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Chelsey Murphree

Our Great Shepherd: Stopping to Rest

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Psalm 23 is one of the most recognizable passages of Scripture. Its words have been sung, prayed, and illustrated in countless ways, but if we’re not careful we can become so well acquainted with these verses that we forget the power these words hold. To recognize God as our Shepherd means we also have to accept that we are indeed like sheep: dirty, defenseless and helpless. Without a shepherd, the sheep are left to their own devices, which ultimately will lead them to starve, wander off, or be attacked. This week, let’s slow it down, remind ourselves that we are sheep in need of a loving Shepherd.

 

Stopping to Rest

He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.

Psalm 23:2

TuesdayOne of the things that sticks out to me about this verse is the word “makes.” He makes me lie down in green pastures. Sheep are pretty dumb creatures; if you don’t make them lie down to rest, they won’t do it on their own. The Bible referring to us as “sheep” makes more and more sense the more you think about it, doesn’t it?

We work, work, and work until we finally collapse on our bed to “unwind” with some mindless social media browsing and Netflix binges. We try to please one person after another and attempt to be everything for everyone in our lives until we break down. We don’t take a break until we are forced to, and even then we aren’t always thrilled about it. We may even feel guilty about sitting down to take a breath from our responsibilities.

But what a beautiful truth that our Shepherd never tires of creating spaces for us to rest and never tires of making us stop to enjoy that rest! As a part of God’s flock, we are safe under His care and freed from our anxieties because of His protection. Our confidence in His protection allows us to enjoy the simple pleasures He leads us into – the abundance of a green pasture and the peace and refreshment of the quiet stream.

God is constantly leading us into His peace, His rest, and His provisions. We don’t have to feel guilty when we take our rest seriously – because our Shepherd takes our rest seriously too! He has created it for us, and He leads us to it every single day.

Don’t simply pass through the green pastures, abide in them. There you will find peace and restoration you need for the journey ahead. Let the Shepherd lead you into His rest and His peace.

Chelsey

Our Great Shepherd: Sheep-ish Tendencies

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Psalm 23 is one of the most recognizable passages of Scripture. Its words have been sung, prayed, and illustrated in countless ways, but if we’re not careful we can become so well acquainted with these verses that we forget the power these words hold. To recognize God as our Shepherd means we also have to accept that we are indeed like sheep: dirty, defenseless and helpless. Without a shepherd, the sheep are left to their own devices, which ultimately will lead them to starve, wander off, or be attacked. This week, let’s slow it down, remind ourselves that we are sheep in need of a loving Shepherd.

 

Sheep-ish Tendencies

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

Psalm 23:1

Charles Swindoll says that sheep need three things before they are able to rest:

  1. They need to be able to see their shepherd.
  2. They need the safety of the flock.
  3. They need freedom from predators.

MondayWithout these things, sheep will wander until they collapse from exhaustion. They will forgo food and water until all three of these things are fulfilled, but they cannot make these things happen for themselves. All three things have to be taken care of by their shepherd.

A shepherd does everything for his sheep. Everything. He defends, he cares, and he provides. He constantly seeks out the best for his flock, and the flock simply trusts and follows.

Too often I let the sight of my shortcomings stop me in my tracks and get trapped in the mindset that I have to come up with the resources, the wisdom and the right words to say to others. I’m like a sheep who realizes the full inadequacy of my sheep-ness, and I forget about the Shepherd who is showing off His strength in my weaknesses.

Because the Lord is our Shepherd, we lack nothing. We don’t have to be in a constant state of grasping for more stuff, more validation, more love. We can be fully satisfied, full provided for, fully approved of and fully loved by our Shepherd, forever.

When we allow something else to “shepherd” us – our jobs, our relationships, even our ministry – we remain wanting. Outside of our true Shepherd, we will never find the satisfaction our hearts desire. We will be led astray, we will find ourselves vulnerable to attacks, and we will constantly wander until we simply cannot go on.

Embrace your position as a sheep in the flock of God, and trust the Shepherd who goes before you, follows behind and walks alongside of you.

Chelsey

A Place at the Table: Taste and See

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As much of a social butterfly as I consider myself to be, one social situation sends my heart racing – and not from excitement. I turn into a bundle of nerves when I have to find a seat at a table, especially in a public place. What if there’s not a seat for me? What if I sit in someone else’s place? I’ve come to discover that those fears reflect some fears I didn’t realize I had about the Kingdom of God. I’ve learned though, sitting around tables across the world, that there is always room at His table. Hopefully you’ll find some encouragement in these stories shared around my table.

 

Taste and See

“Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!”
Psalm 34:8

FridayI once heard a story about a man who decided to take a cruise. He packed some cheese and crackers and boarded the boat, excited to take to the open sea. Every night as the other guests enjoyed the extravagant dinners the crew made for them, the man would sit in the corner and eat his cheese and crackers. When someone finally noticed him, he asked why he wouldn’t join them in the dining room. The man explained that he’d only enough to pay for the ticket and couldn’t afford the fancy meals they all enjoyed together. His fellow traveler laughed and said, “Your meals have been paid for as a part of your ticket!”

I wonder how many of us are sitting in the corner eating cheese and crackers without realizing the abundance that has been provided for us already. Jesus’s sacrifice paid our way to heaven, but do we realize the depth of what has been paid?

We have received an ultimate promise of eternity, but eternity begins now. We don’t have to wait to experience the eternal fountain of joy and life abundant – it is ours now. A banquet complete with joy, forgiveness, restoration and more is waiting for us at the table of God. A name placard reserves our spot, and too often we sit in the corner eating the cheese and crackers of worry, anxiety and fear. Take your place at the table of the Lord – taste and see that He is good! Invite others to do the same, because at the table of God, there is always room for one more chair.

Chelsey