THE GOOD SHEPHERD
Today’s Reading: John 10
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion on the right-hand side).
It was a joy to observe the care and interaction between this shepherd and his sheep and goats in the recreation of Nazareth, Jesus’ hometown, as it may have been in the first century.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where Reynold took the photo, click HERE.
Key Verse: John 10:11
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.
A relationship is obvious in the picture above. Gather around our Good Shepherd and enjoy His company. Jesus is our Friend, our Provider, our Comforter, and He calls Himself, “the Door.” Shepherds literally became the door every night. The sheep slept in a cave, and the shepherd would lie down across the opening as their protector. We are His sheep. No enemy will be able to destroy us. He bears the attack. He is our Protector and Deliverer. Our Shepherd has already given His life for us and is alive forevermore. We need fear no evil. He has already overcome the evil one and won victory over death and hell. He promises that we will know His voice. We should take time right now to listen. We’ll hear that still small Voice of our loving Shepherd. He has a message of love, peace, and hope. Psalm 27 ends with the words, “Wait on the Lord.” We may want to read this entire Psalm (click here).
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, Slow me down so that the pace of modern life won’t get in the way of my relationship with You. Because of Your Presence, I am filled with courage and my heart is strengthened. In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
Several readers responded to my blog the other day with a request for the rest of the story. Avedis from Armenia was one who asked me to do this. Check back to October 23rd for the first part of the story in my “100 Personal Words” portion.
I was told this story when I was in the Armenian Socialist Soviet Republic delivering equipment for a children’s hospital following the devastating earthquake there in 1988. There was disunity amongst the churches in the region. The Pastors of the Baptist and Pentecostal churches had been arrested following their Sunday night services. As they sat in the cell, the warden arrived with another prisoner. It was the Patriarch of the Armenian Orthodox Church. They sat in silence for a time when the Patriarch spoke. He said, “I was the leader of the young communists when I was in my thirties. I had an encounter with Jesus Christ and He transformed my life. I arranged your arrest with the authorities. It was the only way I could get your attention. I beg you to stop attacking me. I want to win people to Jesus just as much as you do. We’ve got to work together to win Armenians to Jesus.” They’ve been helping each other ever since. The two Armenian priests, who were sent by the Patriarch to study with us here in Canada, graduated with the highest marks in the history of our School of Broadcasting. We have graduates in over 80 countries who help share the good news of Jesus on TV and radio. Therefore, what the Patriarch said includes you and me; “We’ve got to work together.”
Yours for the call to “work together” to reach the world with the best News ever heard,
David
Hi everybody! So thankful for this blog! God bless you David Mainse!
I pray the Lord will bless each and everyone who participates on this blog and all those who read this blog! I thank God that He has worked through this blog to bring about change in peoples lives! What a blessing! I know that my beliefs and attitudes have changed because of reading God’s Word in this blog! I have found many interesting statements from David Mainse and all the bloggers! I feel this blog and those who share their views make this somewhat of a big family! We share our views, our opinions, our love for the Lord, our sorrows, our joys with one another and this is just the way I like things to happen! Just like a family!
Let us continue to hold each other up to the Lord in prayer! AMEN!
P.S. had a great time at a ukulele music lesson! The ukulele is small but it sure puts out great music and we sang old songs and new songs!
Amen! Sah.
The Lord Jesus Christ is my rock and my salvation.
me too Sah and Joy!! Jesus is the Rock of my Salvation, praise His Holy Name!! “The Joy of the Lord is my strength”
Zepheniah 3 “He rejoices over us with singing”
AMEN ! God bless you Sah .
Amen Pastor David for your encouraging words and for yours also Sah. Enjoy this day that the Lord has made. Blessings to all. Eleanor M.
Thank you David and all those involved in preparing this daily blog for us. Praying for good health for both you and Norma Jean.
Good to hear from you again Sah.
Blessing to all our bloggers
Amen David. We need to work together. God bless you.
Thank you Pastor David for your encouraging words, such good prayers and concern. Sheep are my favorite farm animal as they symbolize Jesus as a sacrifice as well as the Shepherd. Yes, I agree that we need to work together to bring people to the Lord. Good message Sah! God bless you David, Norma-Jean and family and fellow bloggers.
