Monthly Archives: May 2009

Leader of the Pack

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(c) 2009, Amy S. Lewis

Out on the trail, Ernie loves to lead. Put him behind other horses and he’ll get nervous, prance and tailgate. It’s a frustrating behavior that I’ve worked on for years.

Being out front, we are first to see the beauty and wonder over the crest of a hill. The sunrise. A serene lake. A rushing river. We’re also the first to see snakes, holes and obstacles. It comes with the territory. Being out front we have responsibilities. We (I) need to be watching for hazards that could be a danger to those behind me. Others follow where we lead.

Leaders in other areas also have responsibilities for those they oversee or lead. A supervisor at work. Parents. Teachers. Pastors. Even friends. They all have the potential to protect and teach or to sidetrack. Much like the Pharisees in Jesus’ day.

As Jesus said in Matthew 15:14b-15: “They are blind guides leading the blind, and if one blind person guides another, they will both fall into a ditch.”

The lesson for us is two-fold. For those of us who lead others by authority or simply by admiration, we need to be mindful of our influence on them. Do we lead with the aim to instruct? To encourage? To empower? God has given us an opportunity to point others to Him through our words, actions and leadership.

1 Peter 5:2-3: “Care for the flock of God entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly – not for what you will get out of it but because you are eager to serve God. Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your good example.”

There’s great responsibility as a Christian leader in our world today. Will you honor the call to leadership by leading according to Biblical principles?

Secondly, as followers, we shouldn’t follow blindly. We need to weigh the actions and intention of our leaders against the truths in the Bible and Christ’s example. We need to beware of leaders who may not have pure motives and could lead us into unethical situations and dishonest endeavors. What does God tell you about your leaders? Why might He have put them in leadership? Why might He have put them in leadership over you?

And for those Godly leaders in our lives, we’re instructed to honor them. In 1 Thessalonians 5:13, Paul says we are to “think highly of them and give them your wholehearted love because of their work.” How have you shown respect to the leaders over you? Their responsibilities are great and often their rewards are small.

Questions for reflection:
1. Describe your leadership style. How would those you lead describe your style?

2. Does your leadership demonstrate your faith? How could you build new habits and practices to lead as the Bible models?

3. How can you encourage your supervisor or someone in authority over you today?

Summer is upon us

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It’s been a busy week, full of many blessings.

First, I’m pleased to tell you that I’ve finished drafting all of the devotions for a book. Now begins the editing process. And, I’ve decided to test my own work and read and journal through my devotions this summer. Seems only right that I should reflect on the messages as much as those of you who read my writing.

On Monday, I concluded my sixth year of BSF and the study of the life of Moses. What an incredible leader, who relied completely on God as he led the Israelites from Egypt to the Promised Land. He was prayerful and submissive to God. And he was also human — displaying self doubt, anger and impatience, and sinfulness. It was wonderful to study his life and how God trained him for his purposes, and used him mightily, in spite of his humanness. We can take heart knowing that God can and does use imperfect people.

I’m looking forward to my final year of BSF, when the class will study the book of John. Classes start after Labor Day if you want to join in. My evening women’s class will start on Monday, September 14 at 6:55 p.m. at Berean Baptist Church at County Rd. 42 and 35 E in Burnsville. For those of you not in the area — or for you men — check out the BSF website to find a class near you. It’s a wonderful way to study the Bible.

Ernie and I got out for a beautiful ride on Tuesday night with a good friend. I love horseback riding because it gives me the chance to enjoy my horse while socializing with others. What a treat!

On Wednesday, I learned of a huge answer to prayer — a prayer I’ve been praying for at least three years. It just demonstrated to me not to ever give up praying!

Last night, my Alpha group dug into why and how to read the Bible. It’s such a blessing to me to help others learn about God and the Bible, and go deeper in their faith. Please pray that my group members will sign up for the Holy Spirit retreat, which will be next Saturday, May 30.

Have a great Memorial Day weekend.

A Worker Deserves His Pay

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(c) 2009, Amy S. Lewis

Each spring and fall, I pack up my saddle and weather-worn, stained clothes and head to western South Dakota to help a few local ranchers with their cattle work. I enjoy the scenery, the horses, the company and the respite from my desk job, and I like to lend a hand. I go to serve, not to be served.

