Today I am thankful for the spiritual leaders God has placed
over me. The shepherds He has called to lead His flock, the friends He has
called to lead this sheep. As I have reflected on the spiritual leaders in my
life, it occurs to me that I must really be a mess because this sheep needs not
one, or two… but three shepherds to
keep her on course! And that doesn’t even
count all of the Pastors that have impacted my life over the years!
I am thankful today
for Seth Alexander. Seth pastors my home church (FBC Bicknell). I am
thankful for the educator that he is. For the passion he has for the Truth, even when it’s uncomfortable. I am
thankful for the visionary leader he has become, taking our little church from
a completely inward-focused, keep-our-members-comfortable-and-happy mode of
operation to an entirely outward-focused, find-the-lost-and-show-them-Jesus
approach to doing church. I am thankful for the way he has challenged each of us
to become disciple-makers, reminding us that it’s our job to reach this lost and dying world, and that if we don’t do
it… who will? My heart rejoices as we continue to see the
streets of Hell depopulated! Just today we witnessed the 45th person
step into the waters of baptism since we began the push to reach the unchurched
in our community! Forty-five people!
That’s a big deal, folks, especially in a community our size! God knew what He was doing, Seth, when He
called you to lead us. And He knew just what I needed when He called you to be my friend.
I am thankful today
for Kathy Stephens. Kathy teaches a Bible Study in her home on Monday
nights that feeds my spirit and has encouraged me to seek the deeper things of
God. Her humble spirit finds confidence
in God to say things that challenge the American mindset and encourage us to
trust a God who warns us that it will not
be easy, but promises that it will be
worth it. Her spiritual insight into the Scriptures continue to amaze me…
taking me deeper and deeper into passages that I have sometimes read a dozen
times… and never thought of it quite like
*that*! I found myself at Kathy’s
Bible Study many years ago, just as I was really beginning to hunger after God…
and it was there that I learned how to read Scripture, and hear God’s voice. What a gift! She took me from spiritual milk
to meat, and continues each week through the power of the Holy Spirit to
confirm, challenge, and convict me. Kathy, you are a mighty woman of God, and the work you do in your home is truly
Kingdom work- reaching across denominational barriers and gathering us together
as one Body!
I am thankful today
for Dusty McCandless. Dusty pastors the New Life Community Church in
Haubstadt. I only met Dusty about seven months ago, but he has spoken so much
into my life that it seems like it must have
been longer than that! Since that time I have regularly attended an
intercessory prayer service their church hosts on Saturday evenings. Over and over again, Dusty has spoken things
to my ears which were directly from the throne room of God. He has encouraged my ravished heart to be
ever more sold out and radical for my God. His passion for Jesus is contagious (and I
think some people very near and dear to me are catching the fever too!) and His
love for God’s people is written all over his heart and his actions. Dusty, I
thank God for the way he has used you to speak directly into my spirit. I thank
you for the encourager you have been to step confidently into the calling God
has placed on my life.
How lucky am I? How blessed? To have these three individuals
to guide and mentor me. How thankful am I that they said “yes” to the call to go and make disciples! And how humbled
am I by their example… which is ever and always to point to Jesus. To shine a light on Him. Never accepting glory on
their own name, but always lifting a banner up in Jesus name!
I don’t do a great job of letting each of you know how
precious you are to me (I was even a Pastor Appreciation Month Failure)… so let
me take this time to say thank you
from the depths of my heart for who you
are and for the gentle care you have taken in nourishing my spirit.
No comments:
Post a Comment