“The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but a man is tested by the praise he receives”. Proverbs 27:21
There is the test of praise to make sure our motives are pure. Why do I do what I do? If it is for the praise of men then I have misdirected motives. My faith has faltered, as I am more concerned about pleasing people than my master Jesus. “How can you believe if you accept praise from one another, yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only God” (John 5:44)? Praise from God builds belief and activates obedience.
Jesus did not receive man’s praise, “I do not accept praise from men” (John 5:41). He knew the danger of being enamored by earthly accolades instead of humbled by heaven’s honor. When the Lord leads you into a mission misunderstood by the masses do not be swayed. Stay the course with Christ, because His words of “well done” are all that really matters. Listen for the applause from heaven and let it drown out any ovations on earth.
The test of praise makes you more thankful and less critical, more respectful and less condescending, more patient and less demanding, and more diligent to learn and less inclined to grow lazy. When praise and glory come your way make sure you reflect it onto your Heavenly Father. Proud Herod forgot this, “Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died” (Acts 12:23). Anything praiseworthy in life is because of God’s blessings.
So when sincere saints offer you compliments quietly give them up to Christ. A courteous thank you and a private prayer of thanksgiving to God go a long way to passing the test of praise. Before long they will begin praising the Lord because of your service. “Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ” (2 Corinthians 9:13a). Do I let go of praise and leave it with the Lord? Do I praise God for His grace?
Related Readings: 2 Chronicles 20:21; Psalm 56:4; John 12:43; 1 Thessalonians 2:6
8.28.2009
The Daily Verse: Psalm 72:6
May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass, like showers that water the earth!
Psalm 72:6
Today is a new day. Let yesterday be what it was, and let tomorrow worry about itself. Embrace Christ's sovereignty as a refreshing rain shower on the parts of your heart, mind and soul that have been in drought.
Psalm 72:6
Today is a new day. Let yesterday be what it was, and let tomorrow worry about itself. Embrace Christ's sovereignty as a refreshing rain shower on the parts of your heart, mind and soul that have been in drought.
8.27.2009
The Daily Verse: Matthew 11:29
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Matthew 11:29
I would imagine each and every one of us has a soul that could use a little more rest. Consider the things you take responsibility for, and if you think your impact on them is just as vital as God's. Chances are, there are a few weighty things you can turn over to Him, since He's God whether you're trying to be or not. Rest in knowing that His yoke has your best interest at heart, and He doesn't intend for you to carry unnecessary burdens.
Matthew 11:29
I would imagine each and every one of us has a soul that could use a little more rest. Consider the things you take responsibility for, and if you think your impact on them is just as vital as God's. Chances are, there are a few weighty things you can turn over to Him, since He's God whether you're trying to be or not. Rest in knowing that His yoke has your best interest at heart, and He doesn't intend for you to carry unnecessary burdens.
Boyd Bailey: Quarrelsome Wife… (mom)
A quarrelsome wife is like a constant dripping on a rainy day; restraining her is like restraining the wind or grasping oil with the hand.” Proverbs 27:15-16.
A quarrelsome wife is not keen on listening and learning how to better relate to her husband. Her view of the world tends to settle issues with arguments. She’s inclined to be contentious and avoids rational conversations in place of ones driven by emotion. What is behind this implosive behavior? How does it need to be addressed and resolved?
“Pride only breeds quarrels” (Proverbs 13:10a). Pride is at the root of an angry and combative person. There is a sense of superiority that needs to be validated through winning arguments and belittling anyone who gets in their way. Humility and love are not a part of the relational equation, because it’s perceived as weak and passive. Unless stopped a quarrelsome wife will destroy everything in her proud path.
How can you help someone struggling in their own small world of hurt and hostility? Ignoring and doing nothing is not an option. This approach only worsens their condition. The remedy is not more medication but a resolve to patience, prayer and love. Pride is best confronted with an honest humility supported by the grace of God. Indeed, you may have to take a break from your business to take care of business at home.
Take the time and address this destructive behavior early, so it doesn’t destroy your marriage. Seek wisdom from a more mature couple that has learned how to fight fair. Perhaps you seek professional help and take a proactive approach to emotional healing. “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8).
How do I need to love my wife when she becomes angry and quarrelsome? Who can we confide in and create a plan to resolve our differences? “I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought” (1 Corinthians 1:10).
Related Readings: Job 6:24-26; Isaiah 59:3-5; 2 Corinthians 10:5; 2 Timothy 2:23
A quarrelsome wife is not keen on listening and learning how to better relate to her husband. Her view of the world tends to settle issues with arguments. She’s inclined to be contentious and avoids rational conversations in place of ones driven by emotion. What is behind this implosive behavior? How does it need to be addressed and resolved?
“Pride only breeds quarrels” (Proverbs 13:10a). Pride is at the root of an angry and combative person. There is a sense of superiority that needs to be validated through winning arguments and belittling anyone who gets in their way. Humility and love are not a part of the relational equation, because it’s perceived as weak and passive. Unless stopped a quarrelsome wife will destroy everything in her proud path.
How can you help someone struggling in their own small world of hurt and hostility? Ignoring and doing nothing is not an option. This approach only worsens their condition. The remedy is not more medication but a resolve to patience, prayer and love. Pride is best confronted with an honest humility supported by the grace of God. Indeed, you may have to take a break from your business to take care of business at home.
Take the time and address this destructive behavior early, so it doesn’t destroy your marriage. Seek wisdom from a more mature couple that has learned how to fight fair. Perhaps you seek professional help and take a proactive approach to emotional healing. “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8).
How do I need to love my wife when she becomes angry and quarrelsome? Who can we confide in and create a plan to resolve our differences? “I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought” (1 Corinthians 1:10).
Related Readings: Job 6:24-26; Isaiah 59:3-5; 2 Corinthians 10:5; 2 Timothy 2:23
8.25.2009
The Daily Verse: Matthew 11:29
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Matthew 11:29
I would imagine each and every one of us has a soul that could use a little more rest. Consider the things you take responsibility for, and if you think your impact on them is just as vital as God's. Chances are, there are a few weighty things you can turn over to Him, since He's God whether you're trying to be or not. Rest in knowing that His yoke has your best interest at heart, and He doesn't intend for you to carry unnecessary burdens.
Matthew 11:29
I would imagine each and every one of us has a soul that could use a little more rest. Consider the things you take responsibility for, and if you think your impact on them is just as vital as God's. Chances are, there are a few weighty things you can turn over to Him, since He's God whether you're trying to be or not. Rest in knowing that His yoke has your best interest at heart, and He doesn't intend for you to carry unnecessary burdens.
Boyd Bailey: Loneliness In Illness…
“As long as he has an infection he remains unclean. He must live alone; he must live outside the camp.” Leviticus 13:46
Leprosy was a dreaded disease much like Aids is today. People were sent out of town into isolated colonies where they felt rejected and feared. This is the nature of illness, especially severe sickness. Those of us, who are well, either don’t totally understand the condition of the sick, or we don’t know what to say. However, we can still show up to love on them and serve them during their time of struggle.
We don’t want to feed the unhealthy person’s feelings of rejection and fear. Illness can be dreadfully lonely. The emotional struggle many times is harder than the physical pain. This is why we need each other, ‘in sickness and in health.’ So what are some ways to reach out to someone who is physically and emotional hurting? How can we be intentional in our concern for them?
