Full extent…

 John 13:1 Now before the Passover Feast, Jesus knew that His hour had come [and it was time] for Him to leave this world and return to the Father. Having [greatly] loved His own who were in the world, He loved them [and continuously loves them with His perfect love] to the end (eternally).AMP

13:1It 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.( he now showed them the full extent of his love, loving them to the end)….NIV..

Reading this one verse, it brought to mind others in the Word who lives were recorded to the end, Jacob blessed his sons…

David advised Solomon,

1Kings2:1 I am about to go the way of all the earth,” he said. “So be strong, act like a man, 3 and observe what the Lord your God requires: Walk in obedience to him, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and regulations, as written in the Law of Moses. Do this so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go 4 and that the Lord may keep his promise to me: ‘If your descendants watch how they live, and if they walk faithfully before me with all their heart and soul, you will never fail to have a successor on the throne of Israel.’

Jesus washed his disciples feet…serve others…God coming as a man, washing feet like a lowly servant….loving them…to the full extent…

Thank YOU…

The servant song…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMCaPGozu90

 Romans 8:14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

Present Suffering and Future Glory

18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.

22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

More Than Conquerors

31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:

“For your sake we face death all day long;
    we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 “Junior Geologist”…

One of my grandsons is signed up for a junior geologist group, which meets once a month…there was so much interest in the group that they opened it up to ages 10 to 110 instead of just youth…

There was one of the meetings yesterday at the Murphy museum in Murphy, Idaho.(one of the best historical museums in the area, well worth the drive, several buildings filled with history, well displayed, and a nice park next door).

 We live in a world filled with minerals and gems…I live in the Gem State of Idaho, “there are 280 mineral species known to occur in Idaho, 72 varieties of precious stones, and nearly every county in the state bears an abundance of materials…”Oakrock.net

We use minerals and gems everyday of our lives…our bodies depend on them to survive…whenever I go in for blood tests, they check my iron, calcium, potassium, magnesium levels. Our very structure is made of Calcium …

We use them in our everyday life, toothpaste, paints, computers, chair foam, windows, floors, walls, cooking utensils, driveways, …even our  writing paper can have “rocks” in it…to name a few…

“There are several thousand minerals in nature (with estimates ranging from 2,000-7000), but fewer than a hundred are considered gem minerals. Of these, only about a dozen or so are actually valuable enough to,be important gemstones on the world market”. Encyclopedia.com

When I think of the creativeness of God, to create stones for value, color, beauty, etc…for building, to use in our bodies, to keep the soils right for growing… for so very much, it is amazing…just the amount of them, it boggles the mind and that is just one piece of his creation…

Thank YOU…

Genesis1:10 God called the dry ground “land,” and the gathered waters he called “seas.” And God saw that it was good.

Job 38-39

Job 28 :1There is a mine for silver
    and a place where gold is refined.
2 Iron is taken from the earth,
    and copper is smelted from ore.
3 Mortals put an end to the darkness;
    they search out the farthest recesses
    for ore in the blackest darkness.
4 Far from human dwellings they cut a shaft,
    in places untouched by human feet;
    far from other people they dangle and sway.
5 The earth, from which food comes,
    is transformed below as by fire;
6 lapis lazuli comes from its rocks,
    and its dust contains nuggets of gold.
7 No bird of prey knows that hidden path,
    no falcon’s eye has seen it.
8 Proud beasts do not set foot on it,
    and no lion prowls there.
9 People assault the flinty rock with their hands
    and lay bare the roots of the mountains.
10 They tunnel through the rock;
    their eyes see all its treasures.
11 They search the sources of the rivers
    and bring hidden things to light.

https://christiananswers.net/dictionary/mine.html

Rock of ages…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PScfs1T6H28

Martha…

 

Martha….

Definition of her name…

• 1.
a woman who keeps herself very busy with domestic affairs.

I was reading a book recently about a woman named Martha. She hated her name and upon leaving home, gave herself a nickname…

She was always doing things for people and wanted to have more “freedom” and thought that having a new name would free her up to other things and not be soooo responsible…

After several months went by, she felt so unhappy…she wasn’t doing the things she was meant to do…God had gifted her with service and she found joy in that gift, changed her name back Martha…

I am not saying we are all named for our gifting, but fulfilling our  gift that He has given us does brings us joy…being obedient brings us joy….we may not like it all the time,but…

John 12:2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him.

Luke 10: 38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

We know that believed in Jesus…she showed it in a different way than her sister Mary just by her actions…

John 11:17 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 18 Now Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, 19 and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. 20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.

