Don't take credit

When I first started out in my insurance agency, I was having a lot of success. I had never had a sales job before, so I knew without a doubt I was walking in God's favor and blessing. I knew my success was all because of Him.

After about a year and a half, I had a slump in my life insurance sales. I was in some kind of terrible funk. I had to get things going again so I focused all my energy on selling life insurance. I thought I was in the slump because of something I was not doing right and/or something I was doing wrong.

Because "I" was working so hard I started taking credit for life sales. I did not know this at the time, but I realize now that because I blamed myself for the decrease, it also led me to take credit for the increase. Taking credit for God's blessing is dangerous territory to be walking in. When we do that, we are basically elevating our self above God, and we are denying our need to rely on Him.

Whether things are going great or if they are terrible, we have to remember the truth of God's word. The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. (John 10:10 NLT).
Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. (James 1:17 NLT)

If you start taking credit for your failures, you will also be tempted to take credit for your success. Don't take credit. If you are in what seems like knee deep failure, resist the enemy who is stealing from you and start praising Jesus for your success even though you don't see it yet. If you are floating in a river of success, praise Jesus for blessing you. Give thanks and praise Him at all times! Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:18 NLT)

I would love to hear how this truth has impacted you and how you see failure and success!

7 Leadership Lessons from Craig Groeschel

I recently attended the Gateway Church pastors Connect Conference at the Gateway NRH Campus in Ft. Worth, Texas.  My pastor, Craig Groeschel, spoke to us, and it was such great wisdom I thought all of my friends in the blogosphere would benefit from it as well.  So, here are 7 leadership lessons from Pastor Craig Groeschel:

1- To step toward your destiny, you have to step away from your security....It's time to get out of the boat.  Wouldn't it be better to be sinking in the water with Jesus at arms length instead of back in the boat?

2- We generally overestimate what God wants to do in the short run, and we underestimate what He wants to do in the long run....The greatest enemy of your success is the limitations of your mind.

3- God's strength is made perfect in your weakness...Stop with the excuses that you cant speak in front of people, or you aren't a good team builder, or that you don't know what you are doing because God knows what He is doing.

4- The difference between where you are and where God wants you to be is the pain you are unwilling to endure...Maybe you need to end a relationship, let a division causing staff member go, or admit a mistake you have been covering up.

5- You have everything you need to do everything God wants you to do...Stop putting your faith in yourself, and put your faith in the Almighty God!

6- You should live poised and prepared for a miracle...5 year plans are out.  Prepare (time and resources) for what God wants to do and follow His lead/plan.

7- Everything rises and falls on leadership...If you feel like things are falling apart stop whining, your sharp, fix it!

You are Blessed to be a Blessing!

I have a treat for you today!  My friend, Jay Randolph, founder of Favor Communications International, is sharing a word with us today from his "Weekly Word" e-newsletter.  You can read more about Jay, Favor Comm, and sign up for the "Weekly Word" at www.fcint.org.  Here is a great word from Jay about generosity!  Enjoy

For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know!23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far;24 but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith,26 so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me.             Philippians 1:21-26

Faced with the tremendous opportunity of being able to go home to the Lord in heaven, Paul was not only thinking of himself. When confronted with the very real possibility of being executed due to his faithful witness of Christ, the apostle was more concerned about staying and helping others than he was about escaping all his problems and enjoying his eternal rewards. He simply practiced what he preached.

In the very next chapter, Paul encouraged believers to esteem others better than themselves (Phil. 2:3). He continued saying that everyone should look out not only for their own interests, but also for the interests of others (Phil. 2:4). The Lord Himself is our example (Phil. 2:5-11). Timothy and Epaphroditus, other early church leaders, were good examples too (Phil. 2:19-30). Mature believers in Christ are not self-centered; they're Jesus and others-centered.

In today's world, I find myself coming across more and more people who are completely self-absorbed. Even in the church, so many are just focused on themselves. Their wants. Their needs. Their problems. Their interests. Me, myself, and I (the three of us) are the center of all their thoughts and conversation! Seldom do they esteem others better than themselves. Not very often do they look beyond their own interests to the interests of others. Instead of dying to self and cultivating the fruit of self-control, self has free reign (Gal. 5:22-23).

As maturing believers in Christ, our focus is on worshiping Jesus and serving other people. We've received our needs met through our intimate relationship with the Lord, so we're able to overflow His love to other people. We recognize that we're blessed to be a blessing. As His provision goes through us, there's plenty for others too. Instead of being like the Dead Sea, which receives intake but has no outflow, we are open channels for God's living waters to flow through us to those all around. We lift Him up, and we reach out to others. As we interact with different people, we're constantly alert and asking the Lord, "How can I be a blessing to them?"

Jesus said that it is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35). God is the biggest Giver of all. He gave His only Son for us (John 3:16-17). Let's manifest His unselfish nature. Let's consider the other people in our life, and how the Lord wants to use us to minister to them. It may be a smile, a hug, or a listening ear. It might be a word of encouragement or a gift of some kind. Just be observant of others' needs and open to the Holy Spirit's prompting. He'll lead you!

