LITTLE ONES
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FROM THE GLORIOUS HEAVENS
WHERE THE ANGELS ARE,
GOD LOOKS DOWN ON CHILDREN,
AND SEES THEM FROM AFAR;
HE HEARS ALL THEY ASK FOR,
ALL THE NIGHT AND DAY;
AND WATCHES LIKE A FATHER,
ALL THEIR WORK AND PLAY.
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AND AS A FATHER GIVES,
SO HE GIVES THEM BREAD;
AND KEEPS THEM OUT OF DANGER,
AND WATCHES BY THEIR BEDS.
TELL ALL THE LITTLE CHILDREN,
OF THEIR FATHER'S CARE,
HOW HE LOVES AND WATCHES
OVER CHILDREN EVERY WHERE.
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This is for Eeeeek!
Also it is slightly adapted from a song of the 1860's
by Mrs Bivens.
Today I have been reading about the Lost Sheep. It is a parable; a story to illustrate a point or a concept. It is often taken quite literally and sometimes used as an excuse to act in certain ways.."It says so in the Bible." How many shepherds would "throw" their flocks to the wolves in order to save one?(see Matt. 18: 12-14) Old Ben Franklin said it best; "For want of a nail the shoe was lost, for want of a shoe the horse was lost." The parable of the Lost Sheep is not referring to real sheep or flocks, but of disbelievers or those that have gone astray.
I am not arguing with the Bible as it is sacred scripture. I am just illustrating the frequent misuses of the parables and Gospels. Would you save just one of your own and lose the rest of your loved one...if a possible choice were available?
In contrast to the parables, the disciples went out on a "dark and stormy night" and ran afoul with the weather man. A bad storm came rolling in and the disciples were really, really afraid. Jesus came walking across the waters...calmed the sea with a word...and saved All of them.(see Luke 8:22-25) By the way, there are a couple of versions of this; one is that Jesus was sleeping in the boat, but both mean the same.
Whenever or wherever you think I have made a mistake or misread a Bible passage or made a poor analyis, please let me know. My brain is pea-sized, you know.
Whenever or wherever you think I have made a mistake or misread a Bible passage or made a poor analyis, please let me know. My brain is pea-sized, you know.
I am not always right in my analysis, but I generally try to write in a simple form so that the page can be understood by all.
On my way home from E-Town yesterday I stopped and got 4(four) Tacos because it was getting late and I had not eaten much during the day. I love Tacos and I ate all of them. Around midnight my tummy told me how silly I was to eat 4 Tacos, Next time I will only eat...3!...LOL's!!
END
1 comment:
Greetings Mabel,
Love the poem. I think the parable about the lost sheep, Jesus is willing to leave the herd of sheep to find the lost one because there is safety in numbers and if the rest of the herd is there together they would be safe enough for him to go find the lost one. Also typically there is a sheep dog that will keep a herd of sheep together and in place if the shepherd is absent for a bit.
So even though the parable is a figurative thing and not literal, I believe that it is meant that when we have a flock of believers and one goes astray it is the shepherd's duty to secure the herd then go after the one who has gone astray.
There is a good book out about the 23rd Psalm written by a real shepherd, (can't think of the name right now), anyhow this shepherd talks about the various things he has to do to keep his flock together. He mentions that sometimes it is necessary to gather the herd close together and assign the dogs to keep guard over the herd while he goes to fetch a sheep that is seperated from the rest of the flock.
I would liken this to a typical congregation of people. You have the Pastor who is the shepherd, the flock is the congregation, and perhaps the sheep dogs who watch over the flock in the shepherd's absence are the deacons or other's that would be in charge in the shepherd's absence. If one of the flock goes astray, then the shepherd would have the ability to go after the lost one because he knows his flock is being watched over by his assitants, whatever their title would actually be. I truly believe Jesus does not want to see even one parrish. Is he really sacrificing the entire herd to go after the one? No!! Any shepherd will tell you the dogs will protect the herd. We are to watch out for each other in times like these.
I also don't believe where Jesus walks on water is a parable but an actually happening. An example of his awesome powers and the powers he gives to us as Peter got out of the boat and started to walk to him until he took his eyes off of Jesus. Also the one where he was a sleep in the boat was also an actually happening. Jesus had the power to speak and calm the waters. What kind of normal man would have the power to calm the storms? Jesus was not normal and both of these stories demonstrate that very well for us.
Just my thoughts on the subjects. Good post!! Hope you have an awesome day!!
Love ya, Alice
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