Leadership and Love - Ephesians 5:25

Ephesians 5:25 

"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,"

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This has been a good week for Jake. In the early part of the week, Jake won the district free-throw competition and we are headed to Richmond tonight for the state finals. Go Jake!  And then on Wednesday night, we went to his middle school recognition for getting all "A"s again this quarter, and he was also awarded the Leadership award for the 7th grade!  I truly believe that God has given Jake the gift of leadership and He is going to do great things through Jake in the years to come.

Well yesterday we covered the "Excellent Wife", and today Ephesians talks to us about the sacrificial love of a husband.  Husbands, we are called to love our wives like Christ loved the church.  Did you hear that?  Christ loved the church more than we can possibly fathom and carried that love all the way unto death at Calvary.  To be able to love like that we need to humbly lead our wives and children by always thinking about and caring for their needs *before* our needs.  How many of us really do that?  And wives and children, you need to respectfully make room for your husbands and fathers to own up to their responsibility and take that lead. 

But more importantly, in addition to being strong leaders, we also all need to be obedient and faithful followers.  All of us should be following the only one who never has to be asked to step up or take care of us, because He is always there for us and never forsakes us. I pray that you ask God to help you better play your role in the family but that even more critically, you also passionately seek God's will for your life and follow his lead.

...and don't forget to love God with all your heart, love others as He does, and use every minute for His will and to His glory! 

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I have added a link below to Sanctus Real's song Lead Me.  The song always cause me to tear up a little as it is pretty convicting to many of us very busy fathers.

http://youtu.be/yLr6G8Xy5uc

An Excellent Wife - Proverbs 12:4

Proverbs 12:4 NKJV

"An excellent wife is the crown of her husband"

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The Good News Bible translates this verse as ... An excellent wife is the "pride and joy" of her husband. Well my wife is definitely my source of earthly joy and especially lately I could not be more proud of her. 

For the last month, Kay has been examined, scanned, prodded, banged, stuck, drugged, and cut open.  Throughout it all, I hear few complaints or wining, and she just picks herself up and goes on to the next procedure.  And she does all this while also continuing to take care of our family and home.  Last week after a particularly painful procedure, I even had to go out of town before she had recovered.  She just carried on without me.

For those that are married, turn to your spouse and give them a big hug and a kiss right now.  Make sure you love them continually and don't take them for granted.  I know I fall short on this front regularly but through God's grace and provision I will continue to grow into the husband that he designed me to be.  For those that are yet to be married, be very careful with prospective spouses or even with people you just intend to date.  Be diligent to ensure the person truly loves the Lord and will love, protect, and care for you selflessly.  Yes we always have God as our protector and comforter, but life on this earth is too tough to not have a committed life-long earthly partner to help you wade through it.  I pray you have or will have as "Excellent" a wife as I do.   Happy Valentines Day Lovely Wife of Mine!

...and don't forget to love God with all your heart, love others as He does, and use every minute for His will and to His glory! 

Life is Long! - Exodus 15:18

Exodus 15:18

""The Lord shall reign forever and ever.""

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Many people say "life is short", and it is here on earth. But within the community of believers, we ought to start a new expression of "Life is Long!"

Over these days after Kay's last surgery, I have a real peace about where we are with this disease.   I am putting my complete trust in our Lord that he is going to completely eradicate every cancer cell from her body. But even if he does not, the depths of the trials we experience on this earth are no comparison to the heights of incredible joy we will experience for a "long" eternal time in heaven with our lord and savior.

And one of the best parts is that we do not have to wait for our lord to reign forever in heaven, as his reign has already begun now in our hearts and lives.  As you experience trials in your life, remember that life is short and these trials will not last forever, but more importantly remember that life is going to be long with our lord.

...and don't forget to love God with all your heart, love others as He does, and use every minute for His will and to His glory!

