PSALM 23 – THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD

This is probably the most beloved of all the Psalms, and likely one of the most well-known passages in all of Scripture.  Even folks who are not very familiar with the Bible are often familiar with the saying, “The Lord is my Shepherd…”

Today I want to take a walk with you through this short Psalm, made up of six powerful verses.  Jesus called Himself the Good Shepherd, and that we are His sheep.  Have you ever wondered why He compared us to sheep, and not some other animal?  And what is the meaning of His being a Shepherd?  Let’s start with a list of characteristics of sheep, in general: 

·       Of all livestock, they need the most care; they are totally dependent upon the shepherd for their every need.

·       They are vulnerable to predators because they have no weapons – no claws, no poisons, no disguises, etc.  All they can do is run.

·       They are meant to be in a herd, not alone, as this is their only defense. Yet, they will wander if they don’t have a shepherd.  Also, they are easily led by a “leader sheep” that can lead them down the wrong path.

·       Their nature: Timid, fearful, easily panicked, dumb, gullible, stubborn, jealous, competitive for dominance. They are also creatures of habit, and they often get into ruts.

·       They are prone to get stuck in brambles, often due to a heavy coat.  Yet, they don’t like to be sheared and cleaned.  Too much wool can cause sheep to “cast” or fall over.  It is difficult, if not impossible, for them to right themselves, so they become even easier prey for predators.

·       Unlike some animals, they cannot go for days without refreshment.  They constantly need fresh water and fresh pasture.  Yet, they have poor discernment in choosing good food and water.  They need a shepherd!

·       Because they are lazy, they frequently look for the easiest place to lie down and rest.  Often, though seemingly nice and quiet, this is not the safest place for them.

·       A positive!  They are capable of knowing their own shepherd’s voice.

Suddenly, I feel very “sheepish…”  That’s right, and, if you do, as well, it’s because we are so much like sheep.  Against the enemy of our souls, we are defenseless.  That is, without our Shepherd.   Against our own stubborn ways, we are bound to sin.  That is, without our Shepherd.  However, with our wonderful Shepherd, Who knows exactly how to care for His sheep, we are completely safe.  It is up to us to trust Him.  And we can.  So, now let’s take a look at the Shepherd, Who He is, and what He provides.

Verse 1:  The LORD is my Shepherd; I shall not want.

·       Jesus compares Himself to a shepherd because a shepherd gives his life for his sheep.  He is on duty 24 hours a day.  He takes care of utterly every need.  His commitment is like none other.

·       The LORD is my shepherd.  And the Lord is perfect in all His ways.  The Lord lacks nothing, so I lack nothing.  The Lord is the Creator of all things.  The Lord knows all things.  This is Who my Shepherd is.  I do not have a second-hand shepherd.

·       I lack nothing that I NEED (not necessarily want).

Verse 2:  He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.

·       He makes – that means “He makes it so that I am able to…”

·       I will only lie down because I feel safe (sheep are skiddish).

·       He is meeting my needs with lush green, sweet smelling, soft, safe places to rest – regardless of what is around me.  He is on watch.  Always.

·       Sheep are afraid of running water; my Shepherd leads me to still waters.  Again, He meets my every need.  He does not chastise me for being a sheep.  Rather, He says, “Trust me to provide.”

Verse 3:  He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His namesake.

·       Daily He gives me new life, restoration, strength.  My needs are met.

·       My Shepherd guides me on the right road/path.  I never need to question if I’m where I need to be if my eyes are fixed on my Shepherd.  There is no gray area.

·       For HIS namesake – HIS word/promise.  He is a promise keeper.

Verse 4:  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.

·       Sheep coming back at dusk – shadows – predators.  In my own life, as I go through trials and tough times, in the midst of them, surrounded by them, I am safe.  My Shepherd sees to it.  I can keep going on the path He lays out for me.

·       Rod – With this, the shepherd beats off predators.  For me, my Shepherd fights for me, once again, against the enemy of my soul.  The battle is His.

·       Staff – With this, the shepherd gently guides, or corrects the sheep when they stray off the path.  The hook is also used to pull them up out of the ditches, etc.  For me, my Shepherd gently corrects me of my own sins.  He pulls me up out of the messes I get myself into when I cry out to Him.