A first step is to put ourselves into their situation. If I were suffering from cancer how would I want to be treated? Prayer and care would be high on the list. To be prayed for is the highest of privileges. Your prayers do make a difference; it is like adding additional supplies to hungry and fatigued troops on the front lines of battle.
God listens intently to your pleas for compassion and healing. “The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective” (James 5:16b). Prayer makes a difference with God, the one you are praying for and it makes a difference in you. Your prayers sensitize your heart toward the one you are lifting to God’s throne of grace.
Care means you show up. This is 99% of caring. You show up at the bedside, you show up at their home and you show up at the funeral. When you take the time to show up, you provide a dose of medicine that can’t be prescribed by a physician. Your smile, warm touch and listening ear refresh like a hot shower in the cold of winter. It may be a card, flowers or a phone call, all of these add up to put the sick person on the road to recovery or give them a much needed peace of mind.
Yes, there are the ‘hard’ elements of doctors, nurses, medicine and therapy, but the ‘soft’ elements of prayer and care provide a safe environment for the other to be more effective. Jesus illustrated the importance of loving on the ill when He said about Himself, “I was sick and you looked after me” (Matthew 25:36b). Who is struggling with sickness that I can love on today? Who needs me to read Scripture to and lift to the Lord in prayer?
Related Readings: Exodus 23:25; Psalm 41:3; John 4:45-47; Acts 28:8-9
Leprosy was a dreaded disease much like Aids is today. People were sent out of town into isolated colonies where they felt rejected and feared. This is the nature of illness, especially severe sickness. Those of us, who are well, either don’t totally understand the condition of the sick, or we don’t know what to say. However, we can still show up to love on them and serve them during their time of struggle.
We don’t want to feed the unhealthy person’s feelings of rejection and fear. Illness can be dreadfully lonely. The emotional struggle many times is harder than the physical pain. This is why we need each other, ‘in sickness and in health.’ So what are some ways to reach out to someone who is physically and emotional hurting? How can we be intentional in our concern for them?
A first step is to put ourselves into their situation. If I were suffering from cancer how would I want to be treated? Prayer and care would be high on the list. To be prayed for is the highest of privileges. Your prayers do make a difference; it is like adding additional supplies to hungry and fatigued troops on the front lines of battle.
God listens intently to your pleas for compassion and healing. “The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective” (James 5:16b). Prayer makes a difference with God, the one you are praying for and it makes a difference in you. Your prayers sensitize your heart toward the one you are lifting to God’s throne of grace.
Care means you show up. This is 99% of caring. You show up at the bedside, you show up at their home and you show up at the funeral. When you take the time to show up, you provide a dose of medicine that can’t be prescribed by a physician. Your smile, warm touch and listening ear refresh like a hot shower in the cold of winter. It may be a card, flowers or a phone call, all of these add up to put the sick person on the road to recovery or give them a much needed peace of mind.
Yes, there are the ‘hard’ elements of doctors, nurses, medicine and therapy, but the ‘soft’ elements of prayer and care provide a safe environment for the other to be more effective. Jesus illustrated the importance of loving on the ill when He said about Himself, “I was sick and you looked after me” (Matthew 25:36b). Who is struggling with sickness that I can love on today? Who needs me to read Scripture to and lift to the Lord in prayer?
Related Readings: Exodus 23:25; Psalm 41:3; John 4:45-47; Acts 28:8-9
8.24.2009
Boyd Bailey: Focus on Today… ***
“Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.” Proverbs 27:1
Today is the only time we have for certain. ‘What can I do today to further God’s plan for my life, both professionally and personally?’ Perhaps you pray a similar prayer each day to recalibrate what Christ wants for you. This is how Jesus taught us to pray, "When you pray, say: 'Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come… Give us each day our daily bread…” (Luke 11:2-3). Daily bread is God’s reminder of our desperate need for Him.
If we only dream about tomorrow then the realities of today lose their attraction, even to the point of becoming irresponsible. Future ambition cannot abort taking care of my current commitments. Today you can trust the Lord. You can love family and friends. Today you can serve a stranger, meet a deadline at work, babysit for a neighbor, go to the doctor, or plan your next special time with your spouse. Focus on today and you’ll find fulfillment, obsess about tomorrow and you’ll become sick with discontentment.
Presuming on tomorrow can put us into a predicament. This is why debt is deceptive and dangerous. Aggressive borrowing can bring down our financial house. We cannot expect to expand our business on the uncertainty of credit. We cannot promise ourselves ease of life and entitlement of affluence. Christ is our provider, “If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that” (James 4:15). Faith is our filter for future opportunities.
God’s activity is not easily discerned; by design He invites dependence. Therefore, focus on today by faith and feel the assurance of His activity on your behalf. “Just as you do not know the path of the wind and how bones are formed in the womb of the pregnant woman, so you do not know the activity of God who makes all things” (Ecclesiastes 11:5). What current commitment needs my undivided attention? Do I need to replace any future presumptions with present prayer and planning?
Related Readings: Ecclesiastes 3:22; Isaiah 56:12; Matthew 6:34; James 4:13-15
Today is the only time we have for certain. ‘What can I do today to further God’s plan for my life, both professionally and personally?’ Perhaps you pray a similar prayer each day to recalibrate what Christ wants for you. This is how Jesus taught us to pray, "When you pray, say: 'Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come… Give us each day our daily bread…” (Luke 11:2-3). Daily bread is God’s reminder of our desperate need for Him.
If we only dream about tomorrow then the realities of today lose their attraction, even to the point of becoming irresponsible. Future ambition cannot abort taking care of my current commitments. Today you can trust the Lord. You can love family and friends. Today you can serve a stranger, meet a deadline at work, babysit for a neighbor, go to the doctor, or plan your next special time with your spouse. Focus on today and you’ll find fulfillment, obsess about tomorrow and you’ll become sick with discontentment.
Presuming on tomorrow can put us into a predicament. This is why debt is deceptive and dangerous. Aggressive borrowing can bring down our financial house. We cannot expect to expand our business on the uncertainty of credit. We cannot promise ourselves ease of life and entitlement of affluence. Christ is our provider, “If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that” (James 4:15). Faith is our filter for future opportunities.
God’s activity is not easily discerned; by design He invites dependence. Therefore, focus on today by faith and feel the assurance of His activity on your behalf. “Just as you do not know the path of the wind and how bones are formed in the womb of the pregnant woman, so you do not know the activity of God who makes all things” (Ecclesiastes 11:5). What current commitment needs my undivided attention? Do I need to replace any future presumptions with present prayer and planning?
Related Readings: Ecclesiastes 3:22; Isaiah 56:12; Matthew 6:34; James 4:13-15
8.21.2009
Boyd Bailey: Deception Self Destructs…
“If a man digs a pit, he will fall into it; if a man rolls a stone, it will fall back on him.” Proverbs 26:27
Deception is the preferred behavior of those who feel pleasure to present a false persona. There is an unhealthy determination to outdo, overly impress or draw attention to their alleged accomplishments. Their words are charming to your face, but behind your back their conversations are cutting and caustic. It is interesting that the insecure are compelled to seek security in deceptive behavior. They are masters at presenting a misleading mirage.
Moreover, the amount of energy it takes for sly schemes to be created is breathtaking. But when a man or women’s heart is changed by Christ that same amount of effort can be exerted toward eternal matters. It’s Jesus that jump-starts a soul out of self- deception to faith’s fulfillment. If not, deception’s destiny may be that of Haman’s who hung on the gallows of his making, “So they hanged Haman on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king's fury subsided” (Esther 7:10). Deception can be deadly.
