All posts tagged: humility

I am officially back!

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40 days ago, I decided to take a break from blogging to kind of reevaluate my priorities. Well, with the Lord’s help, I think I finally have everything in its proper place. Thankfully, blogging is back on the list, but not in the same place it was. I am thankful for your prayers and the many wonderful thoughts I received from many of you by email.  Today, I would like to announce that I am officially back! I look forward to connecting again with all of you for mutual encouragement in the Lord. My first post will center on some of the things the Lord has dealt with me during these 40 days. For example: Family, humility, charity, priority, service, and love.  I’ve learned that “the home is the acid test of the truly yielded life, for in all other phases of Christian service there is a certain amount of glamour; but in the home, one is confronted with the bare facts of life, stripped of all glamour.” I am sure you will enjoy reading my next …

My Ongoing 2015 Leadership Makeover

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It’s not about me What if we were less consumed with building our own platform, kingdom, status, image? what if we were more driven to serve God for his glory? What if we saw it like JTB did – “I’m Just a Voice?” So many times I overemphasize my ministry. It’s almost as if I’m seeking to build for myself a kingdom. Unfortunately, this kind of attitude holds us back from doing exceptionally great things for God. We get distracted by status, name recognition and earthly successes We fail to see the big picture and finish strong. But I’m learning that it’s not about “my ministry” “my call” “my platform.” I’m just a voice. A great leader understands that it is not about him. I don’t have it all together  What would it feel like to step off the pedestal and break down walls of invulnerability? As a pastor, I sometimes feel tempted to project a certain image of myself. . The need to sound powerful and act like an anointed charismatic preacher is real. A stroke of …

So long Selfie…

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The word “Selfie” first popped up in an Australian chat room on September 13, 2002, to describe an undignified scene.  For years after its birth, “selfie” crept through the web largely unnoticed. But in 2012, the word of the year began its ascent to digital fame. By August 2013, Oxford proclaimed it a real English-language word and gave it a place in the dictionary — but that was merely a stepping stone to lingual infamy. “Selfie” beat out seven competitors, including “twerk,” “schmeat” (synthetically produced meat) and “bitcoin” for the Word of the Year crown. What is the meaning of “Selfie?” Selfie is: “A photograph that one has taken of oneself, typically one taken with a smart phone or webcam and uploaded to a social media website.” I often thought it was something that kids did until I saw Presidents and Heads of state do it at a funeral. Sorry, I did not mean to sound too self-righteous. I have taken selfies of myself – innocent snapshots hanging with my family, celebrating and creating digital memories to enjoy …

Glimpses into Enoch’s Walk with God

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Enoch walked with God; and he was not: for God took him. Genesis 5:24 I have always wondered what a walk with God entails, at least Enoch’s walk. What did it look like and what made it that attractive to God. Well, the scripture gives us glimpses into Enoch’s walk. Let me share a few: Enoch walked by faith – Hebrews 11:5 Enoch walked in the light – 1 John 1:5-7 Enoch walked in agreement with God – Amos 3:3 Enoch walked consistently with The Lord – Genesis 5:22 Enough walked sincerely with The Lord – Genesis 17:1 Enoch walked in obedience to God – Deuteronomy 13:4 Enoch walked in union with God – Colossians 2:6 Enoch walked in fellowship with God – 1 John 1:3 God designed us to walk with him. It is his purpose and plan for us. Oneness and, completely union with him in his life, death and resurrection is our destiny. Enoch’s life is just an example of this great plan. One day, just like Enoch, we will experience what this phrase means …

5 Things that get a great leader snubbed

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I often ask myself why some of the smartest people in the world are not the ones calling the shots or running the show? Why is it that some people with great ideas and awesome resume don’t get their projects and ideas approved or get that promotion based on their smarts. Why do they get smack down or shuffled off into other departments in a company or just get completely ignored? Being smart and full of good ideas are not the only things that get you noticed and keeps you productive and ahead of your peers. Character is the most important trait you could ever possess. It is rather unfortunate that most smart people get smacked down or get ignored, but it is a reality. From my observation, there are five crucial reasons: Arrogance, Ego, Insincerity, and Over-selling of self and Insubordination. Let’s unpack these: Arrogance Unfortunately most arrogant driven people don’t even realize it. They don”t even have to say a word, because their attitude speaks louder. They are snobbish, and love making others …

Don’t Toot your own Horn

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Take heed that you do not your give alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise you have no reward of your Father in heaven. Therefore, when you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before yourself, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But when you give alms, let not your left hand know what your right hand does:  That your alms may be in secret: and your Father which sees in secret himself shall reward thee openly. When it come to bragging or boasting about our accomplishments or achievements, some people have a hard time reining it in. Because of that lack of self-control they come across as proud, boastful and obnoxious. I understand that there is usually tension, especially for professionals, between selling oneself and humility. To be frank, even people who find themselves on church staff or on staff at other christian organizations, struggle with the tension between humility and standing out. But whatever situation you find yourself, the biblical principle of humility still stands. …

7 Questions for those who do not like their leaders

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And next to them the Tekoites repaired, but their nobles would not stoop to serve their Lord… Nehemiah 3:5 During the time of Nehemiah, the Persian Empire had reached its greatest extent, engulfing nearly the entire Near East. In 539 b.c. the Persians under Cyrus the Great defeated the Babylonians and absorbed the lands of Israel and Judah (known as Beyond the River) into his empire. The next year he allowed the people of Judah (now called Jews) to return home and rebuild the temple of the Lord. Several waves of returning Jews continued to resettle in Judea, and Nehemiah was granted permission to rebuild Jerusalem’s ruined walls around 445 b.c. Little by little, God began renewing his people in the land, to carry out what he promised to Abraham. God in his mercy raised up Ezra the priest and teacher, and Nehemiah the governor, to lead his people in the hard work that this renewal requires.  Nehemiah will encounter some serious opposition to the work, but before the rebuilding of the city wall became a full-fledged conflict …

Steal my Show – go ahead take it away!

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If You wanna steal my show, I’ll sit back and watch You go If You got somethin’ to say, go on and take it away Need You to steal my show, can’t wait to watch You go So take it away My life My friends My heart It’s all Yours, God Take it away My dreams My fears My family My career Take it away Take it away It’s all Yours, God Take it away Take it away It’s You I wanna live for  

Don’t let it get to your head!

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Mark 1:4-8 John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. And he preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” When your birth was foretold by angels, your first encounter with Jesus came while you were still in your mama’s womb, and your dad’s mouth was locked for many months so that he could not speak until you were born, that can call for some real arrogance and self importance if you let it het to your head. Today many fall prey to the spirit of pride because they allow …

Top five (5) Things that Paralyze a Leader

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Lack of prayer power… Allen Vartlette once said that “seven days without prayer makes one weak.” A prayerless leader is a paralyzed leader. He has no power to lead. He has no inspiration to lead. He has nothing to move him forward. I don’t know where we got this prideful thinking that we are more creative than God himself is. We go about doing things without him. Prayer makes a world of difference in our decision making process. It makes a world of difference in our leadership abilities. I wish that we could take it a bit more seriously. Because prayer avails much… James 5:16 Lack of courage… “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.” Edmund Burke Doing nothing express no risk, exerts no initiative, and experiences no reward or truimph. Doing nothing is the natural bent of most men. Nothing is the fruit of passivity. Nothing is the consequence of a lack of conviction. It’s the by-product of lazy leadership at home, at church and in …