What's Bugging YOU?

Anything "bugging" you today? Anything appearing to not fit in what the day should look like or what was expected?

When we realize that this world has multitudes of people and change will happen at a given moment in time, then we understand the importance of having an all-knowing God on the scene of our lives!
To me, each day is like making a trip across country. No matter what you plan for along the way, other people will change it or help you make another plan. As I had written in an earlier blog, traveling with our grand-child last fall added to our delight of travel and seeing things through her eyes she had not seen before added enjoyment and laughter too, at some point, but it was truly rich when we relaxed in knowing God was with us and see the best be done for His will for our lives.
Now if anyone knew me before my walk with Jesus, they would surely know I had to have a hard copy of a list to what to wear, what to eat, where to eat, and how far to travel in each day. Seriously!  I kid you not!

Proverbs 16:9.............9 A man's heart plans his way,
But the LORD directs his steps. NKJV

I have always told my husband that I know God loves to laugh and I believe He laughs when we tell Him our plans!  Our plans should always include others and not just for me or you! It is like regarding the "Rest Area" stop offs. Someone will say something just as you are driving past the "Rest Area" sign. It sounded like this: "Mommy, I have to potty!" Yes, timing was remarkable but not quick enough to get in that lane to exit. So driving to the next "Rest Area" may take some more time and effort. Finally the sign appears, and the vehicle is driven into the space, hop out now, and "run".  But in those "rest area" times we find some moments to think about the quick trip to that point for the "much needed potty break" and laugh. We can find in those moments a quiet time to laugh or even giggle and see our young grand-daughter pleased that she made it on time and needs a much needed snack! Resting brings us back to "why did we think we needed to hurry anyway"?

So after that, announcements were made of the upcoming exit to the "Rest Area"!

To me, traveling across country is like the shepherd who keeps a flock of sheep.  Yes, Psalm 23 keeps coming to me!
We lived in Wyoming for many years and had opportunity to meet an actual sheepherder. We got to see first-hand the wagon they lived in and where they prepared their food to eat. We got to see the Australian Blue Heelers they kept to help them guard the sheep and it was just  like a working office with everyone in their place and doing their "duty" or work for that specific day and hour. Now it happened in the time when the sheepherder was down in the lowland area of this valley(usually winter time). And since that time, I have had several occasions to write and teach on the importance of the "keep watch" over those given into our keeping as parents, grand-parents and even in ministry leadership!

One specific teaching was the stubbornness of some of the sheep in regards to the others. In what I would term rebellious (doing their own thing), the dogs certainly got those sheep moving toward the greener pasture high up the slopes of the Big Horn Mountains for the summer months. The consistency of the dogs working together as a team to unite the whole flock kept the movement going forward and the dogs would look to the shepherd for his command to "go" and do.
In remembering my days living in the country as a teenager, I reflected on those who cared for sheep and had the formal task of taking the said sheep into a "sheep dip". I remember some of the formulations of liquids and liquid insecticides and fungicides which farmers then used and some shepherds use today to protect said sheep from infestations against external parasites like itch mite, those terrible blowflies, and even ticks and lice.
Even in this area of the Gorge, people will remind us if we are out with our dog to remember that ticks are on the rise, and that we have to keep watch for them and inspect our dog regularly. We will not even take our dog into the wooded areas like Strawberry Island,  but some do and that is helpful information to ward off those hideous bugs from your beloved pet!

Psalm 23.....The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
3 He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name's sake.

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil; For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the LORD
Forever.  NKJV

When the Lord Jesus is our Shepherd, then we shall not be in want of any good thing. We can lie down in peace of green pastures that feeds us. WE are Not disturbed in anyway or in any fashion but are just those who are settled in a peace with good of God added to it!
But what about those who come to "butt and disturb"? What if all are not of the family of God?

So as Jesus enforces His peace He left to us, it is that weapon that fights chaos at the highest level. He leads us besides still waters by His Holy Spirit and restores our souls. He restores us to the life we were meant to live and were always meant to have. Like sheep that have been dipped, we are dipped into life everlasting where we are to be at ease with rest and enjoyment. We as the sheep should not be deterred by bugs of any sort. We should not be irritated by anything, but resting place in the Lord, even like an oasis of beauty where the weary find that special spot to rest.

So too, the pastor who has the anointing to "shepherd a flock" is to have that gentle leading of the sheep to the right place that feeds, protects the believer, the leadership to impart life from the Word of God to them, that will bring, not only a refreshing, but also strengthen them in knowing and using the Word of God to walk things out in the natural and see God's glory in it! For the believer it is the place to gather and water amidst any trouble or any tribulation!
The shepherd (pastor) is to lead always looking with a tender affection toward his flock. As the shepherd in the wilderness area, so the shepherd (pastor), who has a congregation, is to lead and have that constant watch and care for his "sheep". The pastor is to remember that the sheep are those who need the Word that feeds them. They are those who are to be led by that Word when not ONLY in church, but at work, home or play. So should danger arise, or trouble from somewhere even close by, there should be no fear of evil of any danger or difficulties.  For "sheep" should not be dealing with stuff all the time. Those things that "bug" should have been dealt with in the "sheep dip" once and for all!

Even in the wilderness, the shepherd is reminded of the dangers of those things that come to cause death, but he guards, and sets those dogs to guard and moves the flock regularly whether from the deep valley to the night of dark shadows, and though darkness may cover and keep hidden some kind of peril, it is the Lord who will keep one safe, fed and much satisfied. Amen! It is the "sheep" who are moved to safety and kept safe with the watchful eye of the shepherd!

So any "butting and disturbing" among the flock should not be present. That peace as Jesus came to bring is here today........John 14:27..........27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. NKJV

There should be this "freedom" that holds off all of the worldly tension, and all that would aggravate like mites, and blowflies is to sheep in the summer months of feeding on the slopes of the Big Horn Mountains in Wyoming.  Being held in a peace that is a total weapon against those agitating things is a God-send to us. Today is the day that we should not hunger anymore, for the Word was manifested to give us life abundantly. As a group of believers we are to believe and adhere to the Word of God that causes us to prosper. As the "sheep" on the slopes of green grass, we too, should be experiencing being well-fed, strengthened from the inside out to move forward and take our place for God's glory.


Father, thank You for Your Son, the Savior of the world! We are thankful for the shed Blood at Calvary, and the greatest sacrifice of Jesus for our sins!
We pray today that we stay close to the Shepherd and hear Him when He speaks. Today we pray that as we come to You, Your will be done in our lives here on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive others who have trespassed against us. Deliver us today from evil. For it is Your kingdom we seek, and Your power that is loosed today in our homes, families, and situations to give YOU all the glory done here in Jesus' name. Amen.


You can also visit my Youtube channel The Voice of Prayer for more teaching at http://bit.ly/1tNyBhV