasture, along a slowly ebbing stream.  If I was a fisherman, I could grab some nice trout (or other) out of the stream.  There is a big oak that is on the bank on the stream, and over time, the roots have been eroded some and under those roots, the big fish enjoy the cool waters.  

“He refreshes my soul”.  I have that ‘perfect peace’ in this place.  I have no anxiety, I am refreshed completely   “He guides me along right paths”.

When things get tough, and I go through that dark valley, or dark place - He is with me.  

“You prepare a table before me” - huh?  GOD IS preparing a table for ME?

“You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.”  (Maybe anointing my head with oil is old-time, but the meaning is there - God really does love me.  And, he BLESSES me - my cup, my plate, my life OVERFLOWS with HIS goodness.

And, to conclude “Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”  Hold it, God’s love, God’s goodness, is around me ALWAYS - and I’m going to dwell in God’s house FOREVER - ETERNITY!!!  (John 14 says he goes to prepare a place for us - some versions say he prepares a mansion for us!!)

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So, if my Judeo-Christian thoughts go with this, God is going to take care of me.  Repeat - “GOD IS GOING TO TAKE CARE OF ME”!!!

WOW!!!

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Now, the Bible has a lot of books, a lot of writing, and I “cherry-picked” one Psalm.  Sure, if you grew up in a Judeo-Christian background, you may (like I did) memorize this Psalm.

BUT, my opening salvo in a series on the Prosperity Gospel is to show you promise - I don’t need ANYTHING.  I have peace.  I am BLESSED!!!!

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So, my reflection.  God is infinite.  “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”  

I can’t possibly understand God.  For His reasons, he created the universe.  And, I think He did it out of LOVE.  Translating that concept - God loves US.  The very creator of the university LOVES us. Christians love to quote John 3:16 … “For God so LOVED THE WORLD”.  God’s love has to be so amazing.  And, then (if we look at Psalm 23), the implication is that He wants to take care of us - give us those green pastures, lead us, and bless us.!!!  

Okay - some look ahead for this week.  (Scriptures out of content)

Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.  3 John 1:2

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. Matthew 7:7

Something to think about - the infinite God - KNOWS me - one of the crazy minions on this blue planet called Earth - and not only knows me - but LOVES me!!

How can this be?

LOVE WINS!!

HUGS!!!

Karen