What If...

Have you suffered from ‘what if’ syndrome? I have, and it can get you down when you second guess each decision you made down through the years. The big things like, what if I….did better at school?.....learned that musical instrument?....picked different friends?....listened to my parents more?....married a different person?.... took that better paid job?....saved more instead of spending so much?... The list is endless, and will get us down because all these things are in the past and we can do nothing about them now.

Now, take a step back, and look at life from where you are. Life really isn’t so bad is it? Yes, there have been bad times, but these are far outnumbered by the good times. How did I get such a loving spouse, who put up with all my issues down the years? How did it work out that I have lovely children, and terrific grandchildren? The job I had paid well enough to allow us to go away on a family holiday most years. I have friends that I wouldn’t trade for anything. I found my Saviour, or to be more accurate, He found me! Things are really pretty good.

So, instead of mulling over all those ‘what ifs’ down the years, count all those blessings that came your way in spite of the apparently wrong decisions. When you have finished counting them, count again and and give thanks. Every time we made a decision in the past (and those still to come) God was right there beside us, and He knew where it would lead. I don’t want it to come across irreverently, but I can imagine Jesus looking on and smiling at our feeble attempts at life and decision making, and saying “don’t worry, I’ve got this”. The Word of God reminds us in Romans 8:28 “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” NLT. Next time you are tempted to go down the old ‘what if’ road, hold that verse close. When we are in God’s family, we are blessed beyond measure, and in spite of our own failings as we may see them at the time. After all, He was at least one step ahead of us every time, and still is!

Tended Sheep

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.

He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness…. Psalm 23:1-3

We are all familiar with the parable of the lost sheep where the shepherd searched diligently for the one lost sheep. Over the years I have come to think we miss something about the shepherd. Yes, he searches out the lost, but does he stand idly by twiddling his thumbs, waiting for one of those stupid sheep to get lost? NO!!

The familiar Psalm 23 which we all love holds some vital clues about the ‘Good Shepherd’. His time is mostly spent looking after the sheep he has in the fold. The ones which are not lost. He values them. Read the verses over again, because this is not a Shepherd who idly waits for one to go missing. He is actively making sure each one feels worth His attention, and valued. He IS the shepherd after all, so would we expect any less?

Church leaders and pastors, by definition are ‘shepherds’, and as such have a responsibility to tend (I love that word of caring) the sheep which are faithful and remain within the fold. While we remember the one that strayed, keep in mind the other ninety-nine which were secure in the pen. So, where is the bulk of the shepherd’s time spent, if not on the ones which already are safe? It is down to the tending of the Good Shepherd that more are not lost, and similarly it is the driving force and heart of our earthly Pastors who help the sheep that need his attention. So, what else is in the Good Shepherd’s mind? Nothing! Just the wellbeing of the sheep that already are His.

There are too many ways to mention where a Pastor can help his flock, but they all come down to one characteristic. Like the Good Shepherd, he must care for all his flock, to the exclusion of all else.

Lost

She was 8 years old, pretty as a picture, the apple of her mum and dad’s eye, and she was lost. Panic had already set in when meal time arrived and she wasn’t in the back garden where they had last seen her, when they told her to play until dinner was ready. It wasn’t a long time, but she was gone and a search party was organised quickly. They lived on an estate which opened out to a large open field and wooded area to the rear of the property. No one wanted to say what they were thinking, or dreading.

After a short time which felt like an eternity, the lost was found, curled up under a small bush fast asleep. Unharmed and unafraid. Before daddy could sweep her up into his safe arms, he noticed that the fingers of one hand were wrapped tightly round the fourth finger of her other hand. In no time, Betsy was home, having dinner, none the worse for her ordeal. In fact she was the only one who wasn’t worried.

When it was time for bed, mum took her little girl upstairs and after reading a story, asked why she had been clutching her finger so tightly. With a big smile, Betsy told how she had listened to her Sunday School teacher the week before who told them how to remember the first part of Psalm 23. Pointing to each finger in turn, she recited, “The-Lord-is-MY-Shepherd” and when she had strayed from home and got worried, she clutched the fourth finger that said ‘MY’ and the fear left. So from a little girl we are reminded of the lesson in Psalm 23:1 we all need to hear. “The Lord is MY shepherd”. Mine. It is personal. Jesus is mine, and let’s never forget it! Amen.