“Pastor, will you pray for me? I need help. I used to have such a passion for God. I don’t have the faith I desire in my life. I want to be close to God again.” Lisa is a young girl who is smart, gifted and has so much going for her in life.

In our conversation I discovered she was living with her boyfriend. I said to her, “You need to move out from living with him.”

“I couldn’t do that. We’ve been together for so long. We love each other.” She protested.

“You can’t have it both ways. You need to decide who you want serve and who you want to honor.”  I told her.

She made her choice – she stayed with the young man and let her faith continue to dwindle.

Darryl became more and more effective at work. He was promoted two times in the same year and the joy of his progress was recognizable. Unfortunately, so was his increasing absence in church. He served less and less. He seemed distracted when he was around and needing to go “to an appointment.”  He did not get as much from worship or the sermons that he used to. Eventually he seemed to lose his faith altogether.

Success at work is really important but to many, like Darryl, it becomes an idol.

Idols are as powerful as they ever were.  

Almost anything can be or become an idol; work, career, a boyfriend or girlfriend, society, approval, cars, homes, money, sex… and on and on. Most of these are good – in their right place.  

Anything that keeps us from following the Word of God or obeying God is an idol.

Jesus taught people, “You can’t serve God and mammon.”  Mammon is the spirit of materialism and materialism is a strong distraction.

“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?  Matthew 6:24-25 NIV

There is nothing wrong with clothing, food or money. It does matter what place they take in your heart.

I can feel the concern of the Apostle John as he wrote, “Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.” 1 John 5:21 NIV 

He knew how idols could destroy a genuine faith. So, how do we protect ourselves from idols?

1.  Surrender your life regularly to the will of God

I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Romans 12:1 NLT

2. Keep feeding your heart and soul with Scripture

The instructions of the Lord are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The commandments of the Lord are right,  bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are clear, giving insight for living.

They are more desirable than gold, even the finest gold. They are sweeter than honey, even honey dripping from the comb. They are a warning to your servant, a great reward for those who obey them. Psalm 19:7-8 10-11

Jesus resisted temptation by saying, “It is written, you must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.” 

So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.   Col 3:5 NLT

3.  Love God with ALL your heart 

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’  Mark 12:30 NIV

Invite the Holy Spirit to show you if anything has become an idol in your life.

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.  Psalm 139:23-24 NLT

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father  is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. 
1 John 2:15-16 NIV 

What idols have you discovered in your life?

Here is a short list of some of what is in the heart of a great leader. 

1.  Desire to Serve
Read what Jesus said, 

Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant…”  Matthew 20:25-26 NIV 

There is a term we hear often today – it’s “servant-leader.” This term keeps the secret of leadership connected to the title of the leader. 

2.  Compassion
Leading out of the desire to be popular or to do things “your way” becomes obvious quickly. It’s discouraging to followers when a leader just wants control. 

Leading because you love people is powerful. Leading so that you can solve a problem that breaks your heart is inspiring.

Leading because you are moved from your heart is powerful. 

3.  Tough Skin - Soft Heart
People will criticize you. Everyone has an opinion. Most people have no idea what is going on in the office where the tough decisions are made… but they act and speak as if they did. Most people do not know the struggles that we have in making the tough decisions. They may judge you or your motivation without having any idea of the truth. 

The ability to keep a soft heart is important. To continue to love what you do and who you are doing it for, can be difficult especially when it feels like they are turning on you. Having tough skin – not taking everything so personally – is easier to say than do. 

Don’t let criticism shut you down and cause you to become bitter. That will take the faith and compassion out of your heart.

4. Steadfast Heart
What is that? It means don’t give up. There will be many tough times. Be strong and courageous. Only believe. 

Being strong when you are not sure how to do it makes a leader uniquely inspiring. 

What other qualities do you think make a leader great?

Tweetables:

Being strong when you are not sure how to do it makes a leader uniquely inspiring. Click to tweet

Don’t let criticism shut u down and cause u to become bitter. That will take the faith & compassion out of ur heart. Click to tweet

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I will be 60 years old this month. I’m more excited about the present and the future, than any time in my life. I’m NOT looking for a way to retire – I believe the best time of ministry is before us.

The scripture says, “your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.”  Just so you know, I’m still seeing visions! So I’m still in the category of “young men.”

We are moving into a new church building this summer. Several months ago I felt the Holy Spirit whisper in my heart, “Get ready for a fresh wind. It’s not because you are moving into a new building – you are moving into a new building because of what I have planned.”

I started speaking to our church about an outpouring of God’s Holy Spirit in our city, an Awakening.  Again, I heard that whisper of God saying,

“In order to have a spiritual awakening in this city – there needs to be an awakening in your church. In order for there to be an awakening in the church there needs to be an awakening in your church leaders. If you want an awakening in your church leaders, there needs to be an awakening in you.”

In the last few months there have been some exciting, powerful and personal experiences in my life that I want to tell you about.

Six Areas Where I am Experiencing an Awakening 

1.  Prayer
I am pursuing God with new intensity. I feel like I am pursuing God not only because of my own desire but because I feel Him calling out to me – drawing me to Him. So I am responding.

