Psalm 23- my word in season for 2021

 

Every year I spend time in prayer about a word in season for my life.  I carry this word in my heart with me throughout the year. I find it helps me to stay focused, prayerful, and grounded. Every year it has been one verse. For 2021 it is one chapter. The 23rd Psalm.

 

I will study this as the year progresses but here are my thoughts as the year begins:

 

I am using the message translation for this post.

 

1 God, my shepherd! I do not need a thing

 

My strength comes from the Lord. He is the author and finisher of my faith.

 

2. You have bedded me down in lush meadows, you find me quiet pools to drink from.

 

He has placed me here in Somerset West for such a time as this and supplies all my needs

 

3. True to your word, you let me catch my breath and send me in the right direction.

 

I have had time to rest, reflect and now will walk a path of purpose

 

4. Even when the way goes through Death Valley, I am not afraid when you walk at my side. Your trusty shepherd's crook makes me feel secure

 

We are living in uncertain times and my help comes from the Lord.

 

5. You serve me a six-course dinner right in front of my enemies. You revive my drooping head, my cup brims with blessing.

 

I am so grateful for my blessings at this time.

 

6. Your beauty and love chase after me every day of my life. I am back home in the house of God for the rest of my life.

 

Each day I awake to experience your goodness and know that you are with me here and into eternity.

I love Somerset West

 I moved to the Cape at the end of October 2020 and now reside in the beautiful town of Somerset West. 

In just over a month I have fallen in love with this town and its' surroundings. I lived at Hartbeespoort Dam for 13 years and enjoyed the majestic landscape. What was challenging was shopping and buying supplies. Until recently most shopping expeditions meant planning for at least a 50 km drive around the dam or a trip to Johannesburg. In Somerset West nothing is more than 10 minutes away and whatever one needs is available. It feels so easy.

Somerset West is less than an hour from Cape Town, 25 minutes from the airport and close to winelands, beaches and beautiful mountains. There are good hospitals and services in the area and the Province is run efficiently. 

I love navigating my way around my new surroundings. I have joined a number of Facebook Groups supporting the area and enjoy learning from fellow online members. This is always the best way to learn about the best places to go. I asked my friends in the area for recommendations.

I have enjoyed having a number of visitors already in my home and plan to navigate some of the beautiful small towns over the holiday season.

The butcher I have found is called Douvoordag and the organic meat comes from the Karoo. My first visit to the hairdresser was a delight. Fresh strawberries, blueberries and cherries from Lourensford Market and an extravagant Coffee Shop and restaurant called Pajamas and Jam Eatery.

One of my experiments for this year is to test the weather and how I enjoy a completely different weather pattern to what I have been used to. The Dam has extreme heat and cold and beautiful big blue sky days and majestic thunderstorms. In this first month I am learning to understand the wind and to my surprise enjoying a much more temperate climate. 

Each place under the sun has special characteristics. This place I think has been blessed in abundance with beauty and many different aspects to enjoy and navigate. In time I will share more of these with you along my journey.