Stop

There are certain things in life that just cause you to stop dead in your tracks. It could be visual or audio or something such as a delicious food with the essence of all of the herbs, spices and flavors wafting through the air. I'm an avid lover of beautiful visions such as art and nature and the sounds of of good music and don't even get me started about how I stop to pet a puppy or kitten.You must admit that there are just certain things that make you stop and experience the wholeness of the moment. I'm sitting here in my car waiting for my grandson and as I am scrolling through my Tumblr account I thought it was funny that you can look at ten, twenty, thirty pictures but all of a sudden one particular picture will make you stop. It catches your eye and something inside of you says, "That is something I want to look at a lot." It makes my senses heighten or reminds me of some memory, but one thing I know is that it just makes me feel something.

During my bible study this week, Priscilla Shirer talked about how the sheep know the voice of their shepherd. His voice, his sounds and his inflections are set apart from all the other shepherds. He even has a special language for each individual sheep and when they hear that tone or call they stop, their ears perk up and they run to him. In biblical times there would be several shepherds that would all put their flocks in one huge pen. When morning came each shepherd would stand at the entrance and call out to his own and they would push past the others to follow him. When they heard his voice they immediately stopped what they were doing and payed attention only to him.

Do you know what comprises your soul? It is your talents, inflections, temperament, likes, dislikes, character, personality.... Each of us is so uniquely designed and crafted by God that not only do we all have a unique look but the things that make us stop are unique in their own right. Do you know why the sheep recognize their shepherds voice? Because he spends countless hours with them. He abides with them during their grazing, walks in the pastures with them, tends to their wounds, protects them from predators... He will take one small lamb aside at a time and teach it its own special language that just the two of them share. Each sheep is unique and special to him. Their shepherd is their father.

Some of us have our ears perk up when we hear the calling of God for us to come and repent, asking him to be our Savior. However, others may not due to defiance, stubbornness, rebellion or apathy. Those who choose to spend time with the Holy Shepherd learn from him. They commune with him in the pastures and allow him to set the pace for their lives. They grow in the grace and knowledge of him as they draw to his side and follow him. They allow him to feed them, heal them, guide them and protect them. Matthew 18:12 tells the story of the shepherd who left his flock to go after just one lamb that wandered. It continues by saying that Jesus will come for you if you are lost because you are of such worth to him. He doesn't desire for even one of his sheep to perish.

Do you know your Shepherds voice? Do you sidle up to him or do you wander? Do you trust him to set the pace for your journey? Do you believe he is the Savior or are you exhausting yourself trying to lead the flock yourself? Do you STOP and turn your attention to him when he calls? Oh, how we love to wander and seek out our own desires. Beware though my little lambs because Satan is out there and it is the one who is separated from the herd that he will go after. Draw near to your Shepherd, for all you need, he provides. He will never leave you or forsake you so stop looking over the fence. Follow where he leads and keep pace with him.

Read Psalm 139