The Shepherd's Voice

Was reading in a devotional the other day and it was about following the shepherd's voice. Thought I'd post about that idea or thought.

In John chapter 10 we read an account by Jesus comparing himself to a shepherd. This analogy is one of my favorite ways to depict Him. A shepherd spends so much time with his sheep and caring for them and literally putting his life on the line for them to protect them, to guide them and to feed them. It is a beautiful and comforting picture and thought. In this chapter Jesus says that His sheep KNOW his voice and follow Him. To know some one's voice, you must spend time with them. When you spend time listening to another person or you know them very well, you can hear the hidden things in their voices that they are not expressing. Things such as discouragement, hurt, anger, happiness. You also can tell when they don't really mean what they are saying. You can also recognize their voice even if you can't see their face.

 

 

When you hear even their voice faintly in a distance, you can recognize them, go to them and be joined to them. To know the voice of Jesus and His calling to you, His guidance to the blessings of life, His warnings to steer clear of, and His urgings to follow, you must know Him intimately. You know Him in this way only through reading the Bible and meditating on it. You also can pray as though He is your friend and care taker because He is. Learn to listen for His voice and block out all strange voices as do sheep. They do not follow the voice of a stranger. They wait for the comforting voice of their OWN Shepherd.

 

Do you know the Shepherd's voice? If not, today is a good day to begin to learn and study it so that you will not follow the wrong voice.



We the People

I'm fed up! I'm fed up with what our government has become. What is wrong is that our government is no longer here to serve the people. "Main Street" America is not who is the interest here. Probably for many years now, this country has been run and controlled by special interest groups with deep pockets and loud voices (or maybe sneaky behind the scenes voices!) but never the less, they control this country. Politicians no longer have a back bone or sometimes it seems even enough brain cells to function and string some common sense thoughts together. That is both sides! But especially the liberal side. What has harmed our country tremendously are moderate and soft Republicans that are too worried about their next campaign to stay strong for beliefs they spout but do not back. A man has told me repeatedly over the past couple years that it was always said years ago that if this country ever went to a two party nation it would be the beginning of the end of this country. I believe we are surely headed there for the USA has become a country run by the "you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours" philosophy for way too long now and people are so hungry for power and money that they compromise their souls to the devil for it! We the people -- even those of us who try to be EDUCATED voters, can't seem to make any headway toward getting this country back to where the Founding Fathers intended it to be. I truly believe deep in my heart that if the Lord tarries, the only way to return to the former glory is for there to be an uprising of the people. I read The Declaration of Independence a little while ago. Quite interesting (I've read it before but wanted to refresh my memory and also to allow each word to sink in).

Here is what this document says....
When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. - That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, - That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their Right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. - Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.
(the rest is the list of tyrannies and the names and states who signed)

BTW, just a side note/rant...Remember when during the last election the campaigning was all about "Main Street America VS. Wall Street America"? Bad rich people and Wall Street yet when the market is up there is always a picture shown on the news with everyone clapping as the bell rings!!! Just for those who don't get it....RICH people pay more taxes to the government than anyone. Even if they get a cut rate they still are what keeps the government flowing in money! Their 5% brings in more than a middle income or lower income who pays in 8%! (Just throwing out numbers ... like the liars in Washington do...don't know the real percentages) The point is RICH people are the ones who have businesses to create jobs and revenue. Most politicians are rich! Democrats too though they try to pretend that they care about the little working man and woman. They really are only generous with other people's money! Why don't they quit trying to run other people's lives and give all their money that they use to get elected and work deals to the poor if they are so concerned?!
I think everyone should do it God's way and pay 10%! That would fix the squabbling. Tell me, how is it that people who are on welfare get $3000 tax returns back when they never paid in a dime all year?!? Just saying!

Maybe it's time for a throwing off of the government that has overstepped their bounds and become tyrants controlled like puppets by the special interest groups making deals and "paying to play".

Snacks Spoil Meals

Was reading in my new 40 days in God's Presence devotional and got an idea for a blog post. As all Moms know, allowing kids too many snacks between meals spoils them from eating well at meal time. Even allowing one wrong type of snack can fill them up too much, especially young ones.

 

 



Well, it is the same for adults too. Both with food and with the God. Jesus said that those who hungered after righteousness would be filled. Often times we are too busy focusing on the world and material things and life's busy schedules and spending time in only things to please the flesh. When we are full of so many other things, we will not be hungry for the things of God. It is just that simple. Maybe we want to watch TV or a movie instead of reading the Bible, maybe we'd rather have a Saturday out than to go on visitation or help with things at the church, maybe we'd rather listen to worldly music than that which is pleasing to God, maybe we'd rather go shopping for ourselves or go out to eat than to help someone in need or give to a missions program. The list can go on and on. The point is that we fill up on "snacks" that are more than likely not healthy for us, which can diminish our desire for the real "Meal" of Godly things. True joy and satisfaction only come from that real meal! So, let us not substitute empty calories for those that will only add weight (that we are to lay aside because it will hinder our service and walk with the Lord - Hebrews 12:1) and keep us from being truly hungry for righteousness.

 

Just something to ponder. How's your appetite? Do you long for only the sweet stuff, the "junk" food, the carbohydrates instead of the good meat and protein that should come from God? Psalm 34:8 - O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.



Why I Love My Pastor

The man God gave me as a spouse

is a godly leader in our house.

He takes time to show he cares

and it's not just to put on airs.

He works hard to preach God's Word

so that doctrine is not blurred.

My heart and mind are always stirred

by the messages that I have heard.

I feel so very blessed, you see,

for God gave my husband as a pastor to me.

 

 

This was written to Bob in October of 2009 in honor of Pastor Appreciation month which October is!

 

I love you Bob Elfrink and I am delighted to have you as my pastor!