About That Sheep - Comfort

copyright Millie Plastaras 9/02/04

The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want, He makes me to
lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside the still
waters, He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of
righteousness For His name's sake. Yea, though I walk
through the valley of shadow of death, I will fear no evil,
For You are with me. Your rod and Your staff comfort me.
You prepare a place for me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil, My cup runs over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days
of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Psalm 23

We often hear in this modern society that people that follow
a certain way of life, are just sheep. They are brainwashed
and have no mind of their own. They are led about by
their nose, following the leading of those who have
brainwashed them. They seem to think being a sheep
is a bad thing.

I am here to proclaim to you today the good news of Jesus
Christ:

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward Him, and said,
Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
John 1:29

Jesus was called the lamb (sheep) of God. His gentle
loving nature was one that set an example that forever
would ring of truth, nurturing love, great strength, and hope.

When someone calls me a sheep, I say hallelujah. I know
God, I know His provision and I have met His son. I am
a sheep in the flock of the Lamb of God who takes away
the sins of the world.

Psalm 23 is a very interesting and hopeful part of the Bible.
People should speak this out loud at least 3 times a day. It
has such meaning. A lot of it not known to modern society.

Let me try to explain to you a lesson I heard many years ago
about this Psalm that forever changed my thinking about
the provision of our Great God.

The Lord is my shepherd... I shall not want.

A shepherd knows the needs of his sheep and provides those
needs before they are even spoken. They are anticipated
by the shepherd and provided for in advance.

He makes me lie down in green pastures.

A sheep is very careful where they lay down. And a shepherd
prepares the ground they lay on, so that no thorns or thistles
will get in their wool. A shepherd prepares a place for His
sheep to rest that is perfect and comfortable and safe.

He leads me besides still waters.

A sheep will not drink from moving water. A shepherd makes
a dam with rocks or whatever is available so when the
sheep goes to drink, the waters they so desperately need
are calm and soothe the sheep. The shepherd knows
how to calm the greatest disturbance and what the solution is.

He leads me in paths of righteousness for His names sake.

The shepherd knows just the perfect path. This is one thing
the sheep don't need to concern themselves with. The
shepherd knows the path, what to look for and how to get
there. All the sheep have to do is move, and trust. They
will be led in safety and peace to their destination.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of death, I will fear
no evil, for You are with me! Your rod and your staff will
comfort me.

A shepherd knows that there will be dangers along his
chosen path. There will be predators who long to kill the sheep,
there will be rocks, and detours, and storms and many things
yet to face. But the shepherd has made provisions for them.
His rod will hold off any powers of darkness, or enemies, or
predators or storms of life. His staff will draw us to him when
we start to stray and bring us back into the fold where we
are safe, and within His will.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my
enemies.

When the sheep need to eat, the shepherd prepares that
place, just as he does their resting place. He knows there
will be enemies around, but he chooses a place where
he can watch over the whole flock. He makes sure that
any poison thistles or dangerous plants are removed.
And he makes sure it is a place where the sheep feel
peaceful enough to relax and eat. The provision
of the shepherd makes the meal even more precious
and joyful.

You anoint my head with oil.

A sheep often gets cuts or skin problems. A shepherd
will put soothing oil upon them to heal the sheep. The oil
that heals and sustains and brings restoration. The shepherd
knows exactly physical needs of each sheep. He knows
them all by name, and knows each of their individual
needs, and habits.

My cup runs over.

A sheep likes the water where it is easy to get to. So the water
at an easy vantage point where it is easy to partake of
reassures the sheep. The shepherd knows how to fill that
sheep with the living water that will nurture its body and bring
health. The shepherd is always aware of the depth of the
water and any surroundings and dangers. He knows the
sheep needs water to sustains it, and has great mercy
towards that sheep, providing the water that will attract it
most and make it feel comforted. Water that
fills that thirst of a sheep on a long journey, till it is
overflowing and sustaining in His body.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days
of my life

For as long as that sheep is alive, the shepherd will
give it good care and show mercy and love to it.
The Bible says that those that follow the Lord will find
mercy and strength. And that all the promises of the Lord's
are their inheritance. His goodness and mercies are new
every morning. His provision unlimited. His compassion
never ending. His solutions and power all encompassing.
All He is, is all we will ever need.

