Dear pastor,

What would it be like, if collectively, all of God’s shepherds would pray daily for their flocks? What would it be like if we all reached out with love and compassion as well as the challenging truths of the gospel? What would it be like if we all modeled a life of peace and holiness of speech and attitude and behavior?

Of course, we know, we are far from perfect! And we know that we keep making mistakes, and yet: God’s grace is bigger!

And since God is our ever-present help and is the fire around us and the glory within us, I just believe that it is possible that God’s shepherds can indeed be men and women who are after God’s heart and can feed, lead, guide and tend God’s flock with patience, holiness, wisdom and understanding.

Dear fellow minister and servant leader of God’s people,

What does it look like to be faithful to the call God has placed upon us?

In the middle of this crazy mixed up world and even in the midst of polarizing, divisive and judgmental perspectives within the church, how can we stand out as lights?

Here are 3 powerful ways:

1. Let us make sure that we do not throw mud on the bride of Christ. So many pastors, ministries and churches these days seem to make their mark by pointing out everything that is wrong with everyone else. Let us continue to look for what is right, holy and good in not only our church but even in the churches around us. And when we do sense that something is wrong, let us not condemn, or pass judgment but instead pray and as the Lord directs gently restore those who have gone astray. Let us be different in this way.

2. Let us make sure that we don’t talk about God more than we talk to God. It is easy to be a Pharisee. Let us continue to talk to God, listen to God and enjoy the sweet commune of simply worshiping and waiting in His presence. Let us be different in that we actually take the time to make the space in our lives and at the church to always pray and fellowship with God.

3. Let us make sure that we don’t talk about the church more than we talk about God and His salvation. The church is a beautiful gift and a wonderful body that God has formed but the point of the church is to make much of God, not of ourselves. Let us be different in that we don’t spend our time talking about the messenger (the church) and forget to talk about the message (Jesus!).

Thank you in advance for intentionally joining me in these 3 things. We want to shine as lights in this world and we don’t want to get caught in the traps of the enemy and if we pay attention to these three things I know that God will grow our faith and our effectiveness for Him.

Please let us continue to pray deeply and regularly for each other and for our flock! I sense that God is moving mightily in our midst and perhaps in ways we have not seen before and as such I know we must be on guard against the devil and his schemes.

I thank God for each of you

The call to pastoral ministry is a difficult call.

We are to shepherd people, oversee the administration of the church, equip the people for works of service, preach the gospel, care for the sick, hurting and absent, and the list goes on.

Perhaps one of the more difficult roles shepherds must tend to (and it seems to be increasingly necessary) is that of protector and defender. We need to protect the sheep in our care from wolves that would try and destroy them. We are called to defend the integrity of the Word and protect the doctrinal standards of the church.

In the midst of protecting and defending we will have opposition and feel caught in the middle. Let us remember 4 vital things about protecting the people and guarding the Word and doctrine of the church:

1. The people need to be protected from false teaching, but we also need to equip them to identify it themselves and to learn and apply the true gospel to their lives and the church
2. Knowing the Word of God is vital to identifying falsehood as well as knowing when and how to call it out. We must study the Bible like a dying man searching for food or water to save him
3. To know the Word we also need the gifts and tools of Godly counsel and the traditions/liturgies of the church to help us interpret and apply what the Bible is saying. Let us not arrogantly assume that we have the answers in our own head without seeking wisdom outside of ourselves
4. Finally let us carefully seek God’s counsel for when and how to correct and rebuke and instruct. Let us remember about “casting pearls before swine” and “endless genealogies and myths” whilst also remember that with “gentleness and respect” we are to “always be prepared to give an answer for the hope that we have” especially as we are “watching over our life and doctrine closely”

I know there is so much more to be said about this, but I am calling pastors to please be sure to protect and defend, but let us also do it with gentleness and respect (because how we shepherd is vitally important. We must shepherd like Jesus and even work for the salvation and transformation of the wolves). But whether the wolves are ever won over to the Lord, we still must defend the people and the truths of the gospel. This is a necessary role of being a shepherd, let us not run away when a wolf comes, like we are only ‘hired hands’ but instead let us recognize we are to be true under-shepherds of the Good Shepherd, and as He did, so should we, be willing to lay down our life for the sheep. 

