Into the Pasture

...He makes me lie down in green pastures.

He leads me besides still waters.

He restores my soul.  Psalm 23:2-3a

I AM

Pencil marks on a wall, I wasn't always this tall

You scattered some monsters from beneath my bed

You watched my team win

You watched my team lose

You watched when my bicycle went down again

And when I was weak, unable to speak

 Still I could call You by name

And I said, Elbow Healer, Superhero

Come if You can

You said, I AM

Only sixteen, life is so mean

What kind of curfew is at 10 PM?

You saw my mistakes

And watched my heart break

Heard when I swore I'd never love again

And when I was weak, unable to speak

Still I could call You by name

And I said, Heartache Healer, Secret Keeper

Be my best friend

And You said, I AM

You saw me wear white by pale candlelight

I said forever to what lies ahead

Two kids and a dream, with kids that can scream

Too much it might seem when it is 2 am

And when I am weak, unable to speak

Still I will call You by name

Shepherd, Savior, Pasture Maker

Hold onto my hand

You say, I AM

The winds of change and circumstance blow in
and all around us

So we find a foothold that's familiar

And bless the moments we feel you nearer

When life had begun, I was woven and spun

You let the angels dance around the throne

And who can say when, but they'll dance again

When I am free and finally headed home

I will be weak, unable to speak

Still I will call you by name

Creator, Maker, Life Sustainer

Comforter, Healer, my Redeemer

Lord and King, Beginning and the end

I AM

Yes, I AM

--Nicole Nordeman, Woven and Spun, 1999

The Lord Is My Shepherd

I Shall Not Be In Want

He Makes Me Lie Down...

I Lie Down

Sometimes, at night, when

Darkness is spinning around me,

Fear and loneliness creep in

My bedroom

And press upon me

Like a shadow of my scars.

Thoughts of endless to do lists

and "what ifs",

Angry words,

Unspoken sorrows.

The day's end,

Broken body, weary.

I roll over the rumpled coverings,

Askew from restless dreams,

To reach for my Bible

And hug it tight to me.

Speechless, I barely whisper your name.

I imagine you are with me,

My Abba, my Shepherd,

Gently waiting to hear me speak your name.

I dream you are holding me softly in your

Omnipotent arms.

Somehow, I think that is how you wanted it

My childlike desires for warmth

And peace, when everything else

Falls away, and nothing left,

But my speechless sigh.

I nestle in close,

And simply trust in that place

Where words fade to darkness.

And you are all I need.

Your soft presence like a

Sweet lullaby.

You take me to the quietness

Of my soul to restore me

To morning's fresh mercies anew.

You are all I need.

--Darcee Zehm