So how do you handle people intent on conniving and deceiving? They could be a bully who uses their position to promote themselves to the demise of their team members. It may be an adult child who maliciously seeks to cut their siblings out of their parent’s will. Or it may be outright stealing from a partner you thought walked in integrity. First, make sure you are free from any self-imposed deception. Come clean with Christ and others.
Secondly, Christ-like confrontation is necessary to expose a deceiver’s agenda. Go to them with gentleness and humility with the goal of restoration, “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted” (Galatians 6:1). If there is still no remorse, deception carries a consequence of its own. Am I aware and repentant of my own devious tendencies? Am I willing to confront deception in the destructive behavior of someone else?
Related Readings: Psalm 7:15-16; 9:15-16; 2 Corinthians 4:2; Galatians 6:7
Deception is the preferred behavior of those who feel pleasure to present a false persona. There is an unhealthy determination to outdo, overly impress or draw attention to their alleged accomplishments. Their words are charming to your face, but behind your back their conversations are cutting and caustic. It is interesting that the insecure are compelled to seek security in deceptive behavior. They are masters at presenting a misleading mirage.
Moreover, the amount of energy it takes for sly schemes to be created is breathtaking. But when a man or women’s heart is changed by Christ that same amount of effort can be exerted toward eternal matters. It’s Jesus that jump-starts a soul out of self- deception to faith’s fulfillment. If not, deception’s destiny may be that of Haman’s who hung on the gallows of his making, “So they hanged Haman on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king's fury subsided” (Esther 7:10). Deception can be deadly.
So how do you handle people intent on conniving and deceiving? They could be a bully who uses their position to promote themselves to the demise of their team members. It may be an adult child who maliciously seeks to cut their siblings out of their parent’s will. Or it may be outright stealing from a partner you thought walked in integrity. First, make sure you are free from any self-imposed deception. Come clean with Christ and others.
Secondly, Christ-like confrontation is necessary to expose a deceiver’s agenda. Go to them with gentleness and humility with the goal of restoration, “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted” (Galatians 6:1). If there is still no remorse, deception carries a consequence of its own. Am I aware and repentant of my own devious tendencies? Am I willing to confront deception in the destructive behavior of someone else?
Related Readings: Psalm 7:15-16; 9:15-16; 2 Corinthians 4:2; Galatians 6:7
8.20.2009
The Daily Verse: 1 Kings 3:25,26 (Great!)
And the king said, Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one and half to the other. Then the woman whose son was alive said to the king, because her heart yearned for her son, Oh, my lord, give her the living child, and by no means put him to death.
1 Kings 3:25,26
If you love something enough that you would let go of it in order to preserve it, that is unconditional love. If you're holding on too tight to the very thing you love, be careful that you aren't willing to harm it in the process of trying to keep it.
1 Kings 3:25,26
If you love something enough that you would let go of it in order to preserve it, that is unconditional love. If you're holding on too tight to the very thing you love, be careful that you aren't willing to harm it in the process of trying to keep it.
Boyd Bailey: Not Your Business…
“Like one who seizes a dog by the ears is a passer-by who meddles in a quarrel not his own.” Proverbs 26:17
Be careful where you align your allegiance. If you make another’s argument your own it may come back to bite you. Its one thing to offer advice when asked, and it’s a whole other situation to offer unsolicited suggestions. Indeed, we have enough issues of our own that need attention, Jesus said, “Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:34b).
Intervention is especially tempting with family dynamics. Parents of married children can find themselves involved over conflict in their children’s home. However, wisdom prays before it pronounces judgment. How can our children learn to live as adults if we always interject our opinions? We may even be right, but some things need to be learned by your children on their own. For example, education can be a volatile issue that requires research and resources.
One common challenge for parents is what school is best for their child. Public school, private school or home school are choices parents may be processing. Each one has its advantages and disadvantages. Many times financial constraints are at the top of the list of concerns. Some families cannot afford private education, so home school or public school becomes a viable option. Each environment is able to develop a well-rounded student of both character and academics. They need your support for whichever option they choose.
Perhaps as a grandparent you start an education fund. Begin early to save and your investment will give your child and their children additional educational options. Lastly, be available but not intrusive when friends or family are feuding. Remain objective and both parties will see you as a safe solution. “Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business…” (1 Thessalonians 4:11a). Can I trust the Lord to work in situations where my advice has not been asked? Will I replace worry with waiting and prayer?
Related Readings: Proverbs 3:30; 17:11-14; Luke 12:14; 2 Timothy 2:14-24
Be careful where you align your allegiance. If you make another’s argument your own it may come back to bite you. Its one thing to offer advice when asked, and it’s a whole other situation to offer unsolicited suggestions. Indeed, we have enough issues of our own that need attention, Jesus said, “Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:34b).
Intervention is especially tempting with family dynamics. Parents of married children can find themselves involved over conflict in their children’s home. However, wisdom prays before it pronounces judgment. How can our children learn to live as adults if we always interject our opinions? We may even be right, but some things need to be learned by your children on their own. For example, education can be a volatile issue that requires research and resources.
One common challenge for parents is what school is best for their child. Public school, private school or home school are choices parents may be processing. Each one has its advantages and disadvantages. Many times financial constraints are at the top of the list of concerns. Some families cannot afford private education, so home school or public school becomes a viable option. Each environment is able to develop a well-rounded student of both character and academics. They need your support for whichever option they choose.
Perhaps as a grandparent you start an education fund. Begin early to save and your investment will give your child and their children additional educational options. Lastly, be available but not intrusive when friends or family are feuding. Remain objective and both parties will see you as a safe solution. “Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business…” (1 Thessalonians 4:11a). Can I trust the Lord to work in situations where my advice has not been asked? Will I replace worry with waiting and prayer?
Related Readings: Proverbs 3:30; 17:11-14; Luke 12:14; 2 Timothy 2:14-24
8.19.2009
Me: Ladder (angels coming and going)
Genesis 28:10-22 (New International Version)
Jacob's Dream at Bethel
10 Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Haran. 11 When he reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep. 12 He had a dream in which he saw a stairway [a] resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.
Jacob's Dream at Bethel
10 Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Haran. 11 When he reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep. 12 He had a dream in which he saw a stairway [a] resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.
Boyd Bailey: Lazy Excuses…
The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road, a fierce lion roaming the streets!” Proverbs 26:13
There are those who make excuses for their lazy behavior. It is almost comical if it were not so sad to see someone stuck in inertia. They may have been productive in the past, but now they have lost all motivation. Their internal fire to face challenges has been extinguished by external fears, both real and imagined. Instead of doing something, they do nothing. They fail to trust the Lord, “He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD” (Psalm 127:7). Fear paralyzes productivity.
Sometimes even good people need to be shaken out of their sluggish behavior. It may mean a new assignment, stricter accountability, fear of job loss, or a fresh and compelling vision. Who on your team is not doing their part? They seem to have an excuse for everything and make things much harder than necessary. They drown you in paperwork without progress. What’s needed is a policy of no excuses, just solutions.
Who does the thinking in your home and at your work? Just you? Wise leaders require others to think. Lazy thinking is stinking thinking. Engaged thinkers are creative, innovative and energetic. They challenge the process to be more efficient. Then the diligent move from thinking to doing. Otherwise you just daydream “Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap” (Ecclesiastes 11:4).
