I’ve been so blessed since starting my blog, I love the WP community and connections. I aspire to be a writer and to share my faith with the world. This blog come into fruition from the support and encouragement of a very dear friend, Jan. Our friendship has become even more enriched through the years. I believe our friendship and connection was from God, His timing for what we need at specific times in our lives.
“The human mind plans the way, but the Lord directs the steps.” — Proverbs 16:9 (NRSV) —
I have decided to repost the top 5 posts on my site since I began it. I must give credit to a friend of mine that also did something similar on his site. I encourage you to check his blog out, he’s great writer and provides truth. http://tomvanderwell.com/
Holy God, I give thanks for my friends, family and WP community for connection and laughter, for comfort and strength, for encouragement and unity, for forgiveness and grace, for celebration and joy. They are so many things to me, such a rich tapestry of blessings, woven through my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
~Charlotte, Seeker of unexpected Comfort, Happiness, Joy and Patience.
Thank you all for joining me during Advent 2021. I so appreciate the comments, feedback, pings and most especially the connectedness of the WP family. I am also thankful to my friends, family, coworkers and FB followers. I look forward to more reading and writing in the new year. I hope everyone had the Christmas they had hoped for. My hope for the season was to spend time with those I love, mission partly accomplished. I worked through the holiday but have plans to see my dad, brother, and my niece and her family and hopefully more relatives too on my next days off. I was blessed to recently spend time with my aunt, my cousin and her daughter. We made several dozens of cookies, candies and other sweet treats but the best part with being together. We reminisced about the past and family members no longer with us physically. I miss the Christmas’ of past, waking early to open presents, staying up late wrapping presents and assembling toys for the morning. Such joys!! Our memories are priceless!
🎄 ✝️ 🌟 ❤️ ✨ 🎁 🎄 ✝️ 🌟 ❤️ ✨ 🎁 🎄
I love Christmas for all the reasons; family, food, friends and faith! In recent years, this one included I have not set the bar very high with regards to the holidays. I love blogging and sharing my faith perspectives and gift giving. I love to see the faces of those opening the gifts; I spend a lot time trying to find “the gift” that seems to be just right for them. The expression of excitement and sheer joy is so much more valuable to me than the gift itself. Giving is a gift that God has blessed me with, not through wealth, I definitely live within a budget but I make it work if it’s important to me. I have many footprints on my heart from people I have met in my life that are so dear to me. Some have moved on and we don’t see or talk with one another anymore, but my memories of them are fully intact and it’s true what they say, “you may not remember what people say, but you will always remember how they made you feel.”Quote attributed to Carol Buchner, Maya Angelou and others.
Photo Credit: Carol Flinn Yep, that’s me
What Are Your 2022 Hopes?
Things that I hope to accomplish in the new year are to ___________________. I have many ideas and plans not yet formulated or penned to paper. I know, I sense the Holy Spirit leading me to something… I am ready to heed this nudging and tugging upon my heart. I am tired of the circling pattern I have had my life going in. The pandemic has not helped with everything shutdown; life waits for no one. I trust God’s timing and this just might be the year for me to discover new people, new places and my place in the midst of it all.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” —Proverbs 3:5-6 (NRSV)
A huge miscalculation on my part in living my life to its fullest potential is this…I am still trying to balance the past while trying to move forward; an impossible feat. It’s like trying to push 2 same pole magnets together…
“Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14 (ESV)
Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.
— Søren Kierkegaard
“But I will hope continually, and will praise you yet more and more.” —Psalm 71:14 (NRSV) —
Everyone has a past, but that’s just it–it’s in the past. You can learn from it, but you can’t change it.
—Nicholas Sparks
“Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful.” — Hebrews 10:23 -(NRSV) —
~Charlotte, Seeker of unexpected Comfort, Happiness, Joy and Patience.
“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.” —Luke 2:11 (NIV)
Prayer ~
Heaven Father, the God of the universe who gave His only Son to save all mankind. Jesus is the Light of the World. Help us to seek the Light, guide us to share the Light and Love you freely give. Today, open our hearts and minds to the great sacrifices of individuals that faithfully traveled the path you set before them. Mary & Joseph, the Shepherds & the Wisemen… God you showed your love for us through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, it made possible the bridge to reunite with you, our Heavenly Father. The relationship that was fractured due to sin, is now bridged because of Jesus.Amen
“For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 4:6 (NIV)
HOPE — 1st Candle
— The first candle reminds us of the promise that a Messiah would come, bringing peace and love to the world.
