LISTEN UP

 My sheep hear my voice, and

I know them, and they

follow Me.

John 10:27

In today's world, we are bombarded with voices of various types.  One of the main ways we recognize folks is by their voices.  We talk on our phones to friends and families, knowing those folks by their voices.  Science is telling us that soon, anyone's voice will be able to be copied so that even close relatives won't recognize a phony voice.   Aside from voices in general, I have been disturbed how voices are used.  On television, news reports, medication ads, etc. are voiced with or without pictures that are meant to cause the general public to be frightened if they don't adhere to such productions.

Recently, I've been reading John 10 where most of the chapter is given to Jesus speaking of Himself as our shepherd.  He knows the nature of sheep, the animal.  They are for the most part pretty dumb.  They will gnaw on grass even if it takes them to the edge of a cliff.  They rarely know when to rest and picky about what water source they drink from.  However, they are very intelligent when it comes to knowing they have a shepherd enough to know that shepherd's voice.  It's almost to the point that if their shepherd even clears his voice, the sheep may at least raise their heads.  When he speaks, one sees immediate, attentive obedience on the part of the entire flock.

Jesus sees us as direly needing leadership in our lives.  He knows all about sheep...He was a sacrificial lamb following in obedience to His Father.  He clearly heard His Father's voice and followed without hesitation.  Jesus is now our Shepherd and speaks in this chapter referring to the human voice and need for His sheep to not only hear His voice, but to do His bidding. T

Voices are calling out to us from every place we can think of to turn our attention away from our Shepherd.  To follow Him, however, we first must know His voice or we'll follow others we shouldn't.  Without the relationship, there's no communication. When we know the bidding of Jesus on our lives, we make a choice...being loved and provided for, or worse, falling off a cliff the world calls us to.  

Thank You Jesus for being my Shepherd.  I need Your care and leadership in my life.  Help me to not stray from you and to faithfully hear and obey your voice.  In Jesus' name...Amen

WHAT A DAY

This is the day the LORD
hath made;  we will
rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24

Well, I would dare say by this evening or maybe into the morning, most of the Easter trappings are well on their way to trash cans, garbage disposals or even some closet shelves.  A kitchen counter may still have some traces of ham and sweet potatoes but that can be handled tomorrow.    One still may feel the crunch under foot of some small remnants of larger egg shells.  If company came, they may have left by this evening.  The adults in the family may just plop in a chair because of utter exhaustion while kids, if any, may still have some energy left.  It's been a good day, a good week, good thoughts, and perhaps renewed spiritual energy.

I find it interesting the physical and emotional reactions to various holidays.  On July fourth, with the last firecracker, things seem to get back to normal pretty quickly.  It's the same with some other holidays like Memorial Day, Labor Day and even Valentines Day.  I can't recall ever having any emotional hangovers when those holidays were over.

HOWEVER, I have found it to be a different story when it comes to our spiritual ones such as what we have observed today.  Christmas would fall in that category as probably would Thanksgiving.  It's not hard noticing the differences.  The one like today is a spiritual day where it is about Jesus, not a firecracker, staying up to greet a new year or decorating graves the end of May.  We Christians usually go all out for our three precious holidays that have definite spiritual emphasis.

Guess what?  Today is over and as our pastor mentioned this morning, "Now what?"  With Christmas and Easter, we may put day upon day in preparations.  We may spend a good bit of time in our churches in celebration and we love every minute.  However, has this celebration today changed us in any way.  Was it a nice day and time but the coming week may not show much in us spiritually.

Jesus is alive and well.  He, through His Holy Spirit is still on duty for the believer.  Do I feel closer to my Heavenly Father now especially when it comes to gratitude than where I was a week or two ago?  These special times are important for what can come about in our personal lives...loving and appreciating Jesus more and feeling a closeness that is dear to us.  Afterall, it won't be long until we won't have to celebrate these days as we will be with our Lord.....and what a day that will be.  No Christmas decor or colored eggs will be seen as well as plates of turket and dressing where He is.  We will be with Him and will need no trimmings or decor.  Can't wait.

