I didn’t have an urgent need as I started journaling to the Lord on this day. It was during summer break after my first year of teaching. I enjoyed the more leisurely time with the Lord, and I just wanted to hear from the One I love.
From the journal. . . . July 1997
Lord, what do You want to say to me? I want to hear from You. I want to be touched by You.
And I Believe God Said:
When I leave the ninety-nine to retrieve the one, My spirit is still with the ninety-nine. I am omnipresent. I am with all My sheep all the time.
Matt. 18:12-14 “What do you think? If any man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go and search for the one that is straying? 13 If it turns out that he finds it, truly I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine which have not gone astray. 14 So it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones perish.
Your children hear My voice. The world, even the church, may neglect them, but I will never forsake them. I love the older brother. Everything I have, I give to him. But the prodigals are so needy. Don’t resent the attention they receive.
The Prodigal Son: Luke 15:11-32
31 And he said to him, ‘Son, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.’”
I am omnipotent. Your children won’t ever be neglected by Me. Encourage them to look to Me. Love them and don’t hesitate to tell them when they do well. Yes, pride comes in but don’t hesitate to applaud them. Remind them about the pride tendency but don’t humble them for the purpose of humbling. Be truthful but sincerely extravagant in praise.
Show compassion to the needy. Love and encourage all of them!
I believe the Lord was talking to me about two different concerns I had. They weren’t urgent concerns, but they were important. In the first parable I think He was preparing me for future teaching situations. A common teacher frustration is the amount of time spent on behavior issues that take away from teaching those who are clearly receptive to learning. In the same way, the shepherd may wonder what is happening to the ninety-nine while he searches for the one.
The second was more personal. My own children were good kids and did mostly what was expected, like the older brother in the Prodigal Son parable. Consequently, they didn’t get the special attention or consideration the more needy children, like the prodigal son, received. This is a great parable for me, the mama bear of the older brother, to remember! These realities don’t always seem fair but there are other considerations and God, of course, always knows best!!
The Prodigal Son Luke 15:11-32
11 And He said, “A man had two sons. 12 The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me.’ So he divided his wealth between them. 13 And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate with loose living. 14 Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to be impoverished. 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would have gladly filled his stomach with the pods that the swine were eating, and no one was giving anything to him. 17 But when he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger! 18 I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight; 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men.”’ 20 So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet; 23 and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; 24 for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate.
25 “Now his older son was in the field, and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 And he summoned one of the servants and began inquiring what these things could be.
27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has received him back safe and sound.’ 28 But he became angry and was not willing to go in; and his father came out and began pleading with him. 29 But he answered and said to his father, ‘Look! For so many years I have been serving you and I have never neglected a command of yours; and yet you have never given me a young goat, so that I might celebrate with my friends; 30 but when this son of yours came, who has devoured your wealth with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.’ 31 And he said to him, ‘Son, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.’”
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