What is keeping me from getting things done? Am I overwhelmed? Am I disorganized? Am I tired and confused? Perhaps you stop and pray. Ask the Lord to show you the next right thing to do. Make a list each morning after talking to the Lord. Let Him and others help you prioritize. Do one thing well and then the next, but doing nothing is not an option. “Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth” (Proverbs 10:4).
Related Readings: 2 Chronicles 24:13; Isaiah 8:12; Luke 16:3; 1 Peter 3:6
****
Am I tired and confused? Perhaps you stop and pray. Ask the Lord to show you the next right thing to do.
There are those who make excuses for their lazy behavior. It is almost comical if it were not so sad to see someone stuck in inertia. They may have been productive in the past, but now they have lost all motivation. Their internal fire to face challenges has been extinguished by external fears, both real and imagined. Instead of doing something, they do nothing. They fail to trust the Lord, “He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD” (Psalm 127:7). Fear paralyzes productivity.
Sometimes even good people need to be shaken out of their sluggish behavior. It may mean a new assignment, stricter accountability, fear of job loss, or a fresh and compelling vision. Who on your team is not doing their part? They seem to have an excuse for everything and make things much harder than necessary. They drown you in paperwork without progress. What’s needed is a policy of no excuses, just solutions.
Who does the thinking in your home and at your work? Just you? Wise leaders require others to think. Lazy thinking is stinking thinking. Engaged thinkers are creative, innovative and energetic. They challenge the process to be more efficient. Then the diligent move from thinking to doing. Otherwise you just daydream “Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap” (Ecclesiastes 11:4).
What is keeping me from getting things done? Am I overwhelmed? Am I disorganized? Am I tired and confused? Perhaps you stop and pray. Ask the Lord to show you the next right thing to do. Make a list each morning after talking to the Lord. Let Him and others help you prioritize. Do one thing well and then the next, but doing nothing is not an option. “Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth” (Proverbs 10:4).
Related Readings: 2 Chronicles 24:13; Isaiah 8:12; Luke 16:3; 1 Peter 3:6
****
Am I tired and confused? Perhaps you stop and pray. Ask the Lord to show you the next right thing to do.
8.18.2009
The Daily Verse: Psalm 4:4
In your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent.
Psalm 4:4
There's something to be said for 'counting down before blasting off." When you find your emotion wanting to overtake your reason, your actions and the way you treat other people, allow this passage to come to mind. Do not sin. Search your heart and be silent. Seek God and allow Him to guide you in how to deal with your emotions so that you respond in a godly manner, and not in reckless, human-inspired blunder.
Psalm 4:4
There's something to be said for 'counting down before blasting off." When you find your emotion wanting to overtake your reason, your actions and the way you treat other people, allow this passage to come to mind. Do not sin. Search your heart and be silent. Seek God and allow Him to guide you in how to deal with your emotions so that you respond in a godly manner, and not in reckless, human-inspired blunder.
8.17.2009
Boyd Bailey: Forced Discipline…
“A whip for the horse, a halter for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools!” Proverbs 26:3
Sometimes we are in need of forced discipline. We are born rebellious and bent on our own way, until the grace of God begins to govern our goings and comings. We become foolish when we drift back into the bad habits of prayerlessness, selfishness and fearful living. Jesus loves us so much that He will jolt us back to Himself with uninvited discipline. Indeed the wise turn to Christ before He has to bring them into submission.
Nations who forget the Lord will experience the fate of His forceful discipline. “Does he who disciplines nations not punish? Does he who teaches man lack knowledge? The LORD knows the thoughts of man; he knows that they are futile” (Psalm 94:10-11). The larger a country’s coffers the smaller Christ becomes. Affluence needs Almighty God.
We are better than animals that have no understanding, “Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you” (Psalm 32:9). However if you ignore God He is willing to use force to initiate intimacy. You may have lost your job, but you have not lost your calling. You are still the spiritual leader of your home and the recliner is not your throne. Foolish men and women flee from their responsibilities in fear, but the wise remember whose they are.
There may be people in your life who need you to be more forceful in your discipline, if not they may hurt themselves and those around them. Don’t fear confrontation, but do fear the fruit of undisciplined living. Perhaps your loving discipline will keep them from drifting toward a most dangerous destination. “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it” (Hebrews 12:11). Do I submit to the discipline of the Lord and His authorities in my life? Do I love others by applying discipline when it’s difficult?
Related Readings: Job 5:17; Proverbs 15:10; Hebrews 12:5-11; Revelation 3:19
Sometimes we are in need of forced discipline. We are born rebellious and bent on our own way, until the grace of God begins to govern our goings and comings. We become foolish when we drift back into the bad habits of prayerlessness, selfishness and fearful living. Jesus loves us so much that He will jolt us back to Himself with uninvited discipline. Indeed the wise turn to Christ before He has to bring them into submission.
Nations who forget the Lord will experience the fate of His forceful discipline. “Does he who disciplines nations not punish? Does he who teaches man lack knowledge? The LORD knows the thoughts of man; he knows that they are futile” (Psalm 94:10-11). The larger a country’s coffers the smaller Christ becomes. Affluence needs Almighty God.
We are better than animals that have no understanding, “Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you” (Psalm 32:9). However if you ignore God He is willing to use force to initiate intimacy. You may have lost your job, but you have not lost your calling. You are still the spiritual leader of your home and the recliner is not your throne. Foolish men and women flee from their responsibilities in fear, but the wise remember whose they are.
There may be people in your life who need you to be more forceful in your discipline, if not they may hurt themselves and those around them. Don’t fear confrontation, but do fear the fruit of undisciplined living. Perhaps your loving discipline will keep them from drifting toward a most dangerous destination. “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it” (Hebrews 12:11). Do I submit to the discipline of the Lord and His authorities in my life? Do I love others by applying discipline when it’s difficult?
Related Readings: Job 5:17; Proverbs 15:10; Hebrews 12:5-11; Revelation 3:19
The Daily Verse: Psalm 46:10
Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!
Psalm 46:10
Being zealous for God and for what He's called you to do and be is important. So is being still. If you find yourself going 90-to-nothing - stop. Be still. If you're going too fast chances are you're not noticing some important things along the way. Be reminded that God is in control - and you don't need to try to be. Be still and let Him show you what to do and not do so that you catch the important stuff and don't waste your time on things that ultimately don't need your attention.
Psalm 46:10
Being zealous for God and for what He's called you to do and be is important. So is being still. If you find yourself going 90-to-nothing - stop. Be still. If you're going too fast chances are you're not noticing some important things along the way. Be reminded that God is in control - and you don't need to try to be. Be still and let Him show you what to do and not do so that you catch the important stuff and don't waste your time on things that ultimately don't need your attention.
8.14.2009
Boyd Bailey: God Chosen…
“Then the LORD said to Moses, “See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts…” Exodus 31:1-3
God uses whom He chooses, and He equips whom He calls. When there is a vision to be cast, a mission to be accomplished, or a task to be completed, Christ’s call is to specific people for a specific purpose. The call of Christ is humbling, but His call is real, nonetheless. It is a call to obedience, first and foremost. Will you say yes to Yahweh’s call? He will grow you into the leader you need to be, but the Holy Spirit directs an obedient follower, not one stuck in the inertia of safety.
You can be sure that your faithfulness in managing His giftedness matters. God chooses those who have been faithful with what may at first seem like small gifts. Your Lord is not slack in anointing and equipping you for the task. There is no vision that overwhelms your Father in heaven. He fills with His Spirit those who surrender to Him. When you submit as His chosen one, His Spirit indwells and empowers you for His assignment.
