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Genuine Concern vs. Fearful Concern
Learn the difference between stressors and stress. Stress is what you feel. Stress is fearful concern experienced when life’s demands seem greater than your ability to meet them. Stressors are what you face while stress is what you feel. Avoid stressors: Do the right...
What Are Our Marching Orders?
What marching orders has God given us? Do everything we can to see as many people as possible to come to know Jesus. Help as many people as possible learn to live the free and abundant life. What promise does God give us in this matter? (Matthew 28:18-20, NKJV) Jesus...
What Do You Need to Encircle?
What keeps you up at night? (Joshua 6:12-13, NKJV) If it’s to further God’s Kingdom, the answer, provision, and power is available, we just have to hear from God and obey. The purpose of the test is to teach us to trust. (James 1:2-5, NCV) The purpose of trust is to...
Running Circles Around the Enemy
Important insights: It’s one thing to get a word from God, it’s another to carry it out in action. The Israelites walked around Jericho, they didn’t run, strain or struggle. Many times, we struggle, strain, and run when we should be walking with Jesus first. Fruit...
You’re Not in Charge, But Remember Who Is
The message God has for us when we are facing an obstacle or problem: (Joshua 5:13-15, TLB; 2 Kings 19:35, NKJV; Joshua 6:1-2, TLB) Seek to understand the problem. Seek God’s presence and power. Seek God’s solution to the problem. Seek to understand the battle and...
Build a Monument
God wants you to teach your children 2 main things: (Joshua 4:20-24, NKJV) God’s Word. (Proverbs 22:6, NKJV; Deuteronomy 11:19-20, NKJV) Discipline. (Proverbs 23:13-14, GW; Proverbs 22:15, NIV) Your monument will be the lives that have been changed. (3 John 1:4, NKJV)...
What if You Fall into the River?
God is faithful even when we are not faithful. (Psalm 18:16, NIV; Proverbs 24:16, NIV) God wants to focus on our faithfulness, not our failures. (Luke 15:11-14, 17-32, NKJV) God is faithful when we are caught doing things we should not be doing. (John 8:3-11, NKJV) He...
What if the River Doesn’t Part?
We will pass through the waters. (Isaiah 43:1-2, NKJV) You don’t have to fear, but you do need to fight. Passing through the water is seasonal. (Ecclesiastes 3:1, NKJV) When we pass through the waters, we all remember that most of the time it’s seasonal. What we don’t...
Theres is Still Much Land to Possess
There’s a prayer to pray. (Joshua 13:1, NKJV; 1 Chronicles 4:10, NKJV) Jabez asked God to bless him and to bless him indeed. Jabez wanted God to enlarge his territory. Jabez wanted God’s hand upon him because that would keep him from evil and pain. Why God granted...
4 Steps to Help You Conquer Insecurity.
Don’t despise your insecurity. The greatest trap is to be insecure about your insecurities—relax and own it. Owning is the first step to conquering it. Take a risk and talk about it. Talking about it with a wise and trusted friend helps keep our insecurities at...
5 Signs of an Insecure Leader
Imposter Behavior. You pose as someone or something that you perceive as better than the real you. While the real you is imperfect, it is the best you. Work in progress but you can’t make progress if you don’t give yourself permission to be the real you. Defensive...
Trust God to Turn Problems into Pathways
Learn to walk by faith. (Joshua 3:15-17, NKJV; 1 Corinthians 10:11, NKJV;2 Corinthians 5:7, NKJV) Keep your mind on the Lord and His power, not the problem. (Isaiah 26:3-4, NKJV) Ask God to increase your faith. (Luke 17:5, NKJV) Look to Jesus not people, places or...
The Lord Will Do Wonders Among You Tomorrow
The power and purpose. The purpose of the power is to witness. (Colossians 1:29, NKJV, CEV, AMP) Christ was the only way to live. God’s Word was the only way to wisdom. God’s plan and purpose was to bring honor and glory to God. The right rest can be a weapon, but...
Sanctification and Saints
There are 2 Sanctifications: Positional sanctification – happens at salvation through the blood of Jesus Christ. Progressive sanctification – happens as we become more and more like Jesus as the Holy Spirit prompts us. Being saved and serving by the prompting of the...
