You and I are....sheep?

Recently I have been reading and thinking about God's analogy of us being sheep and He being the shepherd. I personally have never owned a sheep/lamb. Don't let their cute, fluffy exterior deceive you. Sheep are actually very unintelligent animals. Seriously, how many sheep do you know that can be trained to get the day's mail like a dog? What exactly do sheep do in their free time? hmmmm. As far as I can tell sheep are good at two things...that's right...two!
1. sheep are good at grazing off the land the shepherd leads them to. (how lazy is that?)
2. sheep are good at NOT following the shepherd!

So when God says that we are like sheep this is probably not a compliment. My first reaction was one of anger. I am certainly not a helpless, cuddly, little ball of fluff! I don't need someone else to follow to survive in life. But then God's Words started flooding my mind. "All we like sheep have gone astray." "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life." Maybe man is not as strong and independent as we would like to think.

It's hard to admit how lost and helpless we are on our own. We want to take the credit we think we deserve. Next time you start to pat yourself on the shoulder remember that you are a little lost lamb with a shepherd that has saved you from danger time after time.

"'As a shepherd cares for his herd in the day when he is among his scattered sheep, so I will care for My sheep and will deliver them from all the places to which they were scattered on a cloudy and gloomy day'...'I will lead my flock and will lead them to rest' declares the Lord God. 'I will seek the lost, bring back the scattered, bind up the broken and strengthen the sick; but the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them with judgment.'" from Ezekial 34

Back to blogging..

well, here I am back to the old blogging ritual..j/k. Why did I decide to start blogging again? I'm glad you asked. The primary reason is because I have so many thoughts swimming inside my head and sometimes it helps to write those thoughts down on paper (or cyberspace as the case may be). I apologize for my very random and probably confusing writing. By no means do i consider myself a proficient writer. In fact i express my feelings best through music which is why i prefer to listen to Mozart or Brahms than read....something...okay, some books are good..maybe..i can't think of many besides la Santa Biblia.

Also, one of my goals for the new year, 2009 (ahhhh) is to write down what God is doing in my life and just how much i have to be thankful for! It's way too easy to complain about the things in my life that are not going exactly how i wish the would go. oooh, perfect example. I absolutely despise cold weather. I mean at least if there was pretty, fluffy, white snow that would be something but it's just cold and gray outside. It seems that i must be confined to staying inside my house 24/7 which totally stinks if you ask me. maybe God is hinting that i should practice flute more?

okay, so enough venting about winter b/c that was not the point of this blog. the point was THANKSGIVING--something i need to really work on. Since today is Christmas I should have plenty to add to the list. here goes:

1.) a break (much needed) from school!
2.) my sisters and parents who speak the truth and tell me when i'm simply annoying or rude.
3.) new friends from other countries! i.e. Korea, Hong Kong, Brazil, Mexico
4.) A God who never grows tired of my excuses to not be close Him as often as i should.
5.) Music!
6.) Living Nativity...every year it only gets better
7.) Emily- my ex-roomie, her genuineness (if that's a word) and openness is so refreshing
8.) Music!!
9.) Being done with school other than student teaching!
10.) yummy maracuya dessert than Anna Menez made
11.) God's Word is 100% true and reliable!
12.) Music!!!

~God's blessings this Christmas Season