Willing Worker Wednesday – Go … and Speak!

Posted on March 6, 2019 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

“John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were flocking to him, and they were baptized by him in the Jordan River as they confessed their sins.” (Mark 1:4–5, HCSB)

John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. “Serve where you’re planted,” was once a popular slogan in Christian circles. It meant we don’t have to look for a place far away to take the message of the Cross. We have family, friends, and neighbors who need Jesus. Go and tell them. And all of that is true.

However, remember what Jesus commanded us: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation.” (Mark 16:15, HCSB) Often Jesus calls us to fulfill the “Go!” part of the command. People need Jesus, everywhere! So, we are often called to places we would never imagine.

But when God called John to the wilderness, along the Jordan River, he must have at first wondered who would come to him there. How would he proclaim the message to people in the wilderness? I mean, there he was on the south side of the Sea of Galilee far from the North Shore communities of Capernaum, Chorazim, or Bethsaida. So what was he doing here?

Yet, on this central route between Jerusalem to the south and those communities to the north, God placed this bold man with a bolder message: “Prepare the way for the Lord; make His paths straight! Every valley will be filled, and every mountain and hill will be made low; the crooked will become straight, the rough ways smooth, and everyone will see the salvation of God.” (Luke 3:4–6, HCSB)

As people traveled through, John preached “a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” What was more amazing was, “the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were flocking to him.”And in these words, we find our lesson. God moves us to where He needs us. When we arrive there God will bring those whom He has prepared.

Our task is simple: Go and speak! God will do the rest!

Willing Worker Wednesdays are dedicated to explaining the core realities of servant leadership – the Biblical principles and methods used by God’s faithful people throughout time. They further reflect the lifestyle of Jesus, the King of kings and Lord of lords as He walked on this earth announcing the Kingdom of God had arrived. These brief lessons are written by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith, Executive Director of Eagles In Leadership, and come from his extensive ministry within the local church, in higher education, in church consulting and as a Biblical author and leader. He welcomes your comments below.

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Turn-Around Tuesday – Impaired Faith-Vision

Posted on March 5, 2019 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

“And he said to him, “I am the Lord who brought you out from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess.” But he said, “O Lord God, how am I to know that I shall possess it?”” (Genesis 15:7–8, ESV)

“O Lord God, how am I to know that I shall possess it.”Uncertainty is based on doubt. We cannot see what God is promising us. And why can’t we see? Our vision is impaired because we are walking in the flesh, in the natural, in the daily routines of humanity.

Even while Abraham was alone with God, being shown the enormity of God’s plan and power, he still doubted. It seems like, when we have a doubting idea lodged in our minds, even God struggles to remove it from our thinking.

If we pay attention to the context of the words written above, we hear, “And Abram said, “Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir.” And behold, the word of the Lord came to him: “This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir.” And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.” (Genesis 15:3–6, ESV)

Despite Abraham’s growing faith, his ability to completely see the vision God was sharing with him was limited. As is ours. You are growing. God is using you. He is planting a new heart in that soul of yours, one that believes and chooses to please Him.

However, there are times when we are not yet what we will be. And in those moments, we must admit we fail, we struggle, and we simply don’t s-t-r-e-t-c-h far enough to grasp the outrageous plan God has for our lives and our progeny.

Don’t feel bad. If Abraham couldn’t make the stretch all the time, we won’t either. Remember this truth: “Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.” (1 Corinthians 10:11, ESV)

Be encouraged that you are stretching to grasp God’s will for your life. Don’t beat yourself up because you aren’t complete yet. Take a moment and breathe in the wind of the Spirit. You’re getting there!

Turn-Around Tuesdays are designed to bring hope and help, insight and encouragement to those of us who are simply overwhelmed by the flood of problems life throws at us. No one is immune to trials and troubles, but God has a way of lifting us from life’s torrents. Each short thought is written by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith, Executive Director of Eagles In Leadership, and comes from his life-journey with the God who never leaves us or forsakes us. He welcomes your comments below.

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Magnificent Marriage Monday – Laughing At Impossibility!

