Top 10 leadership tips

• Know the work. Your ability to lead your team effectively will be correlative to your knowledge of their tasks and workload. Take time to learn the tasks and rhythm of the work of your team members. Given the fact that a good bit of your time is spent solving problems, you will be able to find solutions more quickly if you have comprehensive and deep knowledge of the work. Proverbs 22:9

• Show respect for all team members. Maintaining a maximum level of team chemistry is essential. Treating every member of the team with an equal amount of respect and professionalism will go a long way toward building a trusting and collaborative team culture. 1 Timothy 3:2

• Develop your people. Take your team members to new places with intentionality. Give them opportunities to gain new skills and experience. The more you expand the horizons of your team, the greater the opportunity your organization will have to thrive, innovate, and expand in the future. Luke 6:40

• Have a plan. Go beyond the origination of an annual budget. Your team, products/resources, production processes, marketing strategies, sales campaigns, delivery methods, etc. should all be supported by goals and clearly outlined pathways to execution. Do your best not to leave any stones unturned. 1 Chronicles 28

• Communicate clearly and often. Few things frustrate a team more than not having access to information or direction. Know your plan and be sure to keep it before your team on a routine basis. As plans necessitate change along the way, be sure to share changes openly and with emphasis. Diversify your forms of communication, as varied personalities listen in different ways. Above all, maintain consistency in the content you communicate. Joshua 9:24

• Risk must be enriched by a willingness to fail. Any leader not willing to take risk will almost certainly have a short-lived tenure. Worldwide culture is changing at a faster rate than ever before. In order to adapt and innovate, leaders must adopt and cultivate a willingness to go to new places, all of the while not living in fear of falling short of established goals. Bravery and a spirit of adventure are the catalysts that will often times be the keys that unlock success. Deuteronomy 31:6

• Own your mistakes. Everyone misses the mark from time-to-time. When you find yourself at such an advent, be the first to confess and apologize for your missed steps. Denial leads to disrespect of your team. Casting undue blame leads to frustration and lack of trust on your team. James 5:16

• Be committed to your own development. Leaders should be devoted to their own learning and growth. Blind spots and comfort zones can easily creep into one’s routine and performance without a perpetual plan for personal development. Mentorship, avid reading, continuing education, additional responsibilities, and new training can all contribute to the growth and maturation of a leader. Philippians 1:9

• Be a model servant. With Christ as our ultimate example, it is imperative that leaders routinely practice being a servant to everyone around them. Placing others ahead of your own interests will earn more trust, respect, loyalty, and productivity than just about any other leadership practice. Philippians 2:3

• Love people. Far above any asset your organization possesses are relationships with people. Invest time to take a personal interest in the lives, families, interests, and work of everyone on your team. Treat partners and contract workers with fairness and integrity. You cannot and will not accomplish anything without quality people around you. These folks will not perform to their potential without knowing that their leader places highest value in who they are, as well as what they do. 1 Corinthians 13

taken from lifeway 

The Greatest Price Ever Paid To Set a Slave Free!

The Greatest Price Ever Paid To Set a Slave Free! 

Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. —Titus 2: 14

the word “redemption,” which comes from the Greek word lutroo. This is the word used in Titus 2: 14, where Paul says, “… That he might redeem us from all iniquity….” This Greek word depicts a person who paid a very high price to obtain the slave of his choice. Once the price was offered and accepted, that slave became his personal property. However, the word lutroo was used in another very significant way that also has to do with the concept of redemption. At times, a caring and compassionate individual would come to the slave market for the sole purpose of purchasing slaves out of slavery to liberate and set them free! In this case, the payment offered was viewed as a ransom —paid to obtain freedom for slaves. Because Paul uses the word lutroo to denote the redemptive work of Jesus Christ on our behalf, it tells us several important things:

1) Jesus came into the world, Satan’s slave market, because He was looking for us.
2) Jesus knew He wanted us and wouldn’t be satisfied until the purchase was complete.
3) Jesus was willing to pay any price demanded to purchase us from the slave market.
4) Jesus purchased us with His own blood so we would become His own personal property.
5) Jesus paid the price with His blood, purchased us for Himself, and gave us a liberating freedom that can only be known because of His work in our lives!

