LEADER: Powerful verse

I feel like I'm just getting back into the thick of things. I don't like disconnecting and doing what seems like nothing, but it was sweet and learning. I know that God's plan over us is sure. Yet we are making a difference in many lives that we get to encounter.

So many pieces I'd like to share but here are a couple thoughts to pray over us as leaders ...

Purity and holiness ---- I'm convinced that God is purifying His servants. Too often we kick against this. We are in the world but not of it. Realize this is not legalism. This is the understanding that how our lives and our choices tend to get in the way of what God wants to do is not good.

Keep dreaming the dream, seeing and seizing the vision ---- have you ever noticed that God seemed to cut you off from being able to see or feel or even see further? I believe we cut ourselves off when our pursuit of Him is waning.

Pursuing Him with gusto --- I can't wait for what the future holds for us. Incredible. Large. Big impact.

I noticed over the last week as I deal with being sick that the more "me" consumed I was the more I pushed God away. By having to unplug I got frustrated, selfish, angry, thick headed ... you get the picture.

I pray that God will purify each of us personally. I pray that we will clearly see the dream and let it consume our hearts. I pray we pursue Him with more desire and willingness than ever before.

Let me say one more thing but please know that this is not out of being judgmental or out of pain. Hear this. God is not pleased with mediocrity. Half way is not half good. Anything less than our full out pursuit of Him and willingness to let Him work will hold us back.

This next verse is powerful, perspective changing. Read...

1 Peter 1:22 NLT
"You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart."
http://bible.us/1Pet1.22.NLT
People, especially kids, know when we are not sincere. Love each other deeply and from the heart, the people you serve with and the people you serve. Speaking the truth in love isn't easy, but it is always right.

May God perfect us so we can be completely useful to Him.

Francis Chan's "Forgotten God" (brand new book)

One of the most powerful preachers, writers and leaders of our time, in my opinion, is Francis Chan. His first book, Crazy Love , revolutionized my thoughts about God's love as well as my interacting with God. Now it is time for a brand new book from Chan being released tomorrow, September 1st. The book is Forgotten God . This is a phenomenal book about the power that Christians and the church can and must tap into. All of it is within the Holy Spirit. Francis talks about the power that was seen in the book of Acts when the Holy Spirit began to move among people. It is true that many have avoided or maybe forgotten what the Holy Spirit is all about. And like the Savior who poured out His life and blood so we have reason to rejoice, we were made to lay down our lives and give until it hurts. We are most alive when we are loving and actively giving of ourselves because we were made to do these things. It is when we live like this that the Spirit of God moves and ac...

inspiration from C.S. Lewis

There are many people, past and present, who get our attention by what they write or say or share. For me C.S. Lewis is one of those. He was a prolific writer who continues to grab the attention of thinkers from many different points of view. Lewis first grabbed my attention when I was in 5 th grader, and our teacher, Mrs. Foy, shared The Chronicles of Narnia with our class. It was a powerful time that this dreamer opened doors to thinking like I had never lived before. He wrote of faith, of far off places and of strong figures who found their character rooted deep in God. C.S. Lewis was born in 1898 and died in 1963, 7 years before I was born. It wasn’t until his 30’s that under the influence of his friend Tolkien that he came to be a Christian. He was raised in a traditional church going home, turned away from God as an Atheist in his teen years and through trying to stay away from God and faith returned to God with...

Catalyst ticket arrived

My ticket to the Catalyst Conference, in Atlanta Oct 8-10, just arrived. I'm excited!

Michael Harrison's e-devotion

Search This Blog