Dear Pastor,

The people you lead…

Are voluntarily assembling, gathering or “tuning in” to hear what you have to say because they believe that what you say will somehow benefit them.

They are continually engaging with you because they believe that their life will be better because of their interaction with you.

They are seeking you out because they believe that the love, wisdom, hope, encouragement, truth, and experience that you share with them will make their lives richer, fuller and more worth living.

• Are you offering to them something that is equal to what they are believing you will give them?
• Are you making sure they have a good return on the investment of their time with you? 
• Are you connecting them with the One who truly has the abundance, overflow and sufficiency they need?

Take some time to prayerfully consider these questions:

• Would you consider your life more enriched if you were the recipient of the care, attention and teaching you are offering?
• Would you truly feel loved and edified if you received what you are giving out?
• If not, why not?
• Is there any way to improve the ministry/care/encouragement you are extending?
• Is there anything that needs to change that is limiting or hindering what you are offering?
• Are you in the way of you?

This is what I know: God Himself called you (and He doesn’t make mistakes).

God Himself is empowering you by His Holy Spirit to minister in His name, for His glory and for the sake of people.

The ministry God is empowering you to do is not merely a temporary band-aid for the woes of this world but rather part of His eternal plan of salvation. Praise be to God that He has called you and and is presently sourcing you to bless, help, lead and serve others.

Pastor, you are loved and I hope this encouragement (though challenging) will strengthen you, sharpen you and equip you so that you will be better prepared to shepherd your flock.

Christ is with us, Christ is in us!

Mike J

Dear Pastor,

Have you ever felt like things were going nowhere fast in your ministry? 

Perhaps you’ve looked at your recent accomplishments and felt like not much was really happening. 

I want to tell you that the issue might just be the people. 

Now, before you jump to conclusions, I don’t mean that it’s the people causing your feelings of frustration. Instead what I mean is that it may be your lack of relationship or insufficient quality time with your people that is leaving you feeling empty.

We forget that God created us to be social people. God Himself declared that it wasn’t good for man to be alone. 

God intends that we live together in fellowship and community and perhaps some of the reason you find yourself struggling is because reading a book, looking at a computer screen or studying facts and figures is no substitute for sharing life, laughter, joy and pain together.

Spending time together with people, whether face to face or on the phone, is the premier way to encourage and disciple people and indeed to find our own hope and outlook lifted. 

So without drawing this out any more: please, who can you call today? Who can you visit today? Who can you encourage and/or pray with today?

You may just find as you invest personally in other people’s lives that you have the opportunity to ask about their walk with Christ, share with them some of the powerful promises of Scripture, remind them of Jesus’ commands/warnings and ultimately sharpen and build each other up.

I hope and pray two things for you:

1. That in the midst of any discouragement you will receive from the Lord the strength and hope and wisdom to keep pressing on in Jesus’ name
2. That you will share some time together with another person and you will both be edified and leave rejoicing because of the time spent together. 

You are loved! So glad that we get to be on this journey of ministry together. 

Christ is with us, Christ is in us!

Mike J

How do we know what it is that God is saying to us at any given moment? How can we discern His voice above the noise? There are many thoughts and feelings that might be swirling within us at any given moment and even more than that there are a thousand different circumstances, obstacles, distractions and voices that swirl around us all the time. How can we pick out the voice of God and hear, understand and follow what He is saying to us?

Jesus told us that His sheep know His voice. Do we know Jesus’ voice? Are we really listening for His voice? Are we trying to hear what His instructions and exhortations are to us or are we merely listening for a particular answer we have been asking for? Are we listening for what God is revealing or are we only seeking for what we want?

God may be revealing something completely different than what the inner and outer voices are clamoring and saying. So often in my life I find myself looking and listening for God but only inasmuch as He addresses what I think He should be addressing.

It’s almost like I come and ask God: “Can you help me with strength to work in the garden” and God says back to me “I want you to work in the kitchen” or “I want you to rest in the living room”.
And because God didn’t say back to me anything about the garden or strength then I figure He didn’t answer me.

