"Women in ministry have enough antagonists out there, who for whatever reason don't think that you have a right to be called by God to serve in roles in ministry. But there are an awful lot of people who believe that you do. So expend your energy developing relationships that help your ministry grow, that help you do what it is God called you to do. There's so much work to keep you busy that we don't have energy, we don't need to waste energy, trying to deal with folks who want to see you fail."

Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of
changing himself. -- Leo Tolstoy

Obama's Pastor

I believe a very large majority of church-goers are merely unthinking, slumbering worshipers of an unknown God. -- Charles H. Spurgeon

You Can Use Me

Wednesday night, my Pastor gave us a message on being used by God to do His work. When you listen to the words sung by the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir make it your prayer.

Defend The Resurrection

We cannot deliver the goods if our heart is heavier than the load.

Do you wish to receive mercy? Show mercy to your neighbor. -- John Chrysostom

There is only one foundation on which the Church and the Christian life can be built. That foundation is Jesus Christ (1Peter 2:4-7; Ephesians 2:20). He is the one whom God sent to save us (John 3:16). He is the "way, the truth, and the life," the only way to God (John 14:6). The Lord Jesus Christ is the name above all names, the name at which every knee will bow (Philippians 2:5-11). His is the only name by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12). Let's take time today to specifically honor Jesus as Lord with our hearts, our words, and our actions.

For the power Thou hast given me to lay hold of things unseen: For the strong sense I have that this is not my home: For my restless heart which nothing finite can satisfy: I give Thee thanks, O God. For the invasion of my soul by Thy Holy Spirit: For all human love and goodness that speak to me of Thee: For the fullness of Thy glory outpoured in Jesus Christ: I give Thee thanks, O God. -- John Baillie

"The final test of a leader is that he leaves behind him in other men the conviction and the will to carry on. . . . The genius of a good leader is to leave behind him a situation which common sense, without the grace of genius, can deal with successfully." - Walter Lippmann

But there is only ONE of you

HowManyOfMe.com

There are 2,172 people with my name in the U.S.A. How many have your name?

"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." Psalm 139:14

There is a certain strength that comes from love.

This morning I spent a few extra minutes in bed cuddled up next to Ashley with Claire sleeping on my chest. I just let my mind wander about the greatness of love. When I met Ashley I thought that no greater love could exist. Somehow, that love continued to grow and on the day we got married, reached an all time high. Again, I thought it could grow no greater. But, it did…and it does.

Then, six weeks ago little Claire entered the world and the love in my heart grew exponentially…not only for little Claire but for my bride. Seeing her as a mother causes me to love her in ways I never thought possible with depths I’d never previously experienced.

But the truth is…there is a love much greater, much stronger. A love so great…it makes my love seem weak, and immature. It’s hard for me to wrap my mind around…but Paul says the love of God for us is much deeper and wider than we can fathom. Take the greatest love you have ever experienced and multiply that love times a million and get just a glimpse of the love our Father has for us.

It’s like no matter what we experience in this world…no matter how much pain or rejection or disappointment. We can, although sometimes vaguely, imagine a place where we are perfectly loved. Just knowing that love exists…makes us strong. Our weakness comes not from our design…but from forgetting the one who designed us.

The love we experience for other people…is but an echo of the love God designed us to embrace. After all, it only points us to one who created love in the first place…and then wrapped himself in flesh to show us what it looks like.

luke

I'm new to the ministry, but I have already learned that every believer needs at least four types of friends around them who are skilled in using God's Word:

1. We Need to be Edified by The Developer: Your best friend will always be the person who brings out the very best in you. According to Billy Graham, he wouldn't have made it as an evangelist if he had to minister alone. In 1948, Billy Graham met his staff and best friends: Cliff Barrows, George Beverly Shea, and Grady Wilson. These three men protected him, strengthened him, counseled with their wisdom, and corrected him when he needed it. He is convinced that without these friends he would have burned out within a few years after his first groundbreaking crusade in 1949. Developer friends will bring the gift of encouragement to your life and bring out the very best in you.

2. We Need to be Edified by The Designer: We tend to think of mentors as a personal, hands-on coach. The Latin and Greek define them more as "advisors" or "wise men." Jesus was a master mentor. He ministered to thousands, trained hundreds, equipped twelve, and had an intimate friendship with three men. The designer mentors us in our marriage, ministry, child-rearing, civic involvement, business acumen, or any area where we need a model. Designer mentors may live near or far, be acquaintances or strangers, or may even be dead. They "design" our lives through Scripture, books, tapes, articles, or seminars.

3. We Need to be Edified by The Disturber: We need friends who will shake up our status quo. Disturbers ask us difficult questions, forcing us to take a closer look at motivations and ambitions. Disturbers know when we have retreated into our comfort zones, and they call us out to greater effectiveness. God uses disturbers in our lives to become the object of greater force that breaks inertia and propels us to greater achievement. A biblical picture of a disturber is in Deuteronomy 32:11. In this passage the mother eagle tears up the soft nest to reveal sharp thorns that bring discomfort to the eaglets. Because of discomfort, the eaglets leave the nest and learn to fly. The mother develops her young by repeatedly pushing them out of the nest and catching them until they become skilled flyers. Eagles were never meant to stay in the nest, and neither were we. The disturber pushes us to learn to fly.

4. We Need to be Edified by The Discerner: In a lifetime of relationships, perhaps only a handful of people are willing to play this vital role because it requires mutual vulnerability. More popularly known as accountability partners, discerners bring the gift of spiritual insight into our lives. They know how to speak the truth in love. They know how to exhort and rebuke, seeking to keep their friend on the right track. They are also vulnerable-the true friends who will walk into the room of your life while everyone else is walking out. Proverbs 27:6 reads, "The wounds of a friend are trustworthy, but the kisses of an enemy are excessive." Always be slow in choosing your discerners and even slower in leaving them.

Some Thoughts On the Prosperity Gospel