By Bill Gaultiere © 2010
From time to time we all go through trials in which we lose heart and feel overwhelmed with discouragement, worry, or exhaustion. The painful times are “Dark Nights of the Soul” when our prayers seem to go unanswered and God’s comfort cannot be found.
All Christ-followers go through Dark Nights when God seems distant and prayer and other spiritual activities do not yield the experience of God’s blessings as they have in times past. But few people today have been trained in how to deal with these spiritual trials. Inspired by Psalm 77, I wrote [...]
Continue reading In the Dark Night Remember God
By Bill Gaultiere © 2010
You know the verse: “Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain.” And probably you know the verse that comes later in the same Psalm: “Children are a reward from him.” But you may not know the verse that connects these two: “In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat— for he grants sleep to those he loves” (Psalm 127:1-3).
In God’s wisdom the Psalmist’s prayer is showing us that the way to build a home and a family, or anything, begins with resting in the Lord’s care. That’s why the Hebrew day [...]
Continue reading Build with Jesus
By Bill Gaultiere © 2001, 2010
“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9).
I met Alandro on the Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend, 2001. I was on a short-term mission trip to a small village outside of Ensenda, Mexico, with my wife and three small children and some other families. We were putting on a Vacation Bible School (VBS) and holding meetings in the neighborhood church.
It was a cold and rainy day. Alandro stood in his bare feet, shyly watching [...]
Continue reading Dulces and Jesus
By Bill Gaultiere © 2010
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 [...]
Continue reading A Prayer for When You Minister to Others
When the shepherds in our churches and Christian organizations are depressed, overstressed, or struggling with compulsive behavior then the sheep they care for suffer.
If pastors are not growing in their own intimacy with Jesus then their ministry to others is diminished. If Christian leaders are distracted from setting aside ministry demands to be still with God and open up their hearts to him then they probably are having trouble hearing his voice and relying on his Spirit in their ministry.
Recent statistics…
By Bill Gaultiere © 2010
