John 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
A shepherd is one who tends sheep. The duties of a shepherd can be quite cumbersome at times. He must keep a careful watch over his flock at all times. In fact, shepherds are often subjected to great peril, sometimes even sacrificing their lives for their sheep.
Similarly, Jesus was born to be our Good Shepherd, willingly sacrificing His life for ours. He came to seek and to save that which was lost (Luke 19:10; Matthew 20:28). In declaring that He is the Good Shepherd, He speaks of laying down his life for his sheep (John 10:15-18).
Colossians 1:15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
Christ was born in the image of God – a vision of the Father in human form. Begotten is defined as ‘brought into existence by or as if by a parent’. Jesus is the only begotten Son of God.
Before all creation or any creature was made, Jesus existed. All things were made by Him (John 1:3) – absolutely everything.
The emphasis in this passage is on the preeminence of Christ. He should have first place in our hearts and lives. We need to let go of everything that hinders us from glorifying Christ.
Happy December ! I hope everyone had a GREAT weekend serving Jesus!
This week’s devo is “How Thirsty Are You?” written by Debbie Netterville! Please take the time to read as she shares her heart with us today! I pray you have a blessed week.
How Thirsty Are You? – Debbie Netterville
In August we were in Burlington, Iowa helping a church with Bible Handouts. Saturday night we went out to eat with the pastor and his family. In the middle of the night I woke up and began throwing up. Up and down all night. We thought it was food poisoning. I was unable to go to church all day. I continued throwing up and unable to keep anything down. This lasted a couple more days and I was beginning to get weak. Scott decided we needed to go to the ER. You know how long it takes waiting in the ER. When they finally called my name, they took blood and gave me some meds for nausea.
We spent another day in Burlington, but I was still weak and unable to keep anything down. We decided we wanted to head home to Bourbonnais, Illinois where our home church is and some of our family. We wanted to have family in case we needed help. Wednesday, we drove from Burlington to Bourbonnais, about a 4-hour drive. It was long and miserable for me.
When I would wake up in the morning, I would be so hungry. I could even feel the hunger pangs. I would eat yogurt, applesauce, oatmeal, drink water, 7UP and Pedialyte. I was still unable to keep anything down. I knew I was getting weaker. So again off to the ER in Kankakee. I think it was Friday evening when we went and spent 7 hours waiting. I was so miserable. So again blood work but this time they took x-rays. When they got the results it was not good news.
In fact, they said I was a very sick woman. I thought “oh no”. I had a double hernia with a bowel obstruction. That explains why I was not able to hold anything down. It was around 7:00 am on Saturday when they admitted me to the hospital. I was not allowed to have ANYTHING, no food, drink or even ice chips.
Family and friends were asking “why they didn’t figure it out in Burlington?” I said, “because God allowed us to get home where I could have my family and church family with us.”
Here is when the “thirst” really began. They gave me a “green lollipop”, (that is what I called it.) A green sponge on a stick that I could dip in a glass of water and then just wet my lips. The doctor wanted to wait a couple of days to see if I could hold anything down. On Monday they started giving me some soft foods, but I was throwing up again. My doctor said I needed to have surgery, so they scheduled it for Tuesday. After surgery I could have some ice chips with my “green lollipop”. By this time the ice chips were GREAT! But still barely quenching my “thirst”
As I laid there thinking how thirsty I was I began thinking about “How much do I thirst after God’s Word?
I remember when I first got saved and how I longed to read my Bible. I was thirsting after His Word. How exciting it was to find help from the scriptures. It was a thirsting that
looked forward to every day. “O God, thou art my God early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is:” Ps. 63:
Do we really thirst after the scriptures? “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” Matt. 5:6 As we read our Bibles our cup gets filled and we can continue on. We empty ourselves, then we go right back to our source
I remember both times before my cancer surgeries, the first thing I did was open my Bible to try to quench the thirsting of my soul. I needed to get my cup full of His Word to get me through my cancer journey. “…I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: …” II Kings 20:5 This was the verse the Lord gave me for my 1st cancer journey. The next verse for my 2nd journey was “…This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.:” John 11:4
Our physical thirst and spiritual thirst are totally different. But as I would take my “green lollipop” dip it in water and rub my lips I would think of how thirsty I was for a drink of cold water. Then to get my mind off my physical thirst, I would open my Bible to fill my cup with His Word. I needed Him more than anything
How thirsty are you? We need to be drinking daily from His word! “But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst: but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” John 4:14.
