Wednesday, November 18, 2009

If it's planted in the heart....

Psalm 1:3 (Amplified Bible)
3And he shall be like a tree firmly planted [and tended] by the streams of water, ready to bring forth its fruit in its season; its leaf also shall not fade or wither; and everything he does shall prosper [and come to maturity].

Isaiah 32:16-17 (New International Version)

16 Justice will dwell in the desert
and righteousness live in the fertile field.

17 The fruit of righteousness will be peace;
the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever.

Life experiences shape us.... Jesus Transforms us.
TRANSFORMATION HOUSE

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

My Rock, My Fortress, and My Deliverer

Psalm 18:1-3 (New International Version)

1 I love you, O LORD, my strength.
2 The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.
He is my shield and the horn [a] of my salvation, my stronghold.

3 I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise,
and I am saved from my enemies.

Monday, November 16, 2009

How Majestic is His Name?

Psalm 8 (The Message)

A David Psalm
1 God, brilliant Lord, yours is a household name.

2 Nursing infants gurgle choruses about you;
toddlers shout the songs
That drown out enemy talk,
and silence atheist babble.

3-4 I look up at your macro-skies, dark and enormous,
your handmade sky-jewelry,
Moon and stars mounted in their settings.
Then I look at my micro-self and wonder,
Why do you bother with us?
Why take a second look our way?

5-8 Yet we've so narrowly missed being gods,
bright with Eden's dawn light.
You put us in charge of your handcrafted world,
repeated to us your Genesis-charge,
Made us lords of sheep and cattle,
even animals out in the wild,
Birds flying and fish swimming,
whales singing in the ocean deeps.

9 God, brilliant Lord,
your name echoes around the world.

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Leadership Qualities (Courage)

I remember several weeks ago my family was sitting in the living room talking about the activities of the day when I noticed something on the patio. It was a snake that had actually wrapped itself on one of the pickets on the handrail. I jumped up and yelled, "SNAKE!" My wife, my 13, 8, 6, and 2 year old boys and my 4 year old daughter all ran over to the sliding glass doors to look. I stood behind them from a distance. I think snakes are of the devil and the sight of them frightens me. Yes, I am the father that stands outside the reptile building at the zoo and I'm not ashamed to say it. Well, my 13 year old son said, "Dad, you want me to get rid of it?" Uh, yeah...I'm not going out there. He removed the snake and all was better. So, are you asking yourself where was his courage? I didn't have any for that.

Now although snakes really freak me out, I am however secure in Christ. See I know without a shadow of of doubt that Jesus is my Savior. I know that I am supposed to share the gospel and when doing that or leading others to share Jesus all sorts of trouble will come my way. Persecution from those who don't know Jesus, oppression from the enemy to keep me from sharing the gospel. See my courage to keep on going comes because of Romans 8:18. The sufferings here can't compare to the Eternal Glory.
So yes, I am willing to suffer for Christ sake. I have the courage to follow Jesus and lead others to him.

Life experiences shape us...Jesus transforms us.
TRANSFORMATION HOUSE

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Leadership Qualities (Compassion)

This is probably my biggest fault. My wife, Kristen, is always telling me "show some compassion". Leaders tend to be very goal oriented. They see results as the prize--never really thinking how their means of getting there effects others.
The other day I was helping my son with his homework. He was really struggling with some word problems. So it was Dad to the rescue! After I had explained it to him 3 or 4 times I began to grow impatient with him and his lack of understanding. I yelled at him and even called him a name. I just couldn't understand why he didn't get it. I made the situation a lot worse for him. He was in tears! Then, Mommy to the rescue! She came to him and held him in her arms. At this point I felt like a complete jerk. Did I expect my methods were going to get through to him? Where was my compassion and comfort?
God has really worked on me since. He has never yelled at me or called me names when I didn't understand. He has never grown impatient with me. The very first thing we are told in 1 Corinthians 13:4 is that "love is patient".
1 Peter 5:8-10 really helped me on this subject. Maybe one day soon my 8 year old little boy will have compassion on his father and let me help him with his homework again.
Life experiences shape us...Jesus transforms us.
TRANSFORMATION HOUSE

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Leadership Qualities (Love)

A few weeks ago at Christian Assembly we had communion together and celebrated the service of my family. It was our last Sunday and Pastor White wanted to serve my family. I was so honored because he did this. See, a true leader loves and serves those whom he leads. He showed me that true spiritual leadership means loving service to one another.

In Mark 9:35 Jesus says, "If anyone desires to be first he shall be last of all and servant of all." Jesus always modeled that. Can you imagine Jesus, the Savior of the world, King of Kings, washing your feet in the upper room? WOW! What an act of love and true leadership by example.

1 Peter 4:8
, Peter tells us, "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins."

Life experiences shape us...Jesus transforms us.
TRANSFORMATION HOUSE

Monday, November 2, 2009

Leadership Qualities (Humility)

I constantly have to check myself for any pride that may rise up in me. Pride is everywhere. You know that person who is never wrong and will argue about the smallest things with you? That's pride! You know that person who is extremely competitive and when they lose they get mad? That's pride!
Its even more difficult as you lead people. When you have people following you and good things are happening they start to praise you, look up to and admire you, it's easy for pride to rise up in you. Or, when things start going wrong in that same group, you may start to blame others around you, never looking at yourself, because deep down you don't want to lose your status.
In Matthew 26:31, Jesus tells His disciples they will fall away on account of me for it is written: "I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered." Peter reacted to this with pride in verses 33 & 35.
Peter responded in a lot of situations pridefully. I believe Jesus taught him many lessons in this area of his life and finally Peter got it. 1 Peter 5:5 he tells us to "clothe ourselves in humility", and that "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble."
If pride rises up in any part of your life, grace can't flow in that area of your life.
Life experiences shape us...Jesus transforms us.
Transformation House