“Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, “One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven: and come follow Me.”
What one thing do I lack letting loose of for the Lord? Is it my heart? A house? An automobile? My finances? Is it an attitude of pride in my good works? Is there a hidden sin of fraud that I have not faced up to? Or, do I justify my one hold out with the 95% I have surrendered? Idols have a way of subtly suffocating my unconditional surrender to my Savior Jesus.
Yet--He loves us--even when we dismiss Him in disobedience, or ignore His invitation to intimacy. Because He cares for His children, He raises His expectations for us to exceed what the world does. He looks at our inconsistencies and lovingly exposes our hypocrisies. Jesus knows it takes extreme measures to root out idols that have so deceived us that we don’t recognize their control. Like an addict that denies addiction, we act like things are all right when in fact we lack giving up the one thing that hurts Him.
Are you able to follow Him wholeheartedly, or is there a portion of your heart that has yet to feel the freedom of surrender? Has a child or a career garnered more of your attention that Christ and the poor? Once you surrender 100%, Jesus has you in a position to receive His blessing. What you give over to Jesus qualifies to be given back by Jesus.
What you give up, He makes up for exponentially. Like the fish and loaves (Mark 8:4-9) that were given up on behalf of the masses, He multiplied their provision with providential care. Therefore, surrender your soul, your relationships, your opportunities, your finances, your job, your children, your thought life, your health and your trust. Surrendering to Jesus leads to sweet success in your Savior’s eyes. Make your one thing… His thing.
“Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you” (Matthew 5:42).
What is the one thing I lack giving up for the Lord? How will my surrendering bless others?
Related Readings: Genesis 42:34; 1 Samuel 1:27-28; Matthew 16:26; Acts 3:6
Source: Wisdom Hunters by Boyd Bailey
4.26.2010
Boyd Bailey: Leadership And Friendship…
“Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.” Proverbs 27:6 (KJV)
Lead first and be a friend second, for an effective and efficient enterprise understands that leadership trumps friendship. As the old saying goes, “Lead, follow, or get out of the way.” Wise and intentional leadership is necessary for the health of the organization, and leadership is watered down when friendships dictate strategic direction.
Friendships should forge the team but not unduly dilute excellent outcomes based on courageous leadership decisions. If a leader is preoccupied with what a friend may think or do, then he risks diminishing his decision for the sake of sparing someone’s feelings. Politics are not the plumb line. The values and principles of the organization are the standards by which leadership decisions are made.
Friendship can become a fruit of wise leadership, but it is not meant to drive wise leadership. Indeed, loyalty to friends is an important and valued attribute of an effective leader. But do not allow loyalty to cloud your rationale of what’s best for the team.
Sometimes, the best thing you can do for the team and your friend is to either fire him or reassign him. Be sure your leadership is grounded in principle so your friendships will not get in the way of doing what’s right. Let a friend know up front how much you value him, but not to the detriment of what’s best for the business or ministry.
Friends can be the hardest or the easiest to lead. It all depends on your and their expectations. Does your friend perceive you as a partner or a boss? Is your perception of your friend one of high value or just one of expedience that gets results? Lead first in humility, courage, and clarity. Let your friends know up front what you value as a leader and how they fit into the big picture of organizational success. Constantly ask, “What’s best for the team?” instead of “What does my friend want?”
You lead first by defining the role of friendship on the team, and you keep leadership a priority by not playing favorites. This promotes teamwork and defuses jealousy. Wise leaders make hard decisions, even when it adversely affects a friend. This protects the integrity of the organization. Paul felt this tension when he decided that his friend, John Mark, was not mature enough for the responsibility of a mission trip:
“Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work” (Acts 15:37-38).
Am I willing to lead even if I disappoint a friend? How can I love my friend to follow?
Related Readings: Genesis 19:6-8; Deuteronomy 13:6-8; John 18:1-3; 2 Corinthians 12:19
Lead first and be a friend second, for an effective and efficient enterprise understands that leadership trumps friendship. As the old saying goes, “Lead, follow, or get out of the way.” Wise and intentional leadership is necessary for the health of the organization, and leadership is watered down when friendships dictate strategic direction.
Friendships should forge the team but not unduly dilute excellent outcomes based on courageous leadership decisions. If a leader is preoccupied with what a friend may think or do, then he risks diminishing his decision for the sake of sparing someone’s feelings. Politics are not the plumb line. The values and principles of the organization are the standards by which leadership decisions are made.
