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	<title>Soul Shepherding &#187; Spiritual Disciplines</title>
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	<link>http://www.soulshepherding.org</link>
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		<title>An Arrow Prayer to Help you Listen</title>
		<link>http://www.soulshepherding.org/2011/11/an-arrow-prayer-to-help-you-listen/</link>
		<comments>http://www.soulshepherding.org/2011/11/an-arrow-prayer-to-help-you-listen/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 04 Nov 2011 18:30:52 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Bill Gaultiere</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Spiritual Disciplines]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[breath prayer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[listening to God]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[praying the psalms]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.soulshepherding.org/?p=3500</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<a href="http://www.soulshepherding.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/Jesus-Smiling-Sun-Icon2.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-759" title="Jesus Smiling Sun Icon2" src="http://www.soulshepherding.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/Jesus-Smiling-Sun-Icon2-150x150.jpg" alt="See Jesus' Smile in the Sunshine" width="150" height="150" /></a>Soul Shepherding Moment <p>By Bill Gaultiere © 2011</p> <p>Listen! God is speaking.</p> <p>Sunshine after a rain. It reminds me that when we slow down and look up to God his bright thoughts can enter our minds to help us walk in his bright ways (Isaiah 55:9, paraphrase). <em>Listening to God makes everything better</em>&#8212;even if we at the time we don&#8217;t hear specific words&#8212;because the very act of listening opens our hearts to the delightful, shining reality that the Lord is truly with us.</p> &#8220;Shoot Up&#8221; an Arrow Prayer <p>But most us of struggle with listening to God and need help to direct our [...]<p><i>Continue reading <a href="http://www.soulshepherding.org/2011/11/an-arrow-prayer-to-help-you-listen/">An Arrow Prayer to Help you Listen</a></i></p>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<h5><a href="http://www.soulshepherding.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/Jesus-Smiling-Sun-Icon2.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-759" title="Jesus Smiling Sun Icon2" src="http://www.soulshepherding.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/Jesus-Smiling-Sun-Icon2-150x150.jpg" alt="See Jesus' Smile in the Sunshine" width="150" height="150" /></a>Soul Shepherding Moment</h5>
<p>By Bill Gaultiere © 2011</p>
<p>Listen! God is speaking.</p>
<p>Sunshine after a rain. It reminds me that when we slow down and look up to God his bright thoughts can enter our minds to help us walk in his bright ways (Isaiah 55:9, paraphrase). <em>Listening to God makes everything better</em>&#8212;even if we at the time we don&#8217;t hear specific words&#8212;because the very act of listening opens our hearts to the delightful, shining reality that the Lord is truly with us.</p>
<h5>&#8220;Shoot Up&#8221; an Arrow Prayer</h5>
<p>But most us of struggle with listening to God and need help to direct our attention on God. Many times each day we come across situations in which we especially need God&#8217;s grace and guidance and if we&#8217;re <em>already</em> in an attitude of listening to him it helps us in our time of special need to hear the promptings of his Spirit.</p>
<p>Here&#8217;s a little &#8220;Arrow Prayer&#8221; I wrote that is inspired by Psalm 50:1-2 that can help you to pause and pay attention to the Lord in your midst as you go about your day. It&#8217;ll help you cultivate the disposition of being continually attentive to God. Like an archer, you can point your bow up to the heavens and &#8220;shoot up&#8221; this prayer: &#8220;The Lord speaks and shines from the rising of the sun to the place where it sets.&#8221;</p>
<p>It&#8217;s true. The words of the Lord are like a light that shines. Like the sun rays the voice of God gives and sustains all life. (Psalm 19 teaches this.)</p>
<h5>One Breath, One Prayer</h5>
<p>To help me absorb the sunlight of God&#8217;s voice I especially like to Pray Psalm 50:1-2 as a simple Breath Prayer. Try it in this rhythm:</p>
<ul>
<li>(Wait to breath): &#8220;The Lord speaks and shines&#8230;&#8221;</li>
<li>(Breathe in): &#8220;From the rising of the sun&#8230;&#8221;</li>
<li>(Breathe out): &#8220;To the place where it sets.&#8221;</li>
</ul>
<p>When I put my <em>body</em> into a prayer like this it helps me engage my <em>mind</em> with God&#8217;s thoughts. Then as God&#8217;s thoughts become my thoughts I use them to engage my <em>heart (will). </em>This helps me whole <em>soul</em> to flow with God&#8217;s abundant life and to overflow with this to whoever is in my <em>social</em> circle at the time.</p>
<p>It&#8217;s fun over the course of a day to see how many times can I remember to take a breather with God and shoot up a little arrow prayer that helps me to listen to what God might want to say to me.</p>
<p>What a sweet delight it is to practice God&#8217;s presence! Everything is richer and more wonderful when you appreciate that the Spirit of Christ is with you, living and breathing in you and through you, infusing your mind with heavenly thoughts, forming your heart to be more like Jesus.</p>
<p><em>O Prince of Peace we love your shining face! We rejoice in the brightness of your words that warm our hearts!</em></p>
<h5>Be Blessed to be a Blessing</h5>
<p>Try shooting up your arrow prayer for people the Lord puts on your heart. Offer a secret little prayer as you listen to someone. You can even pray for a stranger you see on the street or in the store: &#8220;The Lord speaks and shines to ________, from the rising of the sun to the place where it sets.&#8221;</p>
<h5>More Soul Shepherding</h5>
<p>Everyday many ministry leaders and other Christ-followers visit SoulShepherding.org to learn how to use <a href="http://www.soulshepherding.org/articles/bible-verses/breath-prayers-from-the-bible/" target="_blank">Breath Prayers from the Bible</a>.</p>
<p>Did you notice the parts of the person I referenced as being effected by prayer? These come from Jesus&#8217; Greatest Commandment (Mark 12:30-31). &#8220;<a href="http://www.soulshepherding.org/articles/bible-verses/seeking-god-with-each-part-of-your-person-using-psalm-63/" target="_blank">Seeking God with Each Part of the Person</a>&#8221; will help you to engage your whole self in prayer and in God&#8217;s life!</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Bill Gaultiere, Ph.D. &amp; Kristi Gaultiere, Psy.D. ~ http://www.soulshepherding.org</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		<title>A Sweet Aroma</title>
		<link>http://www.soulshepherding.org/2011/10/a-sweet-aroma/</link>
