July 10, 2018

Are You Following Jesus?

“The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.”

– John 10:3-4

Several years ago my Dad planted rye grass in the pecan orchard. He would allow the cows access only an hour or so a day. This was to keep them from getting sick by eating too much of a good thing.

One day we came home and found the cows in the front pasture. He wanted to bring them around to the rye grass field. He talked about using feed to entice them around. He wondered aloud if he could somehow drive them to the correct area.

I was astounded at the obstacles he thought he needed to overcome. I shook my head and told him to go open the gate and I would get the cows around. He didn’t believe me but headed toward the gate anyway.

I went to the front gate and started calling the cows. I called them by name. I called them babies. I did what any pet parent does: I talked in a sweet voice. First one and then another raised their heads. I patiently called them again to come on. In a few minutes the entire herd was coming at a brisk pace.

I turned to find my Dad standing there with his mouth open, totally amazed that I hadn’t even needed to go into the pasture to bring the cows around to the correct area. Why did they come when I called them? Because they knew my voice. They knew that I was calling them to something good. They trusted that there was something wonderful at the end of their journey.

Jesus calls us in much the same way. We can ignore Him. We can do our own thing and miss the blessings He offers. Or we can choose to follow His call and end our days with more than we could ever imagine.

Don’t let the world distract you. Don’t listen to voices who claim to know the way and yet only offer worldly things as a reward. You’re not here to stay. You’re just a traveler headed home. Don’t let anyone focus your attention elsewhere.

“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”

– John 10:27

Do you hear His voice? Are you following Jesus or the world? Don’t be so quick to answer. Think about it.

Every single day we make choice after choice after choice. All those choices come with consequences. Are those choices drawing you nearer to Jesus or are they drawing you nearer to the world?

If you know Jesus, follow Him. He will always lead you to something better than you could ever imagine.

And if you don’t know Jesus, take a moment to think about all the wonderful blessings you are missing. He’s standing at the gate to let you in. You only have to believe and trust that He truly will lead you home.

June 24, 2018

What Do Your Actions Say?

“What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.”

– Matthew 18:12-14

She couldn’t remember where she left her. She was a new mama and trying to balance staying with the herd and responsibly taking care of her calf caused her to make a decision she regretted.

She bellowed loudly at me as she searched franticly for her tiny baby girl. The cow had no doubt that I could find the baby she’d misplaced. She just wanted me to do it immediately.

It took a while but I did find the baby. I watched her trot toward a relieved mama cow. She had never intended to lose her baby. She just wanted to be with the herd. We aren’t much different. Sometimes we’re so focused on being with the crowd that we don’t realize we’re ignoring those who desperately need help.

I could have ignored the cow. That baby was her responsibility. Eventually, she’d have found it. But I didn’t. I knew I could help her and, frankly, I wanted to. I care about the cows. Do I care about others just as much? Do you?

We never intend to be a bad influence. We never intend to teach children, by our actions, to use bad language or complain about “having” to attend church. We never intend to show that things come before people or that helping someone else is a chore to be avoided whenever possible.

How we live our lives is what shows others our faith. It shows up in the children we are around, whether our own or someone else’s children. It speaks to those who aren’t believers but are looking to see what sets us apart to determine if maybe Jesus is the answer for them.

We rarely think about the silent influence we might have on people. Most of the time we aren’t even concerned about others. We’re just focused on ourselves and those closest to us. We don’t care too much about the lost, the hurting, the disenfranchised. And then we wonder why there’s so much violence in our schools and workplaces.

Hatred isn’t a trait we’re born with; it’s one we are taught. Anger bubbles up and we ignore it or walk away. It’s not our problem, we explain. But Jesus says it is. I wonder what would happen if we were kind to people we don’t like. I wonder what would happen if we noticed people who aren’t just like us.

Jesus notices those who are lost. He cares deeply about those who are hurting, angry, marginal. Why do we think it’s okay to ignore them?

I know. Sometimes we don’t want to get involved because the situation is dangerous or it is so overwhelming that we don’t know what to do. But most of the time we don’t want to be bothered with the needs of someone else. We’re too busy protecting and caring for what is ours to even notice someone else.

Stop making excuses and look around you. Lost people are everywhere. It doesn’t cost anything to be kind. Smiles are free. When we ignore or hate, we tell others we don’t love Jesus. What do your actions say?

May 16, 2016

Listen For Jesus’ Voice

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. -- John 10:27-28

Goosie was distraught. I heard her as soon as I opened the back door. Her friend, her buddy, her companion, was gone. Probably a coyote had struck during the night.

I began talking to her and she calmed down. She knows my voice. She knows that I feed her twice a day. She knows that she is safe with me.

That’s how it is with Jesus. As believers, we know His voice. He will calm us, His children, if we will let Him. We are safe with Him.

Have you ever been afraid? The other day our pastor asked for folks to tell what excites them and what frightens them. Some of the answers were what you would expect. Grandchildren and adventures were high on the excitement list. Flying and disappointing God or those we love topped the list of what frightens us.

Our pastor admitted that he’s afraid of being at his house alone. He and his wife have four children. There is always somebody around. And when there isn’t, well, that’s unsettling.

But for us there is somebody always around. His name is Jesus and He never, ever leaves us alone. When your mind won’t quiet itself in the night, He is there. When you’re driving a lonely stretch of road, He is there. When you’re afraid of people trying to hurt you, He is there. Always. He is there.

What are you afraid of? Losing someone suddenly. I’ve been there. So was Jesus. Losing your job? I’ve been there. So was Jesus. Getting sick? I’ve been there. So was Jesus.

There is no place we can go, nothing we can experience, where He won’t be by our side.

That includes the good stuff too. We sometimes forget about Jesus when things are going well, don’t we? We don’t notice His Presence. We don’t include Him in our celebration, our joy.

Why is that? Maybe because we don’t think we need Him. We do. I do. I need Jesus to be there celebrating with me, enjoying the sunset with me, laughing at the antics of the dogs or geese with me.

We got nine new geese to join Goosie on the pond. I don’t want her to be alone. I’ve already started talking to them. They are learning to listen for my voice. Just as I have learned to listen for Jesus’ voice. What about you? Jesus is calling you. Do you hear Him?