Living & Loving Intentionally

  In my studies this morning I was looking up, what is a shepherd?  What does it mean to shepherd people?    In 2nd Samual 5:1-5 it talks about "the Shephard King", referring to David who was a shepherd and many years later became a king.  I look at Jesus, he was born in a manger in a barn.  In the Bible there are many references to the Shepherd and the Sheep. Jesus being the Shepherd and his followers being the sheep. To shepherd means to lead and guide.  I just took a spiritual gifts test and my top 3 strengths are Administrative, Serving & Shepherding.  So my curiosity and study of Advent this month of December has brought me to Psalm 23,       "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 for His name's sake.  Even though I walk though the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; your rod and Your

  I’ve been thinking lots on purpose, or lack there of, our human search for love and acceptance, our youth, even us adult selves who have a pained, misdefined child inside.   I've pondered lots about our hearts, you may ask why? Well hearts can be broken, wounded, damaged and scarred. Each of us lives our life from our hearts, in whatever state they are in. I desire a completed, whole heart, even if there are a few scars, to be able to live and love consciously at every turn and situation. I’ve realized my life has consisted of looking for purpose, for love, for intelligence, for just the right level of defense, for friendship, for satisfaction... all in the world and in people. In my 42 years of life, I have much to learn but I see around me, an increase in suicide, drug addiction, gender dysphoria, political discourse from far extremes, harsh words being spoken through "freedom of speech", flailing for meaning and pursuit of "freedoms" when really many are no

This life has led my family and myself down paths of heartache, feelings of defeat, loss, tears, distress and mental, emotional, and spiritual challenge.  When my kids were little, I would not say I believed in anything spiritual, in fact I denied any realm of believing in a God because of a very painful divorce that my parents ensued.  The results sent a tidal wave through not only them but my sister, myself and into the far reaches of our extended family. As Jeff and I's oldest daughter pursues getting married during the Corona Virus and our youngest daughter is getting healing, I write, I ponder and I pray my heart out for answers, for solutions, for deep rippling effects of God to span in and through my family and far beyond. I had never read the book of Lamentations.  I was led there during a devotional in June.  3:22-23 were the verses highlighted, which say, “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; gr