		<comments>http://www.soulshepherding.org/2011/10/a-sweet-aroma/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 11 Oct 2011 04:58:51 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Bill Gaultiere</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Spiritual Disciplines]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[meditation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sin]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.soulshepherding.org/?p=3825</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Soul Shepherding Moments <p><a href="http://www.soulshepherding.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/aroma-of-Gods-Word.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-3826" title="aroma-of-God's-Word" src="http://www.soulshepherding.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/aroma-of-Gods-Word-150x150.jpg" alt="God's words have a sweet aroma" width="150" height="150" /></a>By Bill Gaultiere © 2011</p> <p>Don&#8217;t just read the Bible to get through it&#8212;<em>let the Word of God read you and get through you.</em></p> <p>Learning to pray the Scriptures from your heart so that you long for more of God in your life and confess your sin, hurt, stress, and needs to him is a fundamental spiritual discipline for being with Jesus to become like him. But many of us don&#8217;t know how to read the Bible this way or we let ourselves get busy and distracted.</p> <p>Jeanne Guyon wrote: &#8220;Take the portion of Scripture that has touched your heart and turn it [...]<p><i>Continue reading <a href="http://www.soulshepherding.org/2011/10/a-sweet-aroma/">A Sweet Aroma</a></i></p>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<h5>Soul Shepherding Moments</h5>
<p><a href="http://www.soulshepherding.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/aroma-of-Gods-Word.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-3826" title="aroma-of-God's-Word" src="http://www.soulshepherding.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/aroma-of-Gods-Word-150x150.jpg" alt="God's words have a sweet aroma" width="150" height="150" /></a>By Bill Gaultiere © 2011</p>
<p>Don&#8217;t just read the Bible to get through it&#8212;<em>let the Word of God read you and get through you.</em></p>
<p>Learning to pray the Scriptures from your heart so that you long for more of God in your life and confess your sin, hurt, stress, and needs to him is a fundamental spiritual discipline for being with Jesus to become like him. But many of us don&#8217;t know how to read the Bible this way or we let ourselves get busy and distracted.</p>
<p>Jeanne Guyon wrote: &#8220;Take the portion of Scripture that has touched your heart and turn it into prayer&#8230; Plunge into the very depths of the words you read until revelation, like a sweet aroma, breaks out upon you&#8230; Hold your heart in the Lord&#8217;s presence&#8221; (<em>Experiencing the Depths of Jesus Christ, </em>p. 8, 10).</p>
<h5>An Example</h5>
<p>For instance, today I&#8217;ve been praying from Psalm 95 and appreciating that God, through the Psalmist, says to me, &#8220;Come!&#8221; What a blessed invitation! It&#8217;s like church bells ringing to call me into prayer. Just to pause and linger on this opportunity is a great joy. What a great help it is to be reminded that I can come to God as I am, sharing with him my hopes and challenges and relying on him to care for me and guide me step-by-step.</p>
<p>I invite you to &#8220;Come!&#8221; to the Lord. Spend some time with a passage of the Bible and let it warm your heart for prayer.</p>
<h5>More Soul Shepherding</h5>
<p>If you live in Southern California we invite you to join us at a new ministry gathering called &#8220;<a href="http://www.soulshepherding.org/calendar/thirst/" target="_blank">Thirst!</a>&#8221; Each month Kristi and I will guide you in refreshing ways of praying the Scripture to help you be with Jesus and become like him. We meet monthly at Voyagers Bible Church in Irvine beginning this Wednesday October 12th at 7 pm.</p>
<p>&#8220;<a href="http://www.soulshepherding.org/2011/06/come/" target="_blank">Come!</a>&#8221; to Jesus and pray Psalm 95 with me. You&#8217;ll appreciate anew that Jesus&#8217; arms are open to you.</p>
<p><em>Soul Shepherding is a nonprofit ministry of counseling and spiritual mentoring for you and your ministry. </em><em>We care for pastors, pastors&#8217; wives, missionaries, and other servants of the Lord to help them be strong in God&#8217;s grace. Soul Shepherding is supported by tax-deductible <a href="http://www.soulshepherding.org/about/donate/">donations</a>.</em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Bill Gaultiere, Ph.D. &amp; Kristi Gaultiere, Psy.D. ~ <a href="http://www.soulshepherding.org/">http://www.soulshepherding.org</a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		<title>Content in a Swarm of Mosquitoes</title>
		<link>http://www.soulshepherding.org/2011/08/content-in-a-swarm-of-mosquitoes/</link>
		<comments>http://www.soulshepherding.org/2011/08/content-in-a-swarm-of-mosquitoes/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 18 Aug 2011 05:37:30 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Bill Gaultiere</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Spiritual Disciplines]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Spiritual Formation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[meditation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sin]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[spiritual warfare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[stress]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.soulshepherding.org/?p=3603</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.soulshepherding.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Clouds-Rest-Yosemite.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-3606" title="Clouds-Rest-Yosemite" src="http://www.soulshepherding.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Clouds-Rest-Yosemite-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="240" height="180" /></a>By Bill Gaultiere © 2011</p> <p>I just returned from four days of backpacking in Yosemite with my son David. What beauty to be surrounded by mountains, walking along streams and wildflowers, listening to birds sing, and enjoying graceful deer prancing nearby.</p> <p>But perhaps the best gift God gave me came with swarms of mosquitoes!</p> <p>Mosquitoes? How did God use buzzing, biting mosquitoes to bless me?</p> Swarmed by Mosquitoes <p>Let me set the scene. As we hiked 36-miles up and down mountains in the thin air at 9,000 to 11,000 feet, each of us carrying 40 pounds on our backs, we walked through some meadows filled with streams, ponds, and lakes. When [...]<p><i>Continue reading <a href="http://www.soulshepherding.org/2011/08/content-in-a-swarm-of-mosquitoes/">Content in a Swarm of Mosquitoes</a></i></p>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.soulshepherding.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Clouds-Rest-Yosemite.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-3606" title="Clouds-Rest-Yosemite" src="http://www.soulshepherding.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Clouds-Rest-Yosemite-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="240" height="180" /></a>By Bill Gaultiere © 2011</p>
<p>I just returned from four days of backpacking in Yosemite with my son David. What beauty to be surrounded by mountains, walking along streams and wildflowers, listening to birds sing, and enjoying graceful deer prancing nearby.</p>
<p>But perhaps the best gift God gave me came with swarms of mosquitoes!</p>
<p>Mosquitoes? How did God use buzzing, biting mosquitoes to bless me?</p>
<h4>Swarmed by Mosquitoes</h4>
