All We Like Sheep

You and I are like sheep.  How do I know?  The Bible says so.  God's Holy Word gives many comparisons to how humanity are like sheep.  First, of all they need a Shepherd.  Most animals can fend for themselves, but not sheep.  They need the Shepherd to lead them to the still waters and the green pastures.  I've heard that sheep are afraid of rushing water, because if they should fall in they would certainly drown.  Their wool would soak up the water and make them heavy.  Plus, they cannot swim like some other animals.  We too, need our Shepherd, Jesus Christ, to lead us.

Sheep are dumb animals.  Some animals, and even a pig, are intelligent, but sheep are plumb dumb.  Doesn't that make you feel good?  Humans are dumb like sheep.  Instead of following the Shepherd they choose to go their own way and end up in a bad place.  We see this everyday in our families, neighborhoods, and  on the world news.  Men choose to live life their way making dumb decisions and the end results are not good.  For example, a young, single woman, gets pregnant, which is a bad mistake, but then she makes another bad decision, by choosing to abort the baby.  Two wrongs never make a right.  Then, this young lady lives a life of guilt, shame, and depression because of her wrong choices.  We don't know which way to go, that's why we need Jesus.  He is the Good Shepherd and will lead us into those green pastures (blessings).

Sheep have no defense either.  They don't have sharp teeth, claws, a loud roar, or the ability to jump on someone and attack them.  They look sweet and vulnerable.  Mankind is vulnerable also to the temptations of the enemy.  Again, we need a Shepherd.  We need Jesus.

Have you ever seen a stampede of sheep?  No, and you never will.  Just imagining that scene makes you laugh.  The truth is, we are no match for the enemy, without Jesus.  He is Lion of Judah.  He can roar in us, as the Lion of Judah and put the enemy on the run.

Face it, you and I are dumb sheep.  We need the gentle Shepherd, who has all Wisdom to guide us in this life.  He knows what we need.

Paula Deen's Chocolate Volcano Cake

Chocolate Volcano Cake on the Food Network

I love chocolate!  Just wanted to share the above recipe with you from Paula Deen.  I'm sure you will enjoy it.  Save a piece for me.

Snapshots Of Life

Simple things mean a lot.  I like simple.  The most beautiful wedding I've ever attended was in a little white country church with just a handful of people.  The bride was lovely in her simple white, delicate lace dress.  The groom was handsome, wearing just his Sunday suit.  No tuxedo, no expensive wedding dress with long train.  The flowers were equally beautiful.  They were simple arrangements of Queen's Anne lace picked from the roadside of an Alabama highway.  I saw that bride just a few months ago at a family funeral.  She commented about her husband of 20+ years, "I just love that man!  He's the best man in the whole world."  Imagine that.  She's still in love.

I like simple.  The older I get, the more I want to simplify my life.  It's the simple things in life that mean so much to me.  It's not the new car, or house, or expensive jewelry that make me happy, no it's that tiny blue flower a little boy picks for his mommy.  It's the time your husband cooks dinner for the family because your not feeling well.  It's the little note scribbled by your daughter in first grade, that says, "your the best mommy in the world" that you'll never forget and that you'll always cherish.  The proof of that is that you still have it tucked away in your dresser drawer.  

Yes, simple says it best.  I like simple.  I heard the following phrase several times while in college from my professors about lesson planning and it was KISS, which stands for, "keep it simple stupid."  

Yes, I love simple.  I'm not a fancy person.  Never have been and never will be and I like that simple fact about me.   

I was thinking the other day that life is like snapshots.  You can't remember everything, but we all have snapshot images in our minds.  Certain things that have happened to us or that meant so much to us and that's what we remember.  We have these little snapshot images in our minds of our lives.  

So I surmised that life is like a snapshot album. 

 So make some memories today.  Take some snapshots, but I'm not taking about with a camera, necessarily.   You'll always remember that day you and your daughter baked cookies together, or dad took you fishing.  These are the snapshot images of our lives.

Barren Times

There are many times in all our lives when we feel God is a million miles away.  We pray and plead with Him to answer our prayers or just give us a sign that He is near and we get nothing. Then we begin to question, "God don't you hear me?  Don't you see what I'm going through?" If we're not careful, we begin to doubt God's love for us.  We begin to doubt His ability to deliver us from our problem and that is exactly what the enemy wants.  Out trust in God begins to wane, if we are not careful.

The truth is, God is still there.  He never left you and He does hear your prayers.  The problem is, our faith has turned to fear.  We are listening to the enemies lies that our Heavenly Father doesn't love us and has forsaken us.  The devil wants to put us at odds with our maker and begin to doubt His ability to deliver us from all our problems.

When your going through those barren places, don't lose faith.  Grab your Bible and hang on to every word.  Praise Him in song.  The Word tells us that He (Jesus), inhabits the praise of His people.  We walk by faith and not by feelings.

In this life we will have highs and lows.  We must face that fact.  There will be times when it is dark and we feel all alone, but the Word tells us that Jesus will never leave us or forsake us, so hang on to the promises of God . He has not left you.  Never doubt that fact!

Western and lapis jewelry

Western and lapis jewelry by pamela-smith-1 featuring lapis lazuli earrings

ONLY denim shirt
$25 - only.com

Long skirt
$62 - pret-a-beaute.com

Studded bootie
$75 - fashion-conscience.com

KENNETH JAY LANE yellow gold earrings
shopbop.com

Dannijo bracelet
dannijo.com

Chan Luu lapis lazuli earrings
net-a-porter.com

Lucky brand necklace
luckybrand.com