Lamber's Come!

My friend, Cathleen Cliffton, recently passed away. At her celebration of her life some teachers she taught with through BSF shared a story that captured my heart. I asked permission if I may share the story and the Cliffton's granted me favor. I am so thankful because it has caused a longing in me to capture different images as I learn how to paint. This is my first.

When Cathy was in fifth grade her dad went to the school to ask permission to check her out in the middle of the day to help at the farm. See, Cathy's family were farmers. When a baby lamb was rejected by it's mother it was Cathy's job to raise the little lamb. The little lamb was brought into the house and Cathy bottle fed the baby until it was ready to live on its own in the pasture. Cathy became the lambs mom and shepherdess. When Cathy would call her little lambs she would say, "Lamber's Come!"

Her dad explained to the office staff that Cathy was the only person they would listen to because her sheep know her voice and will not listen to him.

When Cathy's dad took her to the field she called out, "Lamber's Come!" and then all of the little sheep came running to Cathy.

If you know Scripture you will know the verse that says, "My Sheep listen to my voice; I know them and they listen to my voice." (John 10:27)

I love how this little lamber is running with pure joy. This is how I imagine it was for all the little lambs running to Cathy. I also imagine this illustrates the joy of a follower of Jesus when He calls them home. 

I have had two women I love run to Jesus in the last few months. Both too early for those of us on this side of heaven. But knowing that joy will be our response to the call, "Lamber's Come!" My heart knows peace and rest.

Evangelism based on Acts 16

In 21 verses, we have three different accounts of an evangelistic moment. I love how each one is so different.

With Lydia, the wealthy business woman, Paul simply sits and reasons with her in the house of prayer. It appears to be calm, rational, and respectable.

With the servant girl held in bondage to both man and spirits, Paul ws irritated and commanding. Even though the girl spoke truth, Paul commanded the evil spirits to flee which freed the girl from her spiritual bondage and made her useless to man's bondage. This witness was forceful, commanding, and full of authority.

With the jailer, Paul and Silas were living testimonies in their bondage. They simply worshipped and praised God in their suffering. The jailer observed. Once the earthquake occured, Paul recognized that the jailer would rather die than face the shame of failure so Paul intervened with connection and affirmation. Paul cared. This opened the jailer's heart. Paul was relational and most likely emotional in his response. 

Three souls were delivered because of the Macedonian Call. The approach was different because the circumstances were different. People's needs are different.

Father, please give us the ability to ask what is the right way to share the hope of Jesus that will open hearts of the wealthy business person, the person in bondage to man and spirits, and to the hard worker afraid of failure or shame. Show us how to reason, command, relate, connect, and emote so thst it speaks to a deep soul need to believe. In Jesus name, amen.

Shalom! Shalom!