After reading today's passage, a thought came to mind: a Godly king never again sat on the throne in Israel after Jeroboam's sin. Now Im not implying that this was the reason. Each king had the chance to choose to follow God. But I do think it's interesting that from the time of the Israelites in the Exodus, God constantly warns against other gods. He repeatedly promises demise and destruction if this command is disobeyed. Jeroboam has just been given the kingdom by God, yet he can't seem to trust that his people won't desert him if they go back to worship in Jerusalem. So he sets up golden calves, just as Aaron did for the Israelites during the exodus, and God does what he says he'll do.
The worst part about this whole thing: the entire country suffers, because they follow their leader into worshiping false gods, and God brings judgment. Like I said before, not another Godly king will sit on the throne in Israel. It could have been different, if Jeroboam had just trusted what God had already given.
Use your influence wisely. Trust God completely. He has entrusted to you everything you are and have. You're decisions have the potential of impacting eternity. Who knows how many people are counting on you!
Showing posts with label leadership. Show all posts
Showing posts with label leadership. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Thursday, February 24, 2011
SOLO Day 32 - 2 Samuel 1:24-27
Click here for the passage
I think this is one of the clearest pictures into why David was a man after God's own heart. Saul, king of Israel, is dead, and David weeps for him. This is the same Saul who has attempted top make David's life miserable the past several years. This is the same Saul who has chased David all over the country in an attempt to kill him. This is the same Saul who who repeatedly benefited from David. And despite the years of running, hiding, living in caves, searching for relief, David mourns Saul's death and orders everyone to do the same.
David served his enemy. Prior to Christ's arrival, he was fulfilling his command to pray for his enemy. This is not natural behavior. This is not normal. David was an exception to the rule, and he was remarkable.
I think the biggest difference between David and myself is this: David loved and honored Saul. Love and honor are a choice, and David chose to do this despite all that Saul was doing to him.
What have you done for your enemy? How would you react if they were taken out? What would your response be if those in power over you were finished and you were given control? Do you have the character to be like David? To love and honor, regardless of what is done to you by your enemy?
I think this is one of the clearest pictures into why David was a man after God's own heart. Saul, king of Israel, is dead, and David weeps for him. This is the same Saul who has attempted top make David's life miserable the past several years. This is the same Saul who has chased David all over the country in an attempt to kill him. This is the same Saul who who repeatedly benefited from David. And despite the years of running, hiding, living in caves, searching for relief, David mourns Saul's death and orders everyone to do the same.
David served his enemy. Prior to Christ's arrival, he was fulfilling his command to pray for his enemy. This is not natural behavior. This is not normal. David was an exception to the rule, and he was remarkable.
I think the biggest difference between David and myself is this: David loved and honored Saul. Love and honor are a choice, and David chose to do this despite all that Saul was doing to him.
What have you done for your enemy? How would you react if they were taken out? What would your response be if those in power over you were finished and you were given control? Do you have the character to be like David? To love and honor, regardless of what is done to you by your enemy?
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
One of the blogs I read on a daily basis is More than Dodgeball by Josh Griffin. Josh is a veteran Youth Worker who serves as the High School Pastor at Saddleback Community Church in Lake Forest, California. He has a heart for the church, and he's a SICK leader! He regularly has great insights into youth culture and the heart of student ministry.
This is a post of his from earlier in the week that is too rich to be ignored. All the information is his, so for clarification on copyright and everything else: he wrote it! I hope this helps some of you youth workers out there in the blogosphere....
3 Things Youth Workers Need to be Good At
It is easy as youth workers to get bent out of shape when we don’t get recognized for something we did. There’s nothing more painful to be forgotten in the wake of the other initiatives and projects of the church. At times, affirmation seems to be elusive, in fact, sometimes we tend to feel that we hear only criticism.
Knowing and experiencing this reality on a regular basis should give youth workers cause to develop these muscles to be used on a regular basis. Here are three things you probably don’t get enough of that we need to make sure as youth workers we give out generously:
Followup
Who needs a call back this week? What email has been sitting in the bottom of your inbox that needs a reply? What made it on your task list, but sits there with persistence week after week? Who did you promise something to, but haven’t delivered on? Follow-up is a scare commodity in our fast-paced, disorganized world.
Thank yous
Who needs a note from you this week? Can you crank out a couple emails that would mean the world to people who receive them? Who did something for you that needs to be appreciated? Build this into your routine of the week, or chances are you’re unintentionally burning bridges behind you if you say nothing after the ask.