Covered in Prayer - Romans 12:12

Romans 12:12 

"... rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;"

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So for the day after Kay's latest surgery, the devotional topic had to be prayer.  Kay and I were both so encouraged and lifted up by all those who were praying for us today.  At one point during the day, I turned to Kay and said, "you know there are probably more that a thousand people praying for you today".  I have heard from so many people that they were praying and that their families, churches, prayer groups, and friends were praying also.  With that much prayer power raining down on Reston Hospital, Satan could not have been within 5 miles of those hospital walls.  He abhors the words of God and his people, and we are so blessed by our family and friends.

Well one of my favorite prayer verses and one I have kept close in my heart lately is James 5:16 "....the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective".  But I like this passage in Romans also because it lays out this long list of things that a Christian does.  In fact in my Bible this section heading is called "Behave Like a Christian".  So if you are not continually and steadfastly praying than you are not behaving like a Christian - there is no compromise here!

I praise God that he created prayer and that it is not only powerful and effective, but it is uplifting and encouraging, as well as a key relationship builder between us and God and between us and others.  Please continue to pray for Kay as she recovers and takes on whatever the next phase of treatment might be.

...and don't forget to love God with all your heart, love others as He does, and use every minute for His will and to His glory!

God has a plan for each of us - Exodus 13:17, 18

Exodus 13:17, 18

"When Pharaoh finally let the people go, God did not lead them along the main road that runs through Philistine territory, even though that was the shortest route to the Promised Land. God said, "If the people are faced with a battle, they might change their minds and return to Egypt." So God led them in a roundabout way through the wilderness toward the Red Sea. Thus the Israelites left Egypt like an army ready for battle."

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As we prepare for Kay's surgery today, I am strengthened by this verse about how God prepares a specific path for us according to what gifts he has given to us and what trials we can handle.  

God did not lead the Israelites directly into the promised land because he knew they could not handle it yet. God knew their strengths and their limits and he knows ours too. And as much as God cared, directed and loved Israel, he cares, guides, and loves us the same. 

Take comfort that God has a plan for you, and if you seek and listen to him, he will guide and protect you on that path. 

...and don't forget to love God with all your heart, love others as He does, and use every minute for His will and to His glory!

Are you ever mistaken for Jesus? - 1 John 2:6

1 John 2:6

"Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did."

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Have you ever been mistaken for Jesus?  Of course I am not saying any of us would be mistaken to *look* like Jesus, but do we live our lives in a way that Jesus would live his in the 21st century?  I am sure everyone has seen the WWJD bracelets, but are we really facing every situation in our lives with that question?

Well scripture calls us to do just that - wherever we go, whatever we say, whatever we look at, and whatever we do should be a reflection of Christ working through us.  That is obviously a difficult task in our own strength, but Jesus has promised to sanctify us throughout our lives if we seek and follow him. 

I think the bridge lyrics in the Warren Barfield song called "Mistaken" say it all. 

Mistaken - Warren Barfield

http://youtu.be/-L0jRJD_u1Y

May He touch with my hands
See through my eyes
May He speak through my lips
Live through my life

Try to spend this week seeking Christ's will in each of your decisions and more importantly reflecting his will to others through your life!

...and don't forget to love God with all your heart, love others as He does, and use every minute for His will and to His glory!

The Lord is my Rock! - Psalms 18:2

Psalms 18:2 NKJV

"The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold."

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My Rock, My Fortress, My Deliverer, My God, My Strength, My Shield, My Salvation, My Stronghold!  Wow that is a lot of names for the Lord in one verse of the Bible!  I bet you could think of a bunch more couldn't you?  How about: My Healer, My Comforter, My Savior, My Lord, My Provider, My Banner, My Peace, My Sanctifier, My Shepherd, My Master, My Path, My Strong Tower, My Lamb, My Abba, My Creator, My Helper.  Did I miss one of your favorites!

This week the Lord has definitely been My Strength and My Deliverer.  The week was jam-packed with heading to a team kickoff meeting on Sunday, MCing the kickoff on Monday morning, giving a presentation on Monday afternoon, leading a break-out discussion group on Tuesday, presenting to the CEOs and other VPs on Wednesday, and then finally coming down with the flu on Thursday and Friday.  For a natural introvert, I had to rely on His strength throughout the week through prayer and study.

