Soul Shepherding

To Please the Lord

Bill Gaultiere — Wed, 16 May 2012 02:18:34 +0000

A Soul Shepherding Moment

By Bill Gaultiere

There are two integrated movements that define my life: meditating on Jesus and obeying his words. Meditating on God’s Word is joyful intimacy with Jesus. Obeying the Lord is to please him by loving others. These are the inner and outer journeys of spiritual formation in Christ.

But many things can divert me from this path of “Being with Jesus to become like him.” One is the subtle detour of pride.

Pride and Grace

What is pride? It is not speaking of having a sense of your God-given dignity and your God-enabled capabilities, which actually is humility and manifests in emptying yourself to love God and others. The kind of pride that is sinful and deadly is to promote or rely on yourself rather than God. This is a sneaky sin that is to some extent universal in all people, including ministers, leaders, and caregivers who intend to be serving the Lord.

For instance, we may say that we depend upon God’s grace, but a careful look at the way that we’re actually living our lives might show that we depend more on our own intelligence or abilities. One problem is our definition of grace. What is grace? If you’ve studied Christian theology then probably you’ve learned that it’s “unmerited favor.” Yes, but grace is far more than a credit on my heavenly account. Grace is God acting generously in my life. Grace is power — power to do good today.

Ultimately, to be “saved by grace” should mean the way I live my daily life looks like how Jesus would live it if he were me. Say your participating in a business meeting, helping someone with a problem, or working on a project, how would you know if you were relying on yourself or God? Anxiety. Usually, if you’re relying on yourself then you’ll end up straining and stressing, but if you’re relying on God with you and within you then as you do what you’re doing you’ll have a sense of ease and probably a sense of humor too!

Often I catch myself trying too hard and beginning to get anxious — but actually that’s good news because then I can re-orient myself to rely on God’s grace in the moment and get back in tune with the Spirit of Christ. If we confess our pride and humble ourselves under the mighty hand of the Lord who cares for us then he raises us up to do his work without anxiety (1 Peter 5:6-7). But if we continue straining then God will let us carry on without him and we’re sure to get anxious, angry, slide into compulsive behavior, or get depressed.

A Prayer “To Please the Lord”

Here’s a prayer that helps to remind me to rely on the Lord Jesus and not myself. It’s inspired by Psalm 104:34-35:

To Please the Lord

Lord Jesus Christ,

I meditate on your words to rejoice in you;

I rest in the Father’s love with you.

Selah.

Lord Jesus Christ,

I obey your words to please you;

I rely on your Sprit to love others as you do.

Selah.

More Soul Shepherding

Remember my little Breath Prayer, “In Jesus’ name… Not my Strain.” Wow! It really helps. I’ve shared it with pastors, leaders, and caregivers who have used this prayer to tap into the grace-giving power of the Name.

Live in So Cal? Join us at Thirst! on Wed May 23rd at 7 pm. We’ll be talk about God’s grace and we’ll share in some soul training to experience God’s grace. When God’s grace is active in our lives the people around us experience the difference!

“Soul Shepherding is for you and your ministry”

Bill Gaultiere, PhD & Kristi Gaultiere, PsyD ~ Soul Shepherding ~ Irvine, CA

When Jesus Calls

Bill Gaultiere — Wed, 09 May 2012 04:45:56 +0000

A Soul Shepherding Moment

Christ came to meet me in the garden of my soul, but I was busy. He was longing to share fragrances of love with me, but I was tending to someone else’s garden.

Maybe you know this experience? You may be in danger of compassion fatigue or worse, ministry burnout.

The poet’s grief can awaken our hearts to Jesus calling:

The Wind, One Brilliant Day

The wind, one brilliant day, called
to my soul with an odor of jasmine.

‘In return for the odor of my jasmine,
I’d like all the odor of your roses.’

‘I have no roses; all the flowers
in my garden are dead.’

‘Well then, I’ll take the withered petals
and the yellow leaves and the waters of the fountain.’

The wind left. And I wept. And I said to myself:
‘What have you done with the garden that was entrusted to you?’

