Where have all the shepherds gone?

[mlg]

Where have all the shepherds gone? Those who have the passion to seek the lost, and feed the sheep and nurture their fellow shepherd servants? My heart is weary to see so few doing anymore here at the Oasis. There is so much work to be done...why aren't we reaching anymore? I look at the counseling forum and see no new souls entering the pathway there in a couple of days...we used to have many souls entering His path there....

God has called me back here very heavily these last couple of days...and I'm here and I can see so many needs already....I cry...I've been out on the battlefields seeking lost souls and helping them find Jesus...but He has asked for me to come here and work now...so I must follow Him...He's got a plan...and we are all part of it!

I feel that the Oasis is under attack from the enemy and he's trying to stop the church and bring it to a grinding halt. It is up to us...to pray, to reach, to chat, to check forums, to share, to love, to encourage...we are the Body of Christ...

Let's get to work fellow Called Christians...there is much to do and the fields are ripe with the harvest.

Let's go! Let's go! He's ready! I'm ready! Are you ready?! We all can do this...Let's revive His Spirit within the church.

luv ya all

[dema]

I'm glad you are back. It would be good if people could just hang out in chat. I am shepherding one on one and checking the new posts often. Chat is not as easy for me. Especially given my current work with sheep. I know I look sometimes to see if anyone is in chat, and if they aren't, then I don't go in either. I have spent time just hanging there and sometimes it builds quite a crowd. Kimberly is purposely hanging out every morning for people. And frequently there are quite a few. I wish more people would or could do that.

Or whatever God leads you to do. Welcome back.

[mlg]

Hey dema I'm so glad you are reaching for souls on the forums. We are the body...and each of us plays a vital part in feeding the sheep...you my dear obviously feel called to share on the forums...so I say to you...do it and do so with joy and courage and love! God is so proud of you for wanting to serve Him and to be willing to do so....

There are many needs here at the Oasis...I can see them all over just in the couple of days I've been back here spending more time. Chat is a big one! We need more willing souls just to be there to say hi and to let someone know they are cared for. I for one, am a very good "chatty cathy"....but I work many long hours during the week, so my chat is limited to nights and weekends...but I'll do what I can to be there. It's a blessing to hear kimbers is in there each morning starting the day off with love. She is a blessing to all of us and has been for a long time.

I also love the forums, as they are a place to help nourish souls, and the counseling forum is a place to seek the lost and love them and bring them under the shelter of God's grace and mercy and help lead them to know Jesus Christ.

There are some other needs....and that is to help one another as fellow Called Christians! To encourage one another...to remind each other that we work for Jesus not because we have to...but because we want to...to be there for one another as we walk through the battlefield. The enemy attacks those who are called with a vengence and that's why we need to be encouragers daily to those who are fighting the good fight of faith. Virtue is often drained quickly when a shepherd is working with many sheep...and they need to rest a bit...to refill that virtue...and hear the word of the Lord being shared with them..we can't get so busy with the sheep that we forget one another...so let's exhalt each other day as He asks us to do.

We can do this! The Bible says that with God all things are possible! With His help we can not fail.

luv ya

[RockofAges]

My thoughts exactlly.

My thoughts are , prayer lining up with God's will plan and timing, and could be some shepherds on the rise because they could be a child or a baby in the womb of a mom who is contemplating abortion.... OR could be an adult man or woman needing to hear that Jesus loves them, OR could be some shepherds like Peter who gave up because the guilt of running away and just needs what Jesus the Good Shepherd did.... Just read John 21!

God is on the Throne He has not gotten up and left, He is still an ever present help in the time of trouble. He is in no hurry.
Habakkuk 2:3
3 For the revelation awaits an appointed time;
it speaks of the end
and will not prove false.
Though it linger, wait for it;
it[a] will certainly come
and will not delay.

[mlg]

Yay RockofAges....I agree totally...God is on His throne...and in His timing all things are perfected for His glory.

luv ya

[RockofAges]

mlg, spent some time thinking about your post because it is an important reality to consider. This will be my third year online and in chat rooms and that isn't very long compaired to others and the merry go round of it all can leave many burned out. My personal experiences amoung the thorns is the best way I can discribe it in christian chat rooms of all kinds. This chat site has shown the most GRACE on staff board. I was burned out before I found this site over a year ago after two years of conflicts with other fellow "believers" and i am responsible for allowing it to corrupt the fruit of the spirit in me.