Therefore, let the Lord drive your spiritual development. Stay submitted, surrendered, and obedient, and He will fill, anoint, and baptize you in His spirit. This is not some mystical maneuvering; it is God’s way of emboldening your faith and consecrating your character. Watch in wonder as He hones your skills. His desire for your next season of service is that your knowledge and abilities be elevated to a whole new level.
This may mean more formal education, or informal mentoring from more experienced men and women. It may require self-education and on-the-job training. Or, it may require a combination of all these initiatives and more. Submit your parenting skills, your leadership skills, and your spiritual know-how to Him. Above all else, stay in Christ’s school of prayer. The lessons learned in your prayer closet will instruct you way beyond what you can ask or think. “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us” (Ephesians 3:20).
Prayer is an exchange of the natural with the supernatural. Prayer takes your finite understanding, and empowers it with eternity’s infinite knowledge, wisdom, and discernment. Having the highest intelligence quotient is not what determines whether God chooses you. He chooses a heart that is hungry for His wisdom. It is a desire for wisdom that opens up the windows of heaven’s resources. Prayer prepares your heart and mind to receive and apply the wisdom of God.
Equipping and training develops your skills and abilities for the assignment at hand, and experience will lift your leadership to a whole new level of total trust in the Lord. There are no insignificant assignments from the Almighty, so tackle your new role with abandonment and passion. He has prepared you for this season, so don’t look back. Just look forward to the Lord by faith. Be humbled. Be grateful. Be obedient. Be trusting.
Do I trust Jesus that He has chosen me for my current role and responsibilities? “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in My name” (John 15:16).
Related Readings: 1 Chronicles 28:6; Isaiah 43:10; Romans 16:13; 1 Peter 2:4
God uses whom He chooses, and He equips whom He calls. When there is a vision to be cast, a mission to be accomplished, or a task to be completed, Christ’s call is to specific people for a specific purpose. The call of Christ is humbling, but His call is real, nonetheless. It is a call to obedience, first and foremost. Will you say yes to Yahweh’s call? He will grow you into the leader you need to be, but the Holy Spirit directs an obedient follower, not one stuck in the inertia of safety.
You can be sure that your faithfulness in managing His giftedness matters. God chooses those who have been faithful with what may at first seem like small gifts. Your Lord is not slack in anointing and equipping you for the task. There is no vision that overwhelms your Father in heaven. He fills with His Spirit those who surrender to Him. When you submit as His chosen one, His Spirit indwells and empowers you for His assignment.
Therefore, let the Lord drive your spiritual development. Stay submitted, surrendered, and obedient, and He will fill, anoint, and baptize you in His spirit. This is not some mystical maneuvering; it is God’s way of emboldening your faith and consecrating your character. Watch in wonder as He hones your skills. His desire for your next season of service is that your knowledge and abilities be elevated to a whole new level.
This may mean more formal education, or informal mentoring from more experienced men and women. It may require self-education and on-the-job training. Or, it may require a combination of all these initiatives and more. Submit your parenting skills, your leadership skills, and your spiritual know-how to Him. Above all else, stay in Christ’s school of prayer. The lessons learned in your prayer closet will instruct you way beyond what you can ask or think. “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us” (Ephesians 3:20).
Prayer is an exchange of the natural with the supernatural. Prayer takes your finite understanding, and empowers it with eternity’s infinite knowledge, wisdom, and discernment. Having the highest intelligence quotient is not what determines whether God chooses you. He chooses a heart that is hungry for His wisdom. It is a desire for wisdom that opens up the windows of heaven’s resources. Prayer prepares your heart and mind to receive and apply the wisdom of God.
Equipping and training develops your skills and abilities for the assignment at hand, and experience will lift your leadership to a whole new level of total trust in the Lord. There are no insignificant assignments from the Almighty, so tackle your new role with abandonment and passion. He has prepared you for this season, so don’t look back. Just look forward to the Lord by faith. Be humbled. Be grateful. Be obedient. Be trusting.
Do I trust Jesus that He has chosen me for my current role and responsibilities? “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in My name” (John 15:16).
Related Readings: 1 Chronicles 28:6; Isaiah 43:10; Romans 16:13; 1 Peter 2:4
The Daily Verse: 2 Timothy 4:5 Awesome
As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
2 Timothy 4:5
In the big picture, suffering is only a small part of the amazing work God is doing in and around you. Take a moment to attempt to look at your life from God's viewpoint. Consider the blessings, the protection and the joy He's provided, as well as the character He's developing within you through your life experiences. Thank Him for the fun stuff, praise Him for the hard stuff and rejoice in that your Heavenly Father has a plan much bigger than what you can see right in front of you.
2 Timothy 4:5
In the big picture, suffering is only a small part of the amazing work God is doing in and around you. Take a moment to attempt to look at your life from God's viewpoint. Consider the blessings, the protection and the joy He's provided, as well as the character He's developing within you through your life experiences. Thank Him for the fun stuff, praise Him for the hard stuff and rejoice in that your Heavenly Father has a plan much bigger than what you can see right in front of you.
8.13.2009
The Daily Verse: John 13:5
Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
John 13:5
Think of the people in your life who follow you - look up to you - hang on your every word. Do you treat them like they are beneath you, or do you serve them - do you wash their feet, as Jesus did? You can learn and teach just as much by following as you can by leading. Give it a try today.
John 13:5
Think of the people in your life who follow you - look up to you - hang on your every word. Do you treat them like they are beneath you, or do you serve them - do you wash their feet, as Jesus did? You can learn and teach just as much by following as you can by leading. Give it a try today.
8.12.2009
The Daily Verse: 2 Corinthians 5:7
...for we walk by faith, not by sight.
2 Corinthians 5:7
If we responded to what we see with our own two eyes, there are time where we'd probably consider our fate grim. However, we have the ability to look through the eyes of faith - see the hope, the intricate plans and the intentional work of our Father in our lives and those around us. intentionally look at what's in front of you today with your own two eyes; then do the same thing, but look at everything through the eyes of faith. Stay there. Walk using that visi
2 Corinthians 5:7
If we responded to what we see with our own two eyes, there are time where we'd probably consider our fate grim. However, we have the ability to look through the eyes of faith - see the hope, the intricate plans and the intentional work of our Father in our lives and those around us. intentionally look at what's in front of you today with your own two eyes; then do the same thing, but look at everything through the eyes of faith. Stay there. Walk using that visi
8.11.2009
Boyd Bailey: Refreshing Relationships…
“Like coolness of snow at harvest time is a trustworthy messenger to those who send him; he refreshes the spirit of his masters.” Proverbs 25:13
There are special relationships that energize and encourage. Their servant spirit empowers people in their path. Because they are trustworthy there is never a doubt they will do what they say in a timely and thorough manner. Refreshing people use encouragement to make sad spirits rise in hope and anticipation. “For they refreshed my spirit and yours also. Such men deserve recognition” (1 Corinthians 16:18). Make sure you honor those who refresh you. Give them gratitude and pray for them to continue.
Where does their refreshment come from? How are they able to not exhaust its reserves? The Lord refreshes refreshing people. “Six days do your work, but on the seventh day do not work, so that your ox and your donkey may rest and the slave born in your household, and the alien as well, may be refreshed” (Exodus 23:12). If work is your life then you have nothing left over to give. Learn to let the Lord regularly refresh your exhausted emotions.
