My dad and I were just talking about the sincere and touching testimonies we heard tonight…However, I was troubled when one shepherd mentioned having no human contact at all aside from crazy people all week, even though at the same time he said this was the best time for him to really be with God. Then I came up with an idea for having some fellowship – getting everyone together on a Zoom meeting with some Christian music playing, and commenting away on blog posts as fast as they could. It could be a great contest, with prizes!
But my dad pointed out that this might be a good idea if there was really spiritual reason to do so, but what’s the meaning of having a commenting contest just to kill time? Maybe other people might, but shepherds don’t waste their time like that.
Deflated, I couldn’t help but agree. I tend to think that all anyone needs is some fun and laughter to be happy, but that’s not true. It’s not even true for me, either. Fun has its place in life, but there are deeper things that humans need. In the movie Inside Out, it’s actually the emotion named Sadness who plays a key role in establishing a core memory for Riley. Remembering this, I added, “It seems sadness is more important than joy in developing our character.” My dad replied, “If it leads you to Jesus. Without Jesus, it only becomes nostalgia.” Then he spoke about his most sorrowful moments, the loneliest time as a shepherd, when his sorrow was so thick he could almost touch it. Yet those were the times when he met God.
So instead of just trying to get people to have fun, I realize that something really worth our time, more than just having fun fellowship, is to remember God. Hence, this open question for all the shepherds: what were your moments of sorrow where you really met Him?
First!!! I’m the first commenter. I win a prize. Humor aside, and to receive this post in the spirit it was shared, I recall a very personal struggle that lasted two miserable years. Tears were abundant every single day. Tremendous mental distress was there. My heart and emotion had already escaped my control. To make a long story short, eventually God healed me completely. My only regret is letting that matter hurt me as much as it did. The only thing worst than NOT getting what you want, IS getting what you want. I thank God for all the times… Read more »
Yes, there should be a prize for that LOL
It would have to be a prize made suitable for @[(B)lasting (A)gent (O)range]
Wow, what insightful language! God answers our prayers even through the waiting, through not giving us what we want, and through his “No.” Praise God that he healed you completely and I pray that would happen continuously in your life! And yes, as many people on the internet say “FIRST!!” you should receive some sort of prize, hahaha. God bless you brother in Christ! 🙂
I wonder what your prayer topics were 😅
I had no prayer topic during those two painful years. I was just trying to survive LOL.
Wait a second your comment became much longer than before! Haha I remember you shared once about the song “You raise me up” – especially the line “Then I am still and wait here in the silence, until you come and sit awhile with me.” That line stuck in my head. Up till then I had never paid much attention to it, but after you talked about it, I realized how touching it is that Jesus comes and sits awhile with us, when we simply have no words to pray, because of grief or shame or whatever it might be.… Read more »
When Shep. Andrew talked about Jesus’s words to him tonight, I could resonate with him so much because Jesus told him the same thing. “You of little faith,” Jesus gently rebukes, and reminds me that he is in the boat with me. One time I was reading the passage in turn with my student. As I read this verse, Matthew 14:31 – ³¹ Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” I was deeply touched because it seemed to me Jesus was actually saying these words to me. At… Read more »
Yes that happens even in bible study…God speaks to us through his holy spirit. That happened to me tonight in bible study when Jesus freed the demon-possessed men. I saw Jesus’ great love for me that he would sacrifice so many pigs, thousands of pigs, just for me! The Bible even says somewhere (I think Isaiah) “I will give peoples for your sake, whole nations for you.” Wow, just to think that God loves us that much. I am encouraged by this comment because, I also have come to bible study with a heavy heart….but Jesus is faithful and always… Read more »
Thank you Alex! Indeed God brought us to a normal life, a life that No longer harassed by demons! Let us follow Jesus and be “demon hunters” 😎
A demon hunter?!?! That sounds extremely cool Hahaha, yes, let’s be the head and not the tail and be snipers, ninjas, and warriors for Christ :3
Reminds me of what msn grace says:
Students we teach truly receive maybe 20-30% of the passage. Shepherds teaching receive maybe 80% of the passage. It’s cool when we are more touched than our students during our own bible studies! 😀
^ SO TRUE!!!!!!!!
What an amazing moment with Jesus…I’ve read this verse many times but after reading your comment, I’m seeing it with new eyes. It’s amazing how He reached you with just one verse, even though you must have had so many anxieties and burdens occupying your mind. I’m also very touched when I think of this whole scene, especially the look on Jesus’ face at that moment – serious in His rebuke, yet genuinely concerned for poor Peter as He held him above the waves. Wow! He’s such a good shepherd to us.
