“God is not caught off guard by your decisions. “ How did I end up here? Maybe I should have chosen a different path… Maybe I shouldn’t have taken this job… Maybe I shouldn’t have dated that person… Maybe I… There’s a sinking feeling when you start second guessing a decision you’ve made. Sometimes in life, your circumstances might seem like a mess created by choices you made weeks, months, or even years earlier. It’s natural to think… “Did I miss out on God’s plans for me? Did God have a great plan for my life, but I messed it…
Something More To Be Found In The Mess
“Before the fog had cleared… before the “happy ending” …before Job ever knew he would see a light at the end of the tunnel, he found something priceless. “ When you’ve been beaten to the ground, there is little comfort in hearing that you will be able to help others in the same situation someday. It is true that one of the greatest spiritual joys in life can be helping others out of the same difficulties you have faced in the past. (More on that here.) But let’s be honest… In the depths of the messiest moments of life, your first…
Sometimes It Takes a Wave
“Sometimes it takes a wave to reveal where you are standing. “ If you’ve ever walked along the beach, there is a place between the water’s edge and the dry sun-baked sand where the ground can feel deceptively firm. Standing in this area can provide unique feeling. Your feet can be firmly planted on the hard surface, but as soon as the tide begins to roll in and a wave washes past your feet, you immediately start to sink down into the sand. One of the most frustrating experiences I’ve ever had was something similar – but…
How To Write Thought Provoking Questions
Some questions are part of the journey, other questions are part of the excavation of life-changing truth. Powerful Tools Questions are one of a Small Group Leader’s most powerful tools. By thoughtfully guiding your group with a series of questions, you can help them discover the truth in God’s Word – and give them the excitement and satisfaction of finding it on their own. You will likely develop several types of questions for each study; but not every question requires the same amount of attention. Some questions help to casually open up discussion, other questions help to establish a…
Actions and Consequences
“Eventually, you will lose your game of Russian Roulette.” It seems that nearly every week another prominent individual is fired from their position because of something done in secret. Although their positions, stories, and circumstances vary, they share three very important similarities. They did something in private hoping it would never be discovered. They did something that was critically in conflict with what was acceptable in their position. Their actions brought dishonor upon themselves, and the organizations they represented. If you are in any kind of leadership position, these moments should be a wakeup call. Actions have consequences. Any…
The Pit Doesn’t Last Forever
“He was patient during my bitter doubts knowing that eventually His power and purpose would unfold.” I didn’t always have such a fond opinion of Psalm 40. In December of 2005 I wrote out the first verses of this Psalm in a journal. I included some skeptical, critical, and angry thoughts about how I doubted it’s reality. My wife and I were at the beginning of a difficult valley. We had two choices: Give up and walk away from God and each other, or push forward even though the road seemed entirely uncertain. In the months that followed, we saw…
When Everything and Everyone Else Seems More Appealing
“…there will always be someone who has it easier, makes it further, has more opportunity, and achieves more success.” “Quit looking around at everyone else.” These were some harsh words Peter had to hear. For just a moment, he compared his assignment with someone else’s. Jesus quickly called him out: “What is that to you? As for you, follow me.1” Let’s face it, if you look around for just a moment, there will always be someone who has it easier, makes it further, has more opportunity, and achieves more success. When you take your eyes off of the task…
Twisted Words
“As a Small Group Leader, it is important to do the legwork ahead of time in order to make sure you are not twisting God’s words out of context.” Twisted Words No one likes when their words are taken out of context. With just a small tweak, someone can change what you said into something you never intended. Think about this… as a Small Group Leader, you handle God’s words on a regular basis. If you are not careful, you can easily inject your own personal bias or interpretation. Whether accidental or deliberate, it is a serious mistake to…
Don’t Lose Heart
“Remember the anticipation and reckless abandon when you first stepped up to serve in the church?” To Anyone Who Serves Remember the anticipation and reckless abandon when you first stepped up to serve in the church? Whether it was a volunteer or full-time role, the feeling can be exhilarating. There is an unmistakable joy finding your specific role in the Body of Christ. Fast forward a few years… if you are not careful, that joy can be drained and battered. Busyness erodes the joy. Criticism begins to stick. The spiritual battles leave their scars. Maintaining that first joy and…
How to Spot a Lie
“It didn’t sound like a lie!” If you knew it was a lie, would you continue to believe it? We are quick to assume we would never believe a lie. But sadly, we all fall prey to a few or more lies every day. The problem is that we don’t see them for what they really are. It Didn’t Sound Like a Lie! Our enemy, also known as the “Father of Lies,” has spent thousands of years perfecting his craft. And to make matters worse, he has already dealt with countless versions of people just like you. He knows…