My Dad is bigger than your dad!

"My sheep listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me.  I give them eternal life and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand." (John 10:27-28 NIV)

I remember as a child there were bullies in my neighborhood and especially down the street at the park where we used to play. I was usually afraid to anger them, as I would often find myself the brunt of their taunts.  I tried to stay out of the way, go unnoticed, so there would be no trouble.  We often had those, "my dad is bigger than your dad," moments.  To protect myself from these 10-year old thugs, I would tell them my father was a policeman. It worked for a while. Then it didn't.

I was reminded of this story when Jesus said, "no one can snatch them out of my hand." Isn't it a great feeling to know that there might be bullies in our world, but Jesus has us firmly seated in the palm of His hand?  Jesus will scoop us up and deposit us far out of harm's way. All we need do is call upon Him to help, cry out to him in our pain and our challenge, and He is there.

As an adult I find I still have moments like those from my youth when I am exploring new territory. I pray about what to do in order to get out of a fix I find myself in.  My mind takes me back a long time ago when I only had to run to my house and get into my own yard to be out of danger.  The bullies wouldn't dare follow me there.  I was safe.

I am safe in Jesus' arms too. He is the Good Shepherd and I am often that lost sheep He goes after. I thank God I know His voice.

John 10:22-30

Jesus Gives Eternal Life

Re-posted from 2012 

Eternal Life, what does that mean? Do these words fill you with anticipation, doubt, excitement, fear? Maybe the feelings we experience when we read these words are a bit mixed. I know it causes me to pause and wonder where I fit in the Eternal Life picture. I remember when I was a youngster attending parochial school we heard this phrase often.

There were times I would think of my grandfather who had died and wonder about him. Was he in this place called eternal life? It was explained to us as never ending, going on and on and on and on. Young minds would spin at this thought as we would try to take it in. My older mind still spins at the idea of life never ending, but now I have a new take on it.

All Saint’s Day puts a different spin on a never ending cycle of life. As I was assuring my husband during his illness, that he would soon have a new body and then taking that one step further--dreaming with him about being together again one day in Heaven. This still brings a deep swallow when remembering that time, but it brings a sweet tear of victory as well. I know my words were not just words; they were and are a promise from God.

John 10:27-30 (NIV)
“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. I and the Father are one."

While believers can expect to suffer on earth, to be persecuted or put down, we can fully expect eternal protection and everlasting safety. What picture do the words Eternal Life paint in your minds eye?

John 10:22-30

All Saints' Day focus - John 10:22-30

Jesus Gives Eternal Life

Eternal Life, what does that mean? Do these words fill you with anticipation, doubt, excitement, fear? Maybe the feelings we experience when we read these words are a bit mixed. I know it causes me to pause and wonder where I fit in the Eternal Life picture. I remember when I was a youngster attending parochial school we heard this phrase often.

There were times I would think of my grandfather who had died and wonder about him. Was he in this place called eternal life? It was explained to us as never ending, going on and on and on and on. Young minds would spin at this thought as we would try to take it in. My older mind still spins at the idea of life never ending, but now I have a new take on it.

All Saint’s Day puts a different spin on a never ending cycle of life. As I was assuring my husband during his illness, that he would soon have a new body and then taking that one step further--dreaming with him about being together again one day in Heaven. This still brings a deep swallow when remembering that time, but it brings a sweet tear of victory as well. I know my words were not just words; they were and are a promise from God.

John 10:27-30 (NIV)
“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. I and the Father are one."

While believers can expect to suffer on earth, to be persecuted or put down, we can fully expect eternal protection and everlasting safety. What picture do the words Eternal Life paint in your minds eye?

Read John 10:22-30 here

Listen to John 10:22-30 here