Soul Shepherding » Leadership

A Better Year Ahead?

Bill Gaultiere — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 00:35:51 +0000

A Soul Shepherding Moment

We all want 2012 to be better than 2011 — even if last year was a great year. How does that happen?

Not by having better circumstances. (They always go up and down.)

Not by keeping a typical New Years’ Resolution. (They don’t deal with personal character and besides they fizzle out by February.)

Not by making no resolutions. (It’s a good and necessary thing for all of us to resolve to be and do better, as long we’re inspired by God’s wisdom and relying on his strength.)

Not by following the typical Christian advice: “Three Steps to a Blessed Life” or “Five Biblical Principles to Help You Succeed.” (True life in Christ is so much larger than using God to make our life turn out more like we want it to.)

The Way to a Better Year

“I am devoted to you,” David proclaimed to the Lord (Psalm 86:2). That is the one and only way to enjoy a better year this year than last.

Imagine waking up each day and stepping into the kingdom of the heavens. (It’s not just a far off and way later — it’s wherever Christ is King.) That is the life of beauty, goodness, and adventure that God has for you and I!

I have found that beginning my day with a prayer of dedication to the Lord is the right start to remind me that I am not living from the visible world, but God’s kingdom, invisible and yet more real and glorious than anything I’ve ever seen with my eyes. Then continually, as often as I can remember, I offer up prayers inspired by a fragment from a Psalm or other Scripture.

A Prayer for a Better You

Try this morning prayer of dedication with me:

Good morning Father! Thank you for this day of life you’ve given me. Jesus, be my Lord and Teacher today in all things. You mean everything to me — what a blessing that I am the disciple you love!

O God, whatever happens today, however people treat me, whether or not I succeed in the things I do I will rejoice because I am with you being formed by the Holy Spirit to be more like Jesus, more at peace and more loving to the people near me.

Father, Son, and Spirit I am in you and you are in me! Think with my thoughts. Stir in my heart. Look with my eyes. Speak with my mouth. Love with my hands.

All I want today is to glorify and serve you, my Lord. So I abandon to you the outcomes of this day, trusting that you are good and you are working good in my life — even when it doesn’t feel like it. In Jesus’ name I pray and live. Amen.

This is a prayer to offer from our hearts. It’s an attitude to live by. Why? To exalt the Lord Jesus Christ! To be devoted to God! When we abandon ourselves to God we find that we couldn’t be happier, we couldn’t have a better life – not matter what our circumstances are at the moment.

More Soul Shepherding

“Devoted to You” is one of my favorite prayers of devotion. It’s inspired by Psalm 86, a special, but little known prayer by the man after God’s heart.

“The Apprentice Prayer” is a prayer of devotion that I wrote during my spiritual renewal that began in 2002.

Is your life devoted to Christ? I think it is or you wouldn’t be reading this! How can we help you to better follow the Good Shepherd in the New Year? Let us know. Soul Shepherding is for you and your ministry.

Bill & Kristi Gaultiere ~ SoulShepherding.org

Sit Down

Bill Gaultiere — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 04:30:38 +0000

Soul Shepherding Moments

God says to us, “Sit down,” but a lot of us have trouble doing this!

It’s especially difficult for those of us who are leaders, pastors, or care-givers. We race ahead to get things done. We stand up to take charge or to help people. But we don’t like to sit down and wait! We’re not good at listening patiently.

It’s hard for active personalities to believe, but we’ll accomplish more of what’s really important if we first sit down before the Lord—delighting ourselves in him, waiting to see what he’s doing, listening to what he’s saying, and depending on him as we follow his lead.

David Sat Down—But Then he Didn’t

Psalm 110 begins with David saying, “The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” (Psalm 110:1).

Indeed, it was said of the king, “David sat” (1 Chronicles 17:16). He was a good leader when he sat before the Lord. Earlier in his life (when so many of his Psalms were written) we read seven times in Samuel’s account that David “inquired of the Lord” (1 Samuel 22:10, 23:2,4,12; 30:8; 2 Samuel 5:19, 23). One time God told him to wait to go out and meet his enemy in battle until he heard the sound of the Lord and his angel armies marching ahead of him in the tops of the balsam trees (2 Samuel 5:22-25). David was successful because he listened to and obeyed the Lord.

But then king David got overconfident and self-reliant. He got restless. No longer was his soul satisfied in God. He stopped sitting before the Lord. He stopped inquiring of him. Then he had his moral blow out and his family and his kingdom fell apart. Later he returned to relying on God.