Posted on March 4, 2019 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

“The Lord said, “I will certainly come back to you in about a year’s time, and your wife Sarah will have a son!” Now Sarah was listening at the entrance of the tent behind him. Abraham and Sarah were old and getting on in years. Sarah had passed the age of childbearing. So she laughed to herself: “After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I have delight?”” (Genesis 18:10–12, CSB)

Sarah had passed the age of childbearing. So she laughed to herself: “After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I have delight?”Have you ever laughed at the ridiculousness of what God has told you? I mean really. Sometimes God just says the most outrageous things. And sometimes we, being human, are simply astonished in disbelief by what God calls us to do or claims He will do.

Now, if you disagreed with that last paragraph, you have an integrity problem or a Bible reading problem. God sticks His neck way out once and a while, as Sarah overheard that day from behind the tent flap.  Here she was post-menopausal and the stranger with her husband was claiming she was going to have a son this time next year! Absurd! How could that be? Hadn’t he taken a basic biology course?

Of course, the Lord of all the Earth can do whatever He wills, whenever He wills, and however He wills. This is the point of faith. However, in a marriage, we often meet the impossible, whether is it a matter of biology, finance, logistics, etc. Humanly speaking, there are all too many times when what we thought was over hasn’t even begun. God is on a different timetable and has a different plan. What we often see is so far from reality that it takes faith-filled eyes to discover all that God has for us as a couple, as a family.

Like Sarah, we all get to the point where we think the claims of God are incredulous, especially when it comes to our marriage. Yet, out of faith we can stand firm and believe, despite every visible clue that there is no way under Heaven for anything good to happen.

We may live under Heaven, but our God is Lord of Heaven … and earth! Twelve months later laughing Sarah held little “Giggles,” which is what Isaac can mean when translated. Holding the joy of her heart, every time she looked at Isaac she had to remember her derisive giggling at the God who claimed the post-menopausal could give birth!

Magnificent Marriage Mondays are helpful hints, clues, ideas, and solutions for the child of God who is looking for a spouse, in a relationship with someone, or are already married. Each post seeks to bring help, hope, and honesty to your life and make the rest of your life, the best of your life. They are written by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith, Executive Director of Eagles In Leadership, and come from his 38 years, 5 months and 2 days experience with his wife, Melodee, who was promoted to Heaven on November 11, 2017. He is currently seeking God’s will for his new life partner. He welcomes your comments below.

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Faith Filled Friday – Never Forsaken!

Posted on March 1, 2019 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

“The man bowed his head and worshiped the Lord and said, “Blessed be the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken his steadfast love and his faithfulness toward my master. As for me, the Lord has led me in the way to the house of my master’s kinsmen.”” (Genesis 24:26–27, ESV)

Blessed be the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken his steadfast love and his faithfulness toward my master. When faith trusts God, God’s character of steadfast love and faithfulness flows through His answers. God responds in amazing and even supernatural ways when we act. Action is the demonstration of faith. Answers are God’s demonstration that He is trustworthy.

With the camels slurping, the servant questions Rebekah and discovers that God has directed him right to Abraham’s family! Perhaps this seems like a coincidence to some or the invention of the writer to the skeptic, but those of us who walk in faith understand. God leads those who trust Him deeply. At home, far from the action at the well, Abraham was trusting and praying that God would lead his servant to the right woman. Here, at the well, the servant had committed his entire journey to the leading of the God of Abraham.

Now, in Abraham’s servant’s presence, the whole of their combined faith was displayed in this hard-working, very attractive virgin standing before him. This is how God works. He does the impossible as if it was child’s play, for it is. God is“able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,” (Ephesians 3:20, ESV)

No matter the journey we are on or the difficulty that must be overcome, God is able to do it. He is able to remove the biggest mountain, bridge the deepest gulf, seal the greatest chasm, mend the most broken soul, and unite those farthest apart. The only thing needed for any of these, and so much more, is the faith that moves the hand of God. God waits for our faith and we are never forsaken.

