A Life Without Lack

What comes to mind when you see the words “The Lord is my shepherd?” Many adults remember memorizing this Psalm when they were little. I’ve heard it said that if Psalm 23 were a song, it would be number one on the charts. Dallas Willard writes, “These words are a sentiment carved on tombstones more often than a reality written in our lives.”

Psalm 23:1 says, “The LORD is my shepherd; I lack nothing.” What does this mean?

It is tragic that many people go through life without coming under God’s direction and can testify, “The Lord IS my shepherd.”  What would it look like to be like David, the writer of the Psalm, and say with confidence, “The Lord IS my shepherd?”

Psalm 23 describes the life that is available to anyone who will allow God to be their Shepherd. When we know that the Lord is our Shepherd, we come to realize we’re in the care of someone else. We’re not the ones in charge. We are aware and enjoying the abundance and provisions of God even when circumstances don’t go our way. Dallas Willard writes, “A life without lack is a life in which one is completely satisfied and sustained, no matter what happens. No matter what happens! How do we gain a deeper understanding?

First and foremost, we must have an accurate view of God and who He is.
Phillip Keller writes, “Our view of Him is often too small, too cramped, too provincial, too human.” Have you considered that your view of God may be too small? If we don’t understand God’s true character, we will never gain the confidence to believe He is completely sufficient to provide all we need.

How does one lack nothing? Well, first, let’s understand that there is absolutely nothing that God lacks. When we understand this, we can grasp a little more that the Lord is our Shepherd because He has everything we need!

With God as our Shepherd, we can live without any kind of fear.  Consider that sheep do not rest much because of the anxiety of attack. But the shepherd’s presence with the sheep can help them not only live without fear but lie down in green pastures. Your Shepherd cares for you. Your Shepherd has your back. Your shepherd guides you. Your Shepherd will never let you go. Your Shepherd loves you completely.

I don’t know about you, but there are so many times when I feel insufficient and weak. I lack in so many areas of my life!  However, when I live like the Lord is my Shepherd, I get what it means to say “I lack nothing” even when there are things I lack!

Dallas Willard  writes, “The life without lack is simply a matter of having one’s mind fully and constantly fixed upon God as he is, confident that He will provide everything that we need.”  (page 48, Life Without Lack, Dallas Willard) Oh, may we experience this type of life!

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.

Fiesta Wreath Invasion

Fiesta in San Antonio is officially over! The Fiesta wreath on our door couldn’t come down quickly enough. During Fiesta, many people place beautiful wreaths on their doors, as do we. The wreaths are bursting in color and cultural flair, usually adorned in handmade paper, plastic flowers, colorful mesh, and a PERFECT spot for a bird to build its nest.

Every morning, we’d open the door slightly and shake the Fiesta wreath, and greet the birdies. Sure enough, they would fly away immediately. Many a time, we’d leave or come home and forget the birdies. We were never quite ready for them to fly out right at us.

To top it off, over the two weeks of Fiesta, three times, a birdie got into the house and would fly from room to room. Each time, they overstayed their welcome. We found out that the Reacher grabber tool was the perfect implement for guiding the birdie out of the house.

The birdies might have thought the Fiesta wreath was a pretty and cozy place to choose for their new home. They didn’t know the temporary nature of the Fiesta wreath. They didn’t realize when it flew into the house that it was trapped from its real home, the great outdoors. They were just drawn to the beauty and glitz of our temporary Fiesta wreath.

I felt sorry for the birdies. They looked exhausted and irritated each time they had to leave their Fiesta wreath's temporary home.

Often, we can live a lot like these birdies.  We can be drawn to the beauty and glitz of the world around us, not realizing how temporary it is. Worldly ways often emphasize materialism, personal desires, and worldly success. Worldly ways are all about us looking good, being good, feeling good, and making an impression. Wordily ways, though glitzy and fun, leave us feeling empty.

When we find our home in Christ, we recognize Jesus as our source of belonging, security, and purpose. Our true home is not a physical house but a spiritual connection with the God of the universe. He’s not a temporary home but an eternal home. We can find comfort and strength with Christ as our home in difficult times, knowing He is our anchor and source of peace. We all long for safety and refuge—and we can find it only in God, our safe refuge.

As you start your day, take a moment to meditate and pray through these verses. Thank God for being your safe, secure, and eternal home.

Psalm 4:8 “In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.”

Psalm 16:8  “I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.”

Psalm 27:5 “For in the day of trouble, he will keep me safe in the shelter of his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tent; he will set me high upon a rock.”

Psalm 46:1 “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.

Coach Pop

Last week, after 29 years of coaching the San Antonio Spurs, Coach Popovich retired and assumed the new role of President of Basketball Operations for the Spurs. Coach Pop had suffered a stroke in November and hadn’t coached since. In a statement, he said, “While my love and passion for the game remain, I’ve decided it’s time to step away as a head coach.”

Coach Pop is known and loved by so many people. Some years ago, I sent him a card and thanked him for how he responded to a certain situation. It wasn’t but a few weeks later that I received a nice card with his gratitude and thoughts on the situation. Coach Pop took the time to write me? Wow.

