Removing Dingle-Berries

Spoiler/Warning:  Farm life is rarely politically correct.  And, while the example below may seem offensive to some Bible scholars, Jesus called Himself the "good Shepherd," presenting Himself through the lowly, real objects of daily life.

Wednesday is barn-cleaning day.  While the girls shoveled cow schlpoo, I clipped dingle-berries from the back end of sheep.  Usually it doesn't need to be done, but a couple of the gals ate something they shouldn't have and the dingle-berries grew, interfering with normal functions, creating a maggot habitat.
You may wonder what this has to do with Jesus, the "Heart Quencher." Just this: Jesus is our Shepherd.  Just like a shepherd protects the flock from many things, including disease, Jesus protects us from the ill effects of sin by cleansing and restoring us.  It's up-close and personal.
Our youngest daughter helped me herd the ewes into the barn, down the alley, and into a jug (pen) that happened to be too big.  The sheep evaded me and pushed their weight around, endangering all of us while I had scissors in hand.  After shuffling them to a smaller pen, I climbed over the side and got to work, snipping matted wool that might otherwise become infected or infested.

As I walked back to the house, I thought of Jesus, our Great Shepherd.  We shared a comeraderie today as I realized: 
- Young shepherds tend to move quickly and make loud noises, frightening the sheep.  An experienced shepherd walks slowly, talks softly, and stays behind the sheep, guiding them to an exact destination. 
-  A shepherd creates order out of chaos.
-  A shepherd uses other sheep to buffer a new situation, control those who need care, and settle the unsettled. 
-  A shepherd speaks reassuringly to all the sheep while working closely and personally with each one.
-  A shepherd uses different instruments for different jobs: in this case, utility scissors vs. finely-pointed ones.  The wise shepherd uses the tool that is best suited for each situation. 

It's fair to say that all of suffer from dingle-berries that resulted from poor decisions.  But it's equally right to say that Jesus desires to free us of our sin and restore our spiritual health.  Perhaps God is trimming away sin in your life through people, circumstances, or His Word.  He is the only One who can do it with the quietness, gentleness, and sensitivity that lead to healing and restoration. 
A final word about sheep:  Not one of them said thank you.  Have you thanked your Shepherd today?

Falling Short

"There is a huge difference, I have found, between committment and surrender.  Committment says,'I can.  I'll do it somehow.  I'll serve you, Lord.  I'll keep my promises this time, you'll see.  I'll witness this year, I'll lead that Bible study.  I'll stay away from alcohol, drugs, etc.'  But surrender says,'I can't.  I've tried, but I don't have the strength.  Lord if it's going to happen, the only way it can is if You are in the boat, calling the shots.'"  (Roger Glidewell, Youth Ministry by the Book, p. 26).

Last weekend, while we were celebrating our son's graduation, visiting family was showing mercy:  buying crepe-paper poppies and slipping money into the pockets of needy individuals they didn't even know.  Their examples were both encouraging and discouraging, because there were people in the back of my mind I'd been wanting, intending, to help, for weeks.

This week passed and people nagged at my thoughts, but I just didn't get done.  Until yesterday.  And maybe today.  And as I lay in bed this morning giving thanks, I was reminded that, "it is God who works in you, both to will and to do for His good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13).  I can have the best intentions in the world.  I can have the best, most creative intentions in the world.  I can have the best, most creative, and earnest intentions in the world.  But apart from the hand of God, they won't happen.  Without God, something will thwart those good works, those good ideas, every time.

This morning I'm praising God that He accomplishes His good work:  being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.(Philippians 1:6, Ephesians 2:10).

And the question is not, am I committed to God and doing His work?  The real question is, am I surrendered to giving up my way and waiting on God to accomplish His?

Bragging on God

Our oldest son is graduating this weekend.  I've drug out the papers and art projects that were squirreled away in the basement, scanned pre-digital photos and put them together for a slide show.  And it's time.  Time to brag on God.

With graduation looming, floods of answered prayer come to mind. A friend and I meet weekly to pray for our children and schools and this is how we've seen God work:
- We prayed that God would expose dangerous substances in our community and that very night police arrested members of a drug ring from Chicago at the local grocery store.  Shots were fired.  No one was hurt.
- We continue to pray for the safety of our high school and middle school students.  For the last three years, there have been no end-of-the-year or alcohol-related accidents.  We have specifically asked God to intervene in cases of attempted suicide, and have seen His hand in that as well.
-  We have prayed for those who guide and guard our schools:  the administrators, school board, and counselors.  God has continued to prompt them to lead with righteousness and justice.
- We have asked God to make Himself known through excellence in our education system, and this is the result: http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/West-Liberty-Cracks-Iowa-Top-Ten-in-Best-High-Schools-Rankings-151057875.html
- We pray for strength and perseverance for our teachers, for unmet and hidden needs of students, for attentiveness and diligence.  God provides.
- We have prayed about weather for both school- and construction-related events and praised God as He worked all things for His glory.

Personally, I am praising, blessing, and thanking God for the years we've enjoyed with our son.  We are extremely blessed and proud of him, of who he is, of who he will become.  He will be missed at our house and enjoyed elsewhere.

In wrapping up the school year, I ran across this verse: Thus says the Lord, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the Lord. (Jeremiah 9:23-24).

This is my God--a God of kindness,  justice and righteousness who is actively at work. Have you seen Him lately?  It's your turn to brag!