PEACE – PREPARATION — 2nd Candle
— The second candle reminds us that the prophets waited for a Messiah to come and save the people.
JOY — 3rd Candle
— The third candle reminds us that Jesus’ birth brings joy to all who believe in Him, so we join all of creation in celebrating Him.
LOVE — 4th Candle
— The fourth candle reminds us that God demonstrated His love by sending His Son Jesus to be born in a manger and suffer and die for our sins, so we may live forever with Him.
CHRIST (CHRISTMAS) — 5th Candle
— The fifth candle shows us that the waiting is over. Jesus Christ, the Messiah, is born!
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” —John 1:14 (NIV)
Reading of the Christmas Story
The Birth of Jesus
“In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.” —Luke 2:1-21 (NIV)
Jesus Presented in the Temple
“When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord” ), and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.” Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.” The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.” There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.“ Luke 2:22-40 (NIV)
Discussion Questions
1. The eternal God entered this world as a baby in a manger, as a Gift for all people: rich, poor, educated and unschooled, young and old. What does this tell us about God?
God holds all life as precious. Every single person has worth. God, by design wanted Jesus born and experience everything you and I experience in this conditional world. God loves us as the “whole” of mankind but He also loves each of us individually because He created us individually.
2. How can we respond to God’s great gift?
This great gift does not get in return what it gives so freely. I believe we over complicate this great gift, we start adding conditions to responding to this gift. Conditions and/or rules as some might call them. I think the basic things we can do in response to God’s gift of Jesus Christ is this: 1.) believe and accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, repenting and being saved. 2.) Love everyone.
Jesus tells us plainly, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” —John 13:34-35
“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” —1 Corinthians 13:13
Friends—
It has been complete joy for me to share this Advent season with you. I wish you a Very Merry Christmas 🎄🎁 Remember, Jesus is the reason for the season. ✝️✨🛐🌟💜
~Charlotte, Seeker of unexpected Comfort, Happiness, Joy and Patience.
“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.” —1 John 4:7-12 (ESV)
Today, we review the past week and our “unwrapping the names of Jesus” I hope you have learned something new or was surprised by acts of LOVE. ❣️
LOVE IN ACTION
Here’s a few ideas to put your LOVE INTO ACTION:
❤️ Write a letter to your children, your parents or someone special to you recounting a special Christmas memory.
🧡 Host a free pancake breakfast for international students or people new to the neighborhood or your church. Look for opportunities to build bridges and point them to Immanuel — God with us.
💛 Bake a cake for Jesus, the Son of Man who left the splendor of heaven to take on human flesh. Encourage others to come up with ideas to say “Happy Birthday” to Jesus through loving others near them.
💚 Tape $1 in quarters on washers in laundromats to serve those who may be going through hardship. As you do this pray and ask God to reveal Himself to the person using the coins in a special way. Pray that this simple act of kindness to relieve burdens on the heart of the one accepting the gifts.
💙 Set up a hot cocoa stand for the homeless in you car or van or cab, driving around the city handing out cups of cocoa hot and given in LOVE.
💜 If you neighborhood has snow, shovel a neighbors driveway or sidewalks. You can open doors for strangers at stores. Say thank you and you’re welcome, smile at someone. Spread the LOVE of Jesus through your acts of kindness.
Merry Christmas Eve 🎄🎁🌟
~Charlotte, Seeker of unexpected Comfort, Happiness, Joy and Patience.
“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” — John 1:29 – (ESV) —
Hello dear friends —
The name we unwrap for Jesus today is “Lamb of God.” I wonder what the disciples thought of this name for Jesus. Given the Jewish practice of Atonement, “lamb” would have most likely refer to sacrifice. Innocent and blemish free animals were used for sacrifice for the forgiveness of sins. The practice of sacrifice was instituted by God to satisfy His righteousness wrath for sin. Sin requires punishment and atonement. In order to be forgiven for a sin, innocent blood must be spilled, sacrificial lambs were killed throughout the Old Testament in order to bear the burden of people’s sins. This practice sin transferred from the guilty party to the animal (lamb). The person was declared innocent while the animal bore sin’s just punishment: death.