What I love the most about Pop is how much he poured into other people. So many NBA players had comments about Pop and the influence he had on their lives.

Dejounte Murray, a former Spur, said, “I love you, Pop, and I thank God for allowing basketball to bring us together. The best part, besides you being the greatest coach ever, is the way you care for everyone genuinely off the court. In my darkest days, you were always a shoulder to lean on and cry on, and I will never forget that. Shoutout to Coach Pop 4Life!"

DeMar DeRozan, a former Spur, said “My pops had passed when I was playing in San Antonio. We were stuck in Charlotte and I called the GM like “yo, bro, I’m about to fly home tonight, I’m about to try to get a plane outta here, I gotta get home. My pops just passed. I didn’t want anybody to know. I didn’t want it to be all in the media. Literally 90 seconds later, I hear a knock on the door. It’s Pop. Pop sat in a room with me and cried with me for about two hours. He was like, ‘I’m not leaving until you leave.’ And that just showed the person he was.”

I couldn’t help but notice Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili on each side of Coach Pop as he came to the podium at the press conference. It was obvious that Coach Pop had a huge impact on their lives. Coach Pop spoke about them, “Timmy and Manu, who have been here for all of my workouts at The Rock. They say it’s because they love me and want to be there in case I fall- I call it payback, cause they give the rehab people new ideas of things to do to me. You’re not fooling anybody, especially you, Timmy.”

So much love in this Spurs family! Such a hard time, but a beautiful time as Coach Pop retires from coaching. I shed some tears for sure. One takeaway for me? Pouring into other people has lasting effects. So many people’s lives are changed forever because of Coach Pop’s influence and love. He took the time to love, listen, and care.

Philippians 2:4 says, “Let each of you look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others." Each day, we have the opportunity to love, listen, and care for people. What if we saw the lasting impact that could have on others?

“You do not need to be extraordinary. You need to be ordinary, inhabited by the extraordinary life of God. A word, a meal, or a cup of cold water has the capacity to bring the life of God to this world and delight His heart.” Diane Langberg, PhD

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.

Burden Bearing

We can become so overwhelmed by so many people’s problems. Why? Because people have problems. It doesn’t take too many conversations to see the enormous pain many people carry. At one time or another, we all will.

We all probably know someone with cancer or other physical issues. The physical burdens that many carry are more than we can imagine! Other people are going through hardship with their kids. Still others have emotional and mental health issues that are so overwhelming. Some just want to meet the right person and have a lasting relationship.

How do we help carry others’ burdens? How do we truly love people without feeling like the burden is on us? Galations 6:2 says, “Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”  If God calls us to do this, how?

We can take on responsibility for people or situations that God has not given us to carry. We can feel obligated to do certain things because we feel we ‘should’ instead of what God is calling us to. What would it look like to carry others’ burdens well, without being overburdened ourselves?

Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus gives an invitation to each of us, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Jesus offers us His yoke when we're weary and weighed down, either by our burdens or others. Perhaps we’re carrying a weight God doesn’t want us to carry.

Just think…wouldn’t it be wonderful to walk through the day and lovingly carry people’s burdens with Jesus’ help? When I try to take on the burdens of one person after another, I can tune out, block out, or simply ignore those who are struggling. I can miss out on the blessing that God is giving me to lovingly care for them.

When I get that Jesus wants me to “yoke” with Him, my attitude changes. I have a sigh of relief. I’m not alone. I can care for others with Jesus’ help! In Matthew 11:28-30, a yoke was a farming tool, made of wood to connect the necks of two oxen. The Greek word is chrestos, meaning “well-fitted.” A poorly fitted wooden yoke around your neck would be a massive challenge. It would be a burden, heavy and hard to bear. A well-fitted yoke, however, would be a joy as you walked deeply connected to Jesus. Jesus would carry those burdens with you and guide you.

As we’re yoked with Jesus and experience His presence, we can practice the ministry of presence with others. Sometimes, the best thing we can do for others is just to be with them. We can listen. We can care for someone’s physical needs.  We can pray with them and pray for them.

As we yoke ourselves with Christ, we won’t grow weary in bearing the burdens of others.

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.

God Cares

Sometimes we need to celebrate the small wins in our lives! It was just over a month ago that I broke both elbows and a wrist in a freak accident. The long process of healing from an injury can be long and lonely. Few people know and understand the challenges until they've gone through something difficult. Recently, I celebrated with Ben some small achievements.

Just two weeks ago, I was able to lift a fork in my left hand to my mouth and eat with my left hand. Since the accident, I picked up food with my fork in my left hand, did a quick transfer to the right hand, and then ate with my right hand. (I couldn’t get my left hand to my mouth.) Big win! Also, just a few days ago, I was able to get a scrunchie in my hair to make a ponytail. I was so happy! 

Sometimes, I don’t think we think God cares about the details of our lives. Often, people are not that curious about the details of our lives, so why would God be? I’m so thankful that God is always present and ready to celebrate, come alongside, encourage, support, cry with, and care for us….no matter what we’re going through.

Check out Luke 12:7, which says, “Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not: you are of more value than many sparrows.”  