Are you listening for the Lord or are you listening for what you hope/want/wish/desire to hear?

What is most helpful, what is most significant and what is most life-giving is not having a particular answer to a particular question or having God speak in the way that we want Him to, but rather that we listen for Him and look for Him no matter how He appears or what He says.

Another thing that is so important for us to be able to identify the voice of God is to familiarize ourselves with His voice by being in His Word. The more we are in the Bible, the more we will be able to recognize God’s voice over and against the other voices shouting around us. It can be too easy to convince ourselves that we have heard from God because we prayed about it or thought about it alot, but we need to avail ourselves to Him by sitting under the tutelage of His Word. The Bible together with prayer and godly counsel (from other mature believers) are tremendous tools for discernment.

One last thing: make sure that when you are seeking to hear the voice of God that you have properly postured yourself before Him. Be sure that you are humbly approaching Him. Make sure that your heart is open to whatever God’s will is (even if it is suffering or mystery). Be content to receive from the Lord whatever He has planned for you.

Let me close with this: God said that we will find Him when we seek Him with all of our hearts. So we can know that if we are knocking and seeking He will open the door and answer us, and the more we see and hear Him, the more we can know His heart and recognize His voice.

Dear Pastor,

Has the current world situation caused you to pause and ask yourself: “What exactly am I doing, anyway?”

Let’s talk about what you are doing…

• You are representing the Holy God of the universe. Your words, actions, attitude and lifestyle are to be a reflection of Him. It might be easy to get discouraged here but don’t. Just be the moon and let God be the sun: reflect His light to the people on earth.
• You are declaring God’s goodness. In casual conversation, Bible study and preaching you are sharing with people how good God is and that He is even now extending His goodness to each and every person on earth
• You are reminding people that God has fully paid the price and provided for all that is needed for life and godliness: all we have to do is believe and receive. What amazing grace: His grace is sufficient we just have to receive the gift and walk with Him!
• You are serving as a conduit of His glory. Because He lives in you, if you just get out of the way and let Him flow through you, He will indeed produce His Spiritual fruit, He will get the glory and you get to watch His fruit bless, nourish and strengthen people

So why do we ask the question “What am I doing”? 

Sometimes it is because we have gotten our eyes off Jesus and begun to drift. Other times it is because we have fallen into the rut of routine and status quo and are not receiving fresh wind and fresh fire from the Holy Spirit. Many times we wonder about what we are doing because we compare ourselves to others or don’t see the outward “results” we were looking for.

I hope that in this instance you are asking yourself what you are doing because God has given us this amazing opportunity to evaluate what is really important in life and ministry.

Please, remember what it was that God called you to when He called you to be His child and His under-shepherd: be faithful, persevere, trust Him, rest in Him and walk by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ 

At the end of this life it won’t matter how polished or perfect you were in ministry. At the end of your current ministry assignment it won’t matter how many online followers or views you had; it won’t matter how slick your graphics or how eloquent your speech.

Ultimately what will matter is that you were obedient to the Lord, you faithfully shared the gospel of Jesus Christ and you stayed fully surrendered to the Lord every day.

Let God bring the harvest, let God grow the church, let God get the glory. You just keep on pointing to Jesus, now and forever!

Christ is with us, Christ is in us!

Mike J

 

There are Scriptures that refer to God rejoicing, singing and finding pleasure.

But when is it that God weeps?

And why?

The story in the Bible that can help us with this is the story of Lazarus. I’m sure you know it quite well. Jesus receives word that his friend Lazarus is sick, but before he arrives on the scene Lazarus dies. After Jesus encounters Lazarus’ weeping sister Mary, Scripture tells us that Jesus was “moved in spirit and was troubled” and then after He asked where Lazarus’ body was laid, apparently while being led to the tomb, Scripture tells us: “Jesus wept”

So what caused Jesus to weep?

Take a moment and think on this with me.

Jesus knew that He and His Father were preparing salvation and a place in heaven for His children to live in eternally. Jesus knew that even though Lazarus had died on earth, even so Lazarus would live again.

