Lead Me By Still Waters ...

Cammie here -
As I find myself at home working myself silly for Founders Day this weekend; creating & now cutting out business cards, resource fliers, and ODC info cards, (with dull razor I might add,)along with trying to create a Powerpoint presentation that for some reason WILL NOT SAVE ... I just had to get up and walk away. I was hoping to listen to some worship music online to soothe my nerves and emotions while I've been working on these projects piled up on my table. Alas - somehow when the new printer was hooked up this week, my speakers have been disconnected. Okay, I'm not a technical wizard, but I know how to reconnect speakers. I really would climb behind the desk to reconnect them, however when a loving spouse dutifully installed said printer, a certain computer desk cracked down one side. One false move whilst underneath and voila - a trip to the ER would most likely ensue. Am I edgy, weary, tired and overwhelmed today? YES!!! What do I need? All I can think of is "still waters."

David was a shepherd for a good bit of his young life and knew a thing or two about how picky sheep are about their water. Our new little lamb Gideon has been teaching me exactly what this passage is talking about. The stubborn little guy will thirst himself silly until he actually SEES me dump his water and go to the hose and pour fresh water in. Only THEN will my sweet lamb drink. When David led his sheep from place to place, he had to plan ahead for the sheep to have not only "drinkable" water, but "still water." See, moving water makes sheep nervous. And dirty water's a no-go too. Sheep cannot rest for the noise of rushing water, and will thirst to death out of refusal to drink, because to a sheep, that clean bubbling creek or river is "undrinkable."

So, did my Shepherd prepare some "still waters" for me to partake of this weary day? He must of. He's "the Good Shepherd." And I'm his sweet little lamb ... okay, maybe not so sweet today, but I AM His nonetheless. He knows my needs. I always know when I've personally 'thirsted myself silly," so to speak. How? My fingernails are too long. WHAT? Yep, you heard me correctly. I play the guitar. God gifted me that way so I can run to Him and come into His presence (daily) for refreshment. I know when I've neglected my quiet time with Jesus way too long because my nails grow out, and I cannot press the guitar strings to the neck of the guitar. Those long nails are a sore reminder of how long it's truly been since I've engaged in personal time loving on my Lord. He's always worthy.

There are times when worship is a pure act of sacrifice, and God gives grace during those periods, but God loves it when we worship out of deep love for Him. Kind of like marriage, sometimes a spouse does things on "automatic," (so to speak,) -- opening a car door, setting the table for two, and so on. But when a spouse comes home and announces, "I have special tickets for somewhere you've been wanting to go! Put on your best outfit and don't worry about dinner. I'm taking you away with me for a special night just because I love you!" Wow! Now - that's akin to "worship." The very word means "having worth." When we worship God, an amazing thing happens; we do it with the intention of ministering to the heart of God, but true worship has a 'kick-back' effect, worship restores OUR souls, and refreshes OUR spirits. It's like love - you give it away, and you find you have even more to give.
So, time for a quick manicure -- (way short please,) and hold the pink polish. I am thirsty and need a drink of water, and my Shepherd is calling.

"Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks."
John 4: 23