The Lamb Story

I recently spent a week in Tahoe with my family and on the way home I came across this little lamb that inspired me for this new christian photograph. We were driving along the freeway when I spotted this herd of sheep grazing in the late afternoon. I decided that I would stop to take some pictures of these amazing creatures. I pulled over and hoped my children would be patient with me, as I hopped the small fence and began making my way across the fields. Now while all the other sheep saw me approaching and cautiously backed away - there was this one little guy that was totally oblivious to me and everything else going on around him.

In some ways I had the feeling that I had been drawn into a Warner Brother's cartoon, and I had to chuckle at the image before me. He continued to chew away on whatever it was that was in his mouth, with his eyes closed in an almost dream-like trance. I'm sure he must have been thinking about how wonderful this day was- the nice warm sun on his back, plenty of sweet green grass to munch on, the wind lightly caressing his face, and seemingly not a care in the world. It was a joy to behold him and yet it also reminded me of how we, like little lambs, can so easily be caught unaware. Had I been a predator- this lamb would have surely been an easy target and a welcome meal. I watched him for a while, in-between carrying out my mission, to snap as many pictures of him as I could. And there, in that moment, I was lovingly reminded of the Good Shepard that watches over His flock.

I have been told that when a number of sheep, belonging to different shepards, are lying in the same pasture, a shepherd can summon out his own herd by his voice alone. A stranger could try to emulate the call, but it would be difficult to fool the sheep, as they will only follow the voice that they know. How often do I close my ears to that voice. How often have I wandered away from the safety of my Shepards call. There have been times in my rebellion and pride, that I insisted on going my own way, forsaking the truth that I knew. Those experiences have humbled me, and made me realize my utter dependence on the Good Shepard. I have come to understand that I will hear His voice best, when I continue to abide in His presence. He has promised never to leave us or forsake us, and I do believe that in His tender care we can find comfort, reconciliation, and protection. We may be simple minded, and limited in our abilities, but there is really only one thing that is needful. Like Mary that remained at the feet of Jesus while Martha went away busy and preoccupied, we must continue to draw close unto our Lord, even while the rest of the world rushes by. Then we can be assured that we will hear His voice,and He will be faithful to guide and direct our lives so that we can ultimately bring all glory and honor to Him. Jesus tells us that He has come so that we might have life and have it to the full. Imagine how easy that is--we don't have to be any more intelligent than a little lamb!

All we need to do is listen to His voice and follow Him and He will give us Life!

John 10: 1 - 18.
The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. The watchman opens the gate for him and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own he goes on ahead of them and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice." Jesus used this figure of speech but they did not understand what he was telling them. Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth I am the gate for the sheep. All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved." He will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy;

I have come that they may have life and have it to the full