21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”

23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”

24 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

27 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”

Thank YOU…

God is always working things out…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tO8jgLbKvBM

Nard…

 Nard… 

I never really knew what nard was, except as described in the Word….expensive, fragrant, used infrequently…I have always imagined that Jesus still smelled of nard at his death and burial…that he carried that scent through all the events from this time forward…

Do we carry the “scent” of Jesus?

John 12: 12 Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 

3 Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5 “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” 6 He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.

7 “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”

The following references were interesting, so included them…make your own conclusions…

What is nard?

https://bibledictionarytoday.com/words/nard/

*****

Practical Ministry Lessons

1. Costly Obedience: Genuine discipleship is measured not by minimal compliance but by lavish surrender. 
2. Fragrance of Christ: Saints are called to spread “the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing” (2 Corinthians 2:15). The believer’s life, like spikenard, must be broken to release its scent. 
3. Undivided Affection: Just as nard was kept for a single, climactic use, our primary devotion belongs to the Lord; lesser loyalties find their place only after Him (Matthew 6:33).

https://biblehub.com/hebrew/5373.htm

*****

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spikenard

AI summary…

Nard, also known as spikenard, is primarily used as an essential oil and not typically prepared as a food recipe. However, it can be incorporated into various wellness practices and DIY recipes. Here are some ideas for using spikenard essential oil:

1. Relaxing Bath Soak

• Ingredients:

• 1 cup Epsom salt

• 10 drops spikenard essential oil

• Instructions:

• Mix the Epsom salt with the essential oil.

• Add to warm bath water and soak for relaxation.

2. Calming Diffuser Blend

• Ingredients:

• 5 drops spikenard essential oil

• 5 drops lavender essential oil

• Instructions:

• Add the oils to a diffuser with water and enjoy the calming aroma.

3. DIY Massage Oil

• Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons carrier oil (like coconut or jojoba)

• 5 drops spikenard essential oil

• Instructions:

• Mix the oils together and use for a soothing massage.

•

Spikenard is known for its calming properties and can be a wonderful addition to self-care routines

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=spikenard+essential+oil&crid=3G5168N6FQWSN&sprefix=Spikenard%2Caps%2C1446&ref=nb_sb_ss_saint-nlq-prefix_ci_hl-bn-left_1_9

Thank YOU….

At the feet of Jesus…

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=at+the+feet+of+jesus+steven+curtis+chapman

 Trust me?????

I had my day’s list all made out, I thought, ready to get into the activities…

Then two messages changed the whole thing…

Never had a day like that? Ha!

“Well, it is a new day, I have a surprise for you, do you trust me”

“Yes, but sometimes I get scared”…

“Do you really trust me?”

“Where are we going? What are we going to do ?”

“Do you really trust me”?

“Where are we headed?”

“Do you trust me?”

I don’t think I am the only one that asks those questions….if I am the only on, then I have a personal Bible verse….

Proverbs3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
    and he will make your paths straight.

But, there are many trust verses….so I don’t think I am the only one that has “trust” issues!…

Psalm 13: 5 But I trust in your unfailing love;
    my heart rejoices in your salvation.
6 I will sing the Lord’s praise,
    for he has been good to me.

Psalm 25: 1 In you, Lord my God,
    I put my trust.

Psalm 31: 14 But I trust in you, Lord;

I say , “You are my God..

Psalm 84:12 Lord Almighty,
    blessed is the one who trusts in you.

Thank YOU….

I trust in You…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3YGczmlbV8


    

Beginning and end…

 Beginning and end…

The Word speaks of various seeking Jesus…at first to worship him as the Messiah…the shepherds, the magi, others…

Others were seeking Him not to worship but for death, jealousy…

At the end others still sought him for the exactly the same reasons…

Mothers wept…for their sons…

But, the job was done, and Jesus was victorious both at the beginning of his earthly life…and the end…

Thank YOU l…

Matthew 2:7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”

9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

Matthew 2: 16 When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. 17 Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:

18 “A voice is heard in Ramah,
    weeping and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children
    and refusing to be comforted,
    because they are no more.”

John 11: 55 When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, many went up from the country to Jerusalem for their ceremonial cleansing before the Passover. 56 They kept looking for Jesus, and as they stood in the temple courts they asked one another, “What do you think? Isn’t he coming to the festival at all?” 57 But the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that anyone who found out where Jesus was should report it so that they might arrest him.

John 19: 28 Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” 29 A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. 30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

Where I find God…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lzl8-_4qzyk

A quiet place,,,

 

A quiet place….