Wow, I was thinking of responding to this post…but when I think of the word “sorrow” it hits home so deep, that I couldn’t bring myself to answer this post. Until now. I thought it would be better to respond than to not, to share my journey with the Lord. First of all, I experienced a lot of sorrow before I came to Christ and in the moments before I came to Christ. When I was in college at UCSC, I was pretty much all alone in my dorm room many times without any real friends and I cried very… Read more »
We were all amazed when a girl was so happy singing and dancing at the conference because she met Jesus very personally. 🙂
I actually don’t remember when I did that! Hahaha, but that is cool that you remember. 🙂 Dancing and praising Jesus is suitable at all times. 😀
Thank you for sharing Alexandra, especially the way God has strengthened you and brought you to Himself. Reading your comment, I realized that without Him, there is no way out of the darkness, but in His love we find bright light. “And through it all, I’ve come to know Jesus as my Good Shepherd who leads me to quiet streams and who picks me up every time I fall.” Amen!
Thank you for your reply :3 Yes God has strengthened me every time! In his love we do find bright light, and his blood washes us whiter than tide…hahaha as I said somewhere else. Lol. Thanks for your comment again 😀
I just taught Acts 9 to a student this morning. And this one verse reminds me of what you said…
“This [woman] is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. I will show [Alexandra] how much [she] must suffer for my name”
🙂
Wow, I want to learn the book of Acts, that’s so cool that you have those notes ^_^ It is an honor to suffer for Jesus, for He is worthy! To be considered to be like Paul, wow, the only similarity we have is that we are both children of God. To be as great as him would be an honor to say the least! Thank you for your reply. <3 God bless you sister in Christ!!! 🙂
The only thing longer than your drive from Santa Cruz to Gardena is your journey of faith LOL.
Keep going and you will become Alexandra the Great!
Hahaha, true that, my journey of faith has been a long one, but a definite testament of how worthy our Savior Jesus Christ is for all our sufferings and sacrifices! Thank you for your reply 😀 I will keep going. 😀
Praise God for his work in your life. It’s amazing that you’ve held onto Jesus this whole time. It reminds me of Jacob’s blessing on Joseph in Genesis 49. “With bitterness archers attacked him; they shot at him with hostility. But his bow remained steady, his strong arms stayed limber, because of the hand of the Mighty One of Jacob, because of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel.” <3 God bless you, my sister!
Praise God, thank you for your reply. ^_^ I do love that verse in Genesis and it touched me so deeply in testimony writing. It is an honor to relate to that verse with my life and I am unworthy to say the least! Haha, but Joseph is one of my greatest examples to continue on in the fight despite injustice and sufferings. Thank you my sister in Christ.
I was also very touched by the testimonies! I’m always amazed at how such painful moments can turn into beautiful experiences with God. I’ll admit that as a young (and very immature) disciple, I don’t know sorrows in the way that many others do. But I do have two painful situations that come to my mind where I learned about God in a very personal way. The first is in spring 2019, when a very precious growing sheep/disciple fell away. I’ve had many students come and go, but this one broke my heart because I had a very deep love… Read more »
LOL. I had many sorrowful times in the CL as well, also tears shed all alone under my covers at night. (but alas, no cockroach…. whew.) I remember one time, late at night, I set up a table in the Ebenezer sanctuary to write my testimony and pray and just cry after a terrible experience in one of my credential classes (screwed up during a big final presentation SO BAD). I thought my teaching career was ruined because of my flaws. But I was finding some peace in that quiet time, thinking about God’s sovereignty. And then I saw an… Read more »
Hahaha wait how did you feel like you screwed up the presentation? I remember you talked about this in one of your testimonies and said it was like God made them blind or something lol
I didn’t feel it. I KNOW it.
I shared it during one of our mission meetings 😉
Oh gosh that sounds awful. Praise God who exalted you and had mercy on you!!
LOL. It was indeed awful.
Many moments of awfulness as a bible teacher too, if you can imagine. Oral communication was not a strength of mine. For many years, I always avoided sitting next to other shepherds in the USU hallway whenever I was meeting a student, so that I wouldn’t blow their minds with my lack of skills.
Through this weakness, I am confirmed: God’s grace is sufficient for me!
“God’s grace is sufficient for me” Your struggle to submit to God’s will for your life despite your weaknesses is a testament to truly how great of a person you are. 🙂 All to God’s glory.
Ahhh what a beautiful moment!! I think I’m most amazed/surprised when God comforts me in very practical matters like that, because it reminds me of God’s deep concern for all areas of my life.
Oh no a cockroach on your face!! That really is like a whole new world. Yikes >< I was very touched by your description of the campus, how calm and quiet it was, with the sun rising. It reminds me of how Jacob was alone on the other side of the Jabook River wrestling all night in the darkness with his fears, and then with God. But after he personally met God and received His blessing, he limped away with the sun rising over him – a new start as a new man.
Also, to comment on your suggestion..
no need for contests or scheduled zoom meetings or Christian music to comment on blog posts.
