"The Genuine Shepherd"

 "I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep." (John 10:11 KJV)

  "Please listen, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph's descendants like a flock. O God, enthroned above the cherubim, display your radiant glory to Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh. Show us your mighty power. Come rescue us!" (Psalm 80:1-2 NLT) 

 As to the condition my condition might be, it is well with my soul! Quite frankly, if all is stripped away, I really don't think I would care too much about it; it seems to be such a burden anyway, if it's not mine, why should it matter if it's all taken away? 

 Have you ever had one of those strange dreams, that wake you up, thinking, 'What the heck was that?' 'It might just be a sign,' you wonder, as if there was some sort of a message God was giving; much like the one's the Baker and the Butler had, when they explained their weird dreams to Daniel. Or the dream that Pharoh had, about skinny cows eating fat cows! Who would have guessed how important that dream actually turned out to be? 

 There is something you should be aware of, as if you don't know already: those of us that are the Lord's, we do not belong to this world! This world might think that it owns us, but we belong to Christ Jesus: He purchased us with His blood, and we have been redeemed for all eternity! So, just in case you might be wondering or concerned about anything that is going on, you can take a great sigh of relief, because it is really none of your concern! 

 I know, it is hard not to be concerned, after all, you really hate to see everything go to waste. Something that my mom would always say, mostly concerning food that was set before us: "Waste not, want not." I am pretty sure that counts more importantly for the Word of God...

"For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps. He never sinned, nor deceived anyone. He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly. He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed. Once you were like sheep who wandered away. But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls." (1 Peter 2:21-25 NLT)