Every day we can enter the amazing reality of God’s goodness and greatness. It is accessible through prayer and through the Word. The Word is an entry point to how the Lord blesses, moves, turns challenges into places of praise, restores our inner thoughts and shuts down the voice of the enemy. Yesterday I experienced some challenging news. I chose to pray. The… Read more »
Have you noticed, the ways of God can at times stir anxiety and other times produce in us wonder and awe? And yes, at times we can experience both in the same setting. In Mark 10, Jesus is headed to Jerusalem knowing he is walking into a death trap. The scripture highlights for us the picture of the circles. Two groups… Read more »
Ezekiel takes us behind the scenes of history, behind the bravado of a nation, the crisis of exile and the hopelessness of their setting. God speaks to the prophet of the coming fall of nations who appear invincible. Assyria may look “all that,” but one day… and that day, declares the Lord through the prophet, is in the hands of God. Hopelessness permeates our lives,… Read more »
Jesus will always call out our inner world. He did it for the disciples (Mark 9:14-33). Before we can be used mightily, we must be cleansed deeply. He does this inner work by asking the questions that deeply reveal our hearts. “What were you arguing about along the way?” He asked, knowing that the subject of the argument was revealing their inner world. What… Read more »
No one could figure that this promotion would change the heart of this leader… but it did. Power and prestige do strange things to the human soul. What they really do is reveal what is not settled with the Lord! Perhaps our inner world of confidence, significance, etc. appears resolved, but when we come into power, it is as if… Read more »
When Your Friends Go Crazy! He was going through a challenging season – major work decisions, high stress. Truth is, he was quite difficult to be around. Chaos, high tension and fear was the cloud following him. Others can be difficult to be around when they are going through a tough season. Of course, we can be just as challenging,… Read more »
Recently I was in a hot meeting. High stakes, strong emotions, people seeing differently. The good news is that they were people of integrity. Finally at one moment, I turned to a leader who was outspoken, strong and intense – all good qualities! My challenge was for him to lead. Lead the moment! Lead the way home so that those… Read more »
Moses is away, meeting with God. The people were alone and feeling abandoned (feelings are not always reality!!!), so they turned to an idol. Idols are always made up gods. As a leader, Moses could have said, “I can’t be gone any more.” Leaders can often live out of the fear that if they are not present things will go… Read more »
What is God doing when you feel alone, abandoned and afraid? Moses was called to the presence of God (Exodus 32). The leader leaves the community. Yes, to meet with the Lord (leaders must lead from His Presence not from their own wisdom). The Lord was speaking with Moses, working with him. But… He was also working in those left… Read more »
Recently I reflected on who people become along the path of life. Painful moments can define their story. Blown opportunities, or ones taken that should have been avoided can seep into the soul of a person and become who they are. How tragic to live for decades and have those decades decide who you are! How sad to have a… Read more »