I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

The sheep knows the voice of His master. And when that
sheep listens to the soothing comforting voice of the master,
and follows his leading. He will make it home. He will find
a path set before Him known by the shepherd. And he will
find peace and comfort for his soul.

And the oil of the shepherd heals, and restores what
has been bruised or broken.

The sheep only need to learn to trust. And rest in
the provision of the Shepherd. And to be obedient,
and listen to the powerful lessons the shepherd teaches it.

This then is a life of hope, victory, and a life lived well.
A life with the Shepherd of our souls. Who will lead us all
home.

Oh if we could only keep that in our hearts and minds
daily and let it sustain us. Never again to worry or fear.
But to cling to that Shepherd and know our sufficiency is
from Him, not from anyone else. That our circumstances will
not defeat us, our losses will not destroy us, our illness will not
keep us down, our enemies will not be victorious and no
one can take us out of the Shepherds care.

How truly blessed we are.

I am the Good Shepherd, The good Shepherd gives His life
for His sheep. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them,
and they follow me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall
never perish, neither shall anyone snatch them out of my hand.
My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all;
and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand.
I and my Father are One.
John 10:11, 27-30

The Lord is my Shepherd.... I shall not want.

remember
Only one life, will soon be past
Only what is done, for Christ will last

Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane

copyright Millie Plastaras 3/21/2008

Then Jesus came with them to a placed called
Gethsemane, and said to the disciples: "Sit here while I go
and pray over there." And He took with Him Peter and two
sons of Zebedee and He began to be sorrowful and deeply
distressed. Then He said to them. "My soul is exceedingly
sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with me."
He went a little farther and fell upon His face, and prayed, saying,
"O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me,
nevertheless, not as I will , but as you will."

Then He came to His disciples and found them sleeping, and
said to Peter, "What? Could you not watch with Me one hour?
Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The Spirit
indeed is willing but the flesh is weak."

Again a second time, He went away and prayed, saying,
"O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me
unless I drink it, Your will be done."

And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes
were heavy. So He left them, went away again, and prayed
the third time, saying the same words. Then He came
to His disciples and said to them, " Are you still sleeping
and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of
Man is being betrayed into the hands of the sinners.
Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand."
Matthew 26:36-46

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Jesus came to the garden of Gethsemane, feeling a
urgent need to pray. An overwhelming sense of
sorrow, even the sorrow unto death overwhelmed
His spirit. The sorrow unto death, was not physical
death, but by the association of His death with sin. His
Holy Nature shrunk back from this experience. Yet
He knew, this was His purpose, His calling. It was
why He came to earth, to be a sacrifice for our sins.

Jesus was obedient unto death.

He said, Father, not my will, but thine be done.

The burden upon Him was heavy and stressful,
and He was aware of what He must face ahead.
His holy nature recognized the sins of the world
that were about to be cast upon Him, and His
Holy nature shrank from the very thought of the sin.
Yet He forged ahead, and persevered in prayer.
He bowed down before God and prayed fervently,
his anguish so great that:

And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat
was like drops of blood falling to the ground. Luke 22:44

This is a medical phenomenon known as
hematohidrosis. According to physicians
it happens when people are under great stress,
and the blood vessels rupture, and the blood goes
to the sweat glands, causing one to sweat blood.
How great his agony must have been. And this for us!

Even so, during one of his greatest hours of need, and
heavy burdens, his disciples were unable to even
interceed with Him, allowing their sleep to overwhelm them.

I am struck by the thought that after years of discipling,
His disciples failed Him so often. They often could not
perform the miracles needed, because their faith lacked,
they fell asleep on the night He so desperately needed
them to pray with Him, and even as He was in
jail, being beaten and spit upon, His disciples denied
they knew Him. This reminds me so much of how
much we fail our heavenly Father.

Yet, I am also struck by the fact, that He knew this.
And that is why He came. He knew our frame, that
we are but dust. That we could never keep the law
fully, and we were in need of redemption. The poverty
of our souls was upon Him.

