Tag: GreenPastures

Posted on

Quiet Streams

I’m still camping spiritually this morning. Yesterday, I showed you the tent that I call home while on this earth. And this morning I want you to see the camp site.

It’s beautiful. Lush green pastures beside a quiet stream.

I can lay down in the lush green meadow grass after I’ve eaten my fill and rest. Then I can rise and walk to the edge of the stream to drink from the cool, refreshing water. Oh yes, it’s a beautiful site.

A place where all worries and fears can be handled by the Shepherd.

“The Lord is my Shepherd [to feed, guide, and shield me], I shall not lack. 2 He makes me lie down in [fresh, tender] green pastures; He leads me beside the still and restful waters.” Psalm 23:1-2 AMPC

What is it I came here wanting, needing? Peace, hope, rest for my weariness, confidence, security, help, wisdom…

“ And my God will liberally supply (fill to the full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19 AMPC

“If any of you is deficient in wisdom, let him ask of the giving God [Who gives] to everyone liberally and ungrudgingly, without reproaching or faultfinding, and it will be given him.” James 1:5 AMPC

“Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God’s unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it].” Hebrews 4:16 AMPC

“A man’s mind plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps and makes them sure.” Proverbs 16:9 AMPC

Today, September 11th, is a hard day for many of us. A day of remembrance, a day we will never forget. Or maybe today is just another day, like so many recently, that is filled with moments over an unknown future.

“ Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 NLT

He is worthy of all our praise because He has done and is doing great and mighty things on our behalf.

Join me at the campsite the Lord has led me too. Join me in green pastures, beside still waters and find rest for your soul.

Posted on

Peace, Sweet Peace

I’ve been up for quite a while now and have been unable to find just the right thought for the day until now.

Peace – the gift of God’s love!

Maybe you’re like me and things have been pretty hectic this week. Go, go, go. It’s time to stop, take a deep breath, say a quiet prayer and let the Father fill you with peace.

Imagine if you will a rolling meadow, green pastures, wild flowers and a gentle stream. What does that sound like?

Peace.

It also sounds like the very thing a young shepherd boy was describing in Psalm 23.

“The Lord is my shepherd. I will always have everything I need. 2 He gives me green pastures to lie in. He leads me by calm pools of water. 3 He restores my strength.  He leads me on right paths to show that he is good.4 Even if I walk through a valley as dark as the grave, I will not be afraid of any danger, because you are with me. Your rod and staff comfort me.” Psalm 23:1-4 ERV

I was just telling someone this last week that the Lord doesn’t let me teach something I haven’t lived. I have certainly had years of learning to live in God’s peace in the most troubling of times. Each circumstance that was meant to cause fear, distress and dis-ease, when committed to the Lord has ended in peace.

“I have told you these things so that you can have peace in me. In this world you will have troubles. But be brave! I have defeated the world!” John 16:33 ERV

“And you will live safely in your land. 6 I will give peace to your country. You will lie down in peace. No one will come to make you afraid. I will keep harmful animals out of your country. And armies will not come through your country.” Leviticus 26:5b-6 ERV

“God’s love will come together with his faithful people.  Goodness and peace will greet them with a kiss.” Psalm 85: 10 ERV

I don’t know what your day or your week has before you but God does.

“So you will go out from there with joy. You will be led out in peace. When you come to the mountains and hills, they will begin singing. All the trees in the fields will clap their hands.” Isaiah 55:12 ERV

“God, you give true peace to people who depend on you, to those who trust in you.” Isaiah 26:3 ERV

You may not be able to go to the country and find a peaceful meadow so take a few moments to stare at the image I used this morning. Let God bring peace to your heart.

I’ll leave you with the words from an old hymn and then I will go out and sit on the patio and watch the sun come up. I’ll start my day with peace. I hope you do too.

“Peace, peace, sweet peace!
Wonderful gift from above!
Oh, wonderful, wonderful peace!
Sweet peace, the gift of God’s love!” from Sweet Peace, the Gift of God’s Love

Posted on

Are You Weary?

It seems I have been writing about weariness or the need to rest quite frequently lately. It must mean we have some weary readers out there.

Fatigue is real. Weariness is real. That’s why God so wisely instructed us to rest.

“Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 You have six days each week for your ordinary work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the Lord your God. On that day no one in your household may do any work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your livestock, and any foreigners living among you. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; but on the seventh day he rested. That is why the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy.” Exodus 20:8-11 NLT

Resting on the Sabbath, the Lord’s Day, was given for our benefit. God rested and so should we. If asked, many people could come up with a number of the Ten Commandments – don’t lie, steal, murder, don’t have an affair, don’t swear, honor your parents – but one that is often overlooked is resting.

We get up early and stay up late. We fill our days with multiple activities, we pride ourselves by being the “masters of multitasking”. We can be fixing breakfast, answering emails, making lunches for the kids and doing our on-line banking all at the same time and we wonder why we feel overstimulated before 8 am. Then we lay down at night still answering emails or texts and doing one final internet search.

“It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones.” Psalm 127:2 NLT

Setting aside time, dedicated strictly to the Lord, reminds us that He is worthy of worship. It is a weekly reminder that our blessings and strength come from the Lord. He is the one who supplies what we need. He gives us wisdom and insight. He provides us with health and goods. He is our source of joy, peace, kindness and understanding.

“ Remember that you were once slaves in Egypt, but the Lord your God brought you out with his strong hand and powerful arm. That is why the Lord your God has commanded you to rest on the Sabbath day.” Deuteronomy 5:15 NLT

We haven’t been in physical bondage like the Israelites were in Egypt but oftentimes we are enslaved to appointments, deadlines, obligations and responsibilities that God never intended for us to take on.

When we stop for that “day of rest”, we can focus on the One who causes us to rest in green pastures, beside still waters and restores our soul.

“For I have given rest to the weary and joy to the sorrowing.” Jeremiah 31:25 NLT

Make time to rest – remember, that’s an order from God, Himself.

Privacy Policy Proudly powered by WordPress