Revelation 22:16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
Jesus sent His angels to testify in the churches so that they could spread the word to the world. Hence, we should be joyfully sharing the Good News to the world around us.
Jesus gave himself the names “the root of David” and “the bright and morning star”. How can these being opposite of each other be compared to Christ?
A root is deep in the ground where it’s not seen while a star shines brightly in the heavens. The root signifies His humanity while the star signifies His deity. The root connects Him to the lineage of David; the star declares that He is the brightest of His Father’s glory and will be the One who puts a final end to the darkened world.
Happy Monday! 2 MORE DAYS of November!!! Time is flying by! This week’s devo is “Christmas Joy” written by Tiffany Moore! Please take the time to read as she shares her heart with us today! I hope you have the BEST week ever!!!!
Christmas Joy – Tiffany Moore
Do you ever watch those cheesy Christmas movies? I love them! At some point, every movie seems to have a family decorating a beautiful Christmas tree with twinkling lights. Then, you see that loving family singing Christmas carols and drinking hot chocolate with a fire blazing behind them. Have you ever contrasted that with how decorating your house for Christmas really goes? First, you clean your house because it is nearly impossible once all the Christmas knick knacks get put up. Then, you have to go to the storage shed or attic hoping to be able to locate red and green boxes and totes. Then, you drag them to your living room. If you have an artificial tree (even a brand new one that you got on clearance the prior year), you might let it air out on the porch so no mama rodents and her offspring come inside with it (yucky true story.) Then, you will probably scratch your arms all up while assembling and fluffing the tree because you don’t have on long sleeves. You might even have to pause during all of this multiple times and remind your children that some ornaments will shatter if you drop them. You might answer what feels like a million questions from your children about the decorations through which they are pilfering. Can you say tiring?! Where are the Christmas carols? Where is the sweet family drinking hot cocoa and the blazing fire? At my house, it does not look like a Hallmark movie! Oftentimes, reality DOES NOT equal Hallmark fantasy. You might get discouraged that your life does not resemble that perfect “Christmas Moment.”
There are several things that can steal your joy: comparison, anxiety, discontentedness, grief, pain and busyness. It is so easy to get caught up in what is going on in your life that you realize you are just “going through the motions.” The Christmas season becomes another item on your “to-do” list. It’s not fun or even special. It’s definitely not sweet like a movie! Comparing your life to those around you (or even a movie), being discontented, feeling anxious about events, physically, hurting, losing a loved one and just being so busy can overwhelm and overshadow the enjoyment of your holiday season. Sometimes, we have to purposefully focus on having JOY during the holidays. He wants you to have joy. In fact, the Bible says in 1 John 1:4 that our “joy may be full.” Living miserably or without joy during any time of the year is not what we are supposed to do. To ensure you don’t lose your joy this Christmas, you need to remember what JOY means.
J- Jesus
Christmas is about Jesus coming to earth as a baby to save us from our sins. It’s not about having perfectly decorated tree or having all your presents wrapped in the same trendy paper. It’s not about the parties or caroling. It’s about remembering and recognizing Jesus. He came to earth so we can go to Heaven. He’s the reason for the entire season.
O- Others
Christmas is about sharing Jesus with others. Yes, we do that some by all the activities we do during this time of year. However, if we will keep our eyes focused on Jesus and the goal of sharing His love with others, we will have more JOY. So, as you’re making cookies, wrapping presents, or even decorating your Sunday School classroom, don’t forget to share Jesus with those around you.
Y- You
Christmas is not about you. 😊 However, it is a wonderful time of year to refocus your spiritual life. It is a good time to put more energy in your relationship with Jesus. Renew your relationship with God by maybe reading your Bible more instead of binge-watching holiday movies (gasp!) Truly reflect on the goodness of God in your family’s life this past year. Thank Him by reorganizing your priorities each day to start the day with Him in prayer.Having JOY in this Christmas season is your choice. Lower your expectations of “Hallmark movie perfection” and just focus on Jesus, the Reason for the season. There is a little chorus that might help you when you start to lose JOY this Christmas. It is sung to the tune of Jingle Bells.