<p>Let me set the scene. As we hiked 36-miles up and down mountains in the thin air at 9,000 to 11,000 feet, each of us carrying 40 pounds on our backs, we walked through some meadows filled with streams, ponds, and lakes. When we camped at night in temperatures below freezing we were alongside a lake. Wherever there is water in the high Sierras during the summertime there are swarms of mosquitoes!</p>
<p><a href="http://www.soulshepherding.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/swarm-of-insects1.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-3605" title="swarm-of-insects" src="http://www.soulshepherding.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/swarm-of-insects1-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="135" height="135" /></a>Of course, the temptation is to be driven crazy by these blood-thirsty pests. It&#8217;s easy to become quite agitated and to keep swatting furiously at mosquito after mosquito that dives down to attack you! It&#8217;s easy to become grouchy and to complain endlessly&#8212;especially when you&#8217;re already suffering from altitude sickness as I was!</p>
<p>I must confess I exhibited some of these desperate antics and sour attitudes! I was letting the mosquitoes distract me from enjoying hiking with Jesus and my son.</p>
<p>I lost my contentment. I let the mosquitoes and Satan get the best of me.</p>
<h4>What is Contentment?</h4>
<p>To be content is to be at peace&#8212;so deeply serene and happy inside that you accept whatever your circumstances are like, even if they are unpleasant.</p>
<p>Paul is the picture of contentment. He wrote Philippians while in jail. He was falsely imprisoned, persecuted, and mistreated for years and yet he was at peace and joyful. Rather than feeling sorry for himself or complaining he wrote the happiest book in the Bible to bless the people of Philippi!</p>
<p>Was Paul just a naturally cheerful, easy-going personality? Hah! Anyone that has read his letters or his story in Acts knows otherwise! He was intense, driven, and prone to anger and complaining.</p>
<p>So how could he be so joyful in prison? He had a guard. Yes, a jailor (probably a brute thug) guarded him constantly, but he was looking to his spiritual guard: the Spirit of Jesus Christ.  He rejoice in his Lord as his &#8220;safeguard&#8221; and therefore the peace of Christ &#8220;guarded his heart and mind&#8221; (Philippians 3:1, 4:4-7).</p>
<h4>Swarmed, but Content Anyway</h4>
<p>As I hiked into the mosquitoes and got irritated the same Holy Spirit who guarded Paul was praying within me without ceasing and he drew me back into renewing my mind in God&#8217;s Word (Romans 8:26). Thankfully, the Scripture meditation I had already been doing long before the mosquitos attacked gave the Holy Spirit something to work with!</p>
<p>I prayed with the Apostle Paul, &#8220;Yes, Lord, I have learned the secret of being content&#8212;whether swarmed by mosquitoes or standing free in the breeze. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me&#8221; (based on Philippians 4:12-13). Over and over I repeated, &#8220;I am content in Christ.&#8221;</p>
<h4>Spiritual Warfare</h4>
<p>I was using &#8220;the sword of the spirit&#8221; (Ephesians 6:17) to overcome not only the mosquitoes but also Satan, who was using the mosquito swarm to tempt me to into self-pity and complaining.</p>
<p>Our attitude is really important. When Satan succeeds in making us sour and negative then it&#8217;s easy for him to create more havoc in us and the people around us. Thankfully, the truth of Scripture pushed back the kingdom of darkness and opened up for me the kingdom of light.</p>
<p>God was helping me to appreciate that I didn&#8217;t have to be overwhelmed by or defined by the reality of the mosquitoes. There was another, larger reality in my landscape that I could be immersed in and strengthened by: <em>the kingdom of the heavens.</em></p>
<h4>Take Hold of Jesus&#8217; Hand <em>Now</em></h4>
<p>What trial is swarming around you? What problem keeps biting you? Take out the sword of the Spirit. Use Scripture to pray that God would help you to set your heart on the kingdom of Christ that is right at hand (Matthew 4:17).</p>
<p>You can reach out for it now. You can keep holding Jesus&#8217; hand. Praying Scripture will help.</p>
<p>When you hold the hand of Jesus you are safe from sin and Satan.</p>
<h4>More Soul Shepherding</h4>
<p>&#8220;<a href="http://www.soulshepherding.org/articles/bible-verses/bible-prayers-to-live-worry-free/" target="_blank">Bible Prayers to Live Worry Free</a>&#8221; provides a number of peace-filled verses from the Bible with guidance on how to use that Scripture for your soul training.</p>
<p><em>Do you know that <a href="http://www.soulshepherding.org/ministrie/pastors/" target="_blank">pastors experience great stress</a>? Who cares for the pastor who cares for you? Soul Shepherding helps pastors, pastors&#8217; wives, missionaries, and other ministry leaders to grow in the peace of Christ. The counseling and spiritual care we offer to pastors and others is subsidized by <a href="http://www.soulshepherding.org/about/donate/" target="_blank">tax-deductible donations</a>.</em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Bill Gaultiere, Ph.D. &amp; Kristi Gaultiere, Psy.D. ~ http://www.soulshepherding.org</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;</p>
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		<title>Make a Soul Friend at the Cross</title>
		<link>http://www.soulshepherding.org/2011/04/make-a-soul-friend-at-the-cross/</link>
		<comments>http://www.soulshepherding.org/2011/04/make-a-soul-friend-at-the-cross/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 08 Apr 2011 15:47:24 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Bill Gaultiere</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Soul Care]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Spiritual Disciplines]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[intimacy with Jesus]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lent]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[soul friendship]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.soulshepherding.org/?p=3137</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.soulshepherding.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Mary-and-John-at-Cross-with-Christ.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-3138" title="Mary and John at Cross with Christ" src="http://www.soulshepherding.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Mary-and-John-at-Cross-with-Christ-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /></a>By Bill Gaultiere © 2011</p> <p>Everyone longs for a soul friend, but most don&#8217;t know how to develop one. Come to the cross of Christ with me. Open your heart and together we&#8217;ll experience resurrection life to share with others!</p> <p>This devotional continues my series of posts on the ancient Stations of the Cross.</p> <p>I have just completed &#8220;Follow Jesus on the Stations of the Cross: Enter a Gospel Scene to Participate in Resurrection Life.&#8221; This is a devotional booklet uses Scriptures, prayers, and inspirations from each of the 15 stations to facilitate healing and growth in grace. I&#8217;d like you to have this [...]<p><i>Continue reading <a href="http://www.soulshepherding.org/2011/04/make-a-soul-friend-at-the-cross/">Make a Soul Friend at the Cross</a></i></p>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.soulshepherding.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Mary-and-John-at-Cross-with-Christ.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-3138" title="Mary and John at Cross with Christ" src="http://www.soulshepherding.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Mary-and-John-at-Cross-with-Christ-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /></a>By Bill Gaultiere © 2011</p>
