Shepherd

have you ever felt like you don’t know what you’re doing? like if only there was a manual for parenting or marriage or life? you wonder if you’re alone or feel like you’re groping into darkness, looking for the light switch? just deep down longing for someone to notice you?

what if the answer is a who, not a what?

have you ever thought—I need a shepherd?

I know—we don’t think of ourselves as sheep, so, this thought has probably never crossed your heart. but, what if a shepherd is what you need?

Someone to lead you, guide you, so you don’t have to take guesses in the dark anymore or fall into hidden pits all the time.

Someone to protect you, so you aren’t ravaged by evil.

Someone to provide for you, so you have everything you need, & lack nothing.

Someone to take care of you.

& not just any shepherd—a GOOD shepherd, the best out there. One with perfect attention & present affection.

have you ever thought—I need a shepherd?

His Presence is our comfort, our strength, our leadership, our peace. there is so much here, but my encouragement to you is—do you know you need a shepherd? do you want to lie down in this perfect  Overseer of love? to lose your own rights to your life but to be found in trust in Him? lose it all to find Him. Let Him be your friend, your guide, your protector, provider, caretaker, lover. because we need a shepherd. & one glimpse at the goodness of this shepherd

will

change

everything.

today let’s get lost in the One who gave

The One who came

The One who stays

Faithful

Unfailing

Beautiful

True

wherever you find yourself

today

find yourself in Him

there’s an invitation—a whisper—speaking to you…

“the Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He takes me to lush pastures, he leads me to refreshing water. He restores my strength. He leads me down the right paths for the sake of his reputation. even when I must walk through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for you are with me; your rod and your staff reassure me. You prepare a feast before me in plain sight of my enemies. You refresh my head with oil; my cup is completely full. surely your goodness and faithfulness will pursue me all my days, and I will live in the Lord’s house for the restof my life.”
Psalms 23

connection = life

when a person bungee jumps, they’re depending on the cord to keep them connected, to keep them alive! we, too, need to live connected, to remain in the vine.

stay strong in connection, keep yourself in the confines of love. know connection is life. Jesus, thank You for being our lifeline. we are nothing without You! please keep us, help us want You. teach us Your ways & may all we do flow out of connection & communion with You.

for without You we perish.

but with You, we soar. so have all of us & more. have this life You gave us, & let the love You’ve shown us be multiplied through fruitful abiding.

I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you

John 15:1-7

celebrate

from pit to party, God touched my life.

depression to dancing, weeping to wonder. from so covered in ashes that I was unrecognizable, to becoming beautiful.

God is good; I am living proof.

touch the love of God available to you, too!

the shift you’re looking for is right in front of your face.

there are shoes we wear, called seasons, & every sole has its story. thankfully, with Yahweh, even the broken bits get blessed—nothing wasted, everything redeemed.

whatever you’ve been through—we all have shattered—you’re one cry from fixing. one tear drop from all those pieces being a mosaic! just go to your Maker, look to Dad. He’s with you, in this, right here.

never be afraid.

& if you’ve read this far, know God loves you. He alone heals, He alone forgives, hugs, guides! whatever you need, wherever you are, surrender.

that breath in your lungs is opportunity. surrender to the One who breathed breath life into you & see—

He is light.

He loves you.

He is good, real, here.

may the same brokenness made beauty in my life, be given to you, too. may you see. may you dance. & may all the sad become untrue. if He did it for me, He can do it for you!