Quote for you this day from Max Lucado’s book, Jesus the God who knows your name.
Feed your faith - Bible Quote
Make deliberate decisions to set your hope on Jesus. Courage is always possible.
Shepherd and His Sheep
Why is the relationship between Jesus and his followers compared to the Shepherd and the Sheep?
I have wondering that for years! I kind of knew the answer, basically the Sunday school answer - the shepherd leads the sheep through life and the sheep follow. We should allow Jesus to lead our life. And that is very much true but it goes so much deeper.
The Apostle John uses 7 "I AM" statements throughout his Gospel to explain who Jesus was. One of those I AM statements is found in John 10:11 -"I am the good shepherd." Jesus then goes onto explain more about the good shepherd,
"The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep. A hired hand (a false prophet or teacher) will run when he sees a wolf coming. He will abandon the sheep because they don't belong to him and he isn't their shepherd. And so the wolf attacks them and scatters the flock. The hired hand runs away because he's working only for the money and doesn't really care about the sheep." and and He goes on...
We learn from Jesus that he loves us so much that he will and does lay his life down for us to protect us from the evil one. And not only protect but to deliver us.
But we can learn so much more about the good shepherd from David in Psalm 23 - one of the most famous Psalms of all times.
"The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me..."
Sheep are completely dependent on the shepherd. The shepherd guides them to the safe places in life, protects them from harm, and provides for all their needs whether food, water or shelter.
The truth that Jesus is the Good Shepherd gives me hope, however, it's the relationship between the two that challenge me. I'm challenged to be like a sheep. Yes a sheep; an obedient, trustworthy sheep who follows it's master. A disciple of Christ's who allows the Good Shepherd to lead me along peaceful streams restoring my soul, guiding me through the dark valleys and walking along side me. Acknowledging and even honoring God in those times that I need his discipline (rod) and see it as protection for my soul.
A life that is completely surrendered to the Good Shepherd.
pin for later
Tree Planted By Streams Of Water - Devotion
Right before a launch I like to do extra reading and research on the new verse/design that we have coming out. Next Tuesday, Oct 20th, our Psalm 1:1-3 design comes out. I’ve loved this verse for the last couple years, especially verse 3. The imagery of a tree planted by streams of water is serene and beautiful and I want my life to be beautiful before the Lord. I want to be the tree that drives it’s roots down so deep into it’s life source, my Jesus, that I’m forever connected. I am strong, stable and healthy. I’m abiding and when my time comes I will bear fruit for Him. Whole bushels full in fact.
One reading I came across was in the She Reads Truth Bible. I wanted to share it with you here. I pray it is a blessing to you as it was for me. It’s a simple read but a great read for us as we grow in Christ.
. . . . .
Planted
I love the imagery of the tree in Psalm 1.
I want to be that tree, strong and rooted in my faith, bearing fruit. But when I read this psalm I can’t help but notice how I fall short.
I don’t always meditate on God’s Word day and night. I don’t always take delight in it. And I have chosen the way of the wicked too many times to count. When it comes down to it, my behavior and heart more closely resemble the chaff than the tree (v4) - a flimsy weed tossed here and there, following my selfish desires, loving God’s Word one day and disregarding it the next.
But isn’t this what Scripture does? It not only teaches us how to walk with the Lord, but it also highlights our inevitable failure to do so. Psalm 1 does not merely call us to the fruitful behavior of avoiding sin’s path and delighting in the Lord’s law. It points to the One who did those things on our behalf.
Jesus did not know sin (2 Co 5:21). There was no deceit in Him (1 Pt 2:22). He was tempted in every way yet resisted every time (Heb 4:15). Jesus fully embodies the “tree planted beside flowing streams that bears its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither” He exemplified it each day He walked this earth in human flesh, and He exemplifies it even now as He sits at the Father’s right hand in heaven. Knowing we could not walk perfectly, Jesus paved the way to redemption for us.
We don’t have to read Psalm 1 and feel shame about falling short. Because of Jesus, we can read Psalm 1 and worship our Savior whose death and resurrection represent the grace that allows us to walk with our Lord, even when our walks are not perfect. Even when our paths are crooked and detours are long. That is a part of the journey.
As we pursue Christ, our roots deepen and strengthen. By grace through faith, we begin to desire God and His Word in a deep and real way until one day we look up and notice how our branches, by no power of our own, are bearing fruit that brings glory to our God and to our Savior.
May we seek to be planted in His righteousness and perfection alone, looking to His Word and resting in His presence, that we might grow in his likeness.
“So then, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, being rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and overflowing with gratitude.” - Colossians 2:6-7
Fall Line coming 10/20/20
Our Fall Line is set to launch Tuesday, October 20th at 7pm!
And we couldn't be more excited and humbled to be able to join with Amborella House for our release. Amborella House is another Minnesota based organization that helps women fully recover from the sex trafficking industry. They are doing big things for His Kingdom and we are excited to donate back 25% of the proceeds raised during our Fall launch to support their mission.
Our Fall Line will be available starting Tuesday, October 20th at 7pm on our website, www.sixnotesclothing.com, with new designs, new scripture and new apparel. We are also hosting a fun OUTDOOR Six Notes event full of Live Music, hot beverages and community. We have dearly missed the Six Notes community during Covid so we decided to throw a Covid friendly outdoor event. Again 25% of proceeds during this event will be donated back to Amborella House. You can find more information on our website, www.sixnotesclothing.com/events ALL people and all ages are welcome. We pray you can join us.
We are truly excited to celebrate God in all that He is doing for us even in a time where the world has seemed to take over. He is not silent but actively pursuing us. We pray our apparel, our accessories and this event and give back opportunity are great reminders that He is sovereign and worthy of our time and praise.