Our freedom from Satan’s power was extremely expensive. The price Jesus paid for us was the highest price ever paid for a slave. 

What was the ransom that Jesus paid in order to procure our freedom from Satan’s ownership? His own blood! 

This means that the word lutroo in Titus 2: 14 conveys this idea: “Who gave Himself for us, that He might purchase us out of the slave market to become His own personal property —yes, He was willing to pay the ransom price to see us liberated and set free.…”

My personal thoughts = It was the shedding of Jesus’ own blood that guaranteed our deliverance and lasting freedom from the demonic powers that had previously held us captive. The word lutroo unmistakably means Jesus paid the ransom that set you and me free! He bought us with His own blood! As Hebrews 9: 12 says, “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.” Jesus gave Himself as the ransom to set you free from sin. Someone had to enter Satan’s slave market, so Jesus chose to go. Someone had to offer a price, so Jesus offered to pay the price for your freedom with His own blood. Someone had to finalize the deal, so Jesus willingly paid the price with His own life on the Cross.

Take Advantage Of All Kinds of Prayer

Take Advantage Of All Kinds of Prayer 

Praying always with all prayer.... —Ephesians 6: 18

If you want to grow in your spiritual walk, you need to make prayer a central part of your life. But in order for prayer to be the great adventure God wants it to be in your life, you must understand that there are all kinds of ways to pray. Don’t get stuck with just one form of prayer! The Bible tells us that there are several kinds of prayer, and you need to learn to use every kind of prayer that’s available to you.

Ephesians 6: 18 says, “Praying always with all prayer.…” The first thing I want you to notice is that this verse commands us to pray “always.”  The word “always” is taken from the Greek phrase en panti kairo. The word en would be better translated at. The word panti means each and every. You could say that this word panti is an all-encompassing word that embraces everything, including the smallest and most minute of details. The last word in this Greek phrase is the word kairo, the Greek word for times or seasons. When all three of these words are used together in one phrase (en panti kairo) as in Ephesians 6: 18, they could be more accurately translated at each and every occasion. But I want you to notice that this verse goes on to say that you are to pray “with all prayer.” This phrase is taken from the Greek phrase dia pases proseuches and would be better translated “with all kinds of prayer.” To assist the Church in maintaining a victorious position in life, God has given His people various kinds of powerful prayer. 

Other translations of Ephesians 6: 18 include: 

“Use every kind of prayer....” (Goodspeed) 

“Pray... with all manner of prayer....” (AMP) 

“Pray... with all kinds of prayers....” (NIV) 

“Pray... with all kinds of prayers that are available for you to use....” (REV)

Most people don’t realize there are different kinds of prayer. But according to this verse, God has actually made many forms of prayer available to us to use as needed, such as the prayer of faith, the prayer of intercession, the prayer of consecration, and the prayer of agreement. 

Sometimes life can be difficult and challenging. For one thing, the devil doesn’t want you to be blessed or successful in your endeavors. So in order to face the inevitable attacks that arise against your marriage, finances, body, job, and career, you must come to realize that prayer is indispensable. You cannot succeed as a Christian without an active and effective prayer life. 

No matter how anointed, skilled, or gifted you may be or how bold and courageous you think you are, you simply cannot maintain a victorious position in life apart from prayer. Without prayer, you can be sure of absolute and total defeat. But as you develop a lifestyle of prayer, taking advantage of every form of prayer available to you, you will find that victory is yours in the midst of every challenge! The various kinds of prayer have all been given to you for your benefit and spiritual growth. So take the time to study the Word and learn how to pray with “all kinds of prayer.” Don’t let this day go by without spending quality time in prayer with the Heavenly Father. There is victory waiting on the other side

YOU WILL ONLY SUCCEED WHEN YOUR ASSIGNMENT BECOMES AN OBSESSION

YOU WILL ONLY SUCCEED WHEN YOUR ASSIGNMENT BECOMES AN OBSESSION

 Focus Is Magnetic. When you focus your attention and time to achieving your Assignment, you will experience Favor. 