I have felt a loss of interest in things that seemed to bring joy before. I enjoy movies or watching sports – a lot - but recently those things have felt empty to me. I get bored with it. I want something more.

A deeper more personal pursuit of God is consuming me. I am taking the scripture below more personally than ever before.

If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14 NLT

2. Humility 
The instruction is clear.
So I have responded.

Humble yourself.
I am so aware of how much I need God in order to live the way He asks me to live and to do what He has called me to do. Without Him I can do nothing. And if I accomplish anything – It is not because of me but because of Him.

Pray.
Pray without ceasing – I pray 24/7 AND I make time for personal times of focused prayer. We have public church prayer and private personal prayer.

Seek My face.
In the past, like many people, I tended to seek ‘His hand’ – what God could provide for me. Now I spend more time seeking His face – getting to know who He is. 

Turn from Your Wicked Ways
My eyes are opening to the idols in my life – and I turn away. My awareness of the motives in my heart has increased and I repent. The fears that have guided me are exposed and I turn my eyes to Jesus.

3. Now is His Time
Every decision matters. Every opportunity represents a life and death situation. I can’t live in a way that I need to “get ready” - I must “be ready.”

I thought, “In about 4 months, we will be in our new building.”

Jesus told His disciples, Do you not say, ‘Four months more and then the harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together.  John 4:35 & 36 NIV

4. The Presence and Power of The Holy Spirit
I have lacked wisdom so often in my life that I have aggressively pursued wisdom and understanding and God has used that to bring strength to my life. But I know that I also need His power in my life. I am not interested in emotional displays or indulgent experiments but I have a new desire for the Holy Spirit of God.

“‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.¹⁸ Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.  Acts 2:17-18 NIV

We are seeing miracles in people’s lives. People are being healed. People are experiencing freedom. The “tough cases” of people with hard hearts and disbelief are having God encounters. The love of God is overwhelming us.

5.  Spiritual Battles
There is a kingdom of darkness. There is an enemy. Jesus said, “the enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy but I’ve come to give life and that more abundantly.”

It’s on!!

The battle is real. I hate the idea of blaming the devil for the little things in life that are probably a result of my own errors. But I have to stop ignoring what Jesus said is real. We have an enemy. I have faced some difficult battles in the middle of great blessing.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but … against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.  Ephesians 6:12 NIV

Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8 NIV

The battle is not a close contest. Jesus wins! We win! The devil has no power over us as we live in the covering of the name above every name. But we cannot be careless – if we step outside of His cover we are extremely vulnerable. It’s life and death.

6.  Expectation |
He is giving me faith to respond to God. Now I am expecting His answers. And He is faithful.

…I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and heal their land. My eyes will be open and my ears attentive to every prayer made in this place. For I have chosen this Temple (house) and set it apart to be holy—a place where my name will be honored forever. I will always watch over it, for it is dear to my heart.  2 Chronicles 7:14b-15 NLT 

Let it rain!
The windows of Heaven are open.
Look up. Awake my soul.

I will be the woman pushing through the crowd to touch the edge of His cloak.
I am Elijah praying for rain.
I am the thirsty in a desert. 

Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness. Acts 4:30-31 NLT

Tweetables

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As a dad – I was proud. As a man – I was inspired. As a pastor – I felt great fulfillment. 

Jordan was being recognized for his work at the young age of 25 years old. He appreciated being honored for the impact his work is making. It was an amazing moment watching the Congressmen and Senators who were present, recognizing him and the other honorees present for the evening’s events.  Among those present were Senator Mary Landrieu from Louisiana, Senator Rob Portman from Ohio, Congressman Tony Cárdenas of California and former Governor of New York, George Pataki.

While I know that Jordan dreams big, he is driven by goals and he loves having a mission that stretches him – this award was not his goal. His goal was providing clean water for people who desperately need it. His passion began by “helping the one.”  

When Jordan discovered that he could help more people get clean water and he could rally others to help also if he continued to pursue this goal with passion – the results multiplied.

If you have the attitude that declares, “If I can use the resources or opportunities that I have right now to help improve the life of one person – it’s worth the effort.”  Then that is contagious. 

In 2012, Ryan Waldheger of the Ryan Waldheger Research Memorial Foundation, won this award for the organization established by his family in 2007. The Foundation was born out of the hope of a courageous 28 year old while he battled Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL).

Author, David Baldacci and his wife Michelle, received the prestigious SBCA 2009 Humanitarians of the Year for their ongoing efforts to stamp out adult and family illiteracy in the United States.

It’s all about using what you have today to make a difference.

Look around you. Who has a need that you can help? What kind of needs around you stirs your emotions to “do something” about it?  What kind of pain or difficulty have you been through that you can help?

If you really want to change the world – start by changing it for one person. 

Jordan said once, “The only thing worse than not knowing about the situation (water crisis), is knowing and doing nothing about it.”

Tweetables
If you really want to change the world – start by changing it for one person. Click here to tweet

The only thing worse than not knowing about the situation, is knowing and doing nothing about it @generositywater Click here to tweet

If I can use the resources or opportunities that I have to help improve the life of 1 person, it’s worth the effort. Click here to tweet

The Bible does not address every decision you need to make. 