Longing for God

Antonio Machado wrote this poem nearly a century ago. His wife died early in their marriage and his grief left him like a barren garden, thirsty for living waters, crying for comfort, longing for God.

The most precious gift we could receive is to have Christ walk and talk with us in the garden of our soul. He calls to us with an odor of jasmine. He offers his Spirit to live in us like a fountain of living water.

Are you in your garden to hear his voice and drink from his fountain? Have you been taking care of your flowers for Jesus? Do you have any roses to share with him and the weary travelers who happen upon you?

You may be so busy and stressed that you have nothing from your garden to give away other than withered petals and yellow leaves. You may be so tired that caring for other people has become a heavy burden. Your sense of God’s presence may have faded away like a passing breeze.

It’s Not Too Late!

The Lord longs to be closer to you, to refresh you with his love and to be refreshed by your love. Let your tears will mingle with his tears until his fountain flows once again in your soul. Pray with the Psalmist, “O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.” In time you too will be able to say to the Lord, “Your love is better than life!” (Psalm 63:1, 3).

Your soul can become vibrant like “Jesus’ Garden,” as portrayed in Glen Hopkinson’s painting above.

More Soul Shepherding

Audio Messages includes free Soul Shepherding seminars and sermons that you can listen to online or download. For instance, we recently added, “The Art of Longing for God.”

Ministry Begins with Rest. Really.

“Soul Shepherding is for you and your ministry”

Dr’s Bill & Kristi Gaultiere ~ Soul Shepherding ~ Irvine, CA

A Boston Marathon Kiss!

Bill Gaultiere — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 04:38:14 +0000

A Soul Shepherding Moment

As I approached mile 13 of the Boston Marathon I heard an incredible wall of sound. I couldn’t see it because of the trees and the bend in the road. It was the girls from Wellesley College shrieking in high pitched voices, “Kiss me! Kiss me!” As I ran through the 1/4 mile long “Scream Tunnel” I saw thousands of girls lined up and leaning over the fence puckered up. Many held signs saying things like, “Kiss me! I’m French!”

I saw lots of the men in the race pull over for a smooch. Some stopped to get their picture taken as they kissed one of the girls. A woman runner said to me, “There’s your chance. Go over and get your kiss!” I replied, “No thanks. I’m happy with my wife!”

I Got my Kiss

A few miles later I got my kiss! Kristi had found her way through the mob of spectators to watch for me and with God’s help we were able to see each other — even though she was in the middle of a crowd on the far outside edge of where the road turned. I veered way off course and ran straight into her arms for a hug and kiss!

The greatest blessing of my marriage is that Christ is in the middle of it and that’s what I was thanking God for as I ran by all those screaming college girls. Instead of looking at pretty girls or thinking about getting a kiss from one of them I kept praying a little abiding prayer I wrote, inspired by Psalm 2:12, “I kiss you, O Christ.”

Intimacy with Jesus is what makes like sweet. Abiding in Jesus is the only way to bear fruit that lasts (John 15:1-17).

More Soul Shepherding

Live in So Cal? Join us this Wednesday April 25th, 7 to 8:30 pm at Voyagers Bible Church in Irvine. See our Soul Shepherding calendar for more info on this and our other retreats and seminars.

“Humbled by Marathon Heat” tells the whole story of my experience running the Boston Marathon with Jesus and enduring record-breaking heat. This article also includes lots of pictures.

“Soul Shepherding is for you and your ministry”

Bill Gaultiere, Ph.D. & Kristi Gaultiere, PsyD ~ Soul Shepherding ~ Irvine, CA

Don’t be Nibbled to Death!

Bill Gaultiere — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 02:52:27 +0000

A Soul Shepherding Moment

As pastors and ministry leaders we’re prone to give too much of ourselves, to do too much and try too hard. Its the same for parents and others who care for people in Jesus’ name. We’re called to be shepherds to the sheep God has entrusted to us. But what does this mean? How do we provide what our sheep need?

