Summer Playlist: Life Is A Journey, Keep Walking
Life Is A Journey, Keep Walking.
“Life is a journey. When we stop, things don’t go right.” Pope Francis.
“Life is a journey to be experienced, not a problem to be solved.” Winnie the Pooh
The Pope says, “keep moving”, Pooh says, “enjoy the ride”. Psalm 23 says both are possible because we have a Shepherd & Host.
MY SHEPHERD
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3 he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
Provides & Pursues
2. …1b I lack nothing. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3 he refreshes my soul.
Lack nothing (provides)
Makes me lie down
Leads me beside
Refreshes my soul
“Not lacking anything” isn’t measured by what we have but in who we have.
Sheep live for the moment without regard to the consequences or the future.
Masses and Mobs rarely go in the right direction.
The Shepherd restores our soul by going after us and by turning us around.
John 10:9-11 Message “I am the Gate. Anyone who goes through me will be cared for—will freely go in and out, and find pasture. A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of. I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd puts the sheep before himself, sacrifices himself if necessary.”
The Shepherd provides and pursues and He also guides and guards.
Guides
He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.
Guards
4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
Host
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Implications of Hosting
It was a public affirmation of relationship.
While in the home of a host you were under the protection of the host.
God can turn any table at any time. He can remove an enemy or He can exalt you in front of your enemy! Keep your feet moving!
Pursuer
6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Psalm 139:1-18 “You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. 2 You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. 3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. 4 Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. 5 You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. 7 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? 8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. 9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, 10 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. 11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” 12 even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. 13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. 17 How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them! 18 Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand — when I awake, I am still with you.
Psalm 23 is a comforting Psalm to read because it is a powerful Psalm to live.
God is your Shepherd.
God provides for you.
God pursues you.
God is for you and with you.
God guides you.
God guards you.
God exalts you in the presence of your enemies.
God’s goodness and love chase after you and turns you around.
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3 he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley,[a] I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.