Do you have a regular routine of receiving righteous refreshment from heaven? Perhaps you walk at your lunch break, listen to soothing music in the evening or read your Bible in the morning. Hike a mountain, swim in the sea or somehow engage in the beauty of God’s creation and you will be refreshed. Christ’s refreshment is waiting for those who are weary and worn out, “I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint” (Jeremiah 31:25). Like a cold refreshment on a blistering hot day, the Lord’s love quenches thirsty hearts.
You feel the most spiritual after the Lord has refreshed your mind, body, soul and spirit, therefore be refreshed so you can refresh others. Who can I refresh with a kind word or comforting Scripture? Who do I know whose soul is shriveled in need of an infusion of hope and love? The Christian community is called to refresh those in the wake of its influence. “In addition to our own encouragement, we were especially delighted to see how happy Titus was, because his spirit has been refreshed by all of you” (2 Corinthians 7:14a). Refreshment is reciprocal, so receive it freely and give it freely for Christ’s sake.
Related Readings: Genesis 18:5; Proverbs 11:25; Romans 15:31-33; Philemon 1:20
There are special relationships that energize and encourage. Their servant spirit empowers people in their path. Because they are trustworthy there is never a doubt they will do what they say in a timely and thorough manner. Refreshing people use encouragement to make sad spirits rise in hope and anticipation. “For they refreshed my spirit and yours also. Such men deserve recognition” (1 Corinthians 16:18). Make sure you honor those who refresh you. Give them gratitude and pray for them to continue.
Where does their refreshment come from? How are they able to not exhaust its reserves? The Lord refreshes refreshing people. “Six days do your work, but on the seventh day do not work, so that your ox and your donkey may rest and the slave born in your household, and the alien as well, may be refreshed” (Exodus 23:12). If work is your life then you have nothing left over to give. Learn to let the Lord regularly refresh your exhausted emotions.
Do you have a regular routine of receiving righteous refreshment from heaven? Perhaps you walk at your lunch break, listen to soothing music in the evening or read your Bible in the morning. Hike a mountain, swim in the sea or somehow engage in the beauty of God’s creation and you will be refreshed. Christ’s refreshment is waiting for those who are weary and worn out, “I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint” (Jeremiah 31:25). Like a cold refreshment on a blistering hot day, the Lord’s love quenches thirsty hearts.
You feel the most spiritual after the Lord has refreshed your mind, body, soul and spirit, therefore be refreshed so you can refresh others. Who can I refresh with a kind word or comforting Scripture? Who do I know whose soul is shriveled in need of an infusion of hope and love? The Christian community is called to refresh those in the wake of its influence. “In addition to our own encouragement, we were especially delighted to see how happy Titus was, because his spirit has been refreshed by all of you” (2 Corinthians 7:14a). Refreshment is reciprocal, so receive it freely and give it freely for Christ’s sake.
Related Readings: Genesis 18:5; Proverbs 11:25; Romans 15:31-33; Philemon 1:20
The Daily Verse: Psalm 112:7
He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord.
Psalm 112:7
Remember that your heart should be firm because you trust the Lord, not necessarily because you trust your circumstances or other people. Take inventory of where you're placing your trust, and ask for the grace to make adjustments where necessary.
Psalm 112:7
Remember that your heart should be firm because you trust the Lord, not necessarily because you trust your circumstances or other people. Take inventory of where you're placing your trust, and ask for the grace to make adjustments where necessary.
Boyd Bailey: Cool Down Period…
“What you have seen with your eyes do not bring hastily to court, for what will you do in the end if your neighbor puts you to shame?” Proverbs 25:8
Be wise to not react too quickly. Words spoken in the heat of hurt or the rage of anger can come back to haunt you, especially if your rash actions lead to a lawsuit. If you commit to legal action without weighing the emotional and financial cost, you may very well regret you went down this long and lonely road, even if you win. Consider the expense before you pursue a public display of disparity. Cool down and then decide.
Perhaps you need a break to reflect on your options and to seek godly counsel? A striving soul only becomes more entangled in emotional upheaval. There needs to be the unwinding of your vexed will and solace from your Savior Jesus. This was David’s approach under pressure, “I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies” (2 Samuel 22:4). Cool down,so you can see Christ’s faithfulness.
There are ways to settle disputes in private. You may need a mediator to manage the communication with your antagonist. If both parties have overdrawn their relational equity, they both feel they deserve a debt of compliance. Communication takes place best with calm and quiet. “A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger” (Proverbs 15:1). Model the way by managing your emotions, cool down, then act.
So, go away with Christ and cool down. Make reconciliation your goal, not revenge. He calls Christians to be ministers of reconciliation, “All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:18). Is He calling me to drop the lawsuit? Am I to make amends in spite of my innocence? Once you cool down, ask what Christ would have you do. A cool head leads to a warm heart. There is no shame in seeking to make things right and reconnect in Christ.
Related Readings: Judges 11:12; Proverbs 20:3; Luke 14:31-32; 1 Corinthians 6:1
Be wise to not react too quickly. Words spoken in the heat of hurt or the rage of anger can come back to haunt you, especially if your rash actions lead to a lawsuit. If you commit to legal action without weighing the emotional and financial cost, you may very well regret you went down this long and lonely road, even if you win. Consider the expense before you pursue a public display of disparity. Cool down and then decide.
Perhaps you need a break to reflect on your options and to seek godly counsel? A striving soul only becomes more entangled in emotional upheaval. There needs to be the unwinding of your vexed will and solace from your Savior Jesus. This was David’s approach under pressure, “I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies” (2 Samuel 22:4). Cool down,so you can see Christ’s faithfulness.
There are ways to settle disputes in private. You may need a mediator to manage the communication with your antagonist. If both parties have overdrawn their relational equity, they both feel they deserve a debt of compliance. Communication takes place best with calm and quiet. “A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger” (Proverbs 15:1). Model the way by managing your emotions, cool down, then act.
So, go away with Christ and cool down. Make reconciliation your goal, not revenge. He calls Christians to be ministers of reconciliation, “All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:18). Is He calling me to drop the lawsuit? Am I to make amends in spite of my innocence? Once you cool down, ask what Christ would have you do. A cool head leads to a warm heart. There is no shame in seeking to make things right and reconnect in Christ.
Related Readings: Judges 11:12; Proverbs 20:3; Luke 14:31-32; 1 Corinthians 6:1
Me: The Armor of God
Ephesians 6:10-18
10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
8.07.2009
Boyd Bailey: Refining Process…
“Remove the dross from the silver, and out comes material for the silversmith.” Proverbs 25:4
We are all in a refining process. The Bible calls this sanctification. Our most difficult days are meant to make us more like Jesus. God does not waste pain; rather He uses it for our purification. “For you, O God, tested us; you refined us like silver” (Psalm 66:10). It is not easy but it is essential to cultivate an eternal perspective within our conscience. There is dross in our fleshly habits that need extracting by the fires of suffering.
Dross is anything dirty and of little or no value. It is waste or impure matter, the scum that rises to the surface of molten metal. The pressure you may feel is pushing impurities to the surface of your soul. It is at this point God’s Spirit skims off the sin, so you are freed up and cleansed before Christ. Don’t resist the righteous refining process. It is the Lord’s way to make you holy for Him. Refinement is a resource for righteousness.
