The Good Shepherd. (Thursday Thoughts)

Do you ever have one of those nights where you sleep but it's a 10 minutes here 10 minutes there kind of sleep? Well I have....my loves decided it was one of those nights last night. So today I am a bit of a zombie of sorts. I know there are places I need to go and things I need to get done but I am in a fog (thank you iPhone calendar for keeping me on track!) So pardon my disorganization....

This week I ordered a few new devotions for myself, I have one handy for little ones but I haven't had one just specifically for me for a while now (other than the Bible itself). So I splurged and invested in a few. But until they get here I still am reading and exploring and rediscovering things that I learned in my youth. I love that about life and the Word, there is never a right time to go to it, but even better there is never a wrong time. It takes two seconds to find a verse or passage that can change your entire outlook for the day. I love every inch of that thought. 

Here is what touched me today: 

^{John 10:14} “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— ¹⁵ just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. ¹⁶ I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. ¹⁷ The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. ¹⁸ No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”

There is something so powerful in this, for me. (Pardon the rambling) It is so simply put. It is so basic. He is the Good Shepherd. He is the barrier for us in all times of our life, whether we choose to believe it or not. He is the Good Shepherd. That statement right there just hit home with me today. For so many reasons. He chooses to stay when others run away from us, even in our times of trouble He is there. He wants to see us succeed, even when others do not. If we stray He is there waiting and protecting us. That, my friends, is all the pixie dust I need. I love knowing He is there, no matter what. Period. 

So have a wonderful day, this day before Friday. God has today covered. 

Bethanie Nicole Photography

Waiting Patiently

I love cold weather and so does Mini....we wait year round for it. The cold gets us ready for hot chocolate, peppermint scented and flavored everything, layered clothes (cute coats), gloves galore, and the most snugly of blankets. Today has been no exceptions in the cold department, though we are still waiting on our snow (cue sad face.)

We snuggled with the puppies, we snuggled and watched Max and Ruby, Charlie and Lola, we snuggled and read our Christmas themed books, we snuggled and read our devotions...it was a sweet morning one that I will not forget. Today we read about how important each and everyone of us are...

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.-Psalm 139:14

What an amazing thing to know in your heart, no matter how old or young you are, you are perfectly you. Have a blessed day! 

Take everyday and make it wonderful.