The warmth of God’s presence can be elusive. In his secret journal Henri Nouwen is vulnerable about a dark season in which he couldn’t feel God’s love. He’d helped millions of other people around the world into a more tender and intimate experience with God, but he was in a Dark Night of the Soul.…
Henri Nouwen in his book The Wounded Healer laments that most Christian leaders are not prepared to be spiritual leaders for hurting people. “Our service will not be perceived as authentic,” Nouwen warns, “unless it comes from a heart wounded by the suffering about which we speak. Thus, nothing can be written about ministry without a deeper understanding of…
A primary way God nourishes our souls with his loving presence is through the beauty of nature. The face of the Lord shines on his in the sun. The moon and stars remind us that God’s light and love shine to us even in the dark. The Lord is speaking to us and warming us…
In Henri Nouwen’s Dark Night he received pastoral counseling and kept a secret journal. Shortly before he died this was published as “The Inner Voice of Love.” Here are some quotes and insights for pastors and ministry leaders.
Every Christian leader needs to overcome three temptations in order to be truly successful. If you’re a pastor or a parent, a small group leader or an executive — whatever area of responsibility over people is — if you minister to others you will tempted to by the way of the culture. In Henri Nouwen’s little gem…
The hospitality of God to us is so beautifully expressed in Jesus’ Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32). But most of us struggle to experience the heart-warming love of Abba Father that Jesus offers in this story. Rembrandt’s famous 17th Century painting of Jesus’ parable, “The Return of the Prodigal,” is a great help. Linger with Rembrandt’s…
In our Soul Shepherding ministry to pastors, leaders, and other servants of the Lord we put high priority on practicing solitude and silence. Each day of our TLC certificate program in “Spiritual Formation and Soul Care Ministry” features extended solitude and silence, balanced with times of learning and sharing in community. (See “TLC Retreats for Pastors…