Encouragement for the Shepherd

I met with my home group last night and we spoke about the fact that Christmas has been under assault in the public square. We noticed the lack of Nativity Scenes in public places and we all were familiar with the ever popular "Happy Holidays" from store clerks who were no longer allowed to say "Merry Christmas".

Pastor David shared a story about a Missionary we support named Dirk Wood who is a very bold, and unusually brazen sort of character...unless you have met him you have NO CLUE what I am talking about! But he told of a time when Dirk went to a park in London with a banner with the name "JESUS" written on it and he draped it over the fence. Dirk was not preaching. He was simply just standing next to the banner with the name of Jesus displayed. It was just a matter of time when various people began to come up to him and curse at him and yell at him with all manner of vulgarity. Dirk did not respond. He just stood there next to the name of Jesus. So what provoked these people to such animosity, hatred and anger? Remember the old precious Hymn "There is power in the name of Jesus"...aparantly there is still so much power in His Name alone that can convict and provoke someone lost in sin and far from God.

The world hates Jesus.

As I mentioned in my previous post, I am trying to look at the manger in a different perspective this year. As I read the Christmas story in Luke 2 again this morning I was paying specific attention to the details about the shepherds. Who are the modern day Shepherds? Where can I see this part of the Christmas story living out in our world today? The more I meditated on the Shepherds I thought of our own Shepherd, friend and Pastor--David Kerr.

Yesterday was a very hard day for him. He preached a funeral for a staff member's son. Just three weeks ago this young man gave his heart to the Lord. He had run with a pretty hard crowd and became dissatisfied with his life and how things were going. He began searching for something of significance and told him mother that he wanted what his younger brother had discovered in a relationship with Christ. I am in awe of the mercy of God that was so good to have stirred this man's heart to recognize his need of a savior just weeks before his death. Pastor David preached the funeral to a church full of this man's friends...a rough crowd...and lost as lost could be.

As a church member, I could see the earnest struggle pastor was having in knowing this might be the last time he ever sees this crowd of people in church and he knew what he said needed to make the message clear about how their friend turned to Christ. Pastor was compassionate, yet did not mince words about the truth of God's word that there is only one way to heaven through Jesus Christ...and their friend bowed a knee to receive Christ just 3 weeks ago.

So how does this all relate to the Manger and Christmas??

To him who has ears to hear and eyes to see...follow me.

Just as the angels proclaimed the good news of great joy to the shepherds in the field, the scriptures tell this of the Shepherds:

"...And when they had seen this [the babe in the manger], they made known the statement
which had been told them about this child. And all who heard it wondered at the
things told to them by the shepherds..." Luke 2:17-18

So as Pastor David, being a true Shepherd at heart, was telling these precious and priceless people about the Lord and his free gift of salvation for all who would call on him, I sat in the back of the church and was praying that the words they heard would stay with them, sealed in their hearts forever...even if they did not respond that day, that those words would be sealed in their minds forever.

I pray those friends would experience the same thing that the people did who heard the news from the Shepherds at the very first Christmas. I pray that it would happen again 2000 Christmases later...that all the friends who heard those words about Christ would wonder and consider all the Shepherd told them at their dear friend's funeral. I pray God gives them wisdom to understand and seek Him...for Wise Men still seek Him!

And to my dear Pastor, Shepherd and friend...your heart for the truth of God's word is a gift. Your compassion and concern for people is evident. I firmly believe the words you spoke have not fallen on deaf ears. You may not see the fruit of those words today, or even tomorrow...but I truly believe you will see some of those friends in Heaven and they will tell you, "I never could shake those words you said...they just stuck with me. One day a few years later I remembered all that you had said, and I bowed my knee and asked Christ into my heart and to lead me. I am here because you spoke the truth over my life in a time of need. Your words hijacked me on the highway to hell...and for that, I thank you!."

So this one goes out to all the Shepherds who are forever called to tell the masses all that they have been told and experienced of Jesus Christ our Savior. The manger would not be complete without you!

Love, Dawn

Circle the Wagons

Circle the Wagons:

This expression, when used by a group of people means to work together to protect against possible harm or danger, comes from the days of the American pioneers who used to form their wagons into a circle to better defend themselves when under attack.

When you have been called and you obey the orders to embark "on the journey of a lifetime" you don't really anticipate all the detours that might come upon that path. Every idealistic dream you had for this journey, every prayer that was answered has moved you closer and closer to the destination... so with great expectation you venture out on the great adventure that you knew God called you to journey...only you never anticipated that pot hole in the road that totaled your vehicle.

