HEY HEY HEY!!!!!

hey hey hey, guess what????

i feel like a little kid that just learned something and i have to share it with people i love. i was going over the Lord Is My Shepherd scripture - i actually started quoting somewhere in the middle of what i have discovered is verse 2 - He leads me beside peaceful waters. (only i memorized it with "still" instead of "peaceful".) (i have been instructed to find God as "PEACE". peace beyond my understanding, prince of peace, etc.. and the peaceful waters part came to me this a.m.) so anyways.... i quoted the chapter as i could remember the words, verses mixed up and lines inverted with other lines... and it hit me - smack in the forehead.

Chapter 23

1 A psalm by David.The Lord is my shepherd. I am never in need. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside peaceful waters. 3 He renews my soul. He guides me along the paths of righteousness for the sake of his name. 4 Even though I walk through the dark valley of death, because you are with me, I fear no harm. Your rod and your staff give me courage.
5 You prepare a banquet for me while my enemies watch. You anoint my head with oil. My cup overflows.
6 Certainly, goodness and mercy will stay close to me all the days of my life, and I will remain in the Lord's house for days without end.

Psalms 23:1-6 (GW)

starting with vs. (verse) 2 HE makes me lie down, HE leads me, HE renews me (my - soul), HE guides me, .... THEN in verse 4 - even tho i walk ..... this is what hit me like a cold cup of water. in the other lines it is HE, in 4 it is me, my choice.

(hold on now) WHEN I CHOOSE TO WALK THROUGH THE DARK VALLEY OF DEATH (this is a place God would not guide us into). He is loving and always for our good, so when i choose a path He does not endorse, when i go off on a tangent of my own making and choosing, when i turn away from Him (life) and choose a path of dark, death (NOT OF GOD BECAUSE THERE IS NO DEATH IN HIM!!!!) catch the rest of the verse - because YOU are with me (He NEVER leaves us or forsakes us - especially when we are choosing to go where He doesn't want us to go. He knows we will need Him on that path, He is not afraid of it and will not leave us.) i fear no harm. Your rod and Your staff give me courage.

i learned the king james version of Psalms 23....

the last half of 4 says i will fear NO EVIL (evil seems to encompass much more than "mere" harm...)

David's confidence in God's grace

A Psalm of David.

1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

Psalms 23:1-6 (KJV)

so i see this as a great thing: when i choose to follow a path that is not good for me - when anyone chooses to go on a path that is not the best - God is with me (them, us..) and there is nothing to fear. there is nothing strong enough to detour me from the plan God has. He is BIG, POWERFUL, LOVE - and love draws even the hardest heart out.

14 What can we say—that God is unfair? That's unthinkable! 15 For example, God said to Moses, “I will be kind to anyone I want to. I will be merciful to anyone I want to.” 16 Therefore, God's choice does not depend on a person's desire or effort, but on God's mercy. (my emphasis) 17 For example, Scripture says to Pharaoh, “I put you here for this reason: to demonstrate my power through you and to spread my name throughout the earth.” 18 Therefore, if God wants to be kind to anyone, he will be. If he wants to make someone stubborn, he will. 19 You may ask me, “Why does God still find fault with anyone? Who can resist whatever God wants to do?” 20 Who do you think you are to talk back to God like that? Can an object that was made say to its maker, “Why did you make me like this?” 21 A potter has the right to do whatever he wants with his clay. He can make something for a special occasion or something for everyday use from the same lump of clay. (my emphasis) 22 If God wants to demonstrate his anger and reveal his power, he can do it. But can't he be extremely patient with people who are objects of his anger because they are headed for destruction? 23 Can't God also reveal the riches of his glory to people who are objects of his mercy and who he had already prepared for glory?

Romans 9:14-23 (GW)

why put that scripture in here? - GOD does what He wants. He is merciful, and just because i choose to go one way or another God can and will still be merciful. because HE IS LOVE - He will use any situation to draw us back. God doesn't lead us into that path of destruction, He is always drawing us toward what is good and beneficial (even tho it hurts sometimes. look not giving your child that fourth helping of dessert hurts their feelings and makes them want to call you names behind your back {tho that should be nipped in the bud asap...!!!!} but it is for their benefit to not eat all that.)

for my situation and other people's situations. those that love Him will find they are seeing mercy and goodness in the tough times because God chooses to be merciful. if you know people, or you yourself, who are going in a direction that is against God's best and His plan of prosperity in your life (prosperity = everything you need and more so you can help others....) take courage, God is doing everything to bring them/you back to His perfect will.

HE IS SOOOOO COOL.

thank You, God, for being my Peace in the midst of life storms, my Prince of Peace, leading me beside peaceful waters, thank You.