I need a Shepherd

 

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My family goes to the ocean to unwind and let the elements of wind, surf and spray define our day. God speaks loudly to me by the sea, above the roll of the afternoon thunder, above the crashing waves and above the “wants” that seem to hunt me when I’m back in New York. The salt air cleanses and frees my lungs to breath in the beauty of His creation…of His presence. I start to breath as a man who has just had been saved from drowning.

In with the good…out with the bad….

I start to muse on the 23 Psalm.

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want…

Really? I want all the time…my wants are so loud and demanding. They consume so much of my time and energy, driving me, burying me beneath them. The Father says…

Breathe… in with the good…out with the bad….

My mind races ahead with a thought that threatens to swallow me like a rouge wave…What about the world? Surely what the world wants from me is equally as demanding. These wants…cry out, pushing, pulling me…trying to make me do something for it’s benefit…not mine.

Breathe… in with the good…out with the bad….

I need a lifeguard, a shepherd that restores breath to lungs collapsed by the pressure of wants. The good shepherd sees beyond all those…sees my need and I am rescued on the shore of His heart. It is interesting to note that the Hebrew word for WANT means to lack, decrease, or become empty. That’s sounds like drowning to me.

The Good Shepherd refuses to let that happen… with Him…I shall not want; I shall not become empty or diminish. I will not drown in the current of self-interest or the “wants’ of the world. I breathe the air of freedom and swim in the grace of a loving Lord and Savior.

Breathe… in with the good…out with the bad…

O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him. Psalm 34:9

How’s your lung capacity today? Let me know how I can pray for you.

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Dusty Rayburn said…
Breathing in His goodness. Exhaling the world's turmoil filtered by His grace.
May 29, 2012 at 11:27 AM
Jay Cookingham said…
Now, that's a breath of fresh air my brutha!
May 29, 2012 at 11:49 AM
Joanne Norton said…
When I am at the Pacific in Oregon or Lake Superior in MN, I am drawn to sit and breathe and rejoice and rely and gaze at His power.  Then "home" hits me, too.

My thought re: many, if not most, of us, is our present-day life.  The global news instantly revealing murders all over the world... abnormal, heart-breaking ones such as the Syrian massacre that is in our face on-line ... we are buried in pain and distress.  Life was tough before, of course, around the world and around our towns, but it normally  wasn't slammed into our eyes and hearts so quickly.  We live in an unusual generational time.  What concerns me most?  Our young ones will have it in their faces constantly... and hardly have time to breathe between events ... and won't even understand the seriousness of this life-change.  How will their hearts even understand that they need to hit the beach or mountains or forests to rest in our Lord's creation?

Sorry to yammer so much.  But it truly is a concern for me.  You hit it again, Brother.
May 29, 2012 at 1:11 PM
jasonS said…
That's so good. Staying with Him, He will not let me become empty. That's huge! Thanks for the breather today, Jay. :)
May 29, 2012 at 1:21 PM
Jay Cookingham said…
I appreciate the depth of your insight Joanne. Instilling a love for the beauty of creation is something I think Fathers should impart. I share you heart in this. Thanks for sharing yours!
May 29, 2012 at 1:26 PM
Jay Cookingham said…
Staying with Him is the only WANT I want to keep! Thanks bro'!
May 29, 2012 at 1:27 PM
Joanne Norton said…
 Thanks for being so kind to this overly intense woman.  It's appreciated.  [My kids and g-kids don't understand my personal-concerned approach to our lives very much... see lots of eye-rolling taking place. -- I'm just too darn serious, in their view.]
May 29, 2012 at 1:51 PM
Jay Cookingham said…
I was praying last night that God would release more godly grandfathers and mothers into the world...all I can say is...you go girl! ;-)
May 29, 2012 at 1:53 PM
floyd said…
Absolutely stunning and refreshing post Jay. The words captured my heart and soul... words shared from God himself through you. "Breathe, in with the good out with the bad." And "I shall not want," from one of my favorite verses in the Bible... 

Thanks for the clean lift.
May 30, 2012 at 9:44 AM
Jay Cookingham said…
All glory to the Father bro'! Thanks for the kind words!
May 30, 2012 at 10:09 AM
TCAvey said…
WOW, I can relate to feeling like I am drowning. There is so much pressure, mainly pressure I put on myself. So much I want to accomplish, so many lives I want to help, so much "good" stuff I want to do for God and yet I know I am not called to do it all. I struggle sometimes in distinguishing what is God wanting and what is satan using to distract me, because satan can use some pretty "good" things to distract from "God" things. 
May 30, 2012 at 3:37 PM
Jay Cookingham said…
Amen to that TC! Praying for discernment for us all!
May 30, 2012 at 3:53 PM
TCAvey said…
In this noisy world we all need it!
May 30, 2012 at 4:18 PM
S. Etole said…
I think the word "shall" implies a concentrated effort on our part to not want and a recognition that He has provided for our rest in the midst of it all.
June 1, 2012 at 5:18 PM
Jay Cookingham said…
That's a great point Susan...thanks for sharing!
June 1, 2012 at 6:03 PM
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