Led by His Love

(From a Calendar - Artist Unknown)

On Monday I was reading Psalm 23 on E-sword, with the Strongs concordance meanings at hand, and jotted down my newly understood interpretations. It may not stand the scrutiny of Hebrew Scholars, but it offered me some new insights that I'd like to share, so here is my paraphrase:    

The uncreated God is my keeper, friend and pastor. I shall lack or want for nothing.


He grants me repose in pleasant places (pastures full of new, green sprouts). He carries me, feeds me and guides me beside peaceful waters.

He restores my vitality. He guides me in the ways of righteousness and prosperity, for His purposes and honour. When I walk through the valley of the shadow of death (absence of spiritual life & vitality), I will fear no evil, for you are alongside me. Your stick and your staff lets me breathe a sigh of comfort, security and relief. (You fend off danger, and pull me closer when I stray)

You spread out a meal before me, in front of - and in opposition to - my distress/affliction/oppression/pain/anguish. You satisfy my shakenness with rich anointing oil; my cup runs over with satisfaction. (You fully satisfy me.)


Surely, only good (things & people) and kindness/favour/mercy shall pursue me all the days of my life, and I will inhabit/abide in the dwelling of the self-Existent, uncreated, eternal God for ever.

As I opened my Max Lucado booklet, "In the footsteps of Jesus" today, I opened on these two pages, which are actually title pages for the next chapter of notes, photos and inspiration from Scripture, and have always passed  me by as such. Today these four words on the righthand page became very special:

What a wonderful Shepherd Jesus is - Lover of our souls, Carer, Protector, Guide, Friend

and our greatest Hope and Destiny!

A Small Booklet of Prayer

One of my current projects (besides painting ☺), is the making of a small booklet of prayer. That includes writing, compiling, illustrating, printing and... I want to bind it by hand, with a special, handmade cover. It has been a time-consuming, but very satisfying, project. I am more or less half-way now. It covers different themes, eg. Praise, the names of God, confession, forgiveness, the Blood of Jesus, the Holy Spirit, God's purposes for our lives. For each theme there is a picture, a theme scripture, a short prayer, which is entirely based on relevant scriptures and a page for notes, also containing the Scripture references used.

Here is a small sneek preview of the contents of the pages I did today:

  

All the days ordained for me

were written in your book

before one of them came to be.

Ps 139:16

 

The Prayer:

How encouraging to know that your eternal purposes for me will stand. What a loving God you are, having good plans for me, plans to prosper me, not to harm me; plans to give me a hope and a future! I am so grateful as I ponder the fact that I am your workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which you have prepared in advance for me to do. Thank you that, even though I may have many plans in my heart, it is your purposes for me that will prevail, because you work out everything in conformity with the purpose of your will.  

I pray that you direct my steps and bring divine appointments across my way. Thank you that you work in me to will and to act according to your good purpose!
 
The Scriptures used: 

Jer 29:11, Eph 2:10, Prov 19:21, Eph 1:11, Prov 20:24, Phil 2:13

The booklet will be printed in a square format, about 15 x 15 cm, and the outward beauty of it will lie in the  layout and the paper used. I intend making a few copies as gifts. (And I have other themes in mind for some follow-up booklets!) Once complete, I will post some pictures of it.