Coming Home
" Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" -Philippians 4:4
-Chris Daughtry "Home"
It’s just God and you. The Sheppard and his lamb, walking along the smooth path of righteousness. Everything is perfect and fine. The lamb is safe in the shadow of the loving Sheppard, and she has nothing to fear. Then suddenly she spots a patch of grass along the side of the road. The Sheppard warns her not to wander too far off, and she promises she won’t. She reaches the grass alone, and she can still hear her protectors voice behind her. “Don’t wander too far off.” he calls. And at the time, she says she won’t. But then she spots a whole pasture of soft grass and pretty flowers a little farther off. “It’ll just be a second.” she thinks. “It’s not too far, I can make it back.” And she walks off a little bit, as the Sheppard’s caring voice starts to fade away. She reaches the grassy fields with a happy and giddy feeling. “I’ll just be here a few seconds.” But the few seconds roll into minutes, and the minutes roll into hours. Until suddenly she realizes she cannot hear her beloved Sheppard calling out her name. The empty plot is no longer a grassy pasture, the deserted terrain not a friendly flowerbed. The colorful flowers are now sharp, jagged rocks; the playful woodland creatures now menacing monsters. The once comforting pasture has left her empty and dry, and she realizes that in the midst of her wandering off, she has gotten lost. How she wishes to call out to the one she loves most, but the pride building up inside stops her. The sharp thorns are scratching her delicate frame, the frightening animals that were once her friends now closing in one her. She knows the only option left is to cry out for her Sheppard, and so she calls for help from the only person she really has left. And within seconds, he is suddenly beside her. The threatening wild animals are nothing compared to her Savior, and they flee out of fear. Then her caring Sheppard scoops up the wounded and limp body in his gentle and strong arms, and carries her back to the road.
We are much like the lamb that had wandered off. Helpless and small, but capable of anything when walking besides the Savior. And yet how easily we wander off in the pursuit of happiness, of the world, and of finding love elsewhere. Sometimes, we even go so far that we cannot hear the voice of our loving Sheppard calling us back again. And we don’t realize we’re lost until the world leaves us empty and dry; our friends turning against us, and our money always elusive. That’s when we need a Savior to carry us back home, because without him, we would never be able to find out way. But when we make it there, we find the hardest struggles are when we have reached tour home.
The lamb is now safely at home, bruised and scraped, but at least besides her Savior. They continue on the road, and he carries her securely until she is ready to walk on her own. That is when she must be wary, for the biggest storm is on its way. You see, though her Savior knows every piece about her, the attacker knows her name, as well. His intentions? To strip her of her identity and her joy in the Sheppard. And once he has done that? To destroy her. And he has studied her for quite a while, memorizing her weaknesses, knowing her pursuits and wants, and carefully planning a trap. A trap that will take her far away from the arms of her Savior, and into his clutches. For he cannot touch a hair on her head when she is with her Sheppard, but when she is walks away, she is completely vulnerable. The attacker will first send out distractions, fluttering butterflies that she can chase, sweet treats that she can eat, and of course, grassy pastures that she can lie on. Though it is a struggle for her, as she has already tasted a bit of the world, she must stay close to her Sheppard and she will always be safe. Then the attacker resorts to tribulation, throwing out pain and fear and sorrow in the little lamb’s path. In these times it is hard to follow the Sheppard, for she knows not where he goes, but she must trust him as they walk together. Thankfully, she trusts and follows her Sheppard as he leads her out of the trials that tested her, and she walks out, her mind and body stronger, her heart refined, and her head held high. At last the Savior can lead her to his kingdom home, where she will be safe and joyful for all of eternity.
But what would have happened if she hadn’t followed and trusted her Savior the whole way through? What would have happened if she has wandered off again? Would she be so fortunate this time? Or by the time she remembered her Savior, would it be too late? Sure, she had her doubts and fears, but in the end, she held steadfast to the one she loved. Jesus never promised life would be easy, in fact he guaranteed trials and tribulations. It is through these that we are tested, strengthened, and refined, until we shine like gold. I pray that God gives you strength to make it thought every tribulation, and that one day, we will be reunited in God’s heavenly kingdom.
Karisa
Well I'm going home,
Back to the place where I belong,
And where your love has always been enough for me.
I'm not running from.
No, I think you got me all wrong.
I don't regret this life I chose for me.
But these places and these faces are getting old,
So I'm going home.
Back to the place where I belong,
And where your love has always been enough for me.
I'm not running from.
No, I think you got me all wrong.
