I have been writing about the vitality of God's Word for leaders, whether you lead a small group, a ministry, a church, a business, a family, or yourself. Yesterday I wrote about my love for God's Word. Like the writer...
Tag: trials
Leader's Heart-Overflow
Want to Be a Great Leader? Live with Integrity!
Our world is in desperate need for leaders with integrity. A healthy leader whom God will use to carry out his mission, bearing lasting fruit, is a person of high integrity. But you already knew that, didn't you? Yet here's...
Leader's Heart-Overflow
Want to Be a Good Leader? Start Here!
Do you want to be a leader after God's heart? Do you have a passion for leading a healthy group, ministry, church, business, or family--or life? If your answer is yes, you are in for an exciting, dangerous, life-changing journey...
Spiritual Life
When Your Picture of Your Daddy Has Been Twisted – Cinda’s Story
I first met Cinda (not her real name) in the apartment building laundry room. I learned quickly that she lived with her boyfriend, Nick, and was taking classes at the University of Cincinnati. My wife, Heidi, and I got to...
Leader's Heart-Overflow
How to Add More Candles to Your Cake (So You Can Become More Childlike)
It takes maturity to have childlike faith.This is a vital principle for the Christ follower. It's fundamental for a Christian leader. It's basic for discipling someone. This is Part 3 of a series in which I'm exploring one Bible verse: " bends...
Spiritual Life
Pay Attention to the Obstacles in Your Life
God is constantly removing obstacles from our path or placing obstacles in our way. Both reveal his compassion and power in our lives. Psalm 114 describes in beautiful poetic imagery God's power on Israel's behalf as they came out of Egypt...
Ministry Leaders, Small Group Leaders
Leading with Grace: How We Deal with Depression, Anxiety, and Suffering (especially when the suffering is inflicted by fellow Christians)
People are talking about mental illness, depression, and anxiety right now, and that's a good thing. Recently, Carlos Whittaker wrote a thoughtful blog post, "My Panic Attacks, My Mental Illness, And The Church’s Dirty Little Secret," which, at the time of...
Spiritual Life
Big Buts in the Psalms: The Secret to Real Success
In my reading of the Psalms, I've encountered several huge buts. The psalmist usually begins the psalm with a lament about his current circumstances, how bad things are, how everything seems to be falling apart. And then the writer uses...
Spiritual Life
A Man Named Simon: What we can learn from this man about the bad circumstances of life and how God can make them Good
On this Good Friday, I decided to read Mark's account of what happened on that Friday when Jesus was sentenced, crucified, died, and buried. I'm not sure why, but today I was struck by one sentence, one verse, in this...
Spiritual Life
Lord of the Darkness: Trusting Jehovah When Suffering Comes
Psalm 88 must be the darkest psalm of them all, and one of the bleakest passage in the Bible. As I read this today, I kept waiting for the yet or however or but that you find in other psalms,...