Vanessa's take on Psalms 23

5 August 2009 - I’ve been thinking about this since Bob Fitt’s worship workshop on saturday morning (1st August 2009).. psalm 23.

I cannot get it off my mind. It is on my mind day and night, as I work and as I play. In psalm 37,4 it says to delight yourself in the Lord and he shall give you the desires of your heart.

Then I questioned, what is my heart’s desire? As Bob and Kathy would put it, as something you enjoy doing that you take delight in.

I thought about psalm 23, when I had the spooks last Sat night. Not sure if I heard something or someone's TV was on.. anyway, I got spooked.

So I thought of Psalm 23's verse: "Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I shall fear no evil…"

But..Why did I fear?

Thoughts of you, just consume me night and day.

Oh if only I would let go of things I am too stubborn to let go of. It’s like these words marched though my head, I have great plans for you. Let go.

What is my hearts desire. Again I asked. Delight youself in the Lord. But, isnt it my desire that I delight myself in Him? ps23.1 “The Lord is my sheperd, there is nothing I shall want”

Your fire is a consuming fire.

I find rest and comfort in you. Let me wait upon you, and be still.
- ps23.2 “he makes me lie down by green pastures, and leads me by still waters”
- ps 46:10 “Be still and know that I am God”

Restoration
- ps 23.3 “He restores my soul, He leads me in the path of righteousness for His Name’s sake”
- His restoration keeps us fresh daily
- Our source never runs dry

I guess it doesnt..

Fearlessness
ps 23.4, Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear NO EVIL, for You are with me. Your rod and your staff comfort me.

“Perfect love casts out all fear”, 1 john 4:18

But yet I feared that moment when tested. Sigh. Do I not remember, “I will never leave you nor forsake you?”, that “I am with you always?”, that “nothing can separate us from the love of God”?, seriously, have you ever offended someone’s loved one? The next thing that happens to is that someone is going to protect the one loved..

You are with me, You are with me, You are with me.

Isnt that such comfort?

Constant Victory, Favour
psalm, 23.5: You prepare a table before me, in the presense of my enemies. You annoint my head with oil; my cup overflows….

The word “Annointing” is sometimes misused.. It means favour. The favour of the Lord never leaves you. You may be accused by the enemy to discourage you. God is the strongest when the situation is at its’ worst.

There were days I felt abandoned, as if some situations were beyond redemption. These lies sometimes seem overwhelming. It is great comfort to know and be reminded that He is somehow, preparing that great feast, that great end result, and that I am not abandoned, that he knows best. My God provides.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Romans 8:35-39

Goodness and Mercy
Psalm 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Remember that when you lead, the favour of God is upon you

Haha... a Week without God...

Without GOD, our week would be: Sinday, Mournday, Tearsday, Wasteday, Thirstday, Fightday & Shatterday.

Remember seven days WITHOUT GOD makes one WEAK!!

Don Moen - Psalm 23 lyrics

Video of the Week #3!
Don Moen - Psalm 23



LYRICS:

Jesus, my shepherd and only provider
He makes me lie down in green pastures
He leads me beside the still water
He restores my soul

Surely goodness and mercy will follow me
All the days of my life
And will dwell in house forever
Until the end of time

Jesus, my shepherd and only provider
You make me lie down in green pastures
You lead me beside the still water
You restore my soul

Though I walk through the valley of shadows
I will not be afraid
Your rod and staff are my only comfort
And You'll be with me always

You prepared a table before me
In the presences of my enemies
And you anoint my head with oil
And my cup overflows
My cup overflows with your love
With your love

Jesus, my shepherd and only provider
You make me lie down in green pastures
You lead me beside the still water
You restore my soul


Peace be with you!

Song of the Week: Desert Song by Hillsong United

Hi all, this is our next youtube video of the week - Desert Song from Hillsong United's latest 2009 Album, "Tear down the walls"!



Words & Music by Brooke Fraser

Verse 1:
This is my prayer in the desert
And all that's within me feels dry
This is my prayer in the hunger in me
My God is a God who provides

Verse 2:
And this is my prayer in the fire
In weakness or trial or pain
There is a faith proved
Of more worth than gold
So refine me Lord through the flames

Chorus:
And I will bring praise
I will bring praise
No weapon forged against me shall remain

I will rejoice
I will declare
God is my victory and He is here

Verse 3:
And this is my prayer in the battle
And triumph is still on it's way
I am a conqueror and co-heir with Christ
So firm on His promise I'll stand

Bridge:
All of my life
In every season
You are still God
I have a reason to sing
I have a reason to worship

Verse 4:
This is my prayer in the harvest
When favor and providence flow
I know I'm filled to be empited again
The seed I've recieved I will sow

View Discography here

Little by Little

Little by Little
By Os Hillman
July 27 Devotional

"All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty" (Prov 14:23).

Is there something you would like to accomplish in life but simply cannot find the hours in the day to get started? Many of us suffer from procrastination. We justify putting our dreams aside because we don't believe we have the time or resources to accomplish the task.

Many times people tell me they believe they are called to write a book. I tell them, "Great, if God has called you to write a book, begin to write it." Sometimes the response is: "But I don't have a publisher." "That has nothing to do with it," I say. "That is not your problem. If God calls you to write a book, you are to begin to write. You may not be writing to get published. You may be writing for other purposes."

"The LORD your God will drive out those nations before you, little by little" (Deut 7:22). If God has given you a vision to do something, begin by taking baby steps toward that project. Begin to focus on the vision and take action steps toward it. Many times people ask me, "How in the world do you have time to write? You travel so much and seem to have such a full schedule." My answer to them is that I have a specific time of day in which I commit to writing. It is usually between 5 AM and 8 AM. I have found this to be my most creative and productive time. Very little can get in the way of this time if I believe God has given me a project to do.

You will be amazed at what God can do with a little each day. Do not let procrastination prevent you from accomplishing what God may want to do through your life. Make plans today to take baby steps toward the vision that is in your heart.

Video Testimony of Christopher and Leon Yuan

Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life.
1 Timothy 1:16

Our God is so big!

God is so big He can cover the whole world with his Love and so small He can curl up inside your heart.

When God leads you to the edge of the cliff, trust Him fully and let go, only 1 of 2 things will happen, either He'll catch you when you fall, or He'll teach you how to fly!

View our video of the week: "Treasure by Gary Chapman"



Lyrics:

They say that where your treasure is
There will your heart be also,
Your heart stays where you hide your greatest love.

Now you can leave that love on earth
Where thieves may steal tomorrow,
Or take it to that hiding place above

Theres a treasure at the end of this narrow road I'm traveling
It gives me a purpose for life.
(Well,) Jesus is my Treasure, the reason that I'm living
And He'll still be the reason when I die.

So if you've been wonderin where youre at
And where it is youre going,
He's left a map for you and me to use.

We just read the map and we follow close
Always walking where its showing,
You just can't miss it, think before you choose.

Because there's a treasure at the end of this narrow road were traveling,
And it gives us a purpose for life
(Well,) Jesus is my Treasure, the only reason that I'm living
And He'll still be the reason when I die.

Theres a treasure at the end of this narrow road I'm traveling
And it gives me a purpose for life
(Well,) Jesus is my Treasure, the only reason that I'm living
And He's gonna be my reason when I die.
Yeah, He'll still be my reason when I die.