December 30 -Lead On!!

“I am the good shepherd....” - John 10:ll.

“My sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is geater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand” - John 10:27-29

Ever get the feeling that you've been somewhere out in front of God as you've moved through the past year? You've bumped up against trial after trial,. and though you know from Scripture that God would work all things together for good, if you trusted Him, somehow, somewhere along the days and months you have gained the idea that He's been behind you, armed with a dustpan and brush, ready to do a cleanup job on you, your problems, and failures – remember last years New Year resolutions?....say no more! (Mine had been broken within the first week - OUCH!!!)

Do we really feel as though God's principal activity in our lives is to follow behind us, leaving us to our own devies, before throwing a rope after we've fallen headlong into a trial> then we need to read John 10:2-4 over and over again. A shepherd never follows his flock, He leads. Jesus Himself says that He goes on ahead – John 14:1-3. He blazes a way over the rocky places, the dangers and pitfalls we have to negotiate throughout our lives. He charts the way, giving us the courage and strength we need to follow.

Never is God surprised by our trials, challenges, and blunders. Never does He push us out ahead while He lags behind with His dustpan and brush. God is out in front (Psalm 23).

Whatever the New Year, 2019, throws our way. Whatever the dangers, trials, and troubles that may lie ahead; no matter our failures, griefs and broken promises, remember that we will never be left to face things alone. No matter the situation, there is nothing we can do, or say, no depth so low, that God will reject us. Just say His name, and reach out He is there, waiting to lead us on toward Home.

What can we expect? 

In pastures green? Not always; sometimes He
Who knoweth best, in kindess leadeth me
In many ways where heavy shadows be.
Out of the sunshine warm and soft and bright –
Out of the sunshine into the darkest night,
I oft would faint with sorrow and affright,
Only for this – I know He holds my hand;
So whether in the green or desert land
I trust although I may not understand.

And by still waters? No, not always so;
Ofttimes the heavy tempests round me blow,
And o’er my soul the waters and billows go.
But when the storms beat loudest and I cry
Aloud for help, the Master standeth by
And whispers to my soul, “Lo, it is I.”
Above the tempest wild I hear Him say,
“Beyond this darkness lies a perfect day.
In every path of thine I lead the way.”

So whether on the hilltops high and fair
I dwell, or in the sunless valleys where
The shadows lie – what matters? He is there.


So where He leads me, I can safely go,
And in the blest hereafter I shall know
Why, in His wisdom, He hath led me so.

by Rev. John F. Chaplain

Music to take us from 2018 into 2019 is “Sometimes it Takes a Mountain” (LIVE) Click on the picture, as usual, to liisten.