Update:
Friday I stayed at home all day.
I was feeling a bit low on energy.
Of course looking back on the week, I went out for CPR/AED training one
evening and went to work at the office for two afternoons—that is more than I
have done in one week for several months.
Although I felt good doing it—I think I just needed a bit of down time
spent at home. Just getting through the
day at home takes energy too—but my meter doesn’t spin as fast as when I go
out.
With that in mind, I decided not to go out to the men’s retreat
today. I was disappointed not to go and
I know they were hoping that I would come for part of the day; but I need to
save my energy for Sunday. This is also
the first Sunday that I will preach a regular length sermon and I have been
working on it all week—but I am not finished with it yet. Then I really need to build a PowerPoint for
the message too. Staying home gives me more time to get it done and not feel
rushed or overwhelmed.
One of my cousins from Missouri is supposed to call and visit over the
phone today. On Sunday, there is Worship
(me preaching), Sunday School (me teaching) and a Business Meeting at church which
will fill the morning. Sunday afternoon,
the pastor who led me to the Lord about 35 years ago is stopping by for a
visit. Monday morning, I have a doctor
appointment in Eau Claire.
Well, I better get moving. I’ve got
exercises to do (45-60 minutes), take a shower, work on my message and on my
Sunday School lesson. If I have time I’ll make some Peanut
Butter/Bean cookies (no flour and no sugar in this recipe so I can have
them). Tonight, Karen and I will spend
the evening together—we’ve been talking about seeing a movie “Frozen” (How
appropriate!) but I think we’ve already decided to stay home because of the
cold; but who knows what will happen.
Thought for the Day:
I've been reading through the Gospel of John in my daily bible
reading. Yesterday, I read John 10:4
"...and the sheep follow him [the Shepherd] for they know His
voice." Sheep were often kept
overnight in a large pen where several flocks would co-mingle. In the morning the shepherd would come by and
call for his sheep to come to him and he would take them out to pasture.
I thought “How do sheep discern their Shepherd's voice from all others?”
They listen. When they are in the field, He talks to
them. While they are traveling from
pasture to pasture, He talks to them. He
talks to them when He binds up their wounds.
He talks to the little lambs that He carries on His shoulders. Eventually they know His voice and follow
Him. They trust Him. They know that He provides and that He cares
for them. They have come to know Him by
spending time with Him.
Jesus is described as the Good Shepherd. In the bible we are described as the sheep of
His pasture. I want to hear His voice,
discern when He is talking to me, and to follow Him. How do I learn His voice? I listen.
How does He speak to me? Through
the bible (and through prayer—but this is more subjective). I need to spend more time listening to His
voice so I can know Him better.
Yesterday there was a post on FaceBook that I thought was right on. It said, “Know the Word of God; Know the God
of the Word!”
My decision today to listen to the voice of the Shepherd will be
important later. After days, weeks,
months, and years of listening—I will be able to discern His voice when He
calls. I will be able to hear His voice
when times are good—and when times turn ugly I will hear His voice and remain
at peace within the storm. If I wait
until disaster strikes and then try to discern His voice, it will be much more
difficult as I frantically listen to all the voices screaming for my attention.
So read God’s word. It’s best to
read it every day. Just a paragraph or a
chapter at first. Ask God to speak to
you. Look for a thought that stands out;
that you can hold onto. Work on
remembering that thought all day long.
Ponder what it means. What was
God trying to say? Listen to His voice
so that you can discern when the Good Shepherd is calling to you.
So don’t be too sheepish! Go
ahead and start reading! Aim for just
5-10 minutes a day and let it grow naturally if you want to spend more time. Oh, I better go…I think I hear the Shepherd
calling me…
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