🌠"He determines the number of the stars; He calls them each by name."🌠(Psalm 147:4)
In this pretty country ballad the singer is telling the love of his life that their meeting each other was no accident... "Someone had a hand in it, long before we ever knew." Released in 1995 by American country music artist Tracey Byrd, "The Keeper Of the Stars" reminds us that God not only counts the stars, but has a plan and a purpose for every life if we choose to place our trust and hope in Him.
The Keeper of The Stars (1995) Tracey Byrd (Uploaded December 24, 2009)
When contemplating all the evil that men do in this lost and fallen world in which we live, my paternal Italian grandfather often quoted the old world idiom, "Il diavolo fa le pentole e non i coperchi’" which translated, simply states, "the Devil makes pots and not lids."
Image courtesy/iStock
This old saying came to my mind this morning after reading an op-ed piece in The Hill by Marjorie Dannenfelser, President of the Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, concerning the sudden about-face by the Trump-Vance Administration in their decision to resume former President Joe Biden's forced taxpayer funding of Planned Parenthood.
Ms. Dannenfelser claims that Trump initially froze Title X grants for the organization, but then, quietly unfroze them in January. He is now actively re-funding the nation's largest provider of abortion services courtesy of American tax payers.
The same man who, on Easter Sunday no less, threatened to wipe the nation of Iran off the world map, and one week later, after a purported war of words with the Pope, posted an offensive image of himself as Jesus Christ on his own social media platform, decided it is better to bow his knee before Moloch, alongside the pro-abortion Democrats in Congress and other high-end lobbyists, and replenish millions of dollars to fill the coffers-or is it offering boxes?- at the largest altar of child sacrifice in the world.
Why this sudden shift in policy? Is President Trump trying to attract more votes for the upcoming mid-term elections by softening his stance on abortion? It seems more than apparent that this is exactly what he is doing. But it also seems like a high price to pay for something that may not happen at all.
As Ms. Dannenfelser rightly asserts, "There is little evidence that funding Planned Parenthood, or softening positions on abortion will meaningfully shift independent voters in large numbers. But there is ample evidence that such moves will dampen enthusiasm among pro-life voters who already feel sidelined...When these voters perceive that their priorities are being ignored-or worse, contradicted- it becomes significantly harder to mobilize them."
So, if the Republicans fail miserably in the mid-terms, will Trump once again blame the loss on pro-life Americans as he did after he lost the 2020 election?
"the Devil makes pots and not lids."
The message of this old saying, again simply put, is that despite all the evil we see happening in the world, and this does not exclude America, where certain people act as if they are above the laws of both God and man, truth and justice will one day ultimately prevail.
Someone who is hiding something and are up to no good can be likened to cooking with a pot without a lid. Eventually people will look into the pot to see what's cooking, or the contents will boil and spill over, and thus expose the person in charge of the pot for whom they really are!
"You alone are the LORD. You created the heavens, the highest heavens with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to all things, and the host of heaven worships You." (Nehemiah 9:6)
"Butterfly Nebula"
Image courtesy/Colossal
Thirty-six years ago today-April 24, 1990-the Hubble Telescope was launched by NASA into low earth orbit. This large and versatile telescope, named after American astronomer Edwin Hubble, captured some of the most hauntingly beautiful images from outer space never seen before that time.
26 Best Images Captured By The Hubble Space Telescope Beyond Science (Uploaded March 23, 2015)
Pastor Jack explores the intriguing verses about the infamous Nephilim mentioned in Scripture. Who were these mysterious giants? Where did they come from and where did they go?
Angels Had Sex With Humans... A Demonic Background Real Life With Jack Hibbs (April 23, 2026)
"For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls." (1 Peter 2:25)
Image courtesy/Adobe Stock
THE SHEPHERD OF SOULS
It is needless to trace this metaphor through the Old Testament, where it is employed to express the relation of Jehovah to Israel. The most familiar of all the psalms shows us a single devout soul appropriating the whole rest and blessedness of thought for the nourishment of the individual life of trust.
"The LORD is my Shepherd, I shall not want." (Psalm 23:1)
The Shepherd leads. And under that thought is included all the shaping of outward life, for Christ is the Lord of providence, and the hands that were pierced for us hold the helm of the universe.
And therefore we must think of His guidance as mainly leading our souls in the paths of righteousness, and "showing us that which is good."
The touch of His hand on our wills, the sweet constraint of His love, the wisdom which directs breathed into the soul which lives in fellowship with Him, has silenced the loud voice of self, that His voice may be heard.
He says, "Come, follow Me" and His sheep walk not in darkness, but have the light of life.
CHRIST THE BISHOP OF OUR SOULS
Undoubtedly, the allusion here is to the bishop or elder of the early Church. The marginal rendering of the Revised "overseer" is perhaps better than "bishop". The connection between "shepherd" and church "overseer" can clearly be seen in the apostle Paul's address to the elders at Ephesus:
"Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over which the Holy Spirit hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood." (Acts 20:28)
The original meaning of the word, "overseer" suggests the vigilant inspection which Christ exercises over His Church. The Good Shepherd knows each sheep by name and His watchful eye is on every one of His flock.
"Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts! See if there is any offensive way in me, lead me in the way everlasting." (Psalm 139:23-24)
Reference Material for "The Shepherd and Bishop of Souls" A. Maclaren/Bible Hub