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Posted on 07/01/2019 12:03:00 AM PDT by JustAmy
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Oh, how sweet!
He is such a good daddy. I’m constantly amazed...and he’s feral.
That’s such a warm fuzzy picture!
LOL! Very much so. But not as WARM as it would have been if taken today. Whew!!
Bible in a Year : Psalms 1–3; Acts 17:1–15
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. John 10:11
An intriguing element of English football is the team anthem sung by the fans at the start of each match. These songs range from the fun (“Glad All Over”) to the whimsical (“I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles”) to the surprising. “Psalm 23,” for instance, is the anthem of the club from West Bromwich Albion. The words of that psalm appear on the façade inside the team’s stadium, declaring to everyone who comes to watch the “West Brom Baggies” the care of the good, great, and chief Shepherd.
In Psalm 23, David made his timeless statement, “The Lord is my shepherd” (v. 1). Later, the gospel writer Matthew would tell us, “When [Jesus] saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” (Matthew 9:36). And in John 10, Jesus declared His love and concern for the human “sheep” of His generation. “I am the good shepherd,” He said. “The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (v. 11). Jesus’s compassion drove His interactions with the crowds, His responses to their needs, and, ultimately, His sacrifice on their (and our) behalf.
“The Lord is my shepherd” is far more than an ancient lyric or a clever slogan. It’s the confident statement of what it means to be known and loved by our great God—and what it means to be rescued by His Son.
In what ways have you seen God’s care for you? Who can you tell about Him today?
What a gift our Shepherd is to us, Father! Help us to respond to His voice—and draw nearer to You.
Read The Lord Is My Shepherd at discoveryseries.org/hp952.
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Bible in a Year : Psalms 4–6; Acts 17:16–34
The seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop. Luke 8:15 Sunflowers sprout in a carefree manner all over the world. Pollinated by bees, the plants spring up on the sides of highways, under bird feeders, and across fields, meadows, and prairies. To produce a harvest, however, sunflowers need good soil. Well-drained, slightly acidic, nutrient-rich soil “with organic matter or composted,” says the Farmer’s Almanac, finally produces tasty sunflower seeds, pure oil, and also a livelihood for hard-working sunflower growers.
We also need “good soil” for spiritual growth (Luke 8:15). As Jesus taught in His parable of the farmer scattering seed, God’s Word can sprout even in rocky or thorny soil (see vv. 6–7). It only thrives, however, in the soil of “honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest” (v. 15 nlt).
Young sunflowers are just as patient in their growth. Following the sun’s movement throughout the day, they turn sunward daily in a process called heliotropism. Mature sunflowers are just as deliberate. They turn eastward permanently, warming the face of the flower and increasing visits from pollinator bees. This in turn produces a greater harvest.
As with those who care for sunflowers, we can provide a rich medium for God’s Word to grow by clinging to His Word and following after His Son—developing honesty and a good heart for God’s Word to mature us. It’s a daily process. May we follow the Son and grow.
What’s the condition of your spiritual soil? Rocky, thorny, or rich in spiritual “nutrients”? Why? When you follow the Son daily, how does this practice impact your honesty and heart?
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Love this!
(((HUGS)))
Thank you.
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Happy Friday!
Fair weather today, blue skies. We could use some rain, it’s been a while.
Still no sign of the stray yellow cat.
As soon as I put out food and water, no more kitty!
Will keep trying....
Bought my first hydrangea Wednesday. Home Depot has shrubs and roses half off, so only paid $9 for a nice hydrangea hardy to -30 degrees.
So glad you’re having some pretty weather! I’m sooooo jealous! We grew hydrangeas one time and then they died. They don’t do well here in the desert. LOL!
Sorry yellow kitty abandoned you. Maybe he’ll come back when you quit looking, or mayb his family found him.
Oooo...a sale on shrubs!
Gotta check that out. :-)
I’m going back to Home Depot for more sale plants.
I’ve wanted to try a hydrangea for a few years. Tag says good to -30 and that’s about as wicked cold as we get.
The roses are tempting. Need to research which are the toughest.
They had many roses left to pick from.
Cheers
I hope yellow kitty comes back. Seemed like a wild one. Fresh water every day and a bowl of cat chow. Another lesson in patience for me!
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