Author: Debbie Gordon
Located in: Downingtown
Submitted: October 10, 2022
Tell us a little about yourself. I am a joyful child of God who is blessed to have my dear family. I am a congregational care provider at a Presbyterian church and received my Master of Divinity from United Lutheran Seminary in 2019. The Gospel of John is my favorite Book of the Bible, and 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 is my favorite Bible passage. Little adages I try to live: Trust the wit and wisdom of God, not my own; Make Jesus Lord of my experiences, not Lord my experiences over him; Preach the Gospel (to myself, even) everyday; Glance at problems and gaze at God; Strive to be Holy, not happy.
What was your motivation behind this project? My goal was never to "write a book." My goal was for children and adults in the congregation to have a great relationship with the Lord through the children's sermons they received each week. Upon the urging of my mother, I compiled a good number of the children's sermons into a book. Initially, my hope was to give the children who heard those sermons the book as a collection for their own devotions and possibly future teaching materials. What I find now is that adults enjoy this book as a devotional. It is also a great resource for those seeking to better understand God and their relationship with the Lord.
What do you hope folks will gain from this project? Early on, I thought the book would be a help to those who might be baffled on how to give children's sermons (as I once was and found few resources available to me). Feed My Lambs is in script form, written for individuals to give the children's sermon just as it is written...a real time saver. Now I see that this book is a devotional, as well; that is, we all need to be fed....we all need to grow, spiritually, and this book is helpful that way, as well.
How were you personally impacted by working on this project? God definitely had plans on the timing of Feed My Lambs. And still does. The manuscript was getting dusty when the publisher reached out to me; it was all totally unexpected, out of the blue. Just as I had begun seminary and life was speeding up, that is when the book was published. I found the "writing of the book" to be labor intensive but straight forward. Where I really felt God working through me was when I was writing the children's sermons, decades ago, trying so hard to juggle the time demands of my young children and preparing and preparing for each sermon, knowing that God was the one making it all happen, making it all work out - to his glory. Praise the Lord.
Who are your influences, sources of inspiration or favorite authors / artists? I am fortunate to have spent my life surrounded by people who love the Lord. My Grandma and parents have a tight connection with God, and I know they have been praying for me all my life. I was always exposed to Sunday School and VBS. Friends and family have been faithful followers. The pastor who baptized me was present at my confirmation and wedding, and he is still close with my parents. My husband and family are a blessing and source of strength, spiritually. I benefit from Christian fiction, Christian radio and Christian music of all kinds.
Anything else you'd like readers / listeners to know: Whatever ministry you feel led to pursue, know that God is with you. You may not be overly confident, as I was not when I began giving children's sermons. That is okay. Perhaps that is just how God needs you to be. Go where you feel led. Do your best. Don't worry so much about the mechanics, and let the Holy Spirit carry you. God bless you.