We see the same story played out over and over again among Christian leaders and caregivers in our day: those who don’t enjoy sitting before the Lord are likely candidates for a moral blow out or a stress burn out that hurts them and all the people in their circle of influence.

Jesus Sat Down

Psalm 100 is prophetic of Christ. The perfect Leader fulfilled these words, living in a posture of sitting before the Father. He waited eighteen years to begin his public ministry. In all things Jesus submitted to the Father and waited to follow his lead (John 5:19, 12:49). This was the source of his love and power.

Is your posture one of sitting down before the Lord? Are you listening to his voice, following him?

You’ll be a better leader. You’ll accomplish more.

More Soul Shepherding

“Ministry Begins with Rest” will encourage you to offer your service for God in the right way so you don’t burn out or blow out.

What if church and parachurch planning meetings were done in the Spirit of Psalm 110 rather than like a secular business? Why do we set aside prayer and dependency on Christ when it’s time to “get down to business”? “Facilitating Spirit-Led Meetings” explains the Soul Shepherding way for leading meetings and groups as a Christ-follower, depending on the Holy Spirit in the process. This is what we teach to pastors, elders, nonprofit presidents, and others.

Bill Gaultiere, Ph.D. & Kristi Gaultiere, Psy.D. ~ http://www.soulshepherding.org

Gasping for Air

Bill Gaultiere — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 04:03:13 +0000

With Ray Ortlund Sr. in 2004

Much of who I am comes from my spiritual mentors. The same is true for you. The men or women who you have looked to as Christ’s Ambassadors are used by God to shape you and your ministry to others (2 Corinthians 5:20). Nurturing those relationships and memories is vital.

Ray Ortlund, Sr. was a wonderful spiritual father and soul guide to me. He discipled me to Jesus and God used him to raise me up to start the ministry of Soul Shepherding.

I especially remember Ray looking me in the eyes as we were talking over lunch one day: “Bill, be like Jim Elliot. Be all and only for Jesus! Be on fire and let your life flame out for his kingdom!”

Be All and Only for Jesus

“Be all and only for Jesus.” That’s how Ray lived and it’s how he died. “Spiritually, Ray was strong to the end,” his wife Anne told me recently. “He had many struggles lasting ten to fifteen minutes when he was gasping desperately for air, and when they subsided he would often say, ‘This is God’s gift to me!’—Ray so totally trusted the Lord.”

I keep thinking about Ray gasping for air. Even in those frightening, painful moments in which he couldn’t breathe he relied on Jesus and rejoiced in him.

It’s easy to forget that spiritually we’re all gasping for air continually, desperate for the spiritual oxygen that only comes as we trust in the Lord Jesus who breathes his Spirit into us (John 20:22).

Take a moment now to thank God for someone who has encouraged you to “Be all and only for Jesus.” It’s the breath of life for your soul!

More Soul Shepherding

“The One Benediction You (and Others) Need” is a short post inspired by the Psalm 20 blessing that Ray offered me and my son, who Ray also mentored.

“Be Devoted to Christ like Ray Ortlund.” I wrote this article shortly after Ray died in 2007 to share with others the wonderful, life-shaping lessons that I learned from Ray. I love reading and re-reading these precious insights and you will too!

Soul Shepherding is a ministry for those who minister to others—pastors, pastors’ wives, missionaries, and other Christian leaders and care-givers. We offer counseling, spiritual mentoring, seminars, and retreats to help people “Be all and only for Jesus.”

Bill Gaultiere, Ph.D. & Kristi Gaultiere, Psy.D. ~ http://www.soulshepherding.org

Less is More

Bill Gaultiere — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 03:24:53 +0000

Every pastor, leader, and caregiver tries to do too much.
Lord, help us not to make this mistake!

For us and the people around us

it’s the source of much anxiety and conflict —
also pride, envy, and feeling inadequate.

Our main job is to remember that
Jesus is the Leader.

So make space
for yourself and those with you to listen.

Jesus is speaking in

Scripture,
quiet moments,
heart-to-heart conversations,
flowers and butterflies,
hugs,
and laughter.

Keep praying:

“More of Jesus…
Less of me.”

The Risen Christ is in our Midst

So often I’ve tried to do more for God and sadly it’s meant more of Bill and less of Jesus.

