Posts Tagged ‘Shepherd’

My Sheep know My Voice

Posted: June 11, 2023 in Heaven Bound
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I heard a story this past weekend of a Palestinian woman who had recently lost her husband in a conflict. And it was during that conflict, that she also lost her family’s small flock of 25 sheep. Moreover, as it turned out, many of the local sheep farmers also lost their flocks during the same conflict, and eventually, all of the lost sheep were rounded up by the Israeli soldiers into one big herd and kept in a single holding area in the region. At this holding area, the Palestinian woman pleaded with the Israeli guard standing at his post at the gate of the sheep pen. She explained that she could easily separate her sheep from the others without any effort from the soldier. After a while, he was tired of listening to her so he relented and allowed her to enter the pen with her son.

After they entered, the boy lifted a small flute to his lips and played 5 notes very loudly. Immediately, some of the sheep, out of the hundreds, lifted their heads and peered in their direction. The boy played the notes again and sheep began to move in his direction and in less than 5 minutes, the woman, her son, and 25 sheep marched off down the road towards home.

Sheep are followers by nature and learn to listen to the voice of their shepherd and in this case, the sound of a flute. No matter who tries to call them, they will only come when they hear the shepherd’s voice. Jesus said it this way, “ they (sheep) will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice”. John 10:5

So why is it essential for you and me to know about sheep? Because you and I, literally every day, are being hammered by what everyone out there is calling “truth”…or their version of the truth. News media, friends, the internet, social media, and even pastors or Church leadership. Everything and everyone is overwhelming you with so MUCH information and all is being presented as TRUTH. 

With so many voices coming at you simultaneously…How do you separate all the “words” into what you should believe versus what you shouldn’t? Honestly, it isn’t easy. It takes real discernment to understand the right voice that is calling you. Not to your death, but to life, and guys I am not being melodramatic. This is the fight of our lives because it is a fight for our lives.

We MUST be able to separate the right words from the wrong ones not just for you, but for your family as well. Remember Christ’s words to the Pharisees, “I am the Good Shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me…” John 10:14. If you are connected with Him, and have a relationship with Him, you WILL be able to discern through the mayhem and hear the words He is speaking to you. This does require a relationship with Him which means time spent reading and praying…and you can do this-

Here is the REAL truth. The reason there are alternative options to Christ’s message is that the enemy also has a message for you. It is very simple; Follow me for your pleasure and you’ll have the time of your life.

My message back to you; Don’t listen to him. EVERYTHING he offers you is temporary and will lead you to a place that trust me… you don’t want to go.

Instead, listen to the voice of our Shepherd with the message of Good News-

Until next time guys-

Can I Really have all that I need?

Posted: March 5, 2023 in Inspirational
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The Lord is my Shepherd, I have all that I need. Psalms 23:1

I have read the 23rd Psalm thousands of times throughout my life and can even recite it from memory. It is so burned into my brain from so many years of reading and hearing it over and over that, I almost don’t hear it anymore…if that makes sense.

Repetition and too much of any one thing can do that to you, right? Well, that isn’t supposed to happen to scripture. But it had until today…and all it took was a version change. A different perspective that seemed to change the angle just slightly…or…just enough to wack me over the head.

As I said, I have heard the words, “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want” my whole life. That is the verse. Period. Until today. When I heard it very loud and very clear, again for the first time.

How about this one; The Lord is my Shepherd, I have all that I need.

I HAVE ALL THAT I NEED. 

I can honestly say I have never said that because I never believed those words applied to me. WHY? Because I don’t think I DO have all I need. Does anyone really ever have all they need? But that is precisely what David meant when he wrote those words. He truly had All that he needed. He was content.

So what did he mean?

Here is what I can tell you. David was not referring to his stuff. Things like cars, houses, and vacations. He was talking about his contentment with his God. Let me reword it again:

BECAUSE THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD, I DO NOT NEED ANYTHING

David recognized that in this state of humility with God, our God, it was and IS possible to not need anything. Can you imagine that? You see because we Christians are so immersed in a society where people believe they can never get enough…that honestly, it is very easy to drift over to that way of thinking. Over time, we become what we do not want to…which is believing we don’t HAVE what we THINK we need…or as reworded below:

EVEN THOUGH THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD, HE CAN’T GET ME WHAT I NEED

It is important to recognize this condition above for what it is: That it is NOT from God but rather from the Enemy. Our job then is to resist and to work to become content in our circumstances no matter what they are. It is not easy. Frankly, it is crazy hard…especially if you are not happy with where you are in your life.

The writer of Hebrews put it this way:

Keep your life free from the love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you. Hebrews 13:5

Let me put it another way:

But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 1 Timothy 6:6

Although it is a very true statement, “You can’t take it with you” the Bible implores you and me to lay up our treasures in Heaven so that your time spent here on this earth can be more like what David said…where you have all you need.

Simply put, if you are focused on the “stuff” you don’t have, then you are not focused on Him.

My intent today with this short post is to remind you that if you seek Him, you will find Him which leads you to a place where you can be content in your life, right where you are. Then you can say with conviction…that you really do have all that you need.

Until next time guys-