Shepherd's Heart 10/9/26
Earlier this week, I attended the LCMC Annual Gathering and Convention. It was a vibrant few days of worship, teaching, and an opportunity to participate in community with fellow LCMC pastors and leaders. It felt good to gather with others who are living out the mission of God in their churches and ministries. In the days together, there was encouragement, recognition of shared ministry experiences, and wisdom flowing. The theme was, Unleashed, which focused on freedom in Christ, and the anchor verse was from the letter Paul wrote to the Galatians.
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1
There is certainly an individual perspective to this verse. Christ wants each of us to be free of the things that hold us captive, drive us away from Him, and distract us from Kingdom work. No doubt, we are free in Christ as individuals who have encountered the Gospel and been transformed as a result. This freedom gives us the ability to follow His lead and participate in His mission. I've also been considering what that freedom looks like in the life of our church. Freedom is for us as individuals, and also, it is for us as the body of Christ. We are free to be the church God has called us to be. We are free to follow the Holy Spirit. We don't have to try to be like any other church. We don't have to have everything figured out or aim for perfection. God isn’t expecting that we prove ourselves to Him. He is already here, leading us and moving among us.
The freedom Christ gives us isn't freedom to simply go our own way. It is freedom to love and serve without fear. Freedom to use the gifts God has given us. Freedom to step into something new when God calls us. Freedom to care for one another. Freedom to be generous with our time, our gifts, and our lives. That is the beauty of the body of Christ. Together, we are free to follow where God leads us.
As I came home from the convention, I felt grateful—not just for the larger LCMC community, but for Good Shepherd and how God is shaping us. My prayer is that we would continue to live into the freedom Christ has given us—not being held captive by fear or uncertainty—but being willing to ask: Jesus, where are You leading us? I believe the response of courageous faithfulness I see in each of you is part of how God continues to work through Good Shepherd for His glory.
I am grateful for where we have been, the rich history and movements of God that have formed us, and I’m excited about where Jesus is leading us. May we have the courage to follow, the posture to listen, and the faith to trust Him with whatever comes next.
Love and God bless,
Pastor Pamela Palmer
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1
There is certainly an individual perspective to this verse. Christ wants each of us to be free of the things that hold us captive, drive us away from Him, and distract us from Kingdom work. No doubt, we are free in Christ as individuals who have encountered the Gospel and been transformed as a result. This freedom gives us the ability to follow His lead and participate in His mission. I've also been considering what that freedom looks like in the life of our church. Freedom is for us as individuals, and also, it is for us as the body of Christ. We are free to be the church God has called us to be. We are free to follow the Holy Spirit. We don't have to try to be like any other church. We don't have to have everything figured out or aim for perfection. God isn’t expecting that we prove ourselves to Him. He is already here, leading us and moving among us.
The freedom Christ gives us isn't freedom to simply go our own way. It is freedom to love and serve without fear. Freedom to use the gifts God has given us. Freedom to step into something new when God calls us. Freedom to care for one another. Freedom to be generous with our time, our gifts, and our lives. That is the beauty of the body of Christ. Together, we are free to follow where God leads us.
As I came home from the convention, I felt grateful—not just for the larger LCMC community, but for Good Shepherd and how God is shaping us. My prayer is that we would continue to live into the freedom Christ has given us—not being held captive by fear or uncertainty—but being willing to ask: Jesus, where are You leading us? I believe the response of courageous faithfulness I see in each of you is part of how God continues to work through Good Shepherd for His glory.
I am grateful for where we have been, the rich history and movements of God that have formed us, and I’m excited about where Jesus is leading us. May we have the courage to follow, the posture to listen, and the faith to trust Him with whatever comes next.
Love and God bless,
Pastor Pamela Palmer