Often I’m afraid that what we do is we lie down and say, “Here sheep, come nibble off of me.” This is why we’re exhausted. This is why we burn out. Our ministry is eating us alive!

No! We’re to lead the sheep to the Good Shepherd.

Jesus is the Good Shepherd

Jesus is the One the people we care for are to feed off of. But we can’t help people to find their joy and strength in Christ unless we’re doing that ourselves, even as we’re helping someone. We have to be experiencing intimacy with Jesus and to be relying on his love and power as we do what we’re doing or we can’t minister effectively to the souls of others.

Our own abiding in Christ is the most important thing we do to prepare for teaching a class, leading a group, caring for the hurting, or passing out food to the homeless. “Abide in me and you will bear much fruit,” Jesus said (John 15:5).

Jesus Christ is our resource. His kingdom is what we need — that’s where we and those we minister to can say, “The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want…”

More Soul Shepherding

“Ministry Begins with Rest.” Many leaders and caregivers don’t believe this — until they burn out in exhaustion or blow out with a moral failing. Soul Shepherding invests in pastors and leaders to prevent ministry collapse,s as well as to rehabilitate those who have fallen or become depleted.

Audio Messages includes a number of Soul Shepherding seminars and sermons for you to listen to online or download for free.

“Soul Shepherding is for you and your ministry”

Bill Gaultiere, PhD & Kristi Gaultiere, PsyD ~ Soul Shepherding ~ Irvine, CA

Run Easy

Bill Gaultiere — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 04:32:05 +0000

A Soul Shepherding Moment

“You make it look easy” a neighbor said as I ran by. “Thanks! I’m having fun,” I replied. “Have a great day!”

I was doing a training run for the Boston Marathon, which I’m running in on April 16th. I wish I had the opportunity to tell me neighbor what I’m about to tell you.

Look at the picture of me at age 19 on the left. I’m finishing my first marathon. Do I look like it was easy? Like I’m having fun? That’s an easy answer!

Probably it doesn’t surprise you to see someone in pain and looking like he’s about to die as he crosses the finish line from running 26.2 miles as fast as he can! Actually, that picture represents how I used to approach life: intense, straining, wearing myself out, depressive.

Getting into Jesus’ Easy Yoke

In the years since then I’ve learned some things about the “easy yoke” of Jesus (Matthew 11:28-30). Don’t get me wrong — I haven’t “arrived!” I’m still learning to “let the peace of Christ rule in my heart” (Colossians 3:15), but God in his grace has helped me to be more relaxed, better able to enjoy the moment, quicker to connect with God and the people around me.

Look at his second picture of me running a marathon. I’m 30 years older. I’m heavier. I have joint pain. And in my training I only ran 60% of the miles I did when I was younger. Yet, I ran it faster and did so with a smile! Why? I trained with Jesus and I ran with Jesus.

With Jesus. That’s how I want to live me life.

As I run Boston I’ll be meditating on the book of Philippians. When I’m tired and sore I’ll be relying on the Word of God to sustain me and to help me relax, rejoice, and pray blessings for others as Paul did. Chained to a prison guard, treated badly though he did nothing wrong, persecuted, stuck year after year and yet he was the happiest man around and wrote the happiest book to spread the joy of the Lord to others. These meditations and their effect on my readiness to love God and my neighbor are FAR more important than my race.

You Can Follow My Race

Do you want to follow me as I run with Jesus? My Bib # is 9895. I’m in Wave 2 that starts at 10:20 am (EST) on Monday April 16. If you send a text message to 345678 with the word RUNNER in your message you’ll get a text back telling you to enter the Bib # of the runner. Then you’ll receive alerts telling you my times at 5 K, 1/2 marathon, 30 K, and finish. I hope to set a Personal Record and finish in under 3 hours and 22 minutes. But it’ll be tough because this race has a lot of hills!

You can also go to this Boston Marathon webpage that explains how to receive e-mail updates on my progress. Or watch the race on TV — there will only be 30,000 runners to sort through!

For me life is like a marathon with Jesus. “When I run I feel God’s pleasure!”

