A FLOCK MENTALITY

Part 2

"So shall the waste cities be filled with flocks of men:
and they shall know that I am the Lord"
(Ezekiel 36:38).

We continue to search God's Word to see what He says about flocks. God . . .

FEEDS HIS PEOPLE LIKE A FLOCK

Isaiah 40:11: "He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young."

Jeremiah 23:4: "I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the Lord."

Ezekiel 34:15: "I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord."

One of the biggest tasks of a shepherd is to provide good, green, and healthy pasture for his flock. This is also one of our biggest mothering tasks. Ezekiel 34:2 says, "Should not the shepherds feed the flocks?"

Our Great Shepherd daily provides food for us who are His sheep. His Word is full of nourishing food if we will only come and eat. We too must plan, prepare, and provide wholesome food for children's bodies each day. It is a negligent mother who does not care what her children eat. It is an ignorant mother who thinks that endlessly cooking and preparing nutritious meals is wasting her time. It is a powerful part of her mothering.

It is also imperative to plan and prepare food for their souls and minds. It is a careless mother who lets her children have unlimited electronic access and does not lead them to food that nourishes and stimulates their minds.

However, most important of all, we must plan, prepare, and provide fresh food each day for their spirits. We feed our children three nourishing meals each day, but what about their spirits? Are we faithful to nourish them as well? Or, are our children growing tall in body, but with tiny starving spirits? Making Family Devotions happen each day in your home will provide opportunity to nourish their spirits. Did you notice I said, "Making it happen"? Yes, it doesn't just happen. You as the mother of the home have to make it happen. You prepare the way for your husband to read God's Word to your children.

As mothers, we must continually be aware of feeding the "whole man." It's not enough to feed their bodies, but we must nourish their souls and spirits too. And we must make sure it is good food. God describes His food as "green pasture," "good pasture," and "fat pasture" (Psalm 23:2 and Ezekiel 34:14). What kind of pasture do your children feed on?

GATHERS HIS PEOPLE LIKE A FLOCK

Isaiah 40:11: "He shall gather the lambs with his arms, and carry them in his bosom." Also read Jeremiah 23:3 and Micah 2:12).

Our great God is a gathering Shepherd. He does not want His flock to be scattered but to be gathered together to Him. Jeremiah 31:10: "He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock."

Gathering is also part of our mothering anointing. As mothers, we have the responsibility to keep the family together. As children grow it is easy for them to scatter and go in all directions. We can let this happen or we can be a gatherer, always thinking of ways to gather them together.

Do you have little children? Sometimes they become cranky, and even start bouncing off the walls! Gather them together. "Come, children. Sit with Mommy on the sofa and we'll read a story." As you gather them on your knees and close around you, they will calm down and become peaceful again. I would often do this many times a day when my children were little.

Gather your children to the table for your meals. Don't ever allow them to sit in front of the TV or eat in some other room. Table gathering is one of the most powerful gatherings of the home. This is where we focus together and communicate with one another. Never let your table gatherings fall by the wayside. They knit your family together.

Are your children grown and left the nest? Think of ways to schedule family get-togethers, not just for Thanksgiving and Christmas, but think of all kinds of excuses to have a party or family gathering.

NANCY CAMPBELL

PRAYER:

"Dear Great Shepherd of the sheep, please help me to shepherd like You. Show me how to be a great feeder, leading my children to luscious pasture. Help me to be a great gatherer rather than allowing my children to be scattered. Amen."

AFFIRMATION:

I love to feed my family and gather them around my table.