This week, it came to mind what sins Jesus had to bear.
Every vile,filthy illness ever known to man was put upon
His body at the same time. Every filthy, ugly, hidden sin
known to man was laid upon Him at the same moment.
All the filthy child molesters of this world, the rapists,
the torturers, the evil of this world became a covering
that was laid upon Him. He had to bear it all at one time.
If you went into a hospital tonight, just one hospital,
and saw the suffering, and those close to death,
the horrid disease people go through, multiply that
by hundreds, and by generations, and by hundreds
of years, and all this became His burden.

Imagine the crimes that you have heard of this
century, all that was laid upon Him. Imagine just
the sins that you have committed, whether in public
or in private. All these are known to Him. All of
this sin, darkness and generations of it, from thousands
of sinners was laid upon Him at once.

We cannot bear three burdens at the same time,
How could He then bear all the burdens, sorrow,
evil and sins of the world.

Because He loved us.

Yet He willingly went forth with this journey.
Even when everyone He loved betrayed Him,
and left Him alone. He went ahead, with a sense
of purpose, and a great sense of sorrow. His duty
was to die for us, and nothing could stop that. Jesus
faced a journey ahead none of us could comprehend,
and He would face hell, death and the grave.
Something we cannot conceive of in our minds,
and He did it for one reason.

For us. For you and me. WE needed the
salvation. WE needed a Savior.

Jesus was the blood atonement for our salvation.
What a precious sacrifice for us, when
we were so unworthy of this gift.

"No one ever loved me like Jesus,
There's no other friend so kind as he.
No one ever took the sin and darkness from me.
Oh How much He cared for me.

Oh Father God, bring us to the cross, make us
mindful of our place in you. Remind our hearts of that
night that you suffered and bled and died for our filthy
sins. Bring us back to our first love. Come to us and forgive
us of our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Be Lord and Savior of our lives. Remind us our life is not
about us, it is about our journey to you. We were created
to praise you, and to live for you. Remind us of the cross.
Let it never fade from our vision. Let us be all you desire
each day. Let the words of my mouth, and the meditations
of my heart, be acceptable in your sight, Oh Lord,
My strength and my redeemer.

Is your all on the altar of sacrifice laid?
Your heart does the spirit control?
You can only be blessed, and have peace
and sweet rest.
If you give Him your body and soul.

He gave His all, that I might be born fresh
and new at that cross. Remind me Oh Lord of
that cross, let it never fade. Because of your
death, your blood sacrifice, my sins can be
washed white as snow. How humbled I am by
the very thought of it.

The cross, the birthplace of salvation.
Oh How much He cared for us.

Only one life, will soon be past
Only what is done for Christ will last.

Having a New Mind in Christ

copyright Millie Plastaras 3/19/2008

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,
says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher
than your thoughts.
Isaiah 55:8,9

This week as I was praying about a specific issue in my life,
I asked the Lord why something had not happened for me yet.
He said Millie when you have faith, you have to have the mind
of Christ. That thought hit me so fresh, and reverberated
in my thinking, striking a new chord in my heart. The mind
of Christ. When we are in Christ, we should be walking
and talking with him daily. It would then stand to reason
we would seek to be more like him.

How can we do that? By finding out what He likes and
thinks, and desires from us. To seek His mind set and ways.

If we were to think closer to His ways of thinking would
we view everything differently? I think absolutely it would
transform our thinking.

Just in the realm of prayer alone. We would not be focused on
the problem or the defeat, or 50 things going on around us,
we would know that within our mind is the answer, and the
hope and the miracles that are possible through God.

We would see the answer, and pray accordingly.
We would see the big picture that God sees when he looks
at our life and our needs. We would not be confounded
by circumstances but focused on faith.

Why are so many Christians walking around defeated now?
Why are they weary and worn down? Why are so many
leaving churches, and finding fault with each other?

Because they have allowed the world, and it's ways,
and the troubles and cares of life to become their focus.
And they have not sought the mind and will of Christ.

I appeal to you therefore brethren, and beg of you in view
of all the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication
of your bodies, presenting all your members and faculties
as a living Holy sacrifice (devoted, consecrated) and
well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational,
intelligent) service and spiritual worship.
Do not be conformed to this world, this age, fashioned after
and adapted to its external, superficial customs. But
be TRANSFORMED, (changed) by the entire renewal of
your mind, by its new ideals and new attitude, so
that you may prove what is the good and acceptable and
perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and
acceptable and perfect in His sight for you.
Romans 12:1,2

Dear Friends, this takes a dedication to God daily.
A heart felt desire and determination to walk the walk
and talk the talk. Because you are no longer your own.
You are bought with a price, the blood of the Lamb of
God who came to take away the sins of the world.

