I Am, Jesus Said

This week we studied John chapter 10. Here is the lesson I gave to my class of two year olds:

Jesus is the good shepherd. A shepherd cares for his sheep. The shepherd leads them to fields where the sweetest grasses grow and to the places where there is clean water to drink. Jesus is the good shepherd. People who believe in Jesus are His sheep. We have everything we need. We have food to eat and water to drink. Jesus is the good shepherd. A shepherd guards his sheep keeping them safe while they eat, rest, and play. The shepherd is with them through the day and through the night. Jesus promises those who believe in Him that He will always be with them. All day and all night. Jesus is the good shepherd. A shepherd knows all of his sheep by name and the sheep know his voice. Jesus knows all of our names and everything about us! Jesus is the good shepherd. When we believe in Jesus, we belong to Him, and He will be with us always!

As I was practicing in front of my children alternating pictures of pastoral sheepy scenes with modern day children in every day type scenes a song I learned when I was nine or ten popped into my head.

Of course, I had to sing it! It was a song a camp minister had written on these same verses and had taught to us that year at camp. I do not remember this man's name or even what he looked like- but I remember the words he helped plant in my heart! Life giving words. Words that stayed with me for decades!

I'm sharing this as it encourages me as I plant seeds in young ones hearts. They will not remember my name or my face but I pray they will remember the Word!

Be Thou My Vision

I had an "Ah Ha" moment today for what the Lords been trying to say to me, but I've not sat down long enough to listen. While sitting in the choir loft waiting for the call to worship, our minister starts off differently, suggesting we take a moment of silence to reflect before worship. So I did what I am apt to do during a time like that.... I thought about our to do list for later that day.

Amazingly we only had one thing on! My husband had a Vision committee meeting later that night for our church. So I prayed that God would give the committee His vision for our church- so we as a congregation could see our community and world through God's eyes making it clear how we can best serve God.

That brought me to what I have been studying in John chapter 9 when Jesus sees a blind man who needs his healing. (Another "vision" reference) Jesus never wasted a moments time he constantly wanted to be doing His Father's work. Every moment of Jesus life was dedicated to God's will. He was only interested in doing the things God had planned for him to do. Jesus did not busy himself with other things just to please other people around Him. Jesus focused on doing one thing, listening only to God's will in his "to do" list preparation. Perhaps thats how his fully human part stayed so calm. He wasn't distracted by a huge "to do" list.

Our hymn for today was "Be Thou My Vision"
The song asks for God to be our vision, our wisdom,- that God would be in our thoughts both day and night. That our heart and God's heart would be one. Riches and mans praise would mean nothing--- only God would be our inheritance now and always.

In that moments silence it was almost as if God was saying to me. Seek my guidance, seek to see through my eyes, don't waste these precious moments I have given you to fulfill you purpose.

Fire Truck Riding Santa!

We get the text from our neighbor, Santa is coming! Our town has a wonderful tradition of Santa riding through the neighborhoods on the back of the fire engine!

My guys were out on the porch even before we heard the sirens! He throws candy! They did not want to miss it!

Merry Christmas!