So our first thought might be that Jesus wept because Lazarus died, and although Jesus was fully human and fully emotive, I would contend that this is not the primary reason. Humanly speaking it hurts when a loved one dies, but Jesus is able to see the eternal picture and knows that shortly He and Lazarus would be reunited in heaven. After all Scripture says that the death of God’s children is precious in His sight. So there must be more to explain God Himself weeping.

Looking back at the Scripture in John 11, we see that Jesus became “moved” and “troubled” immediately after he saw Mary and the “Jews who came with her weeping”. So it is very likely that He was sharing the grief and sorrow with these that He so deeply loved. After all not only is Jesus fully emotive but He also is a God of compassion and love. So when Jesus weeps it would make perfect sense that He is weeping because He is sharing in their distress. But I would contend that this is not the full reason why Jesus wept: after all Jesus had just finished telling Martha that whoever believed in Him would live even if they died. He could clearly have comforted the group with these words as He had just done with Martha. So there must be more to explain God weeping.

So yes it would seem Jesus wept because of His own grief over the death of His friend (and perchance any pain that Lazarus went through in the process). Yes, I also believe Jesus wept because He was sharing grief and sorrow and compassion with the people who had lost a loved one (and had gone through suffering of their own as they watched Lazarus pass). But ultimately I believe that Jesus wept because He saw the effects of sin and fallenness. I believe He wept because He sensed the lack of faith people had in their heavenly Father to see them, hear them, rescue and deliver them. I believe Jesus wept here before Lazarus tomb for the same reason He wept when looking over Jerusalem: He hurt for the people. He hurt because they hurt. He was grieved in His Spirit because of their bondage and suffering. Jesus wept because they didn’t look to His Father for all things.

In the middle of the chaos, suffering and anxiousness that is today, I believe God is even now weeping. He is weeping because around the world people are hurting because of the effects and consequences of sin. God is weeping because even still we refuse to look to Him to deliver us. God is weeping because while humanity ignores Him we simultaneously are looking to empty solutions that leave us further defeated.

I am so glad that our God is fully emotive, experiencing the full range of feelings from grief to joy and everything in between. Even so I pray that He hastens the day when there will be no more weeping, either for God or His children. Furthermore let us all pray that His children will work diligently for the salvation of people everywhere that none may be lost, but all may come to repentance and be saved!

Dear pastor, your church needs you.

What does the world needs from the church now?
What does the church needs from the pastors now?

Today, people (in the US and beyond) are living in a state of fear. They are panicking over the “what if’s” and what might happen to them and their loved ones

In particular, their safety and security have been threatened and God is the One we must turn to in this time of difficulty.

Are we okay living in a time of uncertainty?
Are we still going to be joy-filled, hope-filled and faith-filled Christians during this time?

How is this time any different than:

• Roman oppression
• The black plague
• The cold war (and any number of other wars, invading factions, oppressive forces)

The reality is that this time is no different, except that perhaps some people now living are experiencing in a fresh way (or maybe for the first time) how completely out of control we really are in terms of this life. We can’t control when or what illnesses, diseases and viruses come on the scene. We can’t control what circumstances or accidents happen around us. We can’t control what other people will say or do. We can’t control the presence of sin and evil in our world.

This present set of circumstances is a reminder to us as Christians that our anchor and certainty in this life and the next is God Himself. Whenever wind or wave threatens us we must be reminded that God is our safety and security. That is not to say that we won’t have trouble in this life but rather that God will deliver us from the trouble or through the trouble.

Dear pastor, please help people now (as always!) to:

• Call on the name of the Lord
• Make decisions based on His Word and led by His Spirit
• Live like Christ with courage, compassion, wisdom, grace, truth, love and patience
• Trust and rest in the Lord

Today’s current events are testing people’s faith. If we allow our faith to be exercised then our faith can grow. If on the other hand we only allow our faith to operate and only live like Jesus when times are easy or when we completely understand or like the circumstances, our faith (like an unused muscle) will atrophy and when called upon might even break.

Let us remember, Christ is with us, Christ is in us,

Onward Christian soldiers!