I remember this story from the first time around and love it.He got their attention.Denominations are good because they create debate in a respectful,patient way when we cooperate BUT each denomination must realize they ‘may be’ wrong on some thinking and probably are.Jesus knows this and will most likely absorb all denominations…will absorb all denominations for they are His bride.Don’t worry about our differences but unite in agreement with a strong spirit of cooperation.Thanks again and may God bless
(I try never to put a period after “bless” because a period denotes finality and God’s blessings are infinite.)
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%209:38-41
Since I had my surgery, Sept 30 th, we have been going through a lot of stress. My surgery went well, but my daughter was “rear-ended”, before she left London. It was in our van, the driver left the scene of the accident eventually when he couldn’t talk her into taking money. My daughter has a bad whiplash, and can’t do her job! She will be off for some time, according to her doctor.
Our insurance now has “written off” our van, but are unwilling to give us the value of the vehicle. We had just put 2 new tires on it 9 days before the accident.
I know God is in control, and that He has a plan and a purpose for all this hassle. Still we have to go through the process of finding another vehicle and ” fight” for the value of this one.
Just thought I would like to share with you all what we are going through just now. It is encouraging to be reminded that Jesus guards the door to the sheep pen, and nothing get past Him.
David I trust you are home for good this time. Thank you for all you and your family do for all of us. God Bless you all.
Lord I pray for Your Highest and Best through the difficulties in the midst of Mary Stewart situations. I pray for your intervention regarding the finances re the van. Also I pray for healing for her daughter; a release from the pain and total healing of the whiplash. In Jesus Name I pray, Amen!
Yes amen Lord we pray for complete healing in Jesus name!
God is the Lord our healer. He has healed me of neck pain after prayer, several times. He can do anything we ask.
I get SO excited when people share their concerns and what is happening in their lives! Mary Stewart I am giving you a BIG HUG AND THANK YOU for letting us know what is going on! We all will pray for you and please keep us posted! Again thank you.
Yes, the Lord knows what is happening but at the time we wonder what is going on and is God listening and watching us! Of course we know that He is! We know that He has said in His Word that He will never leave us nor forsake us! That’s a promise from our Lord God!
Mary Stewart I pray that the angels will surround you and that the Holy Spirit will enter into your heart and remove the anxiety! I pray the angels will minister to your every need! We pray and we believe that your daughter will be completely healed!
We pray that the insurance company will give you the value of the van! We pray that there will be many many blessings coming out of this experience, blessings that will cover you and your family and that you will be greatly blessed, above and beyond your wildest imagination!
The Lord God reigns! He is our Provider, our Heavenly Father, He wants the best for us and He will make sure that happens!
God bless you Mary Stewart! Thank you again, it is as you said, Jesus guards the door and He will not let any evil in or near us. PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW! AMEN AMEN AMEN
Amazing message maybe as people of Jesus we need to get desperate to give the message to people who do not know about Jesus. Maybe that child attending school or a native so many do not know of the saving grace, joy and love our sheppard gives us each and every day. God Bless you David and family, your work is incredible.
Yes, indeed we need to work together.
Thank you Pastor David for completing the story of the Armenian Patriarchs: There is nothing to hard for the Lord: He is a Great and Mighty God!!!!
Thank you Jesus that you are “THE DOOR” to the sheepfold, and that you chose me to be one of your sheep.
“The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want, He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul: He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for You are will me; Your rod and your staff they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever” Plsam 23:1-6
oops should read “there is nothing too hard for the Lord:”
Please pray for emotional and physical healing for my sister Stella. She just turn 98 years on Oct. 20th. There are no broken bones, bruises, and the trauma of the fall, and aching of her body. thank you all and God bless your day.
Oh yes, a praise report : My sister is feeling better; the bleeding has subsided!!! Thank you Jesus, and thank you all for your prayers. Amen!
I meant my sister Ollie is feeling better…thanks for your prayers for her. She says the bleeding has stopped. Praise God!!