Legacy Shepherding Ministries, Inc. – Randy’s May 2008 Update
A couple months ago, Gabe Strom shared with me some challenging circumstances in his life. I listened attentively, believing that God uses the circumstance in our lives to bring about transformation, if we are receptive.
I wanted to pay close attention to what surfaced through Gabe’s stories, so we could join God in what he desired to form and transform inside Gabe.
Gradually, I noted a theme in Gabe’s stories – a longing for belonging. A nagging sense of loneliness, isolation, and restlessness was causing Gabe pain and suffering, making the idols, addictions, and temporary substitutes around him look rather appealing in the moment.
The truth about us is that if we can’t fill our desires in healthy ways, we’ll attempt to fill them in unhealthy ways.
After he shared, I had Gabe close his eyes. Then I guided him through a spiritual exercise of remembering – remembering a time when he’d felt a deep sense of belonging in the past.
Tears rolled down Gabe’s face as he recalled the feelings of deep belonging. In reverent silence, he basked in that moment and soaked in the feelings of belonging he felt. Then we invited God into those tender, tearful, longing places.
As God met him there, Gabe basked in the belonging he has with God currently.
Then we both pictured Gabe carrying his reawakened feelings of belonging into his current life circumstances.
I find that when we are not feeling fully loved in the moment, recalling how we have been loved in the past can give us the strength to face what we need to face currently and move through those things in a healing, life-changing way.
I think that may be why God continually encourages us to remember, throughout the Bible – remember how insanely loved you are. Your lovability is not in question, even when your life circumstances may seem to say otherwise.
When Gabe left, he felt renewed and ready to face what was ahead of him.
That day, I believe Gabe received a healing – a healing that was necessary to move on to the next layer of his journey. Over the past months, as we have addressed layer after layer, I’ve continued to see Gabe’s True Self coming to life.
Like all of us, Gabe’s journey has often been two steps forward, one step back, as he wrestles at times with tough questions, doubts, and unmet desires. It’s hard to watch Gabe struggle, yet I’m glad he is, because I see God working in Gabe’s life through his wrestling. I see God uncovering the truer, deeper, and more pure desires of Gabe’s heart, and making Gabe more loving.
Please pray for Gabe. There is so much potential within him. He seems to be at the doorway of great things, but as with all of us, there are barriers holding him back from fully surrendering and entering into the abundance God has for him.
Gabe asked that you would specifically pray for the following:
1) that he would align himself with God’s will
2) for the ability to let go and surrender his false self, and
3) that God would fill his life with overflowing abundance.
Thanks again for your prayers and for supporting this ministry. Lives are changing, young leaders are being developed, and entire ministries are being impacted in positive ways.
Love,
Randy
Bonus info – FREE for reading this far:
A Spiritual Exercise:
Here is an experiential spiritual exercise some of you may wish to try (It is inspired, in part, by a book called, “Belonging”, by the Dennis, Matthew, and Sheila Linn). I’ve noted that these types of spiritual exercises often help us move things from our heads (knowing about) to our hearts (experiential knowing). Enjoy:
1) Sit comfortably with your eyes closed. Take in a couple slow deep breaths and let the air out slowly. Take a moment to grow quiet inside. Feel God’s love around you and inside you. Trust that he wishes to communicate with you. Listen, without putting any pressure on yourself to hear.
2) Place your hand on your heart (and on your forehead, if it is helpful) and ask God to bring to your mind a moment in your life when you felt that you really belonged. Imagine yourself there again. Let yourself live in that moment. Breathe in that feeling of belonging. Feel it filling up your whole body. Stay in the moment for as long as you desire without rushing passed it.
3) Invite God to show you his presence in that moment. Feel your sense of belonging with him. Picture his loving interactions with you.
4) Allow yourself to feel the gratitude of such a moment. Let your heart, filled with gratitude, thank God for the experience of such a beautiful, life-giving moment. Use words if it is helpful.
5) Imagine yourself bringing these feelings of belonging, love, and gratitude into your current life circumstances – picture what that might look like. If it causes you unrest, simply return to the memory and feelings of deep belonging.
6) Breathe deeply again and rest in this moment. Let yourself feel God’s loving presence around you and inside you. Sit quietly and peacefully until you are ready to come out of this exercise. Slowly and gently open your eyes and enter into your world with your re-engaged sense of belonging.
Gabe’s Testimonial:
Here is Gabe’s testimonial as seen on the Legacy Shepherding Ministries, Inc. website at
https://www.legacyshepherding.org/Testimony4.html
Meeting with Randy has been nothing short of life changing! Growing up as a pastor’s kid, I always felt loved and encouraged. However there has always been a yearning to grow and develop as a person and with God. I have read dozens of books, and prayed vigorously for truth but always seemed to come up empty. Since meeting with Randy I have gained tremendous insights into who I am and who God is. Randy has a passion for his ministry, and it shows in his love for me and my growth. I am a firm believer in a coach’s coach, and am grateful for the insight he has helped me discover in my life. My passion is in helping others, and I have already seen the fruit of Randy’s work in the lives of others around me. The mentoring that Randy does flows into my life and touches the lives of those around me who look for guidance. I feel blessed to pay forward what Randy teaches me, and look forward to continuing on the journey. I not only view Randy as lighthouse for my life, but also as a role model for serving God in faith. I am extremely grateful to have him in my life, and desire to pay forward the gift he has given me!
I believe Gabe will pay it forward. In many ways, he already is. Please keep him and all the other young leaders in your prayers.
One more sidenote:
I love and am so proud of the young leaders I have the honor and privilege to shepherd. I want you to love them too. It brings me great joy to give you the opportunity to get to know a bit about these amazing young people through my letters. There is great hope for our future! Here is a chance for you to see one of them via the internet presenting a message on Philippians. His name is Todd Katter and you can check him out at http://www.willowcreek.org/philippians/week6.aspx. (When you get to the site, press the PLAY arrow on the video box). Go Todd! Look out Bill Hybels! TK is in the house!
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