Red, deer and my necessary water by Gary Rose

Over the years, my tastes have changed. When I was in my early 20's the very thought of eating shrimp was repugnant to me, but now, I LOVE SHRIMP!!! Likewise, my favorite color has historically been blue, but NOW, I find I enjoy the reddish hues more and more. With that in mind, I was drawn to this picture.

How majestic is the buck in the center of this shot!!! His very presence exudes power and confidence!!! And yet, when I see this deer, my mind focuses only one place- on the following Scripture...

Psalm 42 (WEB)

 ¹  As the deer pants for the water brooks,
so my soul pants after you, God. (emp. added, GDR)
  ² My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When shall I come and appear before God?
  ³ My tears have been my food day and night,
while they continually ask me, “Where is your God?”
  ⁴ These things I remember, and pour out my soul within me,
how I used to go with the crowd, and led them to God’s house,
with the voice of joy and praise, a multitude keeping a holy day.
  ⁵ Why are you in despair, my soul?
Why are you disturbed within me?
Hope in God!
For I shall still praise him for the saving help of his presence.
  ⁶ My God, my soul is in despair within me.
Therefore I remember you from the land of the Jordan,
the heights of Hermon, from the hill Mizar.
  ⁷ Deep calls to deep at the noise of your waterfalls.
All your waves and your billows have swept over me.

  ⁸ Yahweh will command his loving kindness in the daytime.
In the night his song shall be with me:
a prayer to the God of my life.
  ⁹ I will ask God, my rock, “Why have you forgotten me?
Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?”
  ¹⁰ As with a sword in my bones, my adversaries reproach me,
while they continually ask me, “Where is your God?”
  ¹¹ Why are you in despair, my soul?
Why are you disturbed within me?
Hope in God! For I shall still praise him,
the saving help of my countenance, and my God.

I know not what others may say about God, but I say that HE is always near, sometimes easily discernible and at other times it seems obvious that HE is at work in the background. It is when HE is working in the latter way that the words of this Psalm are the most meaningful to me. When others refuse to believe in HIM or scorn HIM or ridicule HIM that I hurt the most, for HE is EVERYTHING to ME. Yes, God is there, no matter who contradicts this fact. And the words of the first verse of Psalm 42 reverberate throughout my life like a song (or perhaps a Psalm). 

For those who understand what I am saying- rejoice. Those that do not yet know what I mean may someday yet comprehend. If there are any who refuse to seek God and know HIM - well, wait and see; HE just may seek and find YOU!!!

May God bless,

Gary