Branding by the Good Shepherd

Photo Randy Vanderveen Grande Prairie , Alberta 10-05-12 Smoke rises as a hot branding iron permanently marks a calf east of Grande Prairie, Saturday, May 15/10. Branding, innoculation and installing RFID tags (Radio Frequency ID tags) are all part of an annual routine.I had the opportunity to take in a branding at the Donaldson place near Grande Prairie last weekend.

After looking at the photos it dawned on me there are some parallels with our lives in Christ.

First we are entangled by sin (roped) and it is then we cry out to God for forgiveness and grace.

He doctors us up by ridding us of sin and then marks us as believers by giving us the Holy Spirit.

And while we can stray away from Him, unlike the RFID tag, which can be pulled out and lost no longer giving any indication of who we belong to, we are still branded permanently.

Because of our brand we can rest assured in Who we believe in.

Photo Randy Vanderveen Grande Prairie , Alberta 10-05-12 Joe Rode prepares to go in and rope a calf .Photo Randy Vanderveen Grande Prairie , Alberta 10-05-12 A roped calf is dragged out so it can be branded.Photo Randy Vanderveen Grande Prairie , Alberta 10-05-12 Chelsea Cunningham waits for an opportunity to give a calf a shot as Bob Donaldson applies a hot iron to the animal being held by Colton Rode (brown) , Jesse Franke and Aaron Cunningham (mounted) as family and friends brand calves at the Bob Donaldson place east of Grande Prairie, Saturday, May 15/10. Dale Thompson stands at the ready with a fresh iron. Photo Randy Vanderveen Grande Prairie , Alberta 10-05-12 A Bible verse carved into the back of the cantle of Dale Thompson's saddle gives testimony to his faith. The saddle is one of Vern Rempel's, a Debolt-area saddlemaker, creations.