DailyLifter

Friday, March 6th, 2020

In this world we teach independence as the mark of maturity. As parents, we teach our children to grow up by learning to think and live on their own. Children grow up, and we want to aid this process. However, in God’s world, it is precisely the opposite. The mark of maturity, according to God, is dependence – a full and complete dependence on Him. Thus, as we grow, He longs that we’d be like a helpless infant, fully and totally dependent upon Him as our source for everything.… Read the rest

Thursday, March 5th, 2020

“No one can take from you what God has for you. And no one can give to you what God has already for you” (Kevin Myers – Lead Pastor, 12Stone Community Church, Atlanta, GA). How you respond, or react to anything, is always in your hands.… Read the rest

Wednesday, March 4th, 2020

As I mentioned yesterday, self-reflection is one of the great leadership needs. Thus, if we’re going to have supernatural success, we have to have God’s supernatural power. To SEE Him, we have to SEEK Him. So as we self reflect, we need to ask ourselves: How are we doing in our relationship with God?… Read the rest

Tuesday, March 3rd, 2020

Self-aware leaders can actually lead others; but the lack of it can, and will, harm others. As Pastor Craig Groeschel wrote, “The greatest challenge in leadership, then, is not leading others; it’s learning to lead oneself.” Learn to self reflect, and do it often. The more you know you, the better you will lead another.… Read the rest

Monday, March 2nd, 2020

Success will change you – good or bad. As you look over your successes, have they made you more humble and appreciative, or arrogant and expectant? Believe it or not, how you deal with failure speaks volumes in how you deal with success.… Read the rest

Sunday, March 1st, 2020

Strong organizations have strong staff. One of the great pieces of wisdom that was told to me was that success will be dependent upon those you wrap around you. If the team you have cannot deliver on the vision for that organization, either help them grow or help them go.… Read the rest

Saturday, February 29th, 2020

Stop counting minutes; instead, embrace moments. Two things come to mind as I think about this: One, we can easily miss the journey when we get consumed by the destination. Second, we go through the motions – we watch the clock, and end up missing out on the great gift that is right in front of our eyes.… Read the rest

Friday, February 28th, 2020

Friday, February 28th, 2020

“Now you should carry this project through to completion just as enthusiastically as you began it. Give whatever you can according to what you have” (2 Corinthians 8:11 – NLT). That’s good advice.… Read the rest

Thursday, February 27th, 2020

Anybody can start something – the question is: Can you finish? People are wondering if your word matters. As a little rule of thumb, be careful what you say if you don’t plan to stay.… Read the rest

Wednesday, February 26th, 2020

If the stable was not too dirty for the Son of God to be born in, then neither is any place in which we can serve. Always consider the place in which you lead Holy Ground. Leadership is not thinking about what you need; rather, it’s using what you have.… Read the rest

Tuesday, February 25th, 2020

The smallest package I’ve ever seen is a man wrapped up in himself. “Pride goes before the fall” (Proverbs 16:18). A great leader is only great because of the people they work with. If you’re going to wrap yourself up in anything, may it be that of love – and then lead with that love.… Read the rest

Monday, February 24th, 2020

Serving is the highest form of leadership. So I ask: Whose feet are you washing?… Read the rest

Sunday, February 23rd, 2020

Seek to listen, not to be heard. “Be quick to listen and slow to speak” (James 1:19). One of the great vices in leadership is found in our ability to teach. Far too often our lips are moving more than they should. Learn to listen.… Read the rest

Saturday, February 22nd, 2020

Saying yes to a few things means that you must learn to say no to many other things. We’ve all heard the validity of doing a few things well, and many things just okay. No effective leader is spread thin. Do what you must, and empower others to do what they can. As one of my mentors always told me, “Less is always more.”… Read the rest

Friday, February 21st, 2020

Satan is not always concerned that we’re in sin, but many times that we’re just distracted. Either way, we’re not about the Father’s business. What are the distractions in your life – those things that keep you from the keeping the main thing the main thing?… Read the rest

Thursday, February 20th, 2020

There are three successions that we must understand as leaders. First, we LOVE. It’s the foundation for everything we do. “And the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13). Second, we LAUGH. Joy is contagious. It moves a person from feeling like they are on the outside to being on the inside. Finally, we LEARN. I truly believe that knowledge for the mere sake of knowledge is useless. To know something, yet do nothing with it, makes no sense to me. Thus, this part of the succession is teaching people to take what they’ve learned and teach it to someone else.… Read the rest

Wednesday, February 19th, 2020

Leadership is best provided in the moment, not in a class or seminar. Classroom-type instruction and guidance is necessary, but it’s in the moment that reveals what a person truly learned. So learn to walk WITH them (in the moment), don’t just talk TO them (in the classroom). Jesus, time and time again, took His disciples out into their world around them and coached them in the moment.… Read the rest

Tuesday, February 18th, 2020

I want to give you three plausible steps to leadership: EMBRACE them; EQUIP them; EMPOWER them. Think of these three as being in a circular pattern where those whom we empower will go out and embrace others as we had embraced them. I truly believe that the goal of raising up leaders is not to have them serve us, but to go and serve (love) others.… Read the rest

Monday, February 17th, 2020

Have you ever gotten upset by the simplest thing like driving through a construction zone and/or having to take an alternate route? How about having to change your clothes after you spilled something? Always remember, change represents an inconvenience, but it’s the inconvenience that reveals much about ourselves. Watch how you face them and handle them.… Read the rest

Sunday, February 16th, 2020

People lash out when they feel backed into a corner. So don’t preach at them or talk down to them – walk with them.… Read the rest

Saturday, February 15th, 2020

“Until I am committed, there is a hesitancy, a chance to draw back. But the moment I definitely commit myself, then God moves also, and a whole stream of events erupt. All manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings, persons and material assistance which come my way begin to flow toward me – the moment I make a commitment” (John C. Maxwell – “The Recipe for Leadership,” INJOY Life Club).… Read the rest

Friday, February 14th, 2020

Martin Luther used to say that when the devil came knocking on the door of his heart, he would send the Lord Jesus to answer. And Jesus would tell him every time, “Martin Luther used to live here, but he’s moved out. I live here now.” I just love that.… Read the rest

Thursday, February 13th, 2020

Don’t expect your faith to grow if you have too much else going on. For the number one way God speaks is through His Word. Paul wrote to Timothy, “Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful…correcting our mistakes, and training us to live God’s way” (2 Timothy 3:16).… Read the rest

Wednesday, February 12th, 2020

Biblical illiteracy is plaguing the church. God’s people are just ignorant of His Truth. For example, one of the most frequently quoted passages from the Bible is, “God helps those who help themselves” – and the fact is, it’s not even in there. “Thy Word is a lamp to my feet,” the Psalmist wrote, “and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105). It’s crazy to think that in today’s world a child cannot read their Bible in school, but they can in prison.… Read the rest

Tuesday, February 11th, 2020

If we want to hear God’s voice, then we must separate ourselves from the world. “Happy are those who reject the advice of evil people, who do not follow the example of world, or join those who have no use for God” (Psalm 1:1). Paul tells us that “the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God” (1 Corinthians 3:19). The Christian life begins when we step away from the world and step toward His Word.… Read the rest