Simply Profound... (50 Nuggets of Advice for Ministers)

This list was compiled by a group of ministers on WordShare Forum. Simply Profound...

1. Pray always
2. Be patient
3. Love the Word
4. Keep a journal of ideas
5. Remember that God is sovereign
6. Listen to your wife!
7. Nothing happens overnight
8. Be a Giver
9. You are a servant… never a master
10. Take notes on everything, keep every note you take
11. Hurting people hurt people
12. You can only see 30% of what people are feeling, treat them accordingly
13. You are always a leader, whether you are doing well or not
14. Every person is valuable and all flesh is designed to fail
15. Nothing can take the place of prayer
16. Always look for a door of reconciliation… always
17. Saints are sheep - they have to be led, they can’t be driven
18. Take care of your family – saints will come and go
19. Relationships are invaluable, connect with as many peers as you can
20. To thine own self be true - don’t copy anyone, develop your own ministry
21. Never seek a position or title. If it is God’s will, it will come
22. When it comes time to “step down” then step down in the same way as you “stepped up” – with grace, dignity, thankfulness that you had the opportunity to serve the kingdom
23. Always leave something better than the way you found it. Leave a legacy for the next person
24. There are two primary choices in life: Accept things as they are or accept responsibility for helping to change them.
25. Know when to be silent
26. Never lose your ability to dream!
27. People are not going to understand you and some are not going to like you… get over it!
28. Don’t feed people yesterday’s bread
29. People resist change, God loves change
30. Men who challenge you are not your enemies; they keep you in check and are often sent by God
31. Refused to be offended.
32. Don’t preach for response
33. Talent alone does not justify using someone, a servant's spirit does
34. Don’t throw rocks at every dog that barks
35. Give the Word the credit it deserves
36. The message is more important than the messenger
37. There is so much good in the worst of us and so much bad in the best of us, that it does not behoove any of us to talk about the rest of us
38. Living a sermon is more important than preaching one
39. Prayer accomplishes more than preaching
40. Lessons not learned will be repeated
41. Spend more time praying over a message than you do preaching it
42. Love people; use money - Do not love money; use people
43. Trust is the greatest commodity you can give or receive
44. Do not accept gifts that make you beholden to the giver
45. Do not dwell in an ivory tower and neglect the flock
46. Do not dwell with the flock so much that you cannot be a prophet on Sunday
47. Stand up straight, speak boldly, and sit down quickly.
48. Always leave them wishing you had preached longer opposed to wishing you had quit sooner
49. Only say …”I am closing “ once
50. Never give a position to appease.

Surrendering Your Future

God called Abraham out of the land of Ur. He called him to leave the land of idolatry; the land of his fathers; everything that he knew and even who he was.

Abraham surrendered it all. The Bible said when he was called out that he obeyed not knowing where he was going.

He surrendered his past.

In the story of Abraham there is a great lesson for us. When God calls, He calls us out. He asks us to surrender our past.

This level of commitment is basic and in many ways, easy compared to the next level that He calls us to.

We bring our sin, our guilt, our hurts, our failures and our pain to God. Our shattered dreams are healed and restored in his presence. The guilt of our past fades into peace and contentment in the light of His mercy.

However, the story of Abraham does not end there. God promises him that he is going to have a son and that his seed will be as the stars in the sky and the sands of seashore. Isaac was promised and chosen.

Therefore, I am sure that it was devastating to Abraham when God told him to take Isaac and sacrifice him.

When Abraham looks at Isaac he not only sees his beloved and long awaited son, his own flesh and blood, he sees much more.

He sees in Isaac the face of his dreams. He sees his promise. He sees the future.

God was not only asking for his son. He was asking for his dreams, his ambitions, and his legacy.

As Abraham bound Isaac to the altar he also bound his desires.

As he raised the knife he surrendered his future.

Surrendering our past is an obvious benefit to us. We give God our guilt, our hurts and our pains. He takes the tattered pieces and weaves them into something beautiful.

However, are we willing to surrender our future? Are we willing to give God our dreams, our hopes, and our ambitions?

As we surrender everything we desire it releases us to be completely led by Him.

Position, titles, prestige, or even geographic location no longer dominates our desires.

Completely surrendering our future to God opens up a whole new level of covenant, power, and anointing.

As God told Abraham, "now I know."

A Leap of Faith

Jump out of the Boat!

Throw the mantle down!

March around the wall!

God cannot fail. Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.

