My Shepherd Is Great!

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. John 10:27

Typically at a funeral you may hear the 23rd Psalm read. Take time and get your Bible and read it. There are so many good verses to read at funerals but this one brings comfort to the bereaved family and friends. When I lived in Arizona in 1984-85 at Williams AFB, which was a little ways out of the metropolitan area of Phoenix, there were actual shepherds who managed flocks of sheep. It was fun to see them in action. During the summers in the desert it was too hot for the sheep to handle so the shepherd would gently guide his flock up on the mountain to a higher cooler elevation and return them to the valley in the winter months.The sheep knew their shepherd. We live on a cattle farm and the cows recognize my husbands voice too. 

God is our shepherd. A shepherd can also be one who cares for and guides people such as a pastor.  A bible study leader or prayer group leader would be a shepherd of sorts to their 'flock' under their care and need to periodically tend to their spiritual  needs. A shepherd of sheep guides them by still waters and takes them to green pasture. If we follow Jesus, our shepherd and try to not run way from the flock, he will guide us beside still waters as well. This is not to say there won't be some occasional  problems but He will be your guide and take care of you. 

Are you allowing Jesus to be your guide? Is He truly shepherd of your life? 

PRAYER: My Jesus how I need you. When I get away from doing your will and go my own way I can get into the 'briar patches' of life. Thanks for being my constant shepherd. In Jesus' name. Amen.

ANONYMOUS CALLER

 Many times when our landline phone at our house rings the caller ID will say "Anonymous Caller" and my initial reaction is to avoid the call assuming it is a sales pitch or plea for money. If your phone number at home is unlisted the callers on the receiving end do not know who is calling so they too may avoid picking it up. Even with a mobile phone if the caller is not in your contact list you may hesitate to answer.

When we "call" on God in prayer, if you have received Him as your savior, then He knows your voice and He knows exactly who you are. He listens and He cares. He speaks back to you through scriptures in the Bible as well as convictions of the spirit inside of you.

John 10:27(NIV) says 'My sheep listen to my voice and I know them and they follow me.' If any of you have ever witnessed a shepherd with his sheep, that is true. The sheep know their master and they know instinctively he will guide them to safety.

Have you asked Jesus to be your Lord and savior? Do you talk to Him in prayer? Have you repented or turned away from those sins that you know separate you from God?

In this world we live in today deceptive spirits of Satan are on the warpath and have captured even some believers to believe his lies. Make no mistake about it, Satan is the great deceiver. But we have the power to defeat him. Many may conform too much to the world and not enough to God. It can happen in a subtle way. Be on your guard. If you have a family member being deceived all you can do is pray that deception would stop and their eyes will be opened once again to the truth.

1 Timothy 4:1(NIV) says 'The Spirit clearly says that in the latter times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.' No one knows the day nor hour of Christ's' return but I feel we are in treacherous times. When a President says publicly "We are no longer a Christian nation" and won't stand up for what is right according to the word of God, trouble is coming.

Does God know your voice? Are you living for Him? Are you turning away from evil and trying to do good? Today if you have never asked Jesus into your heart do it right now. Just say "Jesus come into my heart and live in me. I choose to follow you.Thanks for coming into my heart." Next find a church that is excited about Jesus. This may mean changing the denomination you were brought up in. There won't be denominations in heaven, I am pretty sure. Go where they teach the Bible and you can grow in Christ and are excited about being there.

Listen for God's voice and stay on the path that pleases Him.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus you are my strength, my shield, my deliverer, and my comforter. I thank you for being my shepherd as well. You tend to your flock with loving kindness and mercy. I thank you for that. In Jesus' name. Amen.

BAAA BAAA

How many have been to a farm or petting zoo and observed the cute sheep? When I lived in Arizona the first time in 1984-85 we were on an Air Force Base at the Eastern edge of the city of Mesa. Presently, in 2012 ,that area, is city itself, due to immense population growth. Back then it was countryside and you could witness 'shepherds' taking sheep up to the mountains for the summer to get them out of the heat of the valley. It was impressive indeed. Of course they were not dressed in the attire we picture from Bible days but they were stilling control of their herd and these sheep knew it.

We are like sheep without a shepherd and we need our 'shepherd' Jesus to lead us and guide us so we do not fall off into the 'ravines of life'. If we follow Him and stay on course we will be safe and well provided for but if we are stubborn and go our own way we will be in danger of getting hurt similar to real sheep.

John 14:27 says My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me."  John 10:4 says "
When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice."

Isaiah 53:6 says "we all like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way. And the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all."  Sheep can be stupid creatures and want to do their own thing. That is why they need to follow the shepherds' wisdom and guidance to remain safe. We too need to follow our shepherd, Jesus, to stay safe and protected from the evils in this world.

PRAYER: Lord at times I have been stubborn and have not listened to you or read the Bible. Sometimes I go my own way and pay the price. Forgive me Lord. I want you to  be my shepherd. In Jesus name. Amen.