“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd." John 10:14-16
When I read this scripture, a powerful sense of peace and belonging wash over me. I belong to Jesus. YOU belong to Jesus. Jesus sacrificed His life for us because He loves us that much. What a wonderful truth to ponder in this Lenten season. We are loved and cherished. At times it may be difficult to let these truths settle within us. The voice of Jesus and the voice of scripture can get overshadowed by the negative voices that we hear and internalize. Voices that tell us that we are not good enough, smart enough. How many times have you heard these negative voices in your life? You see, the world wants to hold us to its standard and it is so easy to get caught up chasing after who society says that we should be. We become distracted by the latest and the greatest, trying to achieve it all, while we busy ourselves to the point of exhaustion. It is in these moments that Jesus calls to us and says, “Come, let’s spend some time together.” Lent is the opportunity to put some Jesus Time in your schedule. What is Jesus Time? I’m glad you asked! It is a time that we will set aside to be still and sit with our Savior. It is a time when we will disengage from our to-do list and unplug from our electronic devices. It is simply a glorious time to be loved and nurtured by the Good Shepherd. As we take this journey through Lent and beyond, let us be focused and intentional about what Jesus has to say. I can hear the Good Shepherd now…”You are beautiful.” “You are special.” "You are and always will be enough.” “I love you.”
Prayer: Gracious and loving Jesus, we thank you for being our Good Shepherd. We thank you for knowing us by name and calling us to you, so that we may find peace, comfort, and joy. Thank you for holding us in your loving embrace where we are safe and secure. Amen.
Minister Kimberley Trinidad is a native New Yorker who grew up in Brooklyn. She is a graduate of New Brunswick Theological Seminary with a Master of Divinity and is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Pastoral Care and Counseling. Minister Kim is called to help others and enjoys connecting to God’s people from all walks of life. She is honored to preach and is actively involved in providing pulpit supply. When she is not spreading the Good News, Minister Kim enjoys spending time with her family. Her favorite scripture is Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Her prayer is that her ministry speaks hope and love into the lives of others.
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