I saw two pictures this week and received a confirming word which I believe is a word from the Lord in its entirety. May you receive it with grace.
My daughter and I was relaxing on the sofa just after the evening news. Nowadays we don’t watch much TV, but I was led to say just see what is on on the other side.
There was a real life documentary of a shepherding family – a mother and father with 9 (yes 9….) beautiful children. The producers had been followed for a series of months – this being the second sequel. The youngest child was about 4 and the eldest looked about 16. There was a mixture of gender.
It was a beautiful program to watch as the mother of the family had allowed the children to grow in competence in doing things on the farm and even dealing with the births and deaths of the lambs. One sheep had died possibly because she had wandered off alone and had drunk polluted water but she was still numbered and being accounted for.
The innocency of the children and the dexterity of how they went about their tasks was mesmerizing. Most importantly was a section where the whole family sat down together to eat outside . As the children sat and listen mum and dad recounted all their birth stories ie how they came into the world, the time of day and the events that happened during delivery. Each child listened pleased and proud as punch. It was clear they had heard the story before but they reveled in mum and dad telling them again. There was a point when one little girl (the middle child) shouted out ‘you’ve missed me’. Sure enough they had, but there was an affective story also to tell on her behalf and to confirm her identity.
The most beautiful thing for me was the tender heart of the father of the family – how he had gathered his brood around him and how he spoke tenderly and affectionately to his wife and to his children. This is what God intended both for the physical family of God and the spiritual family of God.
I came to bed that night and I cried my heart out for the memory of what I had seen and for the heart of our Father. The image has not left me.
As I prepared my prayer ministry for the next day Father brought Ezekiel 34 which was a rebuke of the shepherds who had not looked after the sheep. He continued to bring me word this very week about the sheepfold (two days later). He highlights that the flock includes lambs that are frail, weak and unsteady and some barely able to walk. Others are deep in pain. A few pregnant and others nursing young. Each and every one of us who call on his name can identify within this fold.
I am led to write this today for several reasons :
He has asked the to write
He wants you to know that the very hairs of your head is numbered and he sees you as special
He wants you to know you have an identity with him if you are part of his family
He is the good Shepherd and he will provide ointment for your souls and remove all he ticks and brambles that have kept you bound.
His desires his to protect you from the wolf and the roaring and raving lion
In terms of those called to minister and to be shepherds, mothers and fathers of the flock there is an additional word too :
We see in a number of the prophetic books how God condemns Israel’s ministers because they didn’t meet the needs of the sheep under their care. He spoke his displeasure through both Ezekiel, Isaiah and Jeremiah. (See Ezekiel 34:4, 6) See Isaiah 53:6).
Thus saith the Lord , i even I will search my sheep and seek them out. I will deliver them out of all the places where they have been scattered in teh cloudy and dark day. I will feed them in good pasture and upon the high mountains and they shall lie down in a good fold and be fat. I will judge between cattle and cattle and my people shall no. more be a prey .
I pray today that we can be like little children and receive the word wherever it may apply to us and so that we don’t lose out.
I believe I share his heart when i say ,our Father’s desire is for each one of us to lie down beside still waters and to be led in the paths of righteousness for his name sake.
Evangelist Linda J UK
Yours in his Name
Written 5:00 am 18/11/2020 in the year of our lord