More Soul Shepherding

Run Through your Wall tells the story of how God helped me 30 years later finally to reach my dream and qualify for Boston. But the real dream, not just for me but also for you, is to be the kind of person who rejoices in the Lord and cares for other people even in challenging situations.

You Can Live in Jesus’ Easy Yoke tells the story of how God taught an anxious, depressive workaholic to live in his rhythms of grace. If I can grow in the peace of Christ than anyone can!

“Soul Shepherding is for you and your ministry”

Bill Gaultiere, PhD & Kristi Gaultiere, PsyD ~ Soul Shepherding ~ Irvine, CA

In Jesus’ Name… Not my Strain

Bill Gaultiere — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 00:25:48 +0000

I believe mightily in the power of little prayers offered in Jesus’ name. They’ve changed my life — my pace of life is slower, my way of life is more peaceful, my demeanor in stress is more ready to glorify God, my ability to love others is greater. I’ve seen the same effect in the lives of other people.

Perhaps I should offer a qualification. The kind of prayers that facilitate healing and transformation in Christlikeness are inspired by God and offered with our heart. In other words, as we’re praying we need to be relying on the Spirit of the Risen Christ and engaging our heart, which is our will. Learning to pray this way requires soul training.

Soul Training

“Train yourself to be godly,” Apostle Paul urged Pastor Timothy (1 Timothy 4:7).Much of the training to engage our hearts deeply with Jesus needs to occur in silence and solitude with him because that’s where we learn to set aside our compulsions to achieve and please and to instead find our rest and joy in him alone. It’s also a way we can get free from our anxious striving or our depressed lethargy and learn to maintain our concentration on God.

I’ve found that one of the most profitable things to do in times of quiet prayer is “abide” in a word from Scripture (John 15:7). For instance, here’s a prayer I like to use: “In Jesus’ name… Not my strain.” I paraphrased this from Psalm 20:7: “Some trust in chariots and some trust in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.”

A Breath Prayer

To put my body into this prayer I pray it as a Breath Prayer. This helps me to engage my mind and heart with the name of Jesus and the word of God.

I breathe in as I whisper or think, “In Jesus’ name…” My breathing in becomes a bodily prayer to take in, appreciate, and rely on the precious and powerful name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Then I whisper or think, “Not my strain” as I exhale. My breathing out becomes a bodily prayer to let go of my tendency to push to make things happen for myself (which generates hurry, anxiety, and anger or depression when things don’t go my way).

After spending some time with this Bible-based Breath Prayer then I apply it to a situation of stress or temptation. Perhaps my finances, an event I’m leading, or a situation of conflict. I fix that situation in my mind and offer it to the Lord. Then I use my Breath Prayer: “In Jesus’ name… Not my strain.” In other words, “Jesus, I trust you and rely on you alone… Not what I can achieve or who I can please.”

More Soul Shepherding

“Breath Prayers from the Bible” suggests other little prayers and ways to try praying them.

Soul Shepherding is for you and your ministry

Bill Gaultiere, PhD & Kristi Gaultiere, PsyD ~ Soul Shepherding ~ Irvine, CA

Pain or Vision?

Bill Gaultiere — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 03:14:43 +0000

A Soul Shepherding Moment

“Without a vision from God people perish” (Proverbs 29:18, paraphrase).

We say that we want to make changes. For instance, probably you’d like to de-clutter and get more organized or lose weight. Or maybe you think you need to get help with your depression, improve your marriage or a friendship, or grow spiritually.

Sadly, most of the time we don’t actually make the changes that we say we should make. Why not?

Almost 30 years ago my first counseling supervisor told me: “Pain pushes us and vision pulls us. Those are the two ways people are motivated to change. It’s a rare person who is pulled by vision, most need to be pushed by pain.”

Are you Stuck in a Rut?

Like many people you may slide down in a rut and not even realize it. Perhaps you’re overwhelmed by your responsibilities and feel you just can’t deal with things. So your problem goes unnoticed until it causes you pain — you can’t find an important document amid your clutter, the doctor says your health is in danger, your depression causes you to lose your job, or your spouse has an affair. Then because of the pain you’re in God is finally able to get your attention — the pain pushes you to get help.

