Leaders

“I personally love worshiping with believers from other cultures, especially in their home countries. I can’t help but look around the room and think, this is it! This is a little glimpse of what it’s going to be like in Heaven. Those are some of the most treasured worship memories of my life. Yet I can’t help but wonder why isn’t that my usual experience back here in North America?”

How is your conscience? Is it clear or conflicted? Is it Holy Spirit guided or weak … even seared?

It is so easy to clean up the exterior and disciple people in a way that comes naturally to us, but the true Gospel, the one Christ hung on the cross for, is one that demands an inner wrenching of the soul and a deep commitment to His people. Sarah shares a moving experience when she learned much from a disciple she was seeking to transform.

God offers rest, not just for our physical bodies but for our hearts as well. 1 Peter 5:7 says, “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” God is calling for our souls to rest.

Harvesting fruit is only possible when the branches abide in the vine; leaders can only bear good fruit when they abide in Jesus (John 15:4). George outlines the characteristics that a small church needs to have in order to flourish after planting. When leaders heed certain New Testament guidelines, churches multiply rapidly, inexpensively and with little or no ongoing help from Western missionaries.

The life we are offered as a disciple of Jesus Christ is the life of the steward. As stewards, we are set free by three transformational truths: God owns everything, God will always provide for all our needs, and the greatest blessings come to those who give.

Demands for our time seem to clamor endlessly. When was the last time you had a peaceful moment when you were not thinking about that next thing to do? Usually the decision to commit to too many things is because we can’t seem to say “no.” How do you say “no” in these busy times? Is “no” being selfish, or is “yes” being selfish when you do not have the time to do well the thing to which you said “yes?”

What a dilemma! ... I asked, “Why is it that you think ministry (preaching, evangelism, pastoral care etc.) is serving God but your government job is not ministry?”

So, how big is the whole universe? Astronomers calculate that the edge of the observable universe is about 46.5 billion light years away. Does it make you feel small? Yes?! Though we are so small, still God can use any of us to lead others in accomplishing His great plan.

Water is essential to life, and in some areas of the world, humans must dig deep wells to keep water readily available. In the midst of organizational change, we desperately need to draw on our spiritual resources. How easily we do this may depend on our spiritual habits – our rhythms of life. How deep have we dug our spiritual wells?

I want to be different in the days ahead. I want to break free from some encrusted attitudes. I want to set old fears aside and know victory over behaviors that have become unhealthy habits. I want to see God “create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me.” And mostly, I want to experience the Holy Spirit’s work of “restoring in me the joy of my salvation.”

Emotions are real. Every leader experiences the full range of emotional ups and downs. Just be aware that emotions can impact judgment. And reserve your most critical leadership moments for when you are out of the emotional extremes.