I am the good shepherd.  The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep John 10:11

My sheep hear my voice.  I know them.   They follow me.   John 10:27.

MEDITATION  5         A week-end Prayer and Contemplation.

                                                                           HE SPEAKS

  Many believers will still tell us the Shepherd will only (in our 2015 days) speak through the Word.  I know He speaks through His Word…possibly that is the more general way.  I know He speaks through the mouths of others – usually innocent children.  Life experience has taught me unquestionably that if we do not limit HIM by human perceptions He will relate to each one of us according to His Will and intentionality.

     I absolutely KNOW – He speaks (certainly in my experience not in a booming voice in my ears but clearly, gently and precisely).  It’s a knowing in the mind and heart and an absolute certainty He speaks.

I could share many incidents with life-changing impact on other lives but I will share one here with the intention of simply inspiring folk to get closer and make your relationship with the Lord ‘strongly connected’ not abstract.   He is a PERSONAL GOD. His desire is for communication.

       I was washing dishes in the sink.  My day was to be one of quiet maintenance of home life.  I heard – not in my ears – but in my mind….GO TO TOWN!

       Why would I go to town?   I was busy.  I had things to do.   I kinda argued……What absolute nonsense! I’ll have a cup of coffee!

        Gently forcibly ….Go to town….now!

        This was not threatening but resonated in my mind.

         I grabbed my hand bag and set off on the 30 minute drive to town. Absolute peace was in the car and all over me.  But where to go?

         I parked the car and walked into the main entrance of the mall.

         My dear friend stood in the doorway.     ‘I prayed’ she said ‘I asked the Lord to bring you. My cancer has progressed quite alarmingly.  I may not live even until my 50th birthday (6 weeks away).

          She was amazingly serene. “My life and my death are all in His Hands”.

  We spent the most wonderful time together that day.  We shared lunch, laughter – we went shopping. We prayed…we shared God stories.  It remains a memory which inspires my life through all the intervening years.

      Beautiful Kay indeed went home to the Lord on the day after her 50th birthday.   She never lived to see her children grow up or her beautiful grandchildren BUT she left an eternal legacy of faith to her family and I thank God that on that day He spoke to me.  I heard Him.   I have heard His Voice several time since.   Praise His Holy Name!  a-men.

This image of the Shepherd was like the one I gave to Kay. I painted it on canvas with a painting by numbers craft set.

                   PRAISE GOD THAT JESUS CHRIST IS THE GOOD SHEPHERD.