Raised
Julia McFarland Julia McFarland

Raised

We all know someone who seems to have his/her head up in the clouds. They appear to be constantly daydreaming, lost in their own thoughts without any sort of practical grasp on reality. These happy-go-lucky types don’t seem to be affected by their circumstances, while all of us “sensible” folks shake our heads and scoff at them, wondering how they can be so inattentive and impractical.

But what if these “head in the cloud” types can teach us something?

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My Hiding Place
Julia McFarland Julia McFarland

My Hiding Place

Here’s a topic for consideration: Hiding places.

They can be good or bad. They are good fun when we are playing hide-and-seek as children, or when we need some quiet time to reflect and rest, but they can be bad when, out of fear, we begin to hide from responsibilities, from social activities, or from God. 

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My Sheep Hear My Voice
Julia McFarland Julia McFarland

My Sheep Hear My Voice

When I first saw the reference photo that I eventually used for this drawing, the sheep’s expression of loving trust stood out to me. I wonder what caused it to look at the photographer with those big, expressive eyes? There’s only one answer that makes sense to me. His shepherd just got a new camera, and the sheep heard the familiar voice of the shepherd calling it over to pose for a picture. (And, out of spite, the other sheep are photo-bombing in the background. Sigh…)

Okay, well, maybe that’s not what happened. But to me, it illustrates one of the many truths found in Scripture. A sheep responds to its shepherd’s voice. The verse, spoken by the Good Shepherd Jesus himself, is this one:

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” - John 10:27 (ESV)

Why is that? I can answer that in a single word. Connection. The sheep is connected to its shepherd for an extended time and has learned through experience that its shepherd can be trusted.

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Good Morning Sunshine
Julia McFarland Julia McFarland

Good Morning Sunshine

When I approached this drawing, I imagined the scene from the perspective of a shepherd just opening his eyes. He looks up, and what does he see looking down at him? A sheep waiting patiently for him to wake, whose expression seems to say,

"Good morning! I'm so glad you're here. What’s going on today?”

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Be Still And Know
Julia McFarland Julia McFarland

Be Still And Know

We don't find peace by pretending our problems don't exist. We find peace by viewing them through the greater reality of who God is.

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A New Perspective
Julia McFarland Julia McFarland

A New Perspective

No matter what challenge we face, everything can change when we step back and see things from God's perspective.

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Keeping Step With The Savior
Julia McFarland Julia McFarland

Keeping Step With The Savior

When Jesus said, "Come to me, all you who are weary... and I will give you rest," I used to picture rest as taking a break from life's responsibilities. But over time, I've realized He was offering something much deeper.

Jesus wasn't inviting us to escape work—He was inviting us to walk with Him.

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