God gives me everything I need

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou annointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

How does one teach the 23rd Psalm to a group of preschoolers? What does it mean to them that after the people crossed the Red Sea to escape the soldiers who were trying to harm them, they were starving? What does it mean to them that God provided quail and manna?

When the question was asked of the children in my Sunday School class,
"What does God give you that you need?"

Their 4 year old answers-
"food...clothes...puppies...moms...water....crayons...beds...toys"
("I shall not want")

They may have a few different ideas than we do as adults, but what they are getting at is the same. Are we sure we know the difference between a "need" and a "want"?

"God gives me everything I need". Say it with me kids..."God gives me everything I need". We say it at the beginning of class, before the lesson, after the lesson, while we are cutting and gluing and when we say our prayer of thanksgiving before we part until next Sunday. "God gives me everything I need". It will be etched on their minds, hearts and tongues. How wonderful! ("He leadeth me in the path's of righteousness for His name's sake").

We really do have all that we need (and then some).

Our son, Brandon is in the process of adding some new shelving in a couple of closets, but before I can organize everything on my nice new adequate shelves, I have to take everything out first. ("Thou preparest a table before me")Do you know how much is actually in a pantry, how much is tucked, stuffed, piled, and perhaps used very rarely if at all? Some people would be thrilled to have a portion of what was in that pantry! ("My cup runneth over") Which things are wants and which things are needs?

"God gives me everything I need."

-a son who is a carpenter, willing to help his mom make her life a bit easier. ("He restoreth my soul.")
-a wonderful job, which allows me the extra cash it takes to make my life a bit easier.("Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life")
-pans and gadgets and medicines for most of what ails me just to make my life a bit easier.
-and food and MORE food. Yes, God, gives me everything I need.

When Jesus celebrated His victory over sin and death, He chose to send gifts to those He set free. He could have chosen to give us anything...knowledge, spiritual growth, protection and comfort during all of our trials. In the end, when Jesus celebrated His victory over sin and death by giving to those who had sinned against him. He chose to give us all of these things and so much more!

I am asking for prayers for my friend, Mary Jane today. I stopped to visit her and she remains the pillar of strength and determination. She said, "I have everything I need. We are well taken care of." She does not wish for prayers to be well. She would like prayers for pain management and peace.("Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for Thou art with me")

She knows where she is going..... ("and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever")

God gives us everything we need. -preschool memory verse adaped from Psalm 23:1