Saturday, January 12, 2019

God Thoughts January 12th

4 Steps to Achieving Your 2019 Goals 

You’ll never find the ideal time to take the next step toward your goals.
So do it now. Those three words could change your ministry. The Bible says, “If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done” (Ecclesiastes 11:4 TLB).
You can’t wait until your life settles down to reach for that elusive goal. You can’t wait until everyone else is on board to do what you know the Lord has called you to do.
The time is now.
Your ministry must thrive under imperfect conditions or it will never thrive. So get started today with these four steps.

1. Clarify your goals. 

God gave you an amazing ability to choose what’s important in your life. Many ministry leaders never stop to think through and identify what’s really important to them. You can’t do what’s important in your life until you clarify what it is.
Take a half day, if possible, and pray about two specific things: What do I value? What do I want to change?
Yes, you should think about your ministry goals, but don’t stop there either. I also usually think through:
  • Intellectual goals: What do I want to learn?
  • Physical goals: How can I improve my health?
  • Spiritual goals: How do I deepen my relationship with God?
  • Social goals: How can I serve other people more effectively?

2. Write your goals down. 

You won’t complete any goals you don’t write down. As you write them down, word them so they are SMART goals. That means they are:
  • Specific: Give a number when possible. How many books will you read? How many pounds will you lose?
  • Measurable: You need to be able to measure your progress and know if you are getting closer to your goal.
  • Achievable: You’ll get discouraged if the goal is impossible for you to complete.
  • Relevant: Choose a goal that is based upon what matters to you. Don’t set a goal you think other people want you to complete. Your goals should be your goals.
  • Time-sensitive: A goal is a dream with a deadline. A goal says that by the end of this amount of time or by this date, I’m going to reach this goal. It’s specific, it’s measurable, and it should be achieved within a specific time frame.

3. Get support from other believers. 

Too many pastors try to achieve goals by themselves. You probably preach this truth to your congregation all of the time: “You weren’t made to go through life on your own.” Guess what? It applies to you and me, too.
If you’re going to reach the goals you set for yourself in January, you need other people to cheer you on. Maybe this means you create a local pastors’ group so you can share your goals with your peers. But it doesn’t have to be this. You just need to gather with people who care about you and what you’re doing.

4. Ask God for help. 

Pastor, if you’re going to complete your ministry and personal goals this year, you need to expect that God will help. Pray expectantly.
The Bible says, “Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be dismayed. Therefore, I have set my face like a stone, determined to do his will. And I know that I will triumph!” (Isaiah 50:7 NLT).

You can only accomplish the impossible if you see the invisible. Living in the light of eternity is the only thing that’ll keep you on track in 2019.
You and I only get a limited time to make an impact through our lives. So let’s make the most of this year.

Friday, January 11, 2019

God Thoughts January 11th

Succeed Yourself!

There’s no better time than now to succeed yourself! I shared those words with a friend last summer, and I’m amazed at how God used that simple challenge to change his life and mine. In fact, Arron Chambers and I have committed to writing a book together on that very theme. We know that anyone can do a few simple things to get unstuck and to get moving, even in amazing ways.
I know what it is to be stuck. For several years I came to accept some nagging leg and neck limitations until my wife told me to tell my doctor. The next thing I knew I was in therapy! It was there that I learned a few simple exercises that really helped. Then a month ago I finally got tired of doing the same routine at the gym and signed up with a trainer. Once again, I learned a few more helpful exercises that are both humbling me and helping me.

I’m not expecting perfection, but I am disciplining myself for improvements through:
Daily exercise enhancements
Daily chair time for deeper reading
Daily recording of key tasks to be accomplished and celebrated

I’m not seeking to do a lot differently during the coming year, just more of the good things that already enhance my life and effectiveness. One of those good things is launching two new soul care groups. I never cease to be amazed at how hungry leaders are for deeper soul care connections. Unfortunately, most leaders are living under an avalanche of urgencies and find it easy to postpone the most important things. Getting started on the right stuff is always the hardest part.

