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I want to give you a few things to think about practically when it comes to shepherding people to truth. On Thursday I’ll post when we are to “avoid such people” but for today here are three practical ways to shepherd people:

• Give people texts to read and then give them plenty of space to wrestle. I love strong, convincing theologically driven books. The Bible’s better.
• Listen. Don’t listen to respond. Listen. You’ll find that people usually have an aversion to truth because it is affecting something or someone very close to them. If you’ll listen and see past a specific theological agenda, you can minister to their hearts. Let me give you an example. The Village is reformed in theology. A few weeks ago after an especially clear presentation of God’s sovereignty over salvation a young man came up to me after service frustrated with what I taught. It didn’t take long to figure out someone very close to him wasn’t a believer. We prayed for his family member for 10-15 minutes and asked the merciful God of the universe to save. After we prayed together, he told me he needed to “learn more of what the Bible says about all this.” After feeling loved, cared for and then prayed with, he was much more open to hear the scriptures unpacked. I have found this to be the case more often than not.
• Be patient. Progressive sanctification is just that…progressive. Deep spiritual growth is far from a super highway; it’s more like a dirt path through a thick jungle. Encourage, pray, and be patient.
• Work diligently and passionately concerning your own spiritual life. It’s easier to say “hard” things if your life is marked by humility, grace, hospitality and steadfastness.

By: Matt Chandler (Pastor of The Village Church - Dallas, TX)

Angry Thoughts

Lately, I have been angry. Angry at myself and angry at God. Call this a confession, if you will. I have been really disappointed by life, lately.I am angry that I have not graduate from college yet, I am angry that I have to wait so long to get married when it seems like all my friends are getting married before me. I am angry that I can not drink alcohol, and I am angry because I feel excluded from things that others my age are not excluded from which makes me feel like a child. No one likes being left out. I am angry that Jake cannot find a job and our life together seems to be so halted. I feel like I am in prison in my own life. I lack excitement and joy. I find myself needing to blame someone or something for all my disappointments; which I am learning is my natural tendency. I want to know whose fault is it? I need to solve for something... I need to be in control so that I can stop feeling angry, but I am not in control and I cannot in myself stop being angry. I just want to scream! Maybe, God wants me in this place to wrestle...

Truthfully, I am just really sad, and it is scary to admit that because then I realize that my sorrow is very deep and overwhelming. Often, all I want to do is cry. I want to right now. I feel powerless over it. I also want joy. I want to be excited about the future, but I always seem to be reminded of what has been withheld from me. Regardless of why... it is ever present.

The truth -- I have been deceived, like Eve, into thinking that God is holding out on me. Which makes me seek out my own needs above the needs of others. I have the need to blame. This is selfish, too. I have realized being an adult can not be defined by what I am allowed to do, but by how I choose to act/respond in maturity to my circumstances and life. Maturity defines adulthood not freedom. I am realizing that I am less of an adult than I thought I was...

Especially in light of Christ, and Philippians 2. Christ did not claim his rights and freedoms as the God of the Universe when he went to the cross for me. He is the only one who is truly free to do as he wills and he denied himself. Christ emptied himself and died on the cross. I call that not doing something enjoyable. I also call that not doing what you want. Truly surrendered to his Father. I am humbled. This is the God who I serve. I am not like him at all, but I need him so much. If Christ had claimed his rights and not gone to the cross where would that have left me??

Lord Jesus,
Please help me to acknowledge you as supreme over my life. Forgive me for claiming my rights and not seeking to walk with you in surrender and love. Give me the grace to look at you rather than myself. I am sad. I do trust that you are able to handle all my hurt, and there is a lot of it. Please work in me and be glorified through me. Teach me your ways and let your truth be my joy (Psalm 119). -Amen.

The B.I.B.L.E. yes that is the book for me...

My feelings of inadequacy in my life are always and ever present. And I often find myself uttering the words "I just can not do this..." from under my breath. But, I am learning that God likes me in that place of inadequacy. Where I am completely aware of my lack of ability. It is in that place that I realize my need for him in the most deep and profound way. When I sit there for awhile I can sense his whisper saying, "Come my child and let me supply all that you need".

When everything else in this life falls at the waste side and/or fails me (because it is only destined to do so); the Word of the Lord remains. Like Ecclesiastes says it, all else is vanity, and meaningless. The Word of the Lord, the truth of God, is promised to stand forever 1 Peter 1: 23-25. It is the only thing that will last and never fail, and it is described as the very breath of the living God breathed out as life to me (Hebrews 4:12).

So, when circumstance seem impossible; when painful feelings just won't go away; when anger is all I carry inside me; when my pain can be described as all consuming; and even unto death - I must believe and be found in the Word of God. I need it as I need water and food. It is my life and my salvation. It is my strength and my song. It is truth because God has declared it so, and God is God and therefore defines all truth and reality, by the simply declaration of his words. For example - "God said let there be light and there was light" - Genesis 1:3 (a.k.a. truth and reality)

I must hope in the Lord! For my salvation is near! I must keep the faith! This is the declaration of the Almighty God. Life is found in his Word! John 1: 1-18

Motivated

Today, I realized that the highest and greatest responsibility/calling on my life is to obey Christ, as an act of worship, and take him at his word. For when I obey -- I choose God's glory above my own and when I do that my motivation becomes a pure and selfless joy. It is the only motivation that, in the end, will prove worthy and profitable when I stand before the Holy King of the Universe.

The power to be obedient is found in abiding in Christ alone. Christ is the Word of God.

It is when I keep trying to please myself and other people that I loose my footing. My security begins to evaporate like the rain, and before I know it I am a dry, weary, and parched piece of humanity grasping at what I can in hopes that it will satisfy me. I will grasp at whatever whether is be acceptance, romance, happiness, applause, or whatever else... I can just fill in the blank here _____.

But, if I am living in obedience to Christ and his word all thing may be lost in this life, but I will always be his and he is mine (Philippians 3: 7-10). Peace prevails in my soul. Hope becomes an everlasting and certain assurance. This does not occur because I am "good" at doing what I "should", but it is because my God is good to me. He is truly merciful to me when I turn to him in need, and he is full of grace and truth that I could never deserve no matter how hard I tried. He will not ever lead me astray, but only into peace, holiness and everlasting life. Is this not what I long for? Heck ya!