Random Thoughts From Bruce the Sheep . . .

Greetings! How are all my fellow brother and sister sheep doing?

I’ve just gone through an interesting and challenging few days and I’m thinking that God in His mercy and grace has been opening my eyes to the residual and on-going weight that some of us carry and how it is so often times displayed in our lives. And the more that I see, the more the reality of God’s grace comes to the forefront, including myself.

That would be G R A C E, as in from God, to all of us. 

I’ve been brought to my knees a couple of times in the last few days with regard to the slow progression of dementia in my wife. And yet, in spite of this, God’s grace meets us on so many levels that I am often astounded. Trusting in God, one day at a time, has taken on a much deeper significance, especially with regard to how we are daily sustained. 

And the thing is, many others carry significant weights, heavier weights than ours, some being from their past plus additional weights even from today. Our trials are all different but we all have them, and it sure opens one’s eyes to what others have to daily deal with. Funny how our compassion grows when we begin to see what others carry, just below the surface. And that daily washing of our own shortfalls, takes the fine tuning of not being overly judgemental towards others, to a whole new level.

I’ve also noticed the example of Jesus Himself, in how He dealt with fulfilling the will of His and our Father, which should really be our own objective, and the difference between Jesus and myself. It keeps getting bigger on so many levels and that dependency I have, of necessity, is there, staring me right in the face. But He is there, forgiving and sustaining. Hard to comprehend sometimes. I am amazed at His patience, forgiveness and His provision.

And if I am being made aware of my own dependencies, how much more will Jesus meet all of our needs, and that weight that Jesus carries, is so much bigger than anything I could ever comprehend. I gladly acknowledge and welcome being called one of His “sheep”, and the vast multitudes of fellow sheep with me, and their own specific needs, totally boggle my mind. 

If anything, it really just gets simpler, because He alone is the source of living water that flows from deep within. I do know that often, when I say my prayers and ask God to bless some of the fellow sheep that I know, I mention God’s grace being applied to the weights that they carry. And the presumption that I might understand, even a sliver of the realities that God sees, easily takes the wind out of my sails. My presumption to know, always falls short, but God knows.

No, I am just a sheep, in more ways that my pride would like to admit, but that is reality and He is our Shepherd and more than capable. I can’t explain it very well but I sense it from within and there is peace in knowing.

I’ve always been one that wants to know, understand why and how and when. Foolish sheep that I am. That mirror that I often look in, is much darker than I suspected, which probably explains why He alone is the light. What God in His grace shows me, about me, is my own need for Him. And that, in hard reality, is a beautiful thing.

Jesus is Lord and I am so grateful He is.

Worthy is the Lamb! Blessings!