Newton’s second law of thermodynamics certainly rings true: A body at rest tends to stay at rest – and a body in motion tends to remain in motion. Once I’ve begun it’s a lot easier to continue. That’s true for everything from organizing my desk to working out at the gym. These simple things are easy to do, but they’re also easy not to do. Doing simple things daily, or at least consistently, is the key. What are the simple things you’ve been delaying? I’ve found that actually writing them down is the first step in getting good things done. Simple things aren’t always easy, but simple things wisely chosen can be amazingly transformational.

There’s no better time than now to make some healthy determinations. We’ve all got our list of laments, stuff we wish hadn’t happened during the past year, as well as things we wish had happened. Some churches regularly encourage those in worship to acknowledge their sins of commission and of omission, “Lord, forgive us for what we have done, and what we have left undone.” Those are good things to confess.

What “good things” have you left undone? As we age, we tend to have far more regrets over what we failed to do that over what we actually did! Well, we can’t change the past, but by God’s grace, we can help to reshape our future. As Solomon observed, “. . . if you plan to do good, you will receive unfailing love and faithfulness.” (Proverbs 14:22b)

Sometimes “great” is the enemy of “good!” Instead of moaning about our inability to climb Mount Everest or author a runaway bestseller, what if we just started to take daily walks or send encouraging handwritten notes? We all have the capacity of doing more good stuff. When I told the guys in one of my Covenant Groups that I had signed up for six sessions with a trainer at Gold’s Gym, one of the guys decided to do the same thing in his hometown. Neither of us has any dreams of competing with the physical fitness pros; we are simply competing with ourselves in hopes of seeing some improvements.

I love to make fresh starts, and this I know . . . starting is usually the hardest part. So, knowing what you know now if you were to “succeed yourself” where would you begin . . . or begin again? As Anthony of the Desert said, “Every morning I must say again to myself, today I start.”
What good habits would you start in your marriage?
What good disciplines would you start in your finances?
What good rhythms would you start in your devotions?
What good opportunities would you start in your profession?

Good deeds are often undervalued in this life but highly rewarded in the next. “And I heard a voice from heaven saying, ‘Write this down: Blessed are those who die in the Lord from now on. Yes, says The Spirit, they are blessed indeed, for they will rest from their hard work; for their good deeds will follow them.” (Revelation 14:14)

Happy habits are the key to a Happy New Year. There’s no better time to launch some good stuff and to start some new determinations than right now. “Plant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will reap a crop of love. Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now, is the time to seek the Lord that He may come and shower righteousness upon you. (Hosea 10:12)

Grace and Peace,
Alan Ahlgrim
Director of Soul Care Covenant Groups

The Center for Church Leadership

Thursday, January 10, 2019

God Thoughts January 10th

God Thought January 10th

Last night at Bible Study, we studied the following passage; 

 “Then I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’

“ ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied. 

‘Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to 

appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have 

seen and will see of me. 17 I will rescue you from your own 

people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them 18 to 

open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and 

from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive 

forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are 

sanctified by faith in me.’"

I began to preach at the study that this was not only meant for 

Paul, it is the purpose of every Christian.  It is the reason why 

the church exists.

When I get home, I went to shut up my chickens, and a fox had 

gotten in and had killed all ten chickens.  I was upset!  And mumbling'

"why had I been sent to live in this wretched place where I can 

not grow a garden or keep chickens alive."

Then, I clearly heard from the Holy Spirit, "you are upset about 

chickens? Are you upset that millions still are living in 

darkness?  Or the millions who will spend eternity without 

Christ?  "

I felt like the Prophet Jonah, who was upset over God's 

compassion for the people of Ninevah.  We will never find Paul's 

zeal to open peoples eyes to the light, while we cling to the 

chickens of this world?  We will play at discipleship, as long as 

the Power of God and Satan, are abstract and etherial-when we 

see people being destroyed by evil, is when we begin to fight with 

the frenzied passion of Paul!


Father,  open my eyes to the eternal struggle between darkness and light.  Strip away all my earthly toys, so I am free to go to others and share your love.  Amen

Wednesday, January 9, 2019

God Thoughts January 9th

God Thoughts January 9th

Polycarp was the Bishop of Smyrna in Asian Minor. He lived from about AD 70 to 155. He is famous for his martyrdom which is recounted in The Martyrdom of Polycarp and found in Henry Bettenson’s Documents of the Christian Church (Oxford, 1967, pp. 9-12). Tensions had risen between the Christians and those who venerated Caesar. The Christians were called atheists because they refused to worship any of the Roman gods and had no images or shrines of their own. At one point, a mob cried out, “Away with the atheists; let search be made of Polycarp.”

