All posts filed under: Leadership

7 Reasons why God won’t use you

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Throughout time, God has, in His Sovereignty, chosen to use people to accomplish his purpose. When he needed a deliverer for his people in Egypt, he called Moses. When he needed to finally save men from sin and damnation, he chose Mary to bring Jesus into the world. He used a stick to part the Red Sea, a little boy’s lunch of fish and bread to feed thousands. He even spoke through a donkey at one time. So God is in the business of using people to accomplish his plan. But as much as God wants to use us, sometimes he cannot adequately use us because we get in His way. The following are 7 reasons God cannot adequately use you. 1. You steal His Glory I am the Lord ; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols.  Isaiah 42:8 ESV Satan was banished for it Nebuchadnezzar regretted it Herod was killed for it. Simon was cursed for trying to buy for his glory Paul …

Singing with the Enemy

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Every day in December – leading into Christmas, I have planned to have or experience joy in every area of my life.  As bold and ambitious as that is, I am very hopeful and confident that nothing will derail me from knowing indestructible joy – every day in the month of December – even in difficult times. So here is a story that will help you do just that.  I started a 23 days devotional a few days on YouVersion.  This post contains the 3rd day notes from “Joy! to the world countdown to Christmas, which was written by Carol McLeod and Just Joy Ministries Here is the story British soldiers were spending Christmas Eve 1914 on a French battlefield during World War I. After four months of fighting, over a million men had perished in the bloody conflict. The bodies of dead soldiers were scattered between the trenches of the opposing armies. It was in the middle of a freezing battlefield in France, that a miracle occurred! British troops watched in amazement as candle-lit trees …

Ignite my Soul: Consume these idle sticks

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“God consume these idle sticks in my life that may burn for thee.” Jim Elliot What does the word idle mean? It means – not active or in use. synonyms: inactive, unused, unoccupied, unemployed, disused. It speaks of a person – not working; unemployed. Synonyms: unemployed, jobless, out-of-work, redundant, between jobs, work less, unwaged, unoccupied. It also speaks of a person avoiding work; lazy. Synonyms: lazy, indolent, slothful, work-shy, shiftless, inactive, sluggish, lethargic, listless It means to lack or be without purpose or effect; pointless. Synonyms: frivolous, trivial, trifling, vain, minor, petty, lightweight, shallow, superficial, insignificant, unimportant, worthless, paltry, niggling, peripheral, inane, fatuous It defines a person who spends their time doing nothing; be idle. Synonyms: do nothing, be inactive, vegetate, take it easy, mark time, twiddle one’s thumbs, kill time, languish, laze, lounge, loll, loaf, loiter. The Scripture warns about it A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich. Proverbs 10:4 And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the marketplace. Matthew 20:3 But …

A great Leader encourages and empowers others

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“A boss creates fear, a leader confidence. A boss fixes blame, a leader corrects mistakes. A boss knows all, a leader asks questions. A boss makes work drudgery, a leader makes it interesting. A boss is interested in himself or herself, a leader is interested in the group.” — Russell H. Ewing “As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.” — Marianne Williamson “As we look ahead into the next century, leaders will be those who empower others.” — Bill Gate “Coaching isn’t an addition to a leader’s job, it’s an integral part of it.” — George S. Odiorne “I have yet to find the man, however, exalted his station, who did not do better work and put forth greater effort under a spirit of approval than under a spirit of criticism.” — Charles M. Schwab “If you are going to help people reach their potential, they need to be recognized and rewarded. Everyone needs that.” — Jacqueline Norcel “If you wish a general to be …

7 Promises I can use right now

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When I was 5 years old my dad made a promise to me. A promise he was going to fulfill in 24 hours.  I was very passionate about soccer. I found myself skipping classes, at that early age, to go play soccer out in the fields. I guess, it was that rubber ball that we kicked around everyday that prompted ,my dad to get me a brand new and real soccer ball. I’ll never forget that morning when he whispered in my ear. That at the end of the day, I would have my own soccer ball. I was gripped with expectation. I couldn’t wait for him to come back home from work. I had it on my mind for the entire day. I always wanted one, but the likelihood of getting it that day, made my desire for it even more compelling. I waited for the car to turn into the drive way. And before he could get out of the car I was right there with arms outstretched. He didn’t fail me either. …

10 Mistakes Leaders Must Avoid At All Cost

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If you are a pastor, a husband, a business executive, a small group leader or a project manager – you are a leader. Whatever your title is – if you lead, it is imperative that you lead in the right spirit. We are all affected, one way or the other, by the culture we live in. And to make matters worse, we all have a fallen nature that affects our different leadership styles. But no matter what our culture dictates or what our fallen nature tries to impose on our leadership style, there is always a better way to lead. That way is the way is in Christ Jesus, by the Holy Spirit and through the wisdom that comes from His word. Here is a list of pitfalls to avoid at all cost as a leader. They don’t only hinder your ability to lead well, they hinder your team, family or organization from functioning or performing at the highest levels. Jealous Spirit 1 Samuel 18:8-9 ESV And Saul was very angry, and this saying displeased …

Three Key Reasons Teams Succeed

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“That the leaders took the lead in Israel, that the people offered themselves willingly, bless the Lord! (‭Judges‬ ‭5‬:‭2‬ ESV) 1. Team Leaders take the lead The first reason teams succeed is leaders take the lead. They are not passively waiting for permission to lead. They are enthusiastic and ready to lead. They are not unassuming lacking in zeal. They are looking for opportunities to do great things. 2. Team Members offer themselves willingly The second reason teams succeed is people willingly follow. Teams are not necessarily successful because of leaders. They succeed because people are willing to follow and get the job done. Unfortunately, people do not always follow even when the leaders take the lead. They are some times critical of leaders. They let jealousy and selfish ambition get in the way of success. That’s why this third key is vital to the overall success of the team 3. God Saves the Day We must never leave God out of the equation when it comes to achieving success as a team. Psalm 127:1 …

The Power of Honor

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God has called us to become vessels of honor. The Bible calls us to honor God in everything we do. The Bible says, if we honor God he will honor us. But if we dishonor Him, he will lightly esteem us. I have seen too many Christians buy into the culture of dishonor as displayed on Fox News, MSNBC and other news outlets and blogs toward elected officials. We find this same culture of dishonor in relationships – be it between husband and wife or parents and children. Spiritual authorities are not exempt either from this problem. When it comes to spiritual authorities, I have observed two extremes in the ways church folks relate to them. 1. Church leaders are either put on pedestals – or 2. They are very lightly esteemed As a result, we receive incredibly more value from those we highly esteem,  but no value at all from those we lightly esteem. We receive lots of blessings from those we honor but receive very fewer blessings from those we dishonor. Is it possible for God to …

Divine Healing Will Be Fully Realized When Jesus Returns

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We are living at present between the first and second appearances of Jesus Christ. At His first coming He provided, through His life, death, and resurrection, atonement for sin and its consequences. In this era divine healing, a gift of God’s grace, is seen as a proleptic expression of the complete redemption of the human body. At His second coming what was begun will be brought to completion—salvation from sin and all its effects will be realized. In this period of the “already and not yet” some are healed instantly, some gradually, and others are not healed. The Bible indicates that until Jesus comes we groan because we have not yet received the full redemption of our bodies (Romans 8:23). Only when the dead in Christ rise and we are changed do we receive the new bodies which are like His glorious body (1 Corinthians 15:42–44,51–54). Even followers of Christ groan and travail in pain like the rest of creation, waiting patiently for the fulfillment of our hope (Romans 8:21–25). In that the human body …