The true measure of leadership is influence – nothing more, nothing less!  – John Maxwell
 
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20)
It is not unusual to hear people say they do not feel like they are leaders, or that they are influential.  I certainly have felt that way at various times in my life.  If you feel like you …

A positive thought always leads to a positive act!
Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God. (Matthew 5:9)
How do you respond to crisis and problems with those you love the most?
Today is day #2 in our series about “The Positive Family” by Arvella Schuller.
If we don’t start right, we don’t end up right. To attain success in family life, it is necessary that we begin in right order. If we are to begin to succeed in family relationships, we need to understand that there is a …

God does the extraordinary through the ordinary!
“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.” (Matthew 5:14)
What will you do today to brighten someone’s world?
As I mentioned in my October 25 devotional titled “Be a Miracle,” I was “randomly” assigned to Larry Lotzer as my peer partner for my Life Focus leadership coaching course. Larry “just happened” (as orchestrated by God) to live in Minneapolis Minnesota, where Arleigh Heeren was getting married to Jeff Hagberg. I shared photos from that wedding …

God’s much more interested in who you become than what you can do for him.
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all. (Ecclesiastes 12:13)
Are you caught up in the rat race?
[A much better (more powerful) open question is “What can you do to get out of the rat race?”
There’s a constant tug on us as human beings to try to accomplish as much as we can. It’s so easy to get busy and justify why we’re caught up …

Talent is a gift, but character is a choice!
Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face, prostrate before Daniel, and commanded that they should present an offering and incense to him. The king answered Daniel, and said, “Truly your God is the God of gods, the Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, since you could reveal this secret.” Then the king promoted Daniel and gave him many great gifts; and he made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief administrator over all the wise men of …

Your destiny is determined by thousands of small decisions you make each day!
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6)
Do you have a system for making godly decisions?
In looking for links for yesterday’s devotional, I found an excellent on-line resource defining “The Seven-Step Path to Better Decisions.” Here are the 7 steps:
1) Stop and think
2) Clarify goals
3) Determine facts
4) Develop options
5) Consider consequences
6) Choose
7) Monitor and modify
One of the …

Our influence has more to do with the life we live than our position or title.
A wise servant will rule over a son who causes shame, And will share an inheritance among the brothers. (Proverbs 17:2)
We gain credibility when our life matches our talk and when both add value to others! It’s not about position, but production. Answer the following questions:
1) Consistency: Are you the same person no matter where you are or who is with you?
2) Choices: Do you make decisions based on how they benefit you or others?
3) …

Leaders aren’t born – they are developed!
For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. (Proverbs 2:6)
Where do most people go to learn leadership? They search in many places including books, conferences, friends, etc. But the truth is that the best source of leadership teaching today is the same as it has been for thousands of years – the Bible. Jesus is the ultimate Leader and He calls every believer to lead others.
The crying need of the church today is leadership. The church in America is …

The secret of life is just one thing!
[Next: “We don’t really determine our destiny; we discover it!” - Bishop Tony Miller]
“Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the …

I bless you with joy and laughter!
“.. not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.” (1 Peter 3:9)
In October 2004, I visited the Focus on the Family headquarters in Colorado Springs for the annual National Day of Prayer (NDP) Task Force meeting. Before I left to come home, Nancy Sharman, the State Coordinator for Virginia Chapter of the NDP, gave me a CD as a gift.
About 1-2 months later, I found …