SUPPLY LIST for your adventure of a lifetime

Forrest the sheep on his first motorcycle 

    We went out to visit our friends and meet their new lambs a few weeks ago and really enjoyed our time.  This is one of their lambs, Forrest.  Forrest is one of triplets born early this spring.  He almost didn't survive, but his loving shepherdess took great care of him!  My friend stayed up late, got up early, making sure he was doing okay. The mama sheep rejected Forrest because he was born the runt and had a lame leg. The shepherdess milked the mama sheep to get milk in order to bottle-feed Forrest.  Amazing.  It was a lot of hard work, but look at him now!! He's doing great!!  And he was such a good sport during this cute photo shoot.

    I love sheep!  When you get the opportunity to be around sheep, you really have your eyes opened to in a tangible way, to understand the LORD our Great Shepherd and we the sheep of his pasture. 

Forrest looks like he's ready for his adventure, doesn't he?  Are you ready?

LESSON 2 | download & print 

   When traveling, the adventure, the excitement, or the joy is not about the destination alone, it's not just the getting from point A to point B, but it is as they say,  'the joy is in the journey'.  But WHY doesn't it feel the same in our walk with God? You know that part of travel that's exciting, beautiful, memory making, scrapbook keeping, Instagram posting?? Well ... because ... we are being lied to .. at every turn .. by false teachers, false prophets, by the posers of this generation, and ultimately by the devil, the father of lies.  

   There are two prevailing lies told to those who are seeking God and wanting the truth. 

1.  You can't have any more fun in your life -- you have to give up everything you once called fun. (victim, false humility, hypocrisy)
2.  You do not have to give up anything -- you can keep your passions, hobbies, and goals -- the spirit will help you obtain whatever you want. (indulgence, selfish, me-time)

   In our Year in Psalms, we WILL seek God and ask HIM what he has to say about this.  What then makes the adventure pleasant, enjoyable, and 'the experience of a lifetime'? Could it be the people we meet? the beautiful and interesting places we see? the foods we taste? and the memories we make?

    Please know that this walk with God is all of that and MORE!  Because, unlike a European vacation, a trip to Disney, or fishing in Alaska, our walk with God is eternal and has everlasting rewards.  The things of this earth will fade away and if they are not pleasing to God, will be forgotten forever. 

 BUT, the Word of God will stand forever. Guaranteed.

      A Year in Psalms is not about finding yourself, it is about searching out, finding, and knowing who the Almighty God is.  In so doing, we will have the experience of a lifetime!

BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD  ~Psalm 46:10

Each chapter of the book of Psalms tells us something about the Creator of heaven and earth, let's get going, we've got so much to discover!!

PSALM 1 : The LORD knows everything.  

     This is a good and sobering place to begin.  The word is omniscient: ALL KNOWING

     When we are applying for a new job, looking for a mechanic, a good restaurant, or a babysitter, we want to know if the food is good, if the company is reputable, if the mechanic is trustworthy, and if the babysitter is responsible and loving.  We also ask for references or recommendations. 

If you go to a den of thieves and ask them to recommend a mechanic, suffice it to say, they will recommend a fellow thief --

If you go to someone who doesn't eat meat, a vegan and ask them where the best steak can be found, they wouldn't know or you'd be eating a bean burger --

If you walk into the county jail and ask if someone has a good babysitter, you'd be entrusting the care of your precious child to the mouths of ravening wolves -- 

Why??? then would someone seek to know and walk with God in like manner???

Asking men and women about spirituality, about God, and not the very written word of God Almighty, who knows everything, all things, the end from the beginning, all eternity past, all eternity future, all of what is happening today in every nation, every city, every place of business, every home and every single heart .. is just plain dumb.   He not only knows more .. he knows ALL!

Let's define some words from Psalm 1 to help us have clarity:  (Use the Noah Webster 1828 dictionary to accurately define these words.)

• COUNSEL
• SCORNFUL
• SINNER
• UNGODLY
• WAY
• DELIGHT
• VIOLATING
• INSTRUCTION

Now, let's pick up our supplies for this Year in Psalms!!  Next to each verse, write the supplies you find written there. Which ones are you to pick up?  Make sure you don't overpack; space is limited. Make a list of those things you are not permitted to bring on this journey.

• II Corinthians 5:17
• Matthew 11:28-30
• Ephesians 6:10-18
• I Peter 1:13
• Colossians 3:8-14
• I Peter 5:5
• Psalm 116:13
• Proverbs 4:13
• Ephesians 4:22
• II Timothy 2:19
• Psalm 141:4
• I Timothy 4:1

This is getting so exciting!!  I'm very thankful that you are coming along with me!!  Let's chat.  Questions? Comments? Ah-Ha! moments?  connect with me!  thisGrannysHouse@gmail.com 

Hugs!!

~Cristina 

aka Granny

Welcome to Base Camp

Since moving to the US Northwest, I've become more familiar with mountainy things...I spent most of my life in the greater metro area of 'Far' Eastern Kansas.  City - yes. Rolling hills - yes. Proper mountains - no.   Ruby shoes - not those either (hehehe)  

My husband, on the other hand, grew up in the mountains - proper mountains.  So we've been here nearly 9 years now and I still feel a little like a fish out of water.  I love the outdoors, I love walks and hikes, babbling streams, and tall pine trees.  I do not like, however, 100 ft cliffs, drop-offs, nor switchback roads.  Meadows, tall grass, and the gentle breezes call me.  

One thing that I had to learn pretty quick was to ALWAYS BE PREPARED when in the mountains, or even when driving through the mountains.  Remember the 1988 movie, The Man From Snowy River?  When the two main characters are riding horseback up in the mountains and the girl says, 'It's so beautiful here.' to which the guy replies, 'yeah, the mountains are always changing' .. I don't remember exactly, but the conversation is such that they are in awe of the beauty and majesty of the scenery but must be critically aware of the weather... their surroundings. 