Verse 5:  You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.  You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over.

·       Even though sheep may be surrounded by wolves and other predators, the shepherd provides a bountiful feast for them with fresh pasture, etc.  In my life, regardless of what I am going through, regardless of what is going on around me, my Shepherd provides a banquet of joy and peace that surpasses all understanding right in the midst of the mess!  Right in the midst of the storm!  Right in the midst of enemies – whether they be people or demons.  I can be completely calm right in the midst of it all and feast upon the goodness of my Shepherd.  I do not have to wait until the storm passes.

·       If a sheep had a cut on its head, the shepherd would put some soothing oil on it in the evening, as the sheep went into the herding pen.  How my Shepherd soothes me when I am hurting.  He also anoints me, as was done in the Old Testament, for a special purpose – the purpose He has for my life.  And it is different than that of any other person.  The same can be said of you.

·       My Shepherd is constantly giving me more than I need!  More than I ask for!  More blessings than my heart can contain!  It all spills over and out, and, prayerfully, onto others.  My Shepherd is so good to me.

Verse 6:  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the House of the Lord forever.

·       I can be confident that God will PURSUE me, with His mercies new every day.  Psalm 136 says His mercies endure forever.  Everywhere I go, I find His goodness and His mercy – kindness, forgiveness for my sins, an ever present help in time of need, and so much more.

·       I am not just an overnight guest in God’s house.  Here on earth, His Spirit lives within me, and when I go to Heaven, I will live there forever with Him.

I pray that this blog helps you better understand that, with our Great Shepherd, we are completely safe.  We simply have to acknowledge that we need Him.  Without Him, we are defenseless and lost.

I need a Shepherd.  I want a Shepherd.  I have a Shepherd – the best one of all.  Recognizing all of this is such freedom.  Placing my trust in Him to guide me and take care of my every need has been a life changer.  And when I get off the path, His gentle staff gets me right back on track.  His gentle Hand, His anointing oil, His banquet – it is all there for us.

Come and see that the Shepherd surely is Good! 

THE LORD IS MY GARDENER…

A TALE OF THREE GARDENS 

Did I catch you off guard?  Surely, He is my Shepherd, as well.  In fact, I’ll have another blog about that one.  But, as I sit here on a chilly January morning, with a very persistent cat on my lap that is vying for my attention, I am recalling springtime, and how I look forward to planting again.  And I’d like to share with you about my Gardener.  In fact, He is a Master Gardener.

I am an avid gardener myself.  I try to tend to something every day, weather permitting, even if it’s just for 5 or 10 minutes.  It’s very therapeutic, and, as my dear momma used to say, I am blessed with a green thumb.  I have so many plants, and cuttings from plants, that it would take the entire blog to list all of them, so I’ll just share two of my favorites. 

I love growing antique roses and miniature roses.  The antiques often have such a lovely bouquet that you don’t typically find in big box varieties.  When the flowers begin to wane, I snip them, drying and storing them for later, as they make a delightful cup of tea, with the added benefit of some vitamin C. 

I also grow my own herbs, both for cooking and for immune booster purposes.  As the purpose of this blog is not about this, I encourage you to search these things on the internet to find out more about them.  But, I will say, adding fresh herbs to cooking is the way to go!  Talk about aroma!!!

So, are you ready to walk through some Gardens with the Lord and me? I have had experiences of walking through at least three types of Gardens with my Lord.  Sometimes, there would simply be one type, and that would be it for the day. Other days, all day long, we would walk, and all three types would be visited.

The first Garden is a type of Garden of Eden, in which God and I simply walk through the cool of the day.  It is His Garden.  He walks with me and He talks with me…and, yes, the joy we share is so very intimate, tailor-made for us.  He shows me the firmament of the heavens, and how He is in control of everything.  I don’t need to be concerned about a thing.  He shows me all of His handiwork here on earth – everything runs like clockwork.  It is all so exquisite.  In the deep forests, He walks as if He were a Lantern, not simply just carrying one (I John 1:5).  He teaches me about His Goodness and His Character, His Awesomeness and His Trustworthiness.  He instructs me how to be more like His Son, the Rose of Sharon and the Lily of the Valley.  I find myself wanting this walk to go on forever.  Surely, He is the Master Gardener, and I am overwhelmed with His Loveliness. 

