Am I On the Right Track? 

Why is it so difficult to hear announcements on the train? Recently I managed to hear one properly and I discovered I was on the wrong train! What I thought was the Whitton train turned out to be going to Reading and didn't stop at Whitton!
Fortunately it was not too difficult to change and get on the correct train. Another time I was travelling on a local French train out of Paris to La Ferté-Bernard when I realised that I could hear the announcements, but as my French is not great, was a bit worried about being in the right part of the train. Was it one that divided as it got deeper into the countryside as some rural Welsh trains do, or would I be unable to get off as maybe I was in the wrong carriage and it didn't fit the station? In order to be on that train I had had to get the metro, yes, I am on the Metro again, from  Gare Du Nord to Montparnesse. Joy of joys, I have discovered a great website called "Show me my Journey", it even gives you photos of what to expect in the way of stairs! Stairs are my nightmare when carrying a case, there are hardly any escalators or lifts in Paris stations and unless a gallant man comes to my aid, I am seen struggling up these seemingly insurmountable obstacles.

In our Friday morning Oasis group we are studying the "I am" sayings of Jesus. One of them is "I am the Good Shepherd" from John 10. in verse 3 it says "the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.  When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.  But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” Do we know the shepherds voice, when he calls us? It won't be confusing or unsettling like the unintelligible train announcements, no it will be clear and full of love and direction. Jesus says it again in verse 14 “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." And again in verse 27 "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.  I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand."

These verses give me great encouragement when things get difficult and I can't see a way forward, I just need to take time to listen to the voice of the Good Shepherd and follow him, trusting that He will take care of me on every part of life's journey. And when things get really tough, He will carry me on his shoulders.

Lord Jesus, thank you that you are the Good Shepherd and you call us, guide us and carry us when things get tough. Teach us to really know your voice. Amen.