Short and Sweet: Green Pastures by Mary Kane

Nourishment and refreshment for the soul.

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.

Psalm 23:1-3

Because Jesus is our Good Shepherd, will lack for no good thing.

Knowing that God supplies everything we need pertaining to life and righteousness, our souls can find rest.

In order to experience His rest, we must lie down, but not just anywhere. According to our verse, God “makes His sheep lie down in green pastures.” I began to ponder why God made His sheep lie down in green pastures and why sheep find green pastures particularly peaceful. The answer?

Food.

The sheep rest peacefully because they are surrounded by their favorite fodder, green grass. The flock did not need to worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow was already provided for … as far as the eye could see.

We are God’s sheep. We also find peace by resting on our green pastures, the word of God. “For man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” We can rest because our tomorrows are already provided for, and we can partake as often and as long as we like. The more we feast upon God’s word, the more peace we shall have.

If your life lacks peace, and your soul is troubled, come to God and rest in His Word.

Action Points:

Set a consistent time to read God’s word. My favorite time is morning. Get up 15, 20, 0r 30 minutes early and start your morning feeding your soul with God’s Word. You will find healing and restoration for your heart and soul.
Download an audible version of the Bible. Listen while you are driving, running, or working out at the gym. I listen at night while I’m drifting off to sleep (double peace!).
Set a goal for Scripture memory. Copy meaningful verses on note cards and memorize them while waiting at traffic lights, in checkout lines or while walking.
If you’re a techy, you’ll enjoy joining an online Scripture memory group such as Siesta Scripture Memory. Click on the link and sign up today!

The 12 Days of Thanks Giving: Day 8

Day 8:Purpose

“But indeed for this purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.” Exodus 9:16

purpose[pur-puh s] noun

1. the reason for which something exists or is done, made, used, etc.

2. an intended or desired result; end; aim; goal.

3. determination; resoluteness.

4. the subject in hand; the point at issue.

5. practical result, effect, or advantage: to act to good purpose.

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One of the Greek words for purpose is prothesis. At its root, prothesis means to set forth to be looked at, to place in public view. According to this definition, part of our purpose in Christ is to make manifest the power of God in our life. We are to shine forth how He has redeemed, restored and shaped us into the image of Christ. We place ourselves in public view when we purposefully use our gifts to speak God’s truth to the lost of the world. How are you using your gifts to show the world there is purpose to your life?

Give Thanks for Purpose

Purpose of Life: Dear Father, we give thanks for You have called us to live a life of purpose. Thank you we have a reason to get up each day and we have important work to do for Your kingdom. We also give thanks because You use all things for Your purposes … good things, bad things, hard things, painful things. You even re-purpose our failings and mistakes to work for our good and Your glory. Father, You have specifically gifted us to be fruitful and effective ministers of your Word. We are Your hands and feet. Please send us and use us according to Your purpose. We thank you for the gift of purpose.

More Purpose

One Anna, One Purpose a Bible study by Mary Kane

On Purpose a short Bible study by Mary Kane

Believer or Achiever? an article by Joyce Meyer

Comment

Please leave a comment below in the Speak Your Mind section on what God teaches you today about purpose.

Previous Links

purpose. Dictionary.com. Collins English Dictionary – Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition. HarperCollins Publishers. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/sacrifice (accessed: November 15, 2014)

“Exodus 9 (New King James Version).” Blue Letter Bible. Sowing Circle. Web. 22 Nov, 2014. <http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Psa&c=111&p=0&rl=0&t=NKJV>.

The 12 Days of Thanks Giving: Day 6 Service

Day 6:Service

“There was an abundance of burnt offerings, along with the usual liquid offerings, and a great deal of fat from the main peace offerings. So the Temple of the LORD was restored to service.” 2 Chronicles 29:35

Service [sur-vis] noun

an act of helpful activity; help; aid: to do someone a service.
the supplying or supplier of utilities or commodities, as water, electricity, or gas, required or demanded by the public.

verb

to make fit for use; repair; restore to condition for service: to service an automobile.
to supply with aid, information, or other incidental services.

Have you ever endured the breakdown of an appliance or other convenience at your home?

About one year ago, we purchased a new washing machine. Shortly after we bought it, it malfunctioned so I called the service department number. Unfortunately, the service department was going through a computer upgrade and as a new customer my information had not yet been entered into the old or the new system. I was assured it would happen the next day, and they instructed me to call back then. This same scene played out every day for 5 days. My impatience and anger grew as large as my mountain of unwashed laundry on the basement floor. My out-of-service washing machine was doing me no good.

Well, during the reign of King Ahaz, the people of Judah had an out-of-service problem too, but it wasn’t an appliance; it was much more serious than my inconvenience. They posted an out-of-service sign on the door of the Temple. It closed due to the people’s freefall into idolatry and sin.

When Hezekiah became king, he reversed this slide into sin and, as we saw on Day 2, began cleansing the temple. The temple was cleansed, the people were cleansed, and sacrifices and burnt offerings were made. Today’s verse may seem a bit odd, talking about burnt offerings, liquid offerings, and fat ( well, then again, maybe not with Thanksgiving next week!), but then the writer of this books slips in this sentence, “so the Temple of the Lord was restored to service.” Now we see that this verse is actually cause for great celebration. For years the Temple had been closed. No worship, no cleansing of sins, no restoration. But now the out-of-service sign is ripped off the door and once again mercy and forgiveness are flowing.

Pray for Service

As we’ve already talked about this week, as New Testament Christians, we are temples for the Holy Spirit. What kind of signs are we hanging on the doors of our temples? Do they say “Out of Service” or “Open for Service”? I have to ask myself, do my attitude and actions draw people to the Lord or am I driving them away? Am I only concerned with my needs, or am I setting aside time to do

All around us are acts of service just waiting to happen. Can we each bring one to life this week?

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Lord, let us do good when it is within our power to do so.

More of Service

If you’d like to explore this theme further, please see The Ministry of the Word and Table.