The last month has been that kind of "pot hole" experience for me. Part of me is still a bit dazed at the damage done by the proverbial pot hole...but the more I take it all in, I realize that God has not been taken by suprise, nor has His plan for my life been thwarted. Just as Paul had to deal with the thorn in his flesh and yet was not disqualified from his ministry, I too am going to have to learn to deal with my own infirmity and like a good soldier for Christ...carry on!

I have recently been diagnosed with chronic late stage Lyme disease. As I deal with the physical effects on my body, I am trying to maintain my spiritual equilibrium...my roots, my love and dependence upon the Word of God, and my fellowship with Believers. I am reminded of my husband's wisdom in that "attitude is everything"...and this disease shows little mercy. If I don't guard my heart with all diligence, I know that it will be the little foxes that spoil the vine. The irony of that phrase is not lost me when I consider the "little foxes" that have waged war against me. A tiny tick, smaller than a poppyseed has wrecked great destruction to my body--but a guarded heart has kept the "little fox" from touching my spirit.

I recently had a dream in which I had a wandering heart. In my dream I had been attending a different church on Wednseday nights other than my home church. This other church was a mega church and had all the bells and whistles and it was alluring at best...very intoxicating and tempting...something new. After attending this church for several Wednesday nights I noticed there was a room off to the side of the sanctuary and I felt the Lord telling me to go look and see what was inside. I ventured into the room where they were having a garage sale and they were auctioning off the sacred things of God. The communion table was for sale for $5.00 and the baptistry was turned into a wading pool for small kids to play in while their parents shopped. In my dream, I heard the audible voice of God tell me, "GO HOME! You have roots and relationship at your home church. Do not participate in selling the sacred things of God!!"

I woke up from that dream on a Sunday morning feeling guilty that I had even dreamed of leaving my church! When I saw my husband that morning I told him I had the strangest dream! He asked me what I made of the dream and I told him NOTHING! I had no intentions of leaving our church.

Later that same day I received a phone call from a friend inviting me to a conference in town where there was a man with a special anointing and healing ministry. She was insistant that I should go. She said that if I could not make it that night that I should at least be sure to make it the following Wed night. I was really torn...and tempted! I definitely would not turn away anyone at this point that wanted to pray healing over me. I was in need of healing and I knew it! Yet I was soooo torn. Wednesday night at my church is our home care groups. I look forward to this more than any other event at our church. This home care group is almost closer than family to me. We definitely see them more than our extended family. This group of people have come to be a very integral part of my church experience in that we can honestly share our ups and downs and really pray for one another and lift each other up with encouraging words and the laying on of hands.

My friend called me almost daily asking if I was going to make it to the conference. It was only $15 a day or $25 for the whole week of the healing conference...and I was still torn. Then it hit me like a lightening bolt! God had prepared me for this temptation. The Lord reminded me that HEALING was the children's bread and that I was not to participate in the selling of things that are sacred...such as having to pay to have someone pray for me. My heart swelled with emotion when I finally understood! There is no "special anointing" that the conference speaker had that was not resident in each and every believer in Jesus Christ. He reminded me that it was this group of people (my home church) who have been praying for me for the last 5 years through all the illness and misdiagnosis, 6 miscarriages, and all the health calamaties--even before we knew the name of what I was battling. I felt a conviction stronger than ever that if anyone was going to pray for me, now that we knew what I was fighting, it was going to be this group of people. They have a vested interest in my healing, I am part of their body. I cringe when I think of how close I came to missing the true ministry of the body of Christ that evening.

My pastor had a word for me that will be forever burned in my heart! CIRCLE THE WAGONS!! When someone in the body is wounded or down, the rest of the body rallies around in a defensive mode to protect the injured from harm. The warriors take their station and the prayer battle is on! There are the soldiers that "circle the wagons" and guard the perimeter while the front line soldiers move in with the prayer of faith, laying on of hands and the anointing of oil...hand to hand combat with an enemy that is already defeated. Who in their right mind would remove themselves from that kind of Godly provision in the Body of Christ? And the best part was, they manned their battle stations simply at my request...no fee required.

So as I look upon this Christmas season, I am looking at the manger from a little bit of a different perspective this year. As I ponder the magnificence of the angels proclaiming the birth of our Savior, the Christ Child, I see the Holy Angelic Armies "circle the wagons" around humanity in need of salvation. I see the Holy Spirit forever intervening in the lives of mankind pointing the way to Jesus and drawing the lost into His perfect and FREE gift of eternal life. The wagons are circled and there is a place of safety inside for those truly seeking the face of God...and we rejoice, not that satan is defeated, but that our names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life!

Christmas Blessings to my Family and Friends, and when you see someone in need, CIRCLE THE WAGONS!!

Love, Dawn