Jesus Rebuked Those Who Broke His Focus. But turning around and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, "Get behind me, Satan! You are not thinking about God's concerns but human concerns."(Mark 8: 33).

The Apostle Paul Was Obsessed With His Assignment. 

It explains his remarkable victories over enemies, adversaries and even friends who misunderstood him. He explained his focus to the Philippians, 

13 Brothers and sisters, I know that I still have a long way to go. But there is one thing I do: I forget what is in the past and try as hard as I can to reach the goal before me. 14 I keep running hard toward the finish line to get the prize that is mine because God has called me through Christ Jesus to life up there in heaven. Philippians 3:13-14

 He moved away from past hurts, failures and memories. 

Obviously, he had a photograph of those things God had placed before him.

6 Keys For Developing An Obsession For Your Assignment

1. Identify Any Distraction To Your Assignment.     (Hebrews 12: 1).  Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,

2.   Do not fall in love with programs and imitation

      (2 Timothy 2: 4).  No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer.

3. Become An Expert On Your Assignment. (2 Timothy 2: 15).  Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

4. Avoid Any Conversation With Those Who Disrespect Your Assignment.

    (2 Timothy 2: 16, 23).

16 Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly.

24 Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels.

5. Prepare For Uncommon Adversity. Satan dreads the completion of your Assignment. Each      act of obedience can destroy a thousand satanic plans and desires.

6. Disconnect From Any Relationship That Does Not Celebrate Your Obsession.

    (2 Thessalonians 3: 14). Take special note of anyone who does not obey our instruction in this letter. Do not associate with them, in order that they may feel ashamed.

>  Maybe it’s time to go back to the helper instead of doing it on our own - Holy Spirit 

>  find 2-3 people to pray with you - that are not ego strokes  / we all need a Nathan  

>  Don’t substitute your prayer and bible reading  

Come deeper towards me

my source of Joy

Habakkuk 3:17-18
17 Even if the fig tree does not bloom
and the vines have no grapes,
even if the olive tree fails to produce
and the fields yield no food,
even if the sheep pen is empty
and the stalls have no cattle—
18 even then,
I will be happy with the Lord.
I will truly find joy in God, who saves me.

I am the source of joy everything else is conditional it varies depending on weather and attitudes 
i want to be the fountain from where you draw the refreshing waters of joy 
lean on my 

His hand on our lives

But from everlasting to everlasting, the Lord ’s mercy is on those who fear him. His righteousness belongs to their children and grandchildren, (Psalms 103:17 GW) 

I will bless your generations like cloud of shade that cover the land 
my shade of Glory will be on your home and generations
many time you have remembered the verse that i burned in your heart 
I never seen the righteous forsaken nor his seed begging for bread  
my promise still stand for your seed 
I will multiply as long as they remain in me i will show my grace and mercy 
My eye will be on you like an eagle can spot the pray from thousands of feet in the sky
know that I not far but I am at hand that means I am at arms length
don't drift alway hold my hand and I will guide you and direct you

Roadblocks to Him (Jesus)

What is stoping  us from getting closer to you ?

1. Lack of spiritual hunger. Let's face it: The main reason many Christians get stuck in a rut is they are happy to be there. But God is looking for people who refuse to be content with where they were last year. He is calling you higher. You must ask the Holy Spirit to set your heart ablaze with a desire for more of His presence and power.

David is our example of spiritual hunger. He wrote: "As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants after You, O God" (Ps. 42:1). He actually felt lousy when he wrote those words, so we can't use our discouragement as an excuse. David fanned the flames of spiritual fervor even when he felt like quitting.

