"I am the good shepherd"

"I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep."  -John 10:9-11

I am a sheep.

I am known by my shepherd and he is known by me.  He calls me by my name and leads me out, and I listen to his voice and follow him.  One of the things I love most about this passage is that it is in the present tense.  It takes place in the "now."  It is ongoing, moment-by-moment.  This has been such a comfort to me as I have traveled such a difficult path... such an unknown path.  I also like that sheep are simple-minded animals.  I doubt that sheep sit around worrying about the future or fret over where the shepherd is leading them.  I think that most sheep are probably pretty content just to follow and let the shepherd do the work.  All that matters to a sheep in each moment is that when she looks up, the shepherd is there with her-- no matter what the terrain of the path they are on.


God is teaching me to have the heart of a sheep... and it is oh-so-freeing.. :)  He is teaching me to trust him in each moment, allowing me to focus on what is happening around me exactly where I am.  I still could not tell you why I am in Thailand, except that this is the path that the shepherd is currently leading me on.  I cannot control the future, but only react to what is placed before me today.  And today, the Lord has assured me of his presence and his sovereignty.


In many ways, I also do the work of a shepherd.  In the same passage of John, Jesus says,
"I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd."
I am here to be the light of Christ in a dark place.  I am here to allow him to work through me however he chooses to.  In Matthew 9, Jesus looks out on the crowds and 
"had compassion on them, for they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd."
I also look out and have compassion for those who are helpless and harassed... for sheep such as myself who are desperately sought after by the Good Shepherd, but have not yet realized the safety of his fold.  I see the thief.. killing, stealing, destroying.  It is heart-breaking.

My prayer is that I would be able to model the Good Shepherd-- that I would truly learn to lay down my life for my fellow sheep, by his love and his strength.   And that he would continue to teach me to live fully in trust, submitting to him in each moment, by his grace.


I am making more friends here and slowly beginning to feel more like a part of the Grapevine community.  After our event on Tuesday night, my new friend Enjoy gave me a hug before she left.  It made my day.  :)  Next week I begin an intensive language study program that will require me to travel to Bangkok everyday of the week.  It will be tiring for sure, but I am excited for the adventure of it all.  :)


Thank you so much for your prayers.  Love you all.

Enjoy, me, and Lauren (an exchange student from Georgia) just before we went on a boat tour of Bangkok.  It was a splendid afternoon.  Also, I have a caramel latte in my pocket. ;)