Thankful Thursday--the 23rd Psalm

Many thanks to Crystal for hosting this week's Thankful Thursday!

The kids are studying the 23rd Psalm, and since I'm teaching, it's a natural guide for my not-feeling-so-thankful-at-the-moment, but-knowing-there-is-lots-to-be-thankful-for heart. As I've been working on it, there is SO much there! So this week is going to be the first three verses, since that's what I'm teaching on Sunday. Stay tuned for the last half next week :)

The LORD is my shepherd,
Thanks, Lord, that you guide us, care for us, watch over us, and don't let us wander too far off. Thanks for your vision that exceeds ours, and that you direct us towards safety and away from danger before we can even see it. Thanks that you bind up our wounds and work tirelessly for us, your sometimes ungrateful sheep.

I shall not want.
Thank you for providing above and beyond our needs--good jobs, stable housing, a budget that has room for the extras. Thanks for Crown Financial Ministries, Dave Ramsey, and other groups that encourage Christians (and others) to "not want"--and realize how blessed they are.

He makes me lie down in green pastures;
Thanks for a nice bed in a safe house...and that I don't have to sleep outside in the grass! Thanks for the kids enjoying the leaves this week.

He leads me beside quiet waters.
Thanks for the tranquility that I often find beside bodies of water. Thanks that you refresh us with your living water, even when we wrestle with you. Thanks for River Vineyard Church, and the impact it's had already in both individuals and our community.

He restores my soul;
Thanks that you heal and restore people both physically and emotionally. Thanks for how you use music to restore our soul, and I'm thankful for the many musical settings of this Psalm, especially "The King of Love my Shepherd is" and "Yea though I wander" (track 7 of this CD) that I learned in choir...and my entire college choir career.

He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake.
Thanks, Lord that you not only KNOW the way, you ARE the way. Thanks for revealing yourself to us, and for bringing glory to you through your leading. Help us to be good followers.