How Does God Build Us?
Be teachable; Your goals are reachable if you are teachable. (Psalm 37:23-25, NKJV; Psalm 32:8-9, NKJV; Proverbs 21:29-31, NCV; Proverbs 28:14, NCV; Proverbs 29:1, NCV) North (nearness or staying close). (Psalm 73:23-24, NIV) Everything rises and falls on your...
Expect God to Guide You Where You’ve Never Been Before
Going places you have not gone. (Joshua 3:3-4a, NIV) Without Jesus and Him crucified we cannot go to new places and learn new insights. (1 Corinthians 2:1-14, NKJV) You don’t get your faith in man but in God. As you mature you learn, gain wisdom, and receive more...
The Truth About Kindness
The scarlet cord is a visual example of the blood of Jesus. (Joshua 2:17-21, NKJV) Just as we have never sinned, we have been acquitted. (Romans 5:9, NKJV; Ephesians 1:7, NKJV) When we are saved, the blood cleanses our conscience. But we have to learn to continue to...
The Gift of Kindness Part 2
True kindness is both words and actions. Jesus’ words were kind, encouraging, and challenging. Just because we challenge someone’s faith and action does not mean we are not kind. Sometimes the kindest thing we can do is challenge someone’s faith that causes them to...
The Gift of Kindness Part 1
Kindness. (Ephesians 4:32, NKJV) Kindness means being more concerned with WHO a person is becoming than WHAT they’re doing. Kindness is expressed by listening. How do you know who to listen to and who not to listen to? You have to consider the source. You have to ask...
Spiritual Gifts List
15 Towers of Conviction for Parents
We are imagining that our home is a family fortress. Along the walls of this fortress, we are building towers of conviction to protect our children. They represent the basic beliefs we, as parents, are seeking to adopt for nurturing our children. With them, we are...
20 Ideas for Busy Parents
#1 As you choose activities, put God first. Consider the spiritual impact that activities could have on the family. Are there Sunday ballgames or Wednesday night practices that will interfere with your church services? #2 Protect your marriage in the busyness of life....
50 Things You Can Say to Make Your Child Feel Great
#1 I’m proud of you. And even if you weren’t so fantastic, I’d still be proud. #2 I believe you. #3 The way you _____ is such a perfect addition for our family. God knew just what we needed when He gave us you. #4 I know you and I haven’t been seeing eye-to-eye...
Prayers for My Child
“Heavenly Father, I ask You to rebuke and bind Satan in the name and through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. I ask You to build a ‘hedge of thorns’ around _insert child's name here_ so that anyone with wrong influence will lose interest in him/her and leave.”...
The Art of Waiting Part 2
The art of waiting is based on your lifestyle. (James 5:16, NKJV, Proverbs 15:29, NKJV) The art of waiting is based on action. (Joshua 1:8, NKJV) Read the Word. Meditate on the Word. Spread the Word. Accept the Word to bring success. The art of waiting is based on...
The Art of Waiting Part 1
The art of waiting prayerfully. (Joshua 1:11, NKJV; Isaiah 40:29-31, NKJV; Psalm 46:10-11, NKJV, CEV, 1 John 5:14-15, NKJV) If we know it’s His will we can pray expectantly, consistently, and accordingly to His word. The art of waiting is based on the relationship...
Discouragement – Part 2
Questions: Are you being disciplined, pruned or scourged? Do you have fruit? If you have no fruit, you are being disciplined. If you have some fruit God wants you to have more fruit. Fruit leads to pruning which should lead to more fruit if you respond to pruning...
Discouragement – Part 1
Causes of discouragement: Looking at yourself. Looking at your own goals. Looking at your hopes and dreams. Looking at your drive and desires. Discipline is about sin while pruning is about self. When Christians don’t understand the difference, they can get...
God Means for You to Move Forward
This promise is for you today. (Joshua 1:5-9, NKJV; Hebrews 13:5-6, NKJV) Enjoy all that God is doing. Whatever God calls you to do and wherever God calls you to go, you are going to prosper. (Joshua 1:7-8, NKJV) What you do on a day to day basis and in your private...