Our walk with the LORD is similar.  It's the most beautiful walk we'll ever encounter; yet there is a very real enemy always lurking about seeking to destroy us.  We must WATCH and PRAY.  

LESSON 1 | BASE CAMP download & print

Our strength and nourishment for our walk with the LORD comes from the LORD himself and we have easy access to him by Jesus Christ .. the Word of God.  Not only did Jesus give his life an atonement for sin but also gave us the written Word of God for our instruction, reproof, encouragement, comfort, strengthening .. our life.  In Jesus, we have all that pertains to life and godliness. (II Peter 1:3)

In this first week in A Year in Psalms, lets start with Psalm 23.  Psalm 23 will be our base camp.  

In mountaineering terms, base camp is an area used for staging an attempt at the summit.  Base camps are positioned to be safe from the harsher conditions above, a place of refuge, a respite along the journey.

Like all good mountaineers, hikers, and campers, we need to sit down and have a talk with someone who has been there before, who knows the best trails, knows what to avoid and where the 'can't miss' views are located.  We need to get our pack ready.  Our experienced and faithful guide is the LORD Jesus Christ himself, as it is written of him : our chief Shepherd. (I Peter 5:4) Jesus is the Author and Finisher of our faith.  He knows it all!! 

Verse one of Psalm 23 reads: "The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want."  

First and foremost, we cannot do this alone.  All smart and living mountaineers know that you don't travel alone.  It is far too risky and dangerous.  

In our life, especially our life walk with the LORD God, we cannot go it alone.  It is impossible.  Have no fear, the LORD is our Shepherd.  Let's get over to base camp and see what the LORD has ready for us.

Have you met Jesus Christ, the great Shepherd?  He is the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE and no man can come to GOD THE FATHER but by him. 

Sin, lies, and the cares of this world will hinder and prevent people from coming to God.  God Almighty is God .. He is HOLY, and Righteous and gave his only begotten son, Jesus Christ as our perfect Saviour. God gave the world Jesus.  Jesus obeyed God his Father and left heaven, was born a man of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died on the cross and took all the sin of all humanity, was buried, and God raised him from the dead on the third day -- alive! victorious!   

When we realize our depravity, sin, and hopelessness, our need of God by Jesus Christ and choose to believe that Jesus Christ is who he said he is .. the Son of Almighty God and our redeemer, then we can continue on this trekk toward meeting God face to face. 

IMPORTANT FYI:  Hell is a real place.  Heaven is a real place.  Hell is a place designed for the devil and his angels (aka demons) Matthew 25:41.  God Almighty is not willing that any should perish but that all come to repentance.  (II Peter 3:9)  ALL who reject Jesus as the Son of God and Saviour of men, will go to hell with the devil.  Repentance is a turning away from and forsaking your own self and your own way of doing things and turning to God and obeying God's way of life found in the written Scriptures.  

 However, if you do not repent and call on the name of the LORD and be saved .. well, my friend, you are not allowed passed base camp. (For the purpose of illustration, we are using hiking and mountaineering to give us a picture of our walk with the LORD.  Similar to the parable Jesus told us in the book of John chapter 10.) 

Jesus said that I am the door, .. Let's see in writing what he said:  John 10:6-18

 "This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them. 

 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. 
  All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. 
  I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. 
  The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. 
  I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. 
  But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. 
  The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. 
  I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. 
  As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. 
  And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. 
  Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. 
  No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father. "

A M E N !

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want"  

Once we have met our great shepherd, we will see what awaits us to get our pack ready, ie; our supplies and equipment... coming up next time .. 

--- DIG DEEPER ---

Define: 

• CORNERSTONE
• SUPPLIES
• FOUNDATION
• REFUGE

Look Up:  

• Psalm 37
• Luke 20:17
• I Peter 2:7
• Ephesisans 6:10-19

would you like to come along?

"Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: and let such as love thy salvation say continually, LET GOD BE MAGNIFIED."  ~Psalm 70:4  

Oh! I just love this time of year!!  It's mid-way through spring, and the earth is just starting to look alive again.  Well, the earth around here. We live in the high desert and I will take all the greenery I can get!  This region relies on irrigation supplied from the water from the mountains.  In the late summer through mid-spring, the water is turned "off"for outside things.  When the water is let out from the reservoir, the rivers run full, and the canals call to the ducks, geese, and critters, then things begin to really grow and the valley comes alive!

With all this lively activity, my heart also yearns for the pure water of the written word of God. As it is written,  "To the chief Musician, Maschil, for the sons of Korah. As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. " ~Psalm 42:1

So, I was talking to the LORD this morning, (I have recently finished reading through the Bible. I had a little Bible reading schedule, and I've come to the close of that.)  So, I asked him 'What can I study with you, LORD? Where in Scripture can we meet and you show me more of YOU?' And the LORD said, 'Psalms'.  Hmm...ok.. 'But, LORD, I would like something meatier than just reading through Psalms.'  Then I understood.  It wasn't just a reading through; but rather a journey through -- A Year in Psalms.

Like many who are looking for an adventure, trekking, soul searching, or just something out of the dreariness of winter, we are going to GO to Psalms .. as if it were a location .. a destination.  We will see the sights, taste the goodness, meet the people, and learn of the LORD!

I am so excited!!!!!  You are welcome and invited to join me.  This adventure will be worth its weight in gold .. actually, it will be more precious than gold as our faith WILL grow, and our relationship with God Almighty will be richer, sweeter, and stronger than before.