<p>Everyone longs for a soul friend, but most don&#8217;t know how to develop one. Come to the cross of Christ with me. Open your heart and together we&#8217;ll experience resurrection life to share with others!</p>
<p>This devotional continues my series of posts on the ancient Stations of the Cross.</p>
<p>I have just completed &#8220;Follow Jesus on the Stations of the Cross: Enter a Gospel Scene to Participate in Resurrection Life.&#8221; This is a devotional booklet uses Scriptures, prayers, and inspirations from each of the 15 stations to facilitate healing and growth in grace. I&#8217;d like you to have this to help you prepare your heart for Easter joy and so you can participate in the resurrection of Christ everyday! Just give a <a href="http://www.soulshepherding.org/about/donate/" target="_blank">donation</a> to Soul Shepherding for any amount and we&#8217;ll send this to you ASAP via e-mail.</p>
<h5>Jesus Connects his Mother and John</h5>
<h6>Read Scripture</h6>
<p>“Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, &#8216;Dear woman, here is your son,&#8217; and to the disciple, &#8216;Here is your mother.&#8217; From that time on, this disciple took her into his home” (John 19:25-27).</p>
<h6>Pray the Scripture</h6>
<p>Lord Jesus Christ, as you hung on the cross Mary stood faithfully at your side, along with John and three other women. Soon Mary wouldn&#8217;t see you anymore and you didn&#8217;t want her to be lonely so to help her trust in your spiritual presence with her you gave her your beloved disciple to be her soul friend. Like Mary, I need to make a soul friend at your cross.</p>
<p>O Jesus, I want to hold you in my heart always and I need soul friends to bring me back to your cross and help me see that your arms are open to me. Help me to develop friendships centered in you and to share my heart with these friends. Help me to be a soul friend that draws people closer to you and your cross.</p>
<h6>Reflect</h6>
<p>Do you have a soul friend who helps you connect deeply with Christ and his cross? Who can you be a soul friend to? What can you do to bless this friend in the coming days?</p>
<h6>Take up your Cross to Follow Jesus</h6>
<p>Open up some time in your schedule to show concern for your friends and their relationship with Christ. By offering yourself as a soul friend to another you will both draw closer to Jesus Christ as your eternal Soul Friend.</p>
<h6>Breathe a Prayer</h6>
<p>“Jesus&#8230; I behold you with my friend”</p>
<h5>More Soul Shepherding</h5>
<p>&#8220;<a href="http://www.soulshepherding.org/2010/10/deep-spirited-friendships/" target="_blank">Deep-Spirited Friendships</a>.&#8221; You long for one. Here&#8217;s what they look like and what the Bible teaches us about growing in this way of the soul.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Bill Gaultiere, Ph.D. &amp; Kristi Gaultiere, Psy.D. ~ http://www.soulshepherding.org</p>
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		<title>No Condemnation</title>
		<link>http://www.soulshepherding.org/2011/03/no-condemnation/</link>
		<comments>http://www.soulshepherding.org/2011/03/no-condemnation/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 09 Mar 2011 07:10:45 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Bill Gaultiere</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Spiritual Disciplines]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Spiritual Formation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[intimacy with Jesus]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lent]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[meditation]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.soulshepherding.org/?p=3063</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.soulshepherding.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/1-Jesus-is-Condemned-to-Death.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-3064" title="1- Jesus is Condemned to Death" src="http://www.soulshepherding.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/1-Jesus-is-Condemned-to-Death-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /></a>By Bill Gaultiere © 2011</p> <p>Today is Ash Wednesday which begins the period of Lent &#8212; 40 days to prepare our hearts for Easter resurrection. This holy season is helpful for all Christians to appreciate the cross of Christ and their opportunity to take up their cross and follow Christ for the joy set before them.</p> <p>To help you open your heart to Christ and the abundant life that comes through his cross and resurrection I have prepared for you a series of meditations based on the ancient Stations of the Cross. Here is the first one:</p> No Condemnation: Jesus is Condemned by Pilate Scripture [...]<p><i>Continue reading <a href="http://www.soulshepherding.org/2011/03/no-condemnation/">No Condemnation</a></i></p>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.soulshepherding.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/1-Jesus-is-Condemned-to-Death.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-3064" title="1- Jesus is Condemned to Death" src="http://www.soulshepherding.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/1-Jesus-is-Condemned-to-Death-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /></a>By Bill Gaultiere © 2011</p>
<p>Today is Ash Wednesday which begins the period of Lent &#8212; 40 days to prepare our hearts for Easter resurrection. This holy season is helpful for all Christians to appreciate the cross of Christ and their opportunity to take up their cross and follow Christ for the joy set before them.</p>
<p>To help you open your heart to Christ and the abundant life that comes through his cross and resurrection I have prepared for you a series of meditations based on the ancient Stations of the Cross. Here is the first one:</p>
<h4><strong>No Condemnation: Jesus is Condemned by Pilate</strong></h4>
<h6>Scripture</h6>
<p>“Many [religious leaders on the Sanhedrin] testified falsely against Jesus&#8230; But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer” (Mark 14:56, 61).</p>
<p>“The chief priests accused Jesus of many things. So again Pilate asked him, &#8216;Aren&#8217;t you going to answer? See how many things they are accusing you of.&#8217; But Jesus still made no reply, and Pilate was amazed” (Mark 15:3-5)</p>
<h6>Prayer</h6>
<p>Lord Jesus Christ, when you were wrongly condemned by the religious leaders and by Pilate, yet you didn&#8217;t defend yourself &#8212; you remained quiet, resting secure in your Abba&#8217;s approval. In the light of your holiness it is clear that you are the true Judge. O Lord, forgive me for times I have been judgmental of others. Help me to share your grace with others and when I am judged helped me not to be defensive or react in anger, but to keep silence with you, knowing that you will make things right in your time and that now and always you embrace me in Abba&#8217;s love.</p>
<h6>Reflection</h6>
