He Restores My Soul...

I read it in another translation. Psalm 23:3 said, "He renews my life..." This language sank in deeper with me. As I've always read, "He restores my soul," and often thought, yes, He has and will restore all things lost on a spiritual level, concerning my soul.

When I read, "He renews my life," it made me think of daily renewal and refreshment. Renewal in the midst of life happening. Something the attentive shepherd offers the oblivious sheep. Even the details of my personal sin. He renews, or gives me a new chance, daily, by the moment, if needed.

He certainly renewed my life when His message of sin, grace, forgiveness and love hit me square between the eyes in college and still today those same messages need constant renewal in my life. As I catch myself responding harshly, thinking judgmentally, or being selfish with my time. Not giving of myself as He would have it, but instead trying to make something of myself when He simply wants me to be like Him. He always renews my life when I come to Him with an open and honest heart.

"If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sin, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:8-9

It's always available, this renewing, this clean start... Thank the Lord, literally.

He renews my life when...

I feel like I can't go on because I'm simply physically exhausted,

When I fail to see things from other's perspectives, which may be very different than mine,

When I forget to breath as I watch my children grow,

When my husband forgives me over and over and over for too many things to list,

When I come to Him and cry out for wisdom and patience in raising my little blessings,

When I come to Him and cry out for forgiveness because I lost my temper...again,

When I come to Him for protection from evil and wander if He'll work out the plans He's shown me for our future,

When I tell Him I just can't do this right now, but I'm required to,

When I'm honest with Him, the good shepherd, about the things that are weighing on my heart and mind,

I could go on, but I'll sum it up with this.

He renews my life, restores my soul, in the deepest, most convincing way. Showing me His perfect and unfailing love for His daughter whom He knew before I was born.

"Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet, there was none of them." Psalm 139:16

Jesus had a brother who was in great need of restoration and renewal. Peter had a special and significant relationship with the Lord. Toward the end of Jesus' life being seen as one of His followers became more and more dangerous and Peter failed. He didn't fail once, or twice, but three times-in one day. Really, in probably like an hour of time. Can you imagine that? (I sure can) His failure, specifically, was complete denial that he even knew His Lord.

After Jesus resurrects he has several conversations with many different people, but His conversation with Peter speaks very pointedly to that fact the He restores souls and renews life. What I love about His conversation with Peter is that He restores Him the exact number of times Peter denied Him. He spoke specifically to each occurrence of denial by giving Peter a chance to confess His love (agapeo twice, phileo once) for Him.

I also love Jesus' references to sheep and shepherd in this passage. It leads us right back to the 23rd Psalm. God's word is cool like that! Here's the conversation...or at least most of it. If you want the whole thing, open up your Bible to John 21:15-19

"Jesus asked Simon Peter, Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?  Yes, Lord, He said to Him, You know that I love you. Feed my lambs, He told him. A second time He asked him, Simon, son of John, do you love Me? Yes, Lord, he said to Him, You know that I love You. Shepherd My sheep, He told him. He asked him the third time,  Simon son of John, do you love Me? Peter was grieved that He asked him the third time, do you love Me? He said, Lord, You know everything! You know that I love you. Feed My sheep, Jesus said."

With each question asked, Jesus gives Peter a chance to confess His love and to show it by obeying His command to feed and shepherd His sheep. Both of those things are so important because Jesus taught that if we love Him we will obey what His teaching. (John 14:23, John 15:14) He gives a us chance to confess with our mouths what we know and believe and then a chance to work that faith out in action, by obeying what He tells us to do. Both of which cause us to feel completely restored.

In what areas do I need renewal today? Are there things I need to confess and obey?

Be assured that our God is faithful to respond to our honest pleas toward Him and go to the Good Shepherd today for the restoration and renewal of your soul and your life for He does indeed restore the believer's soul and then leads us along righteous paths for His name's sake... More about that leading soon!

It's been a long time...

Whew! It has certainly been way too long since I have taken the time to blog! It was a fast and furious summer at Citikidz. My head is still spinning. We are in the midst of settling into a new schedule for my three oldest kids and awaiting a transition to come sometime around the end of October when we welcome our baby girl (at least that's what they told us) Susanna Grace. (Don't forget to breath momma)

Fall is in the air and I couldn't be more happy about that. Pumpkin flavored EVERYTHING is a favorite of mine! Leaves turning, cool comfortable nights with bonfires, hooded sweatshirts and pumpkins on the porch are just a few of my favorite fall things.

It's been on my mind to write for a solid three weeks now and I've just decided that I need to make time to do it. After all, I never completed "A Mom's Journey Through Psalm 23" and the Lord continues to bring me back to it for encouragement and hope.  As I've said before, blogging totally helps me process life and I often will find encouragement when I look back at posts that I know God has inspired me to write. Most recently, the "Stay Home" post has truly helped me reenergize and refocus.

Soooooo, all that to say, I've really missed blogging, hearing from old friends and new friends on here, and hope to post my next Psalm 23 post by the end of this week...

We'll see.:):)

Here are just a few shots from our summer...

Kayla hanging out in the yard after swimming.

Our trip to Idlewild.

Fourth of July

Judah eating very aggressively after swim time one afternoon.

I snapped this pic walking to lunch at camp one beautiful afternoon.

Special day at the pool with daddy and friends.

 And some projects I finally finished... Before...

After...

Before...

After...

2012 Citikidz Sprint Highlight!

He leads me beside the still waters...

Peace. Rest. That's what comes to mind when I think of being beside still waters. Not only is water a basic need that He provides for me, but still waters, quiet waters, a restful place. He does not always require me to drink from a raging sea, but He leads me beside still waters as if to say, take a drink, take a nap, rest.

