Dear Friend,

This year, the world was captivated as the Olympic Torch was passed from person to person on its long journey across Canada. Likewise, with the homegoing of our beloved friend and brother Art Sheppard, a torch has been passed at Sheppard Ministries, and we, as the Board of Sheppard Ministries Society, intend to both hold his legacy of sharing the Gospel high—and forge a new one.

In recent years, Greta Sheppard has taken the lead role with Sheppard Ministries. She has travelled the world, preaching the Gospel of Christ’s grace at churches, camps, retreats, and women’s groups. She has written several books, tackling difficult issues like forgiveness and overcoming sexual abuse. She has performed weddings for dozens of couples, bringing God’s blessing to their marriages. She has embraced new ways of communication, like Facebook, an audio book, and a weblog (found at the newly-redesigned www.sheppardministries.com) to encourage and strengthen the Body of Christ.

Today, we ask for your help in supporting Greta’s ministry. We are looking for people like you to commit to supporting Sheppard Ministries every month with a financial donation.

Sheppard Ministries Society was formed 25 years ago, and is overseen by a Board of Directors, and Greta as CEO. We run a financially modest operation, and God—through the generosity and kindness of people like you—has been gracious and met every need. With Art’s passing, we felt it was important to let you know that the Sheppard Ministries Board has sought the Lord and is compelled to continue in order to support Greta’s ministry.

But we need your help. We want to build a steady base of monthly donors—people who are committed in both finances and prayer—to support Greta and Sheppard Ministries. Click this link to find a PDF that explains how to do that. I trust you will prayerfully consider joining us in this effort, and I thank you, on behalf of Greta and the Board, for your generosity and support. As always, Sheppard Ministries can be reached at 604-854-1125 or gretasheppard@shaw.ca.

Sincerely,

Ed Bradley
Chairman, Sheppard Ministries Society

“He-e-e-re’s John” . . .

“The more we make our lives about ourselves, the more unhappy we become. That’s the law of human life, and none of us gets to break it.

It’s all about our relationship to the one God . . . or Mr.Big  (as some prefer to call him.) Unfortunately, we’re also designed to survive — which in large part, and certainly often in an immediate sense, means being all about ourselves.

And there in a nutshell is the whole of the human dilemma: We are ever torn between selfishness and altruism, greed and benevolence, taking and giving, indulgence and balance, good and bad, darkness and light — and on and on and on.

Torn between opposites. That’s who we are.

Well, for those times when you’re in the mood for a little Divine Interaction, may I suggest the following four E-Z things to do? They’re simple, but they work, and always have. In describing them I will use the ultra-generic term “God,” so that at the very least I don’t have to sprain my fingers typing. To put on the whole matter a more … teleological (“the doctrine of design and purpose in the material world,” says my online “American Heritage” dictionary) emphasis, let me also say that I personally believe that God is constantly and forever waiting for everyone and anyone to simply ask how they can deepen their personal relationship with him. God has a lot of answers, but for that particular question, he really has an answer. And if you sincerely and deeply ask God what you should do in order to enrich your relationship with him, what you are certain to in one way or another very clearly hear him communicating back to you is that you would do very well indeed to begin incorporating into your daily life the following four things:

1. Listening to God
2. Reflecting upon God
3. Being humble before God
4. Trusting God

Listening to God. Listening to God doesn’t mean you have to climb to the top of a mountain and lose yourself in prayerful bliss, or kneel in a place of worship  for six hours straight, or anything like that. It only means that every once in a while — while you’re cooking, cleaning, standing in line at the bank, walking your dog, whatever — you should simply try to open yourself up to listening to the God (which we Christians know as the Holy Spirit) within you. God is never not talking to you. Just give a listen once (or twice, or thrice) in a while. Trust that you will be extremely interested in everything God has to say to you. The more you listen to God, the more you’ll want to listen to what is, after all, a voice that’s as close to you — and is as much about you — as any can possibly be.

Reflecting upon God. This is about the easiest thing in the world to do. God is everywhere manifested: in all nature; in all people; in all the shapes, forms, colors, textures. God exists in every moment of your perceived experience. Or just look into the depths of your own self: There he is! Reflect upon Him. Use the fact of the divine, immediate reality of God to lift you into the kind of grand, passive contemplation that is, after all, one of the richest, sweetest experiences available to anyone.

Being humble before God. ….means you don’t know nothin’, and will be dead before you know it. Be still with that for a while. Appreciate it. Let it grow within you. Let it (your smallness, His Largeness) overwhelm you. Let it drop you to your knees.

Trusting God. In those three simple words lie the key to the best, richest, most rewarding life possible. It’s hard to elaborate on so perfect a phrase. Trust in God. Do it. Every once in a while — especially if you know that it’s been a while — stop whatever you’re doing, and hold in your mind and heart the fact that the entirety of everything you ever worry about is in the hands of God, and that everything about you and your world that He does, he does so, that ultimately you will know the peace of his abiding presence. It has never been any different, and never will be: God loves you, and you can trust him. Stop, sometimes, to relax into that amazing truth, and to rejoice around it. (Note: the more abstract your notion of God/The Divine/The Big Truth, the more difficult it will be for you to do this one.)
***************************************************************************************************************

You can help Sheppard Ministries by promoting the website; www.cdbaby.com/cd/gretasheppard You can download Greta’s 3 CD’s Audio Book: Excuse Me Your Unforgiveness is Showing.

The cost is $9.99 . . .

She’s getting great feedback from people who have listened to it while driving to and from work.  Strained marriages have been helped…difficult work, in-law, neighborhood relationships have been healed. Forgiveness and Apology is the double-header message needed for this hurting generation.

I was just informed that since we launched the new website on Sunday night there have been 350 unique hits on it. I want the content of the website to bless those who log on… keep me, please, on the top of your prayer list. It is vital that I be covered and inspired 24/7 by your prayers.

Just when I thought my day was planned and all under control, I get a ‘ 911′ call from someone in the building about my neighbour, also a widow, who is in distress.  Immediately, the ‘dark side’ of my soul plead “too busy, too tired”.  “Please God, send someone else to her.”  It’s a proven fact that just when we feel ’spiritually special’ God tests us!  There’s a fine, dark line between where the ’spiritual rubber meets the carnal road’ in all of us. For me, right now, it’s the good Samaritan story all over again. Will I go down into the ditch and get my hands dirty to help her?