Psalm 23 is one of the the most well-known parts of the Bible. People who do not claim to be religious can quote parts of Psalm 23. Christians have become so familiar with this beloved psalm we almost cease to hear it. What we need is a Psalm 23 remix- a fresh look at an oldie but a goodie!
Please read Psalm 23:
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever.
Psalm 23 remix of promises.
The remix promise of provision:
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.
When God is our shepherd we lack no good thing. He provides us with green pastures and still waters. Food and water. Like the sheep in Psalm 23, we find rest in Jesus when we partake of the food He provides, the Bread of Life, and the Living Water.
The remix promise of presence:
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me.
God is with us through it all. Often we think when we face our toughest times that we walk alone. But God promises that when we face the shadow of death, we need not fear because we find safety in a different shadow, the shadow of His wings. Jesus has over come death, the death of hopes, the death of dreams, the death of relationships, and He is an expert at raising things from the dead.
The remix promise of purpose:
You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.
Before David became king, Samuel anointed David’s head with oil. God also instructs that every tool and element of the temple be anointed with oil before it’s used. Even the priests are anointed with oil before they begin their holy work. Our times of suffering and struggle can be a sign from God that he is anointing us for a new work for His kingdom.
The remix promise of protection:
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
No one enjoys struggling with enemies. I have had seasons of life when it seemed my enemies were draining me of time, resources, health and peace. But God meets us in the very presence of our enemies and nourishes us through His provisions. God uses painful seasons to prosper us not harm us. And our enemies can only sit back and watch.
Let’s Chat!
Please leave me a comment below in the comment section. I’d love to chat with you about your thoughts on Psalm 23!
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For more info on Psalm 23 please click on the links below!
you spoke your death words. how easily they dripped from your tongue. words without grace. words without love. words without hope.
words without life.
did you pray before you spoke to me? did you see the soul before you, so loved by God, before you let loose your darts?
the enemy always comes to kill steal and destroy. what else would I expect but death words?
but God
the Great I AM, the Omnipotent Ruler and Creator of the Universe, the Word, the Truth and the Life. He spoke.
life words
You spoke your life words. How quickly You proclaimed them from Your tongue. My face cradled between Your nail-scarred hands. Costly Words of grace, dripping with love and drenched with hope. Life words.
I love you,
I see you,
I hear you.
I cover you in the shadow of My wings. I came so you can have life and life abundant.
what else could I expect from the Creator of my soul but life words?
I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; 20 that you may love the LORD your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.” Deuteronomy 30:19-20
Because of the cross we have choice— life words or death words, blessing words or cursing words. No matter what we’ve done, how far we’ve wandered, or how long we’ve been gone, we have choice. How will we prioritize the words of others? How will we prioritize the words of God? Which will we use to write our story? Which will we give access to our heart? What will you choose? What will I choose? Choose life words and live.
say these life words out loud:
I am called. I am loved. I am clean and forgiven. I am redeemed and washed in the blood of Jesus. I am holy and set apart in love for good works. I am a son/daughter of the King! I have hope and a future!
prayer
Dearest Father,
Help my brothers and sisters in Christ know the truth of who they are in You. Help them to believe Your life words. Help them to know its never to late to turn around and follow You. Now is the day of salvation. Now is the day of redemption and repentance. Amen.
way of life words
To learn how to accept Christ as your Savior, please click on the following link: The Way to God
Please click on the following links to learn more about your identity in Christ:
Please let us know how we can pray for you by leaving a comment in the reply section down below.
journey: shelter in place
The sky looked doubtful; the weatherman had forecast rain. Should I go or shelter in place? I glanced at the sky and decided to chance a walk anyway. I left the house and kept a watchful eye on the darkening sky.
drip. drip. drip.
Half way through my walk the rain began to fall. However, what started as a light sprinkle soon evolved into a summer shower. Up ahead I saw a dry spot in the road. An overhang of trees offered protection from the rain. As I hurried to the dry spot, I thanked God for providing a shelter in the storm.
shelter in place
The rain became heavier. As the heavens opened up, I was tempted to leave my safe haven and make a run for home. I considered my options, shelter or run. If I left my leafy shelter I would meet the full force of the storm head on. Despite the downpour, I was barely wet. My leafy shelter protected me from the worst of rain. I was still in the storm but protected from the storm. I decided to stay put and ride it out.
shelter in Him
Life can be stormy. Often our first reaction to storms is to run. But God gives us opportunity to take Him up on His promise to work all things for our good. If we shelter in Him, He decides what touches us, what gets through the leaves. Instead of dashing out into the storm, we need to shelter in place—in His Presence.