Friendship can become a fruit of wise leadership, but it is not meant to drive wise leadership. Indeed, loyalty to friends is an important and valued attribute of an effective leader. But do not allow loyalty to cloud your rationale of what’s best for the team.
Sometimes, the best thing you can do for the team and your friend is to either fire him or reassign him. Be sure your leadership is grounded in principle so your friendships will not get in the way of doing what’s right. Let a friend know up front how much you value him, but not to the detriment of what’s best for the business or ministry.
Friends can be the hardest or the easiest to lead. It all depends on your and their expectations. Does your friend perceive you as a partner or a boss? Is your perception of your friend one of high value or just one of expedience that gets results? Lead first in humility, courage, and clarity. Let your friends know up front what you value as a leader and how they fit into the big picture of organizational success. Constantly ask, “What’s best for the team?” instead of “What does my friend want?”
You lead first by defining the role of friendship on the team, and you keep leadership a priority by not playing favorites. This promotes teamwork and defuses jealousy. Wise leaders make hard decisions, even when it adversely affects a friend. This protects the integrity of the organization. Paul felt this tension when he decided that his friend, John Mark, was not mature enough for the responsibility of a mission trip:
“Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work” (Acts 15:37-38).
Am I willing to lead even if I disappoint a friend? How can I love my friend to follow?
Related Readings: Genesis 19:6-8; Deuteronomy 13:6-8; John 18:1-3; 2 Corinthians 12:19
Source: Wisdom Hunters by Boyd Bailey
4.21.2010
The Daily Verse: Galatians 5:1
For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1
Take a sledge hammer to whatever is holding you back from true freedom. Pursue, enjoy and be a good steward of the freedom Christ has provided you. Refuse the slavery designed to hold you back from it.
Source: The Daily Verse by Kat Davis
Take a sledge hammer to whatever is holding you back from true freedom. Pursue, enjoy and be a good steward of the freedom Christ has provided you. Refuse the slavery designed to hold you back from it.
Source: The Daily Verse by Kat Davis
4.20.2010
Boyd Bailey: Number One Influencer…
“Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.” Ephesians 5:17-18
Who is my number one influencer? Is it my wife? A friend? Is it my mom, brother or mentor? All of these are important and influential, but I desire the number one influencer in my life to be the Holy Spirit. He is the one whose advice is always full of integrity. When I am Spirit led, I can be confident of outcomes that mirror God’s will.
It is easy to be influenced by a culture whose standards are below what’s best. For example, the world may whine and say it’s old fashion to have boundaries with the opposite sex. But, as believers in Jesus we know it’s wise to keep emotional distance from someone who is not our spouse. Spirit-led living does not linger long around unwise activities.
Who is your number one influencer? Perhaps it’s a coach, a colleague or a counselor that gives you good advice. All of these have their place, but never allow an individual to replace the Holy Spirit as your most important influencer. Sometimes a friend will suggest one thing and God’s spirit another; go with God! His promptings are meant to triumph any attractive offer that may tease your emotions. Trust the Spirit’s leading.
“Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires” (Romans 8:5).
It may be hard for you to follow the influence of your Heavenly father, because your earthly father may have abandoned his responsibilities. However, the Spirit of your Father in heaven is trustworthy and true. He never leaves you nor forsakes you. His Holy Spirit is sensitive to exactly what you need and when you need it. He is reliable.
So, once you have confessed and repented of your sin, ask Him for the fullness of His Spirit to flood your soul. The Spirit of God flushes out the foolishness of the flesh and fills it with wisdom from the Lord. The Holy Spirit brings wholeness to your heart and truth to your head. Be intoxicated by the Spirit’s influence and you will walk wisely.
“You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ” (Romans 8:11).
Do I submit daily to the Holy Spirit’s control? How do I know when the Spirit leads me?
Related Readings: Galatians 5:25; 2 Timothy 1:14; James 4:4; 1 John 3:24
Source: Wisdom Hunters by Boyd Bailey
Who is my number one influencer? Is it my wife? A friend? Is it my mom, brother or mentor? All of these are important and influential, but I desire the number one influencer in my life to be the Holy Spirit. He is the one whose advice is always full of integrity. When I am Spirit led, I can be confident of outcomes that mirror God’s will.
It is easy to be influenced by a culture whose standards are below what’s best. For example, the world may whine and say it’s old fashion to have boundaries with the opposite sex. But, as believers in Jesus we know it’s wise to keep emotional distance from someone who is not our spouse. Spirit-led living does not linger long around unwise activities.