The scriptures will address many specific issues but they will also shape and change your own values so that as your heart and mind are renewed, you will view situations through a new filter; the filter of His Word. This will help you make wise choices in the face of uncertainty. 

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.  Psalm 119:105 NIV

It’s important that you pursue God’s personal direction in prayer and reading the scripture. Our ability in this area will make the difference between us being wise and mature believers or foolish and immature followers of Christ.

We learn about finding out His will by seeing similar principles in the Word that can be applied to our unique situation. Reading about others who lived the life of faith and the decisions they made can often guide us in our own circumstances.

Too many believers say that God told them to do something but it’s the opposite of what the Bible would teach us to do. 

A good definition of "Hearing God’s Voice" is understanding His direction and knowing your "next steps." It does not necessarily mean you will hear a voice out loud but usually, it’s an inner whisper of God directing us in a way that is in agreement with His written Word.

Prayerfully consider His will and guidance in your important life decisions.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, 
and He will make your paths straight.  Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV

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You can read through the entire Bible in a year by going to Biblegateway.com or to YouVersion on the web.

I challenge you to begin today and fill your heart with God’s Word. It will bring healing, life, faith and wisdom.

BIBLE READING PLAN FOR MAY 2013

Wednesday, May 1
2 Timothy 4 

Thursday, May 2
Romans 1

Friday, May 3
Romans 2

Saturday, May 4 & Sunday, May 5
Catch up on this week’s bible reading: 2 Timothy 2-4, Romans 1-2

Monday, May 6
Romans 3

Tuesday, May 7
Romans 4

Wednesday, May 8
Romans 5

Thursday, May 9
Romans 6

Friday, May 10
Romans 7

Saturday, May 11 & Sunday, May 12
Catch up on this week’s bible reading: Romans 3-7

Monday, May 13
Romans 8

Tuesday, May 14
Romans 9

Wednesday, May 15
Romans 10

Thursday, May 16
Romans 11

Friday, May 17
Romans 12

Saturday, May 18 & Sunday, May 19
Catch up on this week’s bible reading: Romans 8-12

Monday, May 20
Romans 13

Tuesday, May 21
Romans 14

Wednesday, May 22
Romans 15 

Thursday, May 23
Romans 16

Friday, May 24
1 Peter 1 

Saturday, May 25 & Sunday, May 26
Catch up on this week’s bible reading: Romans 13-16, 1 Peter 1

Monday, May 27
1 Peter 2

Tuesday, May 28
1 Peter 3

Wednesday, May 29
1 Peter 4

Thursday, May 30
1 Peter 5

Friday, May 31
2 Peter 1


1.  Vision Casting

The ability to communicate your vision, your goal - in a way that is clear, compelling and “follow-able.” This is the number one ability of a leader. 
What’s the goal? Where are we going? Why? What problem are we solving? People forget, vision leaks and everyone gets distracted (…ministry ADD). It must be communicated frequently – keep the fire going.


2.  Team Building

Identifying great team members is important. Who are the remarkable people you can bring on the team? Who are those who have potential to become remarkable? Find some people who have different strengths than you do.

What people mistakes have you made in the past? What have you learned from them? I like people who are:

self-motivated
easy to read


love what we are doing  
willing to change and grow

 
team players – willing to share the credit



3.  Fund Raising

Inspiring people to give financially to the goals you have is your responsibility. Like it or not, this job rests on you. Communicating in a way that builds trust in you and value in the cause is essential. If you are afraid to ask people to give, your ministry will be limited. No one likes to be pressured or manipulated – but an honest ‘ask’ is imperative.
 


4.  Public Speaking

This is a skill that can be developed. Some have a “gift” in the area of teaching or speaking – develop it. One message can change a life. Speakers think they are better than they are. We need honest feed back from those we respect and trust. (Think about American Idol – some people think they are amazing singers who need no help – don’t trust those who ‘adore you’ they can’t help you in this area.) What are you doing to improve this ability? This could be 50-60% of the impact of your leadership. Tell stories. Tell another story. Don’t talk too long. Keep people wanting more. What do you want them to know? What do you want them to feel? What do you want them to do? When you finish speaking, can everyone answer those questions? 
 


5.  Creating Strategy 

I believe God blesses a plan. Even the effort to create a plan is helpful.
A strategy that people can follow gives feet to your dream. Wisdom is developing the right plan. Ask for advice, read, study and get help. Your dream is impacted significantly by your strategy. You do what only you can do – so that God can do what only God can do. Have you honestly evaluated your strategy?  
 


6.  Personal Leadership

How you manage your life affects your church and your leadership. Self-leadership can make or break a leader.
 Manage yourself in these areas:
emotions, 
relationships, seasons of ministry and life
-rest
ethics. 
 


7.  Improving Communication 

No one is perfect in this area. We all have to improve – continually. What are you saying with your words? What are you saying with your attitude?
 What did you intend to say?
 What are people hearing?

Communication is always a work in progress. Sometimes, listening is more important than talking.

Thoughts? Please comment...