Reflections on Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want…

Oh Lord, You are my shepherd; I shall not lack. You are my leader and my protector. You provide for me so that I lack no good thing. With You, there is always more than enough!

He makes me to lie down in green pastures…

Thank You for leading me to places of rest. I command the stronghold of busy-ness and everything that goes with it to leave me now. I will rest in the Lord! Father, take me to those green pastures where I may feed on Your faithfulness.       

He leads me beside the still waters…

I am thirsty for You Lord. Like a deer that pants for the fresh water of the streams, so my soul longs for You. I drink You in. Be a river of life flowing from my inmost being.        

He restores my soul…

I repent from old ways of thinking and turn to the mind of Christ within me. Thank You Lord that in Your presence, my mind, my emotions, my choices are restored to Your design.

The default setting for my choices is: Righteousness of Christ.

The default setting for my mind is: Peace in the mind of Christ.

The default setting for my emotions is: The joy of the Lord.       

He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake…

I am thrilled by your deeds, but I also want to know your ways. I ask for Your supernatural power to help me walk in the right paths.

Yea, 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 have comforted me so much! Thank You for always being my Comforter. In the darkest valley, I know that I have not been given a spirit of fear, but of love, power and a sound mind.       

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

I can eat from Your table no matter what the circumstances of my life. You have lifted me above my enemies to a place of victory. I can feast on You even during a famine.       

You anoint my head with oil…

Your Holy Spirit is in me and around me. The oil of Your Spirit is gladness and power. Holy Spirit, You are my friend and You lead me into all truth. You are ever present with me. Your oil stays with me at all times.       

My cup runs over…

I have so much, I am full with You! My soul delights itself in fatness! Overflowing with You, with joy, with every good thing!       

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

I am pursued by goodness. It follows me and want to overtake me. I will slow down enough allow goodness to catch up with me!

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever…

I am Your home and You are my home. My inheritance is to be with You now and for all eternity.

Amen.

Pastor Pat Hadley

Bible Reading for week of May 5 – 11

Acharei Mot / Kedoshim (“after the death / be holy”)

Leviticus 16:1–20:27, Amos 9:7–15, John 7:1–10:21

I sit in thankfulness today meditating on God’s promises to us. There are SO MANY of them that a person could choose a promise for every day of the year and not exhaust the wealth of them!

Peter must have been thinking of this when he wrote these words. Read them slowly. Allow them to sink into your spirit and blast away any fragments of unbelief from your heart…

His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.  -2 Peter 1:3-4

Participating with you in the divine nature!

Pastor Pat Hadley

Bible Reading for week of April 28 – May 4

Tazria/metzora (“she will bear seed”): Lev. 12:1–15:33, 2 Kings 7:3–20, Mark 9:14–50, Luke 9:51–10:42

Jesus said: “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” -John 3:3

You were born again, or “born from above” in order that you might SEE the Kingdom.

SEEING speaks of vision and perspective. There is a way you see your world, your life, your relationships, and your future. In a sense, your perspective works like glasses through which you see and interpret reality. You have been born of the Spirit that you might SEE differently. The Lord wants to change your perspective! Your vision is to no longer be limited to earth.

Did you know that this radical change in perspective is one of the meanings of the word “repent?” Part of repentance is to get heaven’s viewpoint on reality.

Jesus said: “…you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” –John 8:32

“Truth” here means something more than logical facts. It means REALITY. Jesus wants you to know REALITY from heaven’s perspective. Knowing this REALITY, getting this perspective will make you free!

FATHER OPEN OUR EYES!

Looking intently,

Pastor Pat Hadley

Bible Reading for week of April 21- 27

Sh’mini (eighth): Lev. 9:1–11:47, 1 Sam. 20:18–42, Mark 9:2–13

I am writing this from our new prayer room, “The Well,” open Thursdays from 9am to 9pm. It is so good to spend time in His presence!

Do you ever consider that there may be more to your life? Do you ever need a personal revival? Do you ever desire victory in every area of your life? Do you want to experience the Lord more? Here are 3 Keys to Personal Revival:

1. Intimacy. Practice intimacy with God. Spend time with Him! Allow Him to speak to you.

In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.            –Psalm 16:11

2. Identity. Agree with God that you are who He says you are.

Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God. –Ephesians 2:19

3. Inheritance. Know what belongs to you and learn how to spend it in and for His kingdom! Everything available to Jesus is available to you, for you are “in Him,” and your are “His body.”