<p>Have you felt judged recently? Have you been judging others? What would it mean for you to rely on Jesus with you in these situations?</p>
<h6>Self-Denial</h6>
<p>Give up judgementalism &#8212; accepting it from others or doing it to others &#8212; and rest quietly in the Father&#8217;s approval for you and also those you&#8217;re struggling with.</p>
<h6>Breath Prayer</h6>
<p>“Jesus&#8230; I keep silence with you when ________.”</p>
<h6>Additional Meditation</h6>
<p>Many people fast for Lent as a way to draw closer to Christ. There are a variety of ways to do this. My article, &#8220;<a href="http://www.soulshepherding.org/2010/02/fasting-is-feasting-prayer/" target="_blank">Fasting is Feasting Prayer</a>&#8220;, will help you understand and practice fasting in a way that is inspiring and transformational.</p>
<p>This has been so helpful to me personally and to ministry leaders and other Christ-followers that I have worked with in therapy or spiritual direction.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Bill Gaultiere, Ph.D. &amp; Kristi Gaultiere, Psy.D. ~ http://www.soulshepherding.org</p>
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		<title>In Jesus&#8217; Shadow</title>
		<link>http://www.soulshepherding.org/2011/02/in-jesus-shadow/</link>
		<comments>http://www.soulshepherding.org/2011/02/in-jesus-shadow/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 11 Feb 2011 06:49:55 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Bill Gaultiere</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Soul Care]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Spiritual Disciplines]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[abiding prayer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[intimacy with Jesus]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.soulshepherding.org/?p=2817</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.soulshepherding.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Christ-gathers-hen-chicks.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-2818" title="Christ-gathers-hen-chicks" src="http://www.soulshepherding.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Christ-gathers-hen-chicks-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /></a>By Bill Gaultiere © 2011</p> <p>Do you remember when you were little and you always wanted to be with your daddy wherever he went? Or maybe it was your mom, big brother, or big sister? Toddlers are like little chicks following their mother around &#8212; they just want to be close to her all the time!</p> <p>Imagine being like that with Jesus. I know you&#8217;re a big person now! <em>But don&#8217;t think yourself so big that you can&#8217;t relate to the Lord Jesus like a little child. </em></p> God is Like a Loving Mother <p>Remember Jesus said with tears in his eyes as he looked at the people of Jerusalem who [...]<p><i>Continue reading <a href="http://www.soulshepherding.org/2011/02/in-jesus-shadow/">In Jesus&#8217; Shadow</a></i></p>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.soulshepherding.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Christ-gathers-hen-chicks.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-2818" title="Christ-gathers-hen-chicks" src="http://www.soulshepherding.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Christ-gathers-hen-chicks-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /></a>By Bill Gaultiere © 2011</p>
<p>Do you remember when you were little and you always wanted to be with your daddy wherever he went? Or maybe it was your mom, big brother, or big sister? Toddlers are like little chicks following their mother around &#8212; they just want to be close to her all the time!</p>
<p>Imagine being like that with Jesus. I know you&#8217;re a big person now! <em>But don&#8217;t think yourself so big that you can&#8217;t relate to the Lord Jesus like a little child. </em></p>
<h4>God is Like a Loving Mother</h4>
<p>Remember Jesus said with tears in his eyes as he looked at the people of Jerusalem who were too serious and too religious to love him with their hearts: &#8220;I have longed to gather you&#8230; as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings&#8221; (Matthew 23:37).</p>
<p>Psalm 91 teaches us to dwell in the shelter of the Lord like a chick finds safety and nurture under it&#8217;s mother&#8217;s wing. The chick cuddles close under her soft fathers and follows in her shadow everywhere she goes. Yes, God is like the best mother &#8212; he is that nurturing, that safe, that accessible to us! If only we would be filled with affection for him and keep returning to him in prayer.</p>
<p>One of the most important things that you and I can do to is to cultivate our desire for God through the Lord Jesus Christ. Intimacy with Jesus is <em>the</em> source of &#8220;the life that is truly life&#8221; (1 Timothy 6:19), the life we all long for, the life that never ends, the only life worth living!</p>
<h4>A Breath Prayer</h4>
<p>To open your heart to Christ and follow in his shadow all day long try my Breath Prayer inspired by Matthew 23:37 and Psalm 91:1-4:</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">&#8220;Jesus, my shelter&#8230; I stay in your shadow.&#8221;</p>
<p>Breathe in: &#8220;Jesus, my shelter&#8230;&#8221; And breathe out, &#8220;I stay in your shadow.&#8221;</p>
<h4>More Soul Shepherding</h4>
<p>My <a href="http://www.soulshepherding.org/articles/bible-verses/breath-prayers-from-the-bible/" target="_blank">Bible-based Breath Prayers</a> will encourage you. I included a great variety of prayers for different situations. A Breath Prayer is short enough to pray in one breath. It&#8217;s easy to memorize so you can use it to help you stay in Jesus&#8217; shadow all day long. And it&#8217;s a verse or paraphrase from the Bible so it&#8217;s powerful enough to change your life and the lives of everyone you touch!</p>
<p>A Breath Prayer is a special kind of &#8220;Abiding Prayer.&#8221; You can read my article with Bible teaching to learn more about &#8220;<a href="http://www.soulshepherding.org/articles/spiritual-disciplines/abiding-in-prayer/" target="_blank">Abiding in Prayer</a>.&#8221;</p>
<p><em>Teaching servants of the Lord to abide in Christ so that they can be more fruitful for God&#8217;s kingdom is the distinctive of Soul Shepherding. With Christ we pastor the pastors and care for the caregivers. We couldn&#8217;t do this ministry without the <a href="http://www.soulshepherding.org/donate/" target="_blank">partners</a> who support us.</em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em></em><em>Bill Gaultiere, Ph.D. &amp; Kristi Gaultiere, Psy.D. ~ http://www.soulshepherding.org</em></p>
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		<title>Jesus, Our Immanuel</title>
		<link>http://www.soulshepherding.org/2010/12/jesus-our-immanuel/</link>
