Welcome pastors, church planters, ministry leaders, and other under-shepherds of Jesus’ flock!
You’ve been leading so many others beside quiet waters and in green pastures you may have forgotten what it’s like to be in a meadow made just for you.
This Shepherding room, or, meadow, is safe, quiet and secure. I pray as we share our journeys together, listen to God’s voice together, share resources together we will be encouraged and strengthened in this incredible calling God has given us.
In the West, perhaps globally, we are always in an incredible rush to get things done–sermons to prepare, committee and board meetings, weddings, funerals, small “forest fires” to put out, caring for families in crisis (hopefully not your own!), potlucks and prayer breakfasts to attend, and assorted other meetings and events (I’m sure you could make a long list!). I wonder if this is how Jesus did shepherding?
In some other parts of the world, shepherding may tend to be more like the ministry the Good Shepherd may have had leading his sheep. Watch this short film and listen for the Shepherd’s voice in your heart. There may be some green pasture and quiet water there for you. In the film, Pastor Matt Canlis learned to “stop running and start walking.”
Another place where the Shepherd may guide you in “paths of righteousness for his name’s sake, is in 9Marks Journal. Pastor Mark Redfern shares what Jesus has taught him in his first ten years of ministry. I wonder if there are some common themes in Matt and Mark’s stories.
Please comment on what God impresses on you about these stories. Perhaps share some of the things you have learned on your journey that may help fellow-pursuers of God’s heart find what they need today.
We look forward to your insights and comments! Join the conversation!
Great video. LOVE the thought of slowing down to catch up with God!. Thinking how much negative effect social media has created allowing Pastor’s to have a safe zone from real relationships. I tend to be more introverted in relationships, so it is far easier for me to “connect” without actually connecting. I often justify it by saying “well I can keep in touch with so many people quickly.” But am I really keeping in touch? Going to work on slowing down to catch up with God!
Interesting thought, Travis–the “negative effect of social media has created . . . a safe zone from real relationships.” There’s a lot of buzz now about the COVID side effect of the convenience of technology. But if it is a buffer zone, not good. I’m an introvert too. And need to work on slowing down, and opening up, enough to experience God deeper in relationships. I love your thoughts.
I have viewed Godspeed several times and just saw it again yesterday with Steve as part of our prayer retreat. Eugene Peterson’s holiness quote encourages me with hope and for persistence in living out the Gospel where we ministers live, work and play. He says, “There is no place on this earth that’s without potential for holiness. Or maybe potential for unearthing holiness right where we are with these people we are with.” Jesus demonstrated this with the woman at the well in John 4. Leading her from the need of physical water to springs of living water, resulting in her telling others, all claiming Jesus as the Savior of the world. I recently experienced it at an Applebee’s curb-side parking space with a server. Holiness is not just about living a holy life, but also being in step with the Holy Spirit to show forth the Lord’s holiness in His presence among others. In the past I have prayed, even before going grocery shopping to be an available witness. Maybe I need to add to that prayer “Lord, bring forth your holiness today in one who needs it.” Still learning not only how to live as Jesus lived (1 Jn. 2:6) but also how to walk as He did.
Thank you, Mike. It was wonderful spending time with you yesterday. “Godspeed” helps me remember it’s about God touching others as I let his touch be on me.
I think of “be holy because I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16). Like your quote of Peterson, “. . . holiness right where we are with these people we are with.” I often think of being God’s presence in someone life, like when entering a dying patient’s room as a hospice chaplain. In that context I think of bringing hope, love, the promise of salvation to someone who may need it. But, yes, holiness too. It’s is a powerful reminder to me that I only bring what is not mine except for that which has been given through God’s grace. That’s the ONLY way I can bring any of these godly characteristics into “where we are with these people we are with.” I am not the holy one (ain’t that the truth!). Made holy in Jesus, positionally, then practically, through his presence as Holy Spirit. Like we talked about, I am a mess. But by God’s grace, his person and presence touches others. Just me? A mess. The Spirit? Holiness, hope, love, life.
I’m thinking of the seductiveness of self-reliance and self-sufficiency. No holiness is there when it’s self-reliant me, right? So I continue to remember to, learn to, consistently pursue God’s heart. And in a way, it is wonderful truth that is hard to wrap one’s mind around. In pursuing God, I’m running away from myself, counting my self dead to sin, alive to God in Christ Jesus (Romans 8). It is the self part of seductiveness of self-reliance and all those self-words, that lures so many of us in pastoral roles (if I may be presumptuous in assuming that others may experience the same things) away from total dependence on God and back into the self-mess of ineffective ministry to “these people we are with.”
Like I read this morning, “But you, man of God, flee from all this, and PURSUE righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness” (emphasis added, 1 Timothy 6:11). And I remind myself, as I pursue these godly characteristics that will touch others, the pursuit really is a being caught by the grace freely given. (1 Corinthians 15:10 comes to mind.)
To you who are reading, I’m glad you have joined this conversation. Please join in. You have a lot to offer because has given, is giving, you much!