ShepherdLeader.com

The patience and kindness of God comes to us His nahal, nakhuh and nahag. He knows what we need. What kind of God’s leadership do I need? I need it all! Always. I need to have a clear sense of seeing Him as in control, up ahead and on the move. I long to follow behind Him in obedience, according t...

The call to lead is a call to know who we are leading. Do we lead, out in front? Do we come alongside in support and encouragement, do we push from behind with urgency or is there another option? We need God’s specific wisdom and insight to lead well. God gave the keys that unlocked the door for o...

Sleepless There are many nights when the day is over, that we flop into bed feeling like once again, the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual tank is completely drained. A day is done and we are spent. The sense of success of having given out is balanced out by the discouraging feeling of exhau...

A mentor once asked me a very searching question, "What is your ministry"? I responded with “worship�. They quickly answered back, "no it isn’t ... it is not worship but people. Your ministry is people". We are mistaken when we replace the means with the ends. If our minist...

The Darkness of soul is as much a part of the human experience as night is to a 24 hour time period. It just is and there is no escape. The greatest darkness comes in the deepest loss or threat. The sudden death of a child leaves one empty, speechless and completely bewildered. Sudden news of grave ...

It is very easy to miss the real world "out there" when you live in an insulated, isolated and disconnected system. We forget how bad things are "out there". Sure we have our share of brokenness within the walls of the church, but I don't think we realize the degree of hopelessne...

Cliff, that's quite a word from the Lord as you see community among the poor and needy. May God refresh you as you refresh others.

David is an example of a worshiper, poet, leader, shepherd and warrior. It is safe to be poet or minstrel, but to be a warrior-shepherd means danger. David was not lacking the courage to risk harm for the sake of the sheep. He was willing to step into harms way to come between a sheep and a predator...

Respect for each other in the Body is an important concept for honoring the Lord and loving His sheep. Recently I had a conversation in a leadership team meeting concerning an evaluation form I was to fill out. My job was to have 6 of my direct reports complete the evaluation of my job performance. ...

It can be a scary world when you are a young Christian. It is an uncertain world when you are a young leader. It is an unkind world when you are a learning leader. What is it the breaks in on these situations and brings hope? It is the presence of someone who cares. It isn't that they have the issue...

I love the "re" words. They are so hopeful: restore renew release revive refresh rejuvenate They speak of a return to the preferred state we either once had, or should have. All of the hope stored in these words for the re"new"al is in the work and person of Christ. Not only is H...

The Psalmist calls us to "number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom" (Psalm 90:12)...A wise person is to learn to count and consider the value of a day and hence the sum total of all days given to us. The key is that a day is given to us. We don't earn it, it is God's gift. Once gi...

Reading of the rescue of the lost sheep, I recounted the rescue of the Sacrficing Shepherd in my own family. My father was an alcoholic (a polite way of saying a drunk), and a drug addict...and a criminal, a.k.a. a very lost sheep - "a profound perspective" on his true identiyy. It didn't ...

Christians are needy people. To dismiss this is to deny our frail humanity and in process sanctification. We are so very weak and any strength we have is a gift from the gracious hand of God. Without Christ, our lives would be full of pride, or deception and brokenness. That's where Jesus Christ fou...

To lead is to shepherd and to shepherd is to steward. This stewardship entrusted to us by God is the nurturing care of His flock. The call to servant leadership is a call to protect, feed and when necessary, to heal. This is the heart of Jesus. We have His heart and we are His hands. The care is now...