Shepherding: Giving a Voice to the Voiceless

January 6, 2015

Shepherding: Giving a Voice to the Voiceless

As we put away our Christmas decorations and haul our brittle and dry Fraser fir trees out to the landfill for recycling, Christmas reflections still linger. Linger like the few sweet-smelling leftover Fraser fir needles in my living room corner and in my vacuum. My mind and heart linger, still thinking about sweet baby Jesus, Mary, Joseph and the Shepherds.

The shepherds…Before now I haven’t thought too much about shepherds. Other than I know the Lord is my Shepherd, as it says in Psalm 23. Why are shepherds on my heart?

The word “shepherd” is used more and more as a descriptive verb for guiding and motivating, leading a family or group of people. My heart’s desire is to be a good shepherd of people.

In Biblical times, shepherds were outcasts, really low in terms of social status. Imagine having to take care of smelly, stubborn sheep 24 hours a day, seven days a week, away from people. Supposedly, even in a court of law, shepherds’ testimony wasn’t even regarded. Shepherds were voiceless in society. But not to God.

God chose shepherds to be the first to see baby Jesus and tell the world about Him. The Lord gave a respected voice to the voiceless. May it be so of each of us.

“So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.” –Luke 2:16-20 NIV

“All who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.” Beautiful. Just like God to give voice to the voiceless.

In this shiny new 2015, who are you shepherding? Who is shepherding you? To whom will you tell the Good News?

Reflect:

–When have you felt voiceless? Please comment.

–When have you felt like a shepherd?

Renew:

–“The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.” –Psalm 23:1-3 NIV.

–“For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness. ” –Ezekiel 34:11-12 NIV.

–“I am the good Shepherd; I know my sheep and My sheep know Me. Just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father–and I lay down my life for the sheep.” –John 10:14-15 NIV.

Recharge:

–Who will you pray to shepherd this year? God as the Great Shepherd will guide you.

PS. Today, January 6th, at 10am, please join me to watch Lysa TerKeurst, my dynamic Proverbs 31 Ministries President and friend, on The Today Show. She will be interviewed about her New York Times Bestselling Book The Best Yes. www.lysaterkeurst.com or www.proverbs31.org.

October 7, 2014

Loving Your Neighbor, Post #51

Bob turned 95 years old last August. His bright, blue eyes sparkled behind his thick, smudged glasses. His black cardigan sweater was his uniform, soiled with food and drinks missed by his mouth and napkin. His mind was sharp and his sense of humor lightened every setting. His Canon camera hung round his neck always ready to capture each moment.

Bob served as the patriarch of our neighborhood cul-de-sac. Retiring from Chicago as a graphic artist, Bob and his wife Lee paid $50,000 cash in 1986 for his Charleston home to be built. His graphic design firm was instrumental in creating the Coca-Cola Santa Claus. More importantly, he created a customized watercolor card for each of us for our birthdays and designed a beautiful pen and ink Charleston scene as his Christmas card each year. He was a legend. Bob’s wife passed away in 1993, and he never remarried. He lived alone. We as neighbors adopted him.

Both my grandfathers passed away before I was born, so Bob became my surrogate grandfather. He and his wife Lee bore four children, three who live in Illinois and one in California. Bob created his local family with his church family, Optimist Club friends, and the neighbors. As neighbors we worked together daily to take him meals, reminded him to take his medications, drove him to Wal-mart, and took him to the barber shop. My special job was to accompany him with his walker on a stroll several times a week around the cul-de-sac for some sunshine and exercise.

Last year both Bob and the neighbors realized he was getting too frail and medically dependent to live alone. He and his children decided he would move to Illinois to live with one of the daughters. Bob took the news pretty well and just kept talking about the cold. He slowly began to gather boxes and we helped him pack his most prized possessions, like his photographic scrapbooks, chronicling almost each moment.

Last August 2nd the neighbors and I threw a 95^th birthday and farewell party for Bob at his church along with his children and Optimist Club friends. In all about 100 people attended. His pastor said it was the first party of its kind he had seen with the Guest of Honor also celebrating in the room. Still there to hear the sweet accolades instead of waiting until the honored guest had passed away. Bob had no doubt he was loved. He flew to Illinois the same day the moving truck came for his belongings. He didn’t have to see the For Sale sign being put in the front yard. Bob passed away on September 26^th of pneumonia, less than two months after he moved.

My life is so much better for having loved, learned from and laughed with Bob. May we all love our neighbors, love the Bobs in our life.

Reflect:

Who is your Bob (neighbor)? Please comment.
Who can you love on a little more?

Renew:

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” –Mark 12:30, 31. NIV84

Recharge:

Name one neighbor or person you will intentionally reach out to as we approach this season of Thanksgiving. Perhaps it’s calling and taking a picnic basket to your older neighbor or a loved one in an assisted living facility. Perhaps it’s riding bicycles with some neighbors and their children. It takes just a few moments.
Please let me know what you decide to do.

Resource:

Robert “Bob” Anderson’s art legacy lives on. Please consider purchasing one of his beautiful “Charleston Orphan House” prints as a gift at the Shops of Historic Charleston Foundation, 108 Meeting Street in Charleston. (843) 724-8484.

September 9, 2014

A Tale of Two Seas, Post #47

We are blessed with so much, yet we want so much more. We take and take some more. So often, our hearts are wired for discontentment. To illustrate the point, this tale of two seas comes to mind.

Do you remember learning about The Dead Sea in school or church? The Dead Sea is really a lake, not a sea. It is so high in salt content that a human body can float easily. Supposedly, a person can almost lie down and read a book! The salt in the Dead Sea is as high as 35 percent—almost 10 times normal ocean water salt content.

All that saltiness means there is no life at all in the Dead Sea. No fish. No sea animals. No vegetation. Nothing lives in the Dead Sea.

The Sea of Galilee is just north of the Dead Sea. This sea, though, is teeming with rich, colorful marine life, plants, and fish. More than 20 types of fish live in the Sea of Galilee.

Guess what the source of water is for both seas? Both the Dead Sea and the Sea of Galilee receive their water from the River Jordan. How can that be?

The River Jordan flows into the Sea of Galilee, then flows out. The water simply passes through the Sea of Galilee, keeping the Sea vibrant and healthy, chock full of marine life.

The Dead Sea, though, is so far below sea level, the water has no outlet. It flows in from the River Jordan, but does not flow out. Figures estimate that more than seven million tons of water evaporate from the Dead Sea daily, leaving it too salty and full of minerals for any marine life to survive.

This “Tale of Two Seas” offers a valuable life lesson on giving and giving thanks. On letting the Living Waters flow through us, not hoard the life, blessings, gifts and talents we have been freely given.

I challenge you to curb the television. Listen to each other, to the music of the loved ones’ voices. Dance. Make your music. Count your blessings. Keep a gratitude journal.

You are the Sea of Galilee, a beautiful body flowing with life, Living Water. Let it flow.

Reflect:

For what, for whom are you thankful?
Who is a “Sea of Galilee” in your life? Let them know. Please comment.

Renew:

“Let the sea resound, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy; let them sing before the Lord, for He comes to judge the earth.” –Psalm 98:7-9 NIV84
“Enter his gates with Thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name.” –Psalm 100:4 NIV84
“On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, ‘If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of Living Water will flow from within him.’” –John 7:37-38. NIV84

Recharge:

Please start a Gratitude Journal this week and list at least three blessings daily. It could be a warm house, your health, laughter, cozy coats and boots. Keep going. You can do it.
Please let me know of some of your many blessings.