The first recorded sacrifice in scripture is when God provided clothing for Adam and Eve, covering their nakedness and their sin at an animals expense. “And the Lord God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them.“ Genesis 3:21 (ESV)https://biblehub.com/genesis/3-21.htm
The Old Testament has a few very significant events when it is speaking of sacrifices.
• God tested Abraham’s love, calling him to sacrifice his own son, Isaac.
• Passover lamb, this is when the Israelites had endured 9 horrendous plagues God had sent upon the Egyptians to ensure the freedom of the Israelites, the final plague was to kill each firstborn son. But God protected the Israelites that followed His instructions concerning the blood of a sacrificed lamb’s blood on their doorposts.
God, Himself instituted the sacrificial system but it was limited in scope: the sacrifice of atonement was required every year. It was a foreshadowing of Jesus. Jesus, the Lamb of God came to fulfill and supersede the original sacrificial system. Jesus’ death on the cross atoned for all sin of humankind’s sin once and for all, through faith in Jesus.
This is not blind forgiveness but violent justice, not cheap grace, not temporary oversight but eternal reconciliation. God doesn’t ignore sin: He acknowledges them and makes provision for them through His own Son. The Lamb of God makes possible our relationship with God.
CHALLENGE
Have you lost the wonder and awe of Jesus’ sacrifice for your sins? Today, worship Jesus for His sacrificial atonement, for taking all sins on Himself. Pick a hymn or song that speaks to His sacrifice, and sing it to Him in thankfulness. *(See http://www.onethingalone/songs-of-worship for recommended playlists.
A few of my personal favorites are:
• The Old Rugged Cross
• Trust and Obey
• In the Garden
Prayer ~
Jesus, thank you for your sacrifice. You are the Lamb of God! You are worthy of all praise and glory. You took my sun upon yourself so that I could be forgiven, you gave me your righteousness when I was the one who deserves death. Lord, take my life, mold me into the person you created me to be. In Jesus name, Amen!
“He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.” -Isaiah 53:3 (ESV)
Hello friends —
I’m so pleased you took a few minutes of your day to visit my site. Today, we unwrap the name of Jesus, “Man of Sorrows.” Jesus gave up Heaven for a time so you and I could be reconciled with God. Jesus suffered all the things that you and I should have. Jesus knew the road ahead of Him was going to be difficult, and that’s putting it mildly. Have you ever watched “The Passion of Christ” movie? I have seen it a few times but it is hard to watch. It’s hard because it’s true, it happened. Jesus was treated with such cruelty and He was ridiculed, beaten, mocked and crucified for things He had never done. He literally felt the full weight and circumstances of our sin and bore it to the point of death. Jesus could have at anytime said, “enough, is enough!” but He never uttered such words. Jesus compelled but His love for us, stepped forward and willingly walked into His sufferings and humbled accepted the punishments that should have been ours.
In both, Matthew and Luke’s gospels they write about the mental and emotional anguish Jesus dealt with. Matthew 26:38 “Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” (ESV)
Luke 22:44 says this, “And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” (ESV)
Jesus accepted all this pain and sorrow because He loves His creation. He is it all for LOVE
CHALLENGE
Many people suffering during the Christmas season; disappointments, loss, heartache, regret and pain. The challenge for today is to follow Jesus example and face these things head-on! Remember what Paul wrote, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.“ -Philippians 4:13 (ESV)
Reflect on the fact that Jesus knew fully what awaited Him at the cross but still submitted to the Father’s Will. Spend part of your day worshiping Jesus, who was a “Man of Sorrows” and is now exalted at God’s right hand.
Prayer ~
O Lord Jesus, I have no words that could adequately thank you for willingly taking punishment that should have been mine, and you willingly suffered for me. Help me be more mindful that when I have struggles and sorrow in my life; you experienced them first. Thank you and I praise you, in Jesus’ name, Amen!
“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” —Mark 10:45
In the Gospel’s (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John), Jesus most commonly referred to himself as the “Son of Man.” In fact, if you were to Google it you would find the number to be more than 80 times, depending on Bible translations and sites posting such data.
The “Son of Man” is referenced in the Book of Daniel chapter 7.
“In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence.” Daniel 7:13
When Jesus called himself the “Son of Man” the Jews listening would have been reminded of the Book of Daniel specifically to chapter 7, Daniel writes of a dream, a prophecy about the end times, when “one like the “Son of Man” will come with authority to judge the world. Jesus claimed the title for Himself and all those who heard, were the first to hear that He has the right to judge humanity.