Now I am praying for help, comfort, and healing so that I can overcome this flu and get back on my feet!  Just remembering all the names of God at different times in your lives can bring great comfort and confidence.  Whenever you are feeling down and needing strength or guidance, try just writing out all the names of God to remind you of what all he is for you.   Also please pray for my healing, will you?  I love you all.

...and don't forget to love God, love others, and use every minute for His glory!

Are you a Servant Leader? - John 13:5, 1 2-15

John 13:5, 12-15 

"Then he began to wash the disciples' feet, drying them with the towel he had around him. After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, "Do you understand what I was doing? You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and you are right, because that's what I am. And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other's feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you."

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What is Servant Leadership?  The story of the foot washing in the book of John is probably one of the most dramatic stories of Jesus' life on earth.  In the society of Jesus' day, foot washing was a job reserved only for the lowest of the slaves and servants.  For Jesus, the Lord of all the earth, to stoop down and insist on washing all the disciples feet (even the man who was to betray him unto the cross), must have been extremely unsettling for the disciples.  But as Jesus usually did, he explained exactly why he was doing this.  He was providing a very vivid example of how they were to treat each other and the other believers that they were going to shepherd after his crucifixion.

Yesterday at our company sales kickoff event in DC, we had a keynote speaker Brian Billick (former head coach of the Baltimore Ravens who won a Super Bowl in 2001) talk to us about what it takes to be a great leader.  One of his main points was that as effective leaders, we need to understand what our people do, be willing to get our hands dirty in the trenches with them, and truly serve our team members wherever needed.  In each football practice, he made a point of walking around and talking individually and touching each player.  He also often actually held the play cards to signal which plays to run so that all players were watching and noticing him.  He was not one to stand back on the sidelines or up in the booth to observe them from afar.

For us, our team could be our company employees, our fellow soccer managers, our family, our group of close friends, a traveling discipleship team, or even a Bible study group, prayer group, or home group.  In each of our teams, we need to treat everyone with respect, and genuinely look out for and take care of them.  Indeed, you need to be a leader that is a humble servant first and everything else will follow.

In the next week, think about who your team is.  Identify a specific action you can take to serve a person on that team and truly show them that you care about them.

...and don't forget to love God, love others, and use every minute for His glory!

Prayer is Powerful - Proverbs 15:29

Proverbs 15:29 NKJV

"The Lord is far from the wicked, But He hears the prayer of the righteous."

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God hears our prayers!  Do you believe that to the core?  If we passionately believed this, how would this change our lives?  Proverbs 15 is all about the contrasts between the wicked and the righteous and between good and evil.  It clearly draws for us a picture of the promises we have in Christ as well as the responsibilities.  Verse 15 promises us that as believers covered by Christ's righteousness, God is near us and he hears us. 

Today I met the new vice president of our Manila office.  We were talking about his business challenges and how I could help him.  The conversation then turned to family and eventually it came out that my wife was sick.  He asked her name, I told him, he put his hand on my shoulder and compassionately said he would pray for her.  Well boy did the conversation open up from there!  He shared that he was a protestant Christian (which is rare as Catholicism is big in the Philippines), and that his grandfather had started the Methodist church in the Philippines after WWII.  He now attends a contemporary non-denominational church but we also shared our love for singing the traditional hymns.

It is amazing the relationships that can form when you open yourself up a little and become vulnerable.  A fellow believer will consider it a privilege to share your burdens and intercede with Christ on your behalf.  I encourage you to find opportunities to user the incredible power of prayer for others, but also to seek opportunities to allows fellow believers to pray for you.

...and don't forget to love God, love others, and use every minute for His glory!

You're Rich! - Matthew 19:23

Matthew 19:23

"Then Jesus said to His disciples, "Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven."

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Do you think you are rich?  If you say no, compared to what?  How do you think our lives stack up against most people in Africa, India, South America? How do you think our lives stack up against 99% of the people Jesus was talking to in his day? Guess what? You are rich compared to most.

This passage is about the man that Jesus told to sell all he had and follow Him. But the man could not because he had much. I think this passage is about anything that can become a stumbling block before God. That stumbling block could be money, but it also could be pride, influence, or intelligence.  Be always careful that you don't rely only on your own abilities, but lean on the infinite power and wisdom of God and give him all the credit. 

