Category: shepherd

Thrilling Guest Thursday: Jeanie Kelley


“I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
(Jesus, Hebrews 13:5b)


Jesus is the faithful one, the good shepherd, who looks for us when we wander away. And a bright light in the dark, who draws us back to Him, when we’ve lost our bearings.

Thank you for joining us today, as my friend, Jeanie Kelley shares the faithfulness of Jesus, in her recent post titled,
MY SHEPHERD: 

When I was twelve years old I realized that I had a friend whose name was Jesus. He was a true friend since the “friends” I had at school ridiculed me and made fun of me and made my life miserable. I found Jesus right when I needed him. Right at my heart wanting to come in. (To read more click here.)

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Mercy Sunday


 

The Lord’s my shepherd, I’ll not want.

He makes me down to lie
In pastures green: he leadeth me the quiet waters by.
My soul he doth restore again; and me to walk doth make
Within the paths of righteousness, ev’n for his own name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk in death’s dark vale, yet will I fear none ill:
For thou art with me; and thy rod and staff me comfort still.
My table thou hast furnished in presence of my foes;
My head thou dost with oil anoint, and my cup overflows.
Goodness and mercy all my life shall surely follow me:
And in God’s house for evermore my dwelling-place shall be.

(Psalm 23, Scottish Psalter)

Linking up with:

 
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Desire: Strong Intention or Aim

 
On the seventh day of Christmas my True Love gave to me,
seven synonyms for Desire.
 
 
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. (James 1:17 NIV)


Choosing one word for the year to inform my path. Others came up with the idea and so I wanted to try it this year. Here’s a link that gives tips on how to choose your word. It will be interesting to see how one word informs a year full of living and choosing and believing and breathing God’s word.

Desire (v): to long or hope for.
Seven Synonyms: Crave, Hunger, Long,
Thirst, Want, Wish, Yearn



Desire. That’s my one word. It comes from the Latin, “de-” (from) plus “sider, sidus” (heavenly body). From those roots, I reach out to the Maker of the heavenly lights, rooting my desire in Him. Asking that my desires this year be imbued with His perfection and goodness, knowing full well that my human desires may be tainted by selfishness and pain.
 
Desire. Disguised want. I wanted to choose “want” for my focal word, but it didn’t look or sound as nice as desire. Want defined comes out a little more on the half empty side; it has various nuances like to be needy or destitute or to be in need of. Lack would be a good synonym.
 
Desire. Want. Lack. What do these words have in common? An outside source that fulfills. Invitation to live with less than, to embrace my own neediness, to confess my destitute state, these truths compel me to stay near the Shepherd, who is good and promises me that I shall not be in want.
 

Linking up with: One Word 365 Community

and

Only A Breath

 
 
 
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Arrive: To Reach a Destination

Little town of Bethlehem, we have arrived at last to witness the wonder of a babe born in a stable within your vicinity. A child king born into the poverty of our world. The hope of humble Mary and faithful Joseph.

We listened in awe as the angels proclaimed the glad tidings of good news for all. We followed the shepherds to discover the babe wrapped against the cold of the night. They left rejoicing, full of abounding love.

Did they remember the words of the prophet, Micah? Did they know that their Messiah was to be a shepherd like them, a Good Shepherd, like the shepherd of the psalm? The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.


But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
Though you are little among the thousands of Judah,
Yet out of you shall come forth to Me
The One to be Ruler in Israel,
Whose goings forth are from of old,
From everlasting.

Therefore He shall give them up,
Until the time that she who is in labor has given birth;
Then the remnant of His brethren
Shall return to the children of Israel.
And He shall stand and feed His flock
In the strength of the LORD,
In the majesty of the name of the LORD His God;
And they shall abide,
For now He shall be great
To the ends of the earth;
And this One shall be peace.
(Micah 5:2-5 NKJV)

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Wonder: To Be Curious or In Doubt About

Advent{ures}: Let’s Go to Bethlehem

I wonder as I wander. I wander as I wonder. My mind wanders to how I should spend my time, my money and my gifts this season. I wonder what I should give to others. What I want for myself. I wonder how much my wandering thoughts take me away from the One who inspires awe. Will I wander to Bethlehem or will I walk with intent?

How does one wander and wonder without doubt? How can this wonderful season cause so much tension in me? One minute I marvel and witness the miracle of birth. The next I wander into doubt and fear, wondering if I will ever be still and know. Will I ever trust completely? Or will I meander off into self-pity or selfish pride? Will I pretend that everything is wonderful, when in reality the world rubs off and keeps me wandering into fields where there is no Shepherd?

A sheep lost without a Shepherd is my deepest fear. Yet, I marvel that He finds me every time. He leaves the flock and I am found once again.
 

 

 
 
We’re all like sheep who’ve wandered off and gotten lost.
We’ve all done our own thing, gone our own way.
And God has piled all our sins, everything we’ve done wrong,
on him, on him.
(Isaiah 53:6 The Message)
 

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