Mike J

 

My flesh and my heart may fail but the Lord is my strength and my portion forever.
(See Psalm 73:96)

Here is one thing I have noticed: Circumstances like waves can relentlessly pound us.

But if we are anchored in Jesus, with our hearts and lives firmly planted on Him as our rock and foundation, the waves may be relentless and yet we can stand.

Perhaps the greatest threat that many people face is the combination of these waves of circumstances and the lies of the devil that tell them that ultimately the waves will win and they will be destroyed.

Here is one thing I know for certain, with all of my heart: God is greater than the waves, His strength is stronger than our greatest foes, His grace is sufficient always! Even when my own resolve or my own physical/emotional/intellectual stamina fails me, God is able.

Though the voices may assault, circumstances may assail, my own strength may fail and yet God is stronger: God is all I need.

I have often thought this verse is beautifully poetic and yet somehow strangely difficult to grasp. What does it mean that God is “my portion”? I am convinced it means this: circumstances are not my supply, other’s opinions/approval do not sustain me, and I do not find nourishment from my own deep wells of supply. Like food and like air, God is the “portion” or “supply” that gives me life, nourishes me, and gives me health and vitality.

Dear Christian, please remember that nothing but God gets the final say in your life so long as you give it all to him. If you hold anything back from Him, then you get the “final” say and I know I don’t want to rely on my wisdom/experience/supply which is so limited when I can rely on the unlimited and perfect sufficiency of our great God!

Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus and let the rest of your life bow down before your King of kings, Jesus Christ.

Dear Pastor,

As pastors, we don’t actually have that many tools for ministry.

I would propose that there are 4 basic tools we’ve been given:

1. The Word of God
2. Listening
3. Time
4. Love/Compassion

You and I don’t necessarily have a deep and full bag of tools for ministry. Instead, God has given us only a few so that in our lack, in our weakness and in spite of our personal ineptitudes we will rely completely upon the Lord’s Spirit and Word and see His glory revealed.

Are you tempted to rely upon your cleverness? Or quick wit? Or musical ability? Or a sense of humor? Do you seek primarily to use your personality, strengths or persuasiveness to build God’s kingdom?

Please remember that “unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain” (see Psalm 127:1). Also, we absolutely must remember that it is only the Spirit of God who gives life (see John 6:63).

Let us, as God’s instruments of grace, allow God to build the house, rely on His Spirit to do the convicting, saving, sanctifying and building. We must as pastors/Christians, of course, be the conduits He flows through. We are His body and Christ is incarnate by His Spirit in and thru His body in the world but let us never rely on ourselves.

Instead, please allow the Lord to shape and form you to use His simple and yet significantly powerful tools of His Word, active listening, invested time and sensitivity of love and compassion bring God’s hope, gospel, and kingdom to the people in front of us.

Let me close this post with a few hard-hitting questions:

• Do you share the Bible with people in every-day conversation as much as in your preaching/teaching?
• Are you listening to the hearts and stories of people so that you can fully discern their needs and help them to come to God (and not just to give your two cents)?
• Is the bulk of your time spent with God and people or with books and computers?
• When was the last time you cried with and for people?

I hope that as you dig deep into your how you are using these tools, you will once again seek God’s presence and power to truly minister in the name of Christ and for the sake of the person right in front of you.

Christ is with us, Christ is in us!

Mike J

So what is it that gets you through the day?

I know many people rely on coffee, caffeine, sugar, and chocolate. (And I sure love these and have enjoyed my fair share!)

Although God gives us many sources of energy we do need of course to look to Him as the ultimate Source and Supplier and we need to be careful not to rely first or merely on the created energy sources. The temporal, physical and mortal side of humanity is created to have food and drink as sources for health and energy but for all of our life (temporal and eternal) we really must seek God and His kingdom.

Here’s another question for you: what determines what you do with your life?

Is it merely the circumstances around you or your feelings or maybe even the opinions of others? Sometimes we choose what we are doing with our life according to what is most comfortable or brings us the most happiness. And yet as Christians, we are supposed to let the Lord determine our life. As Scripture says: “The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.” (Proverbs 16:9) In other words, we can sketch out our day or life but most important is letting the wisdom and direction and Sovereignty of God show us what we should be doing with our life.

