A PICTURE IS WORTH 1,000 WORDS!

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I love this picture, and I have been thinking about HOW LOVED we are by Jesus.  Doesn't the thought that JESUS DID FOR US WHAT WE COULDN'T DO FOR OURSELVES just flood you with all kinds of emotion?  He is THE GOOD SHEPHERD!

This picture also reminds me of the responsibility and privilege we have been given by the Lord to care for HIS SHEEP on His behalf.  As leaders we have the AWESOME OPPORTUNITY to pour ourselves into our teams.  So here's what I want to ask you to do.  Over the next few days look at this picture, over and over, and think about how THE LORD'S EXAMPLE should influence your leadership and what does that look like practically.

Take the time when you are ready to comment on the BLOG PAGE.

Comments

  1. Tom KingNovember 1, 2011 at 9:27 PM

    I was going to take some time to respond, but I just can't help it. I was BLOW AWAY when you posted this and I saw this picture. I JUST READ this morning John 10 and it was Jesus talking about being the GOOD SHEPHERD! Verse 11 stuck out to me when he said, "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep.

    This was an UNBELIEVABLE reminder to me as a leader to know that God has CALLED ME to be the shepherd to his people at Granite! When I think about the sacrifice that Jesus has already given me I am reminded of the sacrifice that I must give as a shepherd and leader to His people.

    As you already said, what a PRIVILEGE we have to be able to serve God, but also a RESPONSIBILITY to shepherd His people the way we have been called! I pray that I will be the GOOD SHEPHERD that God has called me to be and that EVERYDAY brings a new OPPORTUNITY to pour into my leaders and teens!

    Thank you for the reminder and continuing to pour into us!

    ReplyDelete
  2. CourtlandNovember 2, 2011 at 9:42 AM

    Time. Making time to pour into the people I get to serve with. Couple of things that I will try to do. 1.) Connect during the week, not for ministry but to check in, pray, laugh, bust on, etc. 2.) During the month figure out some way to connect, coffee, hang out, breakfast, something informal and just CARE. 3.) Make meetings with the whole team about VISION & CARE. Paint a picture of where we are going but then make sure we are HEALTHY and EQUIPPED as a team to get there.

    I love the picture. Shared it with my campus this morning. To me there is a calm, confident, almost playful look on Jesus face. As the shepherd it doesn't look like caring for the sheep is a burden, but almost a JOY and a PRIVILEGE. Cool image.

    ReplyDelete
  3. JohnNovember 4, 2011 at 6:44 PM

    WOW a picture does tell a story! A couple things I think of when looking at the picture is. We should not spend our time focusing so much on the flock or committed Christians, but we should spend our time going after the one who has wondered off the path.

    The picture also illustrated to me what you should do when you catch up with the sheep that has wondered away. We need to hold them close to us and bring them back to the flock and when we do this it brings joy to us.

    So this week and every week practically I think as shepards we have the responsibility to seek out the one that isn't connected to the flock. Then when we connect with them we need to keep them close until they are part of the flock.

    As far as team goes and this illustration. Sheep multiply and as there are more sheep, there will be more sheep that break away from the flock. Teach the team to always be on the lookout for these sheep and to help them as they bring them back to the flock.

    Thanks Pastor for pouring into us.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Joe GaronNovember 4, 2011 at 7:18 PM

    I just keep going back to leaving the 99 to go get the one. I was that 1 not so long ago. The events in my life leave little doubt that Jesus came and got me and carried me just like the picture

    Now, I have the privilege/ responsibility to go get that 1! How amazing to think that God would use me!

    How will that look?
    Even the everyday things like Facebook....instead of focusing on my close friends, I am making more time to build relationships with the guests and new believers I am meeting each week

    It is really a mindset change. While we need to have good friends who can build each other up and challenge each other to take new steps, those relationships take less to keep strong. It takes intentionality to build new relationships

    NO HOLY HUDDLES! Keep the main thing the main thing!

    ReplyDelete
  5. MikeNovember 5, 2011 at 8:38 PM

    It's incredible how this pictures shows the heart of Jesus. How Jesus cares and loves those He gave his life for! Even thinking of the people who Jesus made an effort to be with were people who were typically rejected by the community. People who others were trying to forget about, but Jesus did not forget them.

    This is what Jesus called us to do. To go after those who are forgotten about, those who are not part of the "in" crowd, those who are not in the family of God. What an amazing responsibility and privilege. I hope that my heart can continue to grow into more of Christ's heart.

    ReplyDelete

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