Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much

I have been listening to some teaching Cd’s by Ray Van Der Laan the teacher that makes the Focus on the Family series “That The World May Know.” If you have never seen the series they are teachings from the Holy Land, he takes the scriptures and interprets Jesus’ teachings from a Hebrew mindset, using the culture and understandings of the days and times. I have loved renewing my mind and hope that someday I will begin to see more and more my Hebrew God and my Jewish roots that Romans so clearly shares with us.

I listened as Ray taught the other day about the shepherds in the Hebrew culture and that there are no men shepherds in Israel during the past and still in today’s culture. That shepherds are usually little girls under menstruating age or older women past childbearing age. There would also be young men under the age of bar miztva which would be under 12 years of age~ the youngest male in the family if there were no girls. ( Recognize that? King David was probably a Shepherd for  his family when he was between 7-11 years old, he killed Goliath during that time frame~~ amazing!)

With the Christmas season quickly approaching, and all the plays, books and cards that depict shepherds with full beards this has added a new dimension to the reality that Christ came to the lowest of lowest. In the culture and time of Christ birth, male shepherds were not the lowest of all, but WOMEN were the lowest ranking citizens of that day and women shepherds of non child bearing age were below everyone else. HE CAME to the lowest rank in the culture and humbled Himself to their care. He honored them with the most wonderful message ever given. Entrusted the Lamb of God to the care of a WOMAN. Was Mary His mother a shepherd girl? I think she might have been and when she came of age God chose this favored shepherd to shepherd His little lamb. It makes me feel a deep sense of awe!

I am still reading the gospels this year and have began reading them again this last month, today I read Matthew 28 where it shares that near dawn of the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala and the other Mary went to take a look at the tomb. And the angel of the Lord had rolled back the large stone and told the WOMEN, Do not be alarmed or frightened for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; He has risen as He said. Go quickly and tell His disciples.

And as they went, behold Jesus met them, the women clasped His feet and  worshiped Him. Then Jesus said to them GO and TELL My brethren.

Women, first at the manger, first at the tomb?

Women that tarry during the night seeking,keeping watch during the dark moments of suffering, mindful of the matters of the coming day and most probably still watching the sheep. Mary, His mother thinking she had lost God’s precious Lamb that had been entrusted to her care. Wondering if she had failed somewhere along the way during the last 33 years in shepharding this lamb. Then the reality; that HE CAME and still comes to the least of the least,Once again women. And gives them the commission to GO and TELL.

What will happen in future days, when Christ returns and every eye will see? WOMEN we will be there, up till that time most probably we will still be watching our little sheep, mindful of the children in our care and the condition of the hearts of those we love. Women who GO and TELL that HE  COMES to the least of the least.

I am amazed at the love the Heavenly Father has bestowed upon us~~~ WOMEN