Christian Outreach of the Piedmont! - Just a Word!


	Just A Word Devotional Series - ARCHIVES SEPTEMBER Subject: Just a Word Date: September 22, 2009 No matter what you are confronted with today, remember your Sunday school verse: Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not to your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5,6 Blessings Pastor G Subject: Just a Word Date: September 24, 2009 People and problems can be trying sometimes. Don't lose your cool today! Stay in tune! "...the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I (Jesus) have said to you. John 14:26 Subject: Just A Word: Don't Waste Your Breathe Date: Sept 25, 2009 Don't Waste Your Breathe You can feel abandoned at the most important and painful times of your life. It can make you want to lash out at people. Don't waste your breathe with words that won't help you or them. Remember, people tend to be too caught up in their own pursuits and problems to be considerate of yours. With the few short breathes that Jesus had left He painfully shook it off and said... "Father forgive them for they know not what they do." If you want to be like Jesus, forgive people who disregard of your destiny, play down your pain, and wink at your worth. Jesus did, and in doing so 3 days later His pain turned into power! Don't waste your breathe. If you have it, let everything that has breathe praise the Lord! Use it to forgive and live! Subject: Just A Word: On The Spot Before You Get Hot! Date: September 28, 2009 "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." Luke 23:34 Jesus forgave people on the spot who didn’t ask to be forgiven. How mature is that? It takes a serious walk with God to forgive people who are CRUCIFYING you publicly, especially without a cause. This is the mark of a mature child of God: forgive people regardless of whether they are looking to be forgiven. This might mess with your theology a bit, but it’s obvious that He forgave you before you had the sense to ask Him. Paul put it this way, “…while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” By the time a person confesses to God, Jesus has already pleaded for them to be forgiven way back on the cross. That’s intercession! What false friend or true enemy are you pleading the Father for? Here’s a little homework, the next time someone “crucifies” you in public don’t wait for the pain to go away - pray for them on the spot. Jesus did! And since you are not literally nailed to the cross grab their hands if possible and pray to the Father on their behalf. Remember, “they know not what they do.” Subject: Just a Word: There's A Catch To It Date: September 29, 2009 There's A Catch To It If you have prayed for patience, their is a catch to it. You have to wait. Your answer to that prayer comes in the form of problems from which only faith and patience can bring you out. If you find yourself faced with numerous trials, don't count yourself out; "...count it all joy when you when you fall into divers (or various) tests." (James 1:2) Remember, when God seems to not be doing anything around you, that's usually when He is doing something in you! He is developing more patience into your character! " But let patience have her perfect work, that you may be perfect..." (James 1:4) That is, spiritually mature and not being found empty in any area of your walk with God. When you are patient you are talking to God without saying word. Your body language is saying to Him "Lord, I trust You!" And when you rejoice in unfavorable looking circumstances you are patiently prophesying to your problems, letting them know that "your heart is fixed..." and you "will come forth as pure gold." (Psalm 112:7, Job 23:10) If you are in a hurry to get out of your trials, then hurry up and wait! They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength They shall mount up on wings like eagles They shall run and not get weary They shall walk and not faint (Isa. 40:31) Blessings, Pastor G Subject: Just a Word: Can You See What I See? Date: September 30 2009 Can You See What I See? Unless I sleep with my contact lenses on my daily routine rarely changes. I stretch, tell Him “Thank You!”, and pop in my lenses. About a week ago I got up and religiously put in some fresh contacts, but to my astonishment I couldn’t see any better. “What in the world…?” was my first impression. “There has to be some logical explanation for this since I don’t feel any different”, I said to myself. At that moment I looked at the contact lens case and realized it was my daughter’s. Once I finally put my contacts in I chuckled to myself thinking about how different my vision is from hers. It takes what more of what the eye doctor calls “power” in my lenses for me to see correctly. It’s like that in church, companies, families, relationships, and so on. People can be under the same roof, surrounded by the same resources, confronted with the set of circumstances, hear the same lectures, and still end up with a different vision. Before you get upset and talk about people who can’t see what you see (O’ Superior One); remember it takes more power for some people to see. This is what I admire about Elisha. When he and his servant were surrounded by an entire army the prophet told the young man, “There are more for us than there are against us.” However, due to his servant’s inability to see spiritually Elisha didn’t talk down to him. Instead he prayed that the Lord would open his eyes. When the servant’s eyes were opened he saw the Lord’s army prepared to protect them from the army that had surrounded them! (II Kings 6:18) It may be obvious to you that some folks in your life just don’t get it. Complaining won’t help much. Pray! It takes more power than what you have to offer for others to be able to see. OCTOBER Subject: Just a Word: Overworked? Date: October 1, 2009 If the Axe is dull and he does not sharpen its edge, then he must exert more strength. Wisdom has the advantage of giving success. (Ecclesiastes 10:10) Working hard with little to show for it? You're probably overworked and under-prayed. The scripture encourages us to sharpen our edge by getting by getting wisdom! Wisdom will get us through trials a lot quicker than working hard without clue. Working hard has its place, but working smart can't be replaced.. Solomon said, "...fear of the Lord (i.e. the respect for God) gives birth to wisdom"; while James reminds us, "If any man lacks wisdom, let him ask God who gives without holding back.". Every time we are tempted to complain today let's use that time to pray for wisdom. When wisdom comes it sharpens our edge; not to avoid work, but to make us more successful in it. Blessings, Pastor G Subject: Just a Word: Shaken Date: October 2, 2009 And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak the word of God with boldness. (Acts 4:31) The enemy of progress is comfort. No wonder God will allow us to go through uncomfortable circumstances to sometimes. They have the potential of causing us to pray and rekindle your spiritual fire! Like the apostles we can find ourselves in situations that the enemy tries to use to intimidate us. Yet "God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power...." When we become too comfortable we have the tendency not to pray consistently. This leaves us with unused Holy Ghost power laying dormant within us. So sometimes God will allow certain trials that should get us stirred up again. The problems that God permits he uses to provoke and promote! That is, provoke us to prayer and promote us to power! Today, let's not be tempted to say, "What's the use of praying?" Let's use of praying to cause the place where we are to be "shaken" by the power of God. Subject: Just A Word: Motivation Date: October 5, 2009 I have seen that every labor and every skill which is done is the result of rivalry between a man and his neighbor... (Ecclesiastes 3:4) It is not so much what we do, but why we do what we do. Solomon makes use of exaggeration in the book of Ecclesiastes to highlight the fact that the majority of people's motivation for doing what they do is rooted in rivalry. Keeping up with the Jones' is just an adult version of falling to peer pressure. Some people don't grow up, they just grow uppity. Jealousy and competition just demonstrates our lack of spiritual maturity. Let's remember today that we are called to greatness; a greatness that is motivated by the fact that we are driven to please God, not to compete against God's people. "For godliness with contentment is great gain." Blessings, Pastor G Subject: Just A Word: A Fake Word. Date: October 6, 2009 Just a Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. I John 4:1 Sorry for the delay in getting this word to you, but my other computer has contracted a virus! Watch out for a fake Microsoft Word update. It will send a virus throughout your system that will keep popping up over and over again. Is not this just like the enemy? He realizes that the saints believe the word so much that his only recourse is to send you a fake word! Today and everyday, "...believe not every spirit, but try the spirit to see whether it is of God." People will prophesy to you from the pulpit to the parking lot; but test every word before you receive it. Jesus didn't die on the cross and send you the Holy Spirit so you could depend on a man for a word! If the same issue keeps popping up over and over again in your life it may be because you have received a false word! Don't let anyone talk you out of the promises God gives His people through His word today. Protect the word that is already in your MEMORY by listening to the Holy Spirit who will "lead you and guide you into all truth..." Blessings, Pastor G Subject: Just A Word: His will, His way Date: October 7, 2009 1 Thessalonians 2:18 18Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us. The first time I read this verse I said to myself, "How could Satan hinder someone as powerful as the apostle Paul?". He survived a furious shipwreck, winked at a venomous snake bite, raised a young man from the dead, and got up to preach harder after being beaten and left for dead. These are just a few miraculous things that Paul went through victoriously! However, in the above verse he reveals an incident in which he was successfully hindered by Satan. This goes to show us that no matter how anointed we are there may be an occasion or two where the enemy lands a blow! However, Paul quickly asserts that although he was hindered, his purpose was not ultimately halted. What he could not do himself, Paul delegated Timothy to do; and to the glory of God - the mission was accomplished! Where there is God's will there is also God's way! We should never think that setbacks sent by the enemy are going stop the work of God; especially if we have team players who will assist us to victory. As one person put it, "Teamwork makes the dream work." God has strategically placed people in our lives to help us to do what God has called us to do. We could get stuck in the earth with unfinished business if we don't discover their gifts and turn them loose to "... work while it is day: for when night cometh, no man can work." Today, let's remember that using us to do great things is definitely God's will; but using people around us to help is definitely God's way. Someone else put it this way, "T.E.A.M. means: Together Everyone Accomplishes More!" Blessings, Pastor G Subject: Just A Word: Strengthen It Date: October 8, 2009 So the workmen wrought, and the work was perfected by them, and they set the house of God in his state, and strengthened it. (2 Chronicles 24:13) The success of God's people was centered around how they cared for the House of God and its vessels. Jesus chased people out of the temple due to their abuse of the House of God - shouting, "...My house shall be a house of prayer..." After the resurrection the apostles identified the human bodies of the believers as being the actual temple of God. The success of the believer is still based on the care for the temple of God. Although worship at church is very important; worship in the temple of your soul is more important. Make sure you have church today. Strengthen it. Let the choir in you sing, let the preacher in you preach, let the intercessor in you pray, and don't forget to take up the offering (i.e. "...the sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of your lips..."). Let the church say, "Amen". Subject: Just A Word: Share It Date: Tue, 9 October 2009 And they said one to another, Behold, this dreamer cometh. (Genesis 37:19) Sometimes you might be afraid to share the dream with others because of what happened to Joseph. His own brothers hated him because of his dream. However, if you don't share the dream then you have to bare the dream. You'll find that it is impossible to bare a God given dream all by yourself. It is too big! John Maxwell put it this way: Dare to dream: Have the desire to do something bigger than yourself Prepare the dream: Do your homework; be ready when the opportunity comes Wear the dream: Do it. Share the dream: Make others a part of the dream, and it will become even greater than you had hoped Don't let Joseph's situation give you the scare to share. After all, regardless of his haters Joseph's dream came to pass anyhow. The songwriter was right, "What God has for me is for me." But what God has for you is also for others. Especially those He wants to be on your dream team. Blessings Pastor G Subject: Just A Word: Who do you think you're talking too? Date: Tue, 12 October 2009 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee Matthew 16:22. It is amazing how we have the tendency to tell the Lord, "no." Who do we think we are talking to? Peter confronted Jesus and tried to redirect Him concerning His suffering on the cross. To this future apostle's shock, "Get thee behind me Satan..." was the Lord's reply him. When we fight against God's will it should be no surprise to us when we run into God's anger. For Peter, the fact that his hero was about to subject himself to human suffering confounded him as it would anyone who has a preconceived perception of how God is supposed to deliver His people. That's just it, we don't determine how God moves, we discover how God moves. Just before his crucifixion Jesus tried to get Peter, James, and John to "pray that (they) enter not into temptation." That is, the temptation to fall away from God because of the persecution that would come from being associated with Him. Nevertheless, the could not even pray for "one hour" because their flesh was weak. Let's not go through another disappointing day where we name it to claim it, grab it to have it, and see it to seize it. If we keep it up we may finding ourselves writing our own book and forgetting about His. Today, let's pray to discover God's will, not determine it. For the same God who appears weak in your situation will soon show "Himself strong" like He did for Peter 3 days later. Later. Pastor G Subject: Just A Word: Keep Growing Date: October 13, 2009 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? (Matt 13:27, 28) Don't be surprised when you give out good and bad springs up all around you. An enemy has done this. Done what? Contaminated your surroundings by sowing bad seed. The temptation is to try to separate the good from the bad; but the problem with this plan is that the bad that is being sown around your good looks like it is good also. Sadly, the enemies' seeds grow. When they grow the weed that it produces looks like the good wheat you have sown. That's when it is hard to tell the good from the bad, the true from the false, the right from the wrong, and the friends from the foes. When you are in a situation like this, be sure, an enemy has done this. When the enemy is doing his job the only thing you can do is keep doing yours. What is your job? Keep growing. There is a time during the growing process that wheat and tare look the same. The only way to tell the difference is to allow the wheat to continue to grow. Eventually there are indicators on the growing wheat that lets the farmer know that it is the real thing. Then he separated the wheat from the tare. Look, you can't afford to stop growing now. If no one thinks you're the real thing at first don't try to prove yourself, keep growing. Eventually, they will be able to see how genuine God has made you as you continue to grow. As your growth elevates then God separates. Today, "don't be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" Whatever you do, keep growing. Blessing, Pastor G Subject: Just a Word: "Iron Sharpens..." Date: October 15, 2009 Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend. (Proverbs 27:17) I remember in elementary school how the chalk would make an irritating noise on the board while the teacher was writing the day's lesson. The sound would send chills down the our spines. Yet somehow we got used to it because we knew we had to learn the lesson. Friendship is the same way. Our best friends are not usually the ones who always pat us on the back, but the ones who send chills down it. They disregard our feelings to teach us lessons that will sharpen our character. On Thanksgiving my father had the annoying tradition of taking the two best knives in the house and scraping them together just before carving the turkey. I was like, "Look, those knives are sharp already." His response was, "They are not sharp enough to do what I need them to do today, Actually, we need to sharpen them more often. They are fine the way they are if you are just serving yourself, but today we are serving others." Whether we admit it or not, we and the people around us all need to be sharpened regularly. This can mean annoying confrontations that we would rather avoid. But to serve better, we must be better. Today, let's not be surprised if someone rubs us the wrong way. They may actually be rubbing us the right way - to sharpen us, and us them. It takes what's strong to make strong things stronger. Iron Sharpens Iron! Blessings, Pastor G Subject: Just A Word: "If Loving You Is Wrong..." Date: October 16, 2009 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith: test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus Is in you---unless of course, you fail the test? (2 Corinthians 13:5 NIV) During this month we are praying for those who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. We have heard testimonies from women who say that they we're able to save their own lives through a simple self examination. They were able to stop the progression of the cancer since they were able to catch it in its early stages. Self examination is a life saver; not only of a person's natural life, but also of his/her spiritual life. Paul told Timothy to, "Study to show thyself approved unto God..." Too often people emphasize the latter part of this verse which talks about the study of scriptures. Yet as we look at the verse again the major point Paul is making to his son in the ministry is that he should study himself to make sure he is approved by God before ministering to others. This of course requires that we use the Word on ourselves before we use it on others. People who have great spiritual lives are great at self examination. This causes them not to judge people harshly, for God will judge us the way we judge others. Today, let's remember that the great commandment is that we "love... God....and our neighbors as we love ourselves." "If loving you is wrong,..don't wanna' do right." Self examination is a way of showing love for ourselves; for in it we save ourselves and preserves us to better love others. It also purifies our praise so that we don't demonstrate hypocrisy when we assemble with the saints in worship. Let's catch backsliding in its early stages and keep it from progressing. Let us examine our ways, and test them, and let us return to the Lord. Let us lift up our hearts and our hands to the God of heaven... (Lamentations 3:40,41) Today's references 2 Timothy 2:15; Leviticus 19:18; Subject: Just A Word: Go Higher Date: October 19, 2009 66From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. John 6:66 As you walk with God you will discover that a lot of people that started out with you may not stay. Don't let a spirit of abandonment overtake you. You are just another "partaker of Christ's sufferings." When Jesus began to give strong un-compromised truth to His disciples, most replied "...It is a hard word, who can bare it?"; and many drew back from following Him. This revealed that most of His followers could only follow Him to a point. They were seasonal disciples. They could never be a part of His overall destiny. You will find eventually that some people don't mind starting with you, but won't be able to finish. This is because they are with you for the wrong reasons. A lot of times people try to associate with you because of what you can do for them. When Jesus stopped talking about giving people "many mansions" and started giving them mandates He suddenly became unpopular. People that have no intention of helping to complete you can ultimately deplete you. Deplete you of the goals and dreams that God has put on the inside of you. When associating with people who turn out to be haters instead of elevators you will have to learn to let them go. If they don't want to go somewhere then you go somewhere. Go higher! When rockets are launched from the earth's atmosphere they at certain points of the journey detach from the parts that were a part of the take off. This is because there are certain parts of the ship that were never meant to go with the astronauts into orbit. They were just created to get them there. There are some people that may be holding you back from going into your next dimension with God. Don't tell them off. Just go higher. The force it will take you to get into your next atmosphere will be too much for them to stay connected to you as you go boldly to where you have never gone before. As the saying goes: If you do what you have always done, you will get what you have always gotten. Today and everyday, determine not to meander in the meadow of the mediocrity. Go higher! Subject: Just A Word: Limited? Date: October 20, 2009 40How oft did they provoke him in the wilderness, and grieve him in the desert! 41Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel. (Psalm 78:40, 41) When Jesus went to his hometown the scriptures declare that "...He could there do no mighty works because of their unbelief." The active word that should concern us in this verse is the term "could". It is amazing what God could do if we would take the limits off of Him. Let's remember, unbelief on the behalf of God's people provokes Him to anger and sets a limit on what He could do for us. Unbelief is an interesting term. It doesn't mean that we don't believe. In a biblical since unbelief means to believe not to believe in the unbelievable. Let that marinate. God specializes in doing the unbelievable. So why do God's people so often not believe? In short, we think that we understand His thoughts. Sometimes we think His thought are like ours. The prophet declares the contrary. "His ways are higher than our ways, and His thoughts higher than our thoughts. That's refreshing! If God thought like us we would have been destroyed a long time ago. Since we know this to be true why do we get to points in our situations where we think that what God did for us before won't do it again, or what He has done for others He wont do for us? The fact is, we can think too much! Think ourselves right out of a blessing. The greatest blessings I personally have received from God came to me when I stopped thinking, and started trusting. Today, let's not limit God. Think B.I.G. today. Believe In God. Not simply that He exists; but that "He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." Don't think, just trust. Subject: Just A Word: It won't kill you Date: October 21, 2009 Art thou not from everlasting, O Lord my God, mine Holy One? We shall not die. O Lord, thou hast ordained them for judgment; and, O mighty God, thou hast established them for correction. (Habakkuk 1:12) I have good news and bad news. I know, the bad news first. Attacks from the enemy many times are not the problem within themselves. They sometimes are symptoms of bigger problems in our spiritual lives. One major spiritual condition that angers God is our decision to compromise. Compromise is a decision not to decide. When it comes to spiritual things there is never any middle ground. Life or death, darkness or light, carnal minded or spiritual minded, and good or evil are the kind of choices scripture gives us. When Israel compromised it invoked the anger of God. This caused Him to allow the Chaldeans to punish Israel. As the prophet points out, "...thou hast ordained them (the Chaldeans) for judgment..." The good news that Habakkuk gave God's people was, "We will not die." When we are punished by our Father it seems like it's forever. What we compromise to keep we will ultimately lose. Subject: Just A Word: Your Test Results Date: October 22 2009 And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham... (Genesis 22:1) Why would God tempt or test someone? It seems very contradictory since James says: Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man..." (James 1:13) However, In the context of Genesis 22:1, God "did tempt Abraham"; but not with evil; Just as He "cannot be tempted with evil". Instead, He is tempting (that is, proving) Abraham's character in order to develop a more intimate relationship with him. Up until this time Abraham has a knowledge of God, but could stand to know Him better. What about us, could we stand to know God better? Since God is omniscient it is obviously He doesn't test us to find out something about us that He doesn't already know. Instead, during the test, we, like Abraham, get an opportunity to know and experience God in a greater way! "The testing of you faith produces patience....that you may be perfect, and complete, lacking nothing." (James 1:4) What we will find during the "testing of our faith" is that God is not endeavoring to deplete us, but to complete us. All he wants is to experience from us a life that we are willing sacrifice to know him better. It is not our sons, but ourselves, "a living sacrifice", that God wants us to present to Him. Abraham's willingness to sacrifice the thing closest to his heart caused him to experience the fact that God didn't want Abraham's son, but Abraham's "sonship". The test results were: (1) Abraham was promoted to become the "father of many nations", (2) we as declared the "friend of God", (3) he came to know God as Provider (Jehovah-Jireh) and, (4) he was able to demonstrate to his son how far you can trust God--All The Way! This is just to name a few. Today as always let's remember; what we are willing to release to God determines what He will release to us. Traditionally, anytime God's people gave God their best to God, God gave them His better than best. Whatever you do today, do your best. You'll be overjoyed when you get you test results! Subject: Just A Word: Wise Date: October 23, 2009 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise. Proverbs 11:29-31 In this day of the mega church there is a emphasis on numbers. So much so that sometimes we forget that nothing God starts starts off big. There was a time when every big congregation was small. However, this means small in number, not necessarily small in significance, Are we guilty of wanting to do something so big for God that we have forgotten that what we consider small may indeed be major to God? There may be one individual in our sphere of influence that God is really wanting us to reach. We may need to stop trying to reach for the mic in church and just reach Mike after church. If winnings soul is a indicator of how wise we are, then are we wise at all. I ask this because everywhere I go ask people personally "how many souls have you won recently". Most people admit that they haven't won one. But the same group of people are "doing something big for God. If we are really looking for something big to do, why not start with something small. "Each one reach one". As our Lord said, "...I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the holy angels or God over one sinner who repents." (Luke 15:10) Subject: Just A Word: Don’t Mind Date: October 26, 2009 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; (2 Corinthians 10:4,5) Don’t let a “Monday Mindset” keep you from being productive today. Monday is also a “…day that the Lord has made…rejoice and be glad in it!” This will require that you use “the weapons of your warfare” to “take every thought” that will try to make you bow under your circumstances. There is no victory without a battle, so win the warfare in your mind. As the saying goes: “It’s mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter! Today don’t mind the people, and the problems that the enemy may send your way. He’s just doing his job; so do yours. Don’t mind. You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You. (Isaiah 26:3) Subject: Just A Word: Grudge Date: October 27, 2009 18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. (Romans 4:18) It's ironic that grudge rhymes with judge. The two are related. When we hold a grudge we have judged that the relationship between us and the other individuals is hopeless. However, what keeps us in tune with God is that we as believers should be those "who against hope believe in hope..." God demonstrated this hope toward mankind when it "repented God that he made man..." Although there was no evidence that man would respond to His death, burial, and resurrection, God against hope believed in hope, and paid the ultimate price for us all. And guess what, it worked! There are countless people whose lives have been changed eternally because God didn't hold a grudge. Instead He judged Himself on the cross. Before we judge a relationship with someone to be hopeless let's ask ourselves, "Have we paid the price to make the relationship work?" God did. The only caution we have to take under consideration is that even in paying the price there is no guarantee that all people will appreciate our sacrifice. But that's their problem, not ours. By doing our best to redeem relationships someone is going to be healed. Even if it means that the only ones that get healed is us, let's be satisfied with that. At least we are free on the inside to know that we did, and are doing our best to against hope believe in hope. Today, let's judge ourselves and pay the price to sweeten relationships that have gone sour. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men (Romans 12:18) Subject: Just A Word: Ready Date: October 28, 2009 21 They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's. (Matthew 22:21-22) As you go to work today keep in mind the separation between church and state. Make sure you give to Caesar what's Caesar's. Do your job well. That is a major part of your testimony as a Christian. That's why Jesus made sure His disciples paid their obligation to the state. Also remember that the doctrine of separation between church and state was not originally developed to keep the church from controlling the state. Is was also formed to keep the state from controlling the church. It's OK for people to know you are a Christian at your job, Duh. Now that doesn't mean that you turn your job into a church. That's a violation of Caesar's law. But it is also a violation of God's law if your don't turn yourself into the church (which you are; if Christ be in you). Don't fall prey to thinking that people's lives can be saved by a social program. Programs can help people to change social conditions like economics, education, etc. Very important! But only God can change the heart. It's no wonder that even Caesar is looking to churches and other church based organizations to change the people's heart's and communities! Today, don't be ashamed of the Gospel of Christ! 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth... (Romans 1:16) 11 I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no Saviour. (Isaiah 43:11) Don't go into work pentecostal postal, guns blazing and shooting bible tracks everywhere. Live the gospel! Live it so much so that people will be bound to ask you questions that are not against the law for you to answer anywhere. Just be ready as Peter put it: 15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: (1 Peter 3:15) Subject: Just A Word: Gift Date: October 29, 2009 Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work-this is a gift of God. (Ecclesiastes 5:19) Anytime you receive a gift stay humble; especially when you receive it from God. None of us deserves the gifts God gives us. The greatest gift that He gave was of course His own life on the cross. Another unmerited gift is that of the Holy Spirit's abiding presence in our lives. Solomon points out that another great gift is the opportunity to enjoy our work. Having a job that we love is a true blessing from God. Do you love your job? If you don't, I wouldn't advise you to leave. During these challenging economic times you may want to fall in love with the fact that you have a job. Getting paid is great. However, getting paid to pursue your God given purpose and passion is better. It is a gift! The first two gifts I mentioned are what we as believers will rejoice about for the rest of eternity; but we only have this life to rejoice about our occupations. Every time you get a chance, meditate about your career. You may find that good will open doors for you to pursue your purpose with pay! Or, you may find that God will show you all kinds of money and ministry opportunities where you are working right now! Whichever opportunity God reveals to you should be received with humility. Remember, there are plenty of people with degrees that hate their jobs or don't have one. When God blesses you with one make sure you bless Him! You don't deserve it. It's a gift! Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. (James 1:17) Subject: Just A Word: Trust Date: October 30, 2009 Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies Psalm 40:4 People should not have to do anything special to earn your love. Jesus loved us "while we were yet sinners..." We did and can do nothing to earn His love. In fact, God loves the sinner just as much as He loves the saints! Think about that. We are commanded, and even constrained by the love of God to love people. But this does not mean that we have to trust everybody. While love is unearned, trust is something that people must earn. Only a fool trusts everybody! During Jesus' earthly ministry He demonstrated love to everybody; but demonstrating his trust was another issue altogether. 23 Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did. 24 But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, 25 And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man. (John 2:23-25) I hate to be the one to tell you, but if you "knew all men" and "what was in man" like Jesus did, you wouldn't "commit yourself to them" either! Committing to men has caused many people to commit suicide, commit manslaughter, to be committed to the mental ward! Bottom line? To be Christ-like is to be committed to loving people, not to necessarily trusting them. Hard pill to swallow? No excuse. Some pills have to be broken down before you can swallow them, you can do it. It is better to break it down than to suffer from a nervous breakdown from trusting everybody. 8 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. 9It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes. (Psalm 118:8, 9) Let's end this week with a Sunday school verse that will bless us if we would just do it: 5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. (Proverbs 3:5, 6) O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. NOVEMBER Subject: Just A Word: Trust (Again) Date: November 2, 2009 At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said to him: "Because you relied on the king of Aram and not on the LORD your God, the army of the king of Aram has escaped from your hand. 2 Chronicles 16:7 Our success is directly related to the people we connect ourselves to. Sad to say, who we tend to run to for security may be an indicator of our personal insecurity. Israel's king Asa made the mistake of hiring troops from Aram to fire back at Judah. But Israel's firing back ended up backfiring on them. The prophet Hanani revealed to Asa that his connection with the wrong people was the reason why what he worked hard for "escaped from (his) hand." The principal once again is: What we compromise to keep we will ultimately lose. It is easy for us to be tempted to find other means and alliances to accomplish what God said He would do for us if we just trust Him. Ultimately we will find that our unwillingness to depend on God will end up losing easily what we obtained easily. Easy come, easy go. The prophet reminded Asa about how God delivered Israel in the past saying: "8 Were not the Cushites [a] and Libyans a mighty army with great numbers of chariots and horsemen? [b]Yet when you relied on the LORD, he delivered them into your hand. 9 For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. You have done a foolish thing, and from now on you will be at war." I'm sorry, but it's true! God always gives us a goal that is bigger than what we can accomplish within our own means. Our problems, and/or God given dreams are usually a lot larger than what we are. God allows this in order to give us an opportunity to trust Him, and see Him work miracles! Today, let's examine who and what we are depending on. If we have some kind of ungodly relation, let's let it go and let God show Himself strong! 9 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is perfect toward Him. (2 Chronicles 16:9) Subject: Just A Word: Change Date: November 3, 2009 14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16) If you are not influencing people, guess what, they are influencing you. What you buy, or don't buy, what you wear, or don't wear, what you say, or don't say, and what you do or don't do are all controlled by people. People who may not even know it. Nevertheless, when people are not changing around you, beware, they may be changing you around. Instead of following trends, God's people ought to be the trend setters. Jesus said, "You are the light of the world..." The flip side to this statement must be that the world is in darkness. Got light? You should. The scripture says "you shall receive power after that the Holy Spirit has come upon you..." That is, power to bring light and change to generation that is in darkness. Power is translated from the Greek word dunamis. This is where we get our word dynamite. Dynamite is nothing but power in potential form. But when it is lit it changes everything around it. 8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. (Acts 1:8) Like dynamite, Christians have power to change their surroundings, but most are just not on fire! Today remember, when light and dynamite come together change takes place. Jesus calls you both light and power. Get yourself together! Create change! Subject: Just A Word: Father Date: November 4, 2009 Too many Christians view prayer as a task. When it becomes a task it is no more than ritual that robs us of a powerful relationship with God. Prayer is simply communicating with God. Better yet, it is communicating with "Our Father". Jesus made sure that His disciples didn't make the mistake of viewing prayer as a task or a ritual when He answered their request: "Lord teach us to pray." By addressing God as Father it emphasizes relationship, family, "sonship", and "daughtership". He's not simply creator and Lord, He's Daddy! Don't go through today whining and complaining like you don't have a relationship with your Father. Matthew 7:11 If ye then, being* evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?* Matthew 7:11 Subject: Just A Word: Stand Date: November 5, 2009 16 At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge. 17 Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me... (2 Timothy 4:16-17) People who don't have your back don't need to be in your front. God has invested too much into your life for you just to put anyone on your team. Especially if they don't have your best interest at heart. Paul put his haters on "front street", as the youth say. Instead of acting like he wasn't hurt by those who were supposed to be helping him, he just called a spade a spade saying, "...Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia... Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works: Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words." 2 Timothy 4:10,14,15 Paul didn't mind name dropping since the people he named dropped him. This was a critical time in his ministry. Their departure was so unsettling to Paul that he felt the need to let other saints know to beware of them. Being passive while people poison your purpose is a terrible way to be. Love and forgive people. Keep your eyes on them as well. Most of all, remember today, there may be times when no one stands with you. When this happens, stand anyhow. You will find that God will stand with you, and strengthen you! Subject: Just A Word: Because Date: November 6, 2009 We love because He first loved us I John 4:19 I'm going to make it simple today. Love God. Not for what he can do for you. Love Him because the sacrifice He paid for us can never be paid back. Not by building a big ministry. Not by giving a big offering. Love God. Not because you want to miss Hell. Let's love Him because he drew "first blood" to show how committed He was to having a relationship with us. He always makes the first move. All we have to do is move toward Him. Today... 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. (James 4:8a) Subject: Just A Word: Get Angry Date: November 9, 2009 26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 27 Neither give place to the devil. Ephesians 4:26, 27 At some point, everyone one is going to get angry about something. The question is not whether you get angry; it is whether angry gets you. Anger can get you out of tune with your spiritual and physical well being. According to Healthwise, anger signals your body to prepare for a fight. This reaction is commonly classified as "fight or flight." When you get angry, adrenaline and other hormones are released into the bloodstream, then your blood pressure goes up, your heart beats faster, and you breathe faster. Anger can get you out of the will of God. It can stem from a person's wrong motives as James records: 1 From whence come wars and fightings among you? Come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? 2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. 3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. (James 4:1-3) Anger can also derive from a spirit of competition as in the case of Cain and Abel: 6 Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it." (Genesis 4:6, 7) Of course, your anger could just stem from wrongful treatment you receive from other people. There are cases of productive anger as exhibited by Jesus as He drove the money changers out of the temple. This is an example of how to "be angry and sin not". But for the most part, anger usually takes us to an emotional realm that can inhibit productive thought and results. We are free to be angry, but anger doesn't set us free. It usually binds us up! Today Remember, when you give "place to the devil" he usually takes over the whole place! So get angry before angry gets you! Don't let the sun go down while your blood pressure is still up! Let God take control of what you obviously can't. Subject: Just A Word: Hated Date: November 10, 2009 If ye were of the world, the world* would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.* John 15:19 No one likes being hated, but being adored by everyone is overrated. Many times when the world honors you there is a role that you have to live up to in order to keep everyone happy. Now, keeping everyone happy is an impossible and undesirable job. Paul put it like this: For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ Galatians 1:10 We may never get an Emmy, an Oscar, or a Golden Globe; but those are for actors who get awarded for portraying someone else. The only thing saints get crowned for is being themselves. The selves that God has called us to be. I know that we give a great deal only to have some people turn their backs on us; but don't expect solely to get your rewards from men. God has a way of looking over those who over look us to make sure he rewards those who diligently seek Him. So today, do... "...thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly" Matthew 6:4 Remember: 9 He that is despised, and hath a servant, is better than he that honoureth himself, and lacketh bread. Proverbs 12:9 Subject: Just A Word: Obtain Date: November 11, 2009 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully. 2 Timothy 2:5 (KJV) 5 Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor's crown unless he competes according to the rules. 2 Timothy 2:5 (NIV) I had a dream several years ago about entering into a track race. I was in a press box type setting with some older men from which we were watching the runners. Some runners were running on the track while others were running off track. I had not even started running and was a little irritated about that fact. With a smile the elders said to me, "Don't worry about who is in front of you. Some are on track, others are off. You just run your race, and stay on the track. You'll be fine." If we lose focus of our God given route we can feel like we are being left behind. Too many times saints get off track through judging themselves by what others are doing. Paul warned the saints at Corinth about this very thing saying, 12"We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise." (2 Corinthians 10:12) What I found interesting about my dream was that I was encouraged not to run against the other runners. I was to run against myself. That is, I was to run against my own will to be ahead! I was encouraged to run my race. If I competed against those ahead of me I would get off track and disqualified since I would not have run according to the rules (lawfully). What is our purpose in pursuing what we pursue; to compete with others, or run to our race?. Paul was so in tune with what God wanted him to do that he was able to say confidently... I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith 2 Timothy 4:7 In this fast paced world we live in we must remember: our life is not about running, it is about how and why we run. Our focus in running is not running just because, but for a cause. We don't run to fight our way to the top disregarding how we get there and who we hurt in the process. We run to have a fuller relationship with God, and with those He has called us to reach. So let's run lawfully, let's run to obtain. Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain 1 Corinthians 9:24 Subject: Just A Word: Focus Date: November 12, 2009 1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, Hebrews 12:1 Focus I have had the enjoyable privilege of coaching various teams from different sports into championships. One of the major characteristics those teams had in common was their ability to focus. That is, focus not on the "cloud (or crowd) of witnesses," but on a goal that seemed unattainable. The teams fought off myopia. People who suffer from myopia, or near sightedness, often say, "I can't see without my glasses." But that's not true. Myopia is not the absence of sight; it is the inability to focus. That is, specifically, the inability to focus on things that are not close to them. It's rather difficult to stay in the race when you can't get a good picture of what's ahead. Focus. If the only thing you can see is what you are going through now you have been stricken with spiritual myopia. It is inevitable, when saints can't see right they end up living wrong. Many often "jump the gun" into relationships, debt, and even ministry before the divine appointed time. Doing right at the wrong time still ends up wrong. Remember, when God is not doing anything around us He is usually doing something in us: Building character. He wants us to add to our faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness love. (2 Peter 1:5b-7) Peter was emphasizing to the saints that the soul must come before the goal, saying, 9"But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins..." (2 Peter 2:9) Do you want to win? Get your mind off the crowd. Only use them for inspiration, not for intimidation. Focus. Don't look at where you are now. See yourself in the future. If looking at yourself doesn't help, look at Jesus. He has already given us an example of where living right will take us. 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2) Subject: Just A Word: Ease Date: November 12, 2009 1 Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria, which are named chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel came! (Hosea 6:1) Relaxation is a blessing from God. Jesus is often found resting in scripture. He also promised to "...give us rest." However, there is a time for everything; and resting when it is actually time to be spiritually attentive is a cause for restlessness! During a period when Israel and Judah should have been on their spiritual p's and q's they were "at ease". A soldier who is at ease while the rest of the soldiers are standing at attention suggests that he has missed an order. Nothing can get us out of order with God like spiritual insensitivity! Even the un-spiritual can detect when a saint is not in cadence with God. Don't be at ease when you should be at attention. Maybe because the mountains of Samaria surrounded them they felt that their defenses were impenetrable. However, David pointed out, it is not the hills that protect God's people, it's the Lord. 1 I lift up my eyes to the hills— where does my help come from? 2 My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. Psalm 121: 1-2 Although they were "named chief of the nations", position is not always indicative of our spiritual condition. Even "spiritual wickedness" has a way of getting "in high places". Thus, position is a privilege; but it is also a responsibility. As the scripture says, "...to whom much is given, much is required" (Luke 12:48b). With whatever position God has blessed us with today, let's be thankful and grateful! Let's rest as much as we can. However, when is time to be to pay attention to our spiritual lives, let's make sure that we are not at ease. Subject: Just A Word: Press Date: November 16, 2009 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. (Phillippians 3:12-14) Have you accomplished something great during the course of your life? Good! But remember, one of the greatest enemies to success is success. Too often, people we a certain degree of success and stop pressing. This is usually because we think that we have arrived. But don't get arrived confused with survived. For no matter how far we've have come, we still have a ways to go. George Vanderbilt's great accomplishment was his establishment of North Carolina's famed Biltmore House. The Biltmore House is a French Renaissance-style mansion near Asheville, North Carolina. The house was built between 1888 and 1895. It is the largest privately-owned home in the United States, at 175,000 square feet. Not long ago I finally got the chance to take my family on tour there. Astounded by the vastness of the houses' square footage, and the immensity of some of its rooms, we left there thinking that Vanderbuilt built-more house than He actually needed. Historians say that Vanderbilt paid little attention to the family business or his own investments, and that the construction and upkeep of Biltmore depleted much of his inheritance. This idea left me with another impression. The biggest room in the world is the room for improvement. No matter how much we have accomplished in one area our lives there remains room for improvement in others. The Apostle Paul thought so. Regardless of the list of accomplishments that this great man of God had on his resume', he didn't consider himself accomplished. "Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus." (Phillipians 3:12) In fact, Paul considered all that he had accomplished at one point to be equivalent in value to manure, saying: "Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.." (Phillipians 3:8) Today, no matter what we have accomplished or are accomplishing, let's be thoughtful and thankful. Thoughtful enough to appreciate the fact God has graced us to do it, and thankful enough for Him to want to do it for us again! Let's remember, no matter how far we have come, yesterday's success is over, today--there is nothing ahead of us but room. Room for improvement. Don't be impressed by your past success; forget what's behind, and press! Subject: Just A Word: Love Date: November 17, 2009 27 But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, 28Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. (Luke 6:27, 28) Sincere love for their enemies is the mark of maturity in a believer. By demonstrating love towards those who hate them and even curse them shows how powerless their enemies are over them. As it is written, “Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.” (Romans 12:20) On the contrary, however, immature believers cause fires to burn on their own heads by responding to their enemies’ maliciousness. Vengeful words and acts against their enemies only reveal that they value the words of their haters over the word of God. His word calls believers the exact opposite of whatever their enemies say against them. So, Whose report will you believe? Today, don’t waste your time trying to respond to what people are saying about you. Wise people can see through your example of love that you are not who your enemies say you are. Remember, love never fails. So again I say, don’t fail to love. 8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away… (I Corinthians 13:8a) Subject: Just A Word: Friendships Date: November 18, 2009 24The man of many friends [a friend of all the world] will prove himself a bad friend, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. (Proverbs 18:24 Amplified) *12And it came to pass in those days, that he (Jesus) went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer* to God. (Matthew 6:12 KJV)** It is interesting that Jesus prayed all night before choosing His disciples. He valued His mission soooo much that He only let those in His inner circle who would actually help Him to fulfill His purpose. Too many Christians pray for houses, cars, money, etc. as if God were deadbeat and had no intention on taking care of His children. It's not like you'll find Him locked up for not paying child support. In short, many saints are praying for things; few seem to be praying for quality friendships. Jesus prayed all night, and in the morning He placed the right kind of people around Him. Granted, they were a tough bunch to deal with, but by the time their three year training session was over, eleven out of the twelve received His Spirit and operated just like Him. Do you have the right kind of friends around you; or do you just trust everybody and tell everyone your business? Who's close to you? Who has your best interests? Who has your back; and who's just got your way-back? Your purpose is sooo important that you can't afford not to pray about your friendships. Don't be a gregarious person that always has to have people around you. Having too many individuals meddling with your destiny can actually be more of a hindrance than a help. It doesn't take everyone in the world getting on your band wagon in order for you to fulfill your purpose. A Hip Hop artist said, "...more money, more problems." Not really, money is not alive. It's the living that bring the drama. The artist would have been more accurate if he had said, "More people, more problems." Today, let less people be more appealing to you sometimes. Jesus started with a multitude of followers; He went down to seventy, then down to 12, then to three. Eventually, He faced His destiny alone, and resurrected to empower 12 again who eventually "turned the world upside down." Let's follow His example and consider less to be more. It doesn't take the whole world to touch the whole world. Nor will it take the whole world to change your world. After all, “If two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. 20For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." (Matthew 18:19b-20) Keep praying, God will reveal to you "a friend that sticketh closer than a brother." Subject: Just A Word: Uncomfortable Date: November 19, 2009 What you are willing to leave is connected to what you will become. Moses left a great nation and became the leader of a greater nation. Abraham left his father and became a father of many nations. Noah literally rose above nations and through his sons replenished the nations. The key to the promotion of all three men was their obedience to God: An obedience that inspired them to leave their comfort zone and press into the completion zone. Comfort is the enemy to progress and completion. Anyone that is consistent in following God will find that He will challenge them to move from comfort into completion. Why? It's the plans that He has for them. 11 “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11) If where you are is the end of your journey then forget everything I just said. But if the Spirit of God is constantly urging your spirit to believe God for more then, duh, there must be more! In my humble opinion, the question is not whether God has more for us. The question is how uncomfortable are we willing to become in order to become all that God wants us to be? After all, God became more than what He already was. He was already God before He died upon the cross. So what would He get out of subjecting Himself to death and humiliation? Us! If having the title of God wasn't enough, He gained another title; Savior! However, in order to become more, God had to first make Himself uncomfortable; beatings, nails, and all. At the end of the day, (three days to be exact), He became... Himself ... the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world. (I John 2:2) Today, just a reminder, get uncomfortable, and birth greater blessings into your life and into the lives of others. Your journey has just begun! Subject: Just A Word: Faint Date: November 20, 2009 9And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. (Galatians 6:9) One day a man took me to his farm to show me around. I rode a horse, played with chickens, and so on. Quite an experience for a New York boy transplanted to North Carolina. What I remembered the most was what the farmer called a Faint Goat. At one point during our little tour he suddenly yelled at the goat and immediately it froze in its tracks and trembled in profound terror! “That there is a Faint Goat. He’ll about faint when you yell at him.” My first thought was how cruel, and I expressed that. A fainting goat is a breed of whose muscles freeze for roughly 10 seconds when the goat is startled. Though painless, this generally results in the animal collapsing on its side. The characteristic is caused by a hereditary called. When startled, younger goats will stiffen and fall over. Older goats learn to spread their legs or lean against something when startled, and often they continue to run about in an awkward, stiff-legged shuffle. Have you ever wanted to give up? When the enemy hits us with one major attack or with a lot challenging issues all at one time, his purpose is to produce spiritual myotonia congenita. He wants us to faint! Pressure has a way of separating the sheep from the goats. Don't let the enemy punk you! For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. (2 Timothy 1:7) Subject: Just A Word: Care Date: November 23, 2009 4And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:4) It has been said, "Rules without relationships breed rebellion." It's true! People have the tendency to listen to people who have developed relationships with them. Leaders at church, leaders at the job, and leaders at home tend to forget this principle. Even if the advice we are giving others is true, it is also true that people don't care how much we know, people want to know how much we care. The vision, goals, and dreams that we want people to buy into may be grand, noble, and even a God send; but people usually buy into people before they buy into their plans. Therefore, the most important part of our plans should be planning on caring about people. Of course, there will be those who will be provoked to anger regardless of how much care we demonstrate. However, the blood is off our hands in such cases. Even in these cases, people know that we love them, they just want to do what they want to do. Eventually, we will find that love never fails if we don't fail to love. When relationships are built on genuine care and love people will love us even for a rebuke. As it is written: 8Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee. (Proverbs 9:8) Remember, before we try to build our dreams, goals, and plans, let's build people. When people know that you genuinely love them--they know that they are not being pimped for our purposes. They know that they are not simply a part of our plan; they realize that our plan is also a part of God's plan for them as well. Today, Care. Subject: Just A Word: Perplexity Date: November 24, 2009 Great leaders discover the greatness of God during the times of great perplexity. Perplexity should not be viewed as a problem, but as an opportunity for God to prove His greatness. During their time of enslavement in Egypt, God's people were forced to produce brick without straw. In a panicked and pained response, Moses inquired of God saying, "Lord, why have you brought trouble on these people? Is this why you sent me? 23 I went to Pharaoh to speak to him in your name. Ever since then, he has brought nothing but trouble on these people. And you haven't saved your people at all." (Exodus 5:22, 23) What Moses was about to discover was that the God that called Him to leadership was just waiting for an opportunity to demonstrate His power! He responded to Moses saying, "Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh. Because of my powerful hand, he will let the people of Israel go. Because of my mighty hand, he will drive them out of his country." (Exodus 6:1) Great leaders are usually confronted with Great problems. However, if it wasn't for their perplexities no one would get the opportunity to see how greatly God's hand is upon their lives. Surrounded by great perplexity? Well, great! God might be trying to turn you into a great leader! So today remember, 8We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed. (2 Corinthians 4:8, 9) Subject: Just A Word: Chance Date: November 25, 2009 23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s command. (Hebrews 11:23) Great leaders take great chances. There are few leaders that have been successful in moving their people to the next level without taking considerable risks. The reason why is because they don't focus on the worst case scenrio. They focus on the upside of their risky decision. Moses' obscure parents played a major role in the deliverance of millions of people by simply raising ththat the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.eir son right. In doing so they took the risk of being killed for hiding their son from the most powerful man in the then known world. The most amazing thing about the whole situation was the fact that they "were not afraid"! Confidence comes to leaders when they make decisions that they sense and know are in the will of God. The richest and wisest man of his day noticed: "...the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all." (Eccleciates 9:11) If you are called to great leadership, be prepared to take great chances. The greatness that will come out of such risk taking can reverberate to generations beyound your lifetime (as in the case of Mose' parents). But as one man said, "...opportunities of a lifetime must be ceased in the lifetime of the opportunity." Today, let's pray God that will give us wisdom to cease our time, and take advantage our chance. Subject: Just A Word: Skill Date: November 30, 2009 29 Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings; he will not serve before obscure men. (Proverbs 22:29) Great leaders develop great skill. If we are called to leadership (and we are), remember, the doors that open or close for us are directly connected to the skill set we have or have not acquired. However, this does not negate the fact that God's plan and hand ultimately determines who will be promoted. 6 For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. 7 But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another. Don't get it twisted, those who He promotes He also prepares. That is, in the area of skill. There are two skills-sets that necessary for believers. First, there are natural skills. These skills make us employable in the secular world. The secular world is where the harvest is anyway. Therefore, it only makes sense that saints acquire what I call harvest skills so the people that need our influence the most will employ us; not because we are great worship leaders, but great workforce leaders. Second, there are spiritual skills. These are skills that we acquire through our experiences with God. Some of these skills God just grants us by grace (we didn't work for them). Other spiritual skills we develop as we overcome trials. Trials that the enemy sends to perplex us, but God allows to prepare us. knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: Today, let's take advantage of every opportunity to develop our skills. Our promotion and the promotion of those we are called to are connected to them. DECEMBER Subject: Just A Word: Ask Date: December 1, 2009 9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning. (Proverbs 9:9) One of the great catch phrases given to the world by the Hip Hop community is, "If you don't know, you better ask somebody". Of course, meaning somebody that does know. Great leaders are great learners. Know one knows everything. Yet, everyone of us has met someone who acts like they do. There is not one successful leader who is successful because he/she knows everything. Great leaders surround themselves with great wisdom so that what they don't know can be communicated to them by those who do. As it is written: 14 Where no wise guidance is, the people fall, but in the multitude of counselors there is safety. (Proverbs 11:14) Are there some things that you are plain stupid about? Find someone who knows what you don't, or you'll get stuck on stupid! Remember, If you are already wise, you will only get wiser. After all, Solomon was the wisest man of his day; but the fact the he didn't write all of the Book of Proverbs suggests that he was not the only wise man of his day. Today, let's surrender to the fact that there are somethings we just don't understand, and we "...better ask somebody." May I suggest: ask someone for a start? 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. (James 1:5) FOR 10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. (Proverbs 9:10) SO 7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you... (Matthew 7:7) Subject: Just A Word: Delight Date: December 2, 2009 7And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. (Matthew 6:7-8) Great leaders have great prayer lives. By having a life devoted to prayer we manifest the fact that we know we are helpless without God. Jesus put it like this: "...apart from Me you can do nothing." (John15:5b) Having great plans and ambition without a great relationship with God is similar to spinning our wheels in the mud. There's a lot of movement, but no progress. It's not how long we pray, it's how strong we pray. This doesn't mean that prayer has to be emotional, it just has to be devotional. It should be considered a privilege and not a pain. It should be rich, and not a ritual. Let's not get it twisted, know that God is not moved by our long range goals and long religious prayers. He knows what we need before we ask! Great prayer lives are not filled with a long list of requests. Like a good parent, God provides necessities without having to be asked. Great prayer lives are filled with thanksgiving. Today, let's focus on praying, not to get anything; But just to say thank you in advance! 4 Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. (Psalm 37:4) Subject: Just A Word: Pressure Date: December 3, 2009 11Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God. ....God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. (Daniel 6:11) Great leaders demonstrate great poise under great pressure. Where no pressure is applied no power is produced. No wonder everyone God calls to leadership usually find themselves under pressure at some point. The key to handling pressure is continuing on like it is not there. No matter how much pressure Daniel faced he maintained his focus. Even when the way he prayed became illegal during his day he continued to pray the same way he did before the laws changed. Face it, If we change every time things change around us then we are not leaders, we are followers. Someone put it like this, "The only thing that is permanent is change". Therefore, since change is a constant we have to find a way to constantly remain unchanged. That is, in what we believe and stand for. One church was so identical to the world in its mindset that the Apostle Paul admonished them saying: 58(A) Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in(B) the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord(C) your labor is not in vain. (I Corinthians 15:54) Paul could confidently talk to the church about remaining unchanged during changing circumstances. Like Daniel he remained steadfast under pressure and was able to testify: "... no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me... but the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength... and I was delivered from the lion's mouth." (2 Timothy 4:16, 17) Remember, great leaders demonstrate great poise under great pressure. Where pressure is applied power is produced. Under pressure? Great! "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger" Today, let's not allow pressure to poison our passion, pollute our purpose, and prophesy us out of position. Pressure can bust a pipe, but pressure also produces pearls! How do we handle pressure? Don't! Put it in God's hands. "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." (I Peter 5:7) Subject: Just A Word: Others Date: December 4, 2009 2And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. (2 Timothy 2:2) Others Great leaders bring the people around them into greatness. Magic Johnson and Larry Byrd came to fame during the same game at the end of their college careers. They left college at the same time to play for the NBA. They both became league MVP's. They played in multiple league all star games. The two also won gold in the Olympics playing on the very first United States Dream Team. Now they have featured exhibits in Basketball Hall of Fame. Larry and Magic also have something else in common. They both brought the people around them to greatness. If ever your God given gifts produce a platform for you, do yourself a favor. Do others the favor of allowing them to stand on the platform with you. Your teammates have greatness in them; it just takes a leader of leader's to bring it out. It is easy to see flaws in others, but great leaders see great flaws in themselves and take great measures to correct them. As Jesus said, "why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? ...cast out first the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye." (Matthew 7:3,5) This weekend, let's meditate on how to bring ourselves and others to maximized potential. Everything that God gives us is not about us. Great leaders see the potential in their teammates and encourage them to be the best they can be. As Paul told Timothy in terms of ministry: Neglect not the gift that is in thee.... Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and others that hear thee. (I Timothy 4:16-21) Subject: Just A Word: Prepared Date: December 7, 2009 If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small. (Proverbs 24:10) Let's be sure that our weekdays are not weak-days. Let's be prepared. Let's be strong. Who knows which days will be filled with trouble? Great leaders have great preparation. They know that great attracts hate. Therefore, they must be strong! They know in advance that adversity is inevitable. Sometimes trouble will come in the form of people the enemy uses like a puppet to be your relentless competitor. Other times your actions will be misunderstood by your own companions. There will also be times when life itself will present challenges that will make you question whether your call is worth all the commotion. Well, it is! Sure, trouble knows your zip code, but remember: Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. (Corinthians 2:9) A major part of our preparation should be our consecration. Consecration brings revelation; particularly the revelation that God has already prepared things for His people long before they even attempt to prepare themselves. By consecration, that is, communing with the Spirit of God, "the things which God hath prepared for them that love him" are "revealed to us by His Spirit." Our knowing the "deep things of God" prepares us prior to our getting into deep trouble. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. (1 Corinthians 10:13) Before we lose our way in trouble remember, He has already provided a way out of trouble. Our preparation through consecration will cause us to maintain our peace knowing the old saying, "Tough times don't last, but tough people do." Let's be sure that our weekdays are not weak-days. Let's be prepared. Let's be strong. ...be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. (Ephesians 6:10) Subject: Just A Word: Comebacks Date: December 8, 2009 For though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again, but the wicked are brought down by calamity. (Proverbs 27:16) Regardless of who we are and how far we have come, we all have something in common. We have all fallen at one time or another: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23) If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (1 John 1:8) Great leaders can make great mistakes. However, it's one thing to make mistakes; it's another thing to allow the mistakes to make us. We can either burn from them or learn from them. Even if we are fortunate enough to be standing now, we must keep in mind that success demands that we remain sober! Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: (I Peter 5:8) Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall... (I Corinthians 10:12) Great leaders can make great mistakes. Samson, David, Abraham, and Noah (to name a few) were all great spiritual leaders of their day; but they also made great mistakes. These same men are recorded in Hebrews chapter 11 for being great men of faith. It was not their fall that moved them from shame to fame; but it was the fact that they fell and had enough faith in God to get back up! Great leaders make great mistakes, but great leaders also make great comebacks! These comebacks move us from vice to victory, from flaws to faith, from trouble to triumph, from stripped to strength, from hell to health, and from coward to powered! After making tons of mistakes during the NBA playoffs, the LA Lakers were down with a fraction of a second left on the clock. Some people had already left the arena because a catch and a shot with that kind of time left on the clock made it virtually impossible for LA to win. The ball was thrown into the net by Derek Fisher and from the three point range his game changing shot was nothing but net! Up until that time that he had made his share of mistakes! Today let's remember that the greatest comebacks of all time are always birthed when a team (or someone) is down and running out of time. Those who know they can't repair their past, but they can fix their future make great comebacks. Are you down? Great! Be thankful you are still alive! And as long as you are alive you have time on the clock. Maybe not as much as you would like, but it's just enough time for a comeback! -Glenn Usry forgiven77@bellsouth.net Subject: Just A Word: Patience Date: December 9, 2009 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. (Hebrews 12:1) We probably all have gone to a track and field event where an official fires a gun to start the race. Maybe you have seen an occasion where a runner jumps the gun and has to start all over again? Even if a runner does everything properly after jumping the gun it does not matter. It does not count. Impatience trips up a triumph. Great leaders possess great patience. They know that they can have a great plan, but they can forfeit its fulfillment by doing the right thing at the wrong time. Races have to be run with patience. We can't worry about whose in front of us. God's people are on the inside lane! Runners on the inside lane start the race behind all the other runners. But because a track is circular in shape the runners placed in front are actually starting at the same place as the ones in the back. It just doesn't look like it. This is why we don't need to look at people; instead we should be...looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). Like a track, the world is circular too. In the world it may look like everyone is ahead of us; but looks are deceiving; especially when we are viewing the world from the inside lane. Today, let's remember that in patience possess we our souls. That is, we remain at peace with God and ourselves because we are not stressed out by what our situation looks like. Let's not look at others and leap into languish. Let's not rush into ruin or fly into failure. Does it look like you are a great distance behind others? Well, great! Great leaders possess great patience. Both race tracks and life have something in common, turns. If we keep our pace we will soon discover when we hit the turns we gain ground on those who look like they are leaving us behind. Let's not judge pace by other people's positions in the race. Let's deal with our own hold backs and sins; and run with patience the race that is set before us. Just wait, things will turn after a while. Subject: Just A Word: Underdog? Date: December 10, 2009 Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident. (Psalm 27:3) When I was growing up one of my favorite cartoons was called Underdog. The character was a mild mannered dog who was always picked on and couldn't punch his way out of a wet paper bag. That is, until he took his pill. After popping his meds he became powerful, and decisive. The message it sent home to me as a boy was that a pill can upgrade you from underdog to unstoppable. Today's society has bought into that concept. There is a pill for everything. Some are important, the rest are made seemingly important by commercials which promise people a better life if you can avoid all of the probable side effects. Too many people who view themselves as underdogs pill-pop since they are depressed over being surrounded by what looks like an insurmountable set of circumstances; but great leaders are birthed out of bad times. Great leaders take great stands against great odds. They don't seem to be good at math. Three Hebrew boys took on an entire kingdom, four lepers ran up against an entire army, 12 apostles withstood an empire, and one shepherd boy fought a lion, a bear, and a giant. All of them had something in common. They won! Underdogs always have an advantage. No one expects them to win! The ones that do, believe that they can. Mohammad Ali is considered by the majority of the boxing world as "The Greatest of All Time". He added, "The prettiest" as well. But what people don't talk about a whole lot is that in the majority of his early fights he was considered to be the underdog. Nevertheless, he would arrogantly parade into rings where crowds were chanting his demise and waiting for him to hit the mat in defeat. Yet the fighters he foiled or floored were defeated before they even entered into the ring. At press conferences and public places prior to fights Ali's mouth had messed upped their minds long before his hits met their heads. Great leaders think great things can happen! They know that the greatest pill is the will. And "where there is a will there is a way." When our will is in line with God's, it can upgrade us from potential pill poppers to serious show stoppers! Are you considered to be a great underdog? Well, great! Maybe God is making a leader out of you. Great leaders take great stands against great odds. Today, let's forget the loud crowds and the bland fans and take a stand! Believers may be considered underdogs but at least we're not dead dogs. For him who is joined to all the living there is hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion. (Ecclesiastes 9:4b) As long as we are alive we have a chance to win! Especially if we can get ourselves to believe it! And as for being called underdogs, cool, every dog has his day! Subject: Just A Word: Failure Date: December 11, 2009 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. (I Timothy 6:12) Failure in anything can cause people to lose sight of their purpose. Many people are homeless, jobless, friendless and even hopeless because they have experienced what they consider to be "end of the world" failures. But no leader has ever waged war without experiencing casualties. Peter, Job, Joseph, and Jeremiah were all great men of faith who all experienced something in common; failure. Great leaders experience great loses. Due to the nature of what we are trying to accomplish, (that is, spreading God's Kingdom culture in the earth) we are going to experience counter attacks from the kingdom of darkness. Betrayals, misunderstandings, accusations, slander, and the like are all par for the course. For... The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and men of violence take it by force. (Matthew 11:12) Make no mistake, the Christian life is a combat zone not a comfort zone. Our enemy is not playing. When we don't arm our minds with this truth failure is inevitable. But we can't allow failures to confuse the facts. The fight is not over. For many of us the fight has not even begun. The bell has not even rung. We're just in sparring matches. Before a major bout prize fighters train with sparring partners. Their purpose is to pound them and pound them until the fighter has learned how to take a punch and punch back. As the fighter persists through his painful conditioning he develops the discipline and the character necessary to become a champion. Likewise, how we go through conditioning now either deters or determines what condition we find ourselves in later. Chumps or champions? Have you experienced great failures? Well great! Maybe God is trying to make you a great leader! Great leaders know that failures don't determine their future. As the saying goes, "we may have lost some battles, but we will not lose the war!" Today, let's consider our problems to be nothing but sparring partners, and our failures simply as trainers who help us not to repeat them in the future. As surely as we have faith we will also have fights. Fight the good fight of faith! Blessings! Glenn Usry forgiven77@bellsouth.net Subject: Just A Word: Keys Date: December 14, 2009 Know also that wisdom is sweet to your soul; if you find it, there is a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off. (Proverbs 24:14) What could be more frustrating than losing your keys? When we don't remember where have put them down their absence can cause our blood pressure to go up! We will tear up the house, and go to great lengths to find our keys! Why? Keys open doors for us that we need opened, and lock up things that we need to keep protected. When keys are lost we lose precious time and end up late for our appointed times. Wisdom is a key, and great leaders possess a great deal of it. No wonder the enemy tries to distract us from receiving wisdom. We shouldn't take it for granted when disruptions happen that deter us from receiving wisdom. Quiet times in the church, home, car, and at work are all targets where the enemy sends disruptions to keep us from receiving the key of wisdom. Before Solomon assumed the duties of his position he did not assume that he knew how to carry them out. As a result he prayed a prayer. He didn't pray for what kings normally look for in order to be successful. Military might, expansion of the kingdom, gold, and silver etc. were not a part of Solomon's prayer. He simply asked for wisdom. In doing so he received more than he asked for! 10 The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. 11 So God said to him, "Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, 12 I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. 13 Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both riches and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. (I Kings 3:10-13) You may know a whole lot, but have you realized that you have a great deal more that you need to know? Well, great! God may be making you into a great leader! Great leaders seek for great wisdom. They go to great lengths, and pray great prayers to find it. Today let's fight off disruptions. Let's commit to not going through another day with a misplaced key. Wisdom is a key! It opens the door to our future. As Solomon said, “It keeps our hope from being ‘cut off!’" Today... See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. (Ephesians 5:15-17) Let’s make time to find our keys! Subject: Just A Word: Doolittle? Date: December 15, 2009 The first one to plead his cause seems right, until his neighbor comes and examines him. (Proverbs 18:17) Remember Dr. Doolittle. He is the fictional character that has the gift of talking with animals. His story is one of the most memorable of all time, and his exploits are great for bedtime stories. But unless we have the call of Noah to start an Ark outreach ministry, Doolittle's adventures do little to help us to deal with one of the greatest tasks of our calling: Dealing with people. Dealing with people is one of the most challenging undertakings of all time. Great leaders are great with people. It is amazing that many people say that they are "called to ministry", but don't like dealing with people. Listen, to all the Doolittle's of the faith: If we can't deal with people, who are we going to minister too? Since there is no commandment to baptize bears, tarry with tigers, counsel cougars, and lay hands on lions, my thinking is that we may be called to minister to people. Just a thought, especially, since trying to do so with animals could either get us a deliverance gig at the circus or an early departure to see our Savior face to face. Even with that said, people are challenging to deal with, true. This is why great leaders have great discernment. They understand what makes the people around them tick; or even stop ticking. They don't take personally the foolishness people can get into and can even direct to them. They know the difference between problem people and people with problems. Great leaders have great discernment. When Solomon was installed as the King of Israel one of his first challenges was to discern between two prostitutes in a case of baby's momma drama. An immature leader would have condemned both ladies for even being prostitutes. Instead, because Solomon had already prayed for discernment before ever dealing with people, he knew that the "first one to plead his cause seems right, until his neighbor comes and examines him." While the crowd was shouting, "Jerry, Jerry, Jerry," the King suggested that the child be cut in half and that a half be given to each woman. Of course, only a hater would want to see someone's dream cut in pieces. Such discernment made the child's real mother easy to identify. Do you feel like you can do-little about the fact that the people around make a great mountain out of a little molehill? Well, great! Maybe God is trying to make you into a great leader! Today, let's be prayerful. Let's be discerning. Let's discern how God wants us to deal with people. Our dogs, cats, and gold fish already love us. Let's develop our people skills. Our promotion in God and in the world is connected to how skillful we are with the people God created. Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings; he will not serve before obscure men. (Proverbs 22:29) Subject: Just A Word: EXAMPLE Date: December 16, 2009 Those things which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. (Philippians 4:9) Example: If people acted like me, how blessed would they be? When I was in High School my teammates and I idolized a certain NBA athlete whose name I will keep anonymous. Somehow our coaches managed to get him to come to one of our practices. To my shock he picked me out of our lineup to help demonstrate one of his favorite drills. Annoying my teammates for weeks I made a bigger deal out of the event than it really was. My admiration for him accelerated dramatically since that practice; that is, until about a month later. A few of my teammates crashed a party in the city and told me that my idol was a “hypocrite.” "He told us to stay away from drugs the day he came to our practice, but he was at this party getting high with everyone else." As a young man trying to leave some bad habits behind me I was devastated by the report. However, the encounter impacted them much more than it did me. From that time forward most of my teammates started getting high regularly. Despite our yearly undefeated record we could never advance past our numerous county championships due to our constant drug abuse. Great leaders are great examples. They know that their position is not as much about them as it is the people that are following them. While growing up around older people I constantly heard the phrase, "...don't do as I do, do what I say do." But when I began to study the scriptures I noticed that the Bible advised the exact opposite. Paul encouraged the church to follow his example, saying... "Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ." (I Corinthians 11:1) As an apostle, Paul understood the child obedience principle: Children don't do what we say as much as they do what you do. So if we really want to get a message across then we must become the message. No one demonstrated this principle better than Jesus. Not only did He speak the word but also became the Word made flesh! In doing so he was able to demonstrate a clear message from the crib to the cross about how much God loves us! Do you get agitated by the great number of people who seem to be following your every move? Well, great! Maybe God is trying to make you into a great leader. Great leaders are great examples; and people of great character need to be copied. Today, let's remember, we have great success before us, but we should be leading greater successors behind us. If we only bless ourselves and not our followers then we are not mentors, we're tormentors. Let's live strong and make those God has put in your lives stronger. Subject: Just A Word: Succeed! Date: December 17, 2009 1 To man belong the plans of the heart, but from the LORD comes the reply of the tongue. (Proverbs 16:1) It is a tremendous gift that God has given us; the opportunity to participate in planning out our destiny. We possess the free will to plot out our prosperity, and be strategic about our next steps. Great leaders are great planners. Being afforded the opportunity of forecasting our future is something that Christians and corporations have in common. But regardless of whether we be a prophet or a for profit, only what God permits will ultimately be prevail. 2 All a man's ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the LORD. (Proverbs 16:2) A major hindrance to the success of our plans is our purpose behind them. What moves us either approves us or disapproves us. What is considered innocent to us can make us guilty before God.. This is because God never judges the moves, He judges the motives. Great leaders have great reasons for doing great things. Because their motives are pure the results of their plans are powerful. Most of all, they please God! Sure, evil doers pull off some stunts that seems like God is backing them. Nevertheless, even if the plans that they have put in motion seem to be anything but short lived they shall ultimately be cut short. Therefore... 1Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. 