Past boldness is no assurance of future boldness. Boldness demands continual reliance on God’s spirit.
It takes a habit to break a habit. You can pray every day for a generous heart, but until you start acting in that direction, nothing’s going to change.
In the shadow of my hurt, forgiveness feel like a decision to reward my enemy. But in the shadow of the cross, forgiveness is merely a gift from one undeserving soul to another.
If you see your brother in need, it doesn’t matter if you already gave somewhere else. You should be open to the idea of God using you to meet your brother’s unexpected need.
As believers, we all have the responsibility to leverage our wealth for kingdom purposes.
The God of Christianity never claims to be fair. He goes beyond fair. The Bible teaches that he decided not to give us what we deserve–that’s mercy. In addition, God decided to give us what we don’t deserve–we call that grace.
The root of anger is the perception that something has been taken. Something is owed you, and now a debt to debtor relationship has been established.
One of the primary reasons we don’t seek counsel from the wise people around us is that we already know what we are going to hear–and we just don’t want to hear it.
Our greatest moral regrets are always preceded by a series of unwise choices.
Relationships are built on small, consistent deposits of time. You can’t cram for what’s most important. If you want to connect with your kids, you’ve got to be available consistently, not randomly.
Your talent and giftedness as a leader have the potential to take you farther than your character can sustain you. That ought to scare you.
We don’t drift in good directions. We discipline and prioritize ourselves there.
Every arena of life intersects with what’s going on in our hearts. Everything passes through on its way to wherever it’s going. Everything.
..the best strategy for giving is a two-fold approach: a basic plan combined with a willingness to consider spontaneous giving when unique opportunities arise.
Peace is a fruit of the Spirit, not the byproduct of accumulated wealth.
Greed is supported by an endless cast of what-ifs. Greedy people can never have enough to satisfy the need they feel in light of every conceivable eventuality.
If you decide that what God is asking you to do with your life is just too much on you and is just a little too inconvenient, then you will never see the miracles he has for you.
…often, stepping outside your comfort zone is not careless irresponsibility, but a necessary act of obedience.
Theology isn’t what drove them to their…theology.” author writes on dealing with the embittering experience of those who protect a wounded place with abstract arguments.
But in the areas that matter most, a burst of energy and activity cannot reverse the consequences that accompany a season of neglect.
We rob ourselves when we make decisions in the moment with no thought of how those decisions will impact our futures.
None of us plan–or intend–to get into trouble. The problem is, we don’t plan not to.
The health of your marriage tomorrow will be determined by the decisions you make today.
Any fear associated with giving to God’s kingdom is irrational. It’s on par with a farmer who, out of fear of losing his seed, refuses to plant his fields.
What you fear most will determine whether you merely save for the future or give for the future.
Leadership is all about taking people on a journey. The challenge is that most of the time, we are asking people to follow us to places we ourselves have never been.
Preachers prepare with this fear: ‘Am I going to be able to fill the time?’ The audience never worries about that.
Uncertainty is not an indication of poor leadership it underscores the need for leadership.
Uncertainty is a permanent part of the leadership landscape. It never goes away.
The church wasn’t an organization in the first century. They weren’t writing checks or buying property. The church has matured and developed over the years. But for some reason, the last thing to change is the structure of leadership.
Greed is not a financial issue. It’s a heart issue.
When a plan or strategy fails, people are tempted to assume it was the wrong vision. Plans and strategies can always be changed and improved. But vision doesn’t change. Visions are simply refined with time.