( Note: Even if we do run, God still has a plan to bring us back to Him)
Bible study
For the remainder of today’s Bible study we are going to read about a family who decided not to shelter in place but to run in the face of a storm. Get your Bible journal and a pen.
Let’s take a moment to pray.
Dearest Father, please open our hearts to your word and teach us Your truths. Help us to shelter in You during the storms of life. Amen.
Read Ruth 1:1-5.
In the days when the judges judged, there was a famine in the land. A certain man of Bethlehem Judah went to live in the country of Moab with his wife and his two sons. 2 The name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi. The names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehem Judah. They came into the country of Moab and lived there. 3 Elimelech, Naomi’s husband, died; and she was left with her two sons. 4 They took for themselves wives of the women of Moab. The name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other was Ruth. They lived there about ten years. 5 Mahlon and Chilion both died, and the woman was bereaved of her two children and of her husband.
According to these verses who was leaving Bethlehem?
Why were they leaving Bethlehem?
Who joined Elimelech’s family after they reached Moab?
Reread Ruth 1:1 and fill in the missing information:
Now it came to pass _________________, there was a famine in the land.
The phrase when judges ruled refers to a time period from the death of Joshua to the start of the reign of King Saul. It was a time of chaos, idolatry and disobedience in the land of Israel. To get a little taste of this time when the judges ruled, read Judges 2:10-11
10 After all that generation were gathered to their fathers, another generation arose after them who didn’t know Yahweh, nor the work which he had done for Israel. 11 The children of Israel did that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight, and served the Baals.
Focus on verse 10.
Why do you think the generation that lived after Joshua did not know the Lord, nor the work which He had done for Israel? (See Deut. 6:5-9 for a hint!)
train them up
The importance of training our children in the Lord can hardly be over-stressed. As parents/teachers/mentors we have the incredible opportunity to impact not just the next generation but several generations to come. The choice is ours; shall we leave a legacy of faith or famine?
According to Ruth 1:1 what was in the land?
The famine was an outward sign of an inward condition of the heart.
Where were Elimelech and his family dwelling at the time of the famine (Ruth 1:1)?
In this present age, the idea of moving to another state or country is not unusual. Most people would quickly relocate to provide for their families when faced with hardship. However, moving was not an acceptable option for the Hebrew people. For the people of Israel, to move outside of Israel was to leave the Presence of God. As New Testament believers we have the privilege of God’s Presence in us. When we accept Christ as our Savior we are indwelt forever by His Holy Spirit.
Amos 8:11 warns of another more dangerous type of famine. What is it?
How can we avoid this type of famine?
From time to time I have experienced seasons of famine in my life (a famine of relationship, a famine of peace, a famine of hope). How about you?
The key to thriving during a season of famine is not running or moving but sheltering in place, in God’s Presence and in His Word.
The first step of your journey with Jesus is to stop running and shelter in place.
How can you shelter in place with Jesus during this season of life?
What message does have for you while you shelter with Him?
Please leave a comment in the reply section below. I’d love to chat with you!God bless!
all rights reserved. copyright 2020
Reflections #23: Expectations
The desire of the righteous brings only good, but the expectation of the wicked brings wrath.
Proverbs 11:23
In this episode, we’ll meditate on Proverbs 11:23. Do I have a mindset that expects failure or success in my life? Does what we think and say influence our reality?
Perhaps you’ve wondered this same thing. Finish listening to this 5-minute meditation by clicking on the arrow below, or subscribe to our podcast on iTunes. If you’d like to, we’d appreciate it if you’d leave us a review.
Thanks for listening today. Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comment section below. May your soul’s meditations be fuel for Spirit-led actions today!
Simple Steps to Using Medicinal Herbs
If you’ve never tried medicinal herbs before, now is a good time to make them part of your health and wellness plan. With colds and flu and new threats like COVID-19, we are all fighting to stay as healthy as possible. If you think using medicinal herbs sounds complicated, it’s not. It can be as simple as drinking a cup of yummy herb tea.
