Been encouraged

Hey! so it's Sunday again, i've decided to blog a least once a week and try and keep up somewhat with others through reading their blogs. So something that i've been going back to again and again these last two weeks is Psalm 23. ya know if you grew up in church it's something you grew up with and know by heart as this beautiful type of poem but i've been seeing more then just that resently in it.

Psalm 23

The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want

He makes me lie down in green pastures, 

He leads me beside still waters.

He restores my soul

He guides me in paths of righteousness

for His name's sake.

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 yours staff, they comfort me.

you prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. 

you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

surely goodness and love will follow me 

all the days of my life,

and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

because of who I am in Christ there is a lot of encouraging truth in this chapter, i count 15 truths that are strong truths in Christ. and have become very encouraging to me. things that i didn't understand before i'm now nodding my head going "yeah! that's so true, He has, He does do that!".

1. The Lord is my shepherd - yep! that's true, He is my shepherd. in every sense of that word.
2. I shall not be in want - true. what i need...need God provides. ALWAYS. He is really sweet about being consitant in providing. And His grace abounds in that He blesses me with more then what i need.
3. He makes me lie down in green pastures - He gives me rest. and what do sheep need with green pastures? well, it's their food, it's not just any food it's healthy food. but it's more then just food it's that He provides the rest and things i need spiritually and physically to grow and live in Him.
4. He leads me beside still waters - i heard a speaker say once that the reason it says still or quiet waters is because sheep are afraid of rushing water. we are the sheep. we need water and (this is just me sayin) God knows our fears and even though He may think and know the fears are silly He brings us to still waters so that we may live. He provides.
5. He restores my soul. - nuff said! so true!
6. He guides me in paths of righteousness
7. why? - for His name's sake! it's for He's glory...i'm finding that's a beautiful thing!
8. Even though i walk through the valley of the shadow of death, i will fear no evil - that's right! in the mist of dark pain and confusion i have a place of comfort! i need not walk in fear or live by fearful sight.
9. For You are with me - everyday, all the way! i think this is one of my favorites... that God is with me always. :)
10. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies -
11. You anoint my head with oil -
12. My cup overflows - there is so much blessings! i'm so amazed!
13. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life -
14. and i will dwell in the house of the Lord
15. Forever - okay you might not say that this is a promise by it's self or counts... but i think it is. you know? we live on this earth for only so many 80 something years, but one day we in Christ will live forever with Him! i'm excited about that! :) 

some of those i left blank because i don't really understand them. but just like life there is still room to grow. i'm not a bible scholar, these are just things that i've thought of this text and have been encouraged by. God is really good! so personal! i love Him!