A Shepherd Looks At The Good Shepherd And His Sheep

Travel the Shepherd's path to the green pastures and cool, refreshing waters of Psalm 23. As a shepherd himself, W. Phillip Keller shares his insights into the life and character of sheep--and of the Good Shepherd who loves and cares for them. A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 will give new meaning to the ageless Shepherd Psalm, enriching your trust in and love for the Lord who watches closely over you. Keller infuses new hope into our relationship with Christ. Part of the Timeless Faith Classics series, this installment: Is perfect as a treasured self-purchase or gift for any occasion Showcases Scripture which has been the topic of countless books, articles, and featured on a multitude of gift products Delivers new insights on one of the most familiar and popular chapters in the Bible Is a trusted inspirational resource for personal and spiritual growth and reflection As we lie down in green pastures or walk through the shadowy valley, we're assured that whatever our path, whatever our stumbling, the Shepherd will lovingly guide, carry, and protect us. We can depend on His goodness and mercy all the days of our lives. Readers will find comfort, guidance, and reassurance with A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23.

A companion to the author's A Shepherd looks at Psalm 23, written around John 10.

This omnibus edition brings together Phillip Keller's three devotional classics, A Shepherd Looks and the 23rd Psalm, A Shepherd Looks at the Good Shepherd, and A Shepherd Looks at the Lamb of God. As a shepherd, Phillip Keller knew what it was to protect a vulnerable flock on a daily basis. The special skills of a shepherd demanded compassion, care, and guidance. His practical experience provides a wellspring of profound spiritual insight, reflected in these timeless meditations on the most famous psalm of all, on the relationship between the Good Shepherd and his sheep, and on the sacrificial role of Christ the Lamb of God.

With over 2 million copies sold, Phillip Keller's beloved contemporary classic spans the decades with its uplifting insights on Psalm 23. This large-print edition sheds light for a new generation of readers on the nature and ways of sheep and the Good Shepherd who cares for them.

Pastoring is both an art and a science; however, much more than that, it is a divine calling wherein God imparts to chosen vessels a gift of his grace that empowers them to extend his loving care to all his children-especially those of the household of faith. While there are many competing theories as to what pastoring means and how it should be fulfilled both in the life of the administrator and in the lives of those who are being pastored, the reality is that the only definition that matters is the one that God himself gives through Holy Scripture. True pastors are identified in the context of the Hebrew Scriptures through the very word itself, which represents a function, not a form. This is true of most words in the Hebrew texts which describe actions rather than states of being. Pastoring, therefore, is a work, not merely a title. The Hebrew word that is translated "pastor" is (ra'ah), which is a verbal form meaning "to pasture." A biblical pastor, therefore, is actually a "pasturer" or "one who pastures," with the visual picture of "one who leads sheep to pasture" or "one who feeds [and cares for] sheep." This metaphor was understood well in the ancient agrarian Israelite society because pasturing sheep was essential to life. This idea is readily understood in that most famous of biblical passages about pastors as shepherds: "The Lord is my shepherd. I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters" (Psalm 23:1-2, NIV). A pastor (shepherd) creates a comfortable environment for the ingesting of divine truth and a safe space where people can drink the water of life freely. When God said to Israel, "I will give you pastors after my own heart, who will feed you on knowledge and understanding" (Jeremiah 3:15, NASB), he was playing on the metaphor that is readily attached to the word pastor. "The kind of pastors that I will send you," says God, "are the ones who will feed you with knowledge and understanding." Obviously, Gold was using a vivid example of the shepherd/sheep relationship in ancient Israel to teach a spiritual lesson: the pastors he would give to his people would be the ones who would equip their souls with the knowledge and understanding that they needed for successful living, and they would do so on a continuing, daily basis. A God-called, ordained, and a gifted pastor is someone who by virtue of faith and faithfulness has learned how to be a true servant leader-one who "stands out front and points the way" to spiritual blessing and knowledge and understanding for successful living. A pastor is one who has walked the narrow way with God through Jesus the Messiah in a spiritual exercise of both theoretical knowledge and the practical application of that knowledge. A pastor is one, then, who can teach not only theory and concept but can also demonstrate practical out-working of such ideas. A pastor is one who joins arm-in-arm with those whom he shepherds to help them walk out the life of Jesus in a vibrant and joyful way. A true shepherd demonstrates through dynamic modeling the very truths that are being taught in public community exercises. The Shepherd and His Flock is a volume that will permit you to look deep into the very life and being of a God-called and gifted pastor. You will learn powerful lessons from the heartbeat of his constant interaction with God's sheep, standing with them through pain and suffering, through triumph and rejoicing to help lead them to a Spirit-filled life of peace and blessing. The insights that you will gain from this book will be invaluable to you as you labor in the Master's vineyard and carry out his prime directive: "Go and make many disciples, teaching them all things that I have commanded you" (Matthew 28:20). Now, take time to walk the road of servanthood with a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, Dr. Jeff Hamm.

The Sheep of His Hand is a walk through the Psalms alongside a little band of sheep. Sheep are individuals, and benefit from individualized care. Shepherds have always dealt with primal concerns--birth, death, love, rejection. Technology has changed much in the last millennium but the mud and the blood of shepherding are timeless--and sheep are still sheep. Sharing this ancient occupation with the Psalmist helped Suzanne Tietjen to understand what David had to say about walking with God. "This book is amazing! I not only learned more about sheep than I ever knew, I learned something about The Shepherd, too." Bob Hartman performance storyteller and author, The Lion Storyteller Bible "Brilliant . . . This highly original book breathes fresh life into an old metaphor. It deserves to be read by millions." Dr. Mark Stibbe The Father's House Trust "Beautifully written, refreshingly funny, and spiritually profound. This is the kind of book that sticks with you. Buy it. Read it. Share it with a friend." Dr. Bill Giovannetti author, How to Keep Your Inner Mess from Trashing Your Outer World "The escapades and tragedies of Suzanne's little woolly sheep touched my heart." Karen H. Whiting author, God's Girls

The retelling and illustration of this parable is faithful to Scripture, as found in Luke 15; 4-6 NKJV. But it contains many surprises as the Lord God is wont to bring. The setting is abstract because the story could occur anywhere; its truth is universal, sovereign and timeless. At the same time, the story is personal, told from Wirth's own relationship with the Lord. His character, movements and words embody the nature of Jesus, as she knows him and desires to share this story with her audience, the adult and child. En route to a cooler, green pasture, the Good Shepherd leads his six jolly sheep, stopping to give them unique blessings. A rain storm descends and Malinda is lost. As God would have it, her rescue is sure and gives Him the glory. The rainbow remains as His covenant promise that He will not leave them or ever forsake them. The relationship of the Good Shepherd is clear. He trusts God to answer his prayers for guidance on the journey and for help in finding his lost sheep; then he thanks God for finding her in a most unusual way. The Good Shepherd and all his sheep rejoice. But God has still more blessings to give; more wonderful provisions come. The illustrations are freely-cut paper collages; correspondingly, the writing style is free-verse. The book is charismatic; it carries the audience up in the Spirit. Of the six sheep, five are called by the middle names of Wirth's grandchildren: Frances, Philip, Redmond, Murray, Liam. The sixth, Malinda, is the name of a daughter of friends. This story is dedicated to them all. This book could well be an encouragement to pray for the lost. It could also be a thank-you, if you know someone who was lost and then became found by the Lord.