Questions to Ponder Week #1

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Hello girls!

I know you have to be enjoying the book already and like me, hate to stop reading ahead, but lets take some time to digest the beautifully painted word canvas she has laid out for us so far.  Margaret poses several great questions for this week's reading and I have chosen the following to get our discussion going:

Why do you think sheep are mentioned so frequently in the Bible?  Have you changed your beliefs about sheep in general?

Just as Lynne knows her sheep, God knows us.  How does it make you feel to know that God knows you so well?  Excited? Fearful? Encouraged? Intimidated?

Talk back when you can -

Love,

Iris

Comments

Anonymous said…
I think sheep are mentioned in the Bible because the people who it was originally written to understood sheep to some extent. We have to learn about them as Margaret did. I thought sheep were stupid animals, but from what I have read so far--they seem pretty smart, but very dependent on their shepherd. I guess if we are dependent on our shepherd we would get less hurts and our spiritual tummies would be filled! Debbie Cook
January 4, 2011 at 5:21 PM
Anonymous said…
second question--encouraged! D Cook
January 4, 2011 at 5:22 PM
Brenda Sorrells said…
Here are my notes from the chapter:
God wants my best - not necessarily the MOST I can do.
As a sheep - I must be totally dependent on Him for daily food - my own appetite, if allowed to choose, can kill me.
Survival is zero without a shepherd.
Sheep are not dumb, but they are defenseless.

Lynn's favorite qualities of her sheep:
Come when I call their names.
Paw me for attention.
Are responsive - not afraid of fighting.
I pray that God can saw that about me!
January 4, 2011 at 8:11 PM
Anonymous said…
Not only am I blown away by how well our Shepherd knows us, but more impressed by the point that we need to be able to recognize His voice and come running! If we don't spend the time with Him daily, we might not readily recognize His voice and therefore not follow His calling.

I am so at peace/encouraged to think about how well He knows me. I have nothing to hide from Him, because He already knows it all, and He still loves me! Praise Him, for His mercy and grace!

(Sue Luft)
January 6, 2011 at 6:55 PM
Unknown said…
I loved the description Margaret gave of how the sheep react to their shepherd. She showed us how well the shepherd knows her sheep but also how well the sheep know their shepherd. I know the Good Shepherd knows me but how well do I know Him? I'm convicted that I don't depend nearly enough on His loving care or spend enough quality time in His presence so I know His voice as well as He knows me.
January 7, 2011 at 7:52 AM
Sheree Denny said…
I thought it was interesting that one might think that the sheep in Israel were rock-eating animals. There is little vegetation, so the shepards know which hillsides will sprout new grass overnight. The sheep are literally dependent on their shepherd for their next mouthful. Jesus teaches his disciples to pray, asking God for daily bread, reminding us that God leads us every step of the way.

That gives me a great deal of comfort, to know that with each step I take, God will put me on the right path. I just have to learn to trust Him!
January 9, 2011 at 10:47 AM
Carol Rea said…
In the book we read that Lynn had a history with each of her sheep, and in the same way each of us has a personal history with the Shepherd. Reading this sentence made me stop in amazement at the picture that I have personal history with God. Thinking that through, I realized how grateful that I have that privilege and long for it to grow stronger and deeper. That thought has stayed with me this week and has been very comforting.
January 11, 2011 at 12:22 AM
Brenda Sorrells said…
All of these comments are such a blessing to me! I love reading insights that have touched each of us in the reading and I am learning as much from you as I am from Margaret.
Looking forward to more!
January 11, 2011 at 8:42 AM
Jackie said…
Her are some of my thoughts on what I have been reading;
How intricately Lynn knew her sheep, not only by name but their personalities as well. It makes me think of how intricately my shepherd knows me and my personality quirks… and loves me anyway!
Also when Lynne talked about disciplining Alano. She said "if I don't discipline him now, he will grow up to be dangerous and of no use to anyone." Talk about an analogy. We see what happens to people who are not disciplined, either as children or adults, they can be dangerous both on a physical level and on a spiritual one.
I loved the analogy of Lynn's statement, "Once they respond to my beckoning, I have them forever." When we finally make that decision to come to the arms of Jesus, I can just picture how joyfully he folds us in his grasp.
I liked the clarification that sheep are not dumb, just defenseless, not just against predators, but sometimes against our own selves. As Margaret says, "without someone to protect, guard and lead us, we are sheep without a shepherd, defenseless creatures who can destroy ourselves or be destroyed with equal ease. Thankfully we have a GOOD shepherd!!!
January 12, 2011 at 9:25 PM
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