Thank You Father for these special days when we remember your love and goodness in our lives.  May we carry on in the days to follow in Your love and power knowing we can celebrate You and Your Son any moment or day of the year.  Praying in Jesus' precious name....Amen

 

SOMEONE  CARES

Therefore, humble yourselves under

the mighty hand of God, that He may

exalt you in due time,

casting all your care upon Him,

for He cares for you.

I Peter 5:6,7

Looking at our culture today, we can see alot of people living in misery.  We see in the news on an almost daily basis dire situations  with weather, illness, financial difficulties, family problems and on and on it goes that people are living with.  Many take the attitude that they are taking care of their own problems with no time for considering the plight of others.

I wrote a blog recently regarding people who in some ways feel very broken.  Such people often do all they can to look like they don't have a problem in the world.  Who cares about such folks who don't even look like they have a problem in the world.  Besides, who cares anyway?

One used to rely on family members to be caring of each other.  Even in our day such can't necessarily be counted on.  There are times when distance, family misunderstandings and even one's faith can come into play in how even family members view each other.  Many have work families where so much time is spent working together in a business.  There can be some concern for one another but with limits.  Even in church settings, one can feel very alone, especially when coming into a new church experience.

I have had times in my life when I could be in a crowded room with people I knew and still felt as lonely as could be.  I realize a good part of that was my fault but not in that moment.  When feeling such a loneliness, along with that is the feeling that in that moment, no one really cares about me.  

We may struggle with those feelings off and on, but the fact is that we are never alone.  As believers, we have the sweet presence of the Holy Spirit dwelling in us.  I'm afraid all too often, He gets ignored but is a ready presence just the same.  I realize in speaking of God's closeness, that we still desire some human form to come to our aid. 

When I make such things a matter of prayer, not only do I sense God's comfort and car but so many times, out of the blue, He's led someone to give me a call, a face book contact or even a visit.  No one is going to EVER care about you and me like our Heavenly Papa and He has in His power every resource to fulfill His promise of His love and care.

Father God, how I thank You for coming along side me so often through Your love and Spirit when I've felt alone and uncared for.  I'm much too human so many times forgetting that Your loving care for me can always be counted on.  In Jesus' precious name....Amen

  BROKEN

The LORD is near to those

who have a broken heart, and

 saves such as have a

contrite  spirit.

Psalm 34:18

For several years, we have had a three tiered, wooden shelf upon which we have put glass keepsakes.  It all started with five tea cup/saucer sets my Grandmother had brought with her from Scotland to America. They had immigrated soon after getting married.  She had said from the beginning that she wanted me to have those.  Brian bought the shelf and mounted it just above our piano where it still hangs in place.

There are some other glass articles on the shelves including the bride/groom figurine from our wedding cake.  While playing the piano one afternoon, one nail, top right began giving way and a disaster was in the making.  I jumped up, grabbed the shelf from the bottom and held it flat so things couldn't fall off.  However, two cups and saucers dropped to the piano.  They broke but not in tiny pieces.  All of these sets were of fine china with lots of gold work in the designs.  My Grandmother recalled having enjoyed tea time in Scotland with some of those cups and saucers.

One cup was totaled but it's saucer could be mended.  The other cup and saucer were in bad shape but could probably be mended.  Brian took care of that when he got home from work.  He used some special glue to carefully perform the surgery needed.  He did such a good job and the three pieces were put back on their shelves.  To this day, as I sit in my chair looking at that shelving and those items, I know the damaged pieces but from where I sit, I can't tell there was any damage done.

It's much like that with people.  You and I know what it is to be broken and sometimes what seems to be damage beyond repair.  However, God has His own love putty that puts us back together.  There may be some outer damage the circumstances experienced can't hide but that are there.  Even being around fellow believers, we may not be able to detect personal damage done in their lives, but God has come to their rescue with His own methods of binding up all the breakage in life we've all experienced.  To our Father, we are much more priceless and precious than any fancy cup and saucer from Scotland.

Thank You Father for mending and repairing those broken places in our lives and continuing to use us no matter our hurtful and damaging experiences.  Thank You in Jesus precious name....Amen