Yea, Though You Walk Through the Valley

The 23rd Psalm (Amplified) - Personalized:
~Yes, My Beloved, I AM Your Shepherd Who feeds, guides and shields you, You shall not lack.
~I make you to lie down in fresh, tender green pastures; I lead you beside the still and restful waters; for I AM unto you the River of Life, and I AM your Peace.
~It is I Who refresh and restore your life (your inner self); It is I Who lead you in the path of righteousness which is uprightness and right standing with Me - not because you have earned it, but for My Name's sake.
~Yea, though you walk through the deep, sunless valley of the shadow of death, you will fear no evil or dread no evil, for I AM with you and you are with Me; My rod protects you and My staff guides you, and in these shall I comfort you.
~It is I Who prepare a table before you in the presence of your enemies. It is I Who anoints your head with oil so that your brimming cup runs over.
~I have decreed that surely, only goodness, mercy and My unfailing love shall follow you all the days of your life, and through the length of your days, My house and My presence shall be your dwelling place.

~My Beloved Child, it is I Who take you through the valley. Why? So that your fleshly self may be cast off and laid at the foot of My Cross; for that which is of the flesh will reap decay, ruin and destruction. But that which is sown of the Spirit will of the Spirit reap eternal life. )(Galations 6:8)
~It is I Who take you through the Winepress of Heaven so that your fleshly desires are put to death; for it is then that I shall fill you with My new wine. As your flesh decreases, I shall bring the increase of My Spirit.

Galations 5:24 "And those who belong to Christ Jesus (the Messiah) have crucified the flesh (the godless human nature) with its passions and appetites and desires." (Amplified)

Father, I pray that You tie my flesh to the horns of the altar that I not crawl away. Lead me Lord. I put my trust in You and You, Alone.

"Have Thine Own way, Lord,

Have Thine Own way;

Thou are the Potter, I am the clay.

Mold me and make me after Thy will,

While I am waiting, yielded and still"

Geo. C. Stebbins

Lord, do whatever it takes, to take me wherever You want to take me,

and Father, may You and You Alone be glorifed.

Into His Image

INTO HIS IMAGE (Col. 3:10)

I see myself with Jesus;
We’re walking Hand in hand,
Along the paths and trails of life;
Across the green field land.
He is the Shepherd of my heart
Who leads me every day;
To pastures green and waters still;
Because, He Is The Way.
He knows when to hold me close,
Or let me run so free;
For this one thing I know for sure:
He’s never forsaken me.
Oh yes, there’s times I feel alone;
Times I feel afraid;
Yet, this one thing I know for sure;
He’s never forsaken me.
The enemy, he has pounded -
Against my mind and soul,
But Jesus ever held me close;
In Him, I am made whole.
At times I falter, at times I fail,
And the enemy seeks his gain;
Yet he has never conquered,
No matter how intense my pain.
For Jesus Is My Refuge;
My Anchor in the storm;
He Is My Precious Savior;
When I am weak and worn;
Who walks beside me in the fire
As He forms this piece of clay;
Into His Image made with His Hands;
He’s with me all the way.
~So, no matter the storms of life
And trials which ensue;
For it’s the narrow gate
And straitened path
Which make me look like You.
~To yield to You, and You, Alone,
Is the least that I can do.
~Crista Simmons 4/4/07

Dearly Beloved....as the Lord gave me this poem, it occurred to me that the word "trial" and "trail" are so similar in spelling, yet so very different in meaning. Reverse the ai-ia combination and voila!...a different word. But it is on the trails of life that we experience the trials, also. The "straitened" path means compressed by pressure...."The Winepress of Heaven"....to squeeze the flesh out of us...so that He may fill us with His new wine. Wine is only produced through pressure. Through the pressures on the trails of our lives, may we be filled with His new wine....the image of Christ....for His Glory. We must decrease....He must increase....Be blessed today.