Tag: sheep

Soul Food When You’re Thirsty

This is my favorite Instagram of the week, posted by my son-in-law. It’s possible John may have gotten a similar text from me at some point.

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So, what are you thirsty for this weekend?  A prayer walk where you can truly breathe and be present to God? Story reading with kids? A date night? Worship? Conversations with good friends who are refreshing to your soul?

For me, this week has been full of people showing up with delightful “cups of water” I’d love to share with you…

The mailman showed up with this that I’m devouring.

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Here’s a quote from the first chapter:

“It’s about the beautiful things we might reclaim and the stuff we may decide to kick to the curb. It’s a book about making peace with unanswered questions and being content to live into the answers as they come. It’s about being comfortable with where we land for now, while holding our hands open for where the Spirit leads us next… Really, it’s a book about not being afraid.” Sarah Bessey

Isn’t that hopeful and lovely? More later on this book…

I posted Wednesday how we got to go to the Catalyst One Day and fill up. I was left thinking about the questions, “What would a great leader do?” and “What would a great wife do?”

Continue reading

4 Benefits of Hanging With Sheep

My family has accused me of being a tiny bit obsessed with sheep. IMG_3678They’re tired of me yelling for John to stop the car on foreign roads so I can take a picture. But they’re cute. And I feel like sheep and the guys who hang with them have a lot to teach me.IMG_3537

In a community of young married couples I shepherd (unintentional pun), we’re studying David, my favorite Bible guy.  He was a musician, a leader, a poet, a crappy father, a great friend, a soldier, an adulterer, and…a shepherd. In short, a renaissance man before the renaissance.

Of all his roles, the one I love the most, the one I learn from the most, is shepherd. Continue reading

Sheep and the most Important Word

My family says I’m sheep-obsessed.

I’ve always been a sheep girl.  I love the image of God as our shepherd in the Bible – patiently, gently taking care of us clumsy, clueless, grace-dependent, but usually well-meaning lumpy messes.

My family gives me a hard time because I’ve been known to chase sheep on several continents trying to get a good picture of, say “British sheep” as opposed to “Guatemalan sheep”.  Last week outside Bethlehem I got this picture of what I called “Christmas sheep”.

Although the land is all built up with Israeli settlements, as I looked over the hills surrounding Bethlehem, it was easy to picture THE real shepherds two thousand years ago on Christmas eve in the quiet night, looking up at the same stars that blanket us today.

It made me think of a sermon I heard years ago on the Twenty-third Psalm.  It really stuck with me, which is the mark of a good sermon, isn’t it?

Actually it was only on the first 5 words of the Psalm.  The speaker, Max Lucado challenged listeners to choose which one of these words was their favorite…which was most important to them.

The (not “Some”, not “A”, not “one of many” )

Lord (The word used here is a verb – ACTIVE!  The same word for Lord used with Moses – I AM)

is (present tense, not just “was” or “will be”)

my (personal!! not just “David’s” or “Paul’s” or “Billy Graham’s”)

shepherd (present, caring, and responsible for sheep 24/7.  Sheep are totally dependent)

So, this morning, jet-lagged and just home from a long, intense trip, I’m thankful for a Shepherd-God who gently carries me.

What’s the most important word for you?

Which word would you choose as your favorite today?

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