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, July 25, 2014

In GOD we Trust . . .



Trust . . . mentioned 134 times in the King James Version of the Bible and 147 times in the Revised Standard Version Bible. 

It has been said that the Bible was not written "to" us . . . but "for" us. I believe that to be true.  There is a big difference in "to" and "for" us!!  

The definition of "to" is:
1.  expressing motion in the direction of (a particular       location). "walking  down to the mall"

2.
 identifying the person or thing affected.  "you were terribly unkind to her"

The definition of "for" is:

1.
  
with the object or purpose of: to run for exercise.

2.  
intended to belong to,or be used in connection with:
  equipment for the army; a closet for dishes.
3.  suiting the purposes or needs of: medicine for the aged.
4. in order to obtain, gain, or acquire: a suit for alimony; to work for wages.
5. (used to express a wish, as of something to be 
experienced
 or obtained)

Here are just a few of the verses from the Bible on "Trust" and "Trusting." As you can see trust, trusting, and trustworthy all go hand in hand and make for a much more secure life to live.  We CAN put all of our trust in the One who knows everything about us and the One that cares all about us!  

Enjoy and find strength and courage in these "trustworthy" verses . . .
"For where your treasure is there is your heart. Trust in the lord with all your heart . . . lean not to your own understanding."   - Deuteronomy 1:30-33
The LORD your God, who is going before you, will fight for you, as he did for you in Egypt, before your very eyes, and in the desert. There you saw how the LORD your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place." In spite of this, you did not trust in the LORD your God, who went ahead of you on your journey, in fire by night and in a cloud by day, to search out places for you to camp and to show you the way you should go.
2 Samuel 7:28-33
O Sovereign LORD, you are God! Your words are trustworthy, and you have promised these good things to your servant.
Psalm 9:10
Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.
Psalm 13:5
But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.
Psalm 20:7
Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.
Psalm 25:1-3
To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul; 2 in you I trust, O my God. Do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me. 3 No one whose hope is in you will ever be put to shame, but they will be put to shame who are treacherous without excuse.
Psalm 28:7
The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.
Psalm 31:14
But I trust in you, O LORD; I say, "You are my God."
Psalm 37:3
Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
Psalm 37:5-6
Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: 6 He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.
Psalm 40:4
Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods.
Psalm 52:8
But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God's unfailing love for ever and ever.
Psalm 56:3
When I am afraid, I will trust in you.
Psalm 56:4
In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?
Psalm 62:8
Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge. Selah
Psalm 84:12
O LORD Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in you.
Psalm 86:2
Guard my life, for I am devoted to you. You are my God; save your servant who trusts in you.
Psalm 91:2
I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."
Psalm 111:7
The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy.
Psalm 112:7 
He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD.
Psalm 143:8
Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.
Psalm 118:8
It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man.
Proverbs 3:5
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
Proverbs 11:13
A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret.
Proverbs 11:28
Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.
Proverbs 28:25
A greedy man stirs up dissension, but he who trusts in the LORD will prosper.
Proverbs 28:26
He who trusts in himself is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom is kept safe.
Isaiah 2:22
Stop trusting in man, who has but a breath in his nostrils. Of what account is he?
Isaiah 12:2

Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation."
Isaiah 26:4 
Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal.
Isaiah 50:10
Who among you fears the LORD and obeys the word of his servant? Let him who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the LORD and rely on his God.
Jeremiah 7:8
But look, you are trusting in deceptive words that are worthless.
Ezekiel 33:13
If I tell the righteous man that he will surely live, but then he trusts in his righteousness and does evil, none of the righteous things he has done will be remembered; he will die for the evil he has done.
Daniel 6:23
The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.
Luke 16:10-12
"Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. 11 So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? 12 And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else's property, who will give you property of your own?
John 14:1
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.
Romans 9:33
As it is written: "See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame."
Romans 15:13
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 13:6-7
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Revelation 21:5
He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."


Truly these words WERE written "FOR" us and not merely "TO" us. . .

           . . . IN GOD WE TRUST

Success