You are in a situation right now that could use the power of God. All that is missing is the faith of Abraham, the understanding that God is trustworthy and wants to help in your life.

Will you surrender to the fact of His love and faithfulness?

 

Faith Filled Fridays hope to boost your trust in God and accelerate your daring and courage in everyday life. Dr. Matthew Lee Smith, Executive Director of Eagles In Leadership, writes each encouragement out of a heart that has known both great joy and great loss – his wife of 38 years, 5 months and 2 days was promoted to Heaven on November 11, 2017. Through every experience, God has proven Himself more than faithful and trustworthy. He welcomes your comments below.

 

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Hope When You Think You Can’t Wait!

Posted on February 28, 2019 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

In our final episode of this three-part interview, Dr. Smith talks with Keisa Jones, author of Preparation While You Wait, Real Talk For Women of God Waiting On Their Promise.

In our final episode, author Keisa Jones talks about how long it took her to learn the seven tips she shares in her book. She reveals that the tips are actually steps in the process of moving to trust and purity while waiting for her promised husband. For those who say they crave the physical and think they can’t go forward without the sexual intimacy, author Keisa Jones explains how she has gone from promiscuity to purity and how we can also. She also shares a word of hope for those who know they need to exit a relationship, repent of their behavior, return totally to the Lord as their first love, and wait patiently for His will as to a husband.

Eagles In Leadership highly recommends Keisa’s book to you. If you would like to purchase Keisa’s book, just click the book title here: Preparation While You Wait, Real Talk For Women of God Waiting On Their Promise.

* WARNING: This is a frank and transparent discussion and may not be suitable for younger listeners.

About our guest author: Keisa Jones is a passionate woman of great faith and loves the Lord with every fiber of her being. She is an encourager, motivator and servant leader in the Body of Christ; being called to share the truth and love of God to the NATIONS. She understands the mandate from God to go to the nations and kingdoms “to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.” During an encounter 10 years ago with the power of salvation, she fully surrendered her life to God. Learning through prayer, relationship and the study of God’s Word has been her focus and commitment.

She currently serves as a Minister of Open Door Worship Center under the leadership of Bishop Deon and Prophetess Fannette Douglas. The Lord has given Keisa a heart and passion for leaders and those hurt and broken. She has dedicated her life to live as a true example of a BELIEVER and FOLLOWER of Jesus Christ. Her motto has become, “For God I live and for God, I die!

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Train Them Thursday – Following God’s Timing!

Posted on February 28, 2019 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

“But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, and said, “Get up, take the Child and His mother, and go into the land of Israel; for those who sought the Child’s life are dead.” So Joseph got up, took the Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel.” (Matthew 2:19–21, NASB95)

But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, and said, “Get up, take the Child and His mother, and go into the land of Israel. When God prompts us to move its because He knows things we cannot know. All we have to do is trust that He has insider information! Moving at the whim of God is the easiest choice to make when we realize God sees all that happens and knows when the timing is best.

When should we go? How long should we stay? These questions can haunt the disconnected disciple. In reality, they are easy-to-know truths. God moves us when the time is right. And, as a result, we have to be sensitive to His voice. You see, discipleship today is just like it was in the 1stCentury.

Jesus would walk with His disciples and His disciples would follow Him. They talked and interacted, going wherever He led them. The only difference today is that Jesus isn’t present in a physical body. However, as Jesus explained before He left earth, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.” (John 14:23, NASB95)

With the indwelling Father and Son within us, we have a greater advantage than Joseph did as he labored in Egypt and waited for word that he could take his young child, Jesus, home. When we listen to the voice of God within us, when we choose to align our heart and mind to what that voice says, we move in freedom, safety, and security.

Peace overflows our hearts and minds and anxiety falls away when we know that God will move us as soon as things are optimal for us. Until then, we wait with quiet confidence. God is working behind the scenes. He longs for our best. He has an abundant life prepared for us. He knows what we need. When things fall into place – perhaps at His nudging – He will notify us and we will be on our way again.

For the moment, until God speaks, trust and be patient!