We must rise higher in our spiritual life and grow in Him.
We must please Him, and renew our mind in Him,
and become transformed from this worlds way of thinking
into a Godly way of thinking.

Then our prayer life will be transformed, and our faith
will grow, and we can see fruit of our prayers as we
take on the mind of Christ, and the faith that comes
from hearing, receiving and living the word of God.

Take time for God, and be new in Him. There are people
and lives we can make a difference in, if we truly
walk a Godly life and see the needs around us and
have faith and minister to those needs through a new
mind set in Christ.

love always
millie

I have been crucified with Christ, it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me;, and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20

As Thy Day, So Shall Thy Strength Be

As thy days, so shall thy strength be;"—Deuteronomy 33:25.

As we rise this morning, we look out as the morning sun
slowly comes over the horizon, with beams of light
transforming the end of night into the beginning of
a glorious new day. Just to look at the dawn is
a reminder that we have been given a new chance.

A fresh start. A clean slate.
At that very moment, we have a chance to either
pick up the burdens of yesterday, or let them go and
free ourselves from the bondage of it. We can choose
to utter a prayer to God, leaving our burdens at his
feet, and going forth into the new day with a spirit
of hope and expectation.

God has promised us enough strength for this day.
We shall not be in want. We shall be provided for.
We shall not be alone, God will be with us through it.

If we really believe that, we should live it, and breathe
fresh life into our relationships and work because we
have a heavenly Father who knows all of our needs,
and will provide what we need in the time it is needed.
Let us go about with a spirit of joy and expectation,
rather than a spirit of fear and hopelessness.

Make a choice to breathe free, and to un encumber
your spirit and thinking of anything that is holding it down.

We must just abide in Him, in prayer, through reading
His word, and not losing our focus on the higher calling in
life.

Father God show me what I can do today. Help me be useful
to someone. Show me someone I can encourage and bless.
Give me strength for my path and a spirit of joy, that no matter
what comes today, I know you are with me, and I am not
alone, and will not have to deal with things all by myself.
I can find joy in my blessings, and pray about my sorrows.

Help me seek the path of greater truth, and greater wisdom,
and not to seek the path of depression, or unforgiveness.
Make me a instrument of your peace. Form me into the person.
you want me to be in you. Help me be strong, wise, loving,
and forgiving so that I may be a testimony to all of your
transforming power, love and forgiveness.

In Jesus name,
amen.

love always
millie


These possibilities are open to everyone.
Don't tell God you are not good enough, do what He asks.
Don't tell God to send someone else, He asked you.
Don't tell God you don't have time to pray, He said seek me first.
Don't neglect the things of God. He said we are to
pick up His cross daily and follow Him.
Don't tell God anything is bigger than His ability.
God is the Great I Am, I am whatever you need.

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"10 Rules For A Happy Day"


1. TODAY I WILL NOT STRIKE BACK:
If someone is rude, if someone is impatient, if someone is
unkind... I will not respond in a like manner.

2. TODAY I WILL ASK GOD TO BLESS MY "ENEMY":
If I come across someone who treats me harshly or unfairly, I
will quietly ask GOD to bless that individual. I understand the
"enemy" could be a family member, neighbor, co-worker or
stranger.

3. TODAY I WILL BE CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT I SAY:
I will carefully choose and guard my words being certain that I
do not spread gossip.

4. TODAY I WILL GO THE EXTRA MILE:
I will find ways to help share the burden of another person.

5. TODAY I WILL FORGIVE:
I will forgive any hurts or injuries that come my way.

6. TODAY I WILL DO SOMETHING NICE FOR SOMEONE, BUT I WILL NOT DO
IT SECRETLY:
I will reach out anonymously and bless the life of another.

7. TODAY I WILL TREAT OTHERS THE WAY I WISH TO BE TREATED:
I will practice the golden rule - "Do unto others as I would have
them do unto me" - with everyone I encounter.