By being called and rightly given the title of the “Son of Man” Jesus claims His own humanity. Jesus left His place in Heaven, a place free of sin to be born into poverty, to work with His hands to provide food and shelter for His family. He lowered himself to be a servant to other, instead of being served. He humbled himself and was obedient, obedient to the cross.
Jesus, fully human and fully divine, experienced all the things humans feel; anguish, pain, sorrow, comfort, joys, celebrations, disappointments…why? what would motivate Jesus to leave paradise for humanity?? The answer is simple, so simply many do not understand or accept, LOVE.
God loved His creation so much He sent His Son to save us. Jesus, loves His Father and His creation so much, He came to us to save us.
Doctrine of Incarnation: God invisible, glorious, and untouchable took on flesh. For us. “Incarnation, central Christian doctrine that God became flesh, that God assumed a human nature and became a man in the form of Jesus Christ, the Son of God and the second person of the Trinity. Christ was truly God and truly man.” https://www.britannica.com/topic/Incarnation-Jesus-Christ
CHALLENGE
Read John 13:1-17
“It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!” Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean. When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”
⏺ Take notice of how Jesus responds to Peter and Judas.
⏺ Why did Jesus act the way He did?
Jesus was teaching humility and service. We are all called to serve, we must seek and find the path set before us and continue to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ. Jesus set the example for us to bow low in humble service, today let us imitate that behavior.
⏹ Who is God calling you to serve today?
Today, I am spending time with family making cookies and candies. I so look forward to sharing love, reminiscing about our lives and calling out loud the names of those who have left this life to begin their forever life with Jesus.
Share Hope — Share Joy
Show Kindness — Show Love
Prayer ~
Jesus, Son of God, my rock and my fortress. Thank you for your humanity, you taught us how to serve and how to love. Lord, forgive me when pride shows off it’s ugliness, teach me to serve with joy in my heart and a smile on my face. You Are Lord of All, in your name Jesus, Son of God, Amen.
“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).” — Matthew 1:23 —
In Matthews’s gospel, he included forty-three Messianic quotes from the Old Testament, which includes our verse of the day. Matthew used the quotes to link Jesus’ life to the Old Testament prophecies. Matthew also wanted to show God’s provision for His people and His faithfulness.
It is through the physical birth and life of Jesus that God wants to be near His people, His creation. Have you ever really tried to imagine the day man was created? God created man out of the dust of the ground and breathed His life into man, the breath of life. He didn’t stop there, God placed within man a soul, so that man could commune with God. Wow!! That’s a lot more complex than placing a silk hat on the ground and having a man come to life! I just watched “The Legend of Frosty the Snowman” last night. I know we are not made from magic but we are made pretty cool and we have souls. We were each created and have been given a purpose.
Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
Isaiah 43:7 “Everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”
Hopefully, I did not lose you with the Frosty picture and video. It’s fun to relive childhood memories. As I was viewing video clips I found myself thinking of some similarities of Frosty coming to life and my own experience of accepting Jesus as my Savior, that feeling of being alive, really alive. Feeling of weights being lifted and a driving sense of purpose. Frosty was just a pile of snow, in the shape of a snowman just being-there, but that silk hat made all the difference. We humans often go through life doing the expected and following some pattern of a routine, but when we surrender ourselves to Jesus life looks completely different. Our sense of purpose and direction takes on a life of its own, not our own but the life we were created for. We are called to a higher purpose, one of heavenly proportions. This journey is filled with a plethora of adventures and the best part is Immanuel, is with us every step and millisecond of the journey.
“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” —Matthew28:20—
Maybe it’s not about having a beautiful day, but about finding beautiful moments. Maybe a whole day is just too much to ask. I could choose to believe that in every day, in all things, no matter how dark and ugly, there are shards of beauty if I look for them.
It’s crunch time Christmas, it’s the busy season of last minute touches on all things Christmas…take time to be with God, He longs for you and waits for you. Be mindful this season is difficult for some, show kindness and grace. Thank God for all the times you were afforded grace and mercy for your difficult times. Share love and spread peace. ✝️❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🖤🤍🤎💝💖❤️🩹💟🛐🤗🌟✨🙏🏻🕯
Prayer ~
Immanuel, thank you for wanting to be with us. Forgive us for not making time for you. Help us to slow down and make the little things count. Life is about the small things and making the best of what we have. You created mankind and breathed life into us, you gave us a soul to commune with you. Help us to always remember how magnificent and amazing you are. You love us with an everlasting love. In the Precious name of Jesus we pray, Amen.