At a cottage outside the city, he remained in prayer and did not flee. He had a vision of a burning pillow and said to his companion, “I must needs be burned alive.” The authorities sought him, and he was betrayed to them by one of his servants under torture. He came down from an upper room and talked with his accusers. “All that were present marveled at his age and constancy, and that there was so much ado about the arrest of such an old man” (p. 9). He asked for permission to pray before being taken away. They allowed it and “being so filled with the grace of God that for two hours he could not hold his peace” (p. 10).

In the town, the sheriff met him and took him into his carriage and tried to persuade him to deny Christ, “Now what harm is there in saying ‘Lord Caesar,’ and in offering incense . . . and thus saving thyself?” He answered, “I do not intend to do what you advise.” Angered, they hastened him to the stadium where there was a great tumult.

The proconsul tried again to persuade him to save himself, “Have respect to thine age . . . Swear by the genius of Caesar . . . Repent . . . Say, ‘Away with the atheists! [that is, Christians].” Polycarp turned to the “mob of lawless heathen in the stadium, and he waved his hand at them, and looking up to heaven he groaned and said, ‘Away with the atheists.’” Again the proconsul said, “Swear, and I will release thee; curse the Christ.” To this Polycarp gave his most famous response, “Eighty and six years have I served him, and he hath done me no wrong; how then can I blaspheme my king who saved me?”

The proconsul said again, “Swear by the genius of Caesar.” And Polycarp answered, “If thou dost vainly imagine that I would swear by the genius of Caesar, as thou sayest, pretending not to know what I am, hear plainly that I am a Christian.” The proconsul replied, “I have wild beasts; if thou repent not, I will throw thee to them.” To which Polycarp replied, “Send for them. For repentance from better to worse is not a change permitted to us; but to change from cruelty to righteousness is a noble thing” (p. 11).

The proconsul said, “If thou doest despise the wild beasts I will make thee to be consumed by fire, if thou repent not.” Polycarp answered, “Thou threatenest the fire that burns for an hour and in a little while is quenched; for thou knowest not of the fire of the judgment to come, and the fire of the eternal punishment, reserved for the ungodly. But why delayest thou? Bring what thou wilt.”

The proconsul sent word that it should be proclaimed aloud to the crowd three times, “Polycarp hath confessed himself to be a Christian.” After the crowd found out that there were no beasts available for the task, they cried out for him to be burned alive. The wood was gathered, and as they were about to nail his hands to the timber he said, “Let me be as I am. He that granted me to endure the fire will grant me also to remain at the pyre unmoved, without being secured with nails.” The fire did not consume him, but an executioner drove a dagger into his body. “And all the multitude marveled at the great difference between the unbelievers and the elect.” (p. 12).

When we are so satisfied in Christ that we are enabled to willingly die for him, we are freed to 
love the lost as never before, and Christ is shown to be a great Treasure.

For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at 
hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, 
there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, 
will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His 
appearing. 2 Timothy 4:6-8 NKJV


Excerpted from a sermon by John Piper on Psalm 71:18 entitled, “Getting Old for the Glory of God“ on September 30, 2007, at the 2007 Desiring God National Conference.


Tuesday, January 8, 2019

God Thoughts January 8th

God Thoughts January 8th

Perseverance is necessary for final salvation, and perseverance is certain for all those 

who are in Christ. The works we do on the path of love do not win God’s favor. They result 

from God’s favor. Christ won God’s favor. And we receive him by faith alone. And love is 

the overflow and demonstration of this faith in Christ.  

Across Germany and especially in Munich, the city where they were most active, people 

remember and honor, by naming streets, monuments, even a top literary prize after the 

Scholl siblings and their bold protest group White Rose. To many Germans and to many 

other people around the world now, they are a symbol of bravery and moral conviction in 

the face of immensely powerful oppressors like the Nazi government of Germany.

