HE LEADS – I FOLLOW – IT IS GOOD

Thunderous applause

reaches me from above.

Some call it a storm

but I call it joy

Hidden wonders yet to come!

By Martha L Shaw – ©  2017

WHAT I LEARNED FROM SHEEP

It seems we ALWAYS seek to do

things we choose, in our own way.

But sheep are never left alone

to make up their own minds.

They seem so calm and rested

and do as the shepherd tells them to.

Love and care he offers

and they easily accept.

They are totally dependant on him.

Yet when God reacts this way to us,

we turn the other way.

I used to think sheep foolish creatures!

But, they aren’t the fools,

we are!

By Martha L Shaw ©2018

 

 

 

“Feed My Sheep!”

When the Lord said those words, I am sure stale bread, dented cans, moldy throw away leftovers couldn’t be what He hoped we’d do even though desperate folks likely would accept it . . . would you?  Would I? 

Does that kind of sharing demonstrate theLord’s love? Would it draw you closer to a Lord you didn’t know?  I think not!  Let’s do better!

WHEN JESUS SAYS COME

Grandmother’s china

Cinnamon bread – freshly baked

“Rest and stay a while”

By Martha L Shaw – © 2018

 

TEAM JESUS

I tried to be all things for everyone.  Thinking back, I realize none of us were intended for that.  Hmmm . . . was I thinking of my Lord, my neighbors, or myself?  In my foolishness, I thought the answer was Jesus.  I remember reading the 23rd Psalm and thinking “STUPID SHEEP.” Me, I had it all together . . . NOT!   I  was all about Martha!

Those sheep loved the Master, served Him well, and were lovingly cared for – Facing hunger or fear or uncertainty of any kind was no real problem.   The Master (Shepherd) who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask had it all together since long before we were we!  Those sheep had it good!  THIS SHEEP is gonna  follow the Shepherd far more closely than she used to!

Ephesians 3:20-21 

²⁰ Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

 

GOOD COMPANY

Ah, those green pastures

Where did the still waters go?

Good, the Shepherd’s near!

By Martha L Shaw – © 2018

 

 

HE LEADS – I FOLLOW – IT IS GOOD

Thunderous applause

reaches me from above.

Some call it a storm

but I call it joy

Hidden wonders yet to come!

By Martha L Shaw – ©  2017

–

“He Spoke To His Sheep . . . “

“and the sheep got out their date books, scheduled a time to get together, and then at the appointed time sat at the round table and discussed how to interpret what they’d heard before voting on which action to take . . . ”  Was that it?

NO!  It wasn’t.  The sheep knew His voice.  They didn’t stop and think about it, they didn’t sleep on it, nor did they call the lead sheep to get permission to act on what He instructed them to do.  They followed Him.

This is huge.  There are several reasons I’m thinking of this just now.  My life has been “nuts” in some stressful ways for what seems a long time now . . .  close to five years.  I can see HUGE LIFE CHANGING BLESSINGS which I truly believe only came to me because of the HUGE SCARY “HELP ME JESUS” stuff that is also in the picture and not entirely resolved.

That being said, I truly do feel His presence, His love, and when I’m focused on Him I know He is leading me and has a plan.  People close to me sometimes seem to think their plan is the one.  They do not agree remotely on what their plan is.  They don’t think this sheep is listening too well.  They often seem pointedly urging me to change paths and disregard His instruction.

Well, I’m not living in a palace, surrounded by gold, or any of that.  But, thus far, I have not been tossed on the street begging for a crust of bread.  I still believe, when I’m not scared and cranky, that He has a plan and that it’s gonna happen and that He loves me and has something more than I could desire or pray for in store.  So, I shall pray, get scared, and pray some more . . .  and follow Him.

John 10:4

When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.

Baaaaa – A Word For Tuesday

Life is so much more complicated than it needs to be lately

But the shepherd is not giving up

So neither is the sheep.

“He Spoke To His Sheep . . . “

“and the sheep got out their date books, scheduled a time to get together, and then at the appointed time sat at the round table and discussed how to interpret what they’d heard before voting on which action to take . . . ”  Was that it?

NO!  It wasn’t.  The sheep knew His voice.  They didn’t stop and think about it, they didn’t sleep on it, nor did they call the lead sheep to get permission to act on what He instructed them to do.  They followed Him.