A nearby park, a couch ,  camping, a bed, the ocean, a hilltop….etc, a place we seek as our quiet place…

Jesus chose the village of Ephraim before the turmoil …he knew what was ahead, not years of peace but Passover, celebrations of the getaway from slavery to freedom to the promised land of milk and honey…

How do we prepare for the times ahead?…..do we seek quiet for contemplation or a madhouse of activity…

Jesus knew a battle was coming..he would fight over our souls, the sins  that entrap…death…coming out victorious…fulfilling a promise given ages and ages ago…because he loved us…

Thank YOU …..

John 11:54 Therefore Jesus no longer moved about publicly among the people of Judea. Instead he withdrew to a region near the wilderness, to a village called Ephraim, where he stayed with his disciples

“It represents a place of refuge and preparation, highlighting the humanity of Jesus as He sought solitude and time with His disciples before facing the culmination of His earthly mission.”

“By withdrawing to Ephraim, Jesus ensured that His ultimate sacrifice would occur according to God's sovereign plan, during the Passover in Jerusalem.”

“In summary, Ephraim serves as a testament to Jesus' strategic movements during His ministry, reflecting His awareness of the political and religious climate of His time. It highlights the tension between Jesus and the Jewish authorities and underscores the divine orchestration of events leading to the fulfillment of His redemptive work.”

https://biblehub.com/topical/naves/e/ephraim--a_city_in_the_territory_of_ephraim--jesus_escapes_to,_from_the_persecution_of_caiaphas.htm

“The city of Ephraim, while not as frequently mentioned as other biblical locations, holds theological significance in the narrative of Jesus' ministry. It represents a place of refuge and preparation, highlighting the humanity of Jesus as He sought solitude and time with His disciples before facing the culmination of His earthly mission. The retreat to Ephraim underscores the tension between Jesus' growing popularity and the increasing opposition from religious authorities.

Furthermore, Ephraim's association with the tribe of Ephraim connects it to the broader narrative of Israel's history and God's covenant promises. The tribe of Ephraim, as part of the northern kingdom of Israel, played a significant role in the unfolding account of God's people, often symbolizing both blessing and waywardness.

In summary, the city of Ephraim serves as a geographical and theological waypoint in the biblical narrative, offering insights into the life and ministry of Jesus and the historical context of the tribe of Ephraim. Its mention in Scripture invites reflection on themes of refuge, preparation, and the fulfillment of God's redemptive plan.”

https://biblehub.com/topical/naves/e/ephraim--a_city_in_the_territory_of_ephraim.htm#google_vignette

https://christholdfast.org/places-in-the-bible/ephraim-city-in-the-bible/

Quiet place…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KicY80RKBtQ

Intrigue….

 Intrigue….

My children read books that had several story lines….”if this happened, would you choose a,b, c for the next chapter…” each choice would lead to another group of choices and then this or that would lead to another conclusion…

I was thinking about those books this morning, reading in John…the Bible is a book of intrigue…

John 11: 45 Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him. 46 But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47 Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin.

“What are we accomplishing?” they asked. “Here is this man performing many signs. 48 If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation.”

49 Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, “You know nothing at all! 50 You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.”

51 He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, 52 and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one. 53 So from that day on they plotted to take his life.

We read the Word from a distance, seeing how various historical things happened….we see some of the behind the scenes…like the plotting, the prophecies being fulfilled,  what people talked about, etc…

Why Moses was saved in the basket, the working of the angels, the puzzle pieces/the chess movements of nations …and so on.

God is not playing a game however…He has a purpose for everything He does…from the Creation to the end times, the Revelations…Eternity…

Will we choose to believe or be the “tattletales” who caused such rifts  and lies for their own good…?

It is just interesting how He moves…and He is still working in our lives and times to come..how do we fit into the final plan…

Thank YOU, that You know the eternal plans…

These are the days of Elijah…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ca9LnzJnpjQ&list=RDca9LnzJnpjQ&start_radio=1

 And the shortest Bible verse is…..?

John   11:35…Jesus wept…

Some say He wept because of the peoples’ unbelief, while others say He wept because of his friends were sorrowing…

Luke 19: 41 As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it 42 and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes.

There are several places in the old and New Testaments that speak of weeping…

Joseph weeping at the reuniting with his father and brothers, a joyous weeping…

The women at the tomb, seeing Jesus, a joyous weeping…Jesus weeping over Jerusalem, a sad weeping…

We hear the words…”why are you crying?”…and someone will reply.   “Oh, it is happy tears”…

Or later the same question…with a different answer, “oh they are so sad “….

With “Jesus wept”…he could have been overcome with sorrow for his friends…bothered that the sister lost their brother, or he had lost his dear friend…

But, only he knew that he was able to raise Lazarus from the dead even after four days…

it shows me that Jesus will weep with us in our sorrow…he care, he comforts…

Thank YOU…

Lazarus, come forth…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKb5U8LHRZI

Reading…

 Reading….

