Sweet Little Smile

In March this sweet little one would be horribly afraid of us every time we walked into the aftercare center. All we had to do was look at her, and she would start screaming. She would try to run when the ladies would try to get her to shake our hands. We never tried to shake hands, but even just the suggestion was scary for her. Not all of the babies are like this. Sometimes they are unsure, but never have they been completely horrified. Only this little one. Several weeks went by, and she continued to be horrified. We tried chocolates and everything, but nothing worked. However, last week something was different. We walked in the center just like normal, and there she was to greet us with a smile! We have no idea what, but something changed for her. Instead of looking at us and screaming she looked at us and smiled. She was genuinely happy to see us. There are many reasons for this child to have a great fear of us and the world around her, but we are not sure what changed all of a sudden. Whatever the cause we are thankful for God's favor and to see her sweet little smile. 

Isaiah 43:6&7 I will say to the north, Give up, and the the south, Do not withhold; bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the end of the earth,  everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.

Pray with me that God would call out to these girls even this young child to bring His daughters to Himself, and that they would experience joy and freedom in belonging to their Father the  King of heaven and earth. 

Behold the Lamb of God

The other day I was ridding in a car gazing out the window. Then all of a sudden there was this sheep. It was grabbed by the neck and slaughtered. It was a traumatizing moment because most of you that know me understand my deep love for sheep. Not necessarily the actual animal, but the Biblical symbolism they represent. So, sheep are likely the least intelligent animals on earth. They cannot find water or food on their own. They will follow each other off a cliff. Sheep require constant supervision, leadership, and guidance. They require a shepherd's care for their very life. In this brief moment I could not take my eyes off of the sheep being slain. There were so many thoughts running through my head. I was thinking no, no, no. Don't slaughter the sheep. The Shepherd cares for the sheep. He does not slaughter them….. No, He doesn't. Jesus is the Good Shepherd because He is the Lamb of God that was slain. He cares so much for the sheep that He was willingly slaughtered in our place. The Bible says "Behold the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world". Just as in that moment I could not take my eyes off of that sheep neither should we take our eyes off of the Lamb that is slain. This is the Glory of God, The Risen Lamb!

John 10:11 I am the Good Shepherd. The good Shepherd Lays down His life for the sheep. 

John 1:29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and he said "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world."

REVELATION 5:6-14

⁶ And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. ⁷ And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. ⁸ And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
⁹ And they sang a new song, saying,

“Worthy are you to take the scroll
    and to open its seals,
for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God
    from every tribe and language and people and nation,
¹⁰ and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,
    and they shall reign on the earth.”

¹¹ Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands,

¹² saying with a loud voice,

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might
and honor and glory and blessing!”

¹³ And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying,

“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”

¹⁴ And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.

Praying that beholding the Lamb would be characteristic of all of the redeemed, as well as, the women we work with.

Pray with me that God would give the grace and faith for these women to behold in their hearts the risen lamb of God that was slain.