Inspiration: Youth Arise

Today I spoke with Donny McGregor from Youth Arise, an australian youth prayer movement. He told me a lot about Youth Arise and how they operate. Speaking with Donny, I saw very clearly the need for a national youth prayer movement in Norway.

More about: Youth Arise

Travel: Finland

Today I went to Ryttylä, one hour outside of Helsinki. I’ve come here to pray with Prayer Zone (Finland) and some people from Youth Arise (Australia). I will also do some workshops and stage performances in a finnish new year festival named Haaste.

The Good Shephard

This article is translated from norwegian. English at this level is hard for me. Please keep this in mind, if you read this. Please do inform me about possible mistakes in the article.
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God spoke to me about The Good Shephard in Proverbs 27:23, John 10:11, John 10:14, Psalms 23, Philippians 2:20.

The Good Shephard willingly gives his life for the sheep. When he willingly give his life, how much more his time, money, energy etc.? The good shephard has real compassion for his sheep. He has genuin interest in every one of them, he wish to know them personally. He studies his sheep, notices every little detail about them. Imagine a shephard out to watch the sheep. It is quiet. No sheeps are missing. There are no wolfs, bears or other enemies present. What is the shephard doing? Imagine a shephard tossing little rocks, trying to waste some time. He is thinking about how boring his job is, maybe he should have become a circus artist instead? That would have been something! But the good shephard. What is he doing? He stands there, studying the sheep. He notices every single one of them, knowing them all by name. There is little Mary. She kind of twists her head a little to the right every time she bends down to eat some of the juicy grass. There is Nicky. He is really something. He hardly survived while being born. He was so little and hardly alive when he first saw the light of day. But look at him now - the finest and biggest of all the sheep. Who would have thought that when we fought for the little baby to survive? The good shephard stands there looking at all his sheep, studies every one of them with eyes filled with love, all the time alert in case of danger. He never takes his eyes away from the sheep. If one of the sheep starts to drift away from the flock, he is there at once. With his staff he gently leads the sheep in the right direction. The rod is ready for battle if a wolf should come by. The good shephard willingly risks his own life to save any of the sheep in the flock. No matter what danger would appear, the shephard is present to defend them.

Not all of us are called to the ministry of pastor, as mentioned in Ephesians 4:11, but I think that it is possible for everyone to take pastoral care for individuals that we meet. Jesus, open my eyes so I can see these people. Be formed in me, so I can show your heart for them. Amen.