MAY WE MAKE IT SO!
Good Morning! I have a very special treat to share with you today! Today’s reflection comes from one of my dearest AF Chaplains, whom I call, “G-Man” or “Dr. Professor.”Scott Garder was and is a dear brother who helped mentor me immensely as an inspired and passionate senior chaplain! He graciously provided sponsorship to my family and me to two of the most challenging roles I was appointed to serve, in the Chaplain Corps. G-Man receives the pastoral reflections and we talk often. He shared the following with me recently and it’s so powerful. I am excited to share it with you today!
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Something my brother in law, Randy Marshall, wrote on what he calls “Salt Talk” has inspired me to share this experience with you Jerry: I Love you brother!
I was among seven young pastors listening to a wise seminary professor several years ago. We were on a weekend retreat when he posed this scenario:
“One of my students was leading worship in a South America village when suddenly a farmer stood up and said, ‘The Lord spoke to me.’
‘He told me next week a plague will kill all the cattle in our county. Float your cattle on a raft to the next county or they will die.’
Our retreat leader asked us, “If you were that young pastor what would you do?” Suddenly, our theology crumbled, while searching for a brilliant answer. Instead, we just sat there dumbfounded. On the next Tuesday, a plague hit the county and all the livestock were killed—except those that floated their herd downstream.
The KEY QUESTION:
Behind the story—“Does God SPEAK to His people today?”
Most Christians would say, “Yes…through His Word, through wise counselors, through answered prayer.” All true!
But I’m talking about speaking directly TO you, WITH you! In a still small voice? Maybe in a dramatic loud one? Maybe in a vision?
I used to think He rarely does. I’ve changed my mind. I now believe He does. And has. And will. More than we think He does–IF we have ears to hear. (Matthew 11:15 NKJV – “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”). No, He won’t violate His Word. He seldom uses a megaphone. He usually whispers his instructions. But He talks to His sheep. If He doesn’t , I have no clue what, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.”” means. (John 10:27 NKJV). But we have to clean out the sheep ear wax. He spoke to the Apostle Paul. He did it through a farmer in Columbia South America. I believe He’ll speak to you. (I believe He is speaking through Pastor Jerry.)
We do a very poor job of asking the right things and an even poorer job of listening to His voice. When we boldly approach Him (Hebrews 4:16), Ask two questions, “What do You want me to know? What do You want me to do?” Then perk your sheep ears up. Here’s where I’ll go out on a limb. Whatever still small voice comes to your mind, as long as it doesn’t oppose Scripture, DO IT and do it QUICKLY! He’s perfectly capable of re-directing you. The Bible is full of sheep U-turns. You know, we do have a Shepherd. Five years ago, He whispered an idea to me. “Write a small weekly message and call it Salt Talks.” Me, a writer? No way. Two hundred and fifty plus Salt Talks and five books later, here we are. And here’s what’s crazy. Know what motivated me to write? I believed God did speak to a simple farmer when cattle were saved downstream. So why not me? I’m one of His sheep too.
So, fellow lambs, what’s the Shepherd saying to you? Ask Him. And when you hear what He’s saying, even if it sounds crazy, do it. Think Noah and the Boat, Jericho and the Walls, Three Boys and the Furnace , Moses and the Sea. Crazy world changing sheep. What do you have to lose? Fear of failure, looking foolish, being criticized?
MAY WE MAKE IT SO!!
