God likes to get my attention and then keep it by teaching me in multiple ways the same lesson for a period of time until I see the truth He wants me to understand….. I guess I can be hard-headed at times that it takes more than once to get my attention :) I had mentioned in a previous post that Falk & I crossed paths with a shepherd & flock of sheep while on a run last week, Falk made the statement that he would love to understand more about sheep and the job of a shepherd b/c he thinks it would change the way we read the bible & understand many of Jesus’s words & teachings– Hhhmmm, I had never thought of that before. (Falk is definitely the “deeper” thinker than I am, surprise-surprise, right?! 
) But since then it has crossed my mind….. one of the many names that Jesus is referred to in the bible is as “The Good Shepherd.” Since being here in Germany for 3 weeks, everywhere we drive or I run I see sheep grazing, they are interesting animals, but just seem to me to be lazy & boring, what could I learn from a sheep, right?! Ironically (or not) today our morning devotional book that the kids & I read together was on David as the shepherd boy & we read Psalms 23…”The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want….” After breakfast I had a few minutes so I got online & I came across a devotional that I get daily that (I couldn’t believe at the moment J) gave me the insight into the behavior of sheep and their complete dependence on their shepherd, things I had never really thought of before, just like Falk was talking about a few days ago. Thank you God for being so clear to me!!!
Before I share it with you, I like to read each day during my quiet time from a book called “31 days of Praise” and today, Day 14, paraphrased the following verses and prayer:
Jesus says,” I am the bread of life, the water of life, the light of life; I am the way, I am the truth, I am the esurrection and the life-I am what you need.”(John 6:35, 7:37, 8:12, 14:6, 11:25) And He wants us to respond to Him with “Thank you, Lord, You are! You are my sufficiency this moment, this hour, this day. I’m counting on Your life in me-Your love, and patience, Your gentleness and guidance and power –to meet my needs and overflow to others.”
(As I read this I was convicted as I thought back to yesterday (see Wednesday’s blog) and my w/patience towards the kids…was God trying to show me that I’m just like those helpless sheep dependent on their shepherd….I can do NOTHING apart from His strength & guidance..:) just like He spoke to me last night….yes, thats exactly what He’s saying!!) I have read these same lines on the 14th of each month for MONTHS now, but when thinking about myself as a sheep when reading the devotional below, it was somewhat of a “lightbulb” moment for me today….b/c I see in an even greater way, how we are so much like the sheep & are in desperate need of our shepherd, JESUS, to lead and guide us each day, every minute of the day, situation to situation—we are dependent on Him to meet EVERY need we have….. I couldn’t help but share it withyou too & pray that you’ll benefit, as I did, from this detailed explanation of sheep and how we are so much like them…..
June 14, 2012 by Mary Southerland (Biblegatway.com)
He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young (Isaiah 40:11, NIV).
Shepherds live with their sheep, finding places for them to eat and drink, providing shelter from the storms and protection from the heat. Sheep must eat the right amount of the right kinds of grass at the right times…or they will die. If the sheep eat too little one day and too much the next day, some of the bacteria that live in the stomach of the sheep will reproduce at abnormal levels, creating toxins which cause sudden death. This problem was even more complicated for the shepherds of the Bible.
The type of shepherding referred to in the Bible is not the farming of fenced pasture lands but nomadic grazing. The shepherd must carefully plan the path and lead the way so the sheep have neither too little nor too much grazing and are able to get to the water hole on time. Pastures are often lost to extreme heat which means the shepherd has to scour the countryside in search of green grass. Several flocks of sheep are gathered together at night in a sheltered place so shepherds can share the watches of the night, protecting the sheep from wild animals and thieves. Good shepherds are always willing to risk their lives to save their flocks from any harm, any enemy and even from themselves.
Sheep are dumb, can never be left alone and often stray, requiring the shepherd to find and rescue them. A shepherd never pushes his sheep but rather leads his sheep, going before them, making sure they are not walking into danger. The needs of sheep, compared to the needs of other animals, are greater because of their instinct to be afraid and when faced with a fearful situation, to run. Without a shepherd to care for the sheep, they will not last long.
Personally, I definitely fit the profile of a sheep. I can’t count the number of times I have stubbornly stuck to my plan, foolishly thinking that it was better than His plan, only to end up in some pit somewhere, calling for help. Psalm 40:1-3 has become my life maxim – with one exception. I rarely wait patiently! Remember, I am a sheep!
A man’s erectile issue, or inability to maintain erection canadian viagra store why not check here for sexual intercourse. Reports also added that sperm motility is directly related to generic cialis in usa anxiety regarding sexual performance. Some fail due to lack of proper planning, while some, for lack levitra 20mg uk of right course. Existence is stressful sufficient presently, but discount viagra pills when cash challenges are factored in, many marriages arrive apart at the seams. Psalm 40:1-3 “I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD” (NIV).
I sometimes allow fear to drive me to a place where I am trapped by doubts and darkness…until He rescues me. I try to satisfy my hunger by eating the wrong things found in the wrong places at the wrong times. The result is always the same; my soul remains ravenous for what is good while stuffing my heart and mind with what is bad.
Like every sheep, I don’t like to be pushed. Good shepherds do not push, no matter how great the temptation. A good shepherd stands in front of his sheep, gently calling their names, leading them to a place where he has already been, positioning himself between danger and his sheep. When I am tired and ready to give up, I tend to withdraw from the other sheep and even from my Shepherd. Many of us have somehow bought into the lie that we can make it on our own or that the rules, the commandments of God, do not necessarily apply to us…just those other sheep. The longer I serve God, the more I realize just how much we need each other and how much we need Him. When will I learn that I cannot do life on my own – as a sheep or as a shepherd?
A good shepherd is willing to lay down his life for his sheep, just as Jesus Christ laid down His life for you and for me. I am so glad He was willing to lay down His life for every single sheep – the cute, fluffy ones as well as the dirty, broken lambs like me. Maybe it is time for us all to stop, listen for His voice, seek His plan and remember that we are indeed needy sheep who are called to love and lead other needy sheep to the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ.
Lord, Thank you Lord for the ability to rejoice daily in the fact that I am Your lamb and You are my Shepherd. I am so thankful that You are my Shepherd and that no matter how deep the valley or dark the pit, You have gone before me and made a way. Help me to understand that Your ways are higher than mine. Forgive me when I complain that the way You have made for me is harder than I want it to be. I surrender my life to you, Lord, my God and my Shepherd. In Jesus’ name-Amen
If you are reading this and You have never believed in Jesus & trusted Him to be your Good Shepherd or you have questions about what this all means….. Email us (since we don’t have phone access right now) we want to talk to you-it’s the biggest decision you will ever make! Your eternal destination is at stake! We love each of you and want you to know the truth of the Gospel! The reason we are spending our summer overseas is to help teach others how to share this truth with the people in their own villages and cities in the countryside around Addis Ababa…BUT if you are in the states or ANYWHERE in the world for that matter, you need to know this truth too! Jesus IS the only way to God & your eternal future is dependent on your decision to believe His truths or not!