I’ve learned that I need to keep reminding myself that the greatest opportunity for me and for those who are around me is to appreciate the risen Christ is in our midst. He is the glorious one who shines like the sun. In him are hidden all treasures of wisdom and knowledge. He alone can multiply fishes and loaves and open the ears of the deaf.

When you minister God’s Word to others offer your pulpit to the Lord by asking Jesus to be the one that preaches to those who gather. He’ll speak through your words but even more so between your words. Since people will hear God best in the spaces between the words you speak leave some quiet pauses for people to appreciate God with you. If your heart is adoring Jesus then you won’t try to say too much and all the people around you will be drawn in to worship God with you.

Pastors aren’t the only ones who share the Word of the Lord with others — all of Christ-followers are his ambassadors who represent him. Whenever you care for others rely on Jesus to be the Wonderful Counselor. In all your meetings ask Jesus to set the agenda, lead the discussion, and direct the decision-making. In your kitchen whenever you prepare a meal pray for Jesus to nourish your family and guests with his heavenly manna.

Let’s Pray

Pray with me. Breathe in, “More of Jesus…” Breathe out, “Less of me…”

“More of Jesus… Less of me…”

Pray this as you do what you’re doing and everyone you meet will behold Jesus’ smile.

(Scripture references: Habakkuk 3:20, John 3:27-30, Revelation 21:23, Colossians 2:3, 2 Corinthians 5:20)

More Soul Shepherding

“Ministry Begins with Rest” will help you to be a spiritual leader.

Bill Gaultiere, Ph.D. & Kristi Gaultiere, Psy.D. ~ http://www.soulshepherding.org

Living Supernaturally

Bill Gaultiere — Wed, 04 May 2011 20:48:56 +0000

What are you missing out on?

I was restless and discouraged so I turned to some words by Ray Ortlund, my spiritual father. O how they blessed my soul! I believe they’ll give you a lift too. But first, let me explain.

Every day has much of the mundane it. If we’re not careful the chores and maintenance of life can suck us into a void of meaninglessness.

Every day also brings forth desires for things that would make us feel good and worries about what might make us feel bad. If we’re not careful our emotions lead us into unhealthy and unholy behaviors.

And every day presents more to do than time to do it. If we’re not careful our to do list makes us hurried and harried.

If we’re not careful we lose focus on what we say matters most to us: serving Christ.

Secret Cynics

If we’re not careful. Read this as: If we’re not care-full. If we’re not full of God’s care then we lose heart and become cynical — perhaps secretly so — about the Christian life.

We talk with many spiritual cynics who have lost heart. It’s a common condition for pastors, ministry leaders, and other committed Christ-followers. We “know” more about God and life with him then we’re living. We can explain for others the Christian life, even some of its mysteries, but we’re not experiencing intimacy with Jesus or becoming more like him.

Christian cynics give up on the possibility that there life could actually look like what’s found in the pages of the New Testament. They reduce Christianity to a set of doctrines or to ministering to other people. Or they just give up and go through the motions. In any case they don’t believe that God has a life of intimacy, adventure, and joy for them.

Take Heart!

Sometimes we all lose heart. All our biblical heroes and the masters of devotion to Christ who followed them experienced this. Ray Ortlund went through periods of spiritual dryness and being cold hearted to God and he told me about it and how he dealt with it.

To re-kindle a fire in his heart for loving and serving God Ray would get close to someone else’s heart that was hot for God. David in the Psalms. Paul in the New Testament. Augustine from the early church. Thomas Kelly, Frank Laubach, or another spiritual writer from the past. Or he’d get together with a fellow disciple of Christ for conversation and prayer. He even took heart from me!

More often I took heart from Ray. He passed into glory in 2007, but I still take heart from him. Like this morning I spent a couple of hours recalling his example and words and thanking God for him. This became a prayer, that is really his prayer through me. It’s a prayer to return to again and again.

Take heart from Ray with me!

Lord, Make My Life a Miracle Today!

Lord Jesus Christ, make my life a miracle today! Make my life supernatural! You’re the original miracle and I live and move and have my being in you. In my own strength I can’t do what needs to be done or love those who need to be loved so I look to you acting with me in grace and I seek to do all that I do today as your apprentice in your kingdom.

Lord, you are the completely balanced Person: God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, whole and sufficient in yourself. Holy and happy. Glorious and gracious. Abba, I adore you. Jesus, I embrace you. Holy Spirit, I rely on you.

