THE COLOR BROWN

The Lord is my shepherd,

I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures;

He leads me beside...

wait a second...

did He say 

GREEN?

Sometimes, it seems

I am surrounded by nothin' but 

plain jane beige...

Sometimes,

it's more like 

stereo surround brown...

What about my green pasture?

When everything appears lifeless around...

and I'm venturing off into 

the land of pity...

where laundry mates and multiplies like rabbits...

a place where my Cinderella slippers can not recognize the swollen feet that once were sweetly scented and petite.

a place where Mick Jagger melodically reminds me that 

I can't always get what I want.

If I just get alone and seek HIM...

He never fails to lead me beside 

His still and quiet waters

to restore my soul.

He always seems to use these 

mucky brown moments...

 to guide me back onto 

a path of humility and righteousness.

This is the path

where He reveals His name 

so simply...

so beautifully...

so patiently.

Although this path sometimes looks like 

there is nothing to eat 

to survive and thrive ...

He is with me

to guide

to comfort

and

to provide...

ALL 

of my needs...

It is here...

where He reveals just how many colors make up 

the color brown.

It is here... 

where He shows me that 

My cup overflows.

It is here... 

where I finally recognize that 

He has been feeding me 

all this time.

It is here... 

where my grass just got 

greener...

It is here... 

where the flesh gives birth to the Lamb...

a new creature in Christ...

over and over and over again!

Surely goodness and loving kindness will follow me 

all the days of my life,

And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd,

I shall not want.

He leads me beside quiet waters,

He makes me lie down in green pastures;

He restores my soul;

He guides me in the paths of righteousness

For His name's sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I fear no evil, for You are with me;

Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;

You have anointed my head with oil;

My cup overflows

Surely goodness and loving kindness will follow me 

all the days of my life,

And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.