5-14-2014

Good Morning All,

       John 10:14; “I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me”

     I go through this often.  I will see someone and think, “I know that person”.  Yet I cannot think of why I know that person.  It is worse when they have a name tag or badge on that just gives the first name.  I know their first name it is the last name that throws me.  But I am not certain if it is really who I think it is.  The one man’s name was Kevin.  Well, how many Kevins can there be?  The one woman was Karen.  I was pretty sure she was who I thought she was but not definite.  These two I was pretty sure of who they were and where I knew them from; but sometimes..

     I had a gentleman come up to me the other day.  He called me by name; we talked for 30 minutes.  He told me about his family and how things were going for him; I have no clue who he was.  He was friendly and interesting but I have no clue who he was.  The worst part was he didn’t give me any clues like where he lived or his wife’s name or his children’s names.  He didn’t relate some past incident story for me to calculate who he was.  So I was left not knowing, at all, who he was.

    Forgetting names can be a source of humor, it can also be a source of pain.  As I minister to some of our older members, the loss of memory can be very severe.  Some have forms of dementia and some have Alzheimer’s.  It can be difficult to go from visiting with them and talking about almost any subject and then in a couple of years, they don’t even know who I am.  It is even harder on the family.  This is one time when this verse means so much.

    Jesus is the good shepherd and he knows his own.  He knows who the redeemed children are and he does not forget them.  Jesus does not forget anyone.  He knows the pain that you feel.  He knows the pain that many families feel when their loved ones seem absent most of the time.  Even if you are not in this specific situation, Jesus knows you and he knows what you need to be healed.  He knows you and he doesn’t forget you even if you forget him; he will remember you.

    No matter what happens to you, whether some disease or some form of self-inflicted pain causes you to think that God has forgotten you; he hasn’t.  God holds you tenderly in his arms and seeks to comfort you and to give you hope.  Nothing can ever separate you from God.  There is no disease, no action you take, no events that occur that can separate you from God; he will never forget you.  So as we battle through life’s, sometimes difficult, journey; always take comfort in the fact that God always knows you and loves you and will never forsake you.

Father, even when I know no one, you know me. Even when this world attacks me and destroys me, you know me and protect me.  Through your grace, I am saved.  Keep me safe in your loving arms.  Be with those who especially feel lost or alone.  Be with those who are adrift in this pain filled world.  Give them your Spirit and comfort that they may know your love and experience your peace.  In the precious name of Jesus, our risen Savior, we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret