Bev Bowling

Context

The Lord’s Prayer and Psalm 23.

Well known passages of Scripture. Comfort to millions over the years. On a par with Creedal statements.

All speak to God’s all encompassing love, leading, and promise for us.

God over and above

God is a shepherd.

Written by great king of Israel, who grew up as a shepherd boy. Loved his sheep, guided and cared and protected them.

Reflecting in old age, God is MY shepherd. I am a sheep in his fold.

My sheep were in good hands, I am in good hands.

God is over and above pouring down love on me.

God is a Father, we are his children.

Jesus knew in a profound way the love of God. His only begotten, his most beloved. You are my son, in you I am well pleased.

Not a truth just for himself but for his followers. When you pray, say, our Father…

God loves us, as a father to his children.

Bev knew the love of God.

small town. no church just a one-building. GF Baptist, uncle Presbyterian. daily Bible verses. Imprints early.

Therefore: Thy will be done. Trusting love.

The King is always right. A reflection of the King above, we can be humorous about truths we are grounded in. The King is always right.

WE are loved by God in the midst of grief. Trusting God. We are his sheep, we are his children.

God with

Ps. 23 - He leads me in various settings. Green pastures, still waters, valley of death.

Jesus is God with us. Jesus, he is always with me. Even when all others flee.

LP - Daily Bread. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Went through death.

Bev united to God through baptism into Christ. He is WITH me.

Entrepeneur. Luck, fate, secure in the higher power of God.

God with him through various experiences ups and downs of life. Transformative process. COVID, Radiation, the trials of this life.

Signs of WITH

FAMILY: He was a good husband and father. Married for 61 years to Mary.

children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

CHURCH: Church community. Offices and service. Clergy friends.

FUN: Fun loving, story telling, banter.

GOD is WITH us and we are WITH each other.

God ahead

Ps 23 - Surely I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

LP - Thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever.

David went from shepherd boy to king. Jesus went from obscure Nazareth to Heaven. From cross to glory.

God was AHEAD.

BEV: From born in the mountains in a log cabin in 1935, no running water, to the glorious home of God. What a journey. I’ll never be poor again. He worked to follow God into eternity, indeed he never will be poor again.

Not doom and gloom. we mourn but not as those who have no hope.

Precious memories will become precious reunion in the house of the Lord. We all say this prayer because it is true for all of us. That means that there will be reunion.

What will it take to shut you up? Buy me a drink. Future, exclamations of joy to see each other again…let’s praise and shout eternally!

US: Continuing AHEAD, FOLLOWING where the God is: who loves, with, and ahead.