Hello friends. We are sitting in the room while Kole is resting peacefully! We just had a wonderful time talking to God and talking to Kole. We want to share it with you! God is on the move. A great friend of mine (Kristi Walker) had given me this passage about the lost sheep. It was about how the shepherd left the 99 sheep to go after the one lost. I found the story in Matthew 18. It starts at Matthew 18:5 "Whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. But if anyone causes one of these "little ones" who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea". Then later in Matthew 18:10-14 "See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven. What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these "little ones" should be lost". We started talking to Kole about our testimonies! We asked him if he had asked Jesus in his heart. He said one time he thought he did in the middle of the night. I told Kole a gospel story that I had heard when I was a girl and he made comments and asked questions! It was a wonderful time of conversation. Janni kept saying last night that God wanted Kole's heart! I believe she was right. Kole is so loveable and we cannot help but want to pour out our affection to him. We understand God's focused desire to go after the lost sheep! We see His love and passion!

I had never connected the upper portion of this scripture with the lower portion until now. Two little words jumped out at me "little ones"! It may be difficult to believe but there has been a real tug-of-war in the spiritual realm over Kole. This morning we were in prayer and I started thinking about sheep and about Moses and the Israelites. I started thinking about how God had heard the cries of His people and had called on Moses to lead them out of slavery in Egypt into the promised land. I looked back furthur in the story and recalled how Moses was rescued by his mother and by God. Moses being put in a basket and left to float down the Nile until he reached safety. My friend Liz told me the enemy is always after the "seed". He wants to destroy God's testimony to the world by destroying God's children. I started to see that picture but she put the picture into focus. The enemy went after Christ when he was born by sending Harod to kill the baby boys born around Bethlehem.

We literally spent most of the night in prayer and in the word and then into this morning more prayer and more study. I have begun to feel weary! I have thought about Psalms 23 as well. I pictured our shepherd leading us to green pastures. However, right now we could only see the valley. I thought about how sheep adore their shepherd and how the shepherd looks out after their sheep. I thought to myself we need to trust and adore our Shepherd, while we are in the valley of the shadow of death and trust in His rod and staff to comfort us. He is leading us to a good place full of green grass and rest. He knows we are tired. He knows we are carrying young. I could picture our shepherd carrying Kole around his neck or craddled in His arms. I could see the young lambs frolicking about around the Shepherd's legs. We as sheep have a tendancy to go our own way. We sometimes desire to lead the Shepherd. Our way seems best from the ground, but it is full of unseen dangers such as wolves and cliffs. We sometimes think we know the shorter way and a better way. God reminded me the other day in my heart that "I am just a sheep" and that I cannot help anyone or have the power to go off on my own. Sheep are powerless. As a sheep, I can point to the Sherpherd, be an example to other sheep as I follow the Shepherd, and stay nestled closely to the Shepherd's leg! God has the responsibility to rescue and to save! He does a fine job. We have learned much following our Shepherd in this valley! Lessons we could not have possibly have learned in the green pasture. Anyway, this verse also brought comfort to both my sister and myself last night.

Isaiah 40:11 "He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young."

We cannot say enough about how thankful we are for you prayers and words of love! May God pour out His blessings on you! You have a part. You are precious! Praise Him and adore Him today!

Love,
Jodi