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.

Monday, June 27, 2011

God is our Refuge & Strength

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

    Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,

 though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High.

God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns.

The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts.

The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

    Come, behold the works of the LORD, how he has brought desolations on the earth.

    He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire.

   "Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!"

The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah. 
                                                  -Psalm 46:1-11
Our hope is in God who KNOWS ALLthings, SEES ALL things, HEARS ALL
things and IS our Refuge!  Flood or dry places, God is in the midst of all that is around us.  For us in the mid-west, it is water - the swelling of the Missouri River.  Water overtaking towns, levees being breached, streets, highways, and interstates being closed with alternate routes around the vast flooded areas.  Detours - a change in the routine of many! Change for so many - preparation for possible flooding in our houses, farms, cities and towns. But what I notice is the pulling together of people in need - helping hands filling sand bags - offering to help pack and move belongings to higher ground.  A comradeship of those experiencing the hardships of the danger ahead!

God tells us in the above scripture that He is in the midst of all that is surrounding us - He is with us - He is our fortress!!!  What a comforting passage of scripture.  The "mother" of a blogger friend of mine (Karen) sent me this scripture and it was just what I needed after a hard weekend of packing belongings in preparation for the "unknown"! Will the levees hold for two months with more water being released from the dams up North or will they breach?! We just don't know. Some of us live very close to the levee - 1 mile away and the interstate is closed just 10 blocks up the street, people are loading up their possessions and moving in with family or friends.  The unknown is very frustrating!! Is it going to flood down my street or not??  Oh, how I wish I knew!! I don't know . . . but I do know that God knows what is out there tomorrow, next week, next month, even two months down the road. 

You know I can worry myself until I am sick! But I know that those of us here in the Midwest can only do what we can to "prepare" and "leave" the Missouri River and it's ongoing problems with God . . .

"Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling".  I know that I must, as Psalms 43 tells me, "be still and know that He is God and He will be exalted in the earth!  The Lord of hosts is with me and He is my fortress!"
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