The other day I got a quick message from one of my grandchildren…

“ just finished reading all the way through the Bible”…

What a priceless privilege  to know that…I know others have done it and hopefully more will do it…but, I pray that a hunger for the Word  will touch their souls all their lives…

Thank YOU….

Psalm 19:9b-11 The decrees of the Lord are firm,
    and all of them are righteous.

10 They are more precious than gold,
    than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
    than honey from the honeycomb.
11 By them your servant is warned;
    in keeping them there is great reward.

2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Word of God Speak….

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PbUNhbeBZM

For good…

 

For good…

Gensis50: 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.

 John 11:4 When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.

Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

I have to admit that there are events in our lives that don’t feel so good and I don’t feel or see how they can be for my good…sickness, death, etc, etc, etc….they are not good in my scheme of things…but, God has such a higher purpose and I have to go with it…it just is for good….and this side of heaven, I may never know what the purpose was for…except for faith building…sometimes we can see the answers , but it seems like most of the time, we don’t…

Several years ago, one of our friends was fired  from his ministry…it was heart breaking, he was excellent at the job, but due to personality conflict and other issues, his job was terminated for him…heartbreak, confusion, etc reigned…as months went by with prayer and expectation….a better ministry evolved and he enjoyed a dream come true until he retired…that conflict turned into a “for good” a gift from God, an opportunity that would only could be reached by the route that God orchestrated…

That event was such a picture personally, that when I witness a hard time, I ask now, what good is coming out of this event…what is God doing “for good”?….i may never know, but there is the expectation of God’s glory being shown!….

Thank YOU….

To God be the glory…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IRrqCCkkFo

Go…

 Go….

Matt 28:16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Last night I had the honor of listening to someone’s testimony of how they came to Jesus, to following Him…oh 8 have heard so many stories of salvation, but it is always a reminder of how God works in so many ways in the lives of people…

Men leaving their fishing nets to follow…

A light blinding a man to call him to tell the world ….

To name a couple…

But, I still appreciate hearing a personal story…

The one I heard last night was of a college student from Mongolia, traveling to the Ukraine to college…his favorite professor was from Kentucky who invited his students over for dinner to tell them why he was in the Ukraine, and laid out the gospel of Jesus, then discipling those who believed…continuing to share Christ…

Isn’t that a roundabout way? This college student, now a husband and father, is studying airplane mechanics to help others hear the gospel in other places in the world…

Other stories…

A student joined the military to get away from the gospel, only to be surrounded by Christians…

A student who went away to college to begin a new life away from  the church…

A young g man going to a tent evangelism to hear the gospel…

A young girl jailed only to be confronted with a jail Bible teacher…

An Itinerant Bible teacher going from one small town to another spreading the Word to logging camps, mining camps…

Another young woman, abandoned at a orphanage, desiring to belong to someone, found Jesus at a small Sunday School …

An angry middle schooler went to a Good News club because his sister invited him…

A child, realizing his/her need to be saved…

Each person has a story of their salvation journey…each just as important as the other…each just as eternity bound ….

God seeks through His Word…there is no denying that He loves us, desiring that none should perish, that all come to Him wanting his gift of salvation…through faith in Jesus Christ…

Thank YOU…

I have decided…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8jvfdDtoqY

 

Good Shepherd….

“Jesus appropriated the prophetic images of the Messiah pictured in the Old Testament. This is a claim to divinity, focusing on Jesus’ love and guidance,”. Bible Study notes…

One of my grandfathers had sheep when I was growing up…we watched the babies when we could, he sheared the adult ones 

and we would get into the deep wool bags and jump up and down on the fleeces to get them them compact into the bags…(we definitely needed baths after that job)…but our skin was soft for days afterwards…

What I loved was how the mothers “talked “ to the lambs, it was different than the bleating they did to the other adults…it was a crooning sound as they guided the lambs around….a low loving sound…

When I think of the comparison of Jesus as our shepherd, I think of the loving sound as well, guiding  us through our lives…teaching, explaining, etc, truth to our hearts, souls and minds…gathering us in His arms …

Thank YOU…

John 10:1 “Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” 6 Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them.

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.”

Psalm 23: 1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
2     He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3     he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
    for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk
    through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
    for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me
    in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows.
6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
    forever.

Isaiah 40: 11 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.

Eze34:11 “‘For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. 12 As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness. 13 I will bring them out from the nations and gather them from the countries, and I will bring them into their own land. I will pasture them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines and in all the settlements in the land. 14 I will tend them in a good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel will be their grazing land. There they will lie down in good grazing land, and there they will feed in a rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. 15 I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign Lord. 16 I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice.

Jesus our wonderful shepherd…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkiOp5hf2i8