Continue reading »]]> I’m 40. My birthday came and went marking 40 years of choices, victories, and failures leaving me a new sense of how quickly paced this journey home is. It’s strange really. I have a heightened awareness that this deal is halfway done. I’m not being pessimistic, I’m hopeful actually. I also have a renewed passion stirring in my soul.

We are being changed from one glory to another as we look into the face of Jesus and reflect Him by the power of the Holy Spirit. I look back over the these last 40 years and see the fingerprints of God all throughout the good and the difficult.  One thing is for sure at this point in the journey. I have been changed.

Change is scary and painful at times. However, change is necessary. Change, transformation if you will, is a sign of life and hope. When I began to gaze into the face of Jesus, I went from being an incredibly insecure kid with a overwhelming fear of what people thought to being a person who finds joy in serving others regardless of their opinions. Only Jesus does stuff like that! I have seen miracles. I have seen what seemed like a hopeless situation become amazing agents of change and victory. I have walked through horrible circumstances and had Jesus hold my hand and lead be to the other side.

I am looking forward to the next 40 years. I am excited for this next leg of the journey. I believe the next glory is coming and it will look like (and glorify) Jesus.

“And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” 2:Corinthians 3:18

Continue reading »]]> I was reading a post on Tony Morgan’s site where he interviewed Mark Miller, the vice president of training and marketing for Chic-fil-a, and one of Mark’s answers grabbed my attention. Mark said:

We encourage our leaders to take three action steps to bring their values to life:

• Know your values – Values must be known and understood before they can be communicated
• Share your values – Don’t make people guess at what’s important, tell them
• Live your values – Leaders are doomed if they say one thing and do another

We have just taken our church through a series of teaching regarding the discipleship process we feel the Lord has given us. We talk about Values, Vision, and Vehicles and in that order. We believe that out of values flows vision and then we determine vehicles to serve the vision. The Father’s values are placed in us when we become children of God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ made possible by the completed work of the cross. What we value will determine what we see and what we see will determine how we live. All of this is to say, “Values are HUGE!”

So this quote from Mark Miller is a great challenge to all of us. We need “Know” the values God has birthed within us through salvation, “Share” our values with those God send us to and in our sphere of influence, and “Live” those values out and see God move in powerful ways.

What are some core values God has place in your life that you need to Know, Share, and Live?

Continue reading »]]> Today is Saturday of Holy Week. Today is the day in-between. We celebrate and remember this weekend as the time that Jesus was crucified, buried, and resurrected. The day in-between was a dark place indeed. Can you imagine? Yesterday, your Lord, your everything, your Jesus was brutally beaten and killed. For Mary, her son was killed right in front of her. She watched him die. They had been told that Jesus would rise, but they didn’t understand. The next day there was no hope, only darkness and loss. It was over. The hope of life, God Himself, was seemingly defeated and taken from them. They were in-between.

What did they do that day? You have a privilege that they did not have.  You know tomorrow is coming. You know the outcome. You know that the promise, the hope, was and is fulfilled.

So what do you do on the days in-between? When everything is lost and seemingly over? Be reminded today, this day in-between, tomorrow is coming! Death has been defeated and victory has come. Every promise Jesus has made is true and will be fulfilled. Wait on the Lord! Resurrection is coming!

Today is NOT the end of your story. An empty grave is coming. Have hope and joy today. Rejoice in your in-between knowing that Jesus will come through, He has promised and conquered.

Continue reading »]]> Murder, nuclear weapons, national debt, national disasters . . . . . . . .possible distractions.

Now, let me be clear, these are important issues that we should be informed about and most certainly should seek  God about. However, in this age of instant communication and ratings driven sensationalistic news regarding events taking place around the globe, things we have no control over other than prayer consume our here and now. Thus, they often become distractions from the urgent calling of God right where you are in the moment and in the lives of the people right around you.

Let’s be silly simple and logical for a moment. You are where you are. You really cannot be somewhere you aren’t. I would seriously argue that it is most likely that the work God has you to do begins right where you are. Right in your sphere of influence. In the relationships you keep.

I encounter so many people whose eyes are so far in the distance and their emotions are hijacked by something that does not even impact their world. They become involved in causes elsewhere and miss their next door neighbor who needs Christ or the person standing next to them that is in crisis or hungry. Worse yet, some are fighting to “save the whales” and are losing their own children in the process.

Am I saying those other things are not important? Absolutely not! I’m arguing that we need to begin to ask our selves what is in our sphere of influence that God has called us to FIRST. We must prioritize. We each have limited time and limited resources.  God is the author of time and completely sufficient in all things. We must do the work He has placed in our hands, pray about the rest, and trust that He is in control and will reconcile all things to Himself.

Don’t be distracted by the news. Turn it off sometimes. Don’t spend as much time on Facebook. You want to change the world? Win your friends to Christ. It can get exponential really quick.

Continue reading »]]> I thought I would catch you guys up on some of the books I’ve been reading as well as some I recommend.  If you are looking to be challenged spiritually, are in leadership in any capacity, or just in need of a good book to read, the following would be a good place to start!

Crazy Love – by Francis Chan. I’ve read this book twice and I’ve run into 2 or 3 people recently who have just discovered it and are currently reading it. If you have not read this book, I would encourage you to make this your next read. It is powerful and convicting.

Necessary Endings – by Dr. Henry Cloud. This is a secular book written for professional development, but if you are in a position where you need to make decisions (which is all of us), you need to read this.

Sun Stand Still – by Steven Furtick. This book is written by the pastor of Elevation Church in Charlotte, NC. It is one of the fastest growing churches in America currently.  The book is about faith and learning to walk in it on a daily level. I was encouraged and challenged by this book to take a look at the kinds of prayers I pray and what I am believing God for.

The Harbinger – by Jonathan Cahn. If you are into end time prophecy, you will find this book interesting. I read this book in two sittings, so it is a quick read. Not everyone will agree with Jonathan’s observations of Biblical prophecy and current events, but they will make you think.  I just appreciate that the conclusion of his book is to point people to the saving grace of Christ.

Developing a Theology of Leadership – by Tony Morgan. Here’s a $2.99 ebook on servant leadership. It’s a great $2.99 read for any leadership team. In this $2.99 resource there are discussion questions and reflections for teams to work through.  Did I mention it is $2.99?

Blessings and Happy Reading!

Continue reading »]]> This past Sunday we had a guest minister at church and he shared some great encouragement regarding prayer from Acts 12:6-15.

Peter is in prison and the church is praying for him.  They were praying for a miracle.  For them the answer to prayer would be God delivering Peter. So as they are praying an angel appears in the jail cell (miracle), a light shines in the dark cell (miracle), and tells Peter to rise. When he does the chains just  fall off (miracle). The jail gate opens by itself to let Peter out (miracle). When Peter arrives at the house where the people are, they are still praying.

All kinds of miracles were happening while the people were praying and believing God for an answer. God was working and doing miracles before they even knew it. The answer was being worked out and coming even when they couldn’t see it yet. They prayed until the answer arrived. The answer is coming! Be encouraged today! Keep praying because God is working!