2For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. (Psalm 37:1) Do you get frustrated because you have great plans that have not yet come into fulfillment? Well, great! Maybe God is trying to make you into a great leader! Great leaders are great planners who have great reasons to do great things! Today, let's not give up on the plans that we have that we know are in line with God's! 3 Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. (Proverbs 16:3) Subject: Just A Word: Mouthy! Date: December 18, 2009 Do you know someone with a big mouth? You know, the kind of person who talks loud and out of turn? I'm talking about the type that interrupt conversations without even saying, "excuse me". The type that don't realize how loud and rude they actually can actually be? Or, maybe you don't know this kind of person because I am describing you? Well, regardless of whether the shoe fits, or whether you know someone who always seems to put their foot in their mouth, being mouthy is a potentially great leadership quality. Great leaders have great things to say, and great boldness to say them. After praying all night long Jesus picked the loud mouthed and presumptuous Simon Peter to be one of his disciples. Overlooking his problem and focusing on his promise, Jesus tolerated Peter's thoughtless outbursts time and time again; looking forward to a time in the future when he could move him from hothead to a head in His church. After one of Peter's rare, but timely revelations concerning Christ's identity, Jesus prophesied to him about his future position as an apostle saying, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (Matthew 16:17,18) However, not long after complementing Peter for receiving such a great revelation about Christ's deity, Jesus had to turn around and rebuke Peter for his lack of revelation concerning Christ's destiny.. He told Peter, "...get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offense unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men." (Matthew 16:23) Here's the deal.. In a world where the enemy has people set up in high offices (even in your office) who constantly and confidently blurt out the wrong things, we can use someone that is willing to stand up and say the right things! Big mouthed people have big potential! The problem is not their tenacity, but their timing and their tales. If God could just get mouthy people to say the right things, at the right times, with the right to the right spirit, to the right people, right results will be the repercussions! Words used the right way are beautiful things. As it is written: 11A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver. 12As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear. (Proverbs 25:11,12) Do you talk a great deal too much, or do you know someone with a great big mouth? Well, great! Maybe God is trying to make you and/or them into great leaders! Great leaders have great things to say, and great boldness to say them! That is, when they allow God to speak through them. When we take time to allow God to use us, we end up using our words the way God intended for them to be used. Isaiah put it like this: 4The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned. (Isaiah 50:4) If we expect people to learn from what we say, we must learn from God what to say. We must learn how to say it. We must say it the way God wants it to be said. Today, before we say anything else, let's say this and mean it: 14Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. (Psalm 19:14) Subject: Just A Word: Pace Date: December 21, 2009 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord. (Romans 12:11) The dwellings of a person who has no sense of urgency and those of a person whose dwellings have been hit by a cyclone have something in common. They both look the same. Slow motion is similar to no motion. Solomon put it like this: He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster. (Proverbs 18:9) Great leaders possess a great pace that eliminates great waste. Pace keeps deadlines from closing in before we are prepared. Pace causes progress that halts haste. Pace voids out the need to cram for examines. Pace removes stress from our daily press because it prepares us to be our best. Slow motion can also be a hindrance to our promotion. Time is a precious commodity that we have be given. We cannot afford to waste it. God opens up doors of opportunities that He expects us to be prepared for. When we discipline ourselves to maintain a steady pace we avoid looking back at missed moments with regret saying, "shoulda, coulda, woulda.” People across the world are enraged because they seem to be going nowhere fast! But a fervent pace causes us to rejoice and say, "I may not be where I want to be, but thank God I'm not where I used to be!" A steady pace also causes us to rejoice in the fact that our progress is steady and obvious. The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, shining brighter and brighter until midday. (Proverbs 4:18) Have you realized that at certain points in your life you were making great strides, but somewhere you lost your great pace? Well, great! Maybe God wants to make you into a great leader! Great leaders set a great pace that eliminates great waste. Today, if any of us have lost it, let’s regain and maintain our pace. Our progress will be encouraging to us and to those God has connected us to. JANUARY Subject: Just A Word: Character Date: January 4, 2010 Blessed is the man that is always fearful: but he that is hardened in mind, shall fall into evil. (Proverbs 28:14) Charisma is a tremendous quality to have. Webster’s New World College Dictionary describes the term as “a special quality of leadership that captures the popular imagination and inspires allegiance and devotion”. The more charisma we possess the more we find ourselves surrounded by crowds. It is also true that the more charisma we possess the more we will find ourselves surrounded by great critics. This is why great leaders who have great charisma must also have great character. Webster goes on to describe character as “moral strength, self discipline, and fortitude”. The main ingredient to great character is integrity. Character has been described as who we are when no one is looking. This description is true! However, this kind of self revelation can sometimes land people into heavy self condemnation. Character and integrity means that we must be people who tell the truth; even if this means we have to tell on ourselves. Several months ago my son received an outstanding grade on a science exam that only he and another student in his class passed. As his teacher proudly called out their test scores while bragging on her two geniuses, my son hung his head and flooded his desk with tears. The teacher moved him into the hallway and asked him about his sudden mood swing. Sobbing between each word he confessed to her that he had actually cheated on the test by looking at the answers of the only other student that passed. The teacher was so moved by his honesty that she rewarded him instead of reproving him. Likewise, God has given every believer a promise: “ …if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged.” (I Corinthians 11:31) Do you have a great following but also have something in your life that you have a great need to confess? Well, great! Maybe God is trying to make you into a great leader. Great leaders who have great charisma also have great character. Today and always let’s maintain the kind of character and integrity that will cause us to be truthful, for: He that hideth his sins, shall not prosper: but he that shall confess, and forsake them, shall obtain mercy. (Proverbs 28:15) Subject: Just A Word: Accountability Date: January 5, 2010 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. (James 5:16) If all you did last year was pay attention to the media, then you may have considered 2009 to have been the year of the scandal. All too often fame and shame have the tendency to go together. This is why great leaders submit themselves to great accountability. Last year Tiger Woods confessed to having multiple extramarital affairs; Mel Gibson ended his 28 year marriage, and soon afterward admitted that his girlfriend, Oksana Grigorieva, was already pregnant; R&B singer, Chris Brown, was taken to jail for his reported abuse of pop star Rihanna; and David Letterman admitted to having adulterous relationships with his female employees. These are just of a few of the most popular scandals of the past year. However, before we point the finger at any of these notable figures we must remember… If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (I John 1:8) We must also consider at least a few people from a biblical perspective. Noah, Samson, and David (to name a holy few) all had something in common with these stars. They all were involved in scandals. They all needed someone to be accountable to. No matter how great a leader’s abilities are, one of his greatest abilities should be his accountability. Of course, people will say, “I am accountable to God and God alone.” But too many people, including many of the saints, have not matured to the degree of a Joseph; who when tempted by Potiphar’s wife daily ran from her shouting “…How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?" (Genesis 39:9b) The scripture goes onto say: And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her. (Genesis 39:10) But those among us who struggle to walk in this degree of integrity should consider being accountable to someone else. Like David, we should a least have a Nathan in our lives who is free to speak correction and direction into our lives. Having someone in our lives that can help lead us from time to time doesn’t make us any less of a leader; especially when we are encompassed by diverse temptations. Do you possess great talent, but also possess great temptations? Well great! Maybe God is trying to make you into a great leader! Great leaders submit themselves to great accountability. Today, let’s not try to be a Batman without a Robin, a Lone Ranger without a Tonto, or a Wonder without a twin. Let’s connect with RIGHTEOUS PEOPLE whose prayers avail much; and to whom we give the freedom to redirect and restore us should we err. Subject: Just A Word: Worship Date: January 6, 2010 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshippers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshippers must worship in spirit and in truth. (John 4:23, 24) Worship is creation’s appropriate response to the presence of God! However, if creation is so grateful to the Great One, then why does God have to seek for worshippers? The answer is simple, sad, but true. Not all worship pleases God. For it is possible to worship-worship and praise-praise without ever worshipping and praising God. Great leaders are great worshippers. They have what God seeks; a people who adore Him not only in spirit, but also in truth. Worship was never intended to be a task, or a ritual in which we are able to twist God’s arm to do something for us because we are such great worshippers. Forget it! We can’t pimp God with our praise! There are two things that God looks at when worship is going forth, first why we offer worship, and what we give as an outer expression of our worship. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. (Genesis 4:5,6) The root word in worship is where we derive our word worth. If why we are worshipping and what we give in worship is not worth anything to us, then it is not worth anything to God. In fact, it shows that in spite of our great spiritual words and works God really is not worth anything to us. When we worship is a real indicator of whether we are real worshippers; that is, people who worship in spirit and in truth. The sad state of many saints today is that they worship only when it is comfortable and convenient. But when the patriarch Job lost family members, friends, and finances; the very first thing he did was worship! Then Job arose,… and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, And said,… the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. (Job 1:20,21) Even though Job’s theology may have been somewhat wrong his heart was right. This fact opened up his spirit to eventually receive greater revelation that turned around for good what the enemy meant for evil. Do you find yourself worshipping the Great One, even when things are not so great in your life? Well, great! Maybe God is trying to make you into a great leader! Great leaders are great worshippers; even during times of great despair. Today, let’s make sure that no matter what hand life deals us we make time to worship. For if we seek God He will respond by seeking and blessing us. That is, if we worship Him in spirit and in truth. So regardless of whatever turns on you, just turn around and worship; and true worship will turn it around! Subject: Just A Word: Conscience Date: January 7, 2010 1Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; 2But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. (2 Corinthians 4:1, 2) Remember the old saying? “The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.” Well, many women found out that this saying is far from the truth; and after dinner, they found their men even farther from their hearts. The truth is, the way to a man’s heart is through his conscience. We can’t expect people to go through conversion if we haven’t first gotten through to their conscience. Great leaders are great catalysts of conversion. This is because they are masters at commending themselves to people’s conscience. Paul explains to the church at Corinth how to do this. First, he said, “…we faint not.” That is, we must have a no quit attitude. Winners never quit, and quitters never win souls. After all, many of us wouldn’t be saved right now if it were not for the fact that someone wouldn’t quit on us. Persistence gets to people’s conscience. Second, “…renounced the hidden things…” When we demonstrate to God that we want to be true to Him we don’t try to cover up our sinful ambitions and motives. We forsake them. People hate a fake; but they can pick out the pure. Purity demonstrated gets to people’s conscience. And third, “commending ourselves…in the sight of God”. When we serve people --as a service to God, people pick up on the fact that we care about them; but it is in relation to the fact that we care about are relationship with God as well. Devotion to God in spite of the devilishness of people gets to people’s conscience. Do you have a great zeal to see a great deal of people converted? Well, great! Maybe God is trying to make you into a great leader. Great leaders are great catalysts of conversion. Today, let’s not lose our zeal to heal! Let’s cause souls to be our goals. No matter how many times ours attempts get rejected by people, we faint not! We received mercy, now let’s show it! And those we cannot please we can at least appease. For by the grace of God, we will have gotten to their conscience. 7When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him. (Proverbs 16:7) Subject: Just A Word: Experience Date: January 8, 2010 1 In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the LORD sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. (Isaiah 6:1) Great leaders are birthed out of great experiences. Moses experienced hearing a great voice from a burning bush sealing his great call. Jacob saw a great ladder with angels ascending and descending in the wilderness revealing to him the great ever presence of God. Ezekiel saw a great wheel in the middle of a wheel which inspired him to the greatness of the prophetic. And Paul saw a great light on the road to Damascus that was the turning point to his great apostleship (just to name a few). But the prophet Isaiah’s great life changing experience took place when one day he simply decided to go to church. Prior to this he had seen the untimely demise of the very decent king Uzziah; but because he continued to worship God, he also saw the Lord! First, this experience caused him to look up. When he did, he was enabled to see the glory of God during a not so glorious time in his life, and in the life of his people. Though Israel was at a low, Isaiah saw… the LORD sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. (Isaiah 6:1b) Second, this experience caused him to look in. When true worship is going on it causes true worshippers to look at themselves inwardly, and not judge other people outwardly. Engulfed in real worship the prophet cried… Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: (Isaiah 6:5) Third, this experience caused him to look out. True worship doesn’t leave you the way you were before. It causes confession. When the prophet admitted to his personal sins he experienced a change that purged him from them and inspired him to reach others caught up in their own. He responded to God’s call, as it is written… 8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, “Here am I; send me.” (Isaiah 6:8) Have you had a great life changing experience? Well, maybe God is trying to make you into a great leader! Great leaders are birthed out of great experiences. If you haven’t, join me in doing something different this weekend. Let’s not go looming around ladders for revelation, or bowing before bushes for a blessing. Let’s not go around worshipping wheels in order to see wonders, or looking for lights to lead us to our next spiritual level. Let’s simply do like Isaiah and go to the temple. If we go with the right spirit we will set ourselves up to get engulfed in a real worship experience that will cause us to look up, look in, and look out Subject: Just A Word: Armed Date: January 11, 2010 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus (Philippians 2:5) Planning on keeping a New Year’s resolution? Well, plan on keeping your mind first. While many Americans spend their lives trying to fulfill the American dream, there are millions of people around the world who just dream of becoming an American. Even with its many flaws, the United States is still considered to be the “land of the free and the home of the brave” by multitudes. What keeps America viewed as a beacon of hope to countless immigrants throughout the world is not simply its way of life, but it is the fact that the USA remains the world’s greatest superpower. Ironically, the thing that causes our nation to experience freedom from war within its shores is its ability to wage war against its enemies with its weapons of mass destruction. In short, America fares well because it well armed for warfare. Great leaders are greatly armed. They know that the enemy is less likely to attack if they have fortified themselves with a fierce arsenal. But great attracts hate, and great enemies attack anyhow. Nevertheless, great leaders are prepared and armed enough to launch a counter attack. The Apostle Peter exhorted believers to arm themselves with the same mind that Jesus possessed. Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind (I Peter 4:1a) For the will of Christ cannot be accomplished in us without the mind of Christ. To achieve the kind of victories Jesus achieved we have to battle the same way He did. And He didn’t waste time battling people; instead he battled and overcame the flesh! Peter continued: ... for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. (I Peter 4:1b-2) Do you often find yourself under great attacks that war against your mind? Well, great! God may be trying to make you into a great leader! Great leaders are greatly armed. Today, let’s remember: Spiritually, believers are the greatest superpower in the earth. But that fact alone will not keep us from being attacked. Before we go any further let’s commune with our minister of defense, the Holy Spirit; and make sure that we have armed ourselves; not with a Bible under our arms, but with an armed mind. Subject: Just A Word: Parameters Date: January 12, 2010 It has been said that “power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” However, my humble opinion is that it is not power that corrupts people. People are pretty corrupt prior to obtaining power. 5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.(Psalm 51:5) 4But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. (James 1:14) Power doesn’t produce corruption. Power just amplifies the corruption that preexisted in a leader’s predisposition prior to ascertaining power. The fact of the matter is: corrupt people corrupt power. This is why great leaders allow great parameters to be placed around their great power. On one devastating occasion David didn’t allow his abilities to be checked by his prophetic system of accountability. He chose not to go to war with the rest of the kings away from home which resulted in wars breaking out in his home. Looking over the wall of his palace he saw another man’s wife and lusted after her to the extent of having her husband killed so he could have her for himself. The prophet Nathan disclosed to David privately his hypocrisy. He further revealed to him the blessings that he forfeited and the problems that would arise in his family as a result of his abuse of power. Is the Holy Spirit revealing to you some great areas of great corruption in your character? Well great! Maybe God is trying to make you into a great leader! Great leaders allow great parameters to be placed around their great power. Today, let’s remember that like any other passion our ambition needs to be checked regularly. An old Hip Hop artist put it like this: “…check yourself before you wreck yourself.” For ambition without parameters is nothing but a pathway to an ambush that brings great leaders to great plunder. Today, if we have not found an accountability partner let’s at least make sure that we are spiritually alert enough to hear the voice of God reminding us of the great parameters that he has placed around our great power. 11Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. (Psalm 119:11) Subject: Just A Word: Composure Date: January 13, 2010 Don't worry about your life..." Luke 12:22 One of the most memorable moments of 2009 was an event that has been called the Miracle on the Hudson. To the awe of people around the world somehow a commercial airline pilot was able to land his plane on the top New York's Hudson River! When being interviewed about accomplishing this great feat that saved the lives of all the passengers on board, the pilot simply expressed that although this was the first time he had ever done anything like this, it was not his first time getting into trouble. He just had to maintain his composure. Great leaders possess great composure. It is the ability to remain calm in the midst of potential calamity. Possessing composure is not only important for us individually, but for everyone that is on board in our lives. Our children, churches, businesses, boards, friends and future are the great beneficiaries of our great composure. After being constrained by Jesus to get into a boat and "go to the other side" the disciples found themselves in the midst of a terrible storm that threatened to take the life of everyone on board. Predating the miraculous feat on the Hudson, Jesus put his feet on the waters and walked as if he were on land to fearful followers.. After encouraging one of them to come to Him on the water He ended up having to rebuke him for his lack of faith and composure. Do you feel like God has greatly constrained you to get into a situation that has gotten you into great trouble? Well, great! Maybe God is trying to make you into a great leader! Great leaders possess great composure. Today, let's remember not to trip over the trip that God has sent us on. If He has constrained us to go to the other side then that's what he expects us to do. This is not the first time you have been in trouble! Trouble is invitable, but composure is essential. Possessing it will save us and everyone on board in our lives. 