Who is your number one influencer? Perhaps it’s a coach, a colleague or a counselor that gives you good advice. All of these have their place, but never allow an individual to replace the Holy Spirit as your most important influencer. Sometimes a friend will suggest one thing and God’s spirit another; go with God! His promptings are meant to triumph any attractive offer that may tease your emotions. Trust the Spirit’s leading.
“Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires” (Romans 8:5).
It may be hard for you to follow the influence of your Heavenly father, because your earthly father may have abandoned his responsibilities. However, the Spirit of your Father in heaven is trustworthy and true. He never leaves you nor forsakes you. His Holy Spirit is sensitive to exactly what you need and when you need it. He is reliable.
So, once you have confessed and repented of your sin, ask Him for the fullness of His Spirit to flood your soul. The Spirit of God flushes out the foolishness of the flesh and fills it with wisdom from the Lord. The Holy Spirit brings wholeness to your heart and truth to your head. Be intoxicated by the Spirit’s influence and you will walk wisely.
“You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ” (Romans 8:11).
Do I submit daily to the Holy Spirit’s control? How do I know when the Spirit leads me?
Related Readings: Galatians 5:25; 2 Timothy 1:14; James 4:4; 1 John 3:24
Source: Wisdom Hunters by Boyd Bailey
4.16.2010
Boyd Bailey: Capacity Building…
“To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability.” Matthew 25:15
Capacity is the ability Christ gives me to carry out His commands. And capacity varies from person to person. Some people can get by on five to six hours of sleep while I require seven to eight. Where I get out of balance is when I compare my capacity with someone of greater capacity. Indeed, capacity is meant to provide guardrails, not guilt.
So how can we use our capacity to our advantage instead of our disadvantage? How can we understand our limitations and trust the Lord with the results? It starts by being honest about how God has made us. If we can only execute with excellence one project at a time, then we limit ourselves to one. If we only have the time, money and love for two children, then we accept this as the responsible decision. Honesty about capacity is freeing for parents.
But isn’t there a way to build capacity at work, home and in relationships? Yes indeed! As you remain faithful with the small responsibilities, the Lord and others can trust you with additional tasks. When you manage a small amount of money on a budget, you can be trusted with more resources to steward as well. When you treat one individual with a full compliment of grace and truth, you build relational capacity for more quality friendships.
Furthermore, you are over capacity when cash in your bank account is overdrawn, or you have written a relational check your emotions can’t cash. Therefore, monitor your capacity in prayer before Jesus. Ask Him for courage to say no to something new, so you can say yes to current obligations. Like lifting weights, you can increase your mental, emotional, financial and relational capacity--but it takes time, focus and discipline.
The Lord has unlimited capacity for empathy, wisdom and character. So go to Him for your character capacity building. Make sure your character capacity keeps up with your success and you will be able to handle success. Does your heart have the same capacity for humility, as your mind does for truth? So, build capacity around Christ’s gifts to you.
“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. We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits, but will confine our boasting to the field God has assigned to us, a field that reaches even to you” (2 Corinthians 10:12-13).
What capacities do I have that Christ wants to grow? Who do I need to say no to?
Related Readings: Job 15:18; Psalm 147:5; John 3:34; 1 Corinthians 10:23
Source: Wisdom Hunters by Boyd Bailey
Capacity is the ability Christ gives me to carry out His commands. And capacity varies from person to person. Some people can get by on five to six hours of sleep while I require seven to eight. Where I get out of balance is when I compare my capacity with someone of greater capacity. Indeed, capacity is meant to provide guardrails, not guilt.
So how can we use our capacity to our advantage instead of our disadvantage? How can we understand our limitations and trust the Lord with the results? It starts by being honest about how God has made us. If we can only execute with excellence one project at a time, then we limit ourselves to one. If we only have the time, money and love for two children, then we accept this as the responsible decision. Honesty about capacity is freeing for parents.
But isn’t there a way to build capacity at work, home and in relationships? Yes indeed! As you remain faithful with the small responsibilities, the Lord and others can trust you with additional tasks. When you manage a small amount of money on a budget, you can be trusted with more resources to steward as well. When you treat one individual with a full compliment of grace and truth, you build relational capacity for more quality friendships.
Furthermore, you are over capacity when cash in your bank account is overdrawn, or you have written a relational check your emotions can’t cash. Therefore, monitor your capacity in prayer before Jesus. Ask Him for courage to say no to something new, so you can say yes to current obligations. Like lifting weights, you can increase your mental, emotional, financial and relational capacity--but it takes time, focus and discipline.
