THE NEW EWE

"What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!'"

Luke 15:4-6

February 17, 2021

LIFE IN THE FOLD:

Have you ever felt as if no one truly understood how you felt or what you were going through? There may even be times when you feel as if Jesus doesn't really understand or know; after all, He is perfect and in heaven and God's Son. Perhaps you pour out your heart, in prayer, but doubt may whisper that God isn't really interested or you are wasting His time; or that there are people with bigger needs than yours, so your concerns or feelings are not important enough to bother God with.

The truth is, Jesus lived, in human-form, on earth so He does understand and know. He went through many of the same things that we do and had feelings and emotions.

Jesus was born in Bethlehem, instead of the hometown where Mary and Joseph lived, due to the census being taken. Then an angel warned Joseph, in a dream, that King Herod was looking for Jesus in order to kill him, so told him to take his family to Egypt. Some time later, they had heard that the king had died, so headed back to Israel. Then an angel once again spoke to Joseph, through a dream, and warned him to go to the region of Galilee instead, so they settled in a town called Nazareth.

When Jesus began His ministry at the age of thirty, He spent all His time traveling from place to place, dependent on others opening their homes to Him. He likely spent many nights sleeping outdoors, wherever He happened to be at the time.

In Matthew chapter 8, Jesus was speaking about the cost of following Him and said, "Foxes have dens and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head." (verse 20)

Perhaps you've traveled and lived numerous places during your lifetime and feel as if you've never really had stability or lived anywhere long enough to really make close friends or build relationships. You may feel lonely or unsettled. Perhaps you feel as if you've never really put down roots anywhere.

Jesus understands! He, too, lived in various places and during the last three years of His life on earth, was basically homeless. He spent those years traveling from town to town ministering. If that is your situation, pour out your heart to Jesus and know that He truly does understand.

Have you ever felt misunderstood among your family and those who know you? Perhaps in their attempt to "protect" you, instead of encouraging and supporting you in doing what you feel like God wants you to do, they find reasons why you shouldn't do it. Perhaps you feel as if they don't truly respect you. In fact, you may get more honor and encouragement from people who don't know you well, than from those who have watched you grow up and have loved you for many years.

Jesus and His disciples returned to Nazareth, the hometown of Jesus. On Sabbath, Jesus began teaching in the synagogue. Many began scoffing and asking, "Where did He get all this wisdom and the power to perform such miracles? He's just a carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon. His sisters live right here among us." They were deeply offended and refused to believe Him.

Jesus told them, "A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his relatives and his own family." Because of the people's unbelief, Jesus couldn't do any miracles among them, except to place His hands on a few sick and heal them. He was amazed at their unbelief.

There may be times when someone has honored you and blessed you with a wonderful gift, and others judge or complain. Perhaps you see the heart of the giver and know their desire is to do something special for you. Or you may have been the one who was the giver instead of the receiver, and others judged your gift and motives.

In Mark chapter 14:3-9 we read this story: Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon. While He was eating, a woman came in with a beautiful alabaster jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard. She broke open the jar and poured the perfume over His head. Some at the table were indignant. "Why waste such expensive perfume? It could have been sold for a year's wages and the money given to the poor!" Scripture says that they kept scolding her.

Jesus replied, "Leave her alone. Why criticize her for doing such a good thing to Me? You will always have the poor among you, and you can help them whenever you want to. But you will not always have Me." In fact, Jesus said that "wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman's deed will be remembered and discussed."

Have you ever felt like when you needed your loved ones or close friends the most, they weren't there for you? They may have had good intentions, but you felt deserted and alone to endure a particular hardship. Jesus, too, understands that!

On the night that Jesus was betrayed, He took His disciples to Gethsemane with Him. Jesus said, "Sit here while I go and pray." He took Peter, James and John with Him, and He became deeply troubled and distressed. He told them, "My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with Me."

Jesus went on a little further and fell to the ground. He prayed that, if it were possible, the awful hour awaiting Him might pass Him by. "Abba Father, everything is possible for You. Please take this cup of suffering away from Me. Yet I want Your will to be done, not Mine."