There are certain words that consistently come up these days: 

• Busy
• Distracted
• Tired
• Stressed-out
• Overwhelmed
• Burned-out

I believe that there is a common denominator that ties all these things together.

Depending on how you read the title of this post, you may have already been trying to think of what one word describes your life. Maybe one (or more) of the words I have already mentioned seems appropriate. 

But I wonder if you might look back at the title and consider another word: “GO”

If you are always “on” and always doing, always thinking, always pursuing something, this word might fit you perfectly. You might even describe your life as “always on the go”.

Here is the problem: God never intended us to always be on. He calls us to rest. He created rhythms of life that help us to receive His peace. God has included daily times of rest, weekly times of ceasing from our labor, as well as annual times of stopping to celebrate Him, let the work cease and let our bodies, minds and spirits be refreshed and renewed.

So if your life is all about “GO”, I want to challenge you to try one (or more) of these things:

1. Stop for one minute. Close your eyes. Breathe in and out slowly. Say “thank you God for loving me…please help me to trust you…I give everything and everyone to you”
2. Grab a blanket and find a seat to watch creation (or a video like “Blue Planet”) and then just breathe in, breathe out and recognize that God who created all this can take care of you
3. Set a timer for 10 or 15 minutes, put some worship music on, close your eyes and just listen and let the Holy Spirit minister to your soul
4. Open your Bible or listen to the Bible for 10 minutes uninterrupted. Turn off your phone (and smartwatch too) and just rest in the reality of God’s perfect instructions, warnings and promises.
5. Go for a 30 minute walk and while you are walking just start listing (outloud helps if you dare!) all of the many things you are thankful for. 
6. Find a completely quiet room (dark too maybe) and if you are able to just kneel or lay down or sit with your palms facing up to heaven, and one-by-one say “God I give you _____” and release each of these things to God

There are other things you can do as well, including going to church, spending time with a Christian talking about God, or enjoying a good Biblical movie. The point is that you give yourself time to stop going and just rest in the presence of God and let Him cover you with His love, comfort and peace

I hope you will take me up on this. You may just find God changing you.

I love people. I love seeing them experience a breakthrough. I love seeing them live victoriously. I love laughing with them and rejoicing with them in the blessings and milestones of life.

But I also hurt for the pain they endure. And the pain they put themselves through. And the pain they cause other people to experience. I also hurt because of the pain they have caused me and those I love.

But I can’t quit. God won’t let me. And I have a fire inside of me that simply consumes and compels me. No matter the pain, I can’t stop. Even when the joy of ministry seems like it is fleeting or fleeing, even then I still have to love people, listen to people, pray for people, and tell people the good news of Jesus.

I pray that some things will get easier. I pray that I don’t get in the way of the work God wants to do. I pray that I am not the one causing another pain, but that instead I am the cause of their joy in the Lord.

I pray that I will be faithful and that God will be honored and that many people will be eternally impacted by my pitiful efforts.

There is deep joy and sometimes ongoing pain, but ultimately I don’t pastor for any temporary joy or temporary pain-relief here on earth but for the eternal glory of God and eternal blessings for all who will call on His name.

May God help us to faithfully press on through it all. Eternal joy is coming to all who will stand firm to the end!

Is your life full of peace? Is everything calm and full of tranquility?

My life seems to have moments of this but unfortunately it seems like those moments are often few and far between. The chaos and tumult and craziness that are ever present around me seem to always threaten to consume me and steal my joy and peace. My thought life and emotions seem to swirl, explode and implode on any modicum of peace that I might’ve once had.

Is there something we can do that will create a culture and atmosphere of peace in the midst of our lives, regardless of what is going on around?

I believe the answer to this is yes, and these are some things I contend will make possible a life of peace:

• Try to do less in a given period of time.
• Make sure that whatever you do, you find enjoyment in it,
• even as you also slow down enough to do it with excellence.
• Make sure to intentionally stand back and admire what God has done for you and even through your efforts
• and then give thanks to God for His gifts which enabled you to work, produce, and accomplish.