For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. –Galatians 3:26

Loving Him together,

Pastor Pat Hadley

Bible Reading for week of April 14 – 20

Pesach II (“Passover”) Ex. 13:17-15:26, Num. 28:19-25, 2 Sam. 22:1-51, Luke 22:7-22

After Passover, came a mighty deliverance! After the lamb was slain and the blood applied, came a resurrection!

Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen!” –Luke 24:5-6

JESUS IS ALIVE AND HE WANTS HIS LIFE TO BE IN YOU!

The Bible says that Jesus, who is alive and seated at the right hand of God, “became a life giving Spirit” (1 Cor. 15:45).

He wants to give His Life to us continually, daily, more abundantly, forever!

And let’s all get wet in the water of His Spirit! As He said:

“…but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” –John 4:14

Spring up Oh well! 

Pastor Pat Hadley

Bible Reading for week of April 7 – 13

Pesach (“Passover”) Ex. 12:21–51 Num. 28:16–25, Jos. 5:2–6:1, Heb. 11:23-29

I am convinced that one of the biggest traps and lies of the enemy is to convince us that “people never change.” If people never change, then the Gospel of Jesus Christ is a lie!

But the gospel is not a lie! Jesus Christ changes us; His Spirit and Word transform us from sinners to saints! His Good News tells us that when we are “in Him,” we are made into new creations. Yes, in Christ, we get a new birth and a new identity, out of which flow new actions.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. -2 Corinthians 5:17

Thank You Lord that when we were trapped in the lies of the enemy, You rescued us!

Thank You Lord that when we were in bondage to our destructive ways, You freed us!

Thank You Lord that when our eyes were blind to You and Your world, You healed us!

Now Lord, build us up into You. Transform us with such power and life that the world knows You are real simply by being around us.

…you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. -1 Peter 2:5

Eternally thankful,

Pastor Pat Hadley

Bible Reading for week of March 24-30

Vayikra (“and He called”) Lev. 1:1-6:7, Isaiah 66:1–24, Mark 7:1–30

As the children of Israel were preparing to make their journey to the land God promised them, Moses had a conversation with Lord about His “Presence.”

The Lord said:

“My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

Moses said:

“If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here.

(Exodus 33:14-15)

Moses was passionate as he recognized the critical importance of the Presence of God. 

David wrote “…In Your presence is fullness of joy;
At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (Psalm 16:11)

David loved the Lord and he loved His Presence.

It’s one thing to know about God.

It’s another thing to meet and experience God.

It’s one thing to believe that God is with you. 

It’s another thing to experience His Presence with you and around you.

God’s Presence is where true interaction happens. It is the place of relationship. It is also the place of freedom, joy, pleasure, healing, power and victory. His Presence is so wonderful, beautiful and glorious that words cannot describe it.

Our call is to be a resting place for His Presence. We are the temple of the Lord. In other words, the Lord’s desire is that we “house” him. As we live our lives together, we are being built into a house for His glory and Presence!

I pray that you will be passionate about experiencing His Presence every day. I am passionate about experiencing His Presence together with you Sunday.

Glory to Him!

Pastor Pat Hadley

Bible Reading for week of March 17-23

Vayak’hel (“assembled”)

Ex. 35:1-40:38, Ezek. 36:16–36:38, Mark 6:14–29, John 6:1–71

Jesus taught us to pray:

“Our Father who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name. ‘Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven…” –Matthew 6:9-10

So this is the heart of God the Father- His passion, His zeal, His purpose, His desire: That His kingdom would be manifested on earth as it is in heaven. By teaching US to pray this way, He is including us in His great mission to bring heaven to earth. He then gives us His Holy Spirit to be in us and on us to help us with what is humanly impossible. 

If you’re asking yourself what’s in heaven? Or what needs to be manifested on earth? Here’s a good starting place:

…for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. –Romans 14:17

Righteousness: Living according to God’s Ways

Peace: The power to bring rest in the midst of a storm.

Joy: Inexpressible happiness not matter what circumstances one is in.

Does that sound impossible? Of course it does! That’s why that all important last line is there: IN THE HOLY SPIRIT. Do you want to live right? Get in the Holy Spirit. Do you want to experience peace? Get in the Holy Spirit. Do you want to be happy beyond words? Get in the Holy Spirit.

IN is the key word here.

You can get IN a swimming pool.

You can get IN the house.

You can get IN your car.

You can get IN the snow.

You can get IN the sun.

You can get IN the Holy Spirit.

C’mon…let’s jump!