On February 22nd, 1943, the Scholls stood trial in the Volksgericht, in a “people’s 

court” for political offenses. It was a show trial to make an example of them.

They were quickly found guilty and, the very same day, all three were beheaded by 

guillotine. They were committed idealists and true believers until their last breath.

As the blade dropped, Hans shouted, “let freedom live!”

Sophie Scholl’s last words "How can we expect righteousness to prevail when there is 

hardly anyone willing to give himself up individually to a righteous cause. Such a fine, 

sunny day and I have to go, but what does my death matter, if through us, thousands of 


Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the 

presence of His glory blameless with great joy, 25 to the only God our Savior, 

through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all 

time and now and forever. Amen. Jude 1:24 NASB



Monday, January 7, 2019

God Thoughts January 7th

“Two thousand years ago, the apostle Paul weighed in on the matter of living fully alive. He expressed his desire to live to the greatest extreme possible. His words are an anchor of inspiration to me. He said, “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection” (Phil. 3:10). Whoa! What could be more out there, more exciting and fulfilling, than experiencing the same kind of power that raised Christ from the dead? I want a piece of that action! Paul wasn’t only talking about being raised from the dead at the end of life; he was talking about knowing that power now. It is possible. And he explains how. His declaration will serve throughout this book as a template for living fully alive. For now, it is enough to know that the quest to live fully alive has existed from the beginning of time.
This impulse is so strong that people spend billions of dollars every year on drugs and diets and creams that claim to bring new life. Young people seek thrills by performing dangerous stunts and living risky lifestyles, hoping to taste whatever it might be that will make life worth living. What “often don’t realize is that this passion for living is a “God thing.”

I knew that, but I wasn’t experiencing it. I had started to die before I died. Benjamin Franklin recognized this phenomenon. He is often credited with saying, “Many people die at twenty-five and aren’t buried until they are seventy-five.” Franklin himself was a shining exception to mediocre living. This amazing man helped draft the Declaration of Independence at seventy, invented bifocals at seventy-eight, and signed the United States Constitution at eighty-one, all during a time when average life expectancy was less than fifty years.

Part of my problem was that I had become comfortable with being comfortable. I couldn’t wait to retire and live a life of leisure. My zest for living hadn’t disappeared totally, though like a neglected campfire it was smoldering, almost extinguished. Where once there were blazing desire, spiritual growth, and physical vitality, there was now only a wisp of smoke amid dying embers. But therein lay the hope. There were still embers! If you are still breathing, there are still embers burning in your soul. If you are a physical mess but want to change, there are still “there are still embers. If you face depression, there are still embers waiting to be fanned by a fresh breeze to a blazing fire.”

This is why I remind you to keep using the gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. Now let it grow, as a small flame grows into a fire. 2 Tim 1:6 NCV

Excerpt From: Ken Davis. “Fully Alive.” iBooks. https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/fully-alive/id607421690?mt=11

Sunday, January 6, 2019

God Thoughts January 6th

“Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”1 John 3:18

I admire elementary school teachers. I mean I really admire elementary school teachers. I have done many things in my life, but I could never do their job. I simply would be a failure if it were up to me to communicate daily with these little people. Each year for the first few days they teach the classroom rules to all the students. They practice walking in line, how to go through the cafeteria to get lunch, how to go to the bathroom, and how the overall rules work.

Their words instruct the children and they response to the teachers request (at least most of them do). That is the definition of obedience. You already know by now that your words have power and can create life or death. The other thing our words can do is to cause action. What you say can lead others to act.

Take this devotional for example. Here I am, sitting in a hotel room in Nashville, Tennessee, writing about the power of words. And there you are, wherever you are, responding to those words.

If you tell yourself over and over how ugly you are, your actions will reflect that. If you tell yourself how unhappy you are, your actions will reflect that. If you keep encouraging your children regardless of their age, they will act in confidence. That’s why it is important to use our words well; they are going to lead to action, in your own life or in someone else’s.

Thought of the Day: How are you using your words to edify those in your sphere of influence? How are you leading others to action with your words?

FROM YOUR WORDS ARE IMPORTANT
Daily Huddle Devotion
December 17, 2018

Dr. Joe Pettigrew