5 Words of Spiritual Encouragement for the Dog Moms and Dads
Dogs keep us laughing. “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” (Proverbs 17:22, NIV) A day doesn’t go by that our dogs don’t have us laughing over something silly. Laughter increases the endorphins that our brains release. These...
Lord, Do It Again
Dry up whatever is stopping you from going forward. (Joshua 13:1, NKJV) You are only old when God tells you that you’re old. The Lord can remove your problem. (Joshua 4:23, NKJV) The water of the Jordan is a type of impossible problem you might be facing. (Joshua...
The Greatest Need in Your Life
The greatest need for everyone is relationships. (Mark 12:30-31, NKJV) Relationship with God. Relationship with your mate. Relationship with your kids. Relationship with friends/staff. When we get these out of order, we have disorder. The #1 most important need in...
Confessions That Lead to Freedom
ATTITUDE: (Philippians 2:3-8) Does your face reflect a defeated spirit? Do you tend to think only of yourself rather than of others? Is your attitude a stumbling block to anyone else? Do you find it difficult to believe God would greatly bless you? BEHAVIOR: (1...
Serving it Up
There is great reward in serving the Lord. (1 Corinthians 15:58, NKJV) Service is an act of Love. Jesus came to serve. (Matthew 20:28, NKJV) When Jesus healed the sick, made the blind to see, fed 5,000 people, He served and showed His love. His death on the cross was...
How to Make Great Decisions
Every Invitation, every opportunity, every relationship, and every major purpose. It costs you giving your time and energy. Leadership is influence and the greater the influences you have for Jesus the greater influence you will have for the church. God does not want...
Addressing Internal Conflict
Song of Songs 2:15, NKJV The longer you avoid the problem, the bigger the problem gets. Pain is part of the progress. Often, the difference between where you are and where God wants you to be is the pain you’re willing to endure. Remember the reason to confront the...
Why Your Team Feels Inadequate
There is a big difference between feeling inadequate and feeling inferior. To feel inadequate means to feel the lack of necessary qualities. Inferiority - lower state of dignity, value or worth. Reasons why many people feel inferior. Consistent disapproval: some...
His Needs, Her Needs Questionnaire
INTIMATE CONVERSATION Intimate conversation is different from ordinary conversation. Its content focuses attention on very personal interest, problems, topics, and events. It’s intimate because you would generally not reveal such personal information to just anyone....
Giving and Receiving Feedback
Feedback is ongoing, correction should not be. Feedback is to help each other grow. Correction is to change wrong behavior. Questions to ask when giving and receiving feedback: Am I doing this out of love? Do I have peace about it? (Colossians 3:14-15, NKJV) Do I want...
The Truth About Being Transparent
Transparency: (Philippians 1:10, WNT, TLB) The state or property of a body by which it suffers rays of light to pass through it, so that objects can be distinctly seen through it. When the clay is broken or cracked, what’s on the inside comes out. (Isaiah 64:8, NKJV)...
How to Gain Influence (Part 2)
U – Understands people. To understand the mind of a person, look at what he has already achieved. To understand the heart of a person, look at what he or she has dreamed of becoming. 2 basic reasons why relationships fail: Fear – causes us to erect barriers....
How to Gain Influence (Part 1)
An influencer has: I – Integrity with people. Once trust is betrayed, moving to the top of the ladder is out of the question. It is always easy to do right when you know ahead of time what you stand for. A crisis reveals the character. N – Nurtures people. Nurturing...
How to Become Fearless
Learn to push through fears. (2 Timothy 1:7, NKJV) Depend on the Spirit, Power, and Love of God by controlling your mind. Make the choice to obey in spite of how you feel. (Jeremiah 17:9-10, NKJV) As Christians, we have learned that we can’t make decisions based on...
12 Facts About Russia and Ukraine
“You are my refuge and my shield; your word is my source of hope.” Psalm 119:114, NLT #1 - God is still reigning over the nations. “God reigns over the nations; God is seated on his holy throne.” (Psalm 47:8) #2 - God is still in control of everything. “Praise the...