		<comments>http://www.soulshepherding.org/2010/12/jesus-our-immanuel/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 20 Dec 2010 00:18:48 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Bill Gaultiere</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Soul Care]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Spiritual Disciplines]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[breath prayer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[intimacy with Jesus]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[praying the psalms]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.soulshepherding.org/?p=2721</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<a href="http://www.soulshepherding.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Christ-Child-Mary-Joseph1.jpg"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-2724" title="Christ Child, Mary, Joseph" src="http://www.soulshepherding.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Christ-Child-Mary-Joseph1-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Let Christ be born anew in your heart</p> <p>By Bill Gaultiere © 2010</p> <p>What a joy it is to hold a newborn child &#8211; a miracle of God in your arms! It&#8217;s an even greater joy to hold Christ in our hearts!</p> <p>Come. Appreciate anew the precious gift of God living in you &#8211; now and forevermore. Don&#8217;t let this moment pass. I know you have so much to do. But first pause with me &#8211; let&#8217;s come adore Christ, our Savior and Lord.</p> <p>My little <a href="http://www.soulshepherding.org/articles/spiritual-disciplines/abiding-in-prayer/" target="_blank">Abiding Prayer</a> from Psalm 118 will help you draw closer to Jesus, our Immanuel. It features four of the [...]<p><i>Continue reading <a href="http://www.soulshepherding.org/2010/12/jesus-our-immanuel/">Jesus, Our Immanuel</a></i></p>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div id="attachment_2724" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 160px"><a href="http://www.soulshepherding.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Christ-Child-Mary-Joseph1.jpg"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-2724" title="Christ Child, Mary, Joseph" src="http://www.soulshepherding.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Christ-Child-Mary-Joseph1-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Let Christ be born anew in your heart</p></div>
<p>By Bill Gaultiere © 2010</p>
<p>What a joy it is to hold a newborn child &#8211; a miracle of God in your arms! It&#8217;s an even greater joy to hold Christ in our hearts!</p>
<p>Come. Appreciate anew the precious gift of God living in you &#8211; now and forevermore. Don&#8217;t let this moment pass. I know you have so much to do. But first pause with me &#8211; let&#8217;s come adore Christ, our Savior and Lord.</p>
<p>My little <a href="http://www.soulshepherding.org/articles/spiritual-disciplines/abiding-in-prayer/" target="_blank">Abiding Prayer</a> from Psalm 118 will help you draw closer to Jesus, our Immanuel. It features four of the prophetic revelations of Christ. (Psalm 118 is a Messianic Psalm quoted in the New Testament.)</p>
<h5 style="padding-left: 30px;">Jesus, Our Immanuel</h5>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">Jesus, our Immanuel;</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">You reveal God to us -</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">I will follow and give thanks to you.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 90px;">~</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">Jesus, our Gate of Righteousness;</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">You open for us -</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">I will enter and give thanks to you.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 90px;">~</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">Jesus, our Cornerstone;</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">You build our lives -</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">I will stand and give thanks to you.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 90px;">~</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">Jesus, our Light;</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">You shine through us -</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">I smile and give thanks to you.</p>
<p>To put my body into my praying and engage my mind and heart with God&#8217;s Word I like to pray &#8220;Jesus, Our Immanuel&#8221; as a <a href="http://www.soulshepherding.org/articles/spiritual-disciplines/breath-prayers/" target="_blank">Breath Prayer</a>. Here&#8217;s a breathing rhythm to go along with praying the words in the three lines of each of the four stanzas that facilitates greater intimacy with Christ for me:</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">First line: as you pray the words wait to breathe and feel your longing for Christ.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">Second line: as you pray the words breathe in deep to appreciate God&#8217;s grace to you.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">Third line: as you pray the words exhale to help you give praise to God and share his love with others.</p>
<p>In prayers don&#8217;t forget to intercede for others to trust in Christ with you.</p>
<p>Check out my favorite <a href="http://www.soulshepherding.org/articles/bible-verses/breath-prayers-from-the-bible/" target="_blank">Breath Prayers from the Bible</a>.</p>
<address>If you search Google on &#8220;Breath Prayers&#8221; Soul Shepherding comes up on page one. Breathing in and out simple Bible-based prayers is one way that we help pastors and lay people alike to find God&#8217;s soul rest, healing, and power for life and ministry.</address>
<p style="text-align: center;">Bill Gaultiere, Ph.D. &amp; Kristi Gaultiere, Psy.D. ~ http://www.soulshepherding.org</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">
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		<title>Waves of Prayer</title>
		<link>http://www.soulshepherding.org/2010/12/waves-of-prayer/</link>
		<comments>http://www.soulshepherding.org/2010/12/waves-of-prayer/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 11 Dec 2010 22:57:22 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Bill Gaultiere</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Soul Care]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Spiritual Disciplines]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Spiritual Formation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[breath prayer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[listening to God]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.soulshepherding.org/?p=2707</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<a href="http://www.soulshepherding.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/ocean-waves-and-seashells.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-2708" title="ocean waves and seashells" src="http://www.soulshepherding.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/ocean-waves-and-seashells.jpg" alt="" width="205" height="154" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Like a seashell we can echo with God&#39;s waves of love</p> <p>By Bill Gaultiere © 2010</p> <p>I find it a great blessing to spend time at the ocean, a lake, or a river. Immersed in God&#8217; beauty I relax. Surrounded by the sounds of flowing water it&#8217;s easier for me to hear God&#8217;s voice.</p> <p>I imagine you&#8217;ve experienced this. And if you bond with God at a body of water then your soul can become like a seashell that carries the ocean&#8217;s echoes even when you&#8217;ve left the beach and gone back home.</p> <p>Yesterday on my Sabbath I spent some sweet hours of seashell prayer inspired by [...]<p><i>Continue reading <a href="http://www.soulshepherding.org/2010/12/waves-of-prayer/">Waves of Prayer</a></i></p>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div id="attachment_2708" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 215px"><a href="http://www.soulshepherding.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/ocean-waves-and-seashells.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-2708" title="ocean waves and seashells" src="http://www.soulshepherding.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/ocean-waves-and-seashells.jpg" alt="" width="205" height="154" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Like a seashell we can echo with God&#39;s waves of love</p></div>