The Lord has unlimited capacity for empathy, wisdom and character. So go to Him for your character capacity building. Make sure your character capacity keeps up with your success and you will be able to handle success. Does your heart have the same capacity for humility, as your mind does for truth? So, build capacity around Christ’s gifts to you.
“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. We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits, but will confine our boasting to the field God has assigned to us, a field that reaches even to you” (2 Corinthians 10:12-13).
What capacities do I have that Christ wants to grow? Who do I need to say no to?
Related Readings: Job 15:18; Psalm 147:5; John 3:34; 1 Corinthians 10:23
Source: Wisdom Hunters by Boyd Bailey
4.14.2010
The Daily Verse: Psalm 51:10
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Psalm 51:10
Don't feel ashamed if you find yourself weary, like you need a spiritual pep rally to get you back on track. That's normal - you're human. Mimic the psalmist's request in this passage. The Lord will prove Himself faithful to answer your plea for a clean heart and a renewed spirit.
Source: The Daily Verse by Kat Davis
Source: The Daily Verse by Kat Davis
4.07.2010
Scripture from AG: understanding & humility
He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way. Psalm 25:9
Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?" declares the LORD. "This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word. Isaiah 66:2
Boyd Bailey: Careless Words…
“But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned." Matthew 12:36-37
My words are a reflection of my heart. When Christ captures my heart then my words are measured and meaningful. A heart pregnant with the Lord’s purposes produces good fruit for its recipients. It’s when my heart avoids the Almighty’s instructions that my words become careless. They wound and bring harm to the hearers who receive my insensitivity.
We communicate better when we understand the gravity of undisciplined speech. There is an accountability from God that one day gauges what we have said. No idle word will miss the microscope of our Master’s judgment. “If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless” (James 1:26). The Holy Spirit bridles our tongue with words of great worth.
So, does your speech represent your Savior well? Do your words incubate in a heart of intimacy with God and accountability with man? Like a thoughtful and creative artist use your words to paint a picture that provides understanding and instruction. Prepare your heart in prayer before you speak in a meeting or prior to a performance review. At home, resolve to be respectful in all matters of conversation and others will reciprocate. Know that what is said in the privacy of your own home may fall on the ears of your innocent children, so don’t be surprised at what you hear them say. It may be at a very embarrassing moment.
Careless words are best corralled by Christ’s calming presence. When He seasons our speech with grace there is a gravitas that gains the attention of the most suspecting souls. It’s when the Lord speaks through us that we experience the best communication. Indeed, a humble heart full of Christ’s courage carries the right words at the right time. Speak with bold clarity and trust God with the results. Convert careless words to kind ones.
“Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one” (Colossians 4:6, NKJV).
Are my words measured in prayer? Do I speak with accountability to God in mind?
Related Readings: Psalm 139:4; Proverbs 18:21; Job 15:3; Ephesians 5:4
Source: Wisdom Hunters by Boyd Bailey
My words are a reflection of my heart. When Christ captures my heart then my words are measured and meaningful. A heart pregnant with the Lord’s purposes produces good fruit for its recipients. It’s when my heart avoids the Almighty’s instructions that my words become careless. They wound and bring harm to the hearers who receive my insensitivity.
We communicate better when we understand the gravity of undisciplined speech. There is an accountability from God that one day gauges what we have said. No idle word will miss the microscope of our Master’s judgment. “If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless” (James 1:26). The Holy Spirit bridles our tongue with words of great worth.
So, does your speech represent your Savior well? Do your words incubate in a heart of intimacy with God and accountability with man? Like a thoughtful and creative artist use your words to paint a picture that provides understanding and instruction. Prepare your heart in prayer before you speak in a meeting or prior to a performance review. At home, resolve to be respectful in all matters of conversation and others will reciprocate. Know that what is said in the privacy of your own home may fall on the ears of your innocent children, so don’t be surprised at what you hear them say. It may be at a very embarrassing moment.
Careless words are best corralled by Christ’s calming presence. When He seasons our speech with grace there is a gravitas that gains the attention of the most suspecting souls. It’s when the Lord speaks through us that we experience the best communication. Indeed, a humble heart full of Christ’s courage carries the right words at the right time. Speak with bold clarity and trust God with the results. Convert careless words to kind ones.
“Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one” (Colossians 4:6, NKJV).
Are my words measured in prayer? Do I speak with accountability to God in mind?
Related Readings: Psalm 139:4; Proverbs 18:21; Job 15:3; Ephesians 5:4
Source: Wisdom Hunters by Boyd Bailey
The Daily Verse: Luke 5:39
And no one after drinking old wine desires new, for he says, The old is good. Luke 5:39
Old habits are hard to break. However, if God has poured a new way of doing things into your heart, be a good steward of the lesson and the journey by embracing it. You are being taught a new way of doing things for a purpose, so lean into it and watch how it manifests a spirit of confidence and joy in your life.