The next Garden is akin to the Garden of Gethsemane.  I do not cherish going to this Garden, per se, but I go, knowing from experience that I must.  Sometimes, the need for this Garden is to grasp the prayer rock, as I sweat and pray through deep intercession for others.  Sometimes, I am brought here to bow low, humbly confessing my sins, knowing the pain I have caused my Lord, and sometimes others.  The Master Gardener knows just what to do here, as well.  As I confess my sins, He is faithful and just to forgive me of those sins, and to cleanse me of all unrighteousness (I John 1:9).  This is where the Gardener prunes me, refines me, purges me of anything that does not belong.  Any dead branches, anything out of place – the Master Gardener goes to work.  I want Him to.

The last Garden is my Garden!  It is the path through life He has for me.  It is filled with the gifts He has given me, as well as the challenges.  Here, again, the Master Gardener shows me how to use the gifts and work through the challenges.  He teaches me what to plant during certain seasons, and when to rest and not plant at all.  I have nine special pots of delightful herbs.  Their names are Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control (Galatians 5:22-23).  One or more of these is always calling my name, needing special attention….hmmmm.  One last thing: The Master Gardener teaches me how to grow clippings and cuttings, so that I can share my Garden with others!  

Oh, how I love to share my Garden with other people, telling them about the Master Gardener, and how He will walk through the Gardens of their lives as well.  Whether it is the cool of the day and I am learning about my Lord and His wonderful ways, or I am kneeling besides my bed in agony over my own sins or over a lost loved one, or, finally, I am traveling through my own life and learning to use the gifts God has given me to His Glory, I will certainly always be an avid gardener!  And, no matter what is to be enjoyed, corrected, or grown, I have the greatest Master Gardener the world could never imagine.  And, so do you!

Let me know if you’re a gardener, too!  Blessings upon blessings!  Until next time.

Teri

LOVE and AM I LOVING?

Many of us are familiar with the passage from the Bible in I Corinthians 13: 1-8, 13, often called the “Love Passage,” and the “Greatest of These.”

Let’s read the passage from the New International Version:

13 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  8 Love never fails.

13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Here is the same passage from the New King James Version:

 13 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.  8 Love never fails.

 13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

 Notice that the first paragraph of each version shows us that, no matter how great we might be in any other area of our lives, if we do not have love, our “greatness” is worthless.  Ouch!

 Next, is a list of the attributes of love.  Love is patient…….The New King James Version says “suffers long.” Others use the word longsuffering. What’s that?  Well, it’s the opposite of short-suffering!  It’s willingness to wait.  Take this test: Sit where you are and look at your watch.  Do not move or talk for one minute.  See how long it feels.  Now, imagine being that patient while someone is trying to explain his/her side of a disagreement.  Hmmmmm.  Longsuffering.  I think the word fits.

Here’s another one to ponder: Love is not easily angered or provoked, and does not seek to retaliate.  Another ouch.  And no tit for tat.  Ouch, ouch, ouch.

 Which attributes do I need to work on the most?

COMMUNICATING LOVE

 Here is a little exercise for you to try after reading about love through God’s Eyes in the Scriptures.  Perhaps you may have someone in mind that you can be thinking of while answering the questions.  You may even try completing the exercise with that person!

1.     How best do you express love?

2.     How could you improve?

3.     How best do you feel loved?

4.     How best do you think ______________ expresses love?

5.     Ask him/her.  Were you right?

6.     How best do you think _______________feels loved?

7.     Again, ask him/her.  Were you right?

8.     If you did the exercise with someone, now give that person a turn for questions 1-7.

Prizes for going through the exercise!!!

Tools for Victory in the midst of the struggles of everyday life:

Improving ourselves/how we love; keeping our eyes on others, and being in tune – thankful for how other people do show us love and watchful for how they need love shown to them.

Weapons against the enemy of our souls:

No room for self pity; accepting the love others give us as their form of love-giving; getting our eyes off of ourselves; working on I Cor 13 love.

I pray that this helps you, as it has helped me, to love others the way God wants us to love – the way He loves us.  Until next time, may God bless you!

Teri