<p>By Bill Gaultiere © 2010</p>
<p>I find it a great blessing to spend time at the ocean, a lake, or a river. Immersed in God&#8217; beauty I relax. Surrounded by the sounds of flowing water it&#8217;s easier for me to hear God&#8217;s voice.</p>
<p>I imagine you&#8217;ve experienced this. And if you bond with God at a body of water then your soul can become like a seashell that carries the ocean&#8217;s echoes even when you&#8217;ve left the beach and gone back home.</p>
<p>Yesterday on my Sabbath I spent some sweet hours of seashell prayer inspired by Psalm 93. Wave after wave of God&#8217;s love flowed over me. I shared my heart with the Lord and as I listened to him I experienced his peace and joy. And I prayed for you.</p>
<p>Psalm 93, particularly verses three and four, became a delightful prayer poem. I&#8217;d like to share it with you. Each line is seven syllables, reflecting my prayer that we&#8217;d be perfected in God&#8217;s grace. It&#8217;s a prayer that is best appreciated by being at the ocean or imagining yourself there.</p>
<h5 style="padding-left: 30px;">Waves of Prayer</h5>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">Lord of the Seas speak&#8230; to me.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">Flow heavens flow&#8230; over me.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">Wash words of God wash&#8230; in me.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">Lord of the Seas speak&#8230; through me.</p>
<p>To help you use your body to engage your mind and heart with God you might try &#8220;Waves of Prayer&#8221; as a <a href="http://www.soulshepherding.org/articles/spiritual-disciplines/breath-prayers/" target="_blank">Breath Prayer</a>. Breathe in as you think or whisper: &#8220;Lord of the Seas speak&#8230;&#8221; Then breathe out, &#8220;to me.&#8221;</p>
<p>It&#8217;s easy to offer this prayer for a group of people, family member, friend, or someone who doesn&#8217;t know Christ. In each line you can substitute &#8220;us&#8221; or the person&#8217;s name for &#8220;me.&#8221;</p>
<p>May the waves of God&#8217;s love become waves of your prayers. May your soul be as a seashell that continually echoes with the sounds of God&#8217;s words.</p>
<p>&#8220;<a href="http://www.soulshepherding.org/2010/04/o-lord-jesus-reign-over-me/" target="_blank">O Lord Jesus Reign Over Me</a>&#8221; is another prayer inspired by Psalm 93.</p>
<p><em>&#8220;Waves of Prayer&#8221; is a little taste of one of the ways that we offer Soul Shepherding to pastors, leaders, and other Christ-followers. We are so grateful that God has provided ministry partners to help us provide therapy, spiritual mentoring, Soul Shepherding Groups, and teaching to the pastors who care for hundreds of others. </em><em>Perhaps you’d like to partner with us in <a href="../../ministries/prayer-team/" target="_blank">prayer</a> or by <a href="../../donate/" target="_blank">donating</a>?</em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Bill Gaultiere, Ph.D. &amp; Kristi Gaultiere, Psy.D. ~ http://www.soulshepherding.org</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">
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		<title>Be Like the Psalm 1 Man</title>
		<link>http://www.soulshepherding.org/2010/11/be-like-the-psalm-1-man/</link>
		<comments>http://www.soulshepherding.org/2010/11/be-like-the-psalm-1-man/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 12 Nov 2010 22:51:21 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Bill Gaultiere</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Soul Care]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Spiritual Disciplines]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[praying the psalms]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[setting boundaries]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[stress]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.soulshepherding.org/?p=2623</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.soulshepherding.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/Psalm-1-Tree.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-2624" title="Psalm 1 Tree" src="http://www.soulshepherding.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/Psalm-1-Tree-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /></a>By Bill Gaultiere © 2010</p> <p>Psalm 1 gives us a vibrant picture of what our life with God can be like. Do you know this Psalm that introduces the church&#8217;s life of prayer? It begins, &#8220;Blessed is the man who&#8230;&#8221;</p> <p>The first thing we need to know when we begin the first of the 150 Psalms is that Jesus is the perfect Psalm 1 Man. He fulfilled the righteous life and the prophecies of this Psalm and all of the Psalms. And he offers for us to be his students in his school of prayer. Jesus is our Teacher, the Psalms are our text, and daily life is [...]<p><i>Continue reading <a href="http://www.soulshepherding.org/2010/11/be-like-the-psalm-1-man/">Be Like the Psalm 1 Man</a></i></p>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.soulshepherding.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/Psalm-1-Tree.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-2624" title="Psalm 1 Tree" src="http://www.soulshepherding.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/Psalm-1-Tree-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /></a>By Bill Gaultiere © 2010</p>
<p>Psalm 1 gives us a vibrant picture of what our life with God can be like. Do you know this Psalm that introduces the church&#8217;s life of prayer? It begins, &#8220;Blessed is the man who&#8230;&#8221;</p>
<p>The first thing we need to know when we begin the first of the 150 Psalms is that Jesus is the perfect Psalm 1 Man. He fulfilled the righteous life and the prophecies of this Psalm and all of the Psalms. And he offers for us to be his students in his school of prayer. Jesus is our Teacher, the Psalms are our text, and daily life is our classroom.</p>
<h5>The Blessing</h5>
<p>&#8220;Blessed is the man [or woman] who&#8230;&#8221; rejects worldly counsel and sinful ways to <em>delight in</em> and meditate on the law of God – the Word or message of God’s loving purposes for us – day and night. “He [or she] is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he [or she] does prospers” (Psalm 1:3).</p>
<p>Probably you haven&#8217;t thought of Psalm 1 as it relates to your daily stresses and your personal boundaries. I think these are important applications of God&#8217;s word.</p>
