Almost everyday from 2-4, my ministry looks like tutoring. Almost everyday, Kevin brings his sheep to tutoring. A real life, real breathing, fluffy sheep named Lucida. Unfortunately, we have one major rule at ministry and in Guatemala and that is DO NOT TOUCH THE ANIMALS. This rule is set into place due to fleas, rabies, and etc. Now I’m not tempted to touch the dogs, cats, chickens, pigs, but you see, Lucida the sheep really tempts me. She’s fluffy, tiny, and I just want to swing her over my shoulder like a Shepard. However, as children of God we can conquer temptations. Hallelujah amen. But this past Thursday really pushed the limits….
It was sunny, the game was ultimate frisbee, and Kevin and his sheep were on my team. The temptation was at my fingertips. Lucida (the sheep incase you forgot) was within reach. The question: should I disobey leadership and risk getting sent back to the states by the rabies Lucida may or may not have, and fulfill all my life dreams? This predicament crossed my mind, and with a posture of transparency- it didn’t just cross my mind, it lingered for a minute. However, my thoughts and wanderings were quickly interrupted by a small but still “baaaa” coming out of Kevin’s mouth. Lucida was no longer in my grasp but instead she was running after Kevin. I stood there in disbelief. And of course I myself attempted this small “baaa” but it was no use. Kevin had Lucida’s full attention. Where he went, she went, if he ran, she ran, and if he stayed still, she stayed still. The sheep knew Kevin was her leader, and me as a distraction had no purpose in her life. And that’s when it hit me.
“The one who enters by the gate is the Shepard of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought all his own outside, he goes ahead of them. The sheep follow him because they know his voice. They will never follow a stranger, instead they will run away from him, because they don’t know the voice of strangers.” John 10:2-5
Holy cow. HE CALLS HIS OWN SHEEP AND LEADS THEM OUT. LEADS THEM OUT OF HEARTBREAK, ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, ANGER, HE LEADS THEM OUT OF ANYTHING THAT IS NOT FROM HIM. Come on. As a child of God, we know his voice and when the enemy comes and tries to distract us from the things God has for us, we will not be phased. Because our eyes are on the Shepard. The Shepard who protects. The Shepard who leads. The Shepard who takes care of us. The Shepard who saves us from things that are meant to harm us or lead us astray. THANK YOU JESUS!! Take peace in this. He knows you by name, everything that you are going through is not a surprise to him, he wants you. He wants you to trust him. He wants you to follow him. He wants your heart, because he has so many good things for you. Like woah. What a reminder. Thanks God for knowing my name. Thanks Kevin for bring your sheep to ministry everyday.
With all that being said, I’m praying for you and your support means everything.
-kJ
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