Thank you Lord God that you are a rewarder of those who seek you. You are my reward — knowing you and serving you is the blessing of my life. No matter what troubles may come upon me I have fullness of life in you and your kingdom. Truly, you are my joy and my delight. I love you! I want to live in your presence always.

Jesus, take me safely to the Silence which is the source of sound. In the battles, temptations, and trials of this day you are my refuge and my fortress. Heal my hurts. Calm down my worry and slow down my hurry. Lift up my head to your heavens all around me. Impress your thoughts on my mind and heart and guide my steps in your easy yoke. It’s your Word that gives me life so I’m listening now and throughout this day for your still, small voice…

Today as I do all that I do, Jesus be the Center of my soul. Deliver me from dark powers so that I am free to be who you made me to be. Integrate all my fragmented parts so that my identity is in being the disciple you love. Focus all my distracted intentions on you in my midst so that I appreciate my opportunity to be with you and to rely on you in all that I do. I want my life with you to be the center of my life.

O Spirit of God, you raised Christ from the dead and you live in me, you breathe in me, you cry out from within me: “Abba Father! Jesus is Lord!” Empower me now. Shine your light and your love in and through me so that in all I do today for me and those I meet the name of Jesus is sweet and the Father is honored. Yes, I want to serve you with enthusiasm, to be a blessing to you and the people around me.

Jesus, I want to be all and only for you today and for eternity!

(Inspired by Ray Ortlund’s ministry to me. See his book, Lord, Make My Life a Miracle!)

More Soul Shepherding

Over the years I enjoyed many lunches and prayer times with Ray. “Be Devoted to Christ like Ray Ortlund” will help you to pull up a chair and join the conversation.

“You Can Live in Jesus’ Easy Yoke” is my new book that will help you to overcome daily stress and live in God’s grace. All revenue from sales of this book supports pastors and ministry leaders receiving therapy or spiritual mentoring.

Soul Shepherding helps secret cynics learn to enjoy intimacy with Jesus and share his love with genuine enthusiasm. You can support a pastor receiving Soul Shepherding with your tax-deductible donation.

Bill Gaultiere, Ph.D. & Kristi Gaultiere, Psy.D. ~ http://www.soulshepherding.org

Hurry to Spill Mercy

Bill Gaultiere — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 05:09:36 +0000

Usually its better to slow down!

I was coming down the stairs this morning with my arms full and heading out to an appointment that I was going to be late for when I spilled my cup full of cereal all down the stairs and across the entry! This is a parable…

Most pastors and leaders that my wife Kristi and I minister to have the same problem I had this morning – they’re carrying too much and they’re moving too fast. They’re under tremendous stress and have difficulty making time for the intimacy with Jesus that they crave and that is the source of their power, compassion, and insight for ministry.

Who cares for the pastor who cares for you? Who looks after the souls of the Christian leaders who are responsible to guide congregations and organizations of people?

We do at Soul Shepherding. We help many leaders to live and minister in the “easy yoke” of Jesus. And, despite the appearance of my overloaded, stair-spilling story, we actually practice living in the rhythms of Jesus ourselves.

Ironically, that’s why I got a late start this morning and lost track of my goal to arrive early for meetings in order to pray. I had been in my prayer room meditating deeply on a little “Jesus’ Prayer” I wrote that’s inspired by Psalm 123: “Lord Jesus Christ I look to your hand of mercy.”

This prayer helped me greatly today. For starters, when I spilled the cereal I didn’t lose my temper, condemn myself, or carry agitation into my day like I would have some years ago. Thankfully, I let the peace of Christ rule my heart (Colossians 3:15). How did I do that? Assisted by the Spirit of Grace, my Jesus Prayer was active deep in my soul and it spilled out with my cereal! And it continued to spill out in counseling sessions and prayers with pastors today.

Obviously, I still have a ways to go! Jesus was never in a hurry except to spill his mercy for us on the cross.

Thank you Heavenly Potter that you’re patient to keep forming our hearts with your loving hands to help us to be more like Jesus. Yes, Lord, we want to live unhurried, uncluttered lives. We only want to hurry to spill out with your mercy for everyone – including ourselves when we try to do too much, too fast. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

There really is great power in praying the name of Jesus Christ, the name that is above every name (Philippians 2:9). You can learn how to do this too: The Jesus Prayer: A Little Prayer and a BIG Change!