You Don’t Have To Be A Catholic To Celebrate Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday kicks off Lent, a 40 day (give or take six days), a period where we remember how Jesus resisted the temptation of the devil in the desert. These 40 days help us to prepare for Holy Week, and ultimately, Resurrection Sunday.
The Truth About Influence
Everybody has influence. What you do with the influence you currently have will determine whether or not your influence grows more. And you have far more influence than you realize. You influence people everyday through your smile, conversation, email, voting, etc. In...
Relationships
Trust. (Proverbs 3:5-6, NKJV) The right trust brings confidence and security that brings about a boldness and refuge. Trust is earned over time. When we learn to trust over time, that trust results in loyalty. Time + Trust + Loyalty = Intimacy. God wired us to have...
The Next Step Could Be Your Best Step
Learn to know Jesus better and better. (2 Peter 1:2-8, TLB) This is the true way to have everything we need and live a truly good life. This is a result of what God does through His power and promises. Work hard to be good. (Genesis 2:9, NKJV; Genesis 2:17, NKJV)...
How to Improve Your Alignment
Trust. (Proverbs 3:5-6, NKJV) The right trust brings confidence and security which brings about boldness and refuge. Trust is earned over time. When you learn over time to trust, that trust results in loyalty. Time + trust + loyalty = intimacy. God wired us to have...
Don’t Let Anyone Dress You
Choices we make. We make choices every day. Choices start before we open our eyes. It’s a choice to open our eyes. Life is made of choices. The kind of life we live is due to the choices we make. The clothes we wear are due to a choice. The food we eat is due to a...
5 Ways to Lead Well Through Destabilizing Circumstances (Part 2)
Beware of the “fatal mistake.” If you fail, stumble or fall, get back up and try again. In our leadership practice, we all make mistakes, but the “fatal mistake” is when you give up quit trying. It’s tough to lead now, more than ever. It’s appropriate to acknowledge...
5 Ways to Lead Well Through Destabilizing Circumstances (Part 1)
Learn to trust your leadership intuition and instincts at a deeper level. God has placed leadership intuition within you through the Holy Spirit. Learn to fully sense it, trust it, and act on it. Intuition and instinct have an important distinction. Intuition –...
5 Ways Your Life as a Disciple Shapes Your Effectiveness as A Leader (Part 2)
Our purpose here on earth has alignment in heaven. Our purpose is very clear, to make disciples, which of course includes evangelism first. If we don’t first introduce someone to Christ and see that relationship begin, how can we disciple them? Our purpose as a...
5 Ways Your Life as a Disciple Shapes Your Effectiveness as A Leader (Part 1)
In order to lead well, you must first be willing to follow. There is no leadership apart from followership. “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” (Luke 9:23) As Christians, our leadership starts with our ability...
4 Questions
Leadership is influence, everything rises and falls on leadership, everything. Am I investing in myself? If you’re not investing in yourself, you don’t have anything to invest in others. This is a personal growth question. There are 4 types of people: The...
4 Insights to Help You Successfully Go the Distance
Leadership is influence. Everything rises and falls on leadership, everything. Set your values and pre-decide. If you don’t know your values as a leader, it’s like running a race without knowing the course. If you literally don’t know where to run, you can’t possibly...
Fire For Jesus
Leadership is influence. Everything rises and falls on leadership, everything. The world can be loud about sin, Journey Church is being loud about Jesus. If the world can be loud about sin, why can’t the church be loud about salvation? Sometimes we live too timid, too...
3 Signs You’re Resisting the Holy Spirit
Leadership is influence. Everything rises and falls on leadership, everything. Isaiah 11:2, NKJV Burnout Results when we try to live in the flesh instead of following the Spirit. (Romans 8:12-15, NKJV) When you are burned out, you are fearful. (2 Timothy 1:7, NKJV) In...
Tried and True Practices to Lead Up Well (Part 2)
Do what you’ve been asked to do before you ask for what you want to do. It’s essential to allow your growth to catch up with your aspirations and give others room to see your value. It’s unwise to attempt to force this process. Thoroughly love what you’ve been asked...