Posted on February 13, 2012, 10:51 pm, by Bill Gaultiere.
A Soul Shepherding Moment
By Bill Gaultiere © 2012
In Psalm 29 David praises the God of glory whose voice thunders over the waters and flashes like lightening. Like the waves of the sea God speaks with crashing authority and soothing gentleness at the same time. When God speaks proud cedars fall and little calves skip with joy.
We need to ask ourselves, Am I more like the proud cedar that needs to bow before the Lord? Or the little calf that skips with joy to hear him call? Imagine being so eager to follow Jesus that you skip when he calls out to you! That’s the enthusiastic attitude the disciples had. When Jesus called [...]
Continue reading Smile and Skip to Hear God’s Voice!
Posted on December 22, 2011, 12:48 pm, by Bill Gaultiere.
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, [...]
Continue reading Participate in the Miracle of Christmas
Posted on November 23, 2011, 4:35 pm, by Bill Gaultiere.
Soul Shepherding Moment
By Bill Gaultiere © 2011
Of all the virtues gratitude is queen. Giving thanks to God is the most lovely virtue and it’s the mother of all that is good. That’s because “Every good and perfect give is from above” (James 1:17) and appreciating this is the way we participate in God’s blessings for us and others.
Research shows that grateful people are healthier, happier, and have more friends. Most of us know this but are prone to allow our thankfulness to be overtaken by things like worry, boredom with the mundane, time pressure, negative people, or pain.
How to Grow in Gratitude
The great apostle urges us, [...]
Continue reading Thank you… Lord
Posted on November 4, 2011, 10:30 am, by Bill Gaultiere.
Soul Shepherding Moment
By Bill Gaultiere © 2011
Listen! God is speaking.
Sunshine after a rain. It reminds me that when we slow down and look up to God his bright thoughts can enter our minds to help us walk in his bright ways (Isaiah 55:9, paraphrase). Listening to God makes everything better—even if we at the time we don’t hear specific words—because the very act of listening opens our hearts to the delightful, shining reality that the Lord is truly with us.
“Shoot Up” an Arrow Prayer
But most us of struggle with listening to God and need help to direct our [...]
Continue reading An Arrow Prayer to Help you Listen
Posted on September 28, 2011, 8:51 pm, by Bill Gaultiere.
By Bill Gaultiere © 2011
Do you ever become jealous? Or get competitive? Most people do.
These are problems of insecurity that come from trying to find our value in the things we have, the way we look, or what we do. This is the way of our culture which says, “Blessed are the rich, the good looking, and the successful because they have what the best that the world has to offer.”
Who is Really Well Off?
But Jesus says, “Blessed are the poor and the shy because the kingdom of the heavens is open to them.” But don’t stop there. He would also say, “Blessed are the rich, the [...]
Continue reading More of Jesus… Less of Me
Posted on May 15, 2011, 4:48 pm, by Bill Gaultiere.
Jesus wants you also to know God as Abba
By Bill Gaultiere © 2011
Probably you know Jesus’ famous Parable of the Prodigal Son, but have you found yourself in the story? Has your heart been melted by experiencing Almighty God as your Abba, your dear Papa?
One way to do this is to spend some time with Rembrandt’s painting, “The Return of the Prodigal Son.” It’ll improve your view of God and your relationship with him.
We talk with Christian leaders and Christ-followers of all kinds who struggle to trust God as their Abba. On the surface they believe that God loves them this much — they may teach [...]
Continue reading Trust Jesus’ Abba as your Abba
Posted on December 19, 2010, 4:18 pm, by Bill Gaultiere.
Let Christ be born anew in your heart
By Bill Gaultiere © 2010
What a joy it is to hold a newborn child – a miracle of God in your arms! It’s an even greater joy to hold Christ in our hearts!
Come. Appreciate anew the precious gift of God living in you – now and forevermore. Don’t let this moment pass. I know you have so much to do. But first pause with me – let’s come adore Christ, our Savior and Lord.
My little Abiding Prayer from Psalm 118 will help you draw closer to Jesus, our Immanuel. It features four of [...]
Continue reading Jesus, Our Immanuel
Posted on December 11, 2010, 2:57 pm, by Bill Gaultiere.
Like a seashell we can echo with God's waves of love
By Bill Gaultiere © 2010
I find it a great blessing to spend time at the ocean, a lake, or a river. Immersed in God’ beauty I relax. Surrounded by the sounds of flowing water it’s easier for me to hear God’s voice.
I imagine you’ve experienced this. And if you bond with God at a body of water then your soul can become like a seashell that carries the ocean’s echoes even when you’ve left the beach and gone back home.
Yesterday on my Sabbath I spent some sweet hours of seashell prayer inspired [...]
Continue reading Waves of Prayer
Posted on October 19, 2010, 5:46 pm, by Bill Gaultiere.
By Bill Gaultiere © 2010
“You gave abundant showers, O God; you refreshed your weary inheritance” (Psalm 68:9).
I love the rain. During rainstorms when I was a boy my dad and I would sit in chairs with the garage door open to watch and listen to the rain fall. Storms show us God’s power. Rain reminds us of his love – we can’t live without it’s nourishment.
Rain washes away all the dirt so that when the sun comes out again everything is bright and clean. Probably you stand under a shower of rain everyday to get clean – doesn’t that feel good! Maybe sometimes you take a [...]
Continue reading O Lord, Pour Down your Rain
Posted on October 7, 2010, 11:14 pm, by Bill Gaultiere.
By Bill Gaultiere © 2010
I have a spiritual vitamin for you – a little, power-packed prayer that’s a Gospel of Jesus in miniature. It’s based on a favorite Bible verse of mine that most Christians I talk to have difficulty practicing: “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).
First, let’s meditate on these paraphrases of Psalm 46:10:
“Quiet your heart, rely on me – the Spirit of Christ, the I AM – living and breathing in you.” (my paraphrase)
“Step out of the traffic! Take a long, loving look at me, your High God.” (MSG)
“Our God [...]
Continue reading Be Still and Know Christ
A Soul Shepherding Moment
