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This morning in my Quiet Time I read from Exodus 1 where the Pharaoh is a wicked, wicked king who calls up the Jewish midwives then all of the parents to murder newborn boys.  I was stopped in my tracks at the power and influence one man could have over so many others … and in this case it was destructive.

I am humbled by my responsibility to lead my family and our church.  It sent me looking in the Message translation of Proverbs for wisdom and direction.  Here are the highlights of what I found:

A good leader motivates, doesn't mislead, doesn't exploit …Good leaders abhor wrongdoing of all kinds; sound leadership has a moral foundation. Good leaders cultivate honest speech; they love advisors who tell them the truth. (16:10, 12-13)

Love and truth form a good leader; sound leadership is founded on loving integrity. (20:28)

Good leadership is a channel of water controlled by God; he directs it to whatever ends he chooses.  We justify our actions by appearances; God examines our motives. (21:1-2)

Kick out the troublemakers and things will quiet down; you need a break from bickering and griping! God loves the pure-hearted and well-spoken; good leaders also delight in their friendship.  (22:10-11)

Like the horizons for breadth and the ocean for depth, the understanding of a good leader is broad and deep. (25:3)

A leader of good judgment gives stability; an exploiting leader leaves a trail of waste. (29:4)

The impact and effect of the leader on so many others is a sobering truth that I am dealing with today.  I so very much want for my leadership to provide shelter, nourishment, faith, stability and spiritual growth for my family, staff and church.  I pray God would meet the needs of my heart so I can meet the needs of those I serve.

Today, I sought the Lord and these were my prayers.  If you feel so compelled I would covet your prayers for me as well:

·                 I pray for wisdom.

·                 I pray for energy and enthusiasm.

·                 I pray for courage.

·                 I pray for humility.

·                 I pray for God-given inspiration.

·                 I pray for miraculous growth for our church.

·                 I pray for protection.

·                 I pray for God’s favor.

·                 I pray for whole-hearted devotion to Christ.

You are a leader , too, … you know that right?  It may be in a large or a small arena but we each exercise influence at some level and our leadership should always be “as unto the Lord.”  I pray each of us will be found faithful.

Blessings,

Pastor Paul

October 19, 2009

This morning I read and prayed through the last half of Matthew 9 where there is one story after another of Jesus loving, healing, releasing from demon possession and raising back to life many common, everyday people. At the end of the chapter we have a glimpse of the character of Jesus, the very heart of God and His strategy for expanding the Kingdom.

Verses 35-38 describe Jesus’ compassion for the people and shows he is not satisfied to care for them one at a time.  He calls on His disciples to pray, the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.  The harvest belongs to Him and is greater than what Jesus or any of us can address alone.

Father, please make FaithBridge a place where we multiply those who join in your harvest, taking the good news and love of Jesus to the hurting, to those who suffer and live in spiritual darkness.

Father, give me the wisdom I need to lead, our staff the wisdom and passion to lead and our church for the love, courage, sacrifice and passion to reach out to our world this fall through FaithBridge CARES.

I am 44 years old ...  and keenly aware of the fact that I am probably more than half way through this journey of life ... and the fact that on any given day I could be getting up, dressing, shaving, and getting ready for the last time makes me write this today.  My grandfather died suddenly of a heart attack at the age of 42 and, like many others, I am sure he expected to live a whole lot longer than he actually did.

Isaiah 40 says, All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field. The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the LORD blows on them. Surely the people are grass. There is not a lot of stability in this human existence ... the Lord knows the number of days and exactly how many each of us has left (but He is the only one who knows). Now, I am not being morbid, just realistic ... and focused.  On any given day, each of us could be waking up and going about our normal routine for the last time ... last time you go for a jog, kiss your wife, read the paper, brush your teeth, talk to your kids, ... 

How intentional and focused is your life?  Do you savor the experiences of each day, taking full advantage of every opportunity to express love to those you love, to bless your kids, to speak the truth?  Maybe you should stop holding back ... pray hard, laugh loud, be bold in talking about Jesus, give like it doesn't belong to you and live like there is no tomorrow. 

In the morning, if your wife is mad at you, say you're sorry and tease her till she breaks and smiles.  If you are mad at her, forgive her totally and completely and give her a big wet kiss!  Don't let spilled milk at the breakfast table or what the dog did on the carpet be a reason to grouch at the whole family.  Instead, bless your kids, tell you love them and, specifically, why you are proud of them!

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

For many important reasons, I hope I have a whole another half to my life left.  For many other reasons, I would be thrilled to stand in the Lord's presence at any moment.  My prayer is that I would live ready for either each day, all day.  I challenge you to do the same.