Do you love me?

Greetings from the frosty air here in Maine!

The seasons are changing quickly.

Just a brief update here. I appreciate everyone who keeps us in their daily prayers. There has much to ponder in the last few weeks.

My wife and I have been in prayer together for about a week regarding an opportunity. A Small church in Western Maine recently announced the retirement of their faithful Pastor coming at the end of this year. The church leadership contacted us and asked us to consider the possibility of us helping out with pulpit supply through this transitional period. After much prayer and consideration Bri and I have accepted the offer to fulfill the pulpit 1-2 Sundays a month beginning in January. I also recently started an internship with my Pastor at Buxton, and we believe this would be a great way to integrate preaching into the internship program as well as gain experience and exposure to what shepherding a local church assembly is like. Those you who follow us closely and know me well, know that I am excited about this opportunity. But more importantly beyond all the excited, one question stumped me in the last week…

“Do I love Jesus more than ministry?”

 “Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but [a]willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; 3 nor as being [b]lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; 4 and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.” 1 Peter 5:2-4

Last week I came this conclusion that ministry stems from an intimate relationship with Christ. Ministry is not used for dishonest gain by any stretch. This may seam as an odd question, but a question we must all answer.

“So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of [a]Jonah, do you love Me more than these?”

He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I [b]love You.”

He said to him, “Feed My lambs.”

16 He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of [c]Jonah, do you love Me?”

He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I [d]love You.”

He said to him, “Tend My sheep.”

17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of [e]Jonah, do you [f]love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?”

And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.”

Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.”- John 21:15-17

Do you love me? Feed my sheep!

Fellow brothers and sisters in ministry lets not forget to Love Jesus, then feed the sheep.