When we are in tune with His purpose we have the authority to call things that are not as though they are. We can speak to the mountain and it shall be removed into the sea.

We live in a faithless and perverse generation. Our faith is being tested on every hand.

Fear and doubt are trying to silence the voice of faith. The church and the men and women who lead her, need to be bold enough to pray the prayer of faith; to speak the word of faith; to preach faith like never before.

This is our day.

I believe that God desires for the church to take the limits off of our faith.

I believe that God desires to enlarge our territory.

I believe that he wants to release the church from the bonds of fear and doubt.

Sickness, Spiritual Oppression, Financial Burden are no match for a church that will take a leap of faith.

God will honor your faith!

Jump out of the Boat...God will guide your steps...

Throw the Mantle down...He will part the water...

March around the Wall...He will give you the victory...

Memorial Day

The true meaning of Memorial Day is not about cookouts, parks and family fun. Those things are great and I enjoy them, but it is the day that we remember those that have so selflessly given their lives for the ideals of Liberty and Freedom.

So, this memorial day as we run from place to place enjoying the activities of the day, let us pause to remember those brave men and women who have given the ultimate sacrifice so that today, we might worship without fear.

Thank You!

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God Bless You!

The View from the Cross

Phil 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

It is said that perception is 9/10 of reality. The way we perceive things to be are the way that they are, at least in our minds.

In our flesh it is so easy to have misconceptions or more precisely mis-perceptions. Therefore, how do we find the proper perception?

As Christians and as church leaders we can only find a true perspective and perception at the cross.

Daily we must trudge up the hill called Calvary. We must stand in the shadow of that beautifully awful place. From there the view is so clear. From there reality can be found. When I view life from the cross everything takes on it's true meaning and value; everything falls into focus.

Firstly, the cross changes the way I see God. No longer is He a distant; no longer is He an anonymous creator, but he is my savior. As I review the nails, the spear, the crown, and the blood I am overwhelmed by the love. No not shallow "I love you" love but a deep unwavering "no cost is too high" kind of love.

From this location I can see His eyes and hear his voice saying "Father forgive them, they know not what they do." As He took the ultimate offense, as He became sin for those that stood there jeering and mocking He offered them mercy instead of revenge. Peace instead of wrath. Love instead of hate.

It amazes me that He could react that way to such a terrible, unmerited offense and it makes me ask myself "how should I react when my feelings get hurt?"

Secondly, the cross changes how I view myself. I see myself reflected in this monument of suffering. What I see is a paradox because simultaneously I see my weakness and my possibility. My weakness overwhelms my thoughts, as my voice cries for mercy. Yet, at the same time my soul is empowered with the possibility that His sacrifice purchased for me. In my weakness I am humbled and at the same time in my weakness His strength is perfected.

The view from the cross changed my personal perspective. It has changed forever the way I see God and the way I see myself.

Thirdly, the cross changes my view of others. It is impossible to judge others harshly in the shadow of mercy. Desire for position seems so petty and insignificant at the cross. My offenses fade in the light of His long suffering love.

When I find myself growing cynical and becoming me centered I make my way back to the cross. The view from there brings everything back into focus. The cross experience purifies my desires, my ambitions, and my motives.

Have you been to the cross today? The view from there will change your life.

Forget Not...

The human memory is an amazing thing. No computer in the world can match the power of the mind. The things we experience, read, hear and see are forever stored there.

However, our mind's filing system sometimes can get jumbled and discombobulated.

The clutter of the unimportant, foul up our ability to recall those things that we need to remember. Files of trouble, trials and stress overwhelm the system and good things seem to get pushed into the hidden recesses of our mind.

Especially in leadership, we can get so caught up in putting out fires and trying to keep people happy, that the good gets overshadowed by the negative.

Today, I feel the Lord is trying to get our attention. I feel Him trying get us to focus on what He has done.

We need to stop and remember the benefits of God. God is so good!

What can I render unto the Lord for all of His benefits?

The least I can do is to turn my eyes upon what God has done and off of the things that are negative around me.

I will not forget! God's benefits are more than I can number. His goodness far out weighs any trouble that I may endure.

Be encouraged! Forget Not...

Ps 103:1-22
1 Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.
6 The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.
7 He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.
8 The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.
9 He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.
10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.
12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.
14 For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.
15 As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.
16 For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.
17 But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children;
18 To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.
19 The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.
20 Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.
21 Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.
22 Bless the LORD, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the LORD, O my soul.