These are practical, life application steps for peace. Let me give you some things that we should be practicing in the the deep, spiritual places of our lives in order to walk with peace:

• Remember that Jesus is the Prince of peace, when you walk with Him you walk with peace
• When we give our concerns to God, with thanksgiving, the Bible reminds us that the peace of God that transcends all understanding will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus
• We must hold firmly to the promises of God which declare, over and over, in various ways: “God will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfastly fixed on Him”
• When we receive the salvation and the freedom that comes from forgiveness in Christ and walk according to His ways and refuse to worry about the world’s ways, abounding peace begins to well up within our very souls

I have given you some practical and some spiritual ways to pursue peace. Let us come to realize that above all we must walk in a right relationship with God Almighty, through the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This and only this will ensure that any wall of separation that has kept us at a distance from Him, will be removed, and the peace of knowing He is our Savior, Lord and Sustainer will be imparted as a peace that no person can take away from us!

Sometimes I think to myself: “well, I may not have succeeded in what I hoped to, but I will just hold on until I can retire and it will be what it will be”

This resignation is not usually a good thing when it comes to ministers dealing with their disappointments and disillusionment in ministry.

I think though, that I am not alone in these thoughts.

I went into ministry with high hopes, lofty dreams, positivity and a desire to save the world! It didn’t take long for a hard case of reality to hit me as I dealt with broken people, carnal Christians, divided churches and unrealistic expectations.

But somewhere along the way, God also started working in my heart and mind to show we what really mattered. I am a long way from where I believe God is ultimately bringing me but so far this is what He has been revealing to me (and in / through these things, I have hope):

• The opportunity to talk with people about the salvation Jesus offers is exhilarating, fulfilling and a primary reason I entered ministry
• When people come under conviction, have an “aha” moment, confess/repent/release and finally receive the saving and sanctifying grace of Jesus, that makes every other moment of suffering worth it
• If everything had gone according to my immature (and often worldly) hopes and dreams, the ministries would have been weak (at best) and my heart would have been shallow
• Through the pain of suffering, failure, rejection, slander/gossip, and unmet hopes/dreams/expectations God has helped me to look deeper, cry out more and cling more desperately to His promises
• Because I still have yet to see all that God has done (or is doing) in the places I have served, I have yet to be able to fully celebrate what God has accomplished through my meager (and often misguided) efforts. But, I will cling to the belief that God is making something beautiful, in His timing, from the ashes, and somehow He has used even my weakness and lack, to show forth His strength and provision to impact far more people than I even know

So, if you also know the bitter taste of ministry, I hope and pray you will also take the time to patiently savor the goodness and sweetness of God who is working in spite of all the stuff and one day will present, holy and blameless and without spot or wrinkle, you, me and even those crazy, wonderful, maddening people we have been trying to shepherd.

Steps in the dark
Steps into the unknown
Which direction? What dangers? What will happen?

But I walk by faith
Knowing You are my guide, my companion, my defender

Uncertainty, but also possibility
The unknown, but hand-in-hand with the One I know

So I walk by faith
Believing you can see what is ahead
Trusting you are leading me to a good and spacious land

The journey is long
I sometimes get weary

But I walk by faith
Believing great days are ahead
Looking for the beauty and blessing in each step

As I sink into Your embrace
And relax in the assurance of Your words and Your presence

May I walk by faith
Not in fear, but in joyful anticipation
And the peace of knowing that all will be well

Comfort my people, says the Lord (Isaiah 40:1)

He desires to comfort us
He longs and yearns and reaches out to comfort us

His name is “Comforter”

He knows we are hurting
He knows we are wind and wave tossed

His comfort is perfect
His comfort can soothe
His comfort can heal and make whole

We want all pain and discomfort removed
That day is coming
It’s not that far off
For all who believe and receive

May we draw near
May we meditate on His holy Word
May we fix our minds on His glory
May we fix our eyes on His beautiful majesty

Let us reject earthly comforts
Let us reject fake soothing and temporary balms

Instead, oh Lord, comfort our souls
Deep within
By your calming, soothing, restoring presence

Comfort my soul, O My Lord!