Lead Well

Let’s face it life can get tough. We endure things we never thought we would have to endure. We experience pain and disappointment, and we’re left questioning, “why?” Just like you, I’ve been through those tough times. I’ll admit, I started to question everything. Even God. However, I kept coming back to that one inescapable truth. His grace is sufficient for me. Whatever we’ve been through, Jesus knows what it’s like. While here on Earth he experienced loss, heartbreak, betrayal, and quite literally excruciating pain. Jesus knows. He also didn’t give up. He knew he had a mission to accomplish. He knew before he ever came to Earth what he’d have to endure and that didn’t discourage him. Was he scared? Yes. Did he have moments of doubt? Yes. Did that stop him? No. Because of what Jesus did for us, we cannot give up. As Paul told Timothy , “[Paul] has fought the good fight and finished the race…” We should do the same. Paul also told the Philippians, “Do not b...

So many times we get so wrapped up in doing the work of the ministry we lose focus on what really matters.  Courtesy: Getty Images Jesus. I don't know about you but my days are filled with all this noise about how to make things better. How to improve, how to make an impact greater for the kingdom. Sometimes, I get so wrapped up in improving I forget the reason why. Jesus. If we're not leading people to Jesus then what are we doing? Jesus told us before he ascended to heaven that we are to go out into all the world and make disciples baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Whatever our ministry's focus or vision or mission it all boils down to this one command. It's not to have the largest group. The smartest, the most educated, the most connected kids. It's to make followers of Jesus. I, for one am resolving today to keep this as the center of my focus. Jesus. He's the reason I worry, I work long h...

www.gettyimages.com I'm just going to admit it. I'm a conservative Republican.  You can imagine my dismay with Tuesday's election results.  I was so upset, I had a hard time getting to sleep that night. All I could was pray.  As I was praying, I was reminded that God is in control of everything. The next morning, I read this tweet from Perry Noble , "Dear believers - the Most High rules over the kingdoms of the world and gives them to anyone he chooses. (Daniel 4:25)." This verse is found right in the heart of the story where God was teaching the king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar, just who is responsible for the king's greatness.   You can read the full story here. It is a reminder to us all that God has chosen who will lead us.  We may have elected President Obama, but the reality is that God has ordained him to the leader of the free world for four more years. If we claim to be Christians, then we submit to God's authority and the authority o...

courtesy getty images Fasting.  It's hard.  Let's face it, we know that it is something we should be doing.  We know that Jesus fasted. He did a marathon fast of 40 days and nights with no food or water! Nevertheless, I think most of us are scared. "What if I get hungry?  Will I be able to think straight? Will I be undernourished?  I have to fast for how long?  I can't eat what?" We come up with a million excuses. "I have too much to do today to fast. But I'm really hungry. I have no will power.  I can't lie to the people around me.  I don't have a place to do it.  I just don't see the need." How do I know all this?  I've said it all to myself.  It's a hard discipline, but a wise man once said, "if it's not hard, then is it worth doing?"  Or as it says in Hebrews 12:11 "No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for th...