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"The Lord is my shepherd...Yea, thou I walk through the the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil:for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me" (Ps. 23:1a, 4).

There are time in our lives when we are called to walk beside someone who is fighting a great illness that could or will take their lives. Since we are not the one who is ill, it is the valley of the shadow of death for us. But it affects us none the less. These are the times when even we need God our Great Shepherd to lead us through this dark valley. We can be sure that if we keep our eyes on the Shepherd he will lead us through that valley to the other side.

Did you know that he brings weapons with Him into the valley to help protect and care for you? Yes, he does. Let me tell you about these weapons. He carrys a rod. Now this rod is a weapon that shepherds in the Holy lands. With it they use it as a club to beat back animals that are trying to attack the sheep. God also deals with our enemies, both physical and spiritual. We may not always see how, but he does. The other weapon is the staff.  A shepherd holds the staff sideways and uses it like a guardrail to help keep the sheep on a dark steep trail. God also has a staff called the Bible that tells us where to walk in safety. The shepherd also uses the staff to grab a sheep that is about to fall over a clift to keep them from doing so. Or to grab a sheep that has already fallen over the cift and is stuck on a ledge, to bring it back to safety. God also can do this to those of us that allow him to do so.

You see, Jesus, God son, is the Great Shepherd, he said so himself, when he said, "I am the good Shepherd. The shepherd gives his life for the sheep" (John 10:11 NIRV). That is what Jesus was doing when he died on that cross. When we realize just how much Jesus wants to take care of you and protect you even in the dark valley of the shadow of death, you will find comfort.

Comforting hugs,

Chaplain Toni

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God is in his holy temple. He is a father to those whose father has died. He takes care of women whose husbands have died. God gives lonely people a family" (Ps. 68:5).


I have heard many people of all ages say that they feel like an orphan when their parents or whomever was their care taker dies. I want you to know that God understands.


I have heard women say that they feel like half of them died the day their husbands died. They also feel unprotected and cared for after th...at. God wants to know that he is there for you, protecting and caring for you.

We live in a culture where parents are not always in a child's life; divorce leaves people caring for kids without the other parent; and many people are states away from the comfort of their family. All of these situations have made us a nation of lonely people. BUT the good news is that God had said that he would always be there for you! If you are lonely and in need of the love of a parent, spouse or family, just climb up into God the Father's lap and sit there for a while. He would love to lavish His love on you! He also has his family, it is the family of God. Feel free to reach out to those in it.


Comforting hugs,
Chaplain Toni

 

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"By Whose stripes ye are healed" (1 Peter 2:24).

Before Jesus was put on the cross for our sins, he was whipped. The whip that was used on Jesus was a leather whip with many straps at the end. At the end of each strap there was something sharp that cut his skin every time it hit him. When they were done his back and other parts of his body had deep stripes cut into it.

This verse tells us that he took those stripes, so that we could be healed. This healing is not just physical, but mental, emotional and spiritual, as well. All we have to do is go to him and ask for his healing. He sits and waits to hear from you. He is also a good listener, so you can go to him and talk to him as  you would a counslor, He is the best one around! Try it!

Comforting hugs,

Chaplain Toni