This is huge.  There are several reasons I’m thinking of this just now.  My life has been “nuts” in some stressful ways for what seems a long time now . . .  close to five years.  I can see HUGE LIFE CHANGING BLESSINGS which I truly believe only came to me because of the HUGE SCARY “HELP ME JESUS” stuff that is also in the picture and not entirely resolved.

That being said, I truly do feel His presence, His love, and when I’m focused on Him I know He is leading me and has a plan.  People close to me sometimes seem to think their plan is the one.  They do not agree remotely on what their plan is.  They don’t think this sheep is listening too well.  They often seem pointedly urging me to change paths and disregard His instruction.

Well, I’m not living in a palace, surrounded by gold, or any of that.  But, thus far, I have not been tossed on the street begging for a crust of bread.  I still believe, when I’m not scared and cranky, that He has a plan and that it’s gonna happen and that He loves me and has something more than I could desire or pray for in store.  So, I shall pray, get scared, and pray some more . . .  and follow Him.

John 10:4

When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.

 

No “Buts” Bible Verse of the Day For Thursday

This verse is so comforting.  It answers all the questions and doubts that try to edge in . . . rest in this:

““I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.” John 10:14-15

If A Tree Fell In The Forest . . .

You all likely know the old saying about “if a tree fell” and it came to my mind just now in relation to some things the Lord has revealed to me just this morning which I’d like to share with you.

Speaking for myself, I’d never doubt that the sound the tree makes when it falls would be the same whether I hear it or not, but then there’s the question of God’s grace . . . and His timing.  In pondering this, I find my thoughts changing on whether or not the tree falling was soundless.

A favorite scripture verse of mine is Isaiah 60:1 “Arise, shine, for your light has come,  and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.”

In my life, as with most people, there are a number of “why is the Lord letting this happen” or “when will healing of this situation come” and so forth.  The truth is, we are showered with His grace all the time.  Miracles happen every day.  We often fail to notice.  That’s a huge revelation to me that He made me aware of in the last 24 hours or so.  For, in order for His grace to rise upon me, I have to realize it!

Let me say it another way.  Think of another favorite scripture of mine, the 23rd Psalm.  Now sheep aren’t known to be all that intelligent so perhaps that’s why as they were led beside the still waters, their souls were restored and rest came and so forth.  I have to admit, this blessing might not have gotten to me all at once and it could even have taken a day or two as I thought about the  near miss with the shadow of death and perhaps wondered what might be lurking beneath the surface in those still waters and maybe, just maybe, as I lay in the green comfy grass and became thirsty, I’d perhaps have given thought to how deep the water is and what if I fell in . . .

Think about it.  God’s grace is here.  We own it, if we allow ourselves to trust and receive.  The sheep is every bit as “safe” while he’s worrying about all those things I mentioned, but the peace and grace he’s been given isn’t his because he’s not open to receive it!  The realization of what he’s been given is not upon him as clear as it seems to us reading the verses and I don’t know about you, but I’m not all that different from the sheep sometimes.

Looking at this from another angle, I am recalling Jesus with His disciples in the temple.  You’ll recall He saw a poor widow giving all she had in the temple “collection plate” so to speak.  Jesus noticed and was so pleased.  We know this., yet did He walk over to her and speak love, blessing, and encouragement to her?  No, He spoke of this in encouragement to His disciples.  Why?  It didn’t mean His love for her was diminished, but clearly she didn’t need the encouragement.  She was of strong faith.  The disciples needed the teaching, the encouragement.  He gave them what they needed.

Pretty interesting, don’t you think?  As I pondered these things, I realized some . . . many ways the Lord has given to me and yet I worried still and wondered “where are you, Lord?”  I cried out “help me” and “let me know your peace” and all the while He had His loving, healing hand on me.  As I look back, I can see such time wasted worrying and in retrospect can see that my problems were solved long before I quit stressing over them.  I can see so much lost sleep over things He had all worked out.  I wasn’t like the widow, who was of strong faith and knew all would be well.  I need to be more like her.  Miracles happen every day.  We don’t always notice, or I don’t . . .  so I ask again, if a tree falls in the forest and nobody is around to hear, does it make a sound?  You decide.

by Martha L Shaw – words and images Copyright 11-19-2012