Hello, and welcome to my website. I’m glad you’ve found it!
Here you can read about me, and the sort of things I’ve been writing. You can keep up-to-date with any new work coming out, and be able to get in touch if you wish.
I aim to write my Blog regularly – it will contain articles, comment on things happening, my thoughts on all sorts, and perhaps contributions from others.
Keep coming back!
The first photo is the Diamond Path.
The photo at the end is courtesy of Kevin Carden, of Christian Digital Artwork.
Click below if you'd like to buy Constance and Me in print or ebook format.
Following the Good Shepherd
Most people know Psalm 23. It's often read at funerals, and perhaps weddings and even baptisms. It's short, simple, easy to read and even learn by heart.
The Bible talks a lot about God being the Shepherd of His sheep. For example, about 600 years before Jesus, God’s spokesman Isaiah said (Isaiah chapter 53 verse 6):
“We’re all like sheep who’ve wandered off and got lost. We’ve all done our own thing, gone our own way.”
He continued “God piled all our sins, everything we’ve done wrong, on Him.” (ie on Jesus)
Jesus too said a lot about people and sheep in John’s Gospel (chapter 10 verses 1-15):
“Sheep recognize the voice of their shepherd and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them. He walks ahead of them, and they follow him, because they know his voice. I am the Good Shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me.” Jesus continued “I am the Good Shepherd, who sacrifices his life for the sheep.”
In dying on the cross Jesus took our sin on Himself, it was ‘piled’ on Him – it’s as if He ‘became sin’ – and so He suffered agonizing separation from God His Father. By enduring that He got rid of it, got rid of the gulf between us and God, the great divide caused by sin and self-will. Because of His sacrifice, we can be restored to friendship with God. Jesus did this for you, because He loves you so much.
He also said “I am the gate of the sheepfold. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.”
You too can have this life of freedom and fulfilment, yet of total security, by coming to the Good Shepherd and entrusting yourself to His good care. All it takes is for you to realise that His sacrifice ended your separation from God, that you need deliberately to turn away from your old ways and turn to Him, (that’s called repentance, a ‘change of mind’) and that you can invite Him into your life. It’s as simple – and as life-changing – as that!
We are set free! Free to be our true selves as we enjoy that closeness with our Creator that He always intended. Free from guilt and shame, from despair, hopelessness, uncertainty and pointlessness, because Jesus suffered our death-penalty for us. Trust Him as true – His resurrection from the dead proves this. Accept His forgiveness, leave the old life, and give yourself unreservedly to the One who died in your place.
Jesus also said “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No-one can come to the Father except through me.” As followers of Jesus, the only Way to God, we find the Truth that is embodied in Him, and can experience the same quality of Life that He has. He pours His Life into us, and through us to others, as Connie’s life exemplified.
And then comes Heaven! Wouldn’t you just love to be part of that joyous celebration, sure of your place, when God’s home will be among His people? He promises to live with them – God Himself will be with them, – with us! He will wipe every tear from our eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things will be gone forever! What a promise! What a future!
You can know with absolute certainty that Heaven is where you belong and where you’ll end up, if you have given yourself to Jesus Christ and asked Him to be your new Boss! Following Him as your Good Shepherd means He will safely lead you through life, with Goodness and Mercy at your heels, until you reach the wonder of His ultimate ‘sheepfold’.