8. TODAY I WILL RAISE THE SPIRITS OF SOMEONE WHO IS DISCOURAGED:
My smile, my words, my expression of support, can make the
difference to someone who is wrestling with life.

9. TODAY I WILL NURTURE MY BODY:
I will eat less; I will eat only healthy foods. I will thank GOD
for my body.

10. TODAY I WILL GROW SPIRITUALLY:
I will spend a little more time in prayer today: I will begin
reading something spiritual or inspirational today; I will find a
quiet place (at some point during this day) and listen to GOD's
voice!!!

"But since we belong to the day, let us be self controlled,
putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and hope of salvation
as a helmet." - 1 Thessalonians 5:8
-- Author Unknown

Lord, Change Me

God has chosen you and made you his holy people.
He loves you. So always do these things: Show mercy to
others, be kind, humble, gentle, and patient. Get along with
each other, and forgive each other. If someone does
wrong to you, forgive that person because the Lord forgave
you. Do all thee things but most important, love each other.
Love is what holds you all together in perfect unity.
Let the peace that Christ gives control your thinking, because
you were all called together in one body to have peace.
Always be thankful. Let the teachings of Christ live in you
RICHLY. Use all wisdom to teach and instruct one another
by singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with
thankfulness in your hearts to God. Everything you
do or say should be done to obey Jesus your Lord.
And in all you do, give thanks to God the Father through Jesus.
Colossians 3:12-17

It is a wonderful thing to know we are chosen by God,
and beloved of Him. It is also a huge responsibility.
We should be utterly humbled by it and thankful for it daily.
This should make us long to be right before Him in all
we do and say.

We should be united in the Love we have
for Christ, and develop a unconditional love for fellow believers.

We should be more aware of our bondages
and faults and we seek to overcome them. Love conquers many things.
It can cover a multitude of hurt, loss and internal pain.

Few there be that have this depth of love and forgiveness.
Why? They have been hurt or offended. They never move
past that point of pain, but cling to it as if it was the
most important thing in their life. What a sad commentary
on someone who is supposed to love and forgive.

Some just don't grow in Christ, they are content to sit
in a pew and feel they are doing their duty just by attending church.
They are unwilling to change.

This is really important. If we have a new life in Christ,
shouldn't there be evidence of it? If someone sued you
today because you were a Christian would they have enough
proof of it? Seriously, what is showing in your life?

The cry of our heart daily should be God, show me
the way to go. Change me. Help me be pleasing to
you in all I do and say.

If we see everything through the filter of past hurts and
rejections we get to a point where we stop communicating
with people and avoid them. Later on we find out it
was a waste of our energy and time, and we lost a lot
of time we could have used more productively in building
that relationship, or praying for that person rather than
holding onto any grudges we have.

Rather let us gather together with other believers
in a spirit of humbleness and forgiveness. Not seeking
our own ways, but seeking to unite in Christ and be
useful for Him, and loving and encouraging to one another.

This requires absolute surrender to God's will daily.

Are you ready for this journey in Christ? Make it powerful.
Make it right before him. Be all you can be in Christ.
Don't waste another moment. Life is short, grasp it
and live it to the fullest. Let your legacy be one of love
and forgiveness. Let your light so shine before men
they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:16

love always
millie


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Change Me

Dear Lord change not Thy will in my life,
Or trial and sorrows to be;
Renew my faith and make me strong,
Change not Thy will, change me.

Though teardrops fall when trouble comes,
Like storms on a rolling sea;
Let Thy beacon guide my ship to port,
Change not the storm, change me.

When Thy Holy Word I don't understand
And Thy glory I cannot see;
Teach my eyes, give me sight and wisdom,
Change not Thy Word, change me.

If the fruit Thou hast given me to eat,
Taste bitter and sour, I plea;
Let not my will but Thine be done,
Change not the fruit, change me.

If sometime I murmur and grumble, dear Lord,
About the cross I carry for Thee;
Keep it firm on my shoulders, but hold my hand,
Change not the cross, change me.

If You change Thy ways to please me, dear Lord,
I would soon grow cold and turn from Thee;
That You may hear my prayers, dear Lord,
Change not Thy ways, change me.

There's a valley that I must cross,
Someday Thy face to see;
Lest I forget what power is Thine,
Change not the valley, change me.

- Author Unknown