Words of Encouragement

When we come together to praise God, our voices can blend together like a sweet melody in the ears of God. Shall we worship him together?


Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. - Colossians 3:15-17



Feed my Sheep. Seeking God Together. We are encouraged in this scripture to let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts because we are all members together in one body. God's word should dwell within us as we teach and encourage one another on to good works. We are encouraged to worship together.



We sing songs of praise together. We give our testimonies about God's goodness together. We worship, we learn, we are thankful and we rejoice all together.



In all that we do and say, we are encouraged to do it with thanksgiving unto God. Why is this so important in feeding God's sheep? When we say we love God then we are obedient to his commandments. God calls us to come together and worship with one another because this is how we help to strengthen each other. We help to build faith in each other.



When I can see what God has done for you, I am encouraged. If I am going through a hard time and you give a testimony about what God has brought you through, I can rejoice because I know we serve the same God and what he did for you, he can do for me.



We are encouraged to learn together, to teach one another and to grow together because as a body of "sheep" we need to be healthy so that the entire bunch can be healthy. If there is disease going through the herd, then the other sheep can catch it and become sick. Well if there is sin sickness going through the people of God and no one is encouraging others to live right, then that sin sickness can take over the entire body.



We are called today to answer a question that Jesus asked several times to Peter, do you love me? What is your answer to this question? If it is yes, then Jesus say, feed my sheep. Teach them my way so that the wolves will not come in and capture them. Treat them as the shepherd and not as the hired help, do not run away when things get hard. Love them as you love me. And then worship together, share together so that you both can grow.

Lord, help us to love your people as you love them. Help us to allow you to lead us as you say and not try to decide our own way. This day, help us to release anything we are holding into your hands. Because today we say, we love you and we will feed your sheep.

Words of Encouragement

Children have a unique way of loving. You do something that hurts their feelings, but they will quickly forgive you and continue to be your friend as if, that thing never happened. Can we learn from the children? Can we quickly forgive the hurt and injustice done to us by others and continue to be brothers and sisters in Christ?


A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." - John 13:34-35



Feed my Sheep. Love one Another. Jesus took the time to example to his disciples the importance of relationship. He taught and showed them how important the needs of the people were to him. He showed them how important they were to him. Jesus did all this so that he could write on the hearts of the disciples the importance of the sheep.



Jesus tells the disciples to love another. In doing this the world would know they were different. In a world were everyone is looking out for themselves, it is something new and different to see people giving of themselves for someone else. Jesus question is still ringing in the air, do you love me? Then if we do, we will obey his will. One way we do that is to love each other.



When you love some one you seek what is best for them and what will make them healthy and whole. You will love each other as Jesus loved. He sought what was best for those he loved. Are we doing the same? Or do we have selfish motives for what we do?

Lord, today help us to have right motives when we interact with one another. Help us to express the love you first expressed to us. You loved us first where we were and then you encourage us to grow. Help us to love our brothers and sisters, first where they are and then to seek to encourage them to grow in you. When you ask us, do you love me? We can answer yes, and we are feeding your sheep. We are encouraging them and feeding them with the love of God that will help them to grow in you.

Words of Encouragement

Can you image this mother leaving her child alone to take care of herself? No, she would not leave her young child alone. Instead she would willingly sacrifice herself for her child's safety. She carried this child and cannot think of doing anything to harm her. That is the same with God. He "birth" us as his children and he will not leave us alone to take care of ourselves. He willingly sacrificed his Son so that we would not have to be lost and alone.


I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. "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. - John 10:11-15



Feed my Sheep. I love my Sheep. Jesus uses the example of the shepherd to bring the message of how important the people are to him. He tells about himself being the shepherd. The shepherd cares so much for the sheep that he does not think his life is more important than the sheep, because he willingly will lay it down to protect them.



He then uses the contrast of what the hired help looks like. The hired help as soon as trouble comes will abandon the sheep and leave them at the prey of those that will kill or destroy the sheep.



This is true for the Father. God knows Jesus because he is his son. Jesus says he willingly lay down his life for the sheep because they belong to his Father and his love for the Father is what is most important.



What is the lesson for you and I? The question arises again that Jesus asked Peter, do you love me? Then feed my sheep. Jesus loves the sheep. He is willing to lay his own life down so that the sheep are protected. What Jesus then calls you and I to is to be Him in the lives of his people. Oh we are not able to save as Jesus, but just as Jesus stood to represent the Father, we must be willing to represent the Son. When I stand for Jesus as his representative I cannot run away like a hired hand at the first sign of trouble. Instead, I must be willing to stand with the sheep (the people) and help them fight off the destroyer.



