{ BROKEN AT THE WHEEL }

I recently came back from the Gulf of Mexico where I had taken some beautiful pictures.  I have some splendid views of majestic sunsets and waves rolling onto white beaches.  As I watched a family of dolphin frolic in the waters just a short distance from the shore, I retrieved my camera from the table and focused on the scene eight stories below and tried to get a good shot.  I got slight views of fins and sleek body parts just breaking the surface but was disapointed that I couldn’t get that whole picture that I was hoping for.  There was that one shot I had tried while watching the water where they were swimming but only got a shot of the waters of the Gulf of Mexico.  I had considered deleting the picture without even viewing it but left it on the card.  Tonight as I transferred the images from the camera to the computer, I did a slideshow of the images and was thrilled at what I had captured on film.  There in that image just below the surface of the water, hidden from view from eyesight is the whole image of a beautiful dolphin…WHAT A TREASURE!

I am reminded of the 23rd Psalm of Israels Sweet Psalmist.  “THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD, I SHALL NOT WANT.  HE MAKETH ME TO LIE DOWN IN GREEN PASTURES: HE LEADETH ME BESIDE THE STILL WATERS.”  Come with me Child and let us look beneath those still waters.  There are times in our lives where the Lord simply has to “make” us lay down where the pastures are green.  We need nourishment for our soul for we shall face battles that only God can see.  There in those green pastures, we gain strength to face dark days ahead.
“HE RESTORETH MY SOUL:”  To restore something means to put back into use or service; it means to bring back into a former or original state.  David was looking at those times in his life when his soul was broken.  Child, you are going to be broken…there will be those times when you simply just can’t take another step on your own strength.  Sometimes it seems as though no one knows the hurt, the anguish of heart that you feel you are facing alone but your Heavenly Father is looking beneath those still waters and getting a full view of you and he must react to your need.                                                                                                                                                                                                                     “HE LEADETH ME IN THE PATHS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS FOR HIS NAME’S SAKE.”  2nd timothy, 2;13 tells us, “IF WE BELIEVE NOT, YET HE ABIDETH FAITHFUL: HE CANNOT DENY HIMSELF.”  For his own name’s sake, God will not allow his little one to fall; God loves you Child.  But it gets so much better than this.  Let’s peek beneath those still waters once again.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      “YEA, THOUGH I WALK THROUGH THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH, I WILL FEAR NO EVIL:”  Yes, David, that little giant killing super hero knew that his life was hanging in the balance with almost every step he takes.  Still he declares, ”I’m not going to let circumstances direct my steps and I will not allow nagging fears to haunt my thoughts.  I recognize those things as evil and I know that even as James tells us, “EVERY GOOD GIFT AND EVERY PERFECT GIFT IS FROM ABOVE, AND COMETH DOWN FROM THE FATHER OF LIGHTS, WITH WHOM IS NO VARIABLENESS, NEITHER SHADOW OF TURNING.”  There may be a “shadow” of death in the life of mankind, but that shadow will never be seen by your Heavenly Father, oh no; a thousand times no…neither will there be a “shadow” of turning.  God has his eyes upon you and he see’s below the surface where no noe else see’s the troubles that plague you.  Now David tells us where his comfort comes from and why he fears no evil.                                               “FOR THOU ART WITH ME; THY ROD AND THY STAFF THEY COMFORT ME.  THOU PREPAREST A TABLE BEFORE ME IN THE PRESENCE OF MINE ENEMIES: THOU ANOINTEST MY HEAD WITH OIL; MY CUP RUNNETH OVER.”  Our appetites often fail us when circumstances drive us to the ground but no matter how rough seems the way, God has a table spread before us.  “COME AND DINE,” Jesus is calling from the shores of Heaven and his voice carries across the troubled waters of your life.  Even as a lowly sinner woman anointed the head of her saviour with oil, your Heavenly Father is ready to anoint your head with oil, even the oil of gladness…for he wants you to know this even as David knew.    “SURELY GOODNESS AND MERCY SHALL FOLLOW ME ALL THE DAYS OF MY LIFE: AND I WILL DWELL IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD FOREVER.”                          

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