...and don't forget to love God, love others, and use every minute for His glory!

Marriage is Forever (Matthew 19:5, 6)

Matthew 19:5, 6

"'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh' ? So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.""

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It is pretty clear that God's plan is that marriage is forever.  Jesus explains that in Moses' time God allowed divorce only because of the hardness of their hearts.  In today's US culture, it is somewhat of a rarity to be married for life and it often is not even a prerequisite for having kids and living together for years.

Jesus describes the husband and wife as becoming "one flesh".  They are put together by God and should not be separated by men.  A long marriage is an amazing gift from God and it is very true that the marriage bonds continue to grow year after year.  You should desire for and cherish marriage, but don't enter it lightly.  And when you are married, push through the tough times as the prize is worth the struggle.

...and as always...don't forget to love God, love others, and use every minute for His glory!

Listen to Him! (Matthew 17:5)

Matthew 17:5

"While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!""

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Listen to Him!  God is telling us to listen to Jesus! Oh if we would just listen, repent, turn, and follow the model of how he wants us to live our lives.  

We have all seen the acronym WWJD, right?  I challenge you to really listen to Jesus this week and speak every word and make every move as you believe Jesus would.

Here's an old song from the group Acapella that is based on this verse and it is called none other then "Listen To Him".  I pray this song will stick in your head this week and you will be reminded of this command.

http://youtu.be/l6v07soko_0

And I just had to include this other great Acapella song called "Who is gonna tell the child about Jesus?"  These guys are incredible singers.  Enjoy!

http://youtu.be/da4VUh2fdNE

...and as always...don't forget to love God, love others, and use every minute for His glory!

Get Behind Me Satan! (Matthew 16:23)

Matthew 16:23

"But He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.""

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Is God calling and equating Peter with Satan?  Peter was one of his closest disciples and was the "rock" that Jesus build the Christian church upon. 

This admonition from Jesus is a good example of not just the peaceful loving teacher, but also the fierce and dangerous leader. I believe God calls us all to be a little fierce sometimes when we see wrong being done and God's plan being thwarted. 

Jesus was not going to allow Peter's worldy thinking to get in the way of his father's master plan. We should be so bold ourselves to keep our eyes fixed on his plan and run toward it with a passion. 

...and don't forget to love God, love others, and use every minute for His glory!

Flee From Evil (Proverbs 4:14-16)

Proverbs 4:14-16

Don't do as the wicked do, and don't follow the path of evildoers. Don't even think about it; don't go that way. Turn away and keep moving. For evil people can't sleep until they've done their evil deed for the day. They can't rest until they've caused someone to stumble.

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Don't do evil, don't follow evil, don't even think about evil.  Not only does God tell us not to sin, but he is warning us here that we should not even let those thoughts come into our heads.  And if we see people making bad decisions around us, we should turn and flee the opposite way.

Proverbs also tells us that the evil person actually wants to drag us into the evil work too.  This evildoer cannot rest until they cause someone else to make a mistake.  If a friend causes you to turn from what you believe then that is not a friend at all.

Be careful as you carry out your days.  Watch who you spend time with and if you observe evil or sin, turn and get out of their fast!

...and don't forget to love God, love others, and use every minute for His glory!

Does God bring us Adversity? (Genesis 50:20 )

Genesis 50:20

"You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people."

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Do you wonder if God has brought about the trials that you are currently wading through?  Does he purposely put us through difficult times?

This story in Genesis is about how Joseph's brothers threatened to kill him and then sold him into slavery.  Joseph had to endure many hardships in Egypt before he found out why God had put him in that place (to save his family from famine).

The bible includes many examples where God has put people in a place for his larger purpose.  But even if your circumstance is not for some grand plan like Joseph, God will use difficult trials to bring us nearer to him and to grow us to spiritual maturity.  Try to have perspective in your trials, seek his will for your life, and trust in him to deliver you!

...and don't forget to love God, love others, and use every minute for His glory!