No More Rawhide by Debra Guthrie

How to get out of the herd and become a sheep who follows Jesus. Fantastic dream and journaling by Debra. It's all so easy to do! Read on...

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My eyelids flutter,

                then slowly

                close again.

It is the twilight

                between wake

                and sleep.

Don’t stir…

                I must grasp

                the vision

                before it fades

                with conscious living.

 

The dream—

                the same dream—

                two times

                in a row.

 

He is speaking;

                I must listen.

 

I squeeze

                my eyelids

                tight,

Holding onto

                the moving pictures

                behind them,

Imprinting the scenes

                upon my memory..

 

In the dream,

                I am looking

                at a herd of cattle.

I perceive

                this herd

                of cattle

                is me.

I am one of the cows,

                and yet

                also

                the entire

                herd.

 

The cowboys in charge

                are running—

                almost stampeding—

                the cattle,

First in one direction

                and then another,

Jerking the horde about

                like a spinning yoyo

                thrown out

                and yanked back

                on the end

                of a taut string.

I can’t see

                the cowboys,

But I can see

                their effect.

 

I realize

                that I am the

                both one cow

                and the whole herd—

That it is

                my own self—

Sometimes one,

                sometimes many—

Looking

                at circumstances

                and possibilities;

                people

                and desires;

                and all sorts

                of conflicting signals

                and feelings.

 

At the end

                of the dream

                (each time),

I understand

                what is happening,

And I remember

                the journal entry,

                “This Present Journey,”

Where I made the choice

                to follow you, Abba,

                one step at a time.

 

In the herd,

                amidst the chaos,

My heart is making

                that choice.

 

As soon

                my decision is set,

The herd becomes

                motionless

                and quiet.

I see Jesus

                standing

                in the middle

                of the herd,

Head and shoulders

                above all the cows,

                right in the center.

 

Jesus begins to walk

                toward the edge              

                of the herd

And breaks through

                the edge,

                walking away

                from the herd.

As he walks away,

                I can see myself,

Now a sheep—

                not at cow!—

Following him

                out of the herd.

 

I am a smiling,

                calm

                sheep.

Jesus is smiling.

And we are both

                walking away

                from the herd

Into the wide

                open

                space.

We are walking

                calmly,

                steadily,

And I am simply

                following Jesus

                meekly.

 

Abba Jesus,

 

I feel as though

                I already know

                the meaning

                of this

                twice recurring dream.

But before

                I make

                a call on it,

I want to know

                your perspective.

What do you want

                to say

                to me?

 

———————

 

 

My dearest child,

 

My beloved,

Tossed to and fro

                by waves of tempest!

I will bring you out

                and set your stones

                with many colors,

                manifold gems.

I will place you

                upon a firm foundation

And secure you

                with the strength

                of my Spirit

                and Logos.

You will follow me

                and find peaceful pasture

                with space

                to play

                and flourish.

You will be lead

                and not driven

You will rest

                in your work

And not be pressed

                or stressed.

You will inhabit

                wide open spaces

Where everything you need

                and/or want

                will be supplied

                in abundance.

You will thrive

                and flourish

                and see

                your dreams fulfilled

                as in Eden,

Without stress,

                strain,

                or sweat

                on your brow.

 

You have been enticed

                by ambition.

You have been hounded

                by lack,

                unrequited love,

                and unfulfilled desire.

You have been driven

                by time limitations,

                and advancing age;

                by internal expectations

                and the external expectations

                of men.

You have been divided

                with indecision

                and apprehension,

                and the scary prospects

                of both success

                and failure.

 

You have been jerked around

                by the conflicting circumstances

                brought upon you

                by other peoples’ sins,

                by your own failures,

                and by the restrictive,

                fearful perspectives

                of companions

                and advisors.

And you have felt

                the victim

                of catastrophic

                and chaotic,

                constantly changing

                circumstances

Brought upon you

                by outside forces.

 

But now,

                you have chosen me.

You have chosen

                to meekly follow me

As a sheep

                following its shepherd.

You have chosen

                to let me lead,

Willing to see

                only one step

                at a time.

 

I see your choice.

I see your obedience.

I am pleased—

                for both our sakes!

It is a wonderful new beginning!

 

You saw the dream twice,

                so it has been established

                in the sight

                of two witnesses—

                your heart

                and your will.

And you saw it twice

                because this is not

                a one-time decision

                but a daily decision

                of taking up your cross

                and following me.

 

All you could see

                in the wide, open space

Was me and you—

                me leading as a Shepherd

                and you following meekly as a sheep.

You cannot yet see

                what is waiting for you

                in the wide-open space,

But you can feel

                the relief

                and peace

                around you.

 

Heave a sigh,

                and let stillness

                fill you with peace.

As you learn

                to live

                in the quiet,

You will begin

                to experience

                the inner calm

                of an easy-fitting yoke

                and burden made light.

 

I want you

                to grow accustomed

                to this new environment,

I want it

                to become home

                to you.

I want you

                to become comfortable

                with only the sounds

                of the birds singing

                and my voice speaking

                in the gentle wind.

I want it

                to become habit

                to you

To simply listen

                and follow

While you experience

                these beautiful

                meadow adornments

                and sweet

                green pasture

                surroundings.

 

You will see more later.

For now,

                this is more

                than enough.

This is your home

                with me.

This is your new life.

This is your Eden

                where all that you do

                is lead by peace,

                and joy easily prospers

                in your hand.

This is the land

                where you experience

                my grace as sufficient for all—

All your desires,

                all your plans,

                and all your endeavors.

 

 

My path is sure

                and the way unfettered.

You are safe

                and totally secure

                in me.

I know your heart and desires,

                your strengths and weaknesses,

And I love every bit

                of who you are

                and who I have made you.

I lead with love

                and joy only,

And you will be lead

                in peace.

A calm journey moves easily

                and progresses

                without stress

                or sorrow.

 

You have called to me,

                and I am come.

Follow me,

                and I will make you

                creator

                of Dreams Transformed

                into Reality.

And you will be a witness

                to my strength

                and sustenance.

Far from the madding crowd,

                you will enter easily

                into my eternal dimension.

 

Breathe easy.

Follow me.

I can hear your voice

                and the steady clop

                of your hooves,

And the sounds

                bring me great joy!

Look up and see

                my face

                smiling down

                upon you.

Yes, you may run

                and play

                if you wish,

But no, you needn’t hurry

                or worry.

I am here

                to protect you

                and to lead you

                at your own pace.

No more whip marks.

No more stampede.

No more pushing

                and shoving.

No more confusion

                inside and out. 

 

Only green pastures

                and still waters.

Only you and me.

Only eternity.

Only dreams come true

Only grace forever.

 

I love you!

 

Your own Good Shepherd,

Jesus Christ

Personal Journaling

Hearing God's voice is as simple as: 1) quieting myself down (Ps. 62:5), 2) beholding Jesus at my right hand (Acts 2:25), 3) asking for His input and tuning in to flowing thoughts and flowing pictures (Jn. 7:37-39), and 4) journaling out His words and visions (Rev. 1:9-11). These are then tested, and they must line up with Scripture (Ps. 1:2) and be affirmed in the hearts of my spiritual advisors (2 Cor. 13:1).

Lord, what would You speak to me concerning this journaling I have just read?

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