In the short video below, I outline a few of the herbs I’m using right now. Use this as a springboard to try with your own family. Just as a reminder, I am not a doctor, and this is not medical advice. Consult your health care practitioner with any specific questions regarding the use of herbs and medications you may be taking or health conditions you may have. This is for educational purposes only.
Medicinal Herbs
Below are the medicinal herbs I mention in the video. I’ve included just a few of the actions each herb is known for – there are more beyond what I list. Feel free to research them for more in-depth information. And please note, I am using the herb — NOT the essential oil.
Thyme (Thymusvulgaris). Thyme is an antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, a respiratory antimicrobial, and a relaxant. It can be prepared as a steam, infused in water as a tea or infused in vinegar for topical use, or used as a tincture. You’re probably most familiar with it as a cooking spice. Concerns: Thyme is very warming and may be too much for young children. Try sage or fennel instead internally and try pine for steams.
Mullein (Verbascum thapsus, V. densiflorum). Mullein is a antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anticatarrhal (removes excess mucus), moistening expectorant, respiratory relaxant, and nervous sedative. It’s excellent for coughs. Mullein can be prepared as a tea, tincture, or applied topically. Concerns: Mullein leaves have tiny hairs. If you are using the leaves fresh, be sure to strain the tea well.
Ginger (Zingiber officinale). Ginger is an anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, and relaxant. It can be made into a tea, tincture, added to food, and even candied. It can also be used topically in a remedy to help with aches and pains. Concerns: Ginger has a blood-thinning effect, so consult your doctor if you take blood-thinner medication. Also, ginger may increase the menstrual flow of those with already heavy cycles.
Tulsi, also called Holy Basil, (Ocimum sanctum, tenuiflorum) is an adaptogen, an antimicrobial, anxiolytic (anti-anxiety), nervine, and immunomodulator. It can be used as a tea, a tincture, and infused into honey. Concerns: Tulsi can have a significant blood-sugar lowering effect, so if you take medications for high blood sugar, monitor your glucose levels regularly.
Elder (both berries and flowers) Sambucus nigra, S. canadensis. Elder is an antimicrobial, antiviral, an immune stimulant, an antitussive (reduces the urge to cough), a respiratory antispasmodic, and a relaxant. It can be prepared as a tea, tincture, elixir, syrup, and honey infusion. Artisans also use elderflowers to make flavored liqueurs. Concerns. Don’t eat the berries raw. Cook them first. Large amounts have a laxative effect.
Bulk Herb Resources
I purchase many of my bulk herbs at the Good Earth store in Broad Ripple, Indiana. If you don’t have a local source, try purchasing bulk online. I’ve used both of these businesses and can vouch for the quality of their products.
Note: Keep in mind that during the pandemic, herb businesses have been inundated with orders, so at times a company may stop taking orders until they can get caught up.
Thyme, a Powerful Herb
As I noted in the video, thyme is a perfect herb to use in a steam for respiratory issues. Its antimicrobial action is in its essential oil, which is released in the steam.
To give a bit of background on how a steam works, it helps to understand the following information. When a person inhales, the molecules are absorbed into two different parts of your nasal cavity: the olfactory part and the respiratory part. According to Jade Shutes in Foundation of Aromatherapy, “As the aromatic air-born molecules travel up through the nasal cavity, some molecules are absorbed by the olfactory epithelium [that go into the brain and limbic system], while the remainder are inhaled via the respiratory tract into the lungs.”
Effective Against Pathogens
What happens next with a thyme steam is pretty amazing. In the book Herbal Medicine for Beginners, Katja Swift and Ryn Midura state that “Breathed deeply into the lungs, thyme steam kills respiratory pathogens on contact, warms and moistens the lungs, and loosens phlegm.”
If you’d like to explore this more, here’s a link to the study Antimicrobial Properties of Plant Essential Oils against Human Pathogens and Their Mode of Action: An Updated Review. It’s published in the journal Evidenced Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. The article lists some of the specific pathogens that thyme kills. It’s fascinating that this tasty herb is so powerful! The article also lists several other herbs and the pathogens that they are effective against too. To find that information quickly, just scroll down the article until you see the chart.
How To Do a Thyme Steam
Now that you understand how a thyme steam can be beneficial, let’s look at how to do one.
Boil from 1/2 to 1 gallon of water in a large pot. Remove from heat.