Psalm 139:1-4 says, “You have searched me, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you understand my thoughts from afar. You scrutinize my path and all my ways. You know everything before a word escapes my lips.”

Psalm 37:23-25 says, “The LORD directs the steps of the godly; he delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fail, for the LROD holds them by the hand.”

I’m so thankful that God doesn’t just care about the “big deals” in our lives, but everyday moments, every detail, every care, every concern, every fear, every painful moment. He loves each of us so much! He is our Heavenly Father, and his love knows no bounds. He is in control of all things, even the tiny, insignificant details of our lives. He cares about my small victories! He cares about yours.

We have a God who knows what we need even before we ask Him. God knew (and even cared) that I wanted to put my hair back in a scrunchie and couldn’t. It’s such a small thing, but He cares!

God invites you to share the details of your life with Him. Others may not know what you're going through, but God does. No issue, worry, or concern is too small to involve Him.

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.

Life After Easter

What goes on the day after Easter? A. Your dog finds the leftover Easter Eggs behind a bush and partakes. B. You spend time cleaning up all the cascarones spread through your house. C. You eat the remaining jellybeans that are your favorite color and leave the rest for others. D. You consider all that took place on Easter and allow the resurrection to change you. 

How can Jesus’ resurrection change us? Today is not a day to “get back to normal”. Easter is a new beginning! Jesus’ death on the cross, the empty grave, and the resurrected Jesus give us hope. Jesus' resurrection gave the disciples hope! Take a look at John 20:19-20:

“On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’ When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.”

It was the first day of the week, and the disciples locked themselves away from people. Could we possibly have known the pain in their hearts? How would they pick up the pieces and go on after their beloved Jesus was gone? Life seemed to stop. Even what Jesus had taught them seemed like a distant memory.

We see in the text of John 20:19-20 that the doors were locked. This gives the idea that they were not only shut but also secured and locked against unwelcome visitors. All at once, Jesus came and stood in their midst.  We don’t know how Jesus got into the room, but I doubt it was in a normal way. 

Just to be honest, any of us, if we were sitting in that room, would have flipped out. This strange experience would suggest that resurrected bodies were not subject to the same limitations as our present bodies. Just think…. Jesus could have gone anywhere. He could have done anything. But He sought out His people and He brought a word of peace to them. The words ‘Peace to you’ are an assurance that there is no cause to fear, and that all is well, for they were alarmed by his manifestation. (Trench, Enduring Word)

The resurrected Jesus gives peace. Something happened in that room that night. The disciples saw the risen Lord. In time, the disciples became more and more confident of what they believed. Acts 4:13 says, “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.”

When Jesus came back to life, they came alive. They would not stop sharing about Jesus and what He had done. The resurrection changed the disciples. It can change us, too.  Could it be true that others recognize that we, too, have been with Jesus?

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.

Jesus' Surrender

Imagine knowing you had a week to live. How would you spend it? Jesus knew he had a week to live. He knew he was going to be betrayed by Judas. He even knew where He was going to be betrayed. How did Jesus live in these agonizing moments? Check out Luke 22:39-46.

“Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. On reaching the place, he said to them, ‘Pray that you will not fall into temptation.’ He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt, and prayed. ‘Father, if you are willing, take this cup form me; yet not my will, but yours be done.’ An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. ‘Why are you sleeping?’ he asked them, ‘Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.’”

One thing I notice that is significant in the passage is that Jesus knelt and prayed. The common form of Jewish people praying back then was standing with your eyes lifted to heaven and your arms outstretched. So, when Jesus knelt, he was pleading with God intensely. The various gospels tell us that He not only prayed once to the Father, but three times. (Matthew 26:39, 42) Jesus' mindset just before his crucifixion was a total submission to the will of the Father. He didn’t want the “cup,” which was Jesus’ suffering. He was expressing to God a natural human desire to avoid the pain and suffering that would come with being crucified. Remember, Jesus is fully God but also fully human. He felt the struggle. He knew what was awaiting Him.

Oh, that we would have that kind of persevering prayer. We see that He was in such deep sorrow that his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. That was a sign of extreme anguish. As much as He wanted out of the suffering, He wanted the Father’s will. He prays, “If it is possible.” Jesus would have preferred another way but was committed to the Father’s will. If you ever questioned that Jesus was fully man, this verse shows us clearly!

After he rose from prayer, he went to the disciples and lo and behold found them asleep! At Jesus' moment of deep pain, his disciples were asleep! I love that the disciples were with Jesus as they saw Jesus model the importance of prayer and surrendering one’s will to God. But they failed to stay awake and watch with Jesus. Luke speaks to the sorrow they had. The grief that they felt at the sight of their Master’s distress overwhelmed them to the point of sleep. Jesus woke them and encouraged them to pray so they wouldn’t fall into temptation. In Jesus’ sorrowful moment, He was thinking of them and their good instead of how sad it felt that they failed to support Him.

This week is Holy Week, when we consider what it must have been like for Jesus to walk to the cross on our behalf. Can we follow in Jesus’ steps? “Father…I want your will, not mine.” When we do, we can be sure that our God hears us.

“Since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we don’t have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us draw near then with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:14-16

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.