Even the wise and most capable for Christ are not immune to the Almighty’s refining fires, “Some of the wise will stumble, so that they may be refined, purified and made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time” (Daniel 11:35). Without affliction your leadership will not rise to the level needed to lead your team most effectively. Your example of faithfulness under fire fires up your followers.
Your refinement is an expression of the Lord’s love. He loves you too much to allow you to be held back by immature attitudes and impure motives. Because He cares, He continues to remove layers of hurt that need healing and sin that needs forgiving. Submit to His sanctifying process and your purification will propel you forward in His perfect will. “For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor” (1 Thessalonians 4:3-4, NKJV). Am I surrendered to my Savior’s process of refinement? Do I daily confess my sin and receive His cleansing power for my soul?
Related Readings: Isaiah 48:10; Daniel 12:10; 2 Timothy 2:20-21; 1 Peter 1:7
We are all in a refining process. The Bible calls this sanctification. Our most difficult days are meant to make us more like Jesus. God does not waste pain; rather He uses it for our purification. “For you, O God, tested us; you refined us like silver” (Psalm 66:10). It is not easy but it is essential to cultivate an eternal perspective within our conscience. There is dross in our fleshly habits that need extracting by the fires of suffering.
Dross is anything dirty and of little or no value. It is waste or impure matter, the scum that rises to the surface of molten metal. The pressure you may feel is pushing impurities to the surface of your soul. It is at this point God’s Spirit skims off the sin, so you are freed up and cleansed before Christ. Don’t resist the righteous refining process. It is the Lord’s way to make you holy for Him. Refinement is a resource for righteousness.
Even the wise and most capable for Christ are not immune to the Almighty’s refining fires, “Some of the wise will stumble, so that they may be refined, purified and made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time” (Daniel 11:35). Without affliction your leadership will not rise to the level needed to lead your team most effectively. Your example of faithfulness under fire fires up your followers.
Your refinement is an expression of the Lord’s love. He loves you too much to allow you to be held back by immature attitudes and impure motives. Because He cares, He continues to remove layers of hurt that need healing and sin that needs forgiving. Submit to His sanctifying process and your purification will propel you forward in His perfect will. “For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor” (1 Thessalonians 4:3-4, NKJV). Am I surrendered to my Savior’s process of refinement? Do I daily confess my sin and receive His cleansing power for my soul?
Related Readings: Isaiah 48:10; Daniel 12:10; 2 Timothy 2:20-21; 1 Peter 1:7
The Daily Verse: Psalm 51:10
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
Psalm 51:10
We all get off of our game every now and then. If that's you, let this be the plea of your heart. God will answer you and honor your request in His own way, in His own time.
Psalm 51:10
We all get off of our game every now and then. If that's you, let this be the plea of your heart. God will answer you and honor your request in His own way, in His own time.
Me: ESV Hbr 12:12-15 (special from tina)
Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no "root of bitterness" springs up and causes trouble...
8.06.2009
Boyd Bailey: Autonomy With Accountability…
“A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest—and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man.” Proverbs 24:33-34
Autonomy with accountability leads to prosperity. Autonomy without accountability leads to poverty. It may be financial despair or it may mean leanness of the soul. None of us does our best by ourselves. We all need the encouragement from community and the hard questions from those who know us well. Accountability applied to the heart leads to lessons learned. You observe in others good habits that help you be successful.
How are you accountable when you travel with your work? Do you ask another brother or sister in the Lord to hold you to His standards? Do you stay in homes when possible to deepen relationships and to protect you from yourself? Autonomy is a trust that requires wise and prudent stewardship. If you abuse it there is a good chance you will lose it. Just as Jesus sent His disciples out in pairs consider partners who work close with you. “After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two” (Luke 10:1a).
Transparency leads to trust. It is at the point of authenticity and openness that our vulnerability gives others permission to be honest with their struggles and temptations. It’s when we think we have everything under control that we are positioned to lose control. Healthy control only comes by submitting to someone, so we don’t make a series of dumb decisions that spin things out of control. Little compromises lead to collapse.
Most importantly stay accountable to Almighty God. He gave you intelligence, insights and intimacy with Him. Fear of the Lord is a good reminder that no one is really autonomous under the shelter of the Most High. The shadow of your Savior follows you wherever you go, you cannot hide from God. We are all accountable to Jesus. “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account” (Hebrews 4:13). Do I steward my autonomy as a gift from God? Is my accountability authentic and effective?
Related Readings: 2 Samuel 11:2; Proverbs 6:4-11; Luke 8:17; 1 Corinthians 4:5
Autonomy with accountability leads to prosperity. Autonomy without accountability leads to poverty. It may be financial despair or it may mean leanness of the soul. None of us does our best by ourselves. We all need the encouragement from community and the hard questions from those who know us well. Accountability applied to the heart leads to lessons learned. You observe in others good habits that help you be successful.
How are you accountable when you travel with your work? Do you ask another brother or sister in the Lord to hold you to His standards? Do you stay in homes when possible to deepen relationships and to protect you from yourself? Autonomy is a trust that requires wise and prudent stewardship. If you abuse it there is a good chance you will lose it. Just as Jesus sent His disciples out in pairs consider partners who work close with you. “After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two” (Luke 10:1a).
Transparency leads to trust. It is at the point of authenticity and openness that our vulnerability gives others permission to be honest with their struggles and temptations. It’s when we think we have everything under control that we are positioned to lose control. Healthy control only comes by submitting to someone, so we don’t make a series of dumb decisions that spin things out of control. Little compromises lead to collapse.
Most importantly stay accountable to Almighty God. He gave you intelligence, insights and intimacy with Him. Fear of the Lord is a good reminder that no one is really autonomous under the shelter of the Most High. The shadow of your Savior follows you wherever you go, you cannot hide from God. We are all accountable to Jesus. “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account” (Hebrews 4:13). Do I steward my autonomy as a gift from God? Is my accountability authentic and effective?
Related Readings: 2 Samuel 11:2; Proverbs 6:4-11; Luke 8:17; 1 Corinthians 4:5
8.05.2009
Boyd Bailey: Embrace Excellence…
“Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Matthew 5:48
We admire excellence in others. Professional athletes, attorneys, speakers, teachers, coaches, custodians, mothers, fathers, leaders, elected officials and business men and women who excel and motivate others to excel. Their commitment to thousands of hours in focused training and competition makes their flawless performance look easy. It is their obsession with perfection that leads them to excellence.
In Christ, perfection is our position. Outside of Christ no one is perfect, but inside of Christ everyone is perfect. We are perfect because He is perfect. “So that we may present everyone perfect in Christ” (Colossians 1:28b). The challenge is we still live in a sinful world with sinful people and therefore perfection is diluted. Nonetheless, Jesus commanded His children to be perfect on the level of their heavenly Father. So as we seek perfection in this life, we see glimpses of glory and we do capture excellence in the process.
What does excellence look like from the eyes of the eternal? Paul a protagonist of perfection describes our dilemma, “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:12-14). People with an eternal perspective promote perfection.
Therefore, embrace excellence as a core value in your life and work. Because you represent the Lord Jesus, be an excellent example of a Christian. Be it ministry or business, your vocation is a vicarious look at our Lord. Talk about Jesus from a platform of perfection and people will stop to listen. Excellence is your entrée into promoting a loving relationship with God. Do I settle for mediocrity, or do I aspire to excellence? Are others attracted to the quality of my character, competence and family?
