When God Says No

"...having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word."

Acts 16:6

Why would God keep anyone from doing something good? From doing even what he has commanded us to do?   From doing something as important as sharing the good news in a hurting world?  Let's be honest, that doesn't seem to make much sense.

I suppose the easy answer is, "God's ways are mysterious, and we cannot understand them." I'll be the first to say I can't argue with that.  But there is, of course, a better explanation.  God has a plan much bigger than our "moment in time."  While something might seem good, it may not be best.  It may not even be close.  With our limited sight, however, we don't see what is around the corner, or what may come tomorrow.  

There are three things we can take from this truth that will help guide us in decision making:

• Right thing, wrong time.  Timing is critical for the effective leader.  Pushing forward with the "right thing" when the timing is wrong will lead to disasterous results.  Be patient, seek God's leading, and be willing to wait for something better than you could have imagined.
• Doing that "right thing" may not actually be worth the effort, time, and funds.  Some things might be right and good, but not part of your organization's overall plan and vision.  "Stay in your lane" at all times. Easier said than done, but vitally important in the long run.
• God may very well have something even better than you could imagine.  If he is telling you not to do something that may to most seem good and right, you would be wise to listen.

In Acts 16, God wanted the team to avoid preaching in one area because of a greater need elsewhere (v.9).  They responded to the need unhesitantly.  The rest, as they say, is history.  What will your history look like?

The Other 5%

It's been said that 95% of what you do today will be good and right.  Congratulations.

Now, what can you do to fix the other 5%?

That may seem a little harsh to some of you.  After all, anyone who is getting it right 95% of the time is beyond successful!  But this statement is not about achievement, it is about improvement and growth.  A person who not only wants to succeed but also wants to be their very best can never rest on prior accomplishments.  There is always another mountain to climb or sea to cross.

We are called to grow in our faith, and while our works don't save us, we understand that what we accomplish in our works subtly corresponds in some way to the level of our faith.  The greater the faith, the more we should be able to accomplish through it.  As we grow in our faith, our faith should be more and more evident through our works.

And so we strive to accomplish more, to get better at what we do, to improve, not for the sake of our own glory or fame, but because our growing faith demands it.

When things are going well and 95% of the time you do the right thing, you will be tempted to congratulate yourself and take a break.  As a leader of others and a follower of Christ, don't give in to that temptation.  Instead, think about what you can do better, not out of pride or a desire to impress others, but out of a burning desire to use your talents to the fullest for his glory and the growth of His Kingdom.

Your God

Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God.

Isaiah 41:10

Here we go again.  It's January, the time when our thoughts naturally flow toward the future.  What will the new year bring? Will it be better or worse than the last?   Will we experience an unimaginable calamity, or an unforgettable blessing? Or will it just be another average year without major highs or lows? Will I be the person God wants me to be - has created me to be - or will my year be marked by underachievement?

In all honesty, the last question might be the most significant. There is almost nothing we can do to control what happens this year, but there is much we can control about our response.  Too often I repsond out of fear, primarily the fear of failure.  Fear that I will not live up to my end of the bargain.  Fear that I will lead this organization down the wrong path, or that my decisions will cause pain for others.

As we begin this new year, my focus is not on what may or may not happen, but how I will respond. My prayer is that I will experience the peace of God, which is the opposite of fear; that I will trust fully in him through whatever may come; that I will truly believe that he is with me, and that he is my God.  

My prayer for you is the same.  May the God who is ever with you - your God - pour his blessings out on you this year!

What Really Matters

“The Lord’s blessing is our greatest strength.”  Proverbs 10:22 TLB 

Recently I gathered with my wife and children, seven siblings, in-laws, nieces and nephews, cousins, uncles and aunts, current and long-lost friends, and even a few strangers to celebrate the life of our family's patriarch, my dad.  Even at the age of 89, after living a full and productive life, his death still somehow felt untimely.  I was ready, and at the same time, completely unready for him to leave us.  I understand that as a follower of Jesus, he is far better off now than at any time on this earth. But I miss my visits and phone calls with him, his warm smile, and gentleness.  Even as I write, I fight back the tears. 

His loss has made me consider more urgently what really matters in life.  My dad never put monetary gain or selfish ambition above family, and certainly not above matters of God’s Kingdom. How many of us can say the same?  He knew that what really matters in this life is not acclaim or wealth or power, but the Lord’s blessing on a life lived for Him.  Dad did not leave his numerous descendants a large monetary inheritance.  What he left was of far greater importance – the impact of a life lived in service to his King, an example of what it really means to follow Jesus. 

From his meager resources, he continued to support this ministry (and many others) until his death. Perhaps he felt a certain obligation to support ECM, but I like to think that ultimately, he simply felt an overwhelming desire to be a part of growing God’s Kingdom, and partnership with ECM was a good way to ensure that God’s love was shown to the vulnerable and outcast in this world.  For that, he received God’s blessing and was welcomed into heaven by the words we all long to hear, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.” 

Without a doubt, this is what really matters. 

