shepherding the shepherd
from PreachingToday.com
International Shepherd Month
I may sound presumptuous but I’m thinking of declaring December as International Shepherd Month. I don’t mean to detract any attention from the Lord’s birth, of course, but it seems that we pastors ought to take advantage of all the attention shepherds are getting this time of year.
‘I Thank the Father for You’
I thank God for tired pastors who have borne the battle in the heat of the day and have the wounds to show for it, and for pastors who not only fought off wolves but who were also stampeded by their own sheep. I thank him, too, for young pastors who will explore Scripture, grace, and shepherding for years to come, and for so many pastors who come to their flocks with fresh joy and Scripture-based clarity.
‘Then Many Will Give Thanks’
Now, all these years later, I know that countless prayers have buoyed up and propelled my ministry. I’m sure that we pastors are prayed for more than anyone else in our churches. We shouldn’t take that gift for granted. This Thanksgiving season is a good time to thank God for that great gift.
‘Every Time I Remember You’
In almost every letter Paul wrote to churches and fellow pastors he thanked God for them. (Galatians was the exception, and some pastors know that feeling too!) Like you, I’m thankful for each flock I’ve served, including that first unruly youth group. But Paul’s thanksgiving had a focus I tend to forget. He thanked God for what only the gospel had made possible.
Singing to God with Gratitude
Singing our gratitude to God using the full range of psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs improves a church’s spiritual acoustics. We hear God more clearly, more fully. We gradually catch the subtle, interior harmonies of his wisdom. Singing, being an artform, conveys more than first meets the ear. Our songs gather up meaning, depth, and stories as you sing them over the years.
Pastors Appreciating Month, Part 3
I’m not sure if anyone in your congregation will remember that this is Pastor Appreciation Month, but I’m suggesting we take matters into our own hands and call it Pastors Appreciating Month, using Paul’s praises as our prompts, in this case, “appointing me to his service.”