Leaping and Weeping

For those of y'all who don't follow Desiring God, let me catch you up to speed: Pastor John Piper recently stepped down from the pulpit after 33 years of preaching, teaching, pastoring, and caring for his flock. He wrote a blog post in which he talks a little bit more in depth about his thoughts on this new chapter and what he is praying about right now. It is a fantastic post that you should honestly go read right now. Seriously, though, my blog can wait. Come back when you're done.

"Now is the challenge is: Lord, show me the new configuration of giving and getting and burden-bearing. I do not assume that in this life there is ever a season when these are gone - not if we trust God and love people. They just change. There is too much lostness and pain and ignorance in the world for coasting." - John Piper

One of my biggest prayers since laying down Belgium and my flock at Northwood Univ. last year was that the Lord would allow me to shepherd another one. He has answered that prayer not with one flock, but possibly two. The closer that we get to Belgium, the more excited I get. The Lord is allowing me to help shepherd another flock with a solid brother- and sister-in-Christ. He is also setting things in motion to help form another Bible study with a group of athletic friends. Slowly but surely, He is showing me how to leap and to weep with folks in a new chapter of my life. He is handing me back my staff and showing me a pasture (or two) of lambs to walk along side.

I feel as if I am standing in the sunshine, looking out over green rolling hills dotted with little cotton-puff sheep. And for once, I feel as if my armor fits. Bring on the bears, the wolves, the rain, the rocky terrain, the thorny bushes. I feel like for the first time, I don't feel like Moses before the Burning Bush, telling God that He has the wrong guy. For the first time, I hear the Lord directing me, and I don't think He's a little crazy. I am well aware of my weaknesses, but I feel confident in the strengths and gifts that He has given me. Because at the end of the day, I don't have confidence in my gifts, but the Giver of those gifts, who will be with me as I follow Him up to the High Places.