 

Train Them Thursdays seeks to wed the Great Commission directive of Jesus with the practice He employed while on Earth. Each nugget is meant to encourage the reader with a “can-do” spirit to realize that discipleship is something each person is both capable of and empowered to accomplish. Dr. Matthew Lee Smith, Executive Director of Eagles In Leadership, writes each thought and they flow out of decades of his tried and true field-testing in multiple settings from rural to inner city. He welcomes your comments below.

 

 

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Willing Worker Wednesday – Lives Depend On Your Unique Message

Posted on February 27, 2019 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

“As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: Look, I am sending My messenger ahead of You, who will prepare Your way. A voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Prepare the way for the Lord; make His paths straight!” (Mark 1:2–3, HCSB)

Prepare the way for the Lord; make His paths straight! God knows what He wants each one of us to say. That unique message God has given each one of us will be distinctive. Note, this unique message was scripted and revealed centuries before John was actually alive. Just as you are unique, so the message of God through you will be unique. God made you so that you could share His message.

Each phrase in Isaiah’s transcript of God’s words drips with these thoughts. God sent his messenger then – John – just as He sends you and I now. The message was designed for a purpose, thus John was Jesus’ advanceman. He prepared the people for the coming of Jesus.

While there were many voices in that day with all sorts of diverse messages, John’s was equally unique in that he wasn’t called to the urban centers of Capernaum, Caesarea, Tiberius, Sepphoris, or Jerusalem. No, John was to be “out in the wilderness.”

While at first this makes no sense, again, God is in charge of the message, the messenger, the location where we share that message, and with whom we share that message. We can trust Him because we serve Him, He doesn’t serve us.

And note the message. It surely wasn’t going to make John appreciated by the more worldly folk, was it? Can you see the faces of those who heard John speak when he cried out in the loud voice of the street merchant trying to get the attention of prospective patrons? “Prepare the way for the Lord; make His paths straight!”

Remember, as a servant leader who follows the King of kings, this is why you were born. This is why you have had the life you have.

Your message from God is God’s message for your world. You have been hand-crafted by God to bring that unique communication to those you rub shoulders with daily. It may not be sweet and frilly. It might be gritty and plain spoken. Whatever God has given you to declare, do so with great passion. Lives depend on it.

 

Willing Worker Wednesdays are dedicated to explaining the core realities of servant leadership – the Biblical principles and methods used by God’s faithful people throughout time. They further reflect the lifestyle of Jesus, the King of kings and Lord of lords as He walked on this earth announcing the Kingdom of God had arrived. These brief lessons are written by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith, Executive Director of Eagles In Leadership, and come from his extensive ministry within the local church, in higher education, in church consulting and as a Biblical author and leader. He welcomes your comments below.

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Turn-Around Tuesday – Fear Tears Away One’s Hope

Posted on February 26, 2019 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

“I will take nothing but what the young men have eaten, and the share of the men who went with me. Let Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre take their share.” After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.”” (Genesis 14:24–15:1, ESV)

Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great. Fear is a monster that seems to come out of nowhere and take over our minds and hearts. It plays on our emotions and causes us to doubt the very things we know are true.

As insidious as a stalker, fear can penetrate our every waking – and sleeping – moment. Dripping with terror, we are drenched in the fantasy that all is lost and hope no longer exists. Gnawing at our hearts is eats away our confidence like the food relatives eat at a picnic! No one seems to be immune.

Take Abraham. Fresh from his victory over superior forces, Abraham remains generous to the end of the victory. To King Melchizedek of Salem (one day to be called, Jerusalem), he gives away ten percent of all he recovered and asks to keep nothing.

Now, at home, in the quietness of his afterthoughts, Abraham begins to question his decisions, his life, his future, and fear joins the discussion. Don’t you hate that? I mean, why does fear have to come uninvited? And why does it stay so long?

Whenever fear enters, hope exits. Possibility goes with hope as well. And all we are left with is fear and it’s friends, despair, darkness, and disappointment.

