Gray Areas

Last week I took the opportunity to view The Nines. One of the speakers made an interesting observation. As a leader we find ourselves navigating the gray areas. It is in the areas that do not have quick answers or solutions that people need real leadership. It is when they do not understand God that they need leadership. It is when the right answer is hard to find. It appears that most of the time people live in the gray. It is not in the black or white. It is seeking to choose great over good, excellence over average that leadership is needed. Don't get frustrated with people in the gray because that is why we need you as a leader. 


P.S. We all are in the gray sometimes!

Every Road Leads Somewhere

PICK THE RIGHT ROAD

This morning on my way in to the office I heard a commercial that had the tag line, "Every road leads somewhere". That is an obviously true statement, so why do we sometimes end up in places and are surprised at where our lives have taken us? If I get on a road that I do not know where it leads I am usually lost or confused. We all pick which road we will take today and every day. Each day brings new opportunities, barriers and roadblocks. Some will even have some long straight ways. But know that the road you are on is your decision. It will lead you to a certain destination. Where are the decisions of your life taking you? Which road are you on? In His love, God is continually seeking to have you on the right road. Choose wise which path to take. 

SALT

"You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.

Know what you are then be what you are. Jesus makes it clear that His disciples are to be the salt of the earth.

EARTH

Earth is filled with evil, sin, then desires of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life.

SALT

Salt when the proximity is right can make a difference in the earth. Salt is no good if it loses it flavor/effect. Stay strong in the Lord by staying close to Christ. Allow the Holy Spirit to guide you. Demonstrate your saltiness today. Have courage, show kindness, speak boldly, speak and live truth.

When we are trampled under the feet of men we know that we have lost our saltiness.

Are you SALT or a rock?

A Lesson Worth Reading

Below is the lesson that was taught at Men's Fraternity this morning. Everyone should take time to study it.

Some giant life lessons

1 Samuel 17 (read the whole chapter)

Goliath taunted the Israelites for forty days. God was setting the stage for a legendary victory.

David was just a boy and Goliath. had been in the army since he was a boy. (17:33)

Israel had become a nation dominated by fear. 

LESSONS FROM GOLIATH (He felt no need to go to Men's Fraternity.)

1. Self-confidence alone is a flawed philosophy. It is the thought that you don't need anybody. You don't need Men's Fraternity, church, godly friendships, or a deeper walk with God. Everyone loses sometimes. It cost G. his life. 

2. Pride will always lead to disaster. Prov 16:18 pride comes before destruction, Rom 12:3 

3. False god's will fail us. Goliath. cursed David by his god. Goliath. was spiritually blind. Be careful where you put your trust. 

4. Tunnel vision sets us up for deception. Goliath. only knew one way to fight and live. 

LESSONS FROM DAVID

1. God's reputation must always be first. David was pissed off because the armies of the living God was being taunted. It was not his national pride but his spiritual commitment. In David's mind to attack Israel was to attack God. 1 Cor 10:31 

2. Confidence in God leads to success/victory. (17:37, 45-46). Psalm 20:7 "Some trust in chariots and some in horses but we trust in the name of the Lord our God". 

3. Balance is the key. David also brought his sling. The armor of Saul did not fit. He could not win trying to be something he was not. So he fought the fight in a shepherd boys attire instead of a warrior. BE WHO YOU ARE. remember John 15:5, "without Me you can do nothing". 

4. Opportunities come when we are prepared. Be prepared for all God brings your way. David had been practicing with his sling for years. Judges 20:16 is a story of snipers who used the slingshot. David had no idea he would be in a fight that day when he got out of bed and headed on his journey, BUT HE WAS PREPARED JUST IN CASE. 

Long Live Passion

Passion is something that money cannot buy. You either have it or you don't. Passion is strong and in many ways unstoppable. One interesting note on passion is how other people respond to it. In worship passion can be misunderstood. Some will say that a person is putting on a show when they worship with great passion. David's wife told him he was making a fool of himself as his passion overflowed into dancing. Passion is powerful and people will either love it or hate it. Don't let the haters stop the passion. Surrender to the passionate love of God and then you will find a passionate love for God. 

Expectancy

Do we really expect God to do anything big? When I think of expecting a pregnant lady comes to mind. The minute she finds out she is pregnant she begins planning for delivery day. The nursery has to be prepared. She begins to buy clothes. Other people begin to have showers with many gifts. No one ever doubts there is a baby coming. Why? She is expecting. What are you expecting God to do? In your life? Your family? Your church? Your finance? Believe the promises of God.


Psalms 37:5 Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act.


Go ahead and plan for God to do His perfect will. Expect it.

I'm A Drifter

Sometimes a song is more than a song. I ran across one of those this past week while listen to Rick and Bubba. They had Decemberadio in the studio and they sang the song “Drifter”. Sometimes I think we all can really identify with it. Here are the lyrics and a link to listen to it.

I used to have a home

a place I started from

a place to call my own

bright lights and late nights

the devil took me on a midnight ride

left me out in the desert on my own

Now I feel alone

I need a hand to help me find my way back home

I'm a drifter out on a dead end road

trying to find my way back home to get to you, oh to get to you

lord I've been gone for far too long headed to places i don't belong

and I've got to get back home to you

Sometimes I think about the past

the road that I was on

the one that lead me home

I'll walk on another day

I may wonder but I never stray

cause I found out the hard way sin don't pay

Now I feel alone

I need a hand to help me find my way back home

I'm a drifter out on a dead end road

trying to find my way back home to get to you, oh to get to you

lord I've been gone for far too long headed to places i don't belong

and I've got to get back home to you

and when I feel the night is closing in

and I can barely breathe the air

I just remember that I've got a friend

who really cares

oh who really cares

I'm a drifter out on a dead end road

trying to find my way back home to get to you, oh to get to you

lord I've been gone for far too long headed to places I don't belong

and I've got to get back home to you.

Listen to the song here and weep if you need to, rejoice if you need to, mourn if you need to, but maybe today you can begin to find your way back home.