<p>If you’re a Psalm 1 man or woman like Jesus then when some offends you, pressures you, or is upset at you it doesn’t define you or cause you to react negatively. Even before your trial cam upon you through your meditations and prayers you were already permeating yourself with God’s Word, rooting into his love, and drawing up nourishment from the rivers of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, when you come into the difficult situation in which someone says or does something hurtful you are not so distressed by it &#8211; you don&#8217;t absorb the wound or conflict.</p>
<h5>Blessed in Drought</h5>
<p>Even under the pressure of sweltering heat and drought your leaves stay green and you have the capacity to bear fruit because your roots go down deep to the stream of life. Even when people are offensive you don’t internalize it to become wounded or ashamed by it because you are relying upon God and his Word for your sustenance &#8211; you remain separate and secure in your personal boundaries, rooted in God’s kingdom, and therefore able to bear the fruit of love even for the people who offend you or are mean to you.</p>
<p>Do you see what is going on here? <em>As a Psalm 1 person you are not defined or controlled by the visible landscape of stress or conflict but by the invisible landscape of the glorious kingdom of the heavens in which you are living with Christ.</em></p>
<h5>Try This!</h5>
<p>To become more like Jesus, the Psalm 1 Man, it helps to memorize this Psalm and pray it over and over until it&#8217;s God realities permeate your soul and your life. Pray it in view of particular stresses, temptations, or conflicts, imagining yourself as the tree planted by streams of Living Water even though all around you in your circumstances there is difficulty and drought.</p>
<p>Let me explain to you why it&#8217;s so helpful to memorize a passage (even a whole chapter) of Scripture? And I&#8217;ll help you to see that <em>you can do this!</em> <a href="http://www.soulshepherding.org/articles/spiritual-disciplines/scripture-memory/" target="_blank">Spiritual Disciplines for the Soul: Scripture Memory</a>.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Bill Gaultiere, Ph.D. &amp; Kristi Gaultiere, Psy.D. ~ http://www.soulshepherding.org</p>
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		<title>O Lord, Pour Down your Rain</title>
		<link>http://www.soulshepherding.org/2010/10/o-lord-pour-down-your-rain/</link>
		<comments>http://www.soulshepherding.org/2010/10/o-lord-pour-down-your-rain/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 20 Oct 2010 01:46:16 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Bill Gaultiere</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Soul Care]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Spiritual Disciplines]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[breath prayer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[meditation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[praying the psalms]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.soulshepherding.org/?p=2590</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.soulshepherding.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/rain-is-Gods-gift.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-2591" title="200236712-001" src="http://www.soulshepherding.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/rain-is-Gods-gift-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /></a>By Bill Gaultiere © 2010</p> <p>&#8220;You gave abundant showers, O God; you refreshed your weary inheritance&#8221; (Psalm 68:9).</p> <p>I love the rain. During rainstorms when I was a boy my dad and I would sit in chairs with the garage door open to watch and listen to the rain fall. Storms show us God&#8217;s power. Rain reminds us of his love &#8211; we can&#8217;t live without it&#8217;s nourishment.</p> <p>Rain washes away all the dirt so that when the sun comes out again everything is bright and clean. Probably you stand under a shower of rain everyday to get clean &#8211; doesn&#8217;t that feel good! Maybe sometimes you take a shower [...]<p><i>Continue reading <a href="http://www.soulshepherding.org/2010/10/o-lord-pour-down-your-rain/">O Lord, Pour Down your Rain</a></i></p>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.soulshepherding.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/rain-is-Gods-gift.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-2591" title="200236712-001" src="http://www.soulshepherding.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/rain-is-Gods-gift-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /></a>By Bill Gaultiere © 2010</p>
<p>&#8220;You gave abundant showers, O God; you refreshed your weary inheritance&#8221; (Psalm 68:9).</p>
<p>I love the rain. During rainstorms when I was a boy my dad and I would sit in chairs with the garage door open to watch and listen to the rain fall. Storms show us God&#8217;s power. Rain reminds us of his love &#8211; we can&#8217;t live without it&#8217;s nourishment.</p>
<p>Rain washes away all the dirt so that when the sun comes out again everything is bright and clean. Probably you stand under a shower of rain everyday to get clean &#8211; doesn&#8217;t that feel good! Maybe sometimes you take a shower not so much to clean your body as to clean your soul, or at least to feel washed. If you feel violated or distressed a shower can help to soothe your soul.</p>
<p>It is the shower of God&#8217;s loving presence that provides the personal nourishment we need. Of course, the Holy Spirit lives inside each one of us who trust Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior &#8211; our bodies are his temple and he provides all that we need. In another sense we need to be continually re-filled and renewed by the Spirit of Christ. It&#8217;s not so much that we need more of God, but that we can turn over more of ourselves to him &#8211; more of our attention and affection, more of our dependence and devotion.</p>
<p>This is why, like the Psalmist, I pray for God&#8217;s Spirit to rain down on me! Again and again I need to be cleansed of sin and also of feelings of guilt or shame even when I didn&#8217;t sin. Continually I thirst for the Living Waters. My Breath Prayer inspired by Psalm 68:9 helps me to appreciate God&#8217;s rain:</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">O Lord, open the heavens&#8230; Pour down your rain.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">Yes Lord, refresh us&#8230; Pour down your Spirit.</p>
<p>Why not take a breather now? Pause to listen to God&#8217;s rain&#8230; Breathe in slowly: &#8220;O Lord, open the heavens&#8230;&#8221;  Breathe out: &#8220;Pour down your rain.&#8221;  Receive a God&#8217;s filling: &#8220;Yes Lord, refresh us&#8230;&#8221; Release: &#8220;Pour down your Spirit.&#8221;</p>
<p>Breath Prayers like this are such a blessing to me. I&#8217;d love to teach you <a href="http://www.soulshepherding.org/articles/spiritual-disciplines/breath-prayers/" target="_blank">how to do Breath Prayers</a> and to show you <a href="http://www.soulshepherding.org/articles/bible-verses/breath-prayers-from-the-bible/" target="_blank">my favorite Breath Prayers from the Bible</a>.</p>
<p><em>In the ministry of Soul Shepherding we help Christian leaders and others to take God&#8217;s Word from their heads into their hearts. This is the source of life and power!</em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Bill Gaultiere, Ph.D. &amp; Kristi Gaultiere, Psy.D. ~ http://www.soulshepherding.org</p>
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