It’s great to hear from so many of our Soul Shepherding readers who are being helped to follow Jesus more closely. And thank you for your prayers and donations that make it possible for us to minister to pastors and leaders and also to offer the free resources and tools on our website.

Bill Gaultiere, Ph.D. & Kristi Gaultiere, Psy.D. ~ http://www.soulshepherding.org

A Prayer for When You Minister to Others

Bill Gaultiere — Sat, 01 May 2010 22:15:27 +0000

Many people after they put themselves out to minister to others feel self-doubt. Pastors may wonder if they preached a good sermon. Small group leaders may question their effectiveness. Counselors feel might feel unsure they said the right thing. Anyone who serves others is likely to ask: “Did I make a difference?”

In order to feel adequate in our ministry to others most of us try too hard. We rely more on our own wisdom and strength than on the Holy Spirit. We try to please people and base our identity on what they think of us. What exhaustion and distress this causes us! And it leaves us disconnected from God and his kingdom in the moment.

There is another way of going about ministry! Jesus taught us to cultivate a continuous secret prayer life with the Father and to consider his affirmation as the only reward that we need (Matthew 6:4,6,18). An important way to do this is to meditate on Scripture before you teach, counsel, or serve others in order to get your mindset right.

Jesus warned us that when we neglect to abide in him then we don’t bear fruit and we miss out on love, joy, and peace (John 15:1-17). Many pastors and ministry leaders suffer from stress overload or burnout because they’re not ministering out of their abiding.

I wrote a Scripture-based prayer that has helped me to abide in Christ while I minister and in all that I do. Cultivating this attitude in prayer prevents a lot of problems!

A Prayer of Affirmation for Pastors

The smile of the Father shines on me – I am approved of; [i]

I have the mind of Christ – I have important things to say; [ii]

Upon me is the anointing of the Holy Spirit – I am empowered. [iii]

Jesus is my Lord and Savior and I dwell in his kingdom of the heavens; [iv]

He is my Teacher and I am his beloved apprentice – [v]

I urge people to join me and be with Jesus to become like him. [vi]

The Word of God is alive and active and it dwells richly in me [vii]

And the Holy Spirit reminds me of Jesus’ words of truth and grace – [viii]

So I can minister the Word of life to others and it will not return void. [ix]

The Spirit that raised Jesus Christ from the dead lives in me [x]

So I do not speak with human wisdom or worldly excitement [xi]

Or rely on my own strength – I count on the power of Almighty God.[xii]

As I teach I listen to voice of God and invite others to listen to him; [xiii]

As I serve I join the intercessions of the Holy Spirit, [xiv]

Praying that we all cry out with him, “Abba Father! Jesus is Lord!” [xv]

The Lord is glorious in all things and he captivates me continually;

So I do not draw attention to myself, but to Jesus Christ alone;

Nor do I base my identity on what people say about me.

I am Christ’s Ambassador; [xvi]

My citizenship is in heaven’s kingdom; [xvii]

My message is simply: “Follow me as I follow Christ!” [xviii]

The pastors and leaders who minister to you need your prayers and encouragement. To learn more read “Pastors Under Stress” and “Pastors’ Wives Under Stress.”

My wife Kristi and I minister “Soul Shepherding” to pastors and their wives and other ministry leaders. We ask you to pray about the possibility that you might donate towards this ministry. (“Soul Shepherding” is a 501c3 nonprofit ministry. All donations are tax-deductible.)

[i] Psalm 21:1, 80:3, 7, 19, MSG

[ii] 1 Corinthians 2:16

[iii] 1 John 2:20, 27

[iv] Matthew 4:17

[v] John 13:23, 19:26, 20:2, 21:7, 21:20

[vi] Matthew 4:19

[vii] Hebrews 4:16, Colossians 3:16

[viii] John 1:14, 14:26

[ix] Philippians 2:16, 1 John 1:1, Isaiah 55:11, KJV

[x] Romans 8:11

[xi] 1 Corinthians 1:17, 2:13

[xii] Zechariah 4:6

[xiii] John 10:3, 27

[xiv] Romans 8:26-27

[xv] Galatians 4:6, 1 Corinthians 12:3

[xvi] 2 Corinthians 5:20

[xvii] Philippians 3:20

[xviii] 1 Corinthians 11:1

Bill Gaultiere, Ph.D. & Kristi Gaultiere, Psy.D. ~ http://www.soulshepherding.org