“Pain is God’s megaphone to rouse a deaf world,” C.S. Lewis said.

But as my mentor taught me much of the pain we experience in life could be avoided if only we would have caught God’s vision for our life and taken care to implement it. Vision can pull us to become a better person.

The Choice is Yours

Generally, the vision that God has for you and I is the same: become an apprentice to Jesus to learn how to bring your life into God’s kingdom. Orienting my whole life around being with Jesus to learn to become like him has filled my soul with more of heaven than I thought was possible in this world. Problems I couldn’t solve before have dissipated. I’ve observed the same effect in other people’s lives.

Of course, implementing the vision to be like Jesus requires that you get help — you can’t do it on your own. “Self-help” is a mirage. Reach out to a soul friend, small group, mentor, or counselor. Practice disciplines to help you grow in the grace of Christ.

Yes, the healing that’s required is painful at times. Yes, the learning that’s needed requires discipline and isn’t easy. But the divine life that you grow into is delightful and easy. Over time life in Christ solves all the problems you had because your only real problem becomes dealing with the part of you that wanders from God.

The vision to be with Jesus and become like him can pull you into an increasingly wonderful life with God. Or you can wait until pain comes along and pushes you to get the help you need.

More Soul Shepherding

Our “Overcoming Problems” archive has articles to help you follow Jesus into real change.

Bill Gaultiere, PhD & Kristi Gaultiere, PsyD ~ Soul Shepherding ~ Irvine, CA

Peace! Be still.

Bill Gaultiere — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 03:15:11 +0000

A Soul Shepherding Moment

Are you able to be calm in a storm? When a stressful situation blows into your life with thunder and pouring rain do you have peace? Jesus and his disciples were in their little fishing boat on the Sea Galilee when a sudden and fierce storm threatened their lives. The disciples panicked, but Jesus was so peaceful that he was able to take a nap!

Many of us are like the disciples. We worry about our problems. We’re afraid of bad things happening. We may panic in a crisis. Or maybe we row furiously to get out of the storm!

The Peace of Christ

How was Jesus able to sleep in peace during such a terrible storm? How could his body be filled with peace when gale winds were blowing freezing rain on him? Because he had trained himself to be submitted to the Father in all things. He wasn’t just in the storm he was in the kingdom of the heavens resting in the loving arms of Abba Father. He trusted the Father to keep them safe — whether they survived or drowned.

“Peace. Be still!” Jesus commanded the storm. The wind ran out. The rain stopped. The lake became calm. Jesus transferred the peace of God from his body into the storm.

A Breath Prayer

Try praying the words of the Prince of Peace into your body and soul: “Peace! Be still.” “Let the peace of Christ rule in your heart” (Colossians 3:15) by praying a simple Breath Prayer:

Breathe in and appreciate the word of Christ as you whisper, “Peace…”

Hold your breath momentarily to embrace the Word and the Spirit in your consciousness…

Exhale and let go of stress as you whisper Jesus’ words to yourself, “Be still…”

By repeating this prayer in this physical way you’re renewing your mind in the Word of God and seeking for his words and him to govern your whole person, seeping down from your thoughts into your emotions, your body, your social connections, and your soul.

After you’ve rested in Jesus and his words “watch and pray” with Jesus (Matthew 26:41). Consider a storm that you’re going through today or likely to go through soon. Imagine yourself in that situation…

Normally when you’re in a storm maybe your temptation is to row hard to get out of trouble? Complain? Or blame someone?

Instead, in your imagination and in your prayer place yourself with Jesus, not only in the boat at sea, but also in the larger reality of God’s kingdom. Return to using Jesus’ words as a Breath Prayer: “Peace… Be still.”

You can also use this prayer to help you intercede for someone who needs to learn to be ruled by the peace of Christ.

More Soul Shepherding

“Discover the Secret of Jesus’ Peace and Power” unpacks in detail the story of Jesus calming the storm and how we can be formed to be more like our Lord.

