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Soul Care Articles

We have hundreds of articles to help you connect with Jesus Christ, the Soul Shepherd.

Participate in the Miracle of Christmas

A Soul Shepherding Moment

By Bill Gaultiere © 2011

Mary offered a little prayer of faith to receive the birth of Christ and the world has never been the same! How might the world around you change if you offer her prayer from your heart?

These days in the Christmas season can be hectic. Many people find their calendars too full with holiday actives and they are hurried and stressed. For some there are family conflicts or financial problems to deal with. Others are lonely. These things — whether happy or unhappy — may distract us from appreciating the Christ of Christmas.

All of us, whether we realize it or not, [...]

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December 22nd, 2011 | Tags: , , | Category: Spiritual Formation

Lift Up Your Head!

By Bill Gaultiere © 2011

This Christmas season maybe you need to appreciate that God bestows his favor on you personally? Maybe you’ve been feeling discouraged or insignificant and need to lift up your head to Christ? I did. So God led me to meditate on the shepherd’s place in the Christmas story as it’s recorded in the Bible (Luke 2:8-20).

In Jesus’ day shepherds were poor and disregarded. In public they hung their heads or stood off to the side. Isolated from the rest of society, they lived out in the fields caring for sheep day and night, rain or shine, heat or cold. They had to be constantly on [...]

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December 8th, 2011 | Tags: , , | Category: Spiritual Formation

Be Overshadowed by God

By Bill Gaultiere © 2010, 2011

As part of our Soul Shepherding ministry I regularly lead spiritual formation and soul care groups for pastors and Kristi leads groups for pastors’ wives. Let me tell you about my experience with leading a group last year…

Today I was blessed to lead Lectio Divina for two groups of pastors. We shared in the Bible story of Mary receiving the angel’s message from God that she would give birth to Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior (Luke 1:26-38).

We shared in the sweetness of God’s Word. What peace and wisdom came to us from God as we used [...]

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December 2nd, 2010 | Tags: , , , | Category: Ministry to Pastors, Spiritual Formation

Good News of Great Joy!

Angels sing because Christ has come!

It’s Christmastime!  Are you celebrating Christ in your heart?  Are you appreciating the incarnate Son of God, the King of kings, in your thoughts?

It’s easy too be distracted with busyness or worries – especially as Christmas approaches.

Advent is a time to slow down and prepare for the coming of Christ to us.  It’s an opportunity to open the eyes of our heart to behold the One who offers himself to us in mercy and grace as a baby in a hay-filled manger… As a Savior on a Cross… As a King riding on the clouds as his chariot… And [...]

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December 22nd, 2009 | Tags: , | Category: Spiritual Formation

Make Room for Jesus

Jesus knocks on the door of your heart

“There was no room for Jesus in the Inn” (Luke 2:7).

And that story is repeated every year at Christmas time.  Even those of us who say that we’re celebrating Christ’s birth may fail to make room for Christ in our schedules and hearts.

The Christmas season is the busiest time of the year.  And there is no room for Jesus in our hearts when we’re rushing around, pushing to get more done, and trying so hard to make people happy.  Just like the Innkeeper whose Inn was too full for Jesus so also our schedules may not leave time – unhurried [...]

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December 20th, 2009 | Tags: , | Category: Spiritual Formation

Listen to God with Joseph

Joseph protected the Christ child

Joseph protected the Christ child

Don’t forget Joseph’s part in the Nativity story.  God may be speaking to you through his role…

None of Joseph’s words are recorded in the Bible.  He was a man who listened.  He listened to God through people, dreams, angels, and circumstances.  He heard God’s voice and obeyed him to protect his dream, the Word made flesh, Christ (Matthew 1:18-25).

Joseph believed in Mary’s virginity when no one else did.  He took on her public shame by marrying her even though she was already pregnant.  No doubt he took a lot of criticism for this.  To help fulfill God’s dream [...]

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December 16th, 2009 | Tags: | Category: Spiritual Formation

The Advent of your God-Dream

By Bill Gaultiere © 2009, 2010

Advent means “come.” At Christmastime we celebrate the miracle birth of “Immanuel,” God come to be with us. Jesus Christ was born to the virgin Mary to show us God in human flesh – this is God’s greatest dream and humankind’s greatest longing!

God wants to birth a dream through you too! Mary is our example. The fulfillment of the Christmas miracle came through her humble submission and trust.

Imagine it. Mary was a young woman when the angel Gabriel said to her: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the [...]

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December 14th, 2009 | Tags: , | Category: Spiritual Formation

Be Quiet to Welcome Christmas

By Bill Gaultiere © 2009

Christmastime can be so noisy and busy!  Perhaps God is inviting you to make time for quiet prayer?

Zechariah (John the Baptist’s father) waited in silence ten months for the first Christmas!  We might do well to pray in quiet for ten minutes!  Or an hour or two.

Be still to anticipate Christ’s coming and like Zechariah you too will burst forth with joyous Christmas praise!  Set aside some time alone with God and quietly pray to prepare your heart to experience Christ’s birth anew this Christmas.

To help you to quiet your heart try an Abiding Prayer with Psalm 46:10: “Be still [...]

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December 11th, 2009 | Tags: , , | Category: Spiritual Formation