An ancient tool for helping us learn to practice God’s presence and grow in a more intimate relationship with the Lord is called the Examen of Consciousness or simply “The Examen.” The Examen? If you’re not familiar with it then it probably doesn’t sound appealing! The idea of being examined is something most of us want to…
People all around us today in our world and even in our churches “perish for lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6). Knowing Christ is what brings us real life today and into eternity. In the ministry of Soul Shepherding we refer to knowing Christ as “Intimacy with Jesus” and we believe it is the most important…
Many people write to me asking for help understanding their experience of the Jesus burn. I too feel this at times. Have you experienced the “Jesus burn”? Do you know what it’s like to feel God’s presence in your body? Perhaps your heart has been warmed by God’s peace. Or on the back of your…
“But Martha was distracted with much serving” (Luke 10:40, ESV). Do these words haunt you? They do me. Like Martha I have given my life to serve the Lord. My life is filled with acts of service that I do for Christ. I’m sure that you too are intentional about serving God by caring for…
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 distracted tending to someone else’s garden. Maybe you know this experience? Maybe like me you are someone who cares for other people as a pastor, counselor, caregiver,…
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…
This morning I opened up my Psalms prayerbook and read, “May the Lord answer you when you are in distress… May he send you help from the sanctuary” (Psalm 20:1-2). 3,000 years ago, with the help of the Holy Spirit, the Psalmist was interceding for our comfort. Believing that inspires me to pray. Instead of…
Don’t just read the Bible to get through it—let the Word of God read you and get through you. 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…
I want to introduce you to my friend Bob Sanders, President of Baja Christian Ministries (BCM). He has a story in the form of a prayer poem to share with you. It’ll warm your heart. It’ll bless you. It’ll inspire you to draw closer to Jesus in the simplicity and eagerness of a child. First…
What if Jesus asked you to lunch? I think you’d be excited! Actually, Jesus has already asked you. Remember he said, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:20). Lunch…