Affirmation
To me this is different than thank yous – thank yous are for people who have given you something and need to be appreciated for something they did. Affirmation is for who someone is. It is an appreciation of their legacy and character that is making an impact. Affirmation is also ultra powerful way to build up someone’s self-esteem.
Take a second and create a short list of people who need one of these actions this week.
This is a post of his from earlier in the week that is too rich to be ignored. All the information is his, so for clarification on copyright and everything else: he wrote it! I hope this helps some of you youth workers out there in the blogosphere....
3 Things Youth Workers Need to be Good At
It is easy as youth workers to get bent out of shape when we don’t get recognized for something we did. There’s nothing more painful to be forgotten in the wake of the other initiatives and projects of the church. At times, affirmation seems to be elusive, in fact, sometimes we tend to feel that we hear only criticism.
Knowing and experiencing this reality on a regular basis should give youth workers cause to develop these muscles to be used on a regular basis. Here are three things you probably don’t get enough of that we need to make sure as youth workers we give out generously:
Followup
Who needs a call back this week? What email has been sitting in the bottom of your inbox that needs a reply? What made it on your task list, but sits there with persistence week after week? Who did you promise something to, but haven’t delivered on? Follow-up is a scare commodity in our fast-paced, disorganized world.
Thank yous
Who needs a note from you this week? Can you crank out a couple emails that would mean the world to people who receive them? Who did something for you that needs to be appreciated? Build this into your routine of the week, or chances are you’re unintentionally burning bridges behind you if you say nothing after the ask.
Affirmation
To me this is different than thank yous – thank yous are for people who have given you something and need to be appreciated for something they did. Affirmation is for who someone is. It is an appreciation of their legacy and character that is making an impact. Affirmation is also ultra powerful way to build up someone’s self-esteem.
Take a second and create a short list of people who need one of these actions this week.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
John 10:1-18
John 10 conjures up good memories for me. The first bible study I ever led was on John 10 and no, it was not very good! My youth pastor had to bail me out as I struggled with the passage. He simply drew a circle but didn't completely connect it-he left a very small gap. He told me this was the pen in which the sheep were kept. Then he asked me one question: "Who's in the gap?"
The gap is an important place. The walls provide safety and security, but the sheep can only enter and exit through the narrow gap. At night, when the sheep are fast asleep, the gap remains open. The sheep need the gap. Life can't be lived exclusively inside or outside the pen. It's necessary to have both. Only the shepherd stands in the way of anything going in or the sheep wandering out. Only the shepherd knows the right time to be within the safety of the walls and when the sheep need to graze or find water.
You get the point: Jesus is the Good Shepherd. John 10 tells us the sheep know him, follow him in and out, and he's in the gap. It's a very good thing to be in the hands of the Good Shepherd.
But Christ asked us to live as he lives, to do as he does. My question is this: Who are you standing in the gap for? Whose soul are you the first line of defense for? Who are you leading and influencing? Who are you caring for and watching after?
I'm grateful for many people who've done this for me, but I want to send special thanks to Kenny Hale for being a shepherd to me and bringing this lesson home to me when I was only a teenager!
The gap is an important place. The walls provide safety and security, but the sheep can only enter and exit through the narrow gap. At night, when the sheep are fast asleep, the gap remains open. The sheep need the gap. Life can't be lived exclusively inside or outside the pen. It's necessary to have both. Only the shepherd stands in the way of anything going in or the sheep wandering out. Only the shepherd knows the right time to be within the safety of the walls and when the sheep need to graze or find water.
You get the point: Jesus is the Good Shepherd. John 10 tells us the sheep know him, follow him in and out, and he's in the gap. It's a very good thing to be in the hands of the Good Shepherd.
But Christ asked us to live as he lives, to do as he does. My question is this: Who are you standing in the gap for? Whose soul are you the first line of defense for? Who are you leading and influencing? Who are you caring for and watching after?
I'm grateful for many people who've done this for me, but I want to send special thanks to Kenny Hale for being a shepherd to me and bringing this lesson home to me when I was only a teenager!
Saturday, June 6, 2009
The Notes you don't play by Steven Furtick
This is a great read...
http://www.stevenfurtick.com/uncategorized/the-notes-you-dont-play/
http://www.stevenfurtick.com/uncategorized/the-notes-you-dont-play/
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