Self-esteem-Built on God's Esteem!

'You are precious to Me. You are honored, and I love you.' Isaiah 43:4 NLT

Good Morning,

Are you able to look in the mirror today and say, 'Thank You Lord, You did a good job?' If you can't, you're in danger of settling for anyone who can give you what you're incapable of giving yourself-a sense of worth! You've got to find a healthy balance somewhere between martyrdom and narcissism. Until you do, everybody else's needs and opinions will be more important than yours. When that happens, you end up resentful and living without things you don't have enough self-esteem to ask for, because you don't think you deserve them. Early in life I struggled with self-esteem. I didn't believe that I was worth anything or did I believe that anyone thought I was worth while. Ever feel that way? I know you have but If you don't believe in yourself and respect your own opinions, you'll finish up living to please everyone else. One wrong look or one critical word from them and you'll say, 'I'll never do that, say that, or wear that again.' Talk about feeling worthless and insecure! Thank God you don't have to live that way. Peter writes, 'The God of all grace...[will make you]...perfect, establish, strengthen and settle you.' (1 Peter 5:10 NKJV) God wants to give you a sense of self-esteem-built on His esteem. Will you let Him? When I came to that place and allowed God's esteem to fill me...it changed who I was. I began to sound differently, and once others have heard you sing confidently, they'll want to hum along. Just make sure they're in harmony when they do. You train others to treat you by how you treat yourself. The buyer will pay no more than the seller demands. So go to God today, ask Him to tell you who you are and what you're worth. He will say, 'You are precious to Me. You are honored, and I love you.' That's God's opinion-make it yours! You are loved,

Stop Waiting For Perfect Conditions (3)

'...He kept his eyes on the one who is invisible.' Hebrews 11:27 NLT

Good Morning,

Finishing up on the thoughts of following through in ministry. There is a strong relationship between our movement toward our dreams, and the resources we need becoming available to us. Too often we want to see the resources, or have them in hand before we start moving forward. When we do that, we have neither the resources nor the movement. We need to be like the snail that started climbing up the apple tree one cold day in August. As he inched his way upward, a worm stuck his head out from a crevice in the tree and said, 'You're wasting your energy. There isn't a single apple up there.' The snail kept on climbing, and replied, 'No, but there will be by the time I get up there!' Over and over in Scripture God sent people out with what seemed like inadequate resources. But when they got to where God wanted them to be, the resources needed to get the job done were in place waiting for them. Vision doesn't follow resources, it happens the other way around. First we have a dream, then we have to move forward. Then-and only then-do people and resources follow. Then the plan God has given to us begins to fall into place. A wise man once said, 'Effort only fully releases its reward after a person refuses to quit.' People who succeed 'see' what others don't. It's what keeps them moving forward. 'It was by faith that Moses left the land of Egypt, not fearing the king's anger. He kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible.' Keep your eyes on the supply and watch what God will do...

You are loved,

Stop Waiting for Perfect Conditions (2)

'Faith is being sure of what we hope for.' Hebrews 11:1 NIV

Good Morning,
If you didn't know my youngest son is 22 today. Give him a call or text or email and wish him the best. Happy Birthday Zachary!

I never thought so long ago when I was young that today would be here, but it is. It was over 30 years ago that God gave me a vision for ministry. Amy and I didn't wait for the conditions to be right, we just trusted God and moved forward. We signed up for Bible college and went for it without a penny in our pockets. Successful people do not spend the majority of their time thinking about what must be done. Instead, they spend twice as much time reflecting on what they have already accomplished, and on how they are capable of accomplishing what they set out to do. Football coach John Wooden said, 'Things turn out best, for the people who make the best of the way things turn out.' Pursuing a God-given dream is a bumpy ride, as every leader in the Bible found out. And only those who think right succeed. The greatest gap between successful people and unsuccessful people is the thinking gap. This is especially so when it comes to failure. Successful people see failure as a regular part of success, and they get over it. Jonah Salk, the developer of the polio vaccine, said: 'As I look upon the experience of an experimentalist, everything that you do is, in a sense, succeeding. It's telling you what not to do, as well as what to do. Not infrequently, I go into the laboratory, and people would say something didn't work. And I say, Great, we've made a great discovery! If you thought it was going to work, and it didn't work, that tells you as much as if it did. So my attitude is not one of pitfalls; my attitude is one of challenges and what is nature telling me?' Such tenacity only comes from right thinking, and it is the hallmark of all successful people. They keep trying, keep learning and keep moving forward. They win the battle in their minds, and then it overflows into what they do. So lets go team Calvary...God has some great things instore for us!
You are loved...

Stop Waiting for Perfect Conditions (1)