Pastor Pat Hadley

Bible Reading for week of March 10-16

Ki Tisa (“When you take”)  Exodus 30:11–34:35 1 Kings 18:1–39 Matthew 9:35–11:1

I hope you’re ready for some depth in the Word! As I was reading from Genesis recently, the Lord reminded me of something of His nature that He revealed through the prophet Isaiah: “Remember the former things long past, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God and there is no one like Me, declaring the end from the beginning…” -Isaiah 46:9-10 He declares the end from the beginning! There is so much spiritual meat in the book of Genesis, which in Hebrew is “B’resheet,” meaning “beginning.” For example, in Genesis 1, it is written: Then God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years.” -Genesis 1:14 The stars, sun and moon do more than just mark time and provide pretty lights. They are also given for “signs” and for “seasons.” The word “seasons” does not mean spring, summer, fall, winter. It is the Hebrew word “moedim,” which means “appointments.” So, God sets up a calendar in the very beginning. Part of this biblical calendar God sets up includes “appointments.” Later, in Leviticus, God talks about His calendar when he says to Moses: “These are the appointed times of the LORD, holy convocations which you shall proclaim at the times appointed for them.” -Levitucus 23:4 “Appointed times” is the same word used in Genesis for “seasons,” (moedim). Amazing! Some people have referred to these times as “Jewish holidays.” Actually, these times were given for ALL of God’s people before there even was such a thing as “Jewish” people. This calendar that God gave His people has been kept for thousands of years. And we are at the beginning of one of the most important seasons God talks about in His word. During this season, or time of God’s special appointments, we will be honoring these times as a community. Here’s the outline, with a brief description of what each special event means biblically (See Leviticus 23), and how we will be honoring them: Yom Teruah (Day of Blowing) Actual Day: September 29-30 Meaning: A wake up call for God’s people, announcing the beginning of the “season.” The Lord comes with the sound of a trumpet! Activity: (Past) We gathered at Flattop, sounded trumpets and shofars, prayed, worshiped, and interceded for our city, state and friends. Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) Actual Day: October 7-8 Meaning: Day when the sins of the people were placed on the scapegoat to be removed from the camp. Jesus has removed our sins! Activity: We will recognize and teach about atonement in our October 9 Sunday worship service, with communion and baptism. Sukkot (Tabernacles) Actual Days: October 12-19 Meaning: Days when God’s people were to remember that the Lord dwelled with them in tents in the wilderness, and that He will dwell with them forever in the New Jerusalem (Rev. 21). God dwells with us now in His Holy Spirit and we will live with Him forever! Activity: On October 16 Sunday worship service, we will set up a “sukka” in the auditorium and use it to teach about the Presence of God. We will also share a pot-luck meal and fellowship time, so bring food to share. A big part of these appointments with God included His people preparing their hearts. In honor of this emphasis, I will be teaching a Freedom Conference, focusing on ridding our hearts of bitterness, self-bitterness, rejection, and other works of the enemy. It really is a time of cleansing. The conference times are as follows: Freedom Conference: Sunday, October 2, 11am (during regular Sunday worship service) Sunday, October 2, 6pm Monday, October 3, 7pm Tuesday, October 4, 7pm Wednesday, October 5, 7pm How to Minister to Others Monday, October 3, 10am (room 210) Tuesday, October 4, 10am (room 210) Wednesday, October 5, 10am (room 210) I encourage you to come, pray, invite your friends, and experience the miracle of God’s healing power in your lives! May you be blessed to grow with the Lord during these times. May you find new levels of freedom and joy as you experience Him in new ways. Pastor Pat Hadley

Greetings Wellspring family in the name of the One who loves you and gave Himself for you! 

This week’s seeds are from the words of Jesus in Matthew 7: “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”       –Matthew 7:1-5

The plank or log in the eyes of God’s people is often this “judgment” thing. The word judge is “krino” in the Greek language, and it means:  To separate, approve or disapprove, to pass judgment on, to condemn. 

Quite simply put, it is NEVER appropriate for the Christ follower to judge another human being.  Why? Because judgment leads to thoughts of intent and motive. And no human being ever knows another’s motive. In other words, only God knows the heart. Furthermore, only God is “qualified” to make and pronounce judgment, because God knows the heart and loves with perfect love.

…because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.  –James 2:13

Did you catch that? Mercy triumphs over judgment! I am so thankful!

Beloved, as the Lord himself is abundantly merciful to us, so we must learn how to show the same mercy. We begin by removing the plank of judgment from our eye. When we do, it is a real miracle of Jesus giving sight to the blind!

Lord, forgive us for all the ways we have judged others.  And please remove the plank from our eyes.  Give us your vision, and heal us.

In the mighty name of Jesus!

Pastor Pat Hadley

Scripture Readings for August 14-20

“Ekev”

Deut. 7:12–11:25

Isaiah 49:14–51:3

John 13:31–15:27