Can't sleep? Count (yourselves as) sheep

3:00 am 2 days away from my one-way flight (3,2,1, go)
So I lay here awake, unable to shut off my mind about my impending journey and year in Belize.
I am tempted to text or call anyone else who might still be up (thinking of you nightshift friends). Which led me to remember a catchy saying my SOS team leader taught us:
 "take it to the throne before you pick up the phone" Nice one Maddy!

Friends and family are a blessing and comfort through conversation or presence.
But opening up God's word to welcome Him to speak, into what typically is a one-sided conversation in prayer, has lifted me out of fear's grasp.

(open the bible, hmm lets see here..)
People-I was led to John 10, The Good Shepherd and His Sheep. This is no coincidence.
This passage was preached to me and about 40 others March 10, 2013 under a hot tent in Corozal, Belize. Completely in Spanish. Did I mention it was hot? No light show, no microphone, personal fans constantly fluttering. For 2 hours I pieced together phrases of truth and watched a man get so touched to tears that he paused often in his delivery of this impactful message.
He read verse 14 and had the crowd repeat it back at least 10 times.

"I am the good shepherd, I know my sheep and my sheep know me----
»Yo soy el buen pastor; conozco a mis ovejas, y ellas me conocen a mí"

Our Shepherd, Jesus Christ, laid his life down for us. He made it His job to his death to protect us and help us grow. He is always watching and leading us for our good and for His glory. How comforting!
Also in Luke 15, Jesus tells the story of the lost sheep. How a good shepherd will leave the group of safe 99 to seek the one who has wandered from the flock. He parades into town with the sheep on his shoulders as the town rejoices over the return of his lost livestock. Similarly, the heavens rejoice when one sinner repents and rests in the arms of the Father. My fellow sheep, we are so loved!

I feel God brought this familiar passage to mind as if to say "Amber, I was with you in the hot bilingual tent. I am with you now and the same truth applies. John 10 will never change and neither will my protective watch over you. Rest easy little sheep. I love you."

Bahhhhh