Even though...

Psalm 23:4 "Even 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."

It's interesting how certain passages of Scripture remind you of certain people. I was reminded of that again this week. Meeting up with an old friend, I still remember her telling me many years ago how precious Psalm 23 was to her. And, as I got up-to-speed on her present circumstances — fighting breast cancer — I was reminded of this psalm once again. The Lord, our Shepherd, is there with her through that trial — upholding, comforting, sustaining. Her life is not "out-of-control" but in the hands of a tender Shepherd who loves each of his sheep with an unimagineable love!

I'm glad David penned these words, by the Spirit, so long ago and that they still hold such relevance today. Once again, a reminder, that God's care is so intimate and personal. No matter what we have faced, are facing, or will face — even up to death itself — we don't have to fear that God will ever leave us to face it alone. "Even though…" informs us that we will indeed face very difficult times, but he is there with us in the valleys just as much as he is present in the heights.

Blessing God

Just musing on some psalms of David that speak of reasons for us to bless God...

Psalm 66:20 - "Blessed be God, because he has not rejected my prayer or removed his steadfast love from me!"

Psalm 68:19 - "Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation."

David is referring to some wonderful qualities about God—the way his love is constant, unchanging and steadfast, and how he daily cares for us, bearing us up and saving us. These are very personal, intimate things that a Christian experiences every day, whether we realize it, at times, or not. But, as David reminds us, think about it and bless God for it!

I'm afraid I am often so often guilty of being an ungrateful child when it comes to acknowledging some of these qualities about my heavenly Father. And though my love is so inconstant and weak, I forget that his is not. And though I forget God in my daily life, he is never far from upholding me.

Lord, open my eyes to the many reasons I have to bless you each day and teach me to be more constant and faithful to you.

Love revealed

Just another poem to share from Frances Ridley Havergal's Under His Shadow... this one written 128 years ago on Good Friday. It's amazing how 'visual' this poem is and how much it speaks to the heart at the same time. Spending some time thinking about the incredible grief and pain that Christ endured for sinners is something that boggles the mind. Indeed, as she concludes, it is a wondrous love displayed in wondrous woe!

Behold your King

Behold your King! Though the moonlight steals
Through the silvery sprays of the olive tree,
No star-gemmed sceptre or crown it reveals,
In the solemn shade of Gethsemane.
Only a form of prostrate grief,
Fallen, crushed, like a broken leaf!
Oh, think of His sorrow! that we may know
The depth of love in the depth of woe!

Behold your King! Is it nothing to you,
That the crimson tokens of agony
From the kingly brow must fall like dew,
Through the shuddering shades of Gethsemane?
Jesus Himself, the Prince of Life,
Bows in mysterious mortal strife;
Oh, think of His sorrow! that we may know
The unknown love in the unknown woe!

Behold your King, with His sorrow crowned,
Alone, alone in the valley is He!
The shadows of death are gathering round,
And the Cross must follow Gethsemane.
Darker and darker the gloom must fall,
Filled is the Cup, He must drink it all!
Oh, think of His sorrow! that we may know
His wondrous love in His wondrous woe!

— Frances Ridley Havergal, 1879