Hope in the Shepherd

Barbara Ann Lassiter Smith was born June 7th, 1965 to Jack and Patricia Lassiter. She was born in Sherman, Texas, and spent most of her life in South Florida and Tennessee.

Barbara was one of six children and was preceded in death by her father, mother, sister Janet, and brother David.

Barbara is survived by her husband Sid Smith, son Sid Smith III, and daughter Sage Thompson, brother Steve (Linda) Lassiter of West Palm Beach, FL, Michael (Sharon) Lassiter of Kathleen, GA, Tom Lassiter of South Carolina, and Sister-in-law Deborah Lassiter of Port St. Lucie, FL. Her nieces and nephews: Stephanie (Justin) Akerley, Jason Lassiter, Shawna Morrison, Wesley (Lindsey) Lassiter, Cody (Alison) Lassiter. Great nieces and nephews: Taylor Britt, Alexandria and Easton Akerley, Gavin and Nancy Lassiter. Many wonderful aunts, uncles, and cousins.

PRAY

Message

Aunt Barb was one of the kindest and most outgoing people any of us have met. She never met a stranger because if you did not know her once she started talking to you (because she absolutely would start talking to you if you were within 100 yards) she would begin having a conversation that felt like you were catching up with a long lost friend. She would do anything for anyone. She loved everyone she met. She was faithful to care for family and friends in need and she would seek to encourage everyone. One of my favorite stories that captures Aunt Barb happened at my parent’s house one day when all the family was together. Everyone was falling asleep for an afternoon nap when she felt a story surface that she wanted to tell my dad. She was a little bit into the story when she realized my dad was asleep. Once she looked over to see if my dad was listening only to catch him peeking his eyes open which gave her the green light to say “Oh good, you are awake” and continued to tell her story. A conversation with her was a mix of quality and quantity, meaning you got A LOT of encouraging words. Without a shadow of a doubt, you also knew about her faith. Amidst the struggles, her faith shined through. She knew that even in her weakness and her struggles there was a Savior more encouraging and more faithful than she could be.

Psalm 23 “A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even 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 prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

The sufficiency of the Shepherd.

Psalm 23:1–3 “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”

He is sufficient to bring you to green pastures and protect those who are his.

John 10:7–11“So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”

The pains of evil.

Psalm 23:4 “Even 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.”

The pain

Psalm 23:4 “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death...”

Job 19:25–27 “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. My heart faints within me!”

We live in a fallen world due to sin. Things are not the way God intended or created them to be, however, they are not staying this way either.

We are not promised to be free from sorrow, pain, suffering, struggles, sin, or anything else that may cause us heartache in this life but these two truths remain: God is not the author of these troubles and God will one day put an end to these troubles for his children.

Even though evil exists, struggles exist, and pain exists...for the Christian, there is nothing to fear.

The comfort

Psalm 23:4 “...I will fear no evil, for you are with me your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”

2 Corinthians 1:3–7“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.”

The satisfaction of the Lord.

Psalm 23:5–6“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

He satisfies our sin problem

John 3:16–21““For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.””

He satisfies our pain problem

2 Corinthians 4:3–6 “And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

“Do any of us find decays in grace prevailing in us; --deadness, coldness, lukewarmness, a kind of spiritual senselessness coming upon us?...Let us assure ourselves there is no better way for our healing and deliverance, no other way but this alone, --namely, the obtaining a fresh view of the glory of Christ by faith, and a steady abiding therein. Constant contemplation of Christ and his glory, putting forth its transforming power unto the revival of all grace, is the only relief in this case.” John Owen

Psalm 34:4–8 “I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed. This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!”