Our days in South Dakota generally start at 7 or 8 a.m. and last into the early evening. Brisk mornings turn into sweltering afternoons, with gale-force winds that never seem to cease in the draws of the rocky hills. We gather up cow-calf pairs, push them into corrals and sort them for inoculations or branding. It’s tiring. It’s dirty. And it often leads to bruises and aches in random parts of my body.

At some point during the long days, the ranchers and their wives provide meals and cold beverages. One of the ranchers goes a step further and offers my traveling companion and me money for gas or dinner. We’ve denied his money at times, however, we’re not always able to graciously decline. It makes us uncomfortable to take his money when we willfully choose to spend our vacation working with him.

In reading Luke 10, I realize that we can honor him, his profession and God by accepting his offer. Jesus, instructing the 72 that were sent forth, said, “When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; if not, it will return to you. Stay in that house, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house. “When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is set before you.”

The worker deserves his wages and should accept what’s offered. Whoa. I turn down the offer because I serve to bless them. It’s a gift. Now I know it honors God and the rancher when I accept his payment. Scripture can be very instructive when we know it and live by it. What lessons has it taught you lately?

Additionally, the passage suggests that it’s the host or the employer who determines how much a worker should be paid. Part of my struggle with accepting payment is that I don’t feel like I make a meaningful contribution. In fact, I often feel like I am in the way or hindering progress. I guess how I view my contributions is irrelevant. My “employer” determines my wage and I should accept what is set before me, whether it’s food or money.

The payment I receive will not affect my motivation for serving nor should any potential pay, recognition or reward influence your decision to serve. Our service to others is a manifestation of our love for God. We serve to demonstrate Christ’s love. For no other reason.

Ephesians 6:7 “Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men.”

Questions for Reflection:
1. What motivates you in your service?
2. What small gesture could you do this week to “pay” someone who serves you or your church?
3. How have you responded to gestures of hospitality in the past? How may your attitude change in light of reading the lessons of Luke 10?

Reflections on my trip to SD

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After a week of vacation, you might think I’d be refreshed and well rested. Not the case. Nonetheless, I have gained a greater appreciation for hard work and the people who produce the food for our tables. I also come home full of gratitude to God for protection from serious injury after being launched from a bucking horse, and for keeping rattlesnakes from crossing my path yet again.

We spent much of our seven days in South Dakota helping local ranchers with spring branding and vaccinations. It was a privilege to work for them and with them. Every time I lend a hand, I’m reminded how hard these ranchers work. Morning ’til night they persist in their back-breaking work. Many of them limp and ache from hours in the saddle, being thrown from a horse or getting kicked by cows. Nearly every day they return from their work covered in dust and various cow excrements. They endure rain, wind and snow while working. It’s certainly not the glamorous life portrayed in Horse Whisperer. I think we take for granted all the work involved in getting our meat, milk, wheat and other products to our supermarkets.

These ranchers are pretty accommodating to us “greenhorns” from the Twin Cities. We know how to ride a horse — well at least I thought so before my trip. We don’t have much to offer except another set of hands. Often times we feel like we may be hindering progress rather than helping. But they are so patient and gracious to teach us the skills they’ve known all their lives. And they don’t seem to get too upset with us when a calf gets away or we are timid in our actions. Truth be told, we’re probably harder on ourselves than they are.

On Thursday night, we attended Cowboy Church in Edgemont, SD. There were about 20-25 people gathered at the senior center that evening to hear a few old time hymns and a message from a pastor from Lance Creek, Wyoming, and the man who started rodeo bible camps. It was very different from our contemporary, megachurch worship services but not unlike the churches of the first century. Today’s megachurches all grew from small beginnings, which can all be traced back to the origins of Christianity. First-century Christians met in homes primarily and were comprised of only handfuls of people. There’s much spiritual growth happening in those intimate settings. And the Word tells us to never despise small beginnings. You never know how they will grow.

The other similarity between Cowboy Church and the early church is that most Cowboy Churches are not led by ordained pastors. Rather lay people share their insight, revelations and knowledge with those who attend. The Apostle Paul wasn’t ordained perse, nor was Peter, Timothy or John. We don’t need a degree to share what we’ve learned about God. You never know how your knowledge and experience could help someone else grow in their faith. Step out and share what you’ve learned. You’ll be blessed and so will those around you.

For those of you awaiting the next devotion, I’m thankful to God for giving me new illustrations that I will be writing up yet this evening. I hope to post a new devotion tomorrow.