6 Don't be worried about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Phillippians 4:6-7) Subject: Just A Word: Formula Date: January 14, 2010 This is what Hezekiah did throughout Judah, doing what was good and right and faithful before the LORD his God. 21 In everything that he undertook in the service of God's temple and in obedience to the law and the commands, he sought his God and worked wholeheartedly. And so he prospered. (2 Chronicles 31:20-21) Hall of Fame coach, Vince Lombardi, was asked about the formula that made his football teams so great. I'll paraphrase his response by saying that success is not something that just happens. Success is a habit that you acquire by practicing the same great things a great deal of the time. I can't help but agree. For no one has ever disproved this fact: There is a cause for every effect. Greatness is not some haphazard happening. No great project or great people become great without there being a great cause. And that cause is usually a commitment to doing the same great and necessary things over and over again. This is why I say great leaders have a great formula that is responsible for their great success. Great performances are the result of great practices; great recipes are the foundation of great restaurants, and great architects are responsible for the construction of great architecture. As King Hezekiah demonstrated, his great prosperity was linked to his great passion. It was his passion to do what was right in the sight of the Lord over and over again. "...he sought his God and worked wholeheartedly. And so he prospered." (2 Chronicles 31:20-21) In many cases the lack of consistency of many of us as believers can cause us to see limited prosperity. Prosperity comes from a Hebrew word that means more than wealth accumulation. It means to break forth mightily. This should suggest to us as believers that no matter what we are confronted with we must maintain our commitment to the things of God. That commitment will cause us to break out of limitation into jubilation! This strong commitment will cause us to prosper. As God told Joshua, "Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go." Have you noticed that you experience great success when you commit yourself to practicing the same great spiritual habits a great deal of the time? Well, great! Maybe God is trying to make you into a great leader! Great leaders have a great formula that is responsible for their great success. Today, let's remember that it is the little things we do that make big things a done deal. If consistent prayer, perseverance, and passion for God have caused us to see breakthroughs in the past, then why do we stop these practices in the present? Let's commit ourselves to being over-comers by practicing the same great things a great deal of the time. That's the formula. Subject: Just A Word: Greatest Date: January 15, 2010 13And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. (I Corinthians 13:13) Having an organization full of people with great gifts does not guarantee great success. Great leaders are great at treating their followers great! Many Asian companies understand this fact, and as a result have created work places that don't seem like places of work. Several of their major corporations have gone to great lengths to provide state of the art recreation areas, exquisite restaurants, and even tranquil saunas for their employees in order establish a work environment that makes them feel good about being a part of their organization. American corporate giant Google has spared no expense in producing similar employee friendly work spaces; and as you know, their success is nothing less than historic! In short, a leader's success is directly related to how he or she successfully treats people. If even novice scholars were to overview the context of the apostle Paul's letter to the church at Corinth they would quickly conclude that it was a great church with great potential hindered by great problems. The greatest of them was love; or better, the lack there of. The lack of their love for each other was at the root of all of their other issues. It obviously sparked members to report to the apostle the need for his guidance and intervention. Paul sharply rebuked the church membership for demonstrating an abundance of God's gifts while operating with an absence of God's love. His take on it was 8Love never fails But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away… (I Corinthians 13:8a) How is it possible that the organization that was birthed by love so often struggles to give birth to it? Some church leaders have gone as far as to suggest that Haiti got what it deserves without considering the fact that other nations are filled with corruption, witchcraft, abortion, and abuse and rarely experience a serious hail storm, much less an earthquake. Can you think of one? Are you great at treating people great? Well great! Maybe God is trying to make you into a great leader. Great leaders are great at treating their followers great. This weekend let's not go to church and gloat over our gifts. Let's be concerned with giving the greatest of them all to the Red Cross, Save the Children, Feed the Children, or just the children in your church or neighborhood whose home and hope has experienced and earthquake. "...the greatest of these is love" Subject: Just A Word: Pats Date: January 20, 2010 6 Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets. (Luke 6:26) Not everyone that pats us on the back has our back. Some of the greatest incite that we will ever receive will come from those who will punch us in it! Great leaders learn greatly from their greatest critics. Look, if we are going to advance in life we are going to have to come to the realization that it is very possible for people to criticize us without being negatively critical. The etymology of the term criticism reveals that the word doesn’t have to be viewed as a negative. There is such a thing as constructive criticism. The proverb writer put like this: As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another (Proverbs 27:17) We may be sharp, but do we have someone in our life that can make us sharper? All too often there are many of us as believers that are too busy to pray the kind of prayers that will make us critical of our own course and character. This is the time when constructive critics are pivotal to our progress and prosperity. Let's embrace the following truth: Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. (Proverbs 27:6) Are you in the midst of constructing a great vision that demands great responsibilities, and could use the assistance of a great critic or two? Well great! Great leaders learn greatly from their greatest critics. Today let’s remember, not everyone that pats us on our backs has our back. It is the people that are willing to wound us that cause us to win; and those who simply kiss us that cause us to sin. Wounds heal and kisses kill. As wrong as we can be, we can use critics to make us as strong as we can be. Thank God for our constructive critics. They help us to remain accountable, productive, and humble, because they don’t give us pats when we need to be pounded. Subject: Just A Word: Open Date: January 21, 2010 Open rebuke is better than secret love. (Proverbs 27:5) Like it or not, it is undeniable that Walmart is one of the most successful franchises ever. Most people would probably agree that it is due to the fact that is a virtual one stop shop where they can get everything from tires to a can of tuna. However, the corporate icing on the cake, which has pushed this organization into prominence, is the fact that most of its stores stay open most of the time. Here’s the deal, like Wally World we as believers may have all the goods, but if we don’t remain open no one can get the goods out of us. Great leaders are great at staying open; especially when they have to make great decisions on the behalf of a great deal or people. When we are hell bent on making the wrong decisions it is amazing how many people are willing to help us in doing so. Remaining open guards us from making the error of ignoring the minority report. When faced with the possibility of waging a great war, King Ahab needed some great advice. 6 Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said to them, "Shall I go to battle against Ramoth-gilead, or shall I refrain? " And they said, "Go up, for the Lord will give it into the hand of the king." Although the majority of Ahab’s advisors supported his decision, in an effort to keep his colleague open and accountable, Jehoshaphat, King of Judah asked… “Is there not here another prophet of the LORD of whom we may inquire?" The king’s frustrated response was: "There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of the LORD, Micaiah the son of Imlah, but I hate him, for he never prophesies good concerning me, but evil." In short, Michaiah eventually was permitted to prophesy; and true to form his minority report predicted the defeat of King Ahab. The enraged Ahab remained closed minded and fought off the advice of the prophet and King Jehoshaphat to his own demise. Are you open enough to allow someone to tell you a great truth that may be greatly contrary to your great plans? Well, great! Maybe God is trying to make you into a great leader! Great leaders are great at staying open; especially when they have to make great decisions on the behalf of a great deal or people. Today let’s remember; not everyone that pats us on the back has our back. Although we may have the favor of the majority of the people we know; we must also know that most people are too close to us to tell us the truth. Let’s remain open to the Holy Spirit and our accountability partners who are in tune with Him. They will make sure that out of all the favor we receive, that we receive the favor of God! Subject: Just A Word: Likewise Date: January 22, 2010 3 I tell you, No: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. (Luke:13:3) I was waiting for it to happen. I knew at some point a professing Christian leader would call President Obama the Anti-Christ. Many likewise called Bush and Reagan the same, even though they took moral stances that were to the contrary of our present commander and chief. Likewise, I also was waiting for theses same kind of Christian leaders to say that God was judging Haiti for its religious practices. While it may be true that Old Testament prophets often spoke against nations and pronounced judgments on entire cultures because of their wicked rituals; the question remains: Would Jesus get on TV and say that the thousands of people killed by this horrific earthquake were all sinners?” Listen, great leaders do a great job at expressing great truth with great love. I don’t recall a Christian leader saying that God was judging America when thousands of people were killed during the terrorist attacks of 9/11; and that everyone who died during this tragic day were wicked. Likewise, in 2005 after the Indonesian tsunami the Ministry of Health put the number of dead at 122,232, with 113,937 missing. Would Jesus have told CNN that all of these victims were guilty of being wicked and well deserving of their punishment? Look, preaching the word is more than saying what God said. It is saying what God said in way and spirit in which God wants it said. During the 1st century A.D. Jesus shed light on a human tragedy of His day stating: “…those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem ? 5 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:4,5) During this unforeseen calamity Jesus expressed the great truth that no great nation is existed without great sin. Likewise, I am sure that it was off the backdrop of scriptures such as Luke 13 that Evangelist Billy Graham stated “If God does not judge America He will have to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah .” Hey, even if you don’t agree with Graham’s statement I would caution you not to ignore the statement by our Lord: “…repent (or) you will likewise perish.” I think it is important that regardless of the truth and/or our opinions about tragedies, we know one thing to be for sure. Natural and human disasters are serious wake up calls. They are wake up calls that should cause us all who are guilty of sin to repent keeping in mind that, “There but for the grace of God go I”. Are you great at expressing great love towards people who have experienced great tragedy? Well great! Maybe God is trying to make you into a great leader! Great leaders do a great job at expressing great truth with great love. Today let’s remember, even if we think we know why something terrible has happened to someone else let’s think about this: Is it wise and loving to express judgment; or to express love? When our knowledge fails, love never fails. We just fail to love. We also fail at times to understand all of God’s ways, like, why does He allow certain terrible things to happen? However, we as believers should never fail to understand His will. That is, He is … not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9b) PS: Shout outs to all of the people, organizations, and churches who are seizing the opportunity of the Haitian dilemma to express the truth and the love of Jesus! Subject: Just A Word: Bondages Date: January 25, 2010 3 Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: His going forth is prepared as the morning; and He shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth. (Hosea 6:3) One of the greatest escape artists of all time was a gentleman named Erich Weiss. Better known as Harry Houdini, Weiss is reported to have astounded the masses by not only escaping from diverse entrapments that he created for himself, but also by managing to escape from handcuffs created by his audiences. Weiss’s allure and fame can be attributed to the fact that he exposed his apparent bondages to droves of spectators and then miraculously escaped. However, I would like to submit that the greatest bondages that exist are not the ones that audiences can see, but the ones that they can’t. Great leaders overcome great bondages. Since the beginning, sin has reigned supreme as the greatest of bondages mankind has been snared by. But one of the most interesting things about sin is that it was birthed out of something that can be a bondage itself; assumption. Many of us as believers have been hindered from walking in the blessings of God because of our assumption that we know what God is not willing to do for us. This was the first deception from the enemy: 4 And the serpent said unto the woman, “Ye shall not surely die: 5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:4, 5) As in the creation account, today the enemy is still cunning enough to cause the very people that God has blessed to assume that God is not willing to further bless us beyond what we have experienced. This assumption also includes the idea that blessings that we have already received are not sufficient. Remember, this assumption caused the very angels of heaven to leave the greatest position and blessing anyone could ever strive for; heaven! 4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: (Revelation 12:4) Listen, if the enemy could cause angels to assume and be removed from their place in heaven how much more could he not deceive those who have never been? This is a call for sobriety! Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: (I Peter 5:8) Have you been greatly bound by the enemy with an assumption that could cause you to abort your great blessings! Well great! Maybe God is trying to make you into a great leader. Great leaders overcome great bondages! Remember, we have been redeemed by a Savior who exposed His wounds and bondages to droves of spectators; but on the third day miraculously escaped! Today, let’s escape bad assumptions. We don’t have time to assume to know what God is not willing to do for us! Instead, let’s take Hosea’s advice to “…follow on to know the LORD.” For there is one thing we can safely assume: …it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. (Luke 12:32) Subject: Just A Word: Prudence Date: January 26, 2010 A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished. (Proverbs 22:3) One of the great attributes of many believers is their commitment to responding to people’s calamities. Reacting compassionately to other’s problems is a great passion of God’s people. But we must make sure that the enemy doesn’t take advantage of us and turn our passion into our problem. Great leaders are involved in great activities; and of one their greatest activities is their prudence in acting proactively Know that the enemy studies how we respond to situations and can create lying circumstances that can cause us to misuse energy - reaching out to people who want our attention, but not our help.. As the scripture says: The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going. (Proverbs 14:15) By getting caught up in a vicious cycle of always being reactive and not proactive we can easily cause our fire to fizzle down to fumes. This is because not all activities lead to productivity. Prudence is our capability of being cautious and discreet in our conduct and activities. It is our ability to foresee problems and prevent them from reaching their fulfillment. Can you see where people can take advantage of your great passion- pulling you away from your purpose? And are you aware of the fact that not all of your great activities are leading to great productivity? Well, Great! Maybe God is trying to make you into a great leader! Great leaders are involved in great activities; and of one their greatest activities is their prudence in acting proactively Today let’s remember Benjamin Franklin’s old saying: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. In short, prevention is the cure! And biblically, let’s consider Solomon, the writer of these proverbs we have reviewed today. He was able to successfully establish a kingdom that never experienced a war! He did it by being prudent and proactive. Being prudent and proactive is not simply doing what Christ likes, but it is being Christ-like. Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high. (Isaiah 52:13) Subject: Just A Word: Finish Date: January 27, 2010 I was overwhelmed just looking at her. After she had completed the ton of homework spread across the living room table I glanced at the clock realizing it was already about 11pm. She had been up since 6am preparing for a non-stop school day which included her playing a school basketball game a couple of towns away after school. But it wasn’t until she said to herself out loud, “I’m hungry!” that I realized that she hadn’t touched the food her mother left for her in the kitchen several hours earlier. If that were not enough, there was a pile of dishes left for her to wash in the kitchen sink. Suddenly, a sigh of relief came out of her mouth along with a “Thank you!” She saw my hands in the sink busting suds on her behalf. “No problem”, I replied. I felt that it was the least a father could do for his hard working child. Hey, I felt led today to tell you that I am not a great parent. Whatever good thing I end up doing for my children pales in comparison to the great things God does for His! Jesus put it like this: If you then being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children: how much more will your Father who is in heaven, give good things to them that ask him? (Matthew 7:11) No matter how committed we are to our tasks, we should remember that God is not a cruel task master. It is ultimately He who steps in and completes our jobs for us. Not only does He complete our works for us, but He also completes His work in us. Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: (Philippians 1:6) Today let’s remember. We may be involved in the tasks of planning, projections, procedures, and even preaching, but it His anointing and favor that finishes the work for us. Even if we have great faith, remember, He is the author and the finisher of that too (Hebrews 12:2)! Today and always, let’s just be faithful, and He will finish! Subject: Just A Word: Tenacity Date: January 28, 2010 28 "Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? 29 For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.' (Luke 14:28-30) Several years ago I was looking to make a little money on the side, so I took a job with a private cleaning company. The contract I remember the most was the one we landed with the Billy Graham Training Center in Asheville, North Carolina. On the way to our first worksite I admired the brilliant architecture of the newly constructed conference center and lodging areas as they harmonized with the backdrop of Black Mountain. Once we walked into the vestibule of the first dust filled lobby reality set in. We were here to work, not worship. Although the construction company did an outstanding job in building, nothing they had done could be considered complete without the work of finishers. Great leaders are great finishers. This is because they have great tenacity! Tenacity is the determination to see a commitment through to completion. There are tons of people who are great at starting marriages and ministries, banks and businesses, families and even fights; but they are not able to finish. All too often organizers and organizations have great plans as well as people with great talent; but it is their internal tenacity that determines whether they will have a great finish. In the aforementioned parable of the tower, Jesus illustrates that the builder must first sit down and estimate the cost. In context, He was not trying to get believers to take up a course in tower construction. Instead, He was admonishing them to evaluate whether they had the tenacity to fulfill the requirements of discipleship. Don’t get it twisted. Building a relationship with God is not for punks. It is for people who are willing to do what it takes to walk in power! As it is written, Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. (Ephesians 6:10) Our Lord gave at least three areas in which we are to count up the cost: “…."If anyone would come after me, he must (1) deny himself and (2) take up his cross and (3) follow me.” (Luke 16:24) Obviously His pupils deemed it relatively easy to start following Christ as long as He was frying fish and turning water into wine; but as Jesus reached the climax of His earthly ministry they found it rather challenging to finish. Are you great at starting but have realized that it is going to take a great deal more for you to have a great finish? Well, great! Maybe God is trying to make you into a great leader. Great leaders have great tenacity that causes them be great finishers! Today let’s remember our commitment to (1) self denial, (2) cross bearing, and (3) following Christ; especially when we don’t like where He is leading us. Remember, He will not only instruct us, but empower us with the tenacity to finish! 