The English Countryside & Sheep

The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,

he leads me beside quiet waters,

he refreshes my soul.

He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.

Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.

Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever. -- Psalm 23

Driving throughout England you cannot help but to appreciate the importance of sheep farming. The rolling hills and moors are full of roaming sheep, and this time of year, their babies! It is a peaceful and beautiful sight to behold. And it made me think of our heavenly father as our good shepherd!

On one day, we drove past a large sheep field and the farmer was standing, in his wellies, out in the middle of the field with a bucket of feed. His sheep were, oddly, all lined up on both sides of him and as we drove past we saw him making motions. He was counting his sheep. Slowly walking down the isle of sheep counting heads. Another parable came to mind.....the parable of the lost sheep.

For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. How think ye? If a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray (Matt 18:11-13).