My book, You Can Live in Jesus’ Easy Yoke, has many insights from Scripture, real life stories, and spiritual exercises to help you be governed by Christ and his kind of peace.

Bill Gaultiere, PhD & Kristi Gaultiere, PsyD ~ Soul Shepherding ~ Irvine, CA

Love Much!

Bill Gaultiere — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 02:41:23 +0000

A Soul Shepherding Moment

Are you like the sinful woman crying at Jesus’s feet, clinging to him for mercy? Am I? Do we know how desperate we are for Jesus? Do we abandon propriety to love our Lord with great affection?

Or maybe we’re more like Simon the Pharisee? He was a religious man, very proper and careful to do what was right, or so he thought. He condemned this woman because of her sins. He thought Jesus was foolish for accepting a woman “like that.” When he complained about her Jesus said to him: “Who loves more? The one is forgiven a large debt or the one who is forgiven a small debt?” (Luke 7:42, par)

Tears, Kisses, and Perfume

Simon gave the obvious answer and Jesus looked tenderly at the woman as he said to Simon: “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven — for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little” (Luke 7:45-47).

It’s a broken, sinful woman — not an educated, upstanding religious man — who shows us how to love God.

If we know that we’ve forgiven much then we will love much. Much love. Much compassion. Much kindness. Without fear. Even to those who don’t deserve it because God has been abundantly generous with us.

A Prayer of Devotion

O Lord Jesus, I love you because your mercy is unfailing. You are the Holy One and yet you touch those considered untouchable. You are courageous and kind, powerful and patient. Through you the generosity of God extends to all — even to me! You keep blessing me even though I don’t deserve it. I fall at your feet and I don’t want to let go. But then I realize I must rise and share your kindness with everyone I can. As I love others in your name I know that your Spirit goes with me. Amen

More Soul Shepherding

“A Little Affection for our Great God” features a short prayer of devotion inspired by this same Gospel story and Psalm 2.

Bill Gaultiere, PhD & Kristi Gaultiere, PsyD ~ Soul Shepherding ~ Irvine, CA

Morning and Evening Prayer

Bill Gaultiere — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 19:28:13 +0000

A Soul Shepherding Moment

In Psalm 65 David sings out to the Lord, “Where morning dawns and evening fades you call forth songs of joy” (verse 8). Where does his joy come from? Not his circumstances — he’s rejoicing in the Lord!

“Your river in the heavens brims over to us!” David exclaims (verse 9, paraphrased). Don’t you love that visual?! Heaven’s river of life isn’t just far off and way later it’s flowing all around us now, even into us and through us to others. We can drink from the living waters all day.

A Good Beginning and Ending

How you begin and end your day makes a big difference in whether or not you drink from the river in the heavens as you go about your day. In the morning the day rushes at us and we might get carried away into the stress. In the evening we may fall into bed exhausted. Begin well and end well. This helps us to “Rejoice in the Lord always” (Philippians 4:4) and “Give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

I like to make my first and last words expressions of love for the Lord. One way I do that is to offer prayers of submission in the morning and prayers of thanks in the evening.

For instance, my morning prayer from Psalm 65 is: “Today as I _______ , Lord Jesus Christ, call forth songs of joy.” It’s a simple prayer of the heart used to submit the activities of my day to the Lord and find my joy in him as I do what I do.

Then in the evening I use the same prayer for reflection: “Today God called forth songs of joy as I ________.” I review my day with the Lord, pausing to notice the times that I enjoyed his presence in some way. I give thanks to him. (This is called an “examen of consciousness” because we’re remembering the times we were conscious of God’s presence during the day.)

This is the Psalmist’s ancient rhythm of prayer. Each morning as an act of worship he submits himself and his activities to God. Each night he reflects, shares his heart, and gives thanks for the day.

More Soul Shepherding

My prayer poem from Psalm 65 will lift your spirits: “Songs of Joy!” Try singing it with me!

Bill Gaultiere, PhD & Kristi Gaultiere, PsyD ~ Soul Shepherding ~ Irvine, CA