8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. (Acts 1:8) Subject: Just A Word: Remnant Date: January 29, 2010 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the remnant of Israel, and such as are escaped of the house of Jacob, shall no more again stay upon him that smote them; but shall stay upon the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, in truth. (Isaiah 10:19-21) One of the easiest things to do is to fall into doing what everyone else is doing; but it is also one of the easiest ways to fall short of the glory of God! According to Matthew chapter 7 verses 13 through 14, Jesus revealed that: “…broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” This is why great leaders are a part of a great remnant. The biblical definition of a remnant is the minority of a large group of people who chose to remain faithful to God while the majority does the opposite. What tempts people from teens to teachers, children to church leaders, and sibling to senior citizens to conform to what everyone else is doing is the pressure to belong the majority. It even seems true that if most people are consumed by certain lifestyles and mentalities then they must be right. However, Solomon warns us that: There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. (Proverbs 14:11-13) Not long ago I had the opportunity to be a part of an organization that does great things for countless thousands of people. To my amazement the majority of the work was done by a minority of committed individuals. Are you a part of a great minority of people who have a great commitment to God? Well, great! Maybe God is trying to make you into a great leader! Great leaders are a part of a great remnant. It is that remnant that causes great favor to fall on a great deal of people. Today let’s remember, it is great to get along with everyone; but sometimes the reason we can’t fit in is because God doesn’t want us to get in! However, let’s not be self righteous; that produces cults. But let’s make sure that we keep ourselves righteous; that produces results. As James said, “…the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” (James 5:16b) Let’s make sure that we are a part of God’s holy remnant remaining faithful to God. If we are, then let’s pray for the majority that more and more of them will take on the spirit of the remnant! FEBRUARY Subject: Just A Word: Focus Date: February 1, 2010 3 Because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked: for they cast iniquity upon me, and in wrath they hate me. (Psalm 55:3) There are two things that are inevitable when we develop relationships with a great deal of people. There will be those who befriend us and those who betray us. What will cause us to have great success when we experience the latter is our ability to maintain great focus. Even when they have experienced great betrayal by those they considered to be great friends; great leaders maintain great focus! At some point it will be our turn for someone to turn on us. Betrayal can leave a wound that has the potential of causing us to get off course. In fact, when the writer of Psalm 55 was overwhelmed after experiencing betrayal he wanted to FLY off course: 6 And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest. (Psalm 55:5) The Psalmist was outdone due to the fact that it was someone he considered a friend that put the proverbial dagger in his back. 12 For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him: 13But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance. (Psalm 55:11-13) Reminiscing on this relationship gone sour, the writer reveals that not everyone who worships together can work together; and not everyone in we keep company with are ordained to be our companions. Remembering the good old days he states: 14 We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company… Regardless of having church together the writer discovered that his prayer partner didn’t really want to see him pray; instead he saw the Psalmist as prey: The Psalter further describes his false friend like this: 21 The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords (Psalm 55:14, 21) In the midst of all of this the writer was able to maintain focus and he ended up writing this song about this situation. Listen, we have won when we can sing victoriously over drama that used to make us sad! Are you maintaining great focus despite experiencing great betrayal? Well, great! Maybe God is trying to make you into a great leader! Even when they have experienced great betrayal by those they considered to be great friends; great leaders maintain great focus! Today let’s remember, it’s not so much about the people we call friends; it the fact that we are called by God regardless of our friends. Let’s reflect on the Psalter. Although he was blown away by the actions of his hater he maintained focus on his calling; advising us as believers to deal with betrayal the following way: 22 Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. (Psalm 55:22) Subject: Just A Word: Instruments Date: February 2, 2010 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. (Romans 6:12-14) I will never forget spending good money on a quality soprano saxophone. The one I purchased was considered to be one of the best in the business. One small problem though, I couldn’t play! When I did play it sounded like I had broken it. So here’s the deal, an instrument is only as good as the person that plays it. Great leaders lend themselves as instruments to those who can demonstrate their great worth. Unlike a soprano sax, we can choose who uses us. Just let me play on words a little to share my point. When youth in the streets say that someone played you they are saying that your naivety allowed people to take advantage of you. When people don’t care or understand your worth, but want what they can get out of you, they are playing you. The people that are most likely to be played are those individuals who don’t value themselves. One of the Apostle Paul’s points to the church at Rome was that they needed to perceive their self worth! By yielding to sin the way they did prior to their conversion they were allowing themselves to be played by enemy. Even more so, they were guilty of playing themselves by yielding their members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin. Face it, the battle against our old sinful habits and our new life in Christ has been and will be an ongoing battle. But it is a battle that we must fight and win! If not, the enemy will play us. Although being played by the enemy may seem enjoyable for a while, it will only cause use to perform out of tune; in life, our relationships, in ourselves, and with God. Eventually in his letter to the Romans Paul admonishes the saints to render their bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing unto God, for it is He who knows our true value and how to bring us into His good, acceptable, and perfect will. Do you have great determination to be used as a great instrument for God? Well, great! Maybe God is trying to make you into a great leader. Great leaders lend themselves as instruments to those who can demonstrate their great worth. Today, let’s commit ourselves to making sure that we don’t allow the enemy to play us. Let’s make sure we don’t go through prayer-less days that end up being careless days. Instead, let’s yield our hearts to God’s skillful hand. The result will be a life that will play out like an award winning song that receives honor in the end. Subject: Just A Word: Free Date: February 3, 2010 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. (Galatians 5:1) The Emancipation Proclamation declared to countless multitudes of people from African descent the fact that the United States government no longer considered them to be slaves, but free! However, the questions that immediately had to come to their minds were, “Free to do what?”, and “Free to go where?” Having only a law, but no land, luggage bags, or limousines to escort them into their new freedom, the bulk of these people, instead of risking the danger of crossing state lines, stayed in the only state in which they were familiar; slavery. Similarly, if our former way of life is all that we know to hold on to, no act, or acclamation concerning our freedom will indeed free us until we free our minds. Great leaders break free from what is greatly familiar into great freedom! They are able to do so by freeing their minds and the minds of those around them. In the boxing world there is an old saying: “Where the head goes the body will follow.” It is no wonder that the enemy constantly hits believers with head blows. That is, spiritual blows to the mind, making them think that they are not really free from the lusts, relationships, and other bad decisions of their past. After constant failure in their walk with God they come to the conclusion that they may as well give up. Then they go back to their old familiar lifestyle thinking that they cannot endure the fight that it will take to walk in their freedom. Ergo, where the head goes the body follows; all the way back to the spiritual plantation of the past. Jesus’ act on the cross closed the deal on our emancipation, so much so that He declared from it His emancipation proclamation, “It is finished!” In an effort to help believers understand this, and not to go backwards in their faith, the Apostle Paul admonished the church at Galatia to stand strong and not get entangled again in their former slavery. The old law required circumcision and religious practices that were only foreshadows of the freedom that Jesus accomplished at Calvary. He further encouraged new believers to get away from those religious folk that were trying to bring them back to their old way of life under the law reminding them that, “…Christ has made us free”. He has emancipated us! Do you know that you have been greatly emancipated, but find yourself in a great fight in order to maintain your great freedom? Well great! Great leaders break free from what is greatly familiar in order to walk in great freedom! They are able to do so by freeing their minds and the minds of those around them. Today, no matter how negatively may feel about your future, let’s not take a pilgrimage into are past! Let’s be bold and fearless enough to know that freedom may require us to fight to maintain it. But it is better to fight to remain free than it is to be passive and find ourselves bound up again in the familiar frustrating plantations of our past. Let’s stand fast! Let’s stay free! Subject: Just A Word: Continue Date: February 4, 2010 31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, “If ye continue in My word, then are ye My disciples indeed; 32And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:31, 32) It is not what you start to do, but what you continue to do that will determine your destiny. One historic figure in history knew this truth all too well. Although she was not a towering figure at only 5ft tall, her fame towered over masses of her contemporaries. Having been beaten and whipped countless times by various plantation owners, Harriet Tubman’s blows battered her body, but obviously not her spirit. Despite the fact that she suffered from seizures, migraines, and hypersomnia for most of her life, none of her disabilities disabled her from being instrumental in freeing hundreds of men, women and children from slavery. After having escaped to the north herself, Tubman continued to journey back down south to lead her family, friends, and other captives to freedom. Her exploits were easier said than done, however. The hardest part of her undertaking was convincing people with slave mentalities that freedom was worth the fight. In my humble opinion, her greatest attribute was her ability to encourage people through her words to continue on until they were free in their mind, body, and spirit. Great leaders are great at causing others to continue on toward a great future. Preexisting as the King of all creation, He had no need for the kindness of humans, or the fellowship of humankind. 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: (Philippians 2:6, 7) He was born in a manger; a carpenter by trade, but a deliverer by birth. And thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins (Matthew 1:21) Who, being free Himself, made Himself a servant so that servants of sin could become sons and daughters of God. Although He is known in two worlds, the natural and the spiritual, as the one who freed Himself from death, His most significant attribute, as far as we are concerned, is His ability to make us free. He made the process so simple to understand by the use of one word, continue. You see, it is not whether we simply start following His word. It is whether we continue that will determine our destiny. He revealed that by continuing in His word we would know the truth, and the truth would make us free. When faced with great opposition are you still great at continuing in His word? And when others are bound by great circumstances do you use your words to encourage them to continue into greatness? Well, great! Maybe God is trying to make you into a great leader! Great leaders are great at causing others to continue on toward a great future. Today let’s remember, too many people have given up on the word of God in which they have started. But the promise of freedom is not for those who simply start, but for those who will continue. I know it gets challenging sometimes, but let’s continue. Our future and our freedom are worth the fight. Subject: Just A Word: Timing Date: February 5, 2010 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: (Ecclesiastes 3:1) After blowing an engine recently in our 2002 Nissan, I had a low mileage used motor put in. It started fine when it was cranked, but the ride was rather rough. Before taking the engine back we decided to take it to the service department of a local dealership. They diagnosed what was causing the missing problem. The timing was simply off. Listen, we can do everything right, but when our timing is off, we may as well get ready for a rough ride! Great leaders have timing. All too often we find ourselves missing God due to the fact that we have done the right thing at the wrong time. Rough riding marriages, ministries, and money problems are not always the result of an attack by the enemy. Sometimes we just have to admit it’s not the enemy, but just me o’ Lord standing in the need of prayer. That is, prayer for patience and perception to, as the song says, know when to hold up, know when to fold up, know when to walk away, and know when to run. Have you finally realized that you have wasted great talent by attempting to do great things when it wasn’t a great time to do so? Well great! Maybe God is trying to make you into a great leader! Great leaders avoid missing great opportunities by practicing great timing. Today let’s remember pray for the patience and perception to do and say the right things at the right times. Having this prayer answered will cause us to stop missing God, and avoid an unnecessary rough ride. Subject: Just A Word: Overcome Date: February 8, 2010 33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. (John 16:33) Despite being faced with threats of death, scores of unarmed African, Caucasian, and Latin Americans courageously flooded the streets throughout the 1960’s to march against racial discrimination. Instead of concealing weapons on their person in case of an attack they instead equipped themselves with a song; “We Shall Overcome.” Without firing one shot or setting one fire, these peaceful revolutionaries were able to birth major changes in the laws of our nation which made it illegal to discriminate against people based on their ethnicity. They passively and powerfully resisted the powers that be to gradually become a power to be reckoned with. In short, they overcame. Great leaders are great over comers. They understand that great opposition precedes great change. Jesus never told his disciples not to expect opposition. In fact, he revealed to them that in the world (they will) have tribulation. Thus, opposition is to be expected; yet, opposition is also to be overcome. When blessing his son Gad, Jacob said of him, …a troop shall overcome him: but he shall overcome at the last. (Genesis 32:18) Admonishing the church to take on the overcoming character of Christ, Paul said, Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:21) While imprisoned on the Isle of Patmos, John refused to be overcome by his circumstances. Instead of fading away in despair he got in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day and was able to reveal these eight promises that Jesus was giving to believers who were under persecution: 1) To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. (Revelation 2:6-8) 2) He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death. (Revelation 2:10-12) 3) To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it. (Revelation 2:16-18) 4) And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: (Revelation 2:25-27) 5) He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. (Revelation 3:4-6) 6) Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. (Revelation 3:11-13) 7) To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. (Revelation 3:20-22) 8) He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. (Revelation 21:6-8) Are you faced with great opposition, but have a great desire to overcome it? Well, Great! Great leaders are great over comers! Today let’s remember, if we plan on being Christ-like we must also plan to go through persecution like Christ. Yea and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. (2 Timothy 3:11-13) Since we have the very same enemy who is trying to overcome us, we must have the very same passion of the Christ to overcome! Especially since we have prophecy on paper in the Book of Revelations that lets us know that WE SHALL OVERCOME! And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. (Revelation 13:6-8) And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. (Revelation 12:10-12) Subject: Just A Word: Balance Date: February 9, 2010 1 Now we that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. (Romans 15:1) What is a circus without a high wire performance? Outside of animals performing tricks, people walking the tightrope have allured crowds to sit under the big-top for decades. It is an intriguing skill because of the amount of balance and concentration it takes to walk on nothing but a rope, especially high above the ground while being gazed upon by countless spectators. Born in France in 1824, Jean-François Gravelet, better known as Charles Blondin, astounded audiences worldwide with his tremendous display of concentration and balance on a tightrope. The Great Blondin, as he was called, is probably known best for walking the tightrope across Niagara Falls. What made this feat so spectacular was the fact that he did it with someone on his back! . Great leaders have great balance. They are able to do great things for themselves and others at the same time. While some of us may have the mind to walk through things and at heights that others can’t, we should never get high minded. 12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. (I Corinthians 10:12) The question we should ask ourselves is the one the Blondin obviously asked himself, “can I carry somebody with me in process?” When Paul was writing to the Church at Galatia he reminded believers that …every man shall bear his own burden (Galatians 6:5) However, in the same passage he admonished them to 2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. (Galatians 6:2) The apostle is not contradicting himself here; instead, he is encouraging the saints to maintain a balanced spiritual life. Our success cannot be all about ourselves. It has to be about the success of others as well. 4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. (Philippians 2:4) Are you great at being able to walk in ways and at heights that others can’t? And do you have a great passion to take others to great heights with you? Well, great! Maybe God is trying to make you into a great leader! Great leaders have great balance. They are able to do great things for themselves and others at the same time. Today let’s remember, it took great faith for The Great Blondin to take someone with him across Niagara Falls on his back. Likewise, the rider placed great faith in The Great Blondin’s ability to balance his life and his neighbor’s at the same time. Some people have the strength to walk life’s high-wire, others, for now, just have the power to hold on. Let’s remember to balance our life; someone else may ride on it. ©2010 Usher Communications Subject: Just A Word: Homeruns Date: February 11, 2010 “…But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” His profound athletic ability caused William Ashley Sunday to gain popularity in the National Baseball League for being a superb base-runner and outfielder. However, since he was just an average hitter he never became famous for his homeruns. Having become a professional baseball player was a tremendous accomplishment for this young Iowa native who was born into poverty during1892. Yet, Sunday’s greatest sojourn was not from the orphanage to the outfield. It was his conversion that moved him from the dugout to the pulpit. As one of the most popular evangelical preachers of the 1880’s, Billy Sunday convinced multiple thousands to run home to Jesus. Regardless of being one of the most celebrated evangelists of the first two decades of the twentieth century, Sunday ended his evangelistic career on a sour note. He was never able to hit a homerun in the lives of his three sons who engaged in lifestyles that were contrary to his preaching. He was noted for saying he felt deep regret for winning the world while losing his sons. Great leaders make great strides to produce great families. When Noah was given the mandate to build an ark, God never gave Him instructions to build it large enough to accommodate everyone in the whole world. Not only would the building of such a vessel be impossible, but God knew that the need for it was improbable since “…the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and … every imagining of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. (Genesis 6:5) Although he “found grace in the eyes of the Lord”, and though he preached a message from God to the masses of men, women, and children for countless years, he never hit a home run with the congregation of his day. When the rain that he preached about finally fell, at the end of the day, it was only his family that made it to home base with him; everyone else was out. Here’s the deal, in a day when many families in America ’s churches are just as bad as scores of others across the country, it is interesting to note that Noah didn’t win the world, but he did save his family! As it is written, “…in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved…” (2 Peter 3:20b) Ironically it was his three sons that helped him to fulfill the call of God in his life. Tragically, for many of us the damage is already done. Too many children are off the chain, too many husbands are not banding around their homes, and too many wives have not lived out their worth. There is as much divorce as there is deliverance, abuse as there is anointing, backstabbing as there is baptisms, and separation as there is salvation. Ergo, we can’t point a finger at Billy Sunday when our churches reflect his dilemma every Sunday. Listen, are you great at winning souls, but have even a greater passion to win your family? Well, great! Maybe God is trying to make you into a great leader. Great leaders make great strides to produce great families. Today let’s remember, regardless of the devastation many of our families have experienced, God is still able! He’s able to help believers to go beyond paying support to being supportive. He’s able to help us establish communication where there has only been separation. He is also able to help us make alliances where only lies existed previously. At this point, our families may not end up looking the same, but we can make an effort to get into covering of the ark. Look, if some of us can’t get them in the same house let’s at least get them under the same roof, Jesus! He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.” (Psalm 91:1,2) To reach our families we will have to turn some of our engagements into a sacrifice flys. It will cause us to called “out” by the world, but it will give the ones we care about the freedom and desire to run HOME. Subject: Just A Word: Rationale Date: February 11, 2010 19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: (James 1:19) There was some great football played this year in the NFL. The teams that did the best were, of course, the ones who were able to put pressure on the most strategic player on the field, the quarterback. The QB is the coach on the field. When his rationale falls apart the greatest schemes and dreams of teams fall apart with him. Great leaders have great rationale. They are able to make great decisions under great pressure. On the field of life, one of the major tactics of the enemy is disguising his attacks. Sometimes he sends a blitz that forces us to make a quick decision. At other times he shows the blitz, but is actually up to something else. There are times he goes after individuals in a man defensive stand to keep certain people from displaying their talent. At other times he becomes territorial and sets up a zone strategy that prevents success in specific locations. Regardless of the tactics, the major purpose of the opposition is to apply the kind of pressure that causes leaders to falter in their decision making process. All it takes is one turnover to overturn the victory to the favor of the opposition. This is why James encourages us to take the time to familiarize ourselves with the big picture. If leaders react to what circumstances look like they may misread what the enemy is actually doing and make a bad game changing decision. First, we can prevent misreads by being swift to hear: 15 The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge (Proverbs 18:15) Second, we can avoid confusion by being slow to speak: 13 He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him. (Proverbs 18:13) 7 A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul. (Proverbs 18:7) Third, turnovers can be averted by being slow to anger: 22 An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression. (Proverbs 29:22) Are you great at taking the time to make great reads in order to make great decisions? Well, great! Maybe God is trying to make you into a great leader. Great leaders have great rationale. They are able to make great decisions under great pressure. Let’s use this weekend to take it slow. Let’s pray to make sure we do not misread the enemies’ tactics. By doing so we will avoid turnovers that could cost us victory! Subject: Just A Word: Work Date: February 15, 2010 38 But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.