Shepherd

"The Lord is my Shepherd..." Psalm 1:23

What is a shepherd?
- a person who tends, feeds, or guards flocks of sheep

Tends:
Isaiah 40:11- "He tends his flock like a shepherd:
    He gathers the lambs in his arms
and carries them close to his heart;
    he gently leads those that have young."

Guards:

1 Samuel 2:9- "He will guard the feet of his faithful servants, 

but the wicked will be silenced in the place of darkness.

Psalm 97:10- "Let those who love the Lord hate evil,

    for he guards the lives of his faithful ones"

Isaiah 27:3- "I, the Lord, watch over it;
    I water it continually.
I guard it day and night
    so that no one may harm it."

Feeds:

Matthew 6:26- "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?"

John 6:57,58- "Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. ⁵⁸ This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.”

We have a monthly verse we memorize with our kids and discuss how we see who Jesus is and who He is in our lives.  God never fails to press on my heart and reveal his unfailing love for me with just the five words in this verse (psalm 23:1).  

I can relate to the aimless, easily lead astray lamb.  I am easily distracted with the worlds pretty clothes, approval of others, fancy belongings, being a "cool kid" and so much more.  But the Lord is gentle and pursues my heart.  He draws me to him.  His stead fast love for me is my continuous place of joy, thankfulness, and clarity.  He pursued me, found me, and is drawing me to Himself.  He alone satisfies the longing of our hearts, approves of us, accepts us as we are, and wanting to bless you with his presence.  He is my shepherd.