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

May 10, 2023

LIFE IN THE FOLD

Many of us have moments in our life that we are not proud of and wish we could go back and change or erase. Perhaps there were moments of shame and embarrassment where you felt humiliated or judged by others. There may even be things that have been kept hidden and secret, but they creep up in your thoughts from time to time. You know if anyone ever found out about them they would perhaps lose respect for you or say things that would make you feel like a failure and condemned.

Even though we may have repented and know that God has forgiven us, Satan will bring up things from the past from time to time, in order to heap guilt upon our head or make us feel unworthy. He wants to cause us to feel shame, so that we get distracted spiritually and draw away from God. Satan will use whatever tactic necessary to make us feel as if we aren't good enough, too ensnared by habits, have failed too many times, etc, in order to keep us from growing in our relationship with Jesus. He's a liar!

Have you ever known someone who is a great storyteller? They often will take something that is true, but then embellish it in order to come up with a good story.

Let me say upfront that I am not comparing those people to Satan, when I use this example! But that is often the tactic that the devil will use with us. He takes something that is true - something we've said or done or thought or been a part of - then will embellish it, in order to make us feel guilty and condemned and judged and embarrassed.

Have you ever read the book of Genesis in the Bible? If you read the story of Jacob, you will see times when he and his kids were rotten and times when they were blessed. Read Genesis chapters 27 through 50. There's too much to write about and it would take too long!

As quickly as I can: Jacob steals his brother, Esau's, blessing from their father by deceiving him into thinking he was Esau. Esau threatens to kill him, so their mama tells Jacob to go live with her brother, Laban. Jacob falls in love with the youngest daughter, Rachel, and works for her for 7 years. But Laban deceives him and gives him his oldest daughter, Leah, instead. Jacob ends up married to both daughters! Leah gives birth to sons, then stops conceiving. Rachel can't conceive, so is jealous of her sister. So they both decide to each give their personal servants to Jacob as additional wives. Rachel ends up birthing two sons, and Leah has more sons and a daughter. When it's all said and done, Jacob fathered 12 sons and 1 daughter.

Then his only daughter is raped, which angers her brothers. The man who did it, declared that he was in love with her and begged to marry her. But Dinah's brothers decided to take things into their own hands. They ended up killing all the men in the town and taking all the flocks, herds, donkeys - everything they could lay their hands on, both inside the town and outside in the fields. They looted all their wealth and plundered their houses; and took all the little children and wives as captives.

But God then spoke to Jacob! Jacob told everyone in his household to get rid of all of their pagan idols, purify themselves, and put on clean clothing. They were to go to Bethel to build an altar to God. Jacob buried all of the pagan idols. Then he built an altar to God.

Later, God appeared once again to Jacob at Bethel. God blessed him, saying, "Your name is Jacob, but you will not be called Jacob any longer. From now on, your name will be Israel."

Then God spoke a blessing over Jacob.

Prior to this, Jacob and his brother, Esau, were reconciled with one another.

Jacob was the father of Joseph, whose story is amazing! After years of thinking his son was dead, Jacob finds out that his much beloved son, Joseph, is alive and in a high level position in the government of Egypt. He got to see his son once again and spend time with him before his death.

When you read Jacob's story, you will read where some of his sons had moments of sin and rebellion, but then moments of blessing and forgiveness. The twelve tribes of Israel were named for each of Jacob's twelve sons.

No matter what your story may be, God loves you! God will give you grace, mercy and forgiveness, whenever you ask.... over and over again, if necessary. It's not a one-chance thing and if we mess up, then God withdraws His love.

Lamentations 3:22-23 says, "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to and end. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness."

Don't listen to the lies and deception of Satan! If he continues bringing up sins and failures of your past, and you know that you have repented and have been forgiven by God, then rebuke the devil when he brings those things up to you. Don't live with guilt and condemnation - for there is therefore no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus! He who the Son sets free is free indeed! When we become a child of God, the old man is put to death and we become a new creation in Christ. Remind Satan that he's talking about someone who no longer lives - for you have been made new and are a child of God!

JON'S PERSPECTIVE:

Satan knows that the best lies start with the truth. He quoted true scriptures to Jesus several times. Advertisers know the same thing. They usually start with something most people believe (or want to believe), like "You deserve this good thing." Then they claim the only way you can get it (or keep it) is to buy what they are selling.

God offers us salvation at no cost. What can Satan or anyone else offer us compared to salvation? And what can they offer us at no cost? It's a simple choice.

ON THE MENEWE:

Ranch Pork Chops

Place pork chops in the crockpot. Add additional ingredients to the top and stir.

Cook on low for 4-6 hours or under meat is tender.

THIS, THAT AND THE OTHER:

I pick up my nephew's two kids from pre-K in the afternoons. It's about a 20-25 minute drive from their school to their home. I have downloaded some kids shows on my tablet and let them take turns watching it in the car. To keep things straight so I remember whose turn it is, I've made this the rule: on days that begin with the letter "T", it is the little boys turn; on days that begin with any other letter, it is the little girls turn. Their dad picks them up on Fridays, so that gives them two days a week each for tablet time.

THOUGHT TO PONDER:

Do not be afraid or discouraged.

The battle is not yours, but God's. 2 Chronicles 20:15

OUR HEARTFELT THANKS TO YOU:

We love you!

Loretta & Jon

http://www.graysheep.org