Shepherd

Every day, week, season, God is doing different things in my heart. Opening my eyes to different lessons that I needed to hear and learn.

God has been hitting me hard lately some beautiful verses/message. Every time I read the Word I pray to God asking Him to give me whatever I need to hear. Then I keep praying and open it to whatever it opens to. I truly believe God gives me exactly what I need to hear time and time again. In the past two weeks I've opened to different passages on the topic of being a Shepherd four or five times. Plus, it's exactly what the Priest talked about and the Bible verses he used on Sunday!

So here are some of the verses on one of the many things I've been meditating on in the last few weeks...

John 10:

⁷ Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. ⁸ All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. ⁹ I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. ¹⁰ The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life,and have it to the full.

¹¹ “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. ¹² The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. ¹³ The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

¹⁴ “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— ¹⁵ just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.¹⁶ I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. ¹⁷ The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. ¹⁸ No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”

¹⁹ The Jews who heard these words were again divided. ²⁰ Many of them said, “He is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to him?”
²¹ But others said, “These are not the sayings of a man possessed by a demon.Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”

1 Peter 5 

To the Elders and the Flock

5 To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed ² Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; ³ not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. ⁴ And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.

⁵ In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,

“God opposes the proud
    but shows favor to the humble.”

⁶ Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. ⁷ Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

⁸ Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. ⁹ Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

¹⁰ And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. ¹¹ To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

I feel so blessed by my job. 

So blessed with the opportunities I have right now to be a shepherd. To help care for the kids at Hope, family members, and friends. 

And I am so blessed by the many others who have been and are shepherds to me. My parents. My grandparents. Sisters. Friends. Other family members. ... All the people out there who are shepherds to me. I am so thankful for them. I need them.

But most of all, I am thankful to my Good Shepherd. For taking His life even though I deserve to be the lamb slain.

I don't deserve anything good at all, yet He teaches me, guides me, cares for me, and He calls me by name.

...

"Shepherd me Oh God, beyond my wants, beyond my fears, from death into Life..."