Somehow It Will All Work Out

"I am not sure what to do, God, but here I go.  Please make it all work out right."

Richard Kriegbaum in Leadership Prayers

Just move.  More than once I've heard God telling me that I could no longer stay put, no longer consider my options, no longer put off the inevitable.  I would have to act.  Perhaps it was true that I had not collected all the information I wanted or felt I needed.  Perhaps I wasn't at all sure what the right or best decision was.  But still I had to act, I had to actually do something.

Leaders often do not have the luxury of waiting it out, hoping something good happens.  They have to move forward, all the while asking God to "please make it all work out right."  This is not a cop out.  Instead, it is an admittance that we are not in control of the outcome.  Neither is it laziness, (assuming we have done due diligence to the matter with our time and all other resources God has provided).  It is a sign of humble confidence.

Move ahead. Press on.  ACT.  Somehow it will all work out.   Not because everything will go according to our plan or wishes, but because it will always go according to His plan.  And that is the only plan that a Christian leader should ultimately be concerned about. 

My Life for God's Plan

We know and rely on the love God has for us.  God is love. 

1 John 4:16

No matter what...No Matter What...NO MATTER WHAT I can trust God.  Clear enough?

But it can't be that easy, can it?

You're right, nothing is ever that easy.  There's always a catch.  The catch here is that before you can trust God completely, you must understand and believe two critical facts:

1.  God loves you.

You cannot really trust someone if you don't believe they care deeply for you.  True, you can have a type of superficial trust for someone you may not even know, but you cannot have a deep, rock-solid trust unless you believe that someone loves you and honestly wants what is best for you.  As the apostle John wrote, we can "know and rely on the love God has for us."

2.  God really does want what is best for you, even if it makes no sense to you

We are all familiar with Jeremiah 29:11:  "'For I know the plans I have for you', declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future'".  There is no doubt that God has a plan for your life!  Unfortunately, we spend too much time asking, "What is God's plan for my life?" instead of boldly declaring, "My life for God's plan!"  As an act of surrender, we  must acknowledge that God enables each of us to make wise decisions and face even the most difficult of situations.  He desires that we trust him fully, understanding that he will equip us for whatever lies ahead.

When we understand that God loves us and wants what is best for us, only then can we surrender ourselves to his will, trusting both the short-term and long-term outcomes for our lives to his plan.

Leading others requires first that we submit to God' gentle voice, trusting that the decisions we make as a result will reflect his love, his compassion, and his wisdom.  When you surrender and trust, your life will go according to his plan.

Dealing with Diversity Part 3

Diversity is a beautiful thing!  So why do we let it divide us so tragically and painfully?  In the past two months we've examined three steps that we should take if want to turn diversity into a tool that can be used to build relationships. First, we learned that we need to humbly acknowledge that we don't always get it right, and that only by accepting that others have valid viewpoints are we able to grow.  Second, we were reminded that God created diversity!  It brings beauty to our world in countless ways, including through differing viewpoints.  Third, we were reminded of what we have always been taught: Love is the answer!  We must love others unconditionally, and believe whole heartedly that relationships are more important than our viewpoints.

Today we finish with one final step and some concluding thoughts.

4.  Based on what has already been mentioned, it is possible for some to allow the pendulum to swing so far that they are afraid to even have an opinion!  But actually having  opinions is essential to diversity.  You may think that to avoid conflict it is easiest to just "go with the flow."  In other words,, if you don't have any opinions, or if you don't express them, you will avoid conflict and all will be well.  This perspective is not helpful and will not bring about growth in you or in others.  It is also detrimental for society as a whole.  The trick, of course, is not to hide our differences, but to effectively manage the conflicts that arise from them.  Celebrate diversity, don't avoid it!


Don't fear differences of opinion!  Embrace them and allow them to bring about growth in your life.  It is almost never easy to do this.  Our human nature fights against it, in fact.  Some will see this as a cry for inclusivity, but nothing could be further from the truth.  Spiritually, we may think that if we listen to other viewpoints we are actually demonstrating agreement with the opinion, no matter how skewed it may be.  For example, if we genuinely listen to someone argue that abortion is acceptable, we are in some way condoning abortion.  This is where it becomes important to separate love and respect for the person from agreement with their viewpoint.  It is entirely possible to listen to an unbiblical viewpoint, have productive and respectful dialogue, and still agree to disagree.  If you abandon the relationship by showing anger, disgust, or impatience, you will NEVER be able to speak truth into the other person's life.  You will have lost their trust.

God does not call us to agree with each other.  He created diversity, including our differences in viewpoints.  But he expects (actually requires) us to interact with each other, no matter our differences, with love and respect.  Christians throughout the ages have had the strongest impact on their cultures simply by showing love, by demonstrating that the way of Jesus is good and life-changing, and by living out this Good News in every aspect of their lives.  In these times when lines have been drawn in the sand, Christians must be willing to step over the line, grab the hand of those we consider to be hopelessly far from the truth, and say, "My friend, let's talk about this."