The Good Shepherd Leads His Sheep

Day 118 of Photo Inspirations -- The Good Shepherd Leads His Sheep
We saw these sheep in Keukenhof, Holland yesterday.  Beautiful sheep, well cared for in a confined area.  They're well-protected.  But, what about those sheep that are in a field, open-prey to ravenous animals and harm? That's why they need a shepherd to watch over and care for them.

How comforting to know that wherever we are, our Good Shepherd keeps a watchful eye on us.  Like a shepherd, Jesus shares something central to our life of faith.  He says, "I am the good shepherd."  John 10:11.  Like a shepherd, He leads us, feeds us, protects us, and saves us.  How could He have such unending and unrelenting love for us?

And the answer has always been the same -- simple, yet profound  God IS love.  It's who He is.  He can't stop loving us.  We are His children, and we are the sheep of His pasture.  He loves us so much that He asked His Son to leave His heavenly home, take on a human body and lay down His life for us.  And, now enthroned with His Father, Jesus still guides us to safety, restores our strength.

So, today, I proclaim, as one of His sheep....... "The Lord is my Shepherd.  I shall not want.  He makes me lie down in green pastures.  He leads me beside still waters  He restores my soul. He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name sake.  Yea, tough I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for He is with me.  His rod and His staff -- they comfort me.  He prepares a table before me in the presence of my enemies.  He anoints mhy head with oil.  My cup runs over.  Surely goodness and merchy shall follow me all the days of myh life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."  Psalms 23.

Babe Magnet Captures This Babe

Day 3 of 365 days of "Seizing the Moments" in photos this year.

What could be closer to our Heavenly Father than the purity and preciousness of a baby? This little angel was across the aisle from me on my flight from Seattle to Dallas today. His shirt said "Babe Magnet" on it. He was. He captured my heart and drew me to him the entire trip. I haven't had a guy flirt with me like that in a very long time. LOL. He was a happy and peaceful baby all the way which made everyone around him fall in love with him, too.

As I watched the pride and joy that his daddy had in Him, I thought about the pride and joy we must bring to our Heavenly Father. This little charmer on the plane today was so loved by his daddy and that love was in no way performance-based. That little guy couldn't do anything on his own, to merit any more love than he already had from his daddy.

Did you know the love our Father has for us isn't performance-based either? We can't do enough to settle the score, to merit His favor, or to deserve the ultimate price of love He paid for us. He loves us just because we are His kids, the sheep of His pasture, His pearls of great price, the apples of His eyes. There is no gift we could ever give Him that could repay His love, except for one gift. We can give him ourselves, totally and utterly devoted to Him.

I think I'll slip on my "God Magnet" shirt so my devotion to Him keeps on making Him smile big at me as I bring Him pride and joy.