It is no easy task to sift through those who truly are desiring an inner healing from those who desire opposite. Then you have people from all over the map with their own views of what is right and what is wrong in a christian walk with Jesus and that causes conflicts to. Misunderstandings, offences, judgements, hidden intentions, offline life that effects moods in other while in chat, and so many other factors that have a part in each individual that enters in chat rooms and forums and often things are said (without thinking first) causes disruptions.

What I appreciate about the staff members here is, they take that into consideration before logging into chat. I have seen their shepherding to be of good quality because they stay steady, they don't call out chatters in chat rooms or on forums but quietly with a chat profile pm or let it work out on its own.

I am too much of a hands on person when it comes to ministry to others, and I am better with offline face to face encounters with others. Online i am limited to texting and that gets sketchy because often times I know what I want to say to offer a path of hope to others, but lose track and end up slipping up (though meaning well) online ministry is not my expertice but I do what I can when I can.

It takes much maturity, strength, and endurence to be an online shepherd to the flock. I just know on the titles and materials on the forums from the staff members is good stuff to read and lean on, and that alone has done miracles for others we may not know of until we get to heaven and see the results there.

I believe it is important to know the bible, but what I believe to be most important is, to know the author writter of the bible and that is the Lord Jesus Christ. I have seen where in the lives of others who live in areas the bible is banned, but they heard that Jesus loves them and received it and though never getting the chanse at holding a bible much less the opporunity to read it, the most valuable treasure ever is, that person accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior. So in closing I appreaciate the shepherding of the staff on this site because they don't force God's word on others, they just simply have it ready for who ever is thirsty or hungry spiritually or soulishly that Jesus loves them and offers the Grace Jesus freely gave to us all.

[mlg]

Wow, Wow, Wow! Rock of Ages you hit the nail on the head as I see it also. Shepherds sharing with the flock should be all about grace and mercy and love. Over the years I have seen where shepherds sometimes loose site of God while ministering and allow themselves to be caught up and become overbearing....forgetting the grace that Jesus so freely gave to them. In turn they stop offering grace to the flock as well. I know this website was built as a hospital for sinners...and that is what Jesus is...thy Great Physician He is a friend to ALL sinners...not just a select few...we will do well in remembering this as we help Him guide His sheep.

thank you for blessing me with your thoughts today.

[mlg]

I saw a bit of the days of old tonight in chat...18 people sharing thoughts...being kind to one another...and loving each other...I feel so blessed to have been able to join in this...thank you Jesus...I see people reaching out again...God's love abides here...always has and always will.

[Octoberman31]

I am new to this forum and just wanted to introduce myself with a question...God has been showing me a sign for the last several months. Now, I DO NOT BELIEVE IN NUMEROLOGY, however, I have been seeing the number "11" all over the place. It is not an intentional thing on my part. I looked it up in Christian theology and found that the number is used quite often in end times predictions. Just wondering...is anyone else experiencing the same thing. We must try to reach the lost. I have attempted to reach my own family members and have been shunned. I know what the Bible says about "son will turn against father, and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law".

[mlg]

Hey octoberman welcome! I agree we have to keep reaching out to the lost...whether it be in our own family or amongst our friends...or even out in the fields amongst strangers. I believe those of us who have accepted Christ as our Savior have an obligation to Christ to share the Truth that we have been so freely given......with others. I can't imagine standing before God one day and He asking me if I had shared the Truth of His grace with my family and telling me that they had been sent to hell because I didn't...how heart wrenching that would be. We can't make anyone accept Jesus as their savior...but we can tell them about Jesus...and then it is up to them to choose Him....as that is why God gives all mankind free will....if you have shared with someone the Truth and they refuse that Truth...then you have done all God would want you to do...as you have done your best...and He knows you have.

Take care

[Esther1]

Hi all am new so just reading and thinking and trying to understand the culture of how you talk to each other. I love the passion of this re where are the shepherds. I think they are out there called and doing their thing walking and talking Jesus in their work and relationships and everyday life. Often hard to see because they aren't called within the context of a building or congregation but within the journey of friendship, work and family. Little lights that shine in the darkness which can't put out their flames. Igniting those around them as they journey. don't be downhearted! I pray blessing on all of you wherever and however you shine. Xx

[mlg]

Hey Esther1, Welcome to the Oasis also! Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us. I so wholeheartedly agree that little lights do shine in the darkness....and those lights no matter what will continue to shine...cuz God is in control.

Take care and welcome again