He returned back to where the disciples were and found them asleep. He said to Peter, "Are you asleep? Couldn't you watch with me even one hour?" Then Jesus left them again and went back and prayed. When He returned to them again, He found them sleeping, for they couldn't keep their eyes open. This happened a third time and Jesus said, "Go ahead and sleep. Have your rest. The time has come. Look, My betrayer is here."

Not only were those closest to Jesus not there when He most needed them, but while in the garden praying, Jesus experienced what it felt like to know that great suffering and death was going to happen for Him soon. He knew that mocking and torment and betrayal was going to take place. He cried out to His Father, "Please take this cup of suffering away from Me!"

Jesus knows what it is to suffer. He knows what it feels like to pray that the suffering be taken away, yet the Father choose to not do so. He knows what it is to experience physical pain. He knows what it feels like to be mocked and betrayed. He knows what it's like to have the one closest to Him (Peter) deny knowing Him, due to fear of what might happen should he be connected as being a disciple of Jesus. Jesus knows what it feels like to be in the throes of death while seeing His earthly mother and followers stand nearby weeping.

Jesus can truly empathize with each of us, regardless of how we feel or what we may endure! Allow Him to be the first One that you call upon, in all situations. Cry out to Him, share your heart and know that He really does understand and care.

There's an old hymn that says, "No one ever cared for me, like Jesus. There's no other friend so kind as He. No one else could take the sin and darkness from me. Oh how much He cared for me."

Another old hymn says, "O yes, He cares; I know He cares. His heart is touched with my grief. When the days are weary, the long night dreary; I know my Savior cares."

That is truth! Jesus cares for you and every single thing that concerns you. He cares when you are sad, weary, heart-broken, sick, in pain, ridiculed, hurt, abused, lonely, etc. He loves you with an everlasting love that will never change or lessen. No matter how much your parents, spouse, children, grandchildren, siblings, friends love you -- Jesus loves you even more!

JON'S PERSPECTIVE:

There are a lot of heated arguments lately about some important points in theology. One of the most heated is whether we should participate in the safe practices to avoid COVID-19. On one side, there are many believers who say God protects us, so we don't need masks or to avoid those who are contagious. On the other side, people say God gives us the wisdom to use safe practices without cowering in fear. In the end, I think we each have to find our own compromise. We listen to God, and if He tells us something specific, follow that, and allow others the freedom to listen to God and follow what He tells them. It may not be the same.

But in general, Jesus tells us very clearly that we will suffer in this world. We aren't exempt. But we can go through anything with Jesus at our sides.

Psalm 116:15 says, "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints." It doesn't say that the Lord never allows the death of His saints. But the Lord does not take it lightly. And rest assured that He doesn't take any of our suffering lightly, either. Jesus suffered, and understands our hearts when we suffer. He has been there.

ON THE MENEWE:

Calico Bean Chili

Pour beans (all drained except for the black beans and baked beans), Rotel, and diced tomatoes in crockpot.

Brown sausage with one small chopped onion and minced garlic; drain. Saute' with one package of chili seasoning. Add meat mixture to crockpot and cook on low for 8-10 hours or on high for 3-4 hours.

This could also be made on the stovetop.

Great eaten with crackers or cornbread. Can be topped with shredded cheese or sour cream.

THIS, THAT AND THE OTHER:

When one of my nieces was around four of five years of age, my sister went to a fabric store and took her kids with her. They had a kiddie corner, and she left her daughter there to play while she shopped. Her son was a baby at that time, so she kept him with her. She stayed within range so she could keep an eye out and watch her little girl.

My sister overheard her daughter talking to another little girl. She was asking the other girl if she went to church and if she knew Jesus.

On the way home, she proudly told her mom, "I witnessed today to another girl at the store."

My sister said, "I know you did. I heard you and am very proud of you."

My niece asked, "How much are you going to pay me?"

My sister had to explain to her that witnessing is something you do because you love Jesus, not because you want to be paid for it!

THOUGHT TO PONDER:

If you judge people, you have no time to love them. - Mother Teresa

OUR HEARTFELT THANKS TO YOU:

We love you!

Loretta & Jon

http://www.graysheep.org