(John 10:38) You can easily get exasperated trying to explain yourself to people; particularly those who are not trying to understand. Face it, the only sermon that these type of people are going to understand are not the ones you say, but the ones that you cause them to see. Jesus placed a demand on himself and challenged his critics at the same time saying, 37 If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. 38 But if I do…believe the works (John 10:37,38) Great leaders don’t waste time with words when they could be doing the work. They know that it is easier for critics to deny their words than it is to deny their works. When Jesus spoke to His critics, as recorded in John chapter 10, they responded by trying to stone Him. “…but he escaped out of their hand,” (John 10:39b) The next event that takes place in John’s Gospel is Jesus resurrecting Lazarus from the dead. As an example to us, He didn’t waste time and words trying to prove anything to his critics, He just went on with His work. In a simple effort to worship God, Abel did his work and gave an offering that caused his own brother to become his greatest hater. Yet after being killed by Cain Abel’s work was not forgotten. As it is written, 4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.(Hebrews 11:4) Is your work so great that it doesn’t require you proving yourself with great words? Well, great! Maybe God is trying to make you a great leader. Great leaders don’t waste time with words when they could be doing the work. They know that it is easier for critics to deny their words than it is to deny their works. Today let’s remember not waste our time and talent arguing with people who don’t care anyway. Instead, let’s pray that God will help us to do the work we have been called to do. At the end of the day we will be able to say like the old song, “May the work I’ve done speak for me”. Subject: Just A Word: Partnerships Date: February 16, 2010 10 If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! (Ecclesiastes 4:10) Being alone is great if the only thing you are trying to accomplish in life is meditation; but accomplishment is the result of great accompaniment. Great leaders make progress by developing great partnerships. They know that who accompanies them has a tremendous effect on what they can accomplish. Face it, great coaches coach great competitors, great quarterbacks get great results from great receivers, great managers make great advancement by developing great mergers, great marriages consist of great unions between great mates, and great ministers produce great ministry when surrounded by great members. Trying to do things all alone has its place; last place. This is where teams, talents, teachers, and technicians will find themselves until they submit to the truth that powerful partnerships land the promise. 9 Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: (Ecclesiastes 4:9) Have you been contemplating making great changes to who accompanies you in order to experience greater accomplishments? Well, great! Great leaders make progress by developing great partnerships. They know that who accompanies them has a tremendous effect on what they can accomplish. Today let’s remember, David, Paul, Peter, Ruth, Esther, and Joseph (to name a few) were all great people who had something in common. They all made great progress by developing great partnerships. Let’s make sure that we love everybody, but let’s not partner with just anybody. For great accomplishment is the result of great accompaniment. Subject: Just A Word: Diversity Date: February 17, 2010 4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. 6And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. (1 Corinthians 12:4-6) The peril of the projects, the meandering of the middle class, and the conceit of the country clubs should teach us a lesson. When people are grouped together who all have the same, or at least similar backgrounds, they usually end up with their potential poisoned. Unless they are exposed to gifts, ideas, and environments that offer something different, they often end up resembling each other and in the same predicaments. They all fall short of the glory of God. Look, the reason why God gave everyone different gifts is because He obviously wanted everyone to be different. Although, He wants everyone to operate as individuals, He does not want us to operate individually. Believers should operate differently, but not with different motives. Great leaders are great at thriving in atmospheres of great diversity. They know that people’s differences are necessary to make a difference. Often, people who can sing great can’t write great songs, and those who can write great songs are not great singers. Sometimes, those who are great administrators are not great workers, and great workers are not great at administration. Many times those who are great at casting projections need to be cast out trying to see a great project through to its completion. These are generalizations that I am using to bring home a point in general. God doesn’t give anyone of us every gift so that we will be compelled to work with everybody. That is, everybody He has called us to regardless of our diversity. The church at Corinth was one great congregation with one great problem; each other. Some spoke with tongues, and with forked tongues. Some were prophetic, and remained pathetic. Some had faith, and continued to be unfaithful. Some had the gift to heal, and to raise hell also. This Corinthian contradiction existed all because the church was loaded with people who had different gifts and differences with each other. In 2010, we continue to celebrate our differences by maintaining Black, White, Korean, and Latino churches while also maintaining our distances from each other. The Apostle Paul admonished the Corinthian church to remember “…the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit…” (I Corinthians 12:7) In short, if their gifts were only for certain people and not for all, then they may have been operating in the spirit, but it was not the Holy Spirit. Are you great at working with people who share in your great calling, but are from different backgrounds and possess different gifts than yours? Well, great! Maybe God is trying to make you into a great leader. Great leaders are great at thriving in atmospheres of great diversity. They know that people’s differences are necessary to make a difference. Today let’s remember, what makes us-us is that fact that there is no one else like us. No one else has our factual fingerprints. No one else has our distinctive DNA. And no one else can lay claim to our preordained purpose. We stand independent in our creation, but in dependence of those whom He has created. Particularly those who He has called us to work with to do His will in the earth. Let’s not allow our differences with people to make us indifferent with people. Let’s utilize our differences to broaden our understanding and make a difference. Subject: Just A Word: Arguments Date: February 18, 2010 14 Do all things without murmurings and disputing: 15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; (Philippians 2:14) Remember the old saying, “If the heat is too hot then stay out of the kitchen”? Well, my wife and I forgot, and one night in the kitchen argued up and down about a situation concerning one of our cars. My twelve year old son overheard the dispute. When the coast was clear he suggested to us not to handle situations in such a manner; because at the end of the day the argument didn’t fix the car, or us for that matter. Great leaders are great at avoiding great arguments. They know that they are one argument away from being considered a great problem and causing even greater ones. Paul wanted the Philippians to be solution oriented. There is nothing prophetic about identifying problems. In fact, focusing on problems just causes them to be magnified in our minds and in the minds of those we are called to lead or co-labor with. This is why the apostle encouraged believers to: “Do all things without murmurings and disputing”. True prophecy is solution saturated. But, even if what we are saying is right we have to remember that there is a right way to say it. Fiercely arguing our point can be a problem within itself. You see, pointing out people’s problems in such a manner causes people to point us out as problem people. Then the problem is no longer what we said, but how we said it that causes people with great problems to reject great solutions. Paul told Timothy that great leaders are not involved in things that cause great arguments. They are: Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous (1 Timothy 3: 2-4) He similarly admonished Titus as a leader to have his leadership: To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men. (Titus 3:2) Do you have great solutions and a great way of communicating them without causing a great commotion? Well, great! Maybe God is trying to make you into a great leader. Great leaders are great at avoiding great arguments. They know that they are one argument away from being considered a great problem and causing even greater ones. Today let’s focus on being right; but more importantly on being righteous. To be righteous is to be in right standing with God. If we are righteous we will not only say the right things, but we will also say them the right way. Let’s preoccupy ourselves with being righteous above just being right. This attitude will cause us to sail beyond the sands of disputes into the sea of solutions. Subject: Just A Word: Discipleship Date: February 19, 2010 Clowns and pets have something in common. They coexist in classrooms and circuses together. I remember how my friends and I would always shun behavior in our classrooms that could potentially elevate us to the status of teacher’s pet. We preferred the position of class clown, and did a pretty good job at running for office. On occasion we would even find ourselves in the office. I mean the front office seeing the principal for conducting such a great campaign. It was pretty exciting to me until I had to face the ringmasters, my parents. The way they petted me after being sent home from school made me painfully reconsider the job as teacher’s pet. After assuming the position before them in the living room, I repositioned myself in the classroom. I went to the front seat of all my classes where all the pets grazed. In my new location, I realized that although the pets were not very popular, they were always very productive. If I wanted to be - I was going to have to follow them in following the instructor. For spiritual productivity, Paul encouraged the church saying, “follow me as I follow Christ”. Listen, great leadership is the byproduct of great discipleship. Every great leader emerges as a result of being a great follower of other great people. Joshua, Elisha, Peter, James, and John (just to name a few) had something in common. . They were all great leaders. The key to their success was that their classroom position and disposition equipped them with the predisposition to be placed in position. That is, the position of successor. This is the purpose of discipleship. It doesn’t throw us into position ahead of time. It prepares us for the times ahead. When revealing to His disciples what they would encounter in the last days Jesus said, “See, I have told you ahead of time.” (Matthew 24:25) His prophecies and precepts gave his disciples a spiritual and mental edge that would keep them focused in the future. Not only did Jesus train them by precept, but He also did it by example. Modeling is the best and most reinforcing method of teaching in the world. This is why Jesus would share a precept and follow it with a performance. His transfiguration, His walking on water, His calming the storm, His explanation of parables, and His appearances after the resurrection were modeled only before those who sat at the head of the class. Along with modeling, great teachers utilize their so called pets as student teachers. Great teachers know that their pupils have not really learned anything unless they are able to teach it and exemplify it as well. As a result, their peers are encouraged to learn from them. Do you recognize that your great potential can be better realized if you become a great disciple of a great instructor? Well, great! Maybe God is trying to make you into a great leader. Great leadership is the byproduct of great discipleship. Every great leader emerges as a result of being a great follower of other great people. Today let’s remember, it’s not the circus, but it is the Christian life that’s the greatest show on earth. But even when God is instructing us we still have the choice of being a class clown or a class act. If we will allow it, discipleship can promote us from clowns to crowns. Let’s change our positions and dispositions. Let’s follow God’s leadership and the leadership of those He has sent to disciple us. 12For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God… (Hebrews 5:12) Subject: Just A Word: Anointing Date: February 22, 2010 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him. (Act 10:38) Why did Jesus have to be anointed? It is simple. Although He was very much God, He was also very much man. The God part of Him didn’t need to be anointed. But if He was going to accomplish His mission in the earth, then the man part of Him did. Listen, great purpose can only be accomplished through great power. This is why great leaders are equipped with a great anointing. They know that if they are going to accomplish God’s great purpose then it is going to require God’s great power. We have seen two sides of Christendom for centuries. There are those denominations that are outstanding in maintaining their stoic ecclesiastical structure; while other denominations are persistent in their presentation of post Pentecost power. They are both right. God is organized, and He is also an organism. He is structured, and He is also strong. He plans, and He also performs. He is deliberate, and He also delivers. I see where God wants to show the world His two sides, but I also see where the church seems to only be interested in showing the world one side or the other. Face it, if we are ever going to change people’s mind about the church then we are going to have to change the people in it. This change will cause people to represents both dimensions of God; His ability to lay out design for our destiny, and also to anoint us with power to fulfill our purpose. Are you great at receiving great strategy and the great strength to see it through? Well, great! Maybe God is trying to make you into a great leader! Great leaders are equipped with a great anointing. They know that if they are going to accomplish God’s great purposes then it is going to require God’s great power. Today let’s remember, if Jesus had to be anointed to accomplish His purpose then why don’t we? Let’s pray daily that we don’t have plans without power, and power without plans. Subject: Just A Word: Steps Date: February 23, 2010 At first they used wood, large stones and rammed earth to begin the process of accomplishing their dream. The Chinese knew that it would take countless years to complete their task. However, they knew that beginning was an accomplishment within itself. Dynasty after dynasty they continued to build. Work became easier during the Ming Dynasty due to the use of brick. In some areas of its construction they utilized tile, stone, and even lime. Today the Great Wall of China stands over 5,500 miles long extending from Shanhaiguan to Lop Nur. Ironically, this project that was constructed to protect China from its enemies in the world now has the Great wall listed as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. In my humble opinion the greatest accomplishment of the Great Wall is that it demonstrates how major success is produce by patiently taking minor steps. Hey, great leaders experience great accomplishments by taking one great step at a time. It is only natural for people to aspire to do big things. It is also true that there are probably not enough people trying to push the envelope and embark on great ventures. In my humble opinion, I think that a lot of people don’t try to do great things because they have already tried in the past and have failed greatly. Listen, failure is a road that many of us have traveled at one time or another. One of the major reasons for failure is not always linked to having wrong motives. Sometimes we just fall prey to wanting to become too big too soon. The majority of businesses that start worldwide end in failure. The major reason is because the minor steps are not taken seriously. Great time, talent, and intentions have been wasted because of the desire to be too big, too soon. Have you learned the great lesson that the way to accomplish big steps is by being great at taking little ones? Well, great! Great leaders experience great accomplishments by taking one great step at a time. Today let’s remember, every grown man or woman walking on the face of the earth have something in common. All of their first steps were baby steps. Today and always let’s pray that we don’t take giant steps into failure when only baby steps are required to walk us through the doors of a dynamic future. The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Psalm 37:22-24 Subject: Just A Word: Zeal Date: February 24, 2010 For the zeal* of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.* Psalm 69:8-10 In their Introduction to Preaching class, a senior instructor was admonishing his seminary students to get away from depending on their manuscripts while they were ministering. He told them that “Paper is a poor conductor of heat.” One student responded, “Well, it isn’t as if you set it on fire!” The instructor said, “My point exactly.” Just like no one will be inspired by a preacher who is not inspirational; similarly, no one can convince even themselves of a cause that has not convicted them. Great leaders are consumed by great zeal due to the greatness of their calling. They know that their fire within must be maintained in the midst of the fire fighters without. When the religious leaders of His day watered down worship in the temple, Jesus, in a righteous rampage chased the hypocrites out of the sanctuary saying, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves. Matthew 21:12-14 After He successfully cast out the moneychangers “the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple; and He healed them”. Once seeing His passion for His purpose His disciples marveled and remembered: …it was written, “The zeal* of thine house hath eaten me up.”* John 2:16-18 Do you have a great God given purpose and a great zeal to boot? Well great, maybe God is trying to make you into a great leader. Great leaders are consumed by great zeal due to the greatness of their calling. Today let’s remember, fire is to wood what zeal is to our purpose. Anything we are not consumed by we are not committed to. Just like you can’t sell a product that you don’t believe in; nor can you reach your great zenith without great zeal. Today and always let’s pray that we keep the fires of our zeal flaming afresh even amidst false friends and fire fighting foes. My zeal* hath consumed me, because mine enemies have forgotten thy words.* Psalm 119:138-140 Subject: Just A Word: Negative Date: February 25, 2010 8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. (Philippians 4:8) Last night my daughter showed me one of her math homework problems. I quickly became a greater problem for her than the problem itself. This was because I am far from being great at algebra. However, I have noticed that it teaches great concepts. One of them is a positive plus a negative equals a positive. That is, only if the original positive was larger than the original negative. Great leaders are great at using something negative to produce positive results. Face it, when everything and everyone around us seem to be negative the last thing we need to do is add something else negative to the equation. This supports another algebraic concept: a negative added to a negative produces a negative. No family relation, no thriving corporation, no institution of education, nor progressive congregation exists free from negativity. What causes believers to stand out from the crowd is their ability to remain positive while all others walk through the narrow halls of negativity. No wonder Paul used about the entirety of his letter to the Philippians to express to Christians (of all people) the importance of thinking positively. After admonishing them to 5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: (Philippians 2:5) He followed up by encouraging them to get their minds off of their trials and to keep their thoughts positive by meditating on whatever was true, honest, just, pure, lovely, virtuous, praiseworthy, and of good report. Are you faced with great negatives, but are greater at being positive? Well, great! Great leaders are great at using something negative to produce positive results. Today let’s remember, we can’t start our engines without a positive and negative connection. Sometimes God permits situations that are negative in order to boost the better side of us to the blessing of others. Let’s be positive enough to allow what’s negative to jumpstart us into being the blessing God has called us to be. Return to Just A Word Devotionals

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