Graze: To feed on growing grasses.



The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.

-Ps. 23:1-6

Growing up on a farm, I used to watch the cows, sheep & horses graze in the pasture. Each morning we would open the gate to the barnyard and they knew there was freedom from that small pen they were in. They also knew there was nice green grass beyond the barnyard. Once the gate was open, look out because those animals wanted to get where the tall, green grass grew – the pasture! They would take off sometimes even running up the old fenced lane that went up over the hill through the cornfield to the lush green pasture on the other side of the farm. There they would graze for a while then lay down and rest for a while then graze some more. They did this all day long. Come evening we would go over to the pasture’s edge and call the cows – 'come boss, 'come boss. They would gather at the pasture gate. Sometimes we would have to go round up a few stragglers and when all were accounted for, we’d open the lane gate and back over the hill they would go to the barnyard for the night. The next morning was the same routine, day after day. What a life, huh?!

Oh that we could just graze and rest in shady green pastures all day long! But we can rest and graze in God’s green pastures and restore our souls . . . The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. (Ps. 23:1) I believe God wants us to slow down and “rest” and “graze” and “feed” on His Word. Life throws so many things our way and we are so busy – busy doing good things. But are we running on empty a good share of the time? Are we feeling stretched to extreme? Are we content with who we are in God’s divine providence? Slow down and take some time to just leisurely graze, rest a while, then graze and feed on the good things God has provided for you. Graze, rest, and enjoy the “shady green pastures” of God’s abundant love, grace, and mercy.

Friday, August 13, 2010

The Spider Web

This morning on my morning walk I was amazed at the number of huge and I mean big spider webs!  It was almost creepy and I absolutely hate walking into them!!!!  :~(   There were even patches of cob webs on the hedges I passed.  But it was amazing as I would look up at the sun coming up and catch a glimpse of a spider web fanning out in it's intricate web design reaching all the way up to the power lines from the ground.  The first one that caught my eye came down from the power line by the pole and expanded to about four feet wide midway down and then it looked like one tiny thread of web attaching it to the ground.  It was totally awesome! I wanted to get a picture of THAT - but how in the world do you capture all of that on a cell phone camera??!!  And as I was trying, I am sure the people driving by me were thinking . . . what is she doing - there is nothing there . . . what is she taking a picture of . . . the heat and humidity have already gotten to her!!!!  LOL!!  Needless to say - no photo of that one. 

I continued my walk and saw more cob webs on the fences and the trees, flowers, and bushes I passed.  I could feel the ones that I couldn't see on my arms and face as I walked through them.  YUCK!!  I decided it was better to walk in the street this morning to avoid the crazy cob webs!  But just before I changed my course, I came upon another web which again stretched all the way from the ground to the top of the power pole.  I stopped to watch as this one had a spider busily working at spinning this web.  The spider and web seemed to glisten, almost sparkle, as the sun was shining down on them.  This time I thought . . .  just maybe I can get a picture the way the sun was illuminating it.  I couldn't get the whole expanse of the web but did catch part of it along with Mr. Spider at work!  Well, the picture actually didn't turn out too bad, did it??!! 

"Mr. Spider"
Once again, I am sure the people driving by were wondering . . . what is she doing just standing there staring into space . . . she better drink the rest of that Gatorade . . . she's lost it!!!!  But they couldn't see what I could see.  And I must say this moment in time was worth my whole walk this morning.  It was so beautiful seeing that huge sparkling web and then as the sun illuminated the busy spider working so hard. You talk about "web design"  - that spider has his groove on!! I wonder how long it took Mr. Spider to form that masterpiece and I wonder how long it will stay intact before the wind or the rain (glad I went walking early - I just looked out and it is sprinkling!) or before an object dislocates the web. Do you ever get bored doing the same old job or routine day after day?  I know sometimes I do, but what about this poor old spider.  Does his job of web design ever end or stay in place?  Must be kinda like cleaning the house!!  LOL!  

Anyway, today I saw something that most  people could not see as they passed by. I saw a part of God's creation. Part of His master design. He designed that spider in such a way so it could spin that web and crawl from the ground to the top of that power pole on its very own tight-rope!!!  God just thought of everything, didn't He?? 

Life isn't always what we think we see as we look out over our days, weeks, and years.  Sometimes there are things that we cannot see or maybe things that we see that no one else sees - like Mr. Spider and his web this morning.  But God sees - God knows - God brings to our attention the little things like this cob web or even the bigger things that we need to see as we go through life.

What do you see today? What is God bringing to your attention?  Take time to stop and see something that those around you cannot see - it just might be God!   

"Come and see the works of God; He is awesome"  
Psalms 66:5
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