the Shepherd

the above pic is what came up when I googled images for “shepherd”. haha. SO CUTE. from www.bestgermanshepherd-puppies.com

SO, THIS WEEKEND, MY FRIEND CECE GOT HITCHED!

IT WAS SUCH A FUN WEEKEND, SPENDING TIME WITH OLD FRIENDS AND MAKING NEW MEMORIES. I LOVED EVERY MINUTE.

WELL, TODAY WAS A TAD STRESSFUL. MY FAMILY AND I FLEW TO AND FROM NC. JUST A BACKGROUND NOTE, I ABSOLUTELY HATE FLYING AND AIRPORTS. IRONICALLY, MY DAD IS A RETIRED PILOT. WHEN I WAS LITTLE, I THREW FITS AND GOT SO DEPRESSED ABOUT RIDING IN AN AIRPLANE. I HATED EVERY PART OF THE TRAVELING BY AIR EXPERIENCE.

WE GOT TO THE NC AIRPORT THIS MORNING (3 HOURS EARLY) AND CAME TO FIND OUT DURING THE CHECK-IN PROCESS, THAT MY FLIGHT HAD BEEN CANCELLED. MY MOM HAD A SEAT ON THE NEXT FLIGHT AND MY DAD WAS ON STAND-BY THE WHOLE DAY. WELL AFTER LONG “CONVINCING” MY DAD GOT ME A SEAT ON A FLIGHT LATER TODAY FROM NC TO ATL. AND ATL TO NASH. HOW THAT HAPPENED WAS ALL IN THE LORD’S HANDS. AND DURING THE PROCESS, OF COURSE, I WAS SO DOUBTFUL AND SKEPTICAL. AND THE LORD PROVIDED AND WAS SO FAITHFUL. IT WAS HIS WAY OF SAYING- “DANIELLE, I’VE GOT THIS, NO WORRIES”. WELL I GET TO ATL, AND THE FLIGHT TO NASH FROM ATL WAS TO LEAVE AT 440. I ARRIVED IN ATL AROUND 300ISH. WELL GET TO THE GATE, AND FIND OUT THAT THE FLIGHT WAS DELAYED UNTIL 500…AND THEN 525 AND THEN 555 AND THEN 609. SO I WAITED, AND WAITED, AND ATE. HAHA. AND COMPLAINED IN MY HEAD, WHILE HEARING PEOPLE COMPLAIN OUT LOUD. BUT CONTINUED TO REPEAT- “LORD, YOU’RE IN CONTROL. I KNOW IT”. AND THEN….A VERSE/GROUP OF VERSES POPPED IN MY HEAD FROM PSALM 23: (I LOVE THESE)

“THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD, I SHALL NOT BE IN WANT. HE MAKES ME LIE DOWN IN GREEN PASTURES, HE LEADS ME BESIDE QUIET WATERS, HE RESTORES MY SOUL. HE GUIDES ME IN PATHS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS FOR HIS NAME’S SAKE. EVEN THOUGH I WALK THROUGH THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH, I WILL FEAR NO EVIL, FOR YOU ARE WITH ME. YOUR ROD AND YOUR STAFF THEY COMFORT ME…SURELY GOODNESS AND LOVE WILL FOLLOW ME ALL THE DAYS OF MY LIFE, AND I WILL DWELL IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD FOREVER.”

I just absolutely love those verses. I love that they are consistent in revealing God’s faithfulness and presence in our lives. and to use flying as a silly example, I have serious anxiety/worrying issues about it, and I think it is because I am not in control of the plane. and during the entire plane rides, I read beth moore’s “so long insecurity” (again, ironic), and prayed over and over in my head to remind myself that the Lord had everything in His hand. every single detail of that trip He had already orchestrated. and those cancellations/delays were SO perfect in showing me His goodness and love.

so tonight, I am thankful for my Shepherd, for my bed, and for the Word of God.