'He who observes the wind will not sow.' Ecclesiastes 11:4 NKJV

Good Morning,
Wonderful service yesterday as we continue the series "Renewing Your Vision". I hope you injoy these series as I believe they help us to grow spiritually. For the next couple of days we will be looking at moving forward in our lives; Trusting God when we aren't sure if we should move forward or not. Too many of us stand on the dock waiting. We want the ship in place, the gangplank perfectly positioned, the weather right and an engraved invitation before we're willing to launch out. It will never happen! Dreams don't move toward us, we have to move toward them. It's time to quit waiting for the ideal circumstances, perfect timing and hundred percent guarantees. John Maxwell suggests that instead of saying, 'We've never done it before,' say, 'We have the opportunity to be first.' Instead of saying, 'We don't have the resources,' say, 'Necessity fuels invention.' Instead of saying, 'There's not enough time,' say, 'We'll change how we work.' Instead of saying, 'We've already tried that,' say, 'We learned from experience.' Instead of saying, 'We don't have the expertise,' say, 'Let's network with those who do.' Instead of saying, 'Our vendors and customers won't go for it,' say, 'Let's show them the opportunities.' Instead of saying, 'We don't have enough money,' say, 'Maybe there's something we can cut.' Instead of saying, 'We're understaffed,' say, 'We're a lean, hungry team.' Instead of saying, 'It'll never get any better,' say, 'We'll try one more time.' Instead of saying, 'Let somebody else deal with it,' say, 'I'm ready to learn something new.' Instead of saying, 'It's not my job,' say, 'I'll be glad to take the responsibility.' Instead of saying, 'I can't,' say, 'By God's grace I can!' Are you ready to tell God you can?
You are Loved!

What Stinks?

'Lord, by this time he Stinketh.' John 11:39 KJV

Good Morning,

Sounds funny doesn't it, "What Stinks". I think that's the question God asks sometimes. I've done this myself and I know you have too; when we have a problem we do what Mary and Martha did with their deceased brother Lazarus. We bury it and roll a stone in front of it. Then Jesus comes along and tells us to roll the stone away so He can deal with it and make us whole again. It takes honesty, humility and courage to roll away the stone on a stubborn or shaming issue. But you will never become healthy and whole until you are willing to do that. Can you imagine the state Lazarus was in after four days in the grave? Martha said, 'He stinketh.' Yet Jesus said, '...If you [will] believe you [will] see the glory of God.' (John 11:40 NKJV) The great thing about this story is that no matter how far gone your situation may be or how unpleasant it is, Jesus can turn it around for you. But you must be willing to roll the stone away and allow Him to work. If you'll let Him, He can give you back what life has taken from you. People may give up on you but Jesus won't. Have you ever changed a baby's diaper? If anything else smelled that bad you would throw it in the trash, right? But not your child; you love them and you know that with a little help they are capable of outgrowing it and becoming something good. Like Mary and Martha, you may think it's too late for a miracle, but it's not. Your finances may stink, your relationship may stink, your prospects for the future may stink but, if you will believe, you will 'see the glory of God.' So let's believe together asking God for His very best in our lives...

You are loved!

Showing Honest Emotion

'Jesus wept. Then the Jews said, See how He loved him!' John 11:35-36 NIV

Good Morning,

It's hard to be open and honest ...Some of us are like a closed book; people never get to know what's on the inside of us. I know how that is because as a pastor I'm supposed to be under control and not let my emotions sway me one way or the other. We only have to look to Jesus who was not afraid to be vulnerable. He wept openly at the grave of His friend Lazarus. So, can you show honest emotion? We must to build connection with each other. Do you talk of the trophies you have won but not the tears you have shed? When you speak only of your success but fail to share what you went through to achieve it, you leave people feeling like they'll never be able to rise as high as you have. Is that what you want? Jesus was infuriated when the strong took advantage of the weak; it's why He threw the moneychangers out of the temple. Yet He wept over the people of Jerusalem because He knew what the consequences of their rejection of Him would be. Now we're not talking about displays of uncontrolled temper, or dissolving into tears each time trouble comes. But unless you have the ability to show an appropriate level of empathy and transparency, you will have no credibility. The Bible says: 'For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under Heaven...A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance.' (Ecclesiastes 3:1,4 NLT) If you are able to be tough but not tender, people may admire your achievements and comply with your instructions, but they will keep you at a distance. I've had to learn over the years that it's ok to be me and show other that I care. We celebrate when we need to and we cry when we must. Follow Christ's example, it will take you to great places...

You are loved!

Before You Can Move Ahead

'Arise...go...to the land which I am giving to [you].' Joshua 1:2 NKJV

Good Morning,
We are home! Amy and I made it back safely yesterday and as par for the course, things are stacked up for us to do. So what is the first thing to happen? My computer won't start up...I'm going ok Lord really, I just fixed this two weeks ago. So I prayed and it was a simple fix, a screw came out and the hard drive came out of its slot. Pushed it back in and put a screw to hold it in place; started it up and I sighed thanks Lord. Sometimes we have a hard time when things don't go our way. There are something's we must do in our spiritual lives before we can move ahead as well. Joshua had already tasted the joys of the Promised Land. But then he had to go back and wait until Moses died and every doubter in Israel was buried. Observe: (1) Some of our old ways must die. Moses represented the old system. It was good for then, but not now. When you align yourself with what was, instead of what is, you're not ready. There are still too many people you need to impress. You're so bound by certain philosophies that, when God says it's time to move, you have to consult somebody else. When God told Joshua, 'Moses My servant is dead...arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them,' there was only one correct response: 'Yes, Lord!' You must honor the past, but not get stuck in it. You must stand on the truth, but seek God for fresh instructions and insights if you're to reach your destiny. (2) Your doubts must be buried. Only two out of the twelve spies who went into the Promised Land believed God would give it to them. The other ten saw giants, caved in to doubt, died and were buried in the wilderness. And every doubt that's holding you back has got to die and be buried too, including the voice of your low self-esteem, your childhood fears, your anxieties and your critics. Gather them up, put them in a box, bury it, stand on top of it and say, 'Ashes to ashes, dust to dust.' Before you can move ahead you must understand and live by these principles.
You are loved!