2. Plain old laziness. Many of us become motivated at the beginning of the year to pray, study the Bible, go back to school or lose weight. But nobody wins a race by sprinting the first 50 feet and then sitting down. Winners must stay in the game. You must be determined to finish what you start instead of leaving a trail of aborted attempts.

Paul exhorted the Romans to be "fervent in spirit," but first he warned them not to be "lazy" (see Romans 12:11-12). The Greek word used here, "okneros," is the same word Jesus used in the parable of the "lazy servant" who didn't invest the money he was given by his master. If you are sitting on your dreams or procrastinating when you should be growing your faith, the "lazy" label applies. Don't just start and then give up. Be consistent and keep going.

3. Unpacked baggage. The Israelites who left Egypt could have marched into the Promised Land in a matter of weeks, but they ended up in a holding pattern for 40 years. Why? They were dragging their sin with them. The more weight you drag behind you, the less likely it is that you will reach your destination.

I knew a Christian guy who had a thriving ministry to college students. But because he refused to get help for his pornography habit, his addiction prevented him from functioning normally. It finally weighed him down so much that it destroyed both his marriage and ministry. You may think you can "manage" your sin, but it is more powerful than you are. You can't move forward while carrying a load of shame and addictions. Repent, confess your weakness to someone else and get free.

4. Fear of change. Many people feel a tug in their hearts that says: Start that Bible study. Go on that mission trip. Write that book. Launch that business. But they never get past step one because they feel frozen in their tracks. Nothing will keep you in spiritual limbo like fear. It paralyzes.

Some people keep their dreams inside them for decades—and then they take them to the grave. If you want to grow, you must take risks. Don't let your fear of public speaking, airplanes, crowds, strangers or people's criticism stop you from trusting in the God who is bigger than all those things.

5. Shallow relationships. Who are you hanging around with? Abraham had to part ways with Lot because they had very different goals. Lot had a selfish motive, and Abraham was fully surrendered to God's plan. If you spend all your time with selfish people who are content to live spiritually fruitless lives, you will end up just like them.

If you want to move forward spiritually in 2017, don't expect the crowd to go with you. Some people don't want God's presence. Don't let them drag you down. Be willing to find new friends who will support your spiritual commitment.

6. A religious spirit. Religious people build memorials to honor what God did in 1967, sing songs from that era and write books about "the way we've always done it." Yet when the Holy Spirit calls them to "sing ... a new song" (Psalm 96:1), or if He starts doing "a new thing" (Isaiah 43:19a), they get offended. They insist God must move the exact same way He did 50 years ago.

You are the key to wisdom

God what do you want to say to me today ?

The deepest hole

He said, “I cried out to the Lord in my great trouble, and he answered me. I called to you from the land of the dead, and Lord, you heard me! You threw me into the ocean depths, and I sank down to the heart of the sea. The mighty waters engulfed me; I was buried beneath your wild and stormy waves. (Jonah 2:2, 3 NLT)

the treatment of other

How would you have me show greater respect for my family and spouse and my children: 
Hugs then love them with a love that they will know that I am with you and working in you 
because i am love and i have shown you my love & have brought you this far and have taken care of you 
* when you felt alone that your mom had left you when you were crying I was there even if you didn't know it but i had you by the hand 
* I want to heal your heart and your deep hurts i want to heal your kids that have gone through so much 

Jump in the river
sometimes you have felt left  out but what i was doing is preparing you for a special mantel 

Longing to hear your voice

God what are trying to tell me :
This is a new day for you my child you will start to see my hand and my glory I desire for you to put your ear to my chest and pay attention to my voice  there will be many distrctions but if you fight the giant you will see the beuty of my rest and the victory that is within me

Going deeper

I am making the switch to deeper things 
My goal is to use the blog to journal
Using 4 keys
Stillness
Vison
Spontenuety
Journaling
I am really looking forwart to seen what God is going to do