As we observe this Thanksgiving day, let us not only remember the Pilgrims who made the treacherous journey seeking to find a new home in order to worship freely, but also remember to thank God for His many blessings in our lives. May we count them one by one that we may remember what He has done!
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Happy Monday! I can hardly believe it’s Thanksgiving week!!
I apologize for the lateness of this post. I accidentally popped my left arm out of place over the weekend and was in excruciating pain. I got sidetracked trying to get an appointment with my chiropractor.
Thankfully, my chiropractor was willing to fit me in this morning to get this taken care of. I am now ordered to take it easy over the next several days to allow my shoulder time to heal. Then I will start exercises as I am able to strengthen the muscles and ligaments to prevent any more dislocations or subluxations in the future. I am looking forward to spending time with family.
This week’s devo is “How Well Do You Know Ed?” written by Jan Neill!
Please take the time to read as she wants to encourage US today! I hope that you have an absolutely amazing week!!!
How Well Do You Know Ed? – Jan Neill
In Joshua we find that the 2 ½ tribes of Israel had completed the task of fighting with the other tribes to subdue the land- and were returning to ‘their’ side of Jordon. Not the Promised Land God had provided but their choice (whole new discussion on this one- later) but where they asked to stay.
Upon crossing over they stopped to build an alter for reflection, and remembrance. Joshua 22:34 And the children of Reuben and the children of Gad called the altar Ed: for it shall be a witness between us that the LORD is God.
I don’t know about you, but I often can be caught in the “God answers prayer for the deserving, staff, preachers, pastors wives, … and on it goes, but He isn’t as interested in my, my life, my needs as those IMPORTANT People, the Bible College crowd,.etc. (insert lie of the Devil that is whispered in your ear.)
We all need more ED… we need to make memorials, alters and remembrances of WHEN GOD did more than meet our needs, wants , and how He made ways we cannot see. In this world we are so bombarded with all the reasons that God, cant- won’t – or could use as reasons to NOT hear and care for His children. Our children, and grandchildren will live in a world that will continue to challenge who God is and that He is sovereign, mighty, holy, loving… all the attributes we KNOW about God, but can easily forget when the blows and challenges of the world constantly beat us up.
Who / what are the Ed’s in your life that when hard times come, and it seems the answers you pray for are delayed, that you can look to and remember .. several years ago after having been diagnosed with stage 2 type 2 melanoma, I can still tell you to this day the spot on the freeway where I surrendered my will to God for my health, and successful treatment and surgery, I can tell of begging God to save my then lost husband and provide me a Godly mate and a Christian home, and on and on the list goes.
We have a new member of the family this year and as I’m thinking of pulling out old pictures to share with her to show her the family, our history, who these people were that are so important to our history and who made a difference, as we move toward Thanksgiving and thinking about being thankful, grateful and blessed…. Perhaps it’s a great time to reflect on Ed, and maybe even share with our families the alters that God has made for and with us… ”That in times to come these shall not be forgotten.”
Matthew 5:16 – Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
As Christians, we are to be salt and light in this world. As salt, we are to seek to influence others with our lives showing Christ’s unconditional love. As light, we are to be witnesses concerning the truth of the Gospel.
Salt works internally while light works externally, affecting everything they reach. Hence, our lives should exemplify Christ both spiritually and physically with all with whom we come into contact.
May our lives influence others in such a way that it draws them to Christ. Praying you have a dynamic day!🍁
Happy November 15th! Can you believe next week is Thanksgiving??? I love this time of year! This week’s devo is “What Do You Believe?” written by Julie Myers! Please take the time to read as she shares with us this week! I hope that you have an awesome week!!!
What Do You Believe? – Julie Myers
John 11:18-26,38-44
What do you believe? Not just what you think you believe or what you say you believe. What do you believe in your heart about Christ?
This story is one that hit me like a ton of bricks. I had been struggling in conversations with a friend who had decided that God wasn’t for her anymore. She had a lot to say about everything that was going on in the government and with the pandemic. Though, I had noticed her behavior coming up to this confrontation, it seemed like she wasn’t living as she believed it for a long time. It began with head knowledge and never seeped into her heart.