God wants to remove our fear and focus us on the future He has planned for us. And so, He commands Abraham to stop fearing! Fear then is an emotion we can control. Why should fear be stopped? Because God shields us from all the evil we imagine and the evil we can’t see. What we should focus on are the promises of God. In them, we find our future, our hope, our “very great” reward.

If you are struggling right now and life isn’t turning out the way you had hoped it would stop fearing. Choose to remember God is our ever-present Protector from all evil and great will be our rewards!

Turn-Around Tuesdays are designed to bring hope and help, insight and encouragement to those of us who are simply overwhelmed by the flood of problems life throws at us. No one is immune to trials and troubles, but God has a way of lifting us from life’s torrents. Each short thought is written by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith, Executive Director of Eagles In Leadership, and comes from his life-journey with the God who never leaves us or forsakes us. He welcomes your comments below.

 

 

 

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Magnificent Marriage Monday – Reprimanded By God For Faithlessness!

Posted on February 25, 2019 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

“Abraham fell facedown. Then he laughed and said to himself, “Can a child be born to a hundred-year-old man? Can Sarah, a ninety-year-old woman, give birth?” So Abraham said to God, “If only Ishmael were acceptable to you!” But God said, “No. Your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will name him Isaac. I will confirm my covenant with him as a permanent covenant for his future offspring.” (Genesis 17:17–19, CSB)

But God said, “No. Your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will name him Isaac.No one likes to be told they are wrong. In fact, no one likes to be told much of anything. Yet, when we are wrong, especially in marriage, someone has to stop us from continuing down the path of no return and steering us back to the Path of Life.

When God steps up and voices His disapproval for our choices and opinions, we know things are serious. But God cares about the thought life of a husband and wife. He knows that “A good person produces good out of the good stored up in his heart. An evil person produces evil out of the evil stored up in his heart, for his mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart.” (Luke 6:45, CSB)

So, God corrects. He does so through His indwelling Spirit, through the revealed words of God (the Bible), and from those around us who love and care for us. However He speaks to us, it is essential that we listen because the future direction and blessing of our marriage will depend upon it. God guides us because He has a better plan for us.

When God spoke to Abraham He vetoed Abe’s plan immediately. There is no room for our “shortcuts” in God’s economy. Ishmael and his posterity are still a thorn in the side of Israel. This is frequently the case. What we feel is a “help” to God will almost always turn out to be a problem for us, for our children, and for the generations to come.

So today, as you consider your marriage, your choices, and God’s voice, what will you do? Are you ready to step into God’s Path of Life once again? With each choice, we can either walk with Him or walk away from all that He has as we walk away from Him.

God has a plan. It’s probably close to impossible. After all, God does that kind of thing on a daily basis. Are you choosing impossible today? If you are, tell God your choice. He’ll more than bless you!

Magnificent Marriage Mondays are helpful hints, clues, ideas, and solutions for the child of God who is looking for a spouse, in a relationship with someone, or are already married. Each post seeks to bring help, hope, and honesty to your life and make the rest of your life, the best of your life. They are written by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith, Executive Director of Eagles In Leadership, and come from his 38 years, 5 months and 2 days experience with his wife, Melodee, who was promoted to Heaven on November 11, 2017. He is currently seeking God’s will for his new life partner. He welcomes your comments below.

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Hope For Today – Loving Our Enemies!

Posted on February 24, 2019 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

I’m Dr. Matthew Lee Smith and I want to share some Hope For Today about, Loving our enemies!

Check it out at the link below. Click the link below to listen. Hope For Today is a part of the ministry of Eagles In Leadership. If you would like to know more about the hope God gives and His abundant life through Jesus Christ, I would invite you to check out our website: EaglesInLeadership.org.

Just push the media button below to hear this encouraging message!

We hope you’ll consider going to Israel with the Eagles In Leadership group this December! Click the link, “Join Us In Israel This Fall,” at the top of the website for more information.

And, if you are so inclined, sign up for more encouragement through notifications (UPPER RIGHT CORNER OF THE WEBSITE) of other blogs and podcasts while you are at the Eagles in Leadership​ website.

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