I don't regret this life I chose for me.
But these places and these faces are getting old,
So I'm going home.
My Sheppard’s Psalm
A story I wrote a while ago on God's call home and never ending love :)
A story I wrote a while ago on God's call home and never ending love :)
It’s just God and you. The Sheppard and his lamb, walking along the smooth path of righteousness. Everything is perfect and fine. The lamb is safe in the shadow of the loving Sheppard, and she has nothing to fear. Then suddenly she spots a patch of grass along the side of the road. The Sheppard warns her not to wander too far off, and she promises she won’t. She reaches the grass alone, and she can still hear her protectors voice behind her. “Don’t wander too far off.” he calls. And at the time, she says she won’t. But then she spots a whole pasture of soft grass and pretty flowers a little farther off. “It’ll just be a second.” she thinks. “It’s not too far, I can make it back.” And she walks off a little bit, as the Sheppard’s caring voice starts to fade away. She reaches the grassy fields with a happy and giddy feeling. “I’ll just be here a few seconds.” But the few seconds roll into minutes, and the minutes roll into hours. Until suddenly she realizes she cannot hear her beloved Sheppard calling out her name. The empty plot is no longer a grassy pasture, the deserted terrain not a friendly flowerbed. The colorful flowers are now sharp, jagged rocks; the playful woodland creatures now menacing monsters. The once comforting pasture has left her empty and dry, and she realizes that in the midst of her wandering off, she has gotten lost. How she wishes to call out to the one she loves most, but the pride building up inside stops her. The sharp thorns are scratching her delicate frame, the frightening animals that were once her friends now closing in one her. She knows the only option left is to cry out for her Sheppard, and so she calls for help from the only person she really has left. And within seconds, he is suddenly beside her. The threatening wild animals are nothing compared to her Savior, and they flee out of fear. Then her caring Sheppard scoops up the wounded and limp body in his gentle and strong arms, and carries her back to the road.
We are much like the lamb that had wandered off. Helpless and small, but capable of anything when walking besides the Savior. And yet how easily we wander off in the pursuit of happiness, of the world, and of finding love elsewhere. Sometimes, we even go so far that we cannot hear the voice of our loving Sheppard calling us back again. And we don’t realize we’re lost until the world leaves us empty and dry; our friends turning against us, and our money always elusive. That’s when we need a Savior to carry us back home, because without him, we would never be able to find out way. But when we make it there, we find the hardest struggles are when we have reached tour home.
The lamb is now safely at home, bruised and scraped, but at least besides her Savior. They continue on the road, and he carries her securely until she is ready to walk on her own. That is when she must be wary, for the biggest storm is on its way. You see, though her Savior knows every piece about her, the attacker knows her name, as well. His intentions? To strip her of her identity and her joy in the Sheppard. And once he has done that? To destroy her. And he has studied her for quite a while, memorizing her weaknesses, knowing her pursuits and wants, and carefully planning a trap. A trap that will take her far away from the arms of her Savior, and into his clutches. For he cannot touch a hair on her head when she is with her Sheppard, but when she is walks away, she is completely vulnerable. The attacker will first send out distractions, fluttering butterflies that she can chase, sweet treats that she can eat, and of course, grassy pastures that she can lie on. Though it is a struggle for her, as she has already tasted a bit of the world, she must stay close to her Sheppard and she will always be safe. Then the attacker resorts to tribulation, throwing out pain and fear and sorrow in the little lamb’s path. In these times it is hard to follow the Sheppard, for she knows not where he goes, but she must trust him as they walk together. Thankfully, she trusts and follows her Sheppard as he leads her out of the trials that tested her, and she walks out, her mind and body stronger, her heart refined, and her head held high. At last the Savior can lead her to his kingdom home, where she will be safe and joyful for all of eternity.
But what would have happened if she hadn’t followed and trusted her Savior the whole way through? What would have happened if she has wandered off again? Would she be so fortunate this time? Or by the time she remembered her Savior, would it be too late? Sure, she had her doubts and fears, but in the end, she held steadfast to the one she loved. Jesus never promised life would be easy, in fact he guaranteed trials and tribulations. It is through these that we are tested, strengthened, and refined, until we shine like gold. I pray that God gives you strength to make it thought every tribulation, and that one day, we will be reunited in God’s heavenly kingdom.
Thanks for reading everyone! Praise the Lord for such a wonderful and caring Master, our great redeemer, Savior, and love :) Hallelujiah indeed. God bless and shine on, my stars.
Blessings,
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