Psalm 23:1 Illuminated calligraphy + 3D Iris, with a story..

Hi there everyone! a few weeks ago now (see here) I showed the beginnings of this work.

Today I show you the finished result, and as you can see it has changed quite a bit. For those who wondered the name of the lady this was for - I was doing an Iris flower, as Maggie noted, so now you must surely know her name? (Hint: it is written next to the flower :D, you can enlarge photo by clocking on it)

There is a story to go with this and I trust you will be blessed by it as I was so many years ago.

Psalm of David. Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
² He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
³ He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.

⁴ Yea, 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.

⁵ You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
⁶ Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.

We are all very familiar with these words in some way or other. and have even sung them as well. With familiarity however we sometimes lose what it REALLY means. This psalm inspired of God the Holy Spirit, was written by the shepherd boy David, who God later called to be king of Israel..

I heard this when I was young, from an elderly minister in a service in Melbourne. A friend recently confirmed it was a true tale (from CEF ministries she thought).

Here it is, as I recall it: 

"An elderly shepherd (grandfather) longed that the young shepherd boy, his grandson, would KNOW the living truth of these words - 

"the LORD is my Shepherd".

To make it simple for the lad he explained it in a clear, practical way. Grandfather held up his five digits on his right hand and grasped each finger with his left hand as he explained the five words. 

Grasping his thumb he said:

THE - it is specific, it means the One and the Only.

Taking hold of his second finger he explained :

LORD -  God, the Heavenly Father, who watches over His children.

Then using his middle finger, grandfather added:

IS - something that is is NOW, a living, real, sure thing we can know now.

Grasping with purpose his ring or forth finger, he continued:

MY - personal, my very own, belonging to me

Finally taking his last finger with his left hand he ended:

SHEPHERD -  the Saviour, the Lord Jesus, "the Good Shepherd Who giveth His life for His sheep"

The old man smiled in happy memory for a moment, then seriously turned and asked the young shepherd boy his dear grandson:

 Is the LORD YOUR Shepherd?

The nights turned cooler in the hillside around where the young shepherd boy watched carefully over his sheep. One night not long after this, the shepherd lad was caught in a very early but very strong snowstorm.

As morning broke and he did not appear concern arose. 

He was found by the grandfather frozen to death in the snow. As the old man's eyes filled with tears, his face suddenly lit with joy. He saw the boy had his left hand wrapped around his forth or ring finger on his right hand, with a last message to his grandfather and as comfort to his heart in his hour of need. The LORD was HIS Shepherd and he was now with Him.

Is this a real and living truth in your life? Can you truly say with me and this young lad: 

The LORD is MY Shepherd,

I shall not want.

For when the LORD indeed is Our Shepherd - we shall not want (or lack any good thing)."

May God bless your day wherever you may be, and may He richly bless the truth and joy of His Word in your heart, now and always.

Thanks so much for popping over for a peek and a chat, and brief apology, as my time is still limited for commenting, returning your visits or answering your questions - and I am sorry ...

Shaz in oz.x

Recipe for the text: 

1. Used Le Suh 3D in Iris and parts of the page was shown here - this was too large so scanned it and reduced it to 80% and printed it on high quality paper.
2. Make up in 3D as shown on Roses are ..Pink post., and top with glossy accents or similar.
3. Used Spellbinders Small scallops, cut and embossed for the base and coloured it with lavender ink and then sprayed with diamond dust glimmermist.
4. Used calligraphers vellum to write the text with dip pen and black gouache and Gothic script - which is rather hard to work on, even though I pounced it this time (with Embossing buddy or the like, some even use a piece of flannel with baby powder in it). You lightly tap it over the surface so pen supposedly slides easier,  the vellum really grips the pen nib - you can see my first post on using vellum back here.
5. Added decorations to the verse as per layout with gouache and 23 carat gold built up. 
6. As always I did a practice rough piece first, even though this was only a small piece. I then attached the the 3D Iris and it was framed up - had to be recessed slightly because of the 3D.