Fresh Mannaby Pastor Tim BurtYears ago, I was on a trip to Scotland and Ireland. They have some of the most beautiful countryside and rolling green hills I've ever seen. You also see many sheep. They graze in these green, never-ending pastures. Places like this make me think about Psalm 23:2 & 4 NIV, "The Lord makes me to lie down in green pastures: He leads me beside the still waters... 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." We all want to live in green pastures, but we would probably rather avoid the shadow of death! I'll tell a bad story on myself. I was one of ten children. When I was about seven years old, I lived in a bedroom with one other younger brother and two younger sisters. I was the big shot because I was the oldest of us four. At night, when we were in bed, and it was dark, I would pull out my flashlight and make shadows of a spider on the wall. Those shadows scared the bajeebers out of my younger siblings. I thought it was funny. I regret that now. Interestingly, there was no real danger, just shadows. Shadows can and do produce fear.The Lord said that even as we walk through the shadow of death, we do not have to be afraid because He is with us. What is the shadow of death? It's the fearful or negative mental images that Satan continually tries to bombard our minds with, seducing us into states of panic, anxiety, or care. The more we think about them and see them, the worse they get. They become shadows of death!God has not abandoned us in life's hard places. Satan wants to use them to create shadows of death but the Lord's will is to comfort us and lead us to green pastures and still waters. When we quiet our soul (our mind and emotions) and spend time with God in His word and prayer, then the voice of the Holy Spirit will rise from within and comfort us with His promises of love and help! His Words will make our souls still and the waters quiet. They will cause fear to go as God’s greatness, power, and promises are magnified within our hearts.When I was in those fields of Scotland, surrounded by what seemed like oceans of green grassy hills, God became infinite in size, and my cares and problems faded away. We don't have to go to Scotland to experience this. We have to walk to the green pastures of His Word, and let them calm our soul, and bring faith of His love and promise to help us always! He loves us! Very much! Learn to lean on the Lord and His Word and trust Him and enjoy those times of green pastures and still waters!Psalms 107:29 (NLT): "He calmed the storm to a whisper and stilled the waves."In His love,Pastor Tim Burt
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