Lent is a Time to Listen
Hearing happens by happenstance, listening intently is a choice.
Hearing happens by happenstance, listening intently is a choice.
“Lent is the span of time in the church calendar that starts with Ash Wednesday and ends with Easter Sunday. Ash Wednesday commemorates the beginning of Jesus’ 40-day fasting and temptation in the desert, and Easter Sunday commemorates Jesus’ resurrection from the grave after his crucifixion." Andy Rau, Senior Manager of Content, Biblegateway.org.
Ever been tempted to run away at Christmas-time? It would be nice take a two week trip, maybe to a deserted island and just be alone with your family? Guess what. Christmas comes around the same date every year, and it’s wonderful to know, even in the midst of the flurry, we will have another opportunity next year, to start over and ask God to help us make Christ the center of Christmas. To make it easy to remember, let’s use the letters in the word PEACE for a five-step acrostic:
It’s amazing how much my sisters and my productivity and our good deeds increased when we had an attitude of gratitude. The same is true with our relationship with God. Let’s stop today and apply a little “thank you” therapy.
Spiritually, you and I may inadvertently bind ourselves up with a rebellious attitude, which is contrary to Scripture but culturally acceptable. It’s important to see what God says about how rebellion is a subtle way the enemy can warp us into thinking we don’t need to obey leaders in our civil government, in our churches, in our families (husband or wife), or God. Proverbs 12:8 reminds us, “A man is praised according to his wisdom, but men with warped minds are despised.”
It’s almost anniversary time again. I call it the death-i-versary. The date on the calendar that prompts to take notice of the reality of the fatal crash. A reminder of the motor-cycle accident that ushered my husband of 28 years into heaven. Saying good-bye to a loved one when death is unexpected is not easy.
Little things can become a big deal. Instead of limping along with a wounded heart, we can be healed and whole. We can learn lessons from the little things, as we listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit and apply truth from God’s Word. We can learn how to pay attention as we choose to trust God for His timing.
TIME MANAGEMENT is actually a misnomer because no one can manage time. What we really manage is ourselves in order to accomplish our goals in the time available. Time must be redeemed; it has to be bought. Time is basic, unless it is managed, nothing else can be managed. “Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time for the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:16, 15 I wish I could stand on a busy street corner and beg people to give me all their wasted hours. Most people waste at least two hours everyday, although few realize it. Today we’re discussing how to improve Life Management skills:
"How can we acquire, train and retain talent?" It's worth considering. We must view our team members as co-laborers brought to us by God. He has given them to us to steward, and allows us to nurture and encourage them along the way. So, let's grapple with the opportunity of how best to engage our team members to connect with God. As leaders, we can lead them closer to God only if we have gone there first. We must answer these two important questions: (Lead Like Jesus Revisited, pages25-27)
One of the best things about the Lead Like Jesus Encounter is the unique experience it brings for growth in leaders. It works because leaders take time out for positive…
“A soul cannot seek close fellowship with God, or attain the abiding consciousness of waiting on Him all the day, without a very honest and entire surrender to all His…
It’s not the path I would have chosen for me or my family. It’s been a time of healing, questioning God, and trusting our Creator for what is in store. I never would have imagined I’d be a widow. It breaks my heart to watch my own children grieve this loss as we face the future without their father. As many of you have experienced, at times in our lives, God’s will does not make sense. I trust God because He is good. I’ve chosen to depend on God.
Are you counting down the days before Christmas? Whether we use a wall calendar with openings for each day or read a daily Bible verse to prepare for the celebration…
So much to do, so little time. Each evening some of us lay our heads on our pillow and attempt to sleep guilt-free as we leave an unfinished to-do list.…
It’s time to settle an important life question. As a leader, how do you deal with failure? Failure is the inability to complete a task. Instead of feeling incompetent or giving into failure and giving up, leaders must learn to reset our expectations. We might even need to alter our schedule and regroup our team.We all fail. But it’s how we handle failure that will set us apart from other leaders.
October 17, 2022, the thirteen year anniversary of the death of my first husband, Paul Eugene Giesbrecht. It’s hard to know what to do with the anniversary of someone’s death. It…
Are you lonely at the top? Isolation comes when leaders make unpopular choices, enforce difficult executive motions, balance ragged budgets or make risky solo decisions. At these times, leadership can…
Armor up! When we pray Scripture, we are doing battle God’s way. The battle is not against flesh and blood. 2 Corinthians 10:4 reminds us, “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.” Obeying God’s instructions, we put on our ‘spiritual armor’ and stand firm in the authority of Christ.
Why?
Why is not just a question. Why is a cry of anger, hurt or disbelief. Why didn’t God do something? Why did this happen? Why me? We need reminding that we can be confident that everything works together for good to those who love God. The apostle Paul wrote about this in Romans 8:28 (NKJV to encourage believers who lived in a city ruled by the powerful madman, Nero. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Paul reminds us that we can be sure everything that happens to us will result in good, brokenness leads to blessing, death leads to life and suffering leads to glory. We can be assured to trust God when we don’t understand and nothing makes sense.
I’m an avid wilderness hiker. I’ve learned the best hike experience occurs when I stay on the trail, abide by the markers and follow my map. I always plan ahead,…
God’s specialty is rearranging the ashes of our disappointments, despair, and dismay into something beautiful. He takes our mess and changes it into His message. A tangible, historical illustration of…
Recovery programs in my city require a one-year court-ordered commitment, the individual’s progress is monitored by a probation officer. For over a decade, I’ve volunteered at The Mission at Kern…
I’ve always been a tomboy. It’s no wonder I chose the college major of ‘Recreation Administration with a Camp Emphasis,’ hoping to one day work as a camp director. Needless…
The only One who keeps every promise He has ever made to us is our covenant God: El Berith. Our God is a covenant-keeping God. He always keeps His promises.…
You’ve failed. Again. It’s time to reorganize. Start over. Begin again. Use a fresh approach, a new strategy. When you are discouraged, it’s probably not that you are doing the wrong thing, but you might be doing it in the wrong way. Our natural temptation is to give up on our dream. We think, “Maybe God didn’t give me this dream in the first place.” No, it’s probably just the opposite. However, it might be time to expand your vision and ask God to give you new ways of thinking.