This is just another way of saying God calls us to intercede in the lives of our brothers and sisters. When they are going through a hard place we cannot run away, but we must stand just as Jesus would. We stand because when Jesus asked us the vital question of do you love me, we answered yes. And when we answered yes he then said show it, take care of my sheep.

Jesus loves his sheep, aren't you glad about that? Jesus does not leave you and I alone to fight our battles. His presence is with us, and he will also place us on the hearts of others so they too will stand with us.



Today, Lord help us to be willing to love your sheep, because you love them as well. You call us to love you and to love another. Help us this day to feed your sheep. There is someone this day, that will need us to stand for you in their lives, help us not run away, but to stand with spiritual weapons in hand, and fight for your sheep that you love.

Words of Encouragement

I did not know "Aunt Maudie" personally, but I heard about how she would preach the word of God to the people. Now she is older, but she can still be heard giving praises to God. She loved God's people because she was willing to feed them as long as she could. Her family beside her is a testimony of what she planted in their lives. Whose life are you planting in?




Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." - Matthew 28:18-20




Feed my Sheep. Go make Disciples. Jesus asked Peter a vital question, do you love me? His words to Peter were, then feed my sheep. Today's, scripture tells us how Jesus calls for his followers to go about feeding his sheep.



Jesus tells his disciples that they have God's power and authority. To have the power and authority of God means that as followers of Christ, nothing can stop you from fulfilling the purpose of God. Even though things in life may seem to have us defeated, Jesus tells us otherwise. We cannot be defeated. The devil, however tries to make us think we are and in doing so, we give up our victory. Because the disciples have the power of God, Jesus tells them to do something.

What Jesus tells them to do is to go and gather others. In fact Jesus is telling them go and do what I have done for you. I brought you to myself. I walked with you, I taught you. When you asked me to teach you to pray, I taught you how. When you were unsure of things, I took time and explained them to you. I never casted you away from me, instead I walked with you, prayed for you and equipped you for the place of leadership that I am now calling you to.




This is one of the things Jesus is calling us to. When he ask, do you love me and then tells us to feed his sheep, he is telling us to go and equip others to be followers of Christ. You and I do not save anyone, but when we present the word of God to them, his Spirit will convict the heart. when he does, then it is our responsiblity to invest in them so that they too can go and do likewise.




We feed God's sheep by teaching them the truth of God's word. If we do not teach God's word, we leave God's sheep defenseless against the "wolves" that would come and try to snatch them away from the shepherd.




Today, Lord help us to show you we love you by teaching others the truth about your word. Help us show our love for your sheep by presenting to them the shepherd so they no longer have to be wondering sheep, without a shepherd to guide them.

Words of Encouragement

Jesus calls us to feed his sheep. This means he wants us to give them the "good" things that will help them to grow. Lord help us to feed your sheep from the goodness from your word.

Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?" He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep." The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my sheep. I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go." - John 21:16-18



Feed my Sheep. If you love me, you'll do as I command. As I was finishing up my leadership Formation class, there was a wonderful book that helped us to understand what true leadership is about. The book, titled, In the Name of Jesus, helped the students to get a better glimpse of what true leadership looks like. This book reminded us that true leadership is not about you being spectacular, or having power, or even being relevant. A true leader, the servant leader is one that allows God to led them even in areas they do not want to go.



Peter was troubled with Jesus' question. He did not understand why he continued to ask him the same question. But Jesus wanted Peter to understand something important. If we love Jesus, we will take care of his sheep (his people). He also told Peter that there would come a time when he would be led where he did not want to go. Peter in a later time would be led to his death for Christ.



Jesus says to all that claim him as Lord, do you love me? He ask it more than once. He ask it because he does not want us to give him a quick answer, but a well thought out one that says, Yes. And when we answer yes, he tells us feed my sheep.



Today, Let us understand what God's call is to the life of his people. God does not call us to a greatness of position, but to one of sacrifice. God does not call us to doing the spectacular so that men and women will pat us on the back, but he calls us to seeking to touch the lives of the one that others forget because of their lowly status. God does not call us to power so that we can be great before men, but he calls us to humility so that we will lower ourselves so that others can go before us.



Today, I pray for us that we hear Jesus' words to us, do you love me? Let us say yes Lord help us so that we can feed your sheep. Help us to be willing to be led even in those areas that we would rather not, but help us to be willing because you are the one doing the leading.