WHAT A FINE GOD YOU TRULY ARE

BY

Laura Lee Christian

"The Lord is my shepherd"
He exists and all things belong to Him
This is true right now
He belongs to me and I belong to Him
He watches over me and cares for my every need
If I stray He goes after me
If I begin to drink dirty water
He takes me to clean pure water to drink
If I fall, He is there to pick me up again
If I need someone, He is always there to run to
"I shall not want"
This is for me, my personal likfe
it is without doubt
that I will not be led away by lust
and enticement
as I stay with the good Shepherd
I will not be covetous or driven by desire
Whatever I do need
He will be faithful to supply
And the wishes of my heart He'll not deny
"He makes me lie down in green pastures"
My Heavenly Father that made me
and made all things besides 
forces me to take a rest
and I allow Him to
He cares about me, my person, my frame,
and rests my tired self
lying back upon the lush green grass
full of nutrients and life substance
I sink into the soft calming blades
in a wide and airy expanse
the feeling of freedom with plenty of room
not hemmed in at all
the Savior wouldn't want it so
so He made the pasture land
"He leads me beside the still waters"
My God and Father, the only God above
takes my hand and goes before
to lead me where the gentle waters flow
the still quiet waters with no arguments or strife
water that comes forth from the throne of life
"He restores my soul"
God of the whole world and universe
makes my soul brand new
like a tiny little child
fresh from its mother's womb
my mind emotions and will
He restores with His blood that was spilt
"He leads me in paths of righteousness"
the only great God goes before me
taking my hand, we walk together
upon paths of righteousness
not a single path, but many of a varied way
we can walk together
these paths are clean and pure and right,
pleasing to the Lord
paths of compassion, paths of light
morals good and true
"for His name's sake"
He wants all to know that He loves all the world
and sent His beloved Son
so He protects His name and wants it to glow
of fellowship and love
bearing His sweet name
we should smell fragrant too
a blessing to the world
so they will want Him too
when they hear His dear name
it should remind them
that there's life beyond the grave
and there is a friend that's waiting
and has been waiting many a year
"Yes, though I walk through the valley
of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil"
Yes, above all things, this is sure
in that most needful time of my life
He will be there
it matters not what may happen to me
I'm a treasured pearl in His hand
He will take care of me
I'll just keep a steady pace
a gentle walk with Him
we'll go together
hand in hand
relaxed and enjoying
each other's company
into a valley
or wherever we must go
be sure we'll make it through
and reach the other side
even in death's shadow
it's just a mere eclipse of the light
just for a brief moment
and the night will turn to bright
He knows all about me
nothing takes Him by surprise
He's a very personal creator
I have made a firm decision
not to fear or dread
there's nothing that can happen
that He can't or won't handle
no dart of hell
no fire or rage
no sickness or misery
He's here to help, and heal and save
from death's dark mystery
"For you are with me, Your rod and Your staff
they comfort me"
You have two special tools
Your rod keeps my enemies away
and to rescue me Your staff is there
I see Your workings in my life
and in this I find comfort
that stretches through every fibre of my being
"You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies"
My God, my frind
a feast prepares, and an elegant setting
for all to see and those who did not care
to keep my company
they'll rant and rave to no avail
as they see me eating
the blessings of Almighty God 
abundant and so pleasing
"You anoint my head with oil,
my cup runs over"
poured upon my head
the anointing of Your Spirit
cascades down in warming love
a cup full of authority
the authority of Your Word
and then from deep within
I feel welling up inside
the turnings of Your Spirit
and the bubblings of Your living water
a promise You made in Jerusalem
on that great feast day
when You stood and cried, before them all
"if any man comes after me
out of his innermost being shall flow
rivers of living waters"
and these waters flow out to all around
bubbling over and overflowing
the promise of Your love
this, the joy of knowing.
"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life"
You've come to give us complete confidence
that if we follow You
we'll have two faithful puppy dogs
following us behind
their names are goodness and mercy
and bless our lives all our days
every good and happy thing
is ours there for the asking
every day I can expect them there
following me with glee
from morning to the evening covers
with sparkling darkness deep,
this life that belongs to me
is not without hope or stability
but full, promising, and genuine
in His favor and His beauty
"and I will live in the house of the Lord forever"
in addition, it will never end
and I have an everlasting home
in safety and security
death will not be my unhappy ending
but eternal life and a happily ever after
in my Father's house
in splendor, love abounding, forevermore
my best friend,
and glorious redeemer,
what a fine God you truly are!