Related Readings: Psalm 18:32; Isaiah 26:3; 2 Corinthians 7:1; Hebrews 10:14
We admire excellence in others. Professional athletes, attorneys, speakers, teachers, coaches, custodians, mothers, fathers, leaders, elected officials and business men and women who excel and motivate others to excel. Their commitment to thousands of hours in focused training and competition makes their flawless performance look easy. It is their obsession with perfection that leads them to excellence.
In Christ, perfection is our position. Outside of Christ no one is perfect, but inside of Christ everyone is perfect. We are perfect because He is perfect. “So that we may present everyone perfect in Christ” (Colossians 1:28b). The challenge is we still live in a sinful world with sinful people and therefore perfection is diluted. Nonetheless, Jesus commanded His children to be perfect on the level of their heavenly Father. So as we seek perfection in this life, we see glimpses of glory and we do capture excellence in the process.
What does excellence look like from the eyes of the eternal? Paul a protagonist of perfection describes our dilemma, “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:12-14). People with an eternal perspective promote perfection.
Therefore, embrace excellence as a core value in your life and work. Because you represent the Lord Jesus, be an excellent example of a Christian. Be it ministry or business, your vocation is a vicarious look at our Lord. Talk about Jesus from a platform of perfection and people will stop to listen. Excellence is your entrée into promoting a loving relationship with God. Do I settle for mediocrity, or do I aspire to excellence? Are others attracted to the quality of my character, competence and family?
Related Readings: Psalm 18:32; Isaiah 26:3; 2 Corinthians 7:1; Hebrews 10:14
The Daily Verse: Isaiah 52:2
Shake yourself from the dust and arise; be seated, O Jerusalem; loose the bonds from your neck, O captive daughter of Zion.
Isaiah 52:2
The Spirit of the Lord in you has the power to loose the things that bind you and keep you from freedom. The same Spirit also provides the strength for you to hold loosely the things that you keep held tight for fear of losing them. Surrender to God the things you hold tightly, as well as the things that have a grip on you. Live in a posture of surrender and freedom.
Isaiah 52:2
The Spirit of the Lord in you has the power to loose the things that bind you and keep you from freedom. The same Spirit also provides the strength for you to hold loosely the things that you keep held tight for fear of losing them. Surrender to God the things you hold tightly, as well as the things that have a grip on you. Live in a posture of surrender and freedom.
Boyd Bailey: Sharpened Skills…
“If an ax is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed but skill will bring success”. Ecclesiastes 10:10
Life is not meant to be full of endless activity and busyness. Without pause it loses its edge. A life worth living is one that takes the time to sharpen its skills. Skill-sharpening is an investment that will serve you well the rest of your life. Do not settle for mediocrity. By God’s grace seek to be the best in your life’s roles. Your commitment to sharpen yourself is much like that of a farmer. A wise farmer will use his seasonal down time to upgrade, replace, and repair his equipment. He literally sharpens the tips of his plow, rebuilds the tractor engines, and upgrades and cleans his equipment.
A prepared farmer will not only survive, but will thrive with this type of motivation to always improve. In the same spirit, there is a time to execute, and a time to regroup and sharpen yourself for the next initiative. A person with sharpened skills is an effective tool in the hand of God. He wants to use you to your full potential. Your part is to continually improve. Your activities and work will produce more lasting results when you take the time to hone heaven’s gifts.
A skilled concert pianist practices the piano. A skilled writer searches out new words and becomes engrossed in sentence structures. A skilled speaker learns how to understand his audience and communicate one point in a variety of ways. A skilled mom quizzes other moms on how to become a better mother. A skilled golfer continues to hit balls way after the tournaments’ end; he smashes the little white objects into the night. So, seek out new ways to keep your mind sharp and engaged in new ideas.
Read about and learn from wise leaders of the faith whose writings have stood the test of time. Books are tremendous skill-sharpeners. Join a book club to ramp up your commitment and accountability. You can attend seminars or pursue a graduate degree. Use a variety of tools to stay sharp. Sparks fly when steel is sharpened, which means there will be some discomfort and growing pains. You are either moving forward or shrinking backward; there is no standing still. As you sharpen your skills, you are moving forward. You are stewarding God’s talents and gifts to their fullest.
Swinging at issues with a dull life will lead you to the brink of giving up. Sharpen your mind with the Word of God. Nothing sharpens a mind like wisdom from above. God’s principles are like a whit rock on a battered blade. He smoothes the jagged edges of your roughed up life. Like an axe that has become chipped and blunted over time, your life is refurbished by God till it regains its radiant and shiny silver edge. Discover your skills through assessments and the counsel of others. A hint: when you operate within your skill set, executing the plan is almost effortless. Stay sharp, and your skills may swing open some impressive doors. Wisdom says, “Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings; he will not serve before obscure men” (Proverbs 22:29).
Related Readings: Exodus 31:6; Psalm 78:72; Acts 17:29; 1 Corinthians 14:37
Sparks fly when steel is sharpened, which means there will be some discomfort and growing pains.
Life is not meant to be full of endless activity and busyness. Without pause it loses its edge. A life worth living is one that takes the time to sharpen its skills. Skill-sharpening is an investment that will serve you well the rest of your life. Do not settle for mediocrity. By God’s grace seek to be the best in your life’s roles. Your commitment to sharpen yourself is much like that of a farmer. A wise farmer will use his seasonal down time to upgrade, replace, and repair his equipment. He literally sharpens the tips of his plow, rebuilds the tractor engines, and upgrades and cleans his equipment.
A prepared farmer will not only survive, but will thrive with this type of motivation to always improve. In the same spirit, there is a time to execute, and a time to regroup and sharpen yourself for the next initiative. A person with sharpened skills is an effective tool in the hand of God. He wants to use you to your full potential. Your part is to continually improve. Your activities and work will produce more lasting results when you take the time to hone heaven’s gifts.
A skilled concert pianist practices the piano. A skilled writer searches out new words and becomes engrossed in sentence structures. A skilled speaker learns how to understand his audience and communicate one point in a variety of ways. A skilled mom quizzes other moms on how to become a better mother. A skilled golfer continues to hit balls way after the tournaments’ end; he smashes the little white objects into the night. So, seek out new ways to keep your mind sharp and engaged in new ideas.
Read about and learn from wise leaders of the faith whose writings have stood the test of time. Books are tremendous skill-sharpeners. Join a book club to ramp up your commitment and accountability. You can attend seminars or pursue a graduate degree. Use a variety of tools to stay sharp. Sparks fly when steel is sharpened, which means there will be some discomfort and growing pains. You are either moving forward or shrinking backward; there is no standing still. As you sharpen your skills, you are moving forward. You are stewarding God’s talents and gifts to their fullest.
Swinging at issues with a dull life will lead you to the brink of giving up. Sharpen your mind with the Word of God. Nothing sharpens a mind like wisdom from above. God’s principles are like a whit rock on a battered blade. He smoothes the jagged edges of your roughed up life. Like an axe that has become chipped and blunted over time, your life is refurbished by God till it regains its radiant and shiny silver edge. Discover your skills through assessments and the counsel of others. A hint: when you operate within your skill set, executing the plan is almost effortless. Stay sharp, and your skills may swing open some impressive doors. Wisdom says, “Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings; he will not serve before obscure men” (Proverbs 22:29).
Related Readings: Exodus 31:6; Psalm 78:72; Acts 17:29; 1 Corinthians 14:37
Sparks fly when steel is sharpened, which means there will be some discomfort and growing pains.
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