1. Psalm 23:2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside quiet waters. “makes” “leads” (reading glasses) speak will the Bible speaks and silent where the Bible is silent (stick carrot)

2. Why GREEN PASTURES and QUIET WATERS? 1. Food/Quiet Waters: sustenance

3. 1. Food/Quiet Waters: sustenance
1. Food/Quiet Waters: sustenance . Jer 31:33 “But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after these days,” declares the Lord, “I will put My law within them and on their hear I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. II Tim 3:16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness

4. II Cor 12:7-10 (I was given a “thorn in the flesh” which I prayed to be removed three times for which the Lord replied, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness. paraphrased.) “Therefore, I am well continent with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

5. Philippians 4:11 I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am in. Whether it be with humble means or prosperity; in hunger or being filled, both of having abundance and suffering need. Paraphrased

6. John 14:2 In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.

7. Free of Fear: II Tim 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline

8. I Sam 17:34-36 But David said to Saul, “Your servant was tending his father’s sheep. When a lion or bear came and took a lamb from the flock, I went out after him and attacked him, and rescued it from his mouth; and when he rose up against me, I seized him by his beard and struck him and killed him. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, since he has taunted the armies of the living God.”

9. John 10:11 I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. John 3:16

10. II Cor 11: Five times I received from the Jews 39 lashes; three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. I have been on frequent journeys, in danger from …….

11. Rom 8:31 What then shall we say to these things
Rom 8:31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? Phil 4:13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. I Tim 6:6 But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment

12. Gal 5:20-22 fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, …
Gal 5: fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, ….. John 14:2 In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.

13. Summary: remember the Prodigal Son
Summary: remember the Prodigal Son? . Jer 32: “Behold, I will gather them out of all the lands to which I have driven them in my anger, in My wrath and in great indignations; And I will bring them back to this place and make them dwell in safety. They shall be My people, and I will be their God; and I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me always for their own good and for the good of their children after them.

14. I will make an everlasting covenant with them that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; and I will put the fear of Me in their hearts so that they will not turn away from Me. I will rejoice over them to do them good and will faithfully plant them in this land with all My heart and with all My soul.

15. For thus says the Lord, “Just as I brought all this great disaster on this people, so I am going to bring on them all the good that I am promising them.” (stick and carrot) (makes = discipline / leads = Scripture & H.S.)