Things You Should NEVER Say To A Children’s Pastor

* Do you think you’ll have a real ministry someday?
* When I was growing up in church we didn’t need to have fun.
* What do you do with all that money the board gives you?
* You’re disturbing the MAIN service.
* Choir members shouldn’t have to work in the nursery.
* How come VBS is only five days long?
* You don’t mind taking care of the children during the staff retreat do you?
* I don’t think anyone will mind if we add another worship service.
* Just announce it in the bulletin if you need more workers.
* I’ll bet you enjoy this as much as the kids do.
* My kid says you won’t even last as long as the last one.
* I told the pastor what happened in children’s church.
* Who’s Larry the Cucumber?
* But I’ve been teaching the class this way for over forty years.
* I like the Quarterly better.
* After church lets out I need to talk to someone, just keep my kids in children’s church for a while until I get back.

I am hurting to see

because of what we do as Children pastors we sometimes forget that God loves us the same way we tell people that God loves them.
during my planning time for Sunday I found a envelope in the offering bucket that was sealed and had a little heart on it, there was a drawing inside that said I love you God
its awesome to see how kids grasp that God loves them more than adults and even us

too much church

YOU KNOW YOU'RE IN CHURCH
COMMUNICATIONS IF...

1. You've ever contemplated breaking into your own church in the dead of night so you can delete the comic sans, Papyrus and Curlz fonts from staff computers.

2. You've ever used a cross instead of the letter T or X.

3. You've explained DPI more times than you've explained your faith.

4. Redesigning the church logo is a weekly project, yet your new design is never used.

5. The words "Don't worry, this will only take a minute," send you into fits of rage.

6. Staff members try to make your job easier by asking you to send them last year's flier and they'll just 'update it a bit.'

7. Your suggestions are always brushed aside with, "but that's how we've always done it."

8. The design they had to have tomorrow is never used. And you're never surprised.

9. Stolen images, pirated software and breaking copyrights is justified because it's "God's Work."

10. You've ever wondered why God gets the credit when things go right, but you get the blame when things go wrong.

11. You've ever caught yourself proofreading the Powerpoint slides during worship.

12. You consider yourself bilingual because you're so adept at translating Christianese.

13. Your only intimate relationship involves late Saturday nights with the church photocopier.

14. You can't actually attend the events and programs you work to promote because you're too busy promoting them.

15. Research for sermon series branding means watching tv.

16. You can't invite your friends to church because you've told them to many not-so-flattering stories about your pastor.

17. You and the senior pastor have conflicting definitions of the word "deadline."

18. It's perfectly acceptable to use a volunteer's work over yours, but using a volunteer's sermon? That's a good joke.

19. Pastors inevitably become your Art Director, and their previous experience with "art" involved crayons.

20. The Holy Spirit is a legitimate excuse for last-minute changes.

life jackets in the storm

There are a few things that i feel that are important about ministry and it will help you stay in the place that God Has for you
1) Know that you are called by God to do the task that you are doing or are about to do.
2) stay connected with other pastors that have the same passion
3) Stay away form people that are negative - there are already things pulling you down don't look for more
4) find your calling in the Bible and water that seed that you feel inside of you
5) I should of put this one in number 2 know yourself ( Know your weaknesses )
6) don't stop what is working work on what is not working first
7) challenge your self to be creative with everything that you do (find different ways to explaining you lesson ) get out of your comfort zone
8) stay connected with your pastor (bug him for his time) if you don't ask you will never get
9) read, read, read and when you are done read leadership books
10) because of our ministry we are usually out of church on Sundays listen to Cd's or podcast every week you need to eat

this are some of the things that has helped me stay in ministry for 14 years
take a look at them and see if any apply to you

I am proud of this

some months ago I entered a fishing tournament and I won first place check out the article
fishing

broken to shine

in order to make the glow stick work you have to break it from the inside to glow in the outside
I am going to use this this weekend in kids church
" You need to be broken in the inside to glow in the outside"
some of the most profound time in my life are like this, sitting in my office doing nothing and wamu something drops from God.

making an avatar

check this out its really cool