John 11:23-27 Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? She saith unto him, Yea Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.
If you read these words at a glance, you would think that she agreed with Him. Look closely though. She did not agree with what He said He was, she agreed with what she thought He was.
This is our struggle. This is a real thing. WE put it in our heads what we think He is saying instead of reading the words and meditating and believing. We move forward with our heads in our Christian walk instead of it manifesting in our hearts and then when things do not work out the way we believe they should (our perception or expectation fails) we doubt God’s goodness.
John 11:38-39 Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it. Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.
Jesus knows what He is going to do. He knows what He is capable of and though Martha is right there in the presence of the Lord her gaze is not on Him it is on the physical things of this world. Her words betray her thoughts. The physical death of her brother and even the smell are her focus. They are very real things yes but they are the things of this world, not the things of eternity and the miracles of God.
Though in verse 40 Jesus says to her Said I not unto thee, that if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?
He gently reminds her that she has to believe to be able to see it. Not just in her head but in her heart. And though we continue to doubt and forget, our God is still good and still providing though we are not looking at it and watching for it. Do we believe it?
John 11:41-44 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me. And when he thus had spoken, He cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with gravesclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.
Jesus even says in His prayer to the Father – He knows His Father hears Him always but because of the people who are standing by He said it so that they would believe. Even with Martha, though she was caught up in the here and now, in today’s moments and drudgeries- He showed her a miracle still.
I don’t know if Martha ever saw the miracle through the circumstances of her “now’s.: She isn’t mentioned past this passage. I do know that my friend –‘my Martha’ – gained a new view and started looking for them.
Happy Monday! This week’s devo is “They are Leaving, What Do I Do Now?” written by Sharon Monzo! Please take the time to read as she shares her heart with us today.
May you ever find God’s love blooming through all you do today and all week😊.
They are Leaving, What Do I Do Now? – Sharon Monzo
You know, you hear it all the time… cherish these moments they go by fast! How true this statement is becoming right now. My husband and I have 3 daughters our oldest is 18 and heading off to college…and in 2 years our middle child will be doing the same…time is going by so fast right now… with all the ups and downs life is throwing at me with losing both my parents, one to a stroke and the other to cancer…. None of my siblings living near me enough to have a real relationship with and now my children are growing up and leaving too….wow! How alone I feel at times, how confused I feel, how undeniably, indecisive and uncontrollable my life has become!…. I go through all of these emotions on top of trying to be the mother, wife, friend, and willing servant for everybody! (I’m not complaining; I do it with a joyful heart!) I don’t know what my future holds but I do know who holds it, and I put All my trust in Him! Without the assurance of my salvation and the comfort and protection of my Lord and Saviour, I truly don’t know where I would be or how I could make it through all of this. I know that many of you that are reading this are probably already saved or at least I pray so, but if your not, there is no better time to do it, in fact your running out of time!! For those of you who are in a similar situation, maybe you are feeling alone? Maybe your children are heading off to college too… can I just say, take comfort in the Lord and trust Him! He is opening new chapters in your life…just go with it!!! While praying about what the Lord would want me to share with you, He put this on my heart!
But Then God Reminds Me!
To my daughter who is leaving to start her new chapter in life.
Parts of me want to scream and say No! You can’t leave me, but then God reminds me she has a whole life that she needs to live. I think, what if something happens to her, but then God reminds me, nothing happens without his approval, and He loves her more than I do. I think what if people are mean to her, but then God reminds me, they WILL be mean to her! There will be people all throughout her life that will be mean to her, They were mean to the nicest person to walk this earth! (Jesus) but He will comfort her and get her through it all. I think, but I will miss her, but then God reminds me, she was never mine to keep! I think, did I prepare her enough, but then God reminds me, you’ve done all that you can, it’s between Me and her now. I think, then what should i do, but then God reminds me just pray for her and trust Me! So, that’s what I’m doing! When I start to worry or get sad about my daughters all growing up and hitting these new chapters in their lives, I will just stay focused on the Lord and remember all the things God reminds me of!