There is no danger in these waters, although danger may be perceived. When He leads me there, there is always rest. The chaos comes when I've led myself to waters that seemed good to drink. The storms brew when making the wrong choices from day to day become who I am. He did not lead me there. He led me here. To the still waters.

"You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you because he trusts in you." Isaiah 26:3

I remember a story of when Jesus called one of His sheep to Himself out on the water. Peter stepped toward his Lord, but surrounded by a storm, he feared. He lost sight of His shepherd for just one moment and began to sink. Oh but he did not drown. Why?  He cried out for his shepherd. The waters were terrifying yet we hear him cry out, "Lord, save me!" And the Bible reads, "IMMEDIATELY, Jesus reached out his hand and caught him." Saying, "You of little faith...

...WHY DID YOU DOUBT?" Matthew 14:31

The shepherd had never left. He was there, standing on the water as Peter walked out to him. Why did Peter doubt? Why do I doubt? Because my eyes are often on things other than my shepherd.

My faith has been so small at times. I'm glad that,

"If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself." 2 Timothy 2:13 

He leads me beside quiet waters as only a good shepherd would do. Protecting me when I may not see danger. Guiding me when I may not desire guidance. He has left me the peace that only He can give in this ever changing world.

"Peace I leave you. My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." John 14:31

The God of the universe has left His peace with believers. With me. It's not always peace that has to do with circumstances, although He does that as well. It's a peace that has to do with trust. A peace that has to do with trusting in the Lord as I trust this chair I'm sitting in now will not crash to the ground. I've placed all my weight in it. I'm resting in it. A peace the world cannot give nor can it understand, for this peace "surpasses all understanding." Phil. 4:7 The world says peace comes from our circumstances, what we can see. Our God says peace, shalom (the word for peace in Isaiah 26:3), or wholeness/completeness comes from trusting in Him. Something that cannot be seen. This peace is a part of the fruit of the spirit that is living in every believer. Gal. 5:22 Although it may be more apparent in some than others.:)

He leads me beside the still waters. He watches as I rest and He. Gives. Me. Peace.

He Makes Me Lie Down...

"...in green pastures." Psalm 23:2

He makes me... or He causes me. Regardless of which you prefer it's always "He." It's always He that does this. Not me. But it is up to me to see how green the pastures truly are.

To sheep a green pasture means the provision of nourishment for the physical body. Yes, daily, He gives our family our bread.

Never FAILING. It's always there and I'm grateful. But what if it wasn't what I wanted or what I felt would satisfy me? Would I still be able to rejoice in HIM. Simply Him.

The one who makes me lie down here.

As I look around me, my green pastures are full of an abundance of things. A warm, beautiful, home, good food, an incredible husband and four children who truly are a dream come true. I hear music and see art that I enjoy. The beauty of creation surrounds our home out in the woods.

Thank you Lord, for these green pastures. May we always worship you in the midst of whatever pasture you choose for us.

For there are days when they haven't been so green. There are moments when you have caused me to lay in places that don't feel green. Oh, but I know that they are. All I have to do is lift my eyes for a moment.

FOCUS. There is my shepherd.

Green pastures...

Always green.

"I say to the Lord, 'You are my Lord. I have no good apart from you.' The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup. You hold my lot. The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places. Indeed, I have a delightful inheritance." Psalm 16:2, 5-6

I Shall Not Want...

Some versions say,

"I lack nothing..." Psalm 23:1b

If only I could keep this perspective in a world that tells me I lack everything! I need a better one of these or a new one of that. I could use improvement in lots of areas and I need fill-in-the-blank in order to be my best self. And I should be my best self because I deserve it!

This life is not about me. 

It's about HIM.

I lack nothing in my Heavenly Father. I am whole. The world can take nothing He has given and the world cannot make me thirst or hunger. It cannot add anything to me that makes me more valuable. It can only dangle things in front of my eyes and entice me to believe the lies that...

I'm only beautiful if I...
I'm only worthy of love if I...
I'm only successful if I...

The lies swirl around me day and night, keeping me striving for more...There's got to be more.

I have everything and more that I could ever need in this world and the gracious shepherd has seen fit to add to me Himself. Food and water that does not, that cannot run out. I will set my eyes on truth.

"You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing." Psalm 145:16

Satisfy these desires Lord, like only you can.

By simply opening your hand.

You have opened your hand and I am forever grateful.

"Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; And he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food." Isaiah 55:1-2
"...and let your soul delight in abundance."Is. 55:2b (NKJV)
 "...and your soul will delight in the richest of fare." (NIV)

 Jesus said, "...but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst." John 4:14 

And Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to be shall never hunger, and he that believes in me shall never thirst."

"The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever." 1 John 2:17 

This is who my Shepherd is.

I     lack     nothing.

A Mom's Journey Through Psalm 23

"The Lord is my Shepherd..." Psalm 23:1a

Remind me today Lord that you are my shepherd and that you are good. You are my caretaker and all of my needs will be provided for today.

You will guide me because you have said that you will.

I believe what you say and I know your voice because I am your sheep.

 I will rest today in the fact that you are protecting me and my family. When something looks good, but isn't best, Lord guide us today. When danger lurks, but we can't see us Lord protect us today. When we have need of your grace, your forgiveness, your tender care, Lord provide for us today.

I know that when I'm hungry, you are the food and drink that will not run out.

 I run to you today because you are my keeper. You are my guide and my only hope in this life. Without you death surely lies ahead.

You are my shepherd.