The last question I have for you to consider is “How do you decide how to spend (or invest) your time, money and energy”? Is it according to how much you have, or because you find something that you really like? For me, I must confess that there have been countless times that I didn’t even think about what I spent these things on beyond “I want to…” But again, since we are Christ-followers, we must ask the Lord what He desires for us to do with that which He has entrusted to us.

And so I would challenge you, as you consider these three questions to choose to arrange your life according to three important things:

• Resting in God’s Sovereignty
• Relying on God’s plan
• Deferring to God’s wisdom

In all of the areas we have talked about (getting through the day, choosing what do with your life and deciding how to spend what we have) it needs to be first and always about God.

• We need to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness (Matt 6:33).
• We need to never lean on our own understanding but instead look to God and let Him direct our paths (Prov 3:5-6).
• As we’ve already looked at we need to Seek God, let Him show us and ask Him what He desires

As Christ-followers we need to stop and listen to God, rest and trust God, rely on and defer to Him. Know this: that as He calls the shots, provides what is needed and graciously works on our behalf we will not only make it through but will overcome, all will be good and glory will come to our Lord!

Praise be to our great God!

Dear Pastor,

I know you know what I’m talking about. As soon as you read the title of this post your mind may have already jumped to the last time life or ministry dealt you a blow. The truth is we all have experienced them and likely will experience more in the future. In this post, I want to talk about what to do when that happens.

Life and ministry are full of obstacles, hindrances, and difficulties. Some of the trouble comes because of our own choices. Some because we live in a fallen world. Some because of the people around us.

The pain and suddenness of taking a punch to the gut can knock the wind out of us, cause us to stagger and reel and even get ready to head for the door. Sometimes the blow comes from the people who offer us “constructive” (or less than constructive) criticism. Sometimes it is the diagnosis from the doctor. It might be a car accident or job layoff. In ministry, the fact that people are leaving the church/ministry you lead can be one of the harshest blows.

So what do we do when we take the blow?

• At first, it seems like all we can do is just stand there stunned, hurt and trying to catch our breath.
• After a few moments as we begin to breathe a little easier and slow our heart rate down then we start asking questions and rethinking everything we thought we knew about life and ministry up to that point
  • “Did I miss something?”
  • “Should I have seen this coming?”
  • “Why is this happening to me?”
  • “How will I make it through this?”
• Once the initial shock begins to wear off and we realize we are still alive, it then becomes time to assess ourselves and the situation:
  • “What now?”
  • “What do I need to learn from this?”
  • “How should I respond to this?”
  • “How can I make sure this never happens again?” (Good luck!)
• After much thought and prayer (and plenty of second-guessing) we finally begin to see through the fog and pain and realize that a new normal can emerge and that we can indeed press on in Jesus’ name and by His Spirit and in a way that is honoring to Him:
  • “With God’s help, I am going to make it through”
  • “I need to admit my sin and failing in this”
  • “Lord help me also to know what part of this is helpful and what part may simply be the Enemy trying to steal/kill/destroy me”
  • “Thank you God for helping me through this and redeeming this for your glory and my good”
  • “I will respond to this person/situation with grace, holiness, truth, and love”
  • “With God’s help I will be more like Jesus and the kingdom of God can/will advance even through this pain”

There is so much here that I could probably write a book on the subject (there are many good ones out there I’m sure) but let me conclude this brief article with these thoughts:

1. Don’t lash out and react in an unChristlike manner when you are punched in the gut
2. Make sure to seek godly counsel from wise and holy people of God around you
3. Pray and seek the face/will/healing/calm/wisdom/power/presence of God
4. Read God’s Word and look for His promises, commands, and warnings that will uphold you and guide you as you respond
5. Respond in grace, holiness, truth, and love, seeking God’s glory, the upbuilding of the kingdom, and the salvation/redemption/sanctification of the person(s) to whom you are responding

Remember that Christ is for you, with you and in you.

Grace and peace!

Mike