..We just need more blog posts…. 😉
I agree!! More blog posts needed. Helppppp xD
Maybe that can be @[(B)lasting (A)gent (O)range]’s prize. A chance to write a blog post
(how do you link names??? doesnt seem like it works for me)
@Sabaaa
Sarah LINKberg you are being silly. Stop it.
That worked for me! I got the notification. I think only Bao’s username doesn’t work with the @ function 🙁
Maybe I should make one…hahaha, but I always have an idea, and then I disregard it saying that it’s not truly a good enough message for a blog post. But maybe one of these days I’ll write another blog post hahaha. 🙂
I learned that the Spanish word for “fun” – “divertido/a” has its root meaning in “diversion.” So, while there is fun to be had, it can tend to simply distract or divert from the reality of your sins. Sometimes, facing myself and meditating on the sorrows in the world and the sorrows Jesus has to heal the broken nature of myself, of my sheep, family, etc., etc., it is so much more glorious in the end then the temporary diversion I had. In the matter of fellowshipping, I’ve been given much more insight through this post on how, as beautiful… Read more »
Oh wow, that’s so interesting! Fun is nothing but diversion…that makes me think a lot more seriously about it for sure!
“Nothing beats purposeful time with God.” I am learning this more and more that through testimony writing, meditating on the daily bread, and prayer…it is much better for my soul than just having “fun” or “diversion” on the internet. Time with God is so precious and valuable to him and to us. God bless you so immensely. ^_^
About 10 years ago, my eldest brother died in a tragic car accident. He was 10 years older than me, but in my childhood, he loved me so dearly and took care of me; despite our age difference, he was like my best friend. I still remember the many things he did for me: one of them is that, during his college, in his date with his girlfriend (she became my sister-in-law), he invited me to go to a movie with them. As a middle school student, I was so fascinated at the movie – still I remember the title… Read more »
Wow. I was speechless reading this. All that comes out of me is…God is so beautiful. I imagine how happy he was to comfort you this way. Thank you for sharing this. It reminds me that God is deeply concerned about me and my family members.
This is wonderful. How amazing your brother visited you to give you assurance that he is in heaven! I learn that I may have good desires for myself or others, like how you had for your brother to be a shepherd. But God is glorious, even beyond imagination. Sometimes things happen in life that I dont understand. But I put my trust in Gods goodness and love for me.
I am now crying so much because of this comment…thank you so much Missionary John for making me cry tears of joy. It touched me so deeply. Your sorrow turned to joy seeing your brother in heaven. I hope so deeply I will see my sister, mom, dad, aunt, and all family members in heaven too…and that’s what I so desperately pray for. I love them so much. Crying tears of joy right now. Thank you so much. I love you Lord, too. I know you have my family in your hands. God bless you so much.
I remember back around 2010, I was sorrowful because of my sins and I felt like there was no hope for me. One day I went to the sheep pen to pray and I saw these flowers by the altar and they looked like they were dying. I felt like those flowers. For some reason, I prayed to God and said if he could restore those flowers then he could restore me. Then, I think it was the next day or so when I went to go pray and when I went into the sheep pen I saw Shepherdess Kathryn… Read more »
God took care of the flowers according to your prayer to comfort you and encourage you. Indeed, God is so tender. Our God is good.
That’s so touching and amazing! I was in tears reading your comment during my lunch break as I saw the way God paid attention to your small prayer – especially how He does not ignore a broken soul or their cry for help. It encouraged me a lot to not be overcome with despair with my own sins and feel like it’s all over, but come to God in repentance. Jesus said, “Whoever comes to me, I will never drive away.” Indeed, He might even decide to make flowers bloom for them! Just curious, do you remember what kind of… Read more »
Sorry I do not remember. I should have taken a picture for evidence, but I wasn’t thinking about that at the moment lol. 😏
God really knew you and wanted to comfort you so much in such a miraculous way. Amazing!! I am amazed by the posts everyone shared. Our God is very understanding and he knows our sorrows. He knows what is needed to comfort each of us in our moments of sorrow. God is so busy with his plans and fulfilling his plans for the world, and at the same time he is deeply concerned about each of us. Wow!!!
Returning again to this blog post – I miss regular blog posts. I pray we would restore our zeal for the blog. <3 God makes all things beautiful in its time. 🌷🌏🐋🌇🌉🌌❤️✝️
Me too. Your comments are so encouraging, really appreciate it! I had run out of inspiration for a few months, but am working on new ideas to keep the blog active. The stories and thoughts that shepherds have to share are too good to miss!
Awesome, yes keep it up! I still have my blog idea – perhaps I will work on it soon and you can check on it. 👍🙂 I pray more shepherds and shepherdesses would find truly inspiring and encouraging ideas so that we can plant hope and faith as the body of Christ. ✝️🌏🙏🏻🚀