Set the pot on a heat-proof surface.
Add 1/4 to 1/2 cup of dried thyme leaves (the same thyme as you cook with) to the pot.
Create a tent with a towel and sit under the tent with your face about 12 inches above the pot. Deeply inhale the steam for 5 to 10 minutes or so.
Be careful not to spill; carefully monitor children if they are nearby. If using with children, pine needles (Pinus strobes) may be a gentler choice for them.
How To Make an Herbal Tea
All of the herbs discussed here can be infused (even the ginger root) in just-off-the boil water. You can use these herbs individually or mix and match them together for a blend.
Boil about 8 ounces of water.
Add from 1 tsp. to 1/2 tbs. of dried herb, depending on how strong you like your tea. If using fresh ginger, cut about one inch of the root into thin slices. Cover the top (so the constituents don’t evaporate with the steam) and steep for 5 to 10 minutes.
Strain and drink.
Thermal Carafe
Interested in making a larger batch of tea in the morning? Here’s an affiliate link to the thermal carafe that you see in the video. I use this almost everyday to make about one quart of tea that I drink throughout the morning and early afternoon. Use 2 to 3 tablespoons of dried herbs for 1 quart of tea.
Tinctures
Tinctures, or herbal extracts as they are also called, are another simple way to enjoy the healing benefits of herbs. They are stronger than a tea and can be used simply by adding a dropperful to a few ounces of water and drinking. It’s a several week process to make tinctures at home, but they are widely available online and in local health food stores.
Favorite Medicinal Herbs
I pray you’re staying healthy during these challenging days. I’d love to hear what you’re doing to care for yourself and family. Perhaps you have a favorite herb you’ve been using lately to try and boost your immune system or as an anti-stress remedy. Feel free to leave a comment or question below.
Thanks for stopping by!
Monastery at Home
Today’s post is a guest post from author and abbess Beth Booram. She and her husband, David, own the beautiful Fall Creek Abbey in Indianapolis. I read this post and fell in love with their message of encouragement during this time of sheltering-in-place. Beth graciously agreed to let me share it in its entirety. I know you’ll find much to reflect on in what she shares. See more about them and a list of their resources at the bottom of this post.
Monastery-at-Home
(Even families with kiddos;)
I’ve talked to several friends and family who are about to go bonkers while taking care of kids who are restless and bored. This lifestyle of shelter-in-place is so foreign to our normal day to day lives. We feel held captive, in prison as it were, because of the restrictions necessary to slow the spread of the Coronavirus. Yet what if we framed our current situation differently? What if we considered the gifts and ancient wisdom rooted in the tradition of cloistering—a term given to those living a monastic life? Are you prepared to monastery at home?
And if we must cloister, why not monastery-at-home?
David and I have lived a cloistered life for the past eight years. By that, we certainly don’t mean we’ve retreated from society and holed up at Fall Creek Abbey, cut off from the world. (Our close to 9,000 guests would suggest otherwise.) Eight years ago, when we founded the Abbey, we began to live life very differently. As we’ve reflected on the time in which we find ourselves, it seems that our broader society is also being invited to live life very differently—to practice monastic living. Far from the normal push of life, this new shelter-in-place mandate can be daunting.
So, we decided to compile a list of some things that we’ve learned about the monastic life and provide them for you, even those of you with kids! These suggestions are just that — suggestions that might help you intentionally turn this uninvited life-style change into something positive for you and your family.
Pray-Work-Study
In all monastic communities, the genius behind their order is a gentle daily structure that typically looks like pray-work-study. Each of these three activities receives about a third of the community’s daytime hours. Praying the hours (a term given to the five to seven times each day for personal and communal prayer) helps create a framework for when other activities begin and end each day. So, for example, after Lauds, which is morning prayer (6 am), the monks or nuns will do their assigned chores until Terce, prayer at the third hour (9 am).
So, what would it be like for you and your family to establish a gentle structure that works for you? (Emphasis on “gentle” and “works for you.”) Maybe it’s just morning prayer, or evening prayer, or meal-time prayer. And then decide what hours are given to work, including playtime, which is a child’s work, household chores, and job-related work for parents. Then decide what hours are given to study, which might include reading, writing, creating or quiet play.
