Wednesday, May 5th, 2021
Life becomes a hamster wheel of endless earning and proving and maintenance and management and controlling where all we can see is our own feet.… Read the rest
Tuesday, May 4th, 2021
In a world of performance living, success equals life, and failure is tantamount to death. When we worship at this altar, we spend our lives frantically propping up our images or reputations trying to do it all. And to do it well often means there’s a cost to ourselves and those we love.… Read the rest
Monday, May 3rd, 2021
Just because the path doesn’t look like we had hoped doesn’t mean it’s not the path God had purposed and desired. As it has often been said, the path of least resistance is the one most often taken. But Jesus tells us the narrow path is the one least taken, but the reward is worth it. It’s not our job to determine the path; it’s our responsibility to stay faithful to Him regardless. Paths are always changing, but God does not.… Read the rest
Sunday, May 2nd, 2021
Sometimes when things are falling apart they may actually be falling into place. So much of our lives is measured by numbers. When things are up, our attitude is as well. And when things are down, we feel discouraged. But just maybe what God sees is something so completely different.… Read the rest
Saturday, May 1st, 2021
When you are down to nothing, God is up to something – and isn’t that what it’s really all about? To be less of ourselves and more of Him? It’s sort-of like prayer: better to be on our knees before Him than on our feet running around without Him.… Read the rest
Friday, April 30th, 2021
You cannot get something for nothing, and there is no such thing as a free lunch. Every decision we make in life will cost us something. Therefore, we must learn to invest wisely.… Read the rest
Thursday, April 29th, 2021
Everything we do involves the efforts of people. We must be diligent to recognize them and find meaningful ways to reward them. Never forget that people are our greatest asset as well as reward.… Read the rest
Wednesday, April 28th, 2021
Great leadership takes a great amount of work, and it seems that the average individual is simply unwilling to make that level of sacrifice and effort. If you cannot, or will not, commit the resources necessary to complete the tasks you have been assigned, both your decisions and your leadership style is illegitimate.… Read the rest
Tuesday, April 27th, 2021
It’s no wonder why words like endurance and perseverance are throughout the Bible. It’s the product of character. Paul says, “Endurance develops strength of character (Romans 5:4). James writes, “For when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything” (James 1:4). Hang in there. It’s worth it.… Read the rest
Monday, April 26th, 2021
Nothing removes the mask of the charlatan quicker than adversity. Storms happen. However, true character can withstand any unmerited winds of criticism because of the commitment on which it has been built. It boasts, “Tough times never last, but tough people do” (Robert Schuller). I’ve heard it said that “character is the will to do what’s right even if it’s hard.”… Read the rest
Sunday, April 25th, 2021
Character is a non-negotiable for God’s kids. And it’s defined in darkness. As Dwight L. Moody states, it’s who you are when no one is looking. It’s the person God knows. Image is one thing; character is another.… Read the rest
Saturday, April 24th, 2021
I can’t determine what others want to hold onto, but I can determine what I will. Others might not be at peace with me, but by God’s grace I will choose to be at peace with them. Paul writes, “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3).… Read the rest
Friday, April 23rd, 2021
Healthy, effective leaders don’t play with sin; instead they run as far as they can from it. When we start flirting with anything, it won’t take long to crawl in bed with it. For the moment we grow comfortable, we become seduced. Remember, if we don’t “guard our minds” the enemy will certainly “get at it.” God’s people swim upstream, not with the current.… Read the rest
Thursday, April 22nd, 2021
Legend has it that when Wells Fargo was looking for their stagecoach drivers, they posed this question: “How close to a cliff’s edge could you get without putting our freight in harm’s way?” For danger was not uncommon on their routes. One jockey boasted, “I believe I could get within a foot of its edge.” Another bragged, “I could get within six inches.” But those they hired were the ones who answered, “I have no idea how CLOSE I could get. I would steer as far away from its edge as I could.”… Read the rest
Wednesday, April 21st, 2021
It seems a lot of God’s children today are ‘spiritual pyromaniacs’ where the goal is to get as close to the fire as possible without getting burned. That’s not an act of faith; that’s just plain foolish. Remember what Jenny told Forest: “Run Forest, run.” If we’re going to push the envelope and live on the edge, may I suggest that be in Christ?… Read the rest
Tuesday, April 20th, 2021
We all know that if we don’t want to get stung, then we should stay away from the bees, right? And if we fear getting burned, stay away from the fire. This was Paul’s fundamental purpose in his letter to the church of Ephesus – specifically the fourth chapter. I invite you to read it. I do often.… Read the rest
Monday, April 19th, 2021
Leadership is achieved, not received. You cannot deem yourself a leader and expect others to follow. You have to earn it. There are no corners you can cut or easier roads to take. It’s about building a foundation one brick at a time.… Read the rest
Sunday, April 18th, 2021
Every person makes a difference. When you’re not living out your dreams, it not only affects you, but those around you. Our lives were purposed by God to touch those around us. When we’re not living that life to its fullest, others are affected in negative ways.… Read the rest
Saturday, April 17th, 2021
“A growth environment should be a place where growth is modeled and expected” (John Maxwell, Keys to a Healthy Growth Environment). What we live truly speaks louder than what we say. We must never forget that vision is caught more than it’s taught. But we must expect it just the same. We cannot excuse another’s complacency. We all must be growing – and expect it.… Read the rest
Friday, April 16th, 2021
“A growth environment should be a place where people desire change” (John Maxwell, Keys to a Healthy Growth Environment). A leader is always looking for something fresh and new. We cannot allow ourselves to be content. If we cannot embrace change, it sort of defeats the purpose of our leadership, for we cannot impart what we’re not willing to do ourselves.… Read the rest
Thursday, April 15th, 2021
“A growth environment should be a place where others are growing” (John Maxwell, Keys to a Healthy Growth Environment). As leaders, we must be about learning, but we must also create an environment where everybody is learning. If we are learning, then we always have something to pass on – that’s one of the great joys in learning.… Read the rest
Wednesday, April 14th, 2021
“A growth environment should be a place where failure is not the enemy” (John Maxwell, Keys to a Healthy Growth Environment). Sometimes you win, and sometimes you learn – we need to change our verbiage. Every leader has enemies, but always remember that the enemy is not failure. The reality is this: if you lose, you lose; but if you learn, you win every time.… Read the rest
Tuesday, April 13th, 2021
“A growth environment should be a place where we wake up excited” (John Maxwell, Keys to a Healthy Growth Environment). Our attitude determines our altitude. Every day is an opportunity, not a drudgery. Think about what God has for us and how that would change us if we embraced each day with a heart and mind to learn.… Read the rest
Monday, April 12th, 2021
“A growth environment should be a place where [we get] out of our comfort zones” (John Maxwell, Keys to a Healthy Growth Environment). I contend the great enemy we face is our own personal comfort. Leaders need to be challenged. Leaders want to be challenged. Life is filled with difficult times, and I believe God even allows and endows them. So embrace those moments. Expand your understanding, and watch the results of what God can do.… Read the rest
Sunday, April 11th, 2021
“A growth environment should be a place where the atmosphere is affirming” (John Maxwell, Keys to a Healthy Growth Environment). “Encourage one another and build one another up” (1 Thessalonians 5:11). If you build people up, they will never let you down.… Read the rest