Even though I Walk through the Valley!

Hello my Dear Friends!!

I pray your week went well and the weekend was restful.  I am preparing for a week that spans over 60+hours.  Oh the joys of working at a college bookstore the week classes start!  Not complaining..truly!  I am beyond grateful for the gift my managerial position has been for the last year.  God is indeed Faithful! 

I recently attended the funeral of my cousins' paternal grandmother.  It was a beautiful service and a celebration of her life.  Needless to say, it was also a time of mourning and sadness.  Death is never easy, even when the deceased is a Believer. 

 Even though we know she's in Heaven with our Father, the pain of losing her is still just as palpable.    

  

Death is a part of everyday life.  It is the final third in nature's cycle-Birth, Life, Death.  We see the birth of creation every Spring and Summer, and watch is slowly wither away in Fall and Winter.  

It's as if Creation breathes through each season.

However, what touched me most was the heartfelt message shared by the pastor officiating the service.  A man of abundant energy and passion, he brought forth a contagious joy regarding life, death, and faith.  I fell particularly in love with his message regarding the 23 Psalm.  

You know..the one that starts..."The Lord is My Shepherd..." 

In my times of desperation, uncertainty, and weakness, I have prayed this psalm as an incantation to my Heavenly Father-seeking His help, wisdom, and comfort.  Although I have recited this psalm from memory many times over, I never truly stopped to unpack its complex meaning.  Do you find yourself doing the same thing?  How often do we read scripture and take for granted that we simply "know" its content.  What if we took time to actually "KNOW" it-inside out?  How much more would God reveal Himself to us if we took the time to fall deeply in love with His Love Letter to us?  What would it be like if God only took time to "basically know His creation," instead of "knitting us in our mother's womb?"  

Scary thought isn't it?!        

For the last four days, I have not stopped brooding over message on the 23 Psalm.  It struck a cord deep within my heart.  

I have savored its beauty and thirsted after its truth like a dying man in the desert. 

If you'll take this journey with me, I would like to share what I learned that day, in the funeral home.  How God revealed Himself to me in an entirely refreshing way.  It goes without saying that God uses ALL things for the good of those who LOVE Him.  

 23 Psalm

1. The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. 

The job of the shepherd is to guard, protect, care, and love his sheep.  To make sure they have enough food to eat, a warm place to sleep, and are safe from all harm.  He sacrifices his safety, well-being, and sometimes his life for his flock.  Jesus is our Shepherd and we are His sheep.  He sacrificed His life on the Cross so that we may have eternal life with Him in Heaven.  All of our needs are taken care of because of His love!  

2. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

Sheep aren't the smartest of animals.  Without the shepherd to guide them towards new fields on which to graze, they would die.  Furthermore, sheep are very skittish.  They will not go towards any moving water to drink.  The shepherd must lead his flock to water that is silent in order for them to partake.  Like sheep, we're pretty dumb on our own.  We make mistakes, because we don't think through to the consequences.  Jesus leads us out of the dead pastures in our lives, where we would remain and die, and leads us to fields that offer abundant life.  In addition, we don't like any ripples or upsets.  The minute we sense trouble, conflict, or difficulty, we run the other direction.  Jesus leads us through the rough waters and guides us towards a peace that passes our human understanding. 

3. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His namesake.

Like I said before, sheep cannot survive on their own.  However, there is one thing sheep know how to do and that is follow.  They know the shepherd's voice and will follow that voice wherever it calls them.  Jesus calls us to obedience as Christians.  Without Him, we will go our own way-a way that leads to Death.  However, if we listen, we will  hear His voice leading us along the path that leads to Life.  He desires for us to live full and abundant lives in Him.  That doesn't mean life will be without hardships, but it does mean we don't have to do it alone. 

4.  Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me. thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.  

The shepherd has the taxing job of protecting His sheep from not only dying of starvation and thirst, but wild animals that prey on unsuspecting animals and rocks and thorns that ensnare. The rod is used to clear away any briers, clear away any rocks, and scare away snakes that attack sheep.  The staff, the big stick that looks like an upside down J, is used to pull a sheep up and away from danger.  The hooked part of the staff is placed under the sheep's belly and holds it in place until the shepherd can lift it away from impending danger.  We, as Believers, find comfort in the knowledge that Christ goes before us to protect us from danger both physically and spiritually. It shows that He will never leave us nor forsake us-especially in our darkest hour and greatest need.   

5. Thou preparest a table for me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.     

For us, as Christians, we are going to have many enemies; people who don't share our faith, dislike our openness, and don't want anything to do with Jesus.  Despite that, God still prepares a table or a feast for us in our lives.  He still provides for our needs and blesses us despite our persecution.  And!  If we are obedient to His will, others will see God's faithfulness.  The anointing of the head is symbolic for prosperity and rejoicing.  No matter what the world says or does, we as Believers are under the fold of Christ.  Our lives must reflect this truth and God will be glorified through us-and our cups will runneth over with His TRUTH! 

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.

Despite the struggles, hardships, and failures we experience in this earthly life, God's Grace and Mercy are everlasting.  Even as Christians, we mess up and disappoint God.  We disobey and go our own way.  We're human, made of sinful flesh!  However, Christ's sacrifice on the Cross makes it possible to die to that flesh everyday and find LIFE everlasting through SALVATION.  If we are faithful to confess our sins, Jesus is faithful to FORGIVE.  The reward-eternity with Him in His Heavenly Home!!  

I found myself crying as the pastor unwrapped this precious gem.  How appropriate for the life celebration of a loved one!!!  What a comfort it was to be reminded of Christ's faithfulness in the darkest of valleys and the highest peaks.  

I felt refreshed, rejuvenated, renewed!!!

It doesn't, however, mean that I won't still make mistakes EVERY day.  But, I was reminded of something.  No matter how many times I disobey and wander away from the protection of my Shepherd, He will always come find me and bring me back into the safety of His arms!!  And!  It makes me less desirous to go my own way.  Why choose my own selfish paths when all they lead to is disappointments and hurts?  God's path may not always seem the most fun, and it may seem downright difficult; but, the end result is a blessing beyond anything I can ever imagine. 

With all this said, I encourage you to fall back in LOVE with the Word of the Lord.  It may seem to some as old, antiquated, and irrelevant.  But!!  It is full of very REAL life truths and promises that transcend time.  Don't just read the Bible to READ.  Read the Bible to LIVE!! 

May you be blessed in the coming week.  If you are in a valley, take heart!  Your shepherd goes before you to lead you out!  If you are on a mountain peak, rejoice and give thanks!!  Either way, you are NOT alone! 

<3 

I'm linking today with All Things Bright and Beautiful at the Writer's Reverie @