Reader,
As a child, I attended Sunday School, but it wasn't until I was a grown woman that I was able to see Jesus in the words of Scripture. The beautiful thing about God's Word is that no matter how many times you read a passage; it never becomes stale. It still has the potential to refresh the deepest parts of you, even decades after reading it for the first time.
I remember standing in front of a chalkboard in a Sunday School classroom at Warwood United Methodist Church at the age of maybe 8 or 9. We would read the words on the board and then turn around and try to recite them.
Round and round we'd go until we were dizzy from spinning and the number of words swimming in our heads. But eventually, it stuck.
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“The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.
Even 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.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil; My cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the House of the Lord forever.”
PSALM 23, ESV |
The 23rd Psalm was written by the shepherd-king David. The very same shepherd-king that slew a giant. And his poetic words are the very first pieces of Scripture that I committed to memory.
They are also the six verses that have served as my life vest as I've battled with my own giants named anxiety and depression.
What gets me about these six verses, more than anything, is that it seems to provide a sense of calm over everything. The passage speaks so intimately of being in the presence of the LORD. It provides every reason to pause, to rest, and to receive that fill-up we so desperately need. In six verses, we can receive the restoring of our souls.
And that is what I want for you this year, my friend.
To find yourself in the presence of the LORD. To receive that fill-up you so desperately need.
So I invite you to join me in studying about those six verses and the thread of the Good Shepherd that is sewn throughout the expanse of Scripture, from Psalms to Revelation.
Now, now, don't get hasty and close this email because I mentioned Revelation!
This passage is anything but scary!
"For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd,
and he will guide them to springs of living water,
and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."
Revelation 7:17, ESV
What do you say? That kind of presence of the LORD sounds pretty enticing!
Starting Sunday, January 18th, we'll begin reading our book for the year - YES, the entire year - Kenneth Bailey's book, "The Good Shepherd: A Thousand-Year Journey From Psalm 23 To The New Testament."
Here's a look at our schedule of reading/studying for Winter 2026:
- Jan. 18-22 - Ch. 1: The Good Shepherd in Psalm 23
- Jan. 25-29 - Ch. 2: The Good Shepherd and Jeremiah 23:1-8
- Feb. 1-5 - Ch. 3: The Good Shepherd and Ezekiel 34
- Feb. 8-12 - Ch. 4: The Good Shepherd and Zechariah 10:2-12
Fall 2026:
- Sept. 6-10 - Ch. 5: Jesus the Good Shepherd and the Good Woman in Luke 15:1-10
- Sept. 13-17 - Ch. 6: The Good Shepherd in Mark 6:7-52
- Sept. 20-24 - Ch. 7: The Disciples as Good Shepherds in Matthew 18:10-14
- Sept. 27 - Oct 1 - Ch. 8: The Good Shepherd Amid Thieves and Wolves in John 10:1-18
- Oct. 4-8 - Ch. 9: The Good Shepherd and 1 Peter 5:1-4
Joining us to participate in weekly Zoom call discussions
Our first Zoom call will take place on Thursday, January 22nd at 9 p.m. EST.
Sign up for the entire year on our website by clicking on the button above.
