hey prayer friends I can't believe Christmas Is Almost Here If you've been listening to the prayers of rest podcast for a while now you might remember that back in 2020 we spent the Advent season praying together through the names of Jesus it was an incredible time of unwrapping the beauty of Jesus has many names as we prepared our hearts to celebrate his birth and since we just released unwrapping the names of Jesus for kids I thought it would be fun to re-air some of those Ivan episodes so that we can again take time to meditate on the names of Jesus together each name we've selected is also found in the children's back as well as in the regular Advent devotional for adults for families there's a big people on and now there is the little kids younger kids picture but version so if you have children or grandchildren and your life
 bitter inviting them to join you in prayer as we rest In God's Presence together during this Advent season
 you can also find free printable coloring ornaments for each name of Jesus to keep the kids engaged when you go to our website unwrapping the names.com may you grow in all and wonder as you rest in our Good Shepherd the light of the world our King of Kings our Precious Jesus this Advent season
 welcome to the Prairies of Wrath podcast I'm your host ashrita and this season's prayers are based on my Advent devotional unwrapping the names of Jesus as a busy mom I know how hard it is to keep Jesus at the center of our Christmas celebration I want our kids to know that even if the lights are fun and their presents and there's a me cookies really what is at the heart of the celebration Jesus himself each week has a family devotional that you can do around the table it's super simple even for the youngest children and my husband and I also created free coloring ornament go along with the devotional that you can download like I said for free at unwrapping the names.com you'll find that LinkedIn are so nuts as well I really hope this Advent devotional is a blessing to you whether you have young kids at home or not may I help you Center your heart and your mind on Jesus as we begin find a quiet place and take a deep breath as we enter
 chickens presents together
 today's reading comes from John chapter 10
 I am the Good Shepherd the Good Shepherd lays down his life for the Sheep
 let's begin by reciting God's goodness praising him for who he is and for what he has done in our lives
 Jesus you are our Good Shepherd you are the one who takes care of us you are the one who knows each one of us you lead us Jesus into Green Pastures you make us lie down beside Still Waters you restore our souls you lead us in Paths of righteousness for your namesake not our own and yet not only that but Jesus you are the Good Shepherd who lay down your life for your sheep you are the one who saw the threat against us the threat of sin and death and you ran headlong into it willingly and laying down your life on the cross for us your sheath
 icrate love that where any other Shepherd would have turned away and ran you are the Good Shepherd who faced the threat and lay down your life to protect
 in the next few moments recite God's goodness Praise Him for how he has shown himself to be the Good Shepherd in your life
 we move now into a time of expressing or needing this
 God we confess at like silly sheep we often Wander from you I Wander from you God forgive us for the ways that our hearts are prone to wander prone to leave the God he love how you say there's more rejoicing in heaven over the one sheet that has gone astray and and is brought back into the fold and the 99 who have never left the each one of us has Precious Precious people in our Lives who have wandered Lord would he seek them and save them and bring them back into the flock
 give us the heart of the Good Shepherd who is constantly looking for ways to reach out to love and to bring into the fold those who have wandered in our lives give us the heart of the Good Shepherd that weeps over those who are gone and missing and wandering Jesus you are a good shepherd help us to trust you as you lead us
 in the next few moments friends express your neediness to God
 we move now into a time of seeking God's telling us
 invite you to picture yourself as a sheep in the good Shepherd's flock picture him there with you leading you into Green Pastures beside Still Waters speaking to you whistling or singing a song as a Shepherd dad's so that you know he's there in the dark valleys be still with your Good Shepherd
finally let's move into a time of trusting God's faithfulness
 God you have been Our Shepherd from the very beginning
 throughout the course of history God you are the one who pursued you are the one who sought out you are the one who brought back in promising a rescuer even at the cost of his own life and in Jesus we see the Good Shepherd who didn't just comfortably sit with a religious Elite or the leaders who didn't seek power or Prestige or his own Advantage but rather saw out the marginalized those who were ignored and mistreated his who had no hope those who had wandered brought them together to make one flock and then lay down his life to ensure protection for other and you Jesus by the power of God and he were raised from the dead the Good Shepherd who would never again. I and brought life to each one of us
 Jesus you're coming back you have filled us with your spirit as we wait for you and you are coming back to gather all your flock together people from every tribe and every nation and every language from all the times of History gather together as one people for one God he knew Jesus are the Good Shepherd and you have been faithful to your name you have been faithful to who you are and so we can trust you whether it's Green Pastures or dark valleys Jesus we can trust you with our very lives because you lay down your life
 in the next few moments I invite you to say to God I trust you I trust you my good shepherd
 as you listen to today's passage again what word or phrase stands out to you what do you feel God is saying to you and what do you want to say to him
 I am the Good Shepherd the Good Shepherd lays down his life for the Sheep
 now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling into resent you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy to the only God our savior be glory and Majesty power and authority through Jesus Christ Our Lord for all ages now and forevermore amen
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