Source: The Daily Verse by Kat Davis
Boyd Bailey: Worship When Worried…
“Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.” Psalm 100:1-3
I cannot worship and worry at the same time. When Christ is my focus they do not coexist, because worship pushes worry into its own wilderness. In my personal and corporate worship Almighty God becomes bigger than life. His holiness heals my heart, His beauty soothes my soul, His majesty humbles my pride and His glory gets my full attention. Worship recalibrates my thinking to trust and my emotions to the eternal.
Our worship is meant to move us toward our Master in a manner that transforms our weak faith to a bold proclamation of His faithfulness. Music is a facilitator for our heart to lift itself out of the worries of this world to the calming presence of Christ. We are privileged, as Christ followers, to approach Him at anytime in authentic adoration and praise. We shout with thanksgiving or quietly whisper words of gratitude to our King.
“Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music; make music to the LORD with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing, with trumpets and the blast of the ram's horn—shout for joy before the LORD, the King” (Psalm 98:4-6).
How is your daily and weekly worship? Is it rote or radical? Is it fresh or perfunctory? Worship is a way to wrap your mind about what matters. The cares and competition from this world becomes strangely dim, as heaven comes into full focus in all its splendor. Like a giddy scientist peering through his Hubble telescope, your worship gives you glimpses into His glory. Your eyes of faith fall on the compassionate face of Christ.
Genuine worship focuses on your Heavenly Father, and it changes you. You walk away wondering why you ever worried in the first place. You exit your place of worship having left the residue of your sin behind, because you came clean in confession and repentance. Sin cannot bow at the footstool of Holy God without melting away in fear.
Worship and worry no more, for this is your opportunity to engage God. Worship matters, because the Lord matters. Worship freely, and watch Him free you from worry. Like the sun cutting into a fog covered bridge, He burns away your mind’s clouded cares. Worship works, because worry cannot coexist in the presence of our King Jesus Christ.
“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our "God is a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:28-29).
Do I regularly replace my worry with worship? Do I authentically worship Almighty God?
Related Readings: Nehemiah 9:3; Daniel 3:28; Matthew 28:17; Revelation 22:8-9
Source: Wisdom Hunters by Boyd Bailey
I cannot worship and worry at the same time. When Christ is my focus they do not coexist, because worship pushes worry into its own wilderness. In my personal and corporate worship Almighty God becomes bigger than life. His holiness heals my heart, His beauty soothes my soul, His majesty humbles my pride and His glory gets my full attention. Worship recalibrates my thinking to trust and my emotions to the eternal.
Our worship is meant to move us toward our Master in a manner that transforms our weak faith to a bold proclamation of His faithfulness. Music is a facilitator for our heart to lift itself out of the worries of this world to the calming presence of Christ. We are privileged, as Christ followers, to approach Him at anytime in authentic adoration and praise. We shout with thanksgiving or quietly whisper words of gratitude to our King.
“Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music; make music to the LORD with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing, with trumpets and the blast of the ram's horn—shout for joy before the LORD, the King” (Psalm 98:4-6).
How is your daily and weekly worship? Is it rote or radical? Is it fresh or perfunctory? Worship is a way to wrap your mind about what matters. The cares and competition from this world becomes strangely dim, as heaven comes into full focus in all its splendor. Like a giddy scientist peering through his Hubble telescope, your worship gives you glimpses into His glory. Your eyes of faith fall on the compassionate face of Christ.
Genuine worship focuses on your Heavenly Father, and it changes you. You walk away wondering why you ever worried in the first place. You exit your place of worship having left the residue of your sin behind, because you came clean in confession and repentance. Sin cannot bow at the footstool of Holy God without melting away in fear.
Worship and worry no more, for this is your opportunity to engage God. Worship matters, because the Lord matters. Worship freely, and watch Him free you from worry. Like the sun cutting into a fog covered bridge, He burns away your mind’s clouded cares. Worship works, because worry cannot coexist in the presence of our King Jesus Christ.
“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our "God is a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:28-29).
Do I regularly replace my worry with worship? Do I authentically worship Almighty God?
Related Readings: Nehemiah 9:3; Daniel 3:28; Matthew 28:17; Revelation 22:8-9
Telling your problems where to go!
Don't tell God how big your problems are. Tell your problems how big God is.
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