Cultivate a Monastic Aesthetic
We’ve learned from what we do at Fall Creek Abbey that dedicated sacred space is profoundly important in helping us experience the shalom (peace) of God. We have intentionally created an aesthetic that mimics a monastery. When you enter the Abbey, often you will hear Gregorian chants playing in the background, notice candles lit in the foyer and on the mantle, and experience simply decorated and uncluttered space in each room.
So, what would it be like for you to create a monastic aesthetic in ways that work for you and your family? Kids love candles, and soft, instrumental music in the background is soothing to everyone. While it’s impossible to eliminate clutter if you have kids in your home, consider dedicating a “quiet room,” something I will describe next, where you can clear out space and create a touch of the sacred.
Dedicate a Quiet Room
Every monastic community has a chapel or sanctuary that is dedicated to quiet and prayer. In addition, the “cloistered” part of the community is exclusively for the brothers or sisters only—no visitors allowed. Having these protected spaces allow for individuals and the community to always have a place available when there’s a need for personal time, prayer and reflection. Something we’ve learned at our Abbey is that dedicating space for quiet and prayer creates an environment infused with the Presence of God.
While you won’t likely have space for a prayer chapel or sanctuary within your home, you can dedicate a room as a sanctuary. Then again, you may not even have a room to spare, so how about a corner or closet? Wouldn’t it be lovely to have a devoted place for silent being? Anytime anyone in your family needs some space, they can enter this quiet zone of your house where everyone knows the rules—no noise or intrusions. Parents who need a break from kids (if they’re old enough to understand) can explain that when they’re in the quiet room, it’s not okay to interrupt (unless, of course, the house is on fire).
Create a Family Altar
The altar is at the front of a sanctuary and is where Holy Communion is prepared and served. It’s a table where candles are placed and the chalice, plate, crucifix, and often a bible are arranged. It’s a focal point of the sanctuary and draws our eyes forward and upward, often to a stained-glass window or a crucifix/cross hanging on the wall. The altar’s purpose is ceremonial and symbolic, so it also infuses the surroundings with a sense of the sacred.
Creating a family altar is a wonderful activity in which to involve your children. Perhaps you could designate a surface in your quiet room, like a mantel, coffee or sofa table—or for that matter, a portable card table or crate upturned. You can select items together that have meaning for you and your family. Pictures, photos or paintings, flowers, pine cones, shells, ribbons or table runners, small figurines, crosses and, of course, candles (that can only be lit by adults). You can change-up the altar and add different colors for different seasons like Lent and Easter. The gift of the family altar is the way it creates a focal point and reminds you that your family belongs to God and God belongs with your family.
Establish Quiet Hour(s)
Within monastic communities there are established times of silence. There’s silence within the structure of the Liturgy of the Hours (those five to seven times of daily prayer) and at other times, like in the evening past a certain hour, or during Holy days. Space and time are given to silence. For silence is truly God’s native language. And silence is a repairing and healing balm for all of us who live in a noisy world, both without and within.
Establishing a quiet hour (or half-hour) during the day can begin to acquaint you and your kids with the gifts that silence offers. Give it a try! Of course, it will take practice and you’ll probably have a lot of resistance, not just from your kids, but within yourself. Yet the break from interactions and distractions might be the difference between losing your mind, or not! Even small children are capable of learning to be quiet (ask their teachers—they really can do this) and you can help them by observing the quiet, as well.
If we must cloister, could we embrace this as an opportunity to learn from the wisdom of the monastery?
Why not give it a try—even just one of the suggestions listed. These ideas aren’t intended to put anyone under the pile or suggest that you’re not doing enough already. Our hope is to cast vision for how this cloister time might help us welcome the Shalom of Christ through practicing monastery-at-home.
Warmly,
your doting Abbess and Abbott, Beth and David Booram
Connect with Beth and David on their Fall Creek Abbey Facebook page and at their website Fall Creek Abbey. Be sure to check out their books, free resources including a Holy Week guide and a Coronavirus prayer guide, and their blog. Join them April 2, 2020 at 9 p.m. EST on their Facebook page for “Light a Candle Virtual Prayer Vigil.”
salm 23 is one of the the most well-known parts of the Bible. People who do not claim to be religious can quote parts of Psalm 23. Christians have become so familiar with this beloved psalm we almost cease to hear it. What we need is a Psalm 23 remix- a fresh look at an oldie but a goodie!
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