Thoughts on Christ and His Word

Do you know what bad shepherds do? They beat their sheep, they neglect the needs of their sheep, they don't even care when the sheep wander off. They are too concerned about themselves to care for their sheep. Now why do I care about shepherds and sheep? Because God compares spiritual leadership with shepherding sheep. In fact before his final ascension Jesus told Peter three times in various ways "Feed my sheep" in John 21. As I read Ezekiel 34:1-10 this morning I was reminded of just what kind of leader God wants me to be: 1 The word of the LORD came to me: 2 "Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Woe to the shepherds of Israel who only take care of themselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock? 3 You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you do not take care of the flock. 4 You have not strengthened the weak or healed the s

I went up to mountains to pray and read the Word with Fidel yesterday. We actually didn't get to go up to our usual place - Fort Mountain - because we would have froze. But we did manage to pray next to a river. The sun warmed us up for a while. As I was reading through the books of 1 and 2 Timothy, God reminded me of what I needed to do with my life. At least one way of knowing what God purposed for our lives is to look at our spiritual gifts. God encouraged and rebuked me (all at once) with these two verses: Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you. 1 Timothy 4:14 > For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 2 Timothy 1:6 > God told me I needed to use my gifts (Leadership & Teaching) wherever possible and not to sidestep opportunities to serve through their use. Admittedly , I was somewhat neglecting the use of them. &