Father, thank You that all our needs are met in You. Our spiritual, physical, emotional, and financial needs are abundantly supplied through what Your Son, our Lord, accomplished in His death, burial, and resurrection. We are now complete in Christ (Col. 2:10). As we interact with others in Your body and in the world, may we overcome self-centeredness by fixing our eyes on You and looking out for the interests of others. Amen!

Transformed by the Word

This is my friend Ty. Not only is he a great friend, but he is my mentor. He has a great testimony of how the Word transformed him. Watch this video and let it challenge you!



Obtain Truth - Ty from Sheri Yates on Vimeo.

Strip Club Row

I'm a pretty strong guy.  I wont tell you what I can bench as to not make you feel badly about what you can bench :-), but I think I am pretty stout.  The problem is that even though we may be strong physically, our attitudes can lead us to a dangerously weak will.  Three attitudes that make strong men weak are:

1. Lust:  I want it.

2. Entitlement:  I deserve it.

3. Pride: I can handle it. 

I know so many men that get sucked into a world of sexual sin because they let these three attitudes make them weak.  Read this text a good friend sent me recently:

"Working OKC I sometimes would have to back up officers on strip club row.  Every place would be packed. The line of men outside waiting to go in wrapped around the building.  It was like cattle waiting in line to be slaughtered.

The woman Folly is loud; she is undisciplined and without knowledge. She sits at the door of her house, on a seat at the highest point of the city,
calling out to those who pass by, who go straight on their way. “Let all who are simple come in here!” she says to those who lack judgment. “Stolen water is sweet; food eaten in secret is delicious!” But little do they know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of the grave. (Proverbs 9:13-18 NIV84)"

In my next post we will talk about attitudes that make weak men strong.  For now, go read Judges chapter 14 and see how these three attitudes affected the strongest man ever, Samson. 

Pride Comes Before a Fall

20 Now Herod was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. So they sent a delegation to make peace with him because their cities were dependent upon Herod’s country for food. The delegates won the support of Blastus, Herod’s personal assistant,21 and an appointment with Herod was granted. When the day arrived, Herod put on his royal robes, sat on his throne, and made a speech to them.  22 The people gave him a great ovation, shouting, “It’s the voice of a god, not of a man!”
23 Instantly, an angel of the Lord struck Herod with a sickness, because he accepted the people’s worship instead of giving the glory to God. So he was consumed with worms and died.  Acts 12:20-23


Just as with Usman "Uzzy" Ahmed, the boxer in this video, Herod's pride led to his fall.  Pride makes strong men weak.  According to Dictionary.com pride is a high or inordinate opinion of ones own dignity, importance, merit, or superiority.   Do you think that the "great" things you have accomplished are because of how awesome you are?  Do you think that your own strength, intelligence, or determination is really what has made you successful?  Do you go around dancing and celebrating yourself like Uzzy?  We are successful because God gives us the strength, intelligence, and determination.  It is NEVER about us.  Once we start making ourselves the main character in the story, we have made an idol out of ourselves.  We have a high opinion of our own superiority.  That's pride.


It says in Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall.

I have allowed pride to cause me to fall many times in my life.  When I was 14, I spent 6 weeks in the hospital, and 2 months in a body cast because I decided I knew more than my parents did.  It was my pride, thinking I was so smart and my parents were so ridiculous.  As a man, I now find myself doing the same thing I did when I was a kid...I think I know more than my Father.  I think I know what's best for me.  I think I can do everything on my own.  I think I know it all.  This is a lie.  The only "I" statement I should make is "I need Jesus".  I have to constantly guard myself against pride, and repent immediately when I see it.  Thankfully, we have all been forgiven, and by God's grace through the Holy Spirit I am learning humility, which is the opposite of pride.  If you are struggling with pride, ask God to teach you humility as you read His Word.  He loves you.

Share a story about how pride has led to a fall in your life.

Gas or Water?

In any relationship, conflict is inevitable.  It may start because we did not meet someones expectations of us.  We may have sinned against someone unknowingly, or even purposely.  Maybe our values are different from theirs, or our maybe we assumed something we should not have assumed.  Whatever the cause of the conflict was, we have a choice-

THROW GAS ON IT OR THROW WATER...

Proverbs 15:18 NLT says 

"A hot-tempered person starts fights; a cool-tempered person stops them." 

 Is it any wonder that when we respond to anger with anger, the conflict grows?  Why do we think that retaliation is going to end a dispute?  The reason we "throw gas" on the fire of conflict is because we see the other person as our enemy, and we are letting our identity get wrapped up in what they think about us.  

The truth is that we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.  Ephesians 6:12 NLT

Your enemy is Satan and his demons.  Your friends, relatives, co-workers, boss, facebook "friends", and me....we all have something in common...WE ARE NOT YOUR ENEMY.

People do and say the most hurtful things.  These actions are driven by lies from our enemy, Satan.  You need to know the truth, God's Word, so you know how to recognize a lie when you hear it.  When you start to recognize the lies, you will also remember their source...Satan, who is the father of all lies. 

You have a choice...

You can react and throw gas on the fire so everyone can be consumed, or

You can put life giving water on it to calm the quarrel.

Chose Life.