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” —John 10:11
Responsibilities of Being a ShepherdWritten by: Marjorie J. Kinnee, Apostolic Writers’ Digest, June 1999
1. Day-to-Day Care of the Flock – A shepherd provides the basics; food, water, shelter, and protection. He knows what food is best for his flock in every season and where to find it. He can find water even in drought. He plans the construction of the sheepfold and erects short-term shelter while in the field. He daily lays his life on the line in defense of the sheep.
Jesus, the Good Shepherd provides for our every need which includes; food, water, shelter and protection. Jesus laid down His life on the cross to provide an atonement for all sin, once and for all. (1 John 2:2)
2. Dealings with the Outside World on Behalf of the Flock – The shepherd is first responsible to the owner of the sheep. The owner has the master plan for the flock. The shepherd is entrusted with the details; additions to and subtractions from the flock, the time and place for fleecing and wool sales, and selects and trains assistants and helpers, and discharges them if they create harmful situations or cause any harm to come to the flock.
Jesus being born human, came into this world to do His Father’s Will, not his own. Jesus was entrusted by the Father to teach and lead His sheep. (John 6:38)
3. Foresees Danger – The shepherd trains the flock to know and follow his voice. This is his first line of defense. To wayward sheep, he administers discipline and takes preventative measures to correct fatal tendencies. He researches and develops methods and measures to improve the present flock and prepares for future flock needs.
Jesus became human and experienced the same temptations you and I are faced with, not only did Jesus face them; He was able to do so without sinning. Jesus came to earth where he loved, lead and taught; He conqueror sin; He rose from the grave and returned to Heaven to preparation a place for His sheep. (Hebrews 4:15/John 14:3)
4. Leads and Guides the Flock – Because sheep tend to overgraze, the shepherd moves them on to fresh pasture. To do this, he may have to lead them through danger; enemies – within (pests) and without (marauders), hazards wind and weather, and obstacles – mountains and gorges. Here his experience is a prime factor. He’s been this way before and is not surprised by danger. He knows what to do and how to proceed in dangerous situations.
Jesus is the gate for all sheep that follow Him, all those who enter in will be saved. Jesus calls His sheep by there names. His sheep know His voice. Jesus cares for His sheep and carries them close to His heart. (Isaiah 40:11/John 10:1-18)
5. Oversees – The flock is the focus of the shepherd. He is responsible for their physical well-being. So he sets the pace, aware of the particular needs of each sheep. There are ewes. – heavy with new life, lambs – inexperienced and frisky, young rams – stubborn and territorial (always pushing), the aged and sickly – those needing extra attention, and the wayward – who oppose everything (even their own best interests). Shepherds study the breed. He learns the strengths, weaknesses, and personality of each one. A thriving, peaceful flock is his blessing and reward.
Jesus is ever mindful of each sheep in His flock, if one goes astray, He will leave the flock and return the lost to the flock. Jesus know the smallest of details for each of us, right down to the number of hairs on our heads. (Matthew 18:12-14/Matthew 10:30/Luke 12:7)
Whether his flock is few or thousands, his responsibilities never let up. Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, year in and year out; the shepherd cares and shares the life of the sheep. It is a lonely occupation. He must be gentle, but he must also be confident, resourceful, and decisive. He dare not be nervous or flighty if the flock is to flourish.
Jesus, the Good Shepherd is always near to His flock. “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.“ —Ephesians 2:13
CHALLENGE
Today our challenge is the be mindful that no matter what circumstances or obstacles might be in our way, trust in Jesus, the Good Shepherd. Jesus will never leave us. As we navigate through the day let us share with Jesus our fears, our hopes and our passions, He wants to hear from us. Remember, Jesus cares, knows, leads and will protect us with His own life.
Talk with Jesus
Prayer ~
Jesus, thank you for love me. I know I often wander off and need to be rescued. Help me to listen to your voice and follow your leading. I am grateful to be a sheep of your flock. Help me to learn your ways, to love the way you love. I pray this prayer in the name of the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ. Amen.
DISCOVER 
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