Faith Filled Friday – When God Shows Up!

Posted on October 12, 2018 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

 

“Behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations.” (Genesis 17:4, ESV)

Behold, my covenant is with you. You’ve been faithful. You’ve endured years of trouble and difficulty. You’ve kept your eyes on God. You’ve believed His promises even long after their fulfillment reached their expiration date. And yet, you remain faithful despite every sane indication God has forgotten you.

And then, to everyone’s surprise, even yours, God shows up! And, He brings His reward with Him! Everything you’ve thought about, dreamed about, and hoped for, begins to unfold before your very eyes! That’s what Abraham experienced. And if God did it once, He can do it again … for you and I … today, in our time!

What did Abraham receive for His patient trust in the One who cannot be seen? God promised Abraham, “Behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations. No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make you into nations, and kings shall come from you. And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you. And I will give to you and to your offspring after you the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession, and I will be their God.”(Genesis 17:4–8, ESV)

When God makes a covenant with us, He is bound by His character and reputation to fulfill it. For Abraham, it was a name and fame, a family and a progeny.

What will it be for you? What has God promised you? What has HE put your name on? What are you still holding on to? It was long ago. It was vivid then, just as its vivid now. HE spoke to you years, perhaps decades ago and you wait in faith.

Today, fall on your knees and cry out to the “God in whom [Abraham] believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.” (Romans 4:17, ESV) God is going to show up and show off in your life. And when he does, it will be spectacular!

 

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.

 

Posted in faith, Faith-Filled Fridays | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Willing Worker Wednesday – Anticipating God’s Blessing!

Posted on October 10, 2018 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

 

“She who has believed is blessed because what was spoken to her by the Lord will be fulfilled!”(Luke 1:45, HCSB)

 

She who has believed is blessed. So often we forget that our knowing isn’t enough as a leader for Jesus. The devil knows, he just refuses to submit in faith. As I like to say, “Our knowing isn’t growing until our knowing is showing.”

Faith works. Faith trusts. Faith believes. Therefore, we act on the faith we have. Where there is no action, there is no faith. Knowledge without action isn’t faith; it’s doubt.

Mary was blessed because she believed and responded by faith. ““I am the Lord’s slave,” said Mary. “May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel left her.” (Luke 1:38, HCSB) Now, don’t lose sight of the enormity of God’s “ask” of Mary. She would be the first virgin to bear a child! THAT was a set up for enormous ridicule from the townspeople she had known all her life.

In the midst of all of the cataclysmic change and choice going on, we see the heart of a willing worker of God. She simply surrendered to God’s will and whim. This is the essential directive of the one who chooses to be both effective and significant in this life for King Jesus.

As a result of such a commitment to the character of God, Mary’s trust brought her face-to-face with the reality of God’s goodness: Blessing. From the earliest days of history, God’s character on this matter is clear. To Cain, the child of Adam and Eve, God said, “If you do what is right, won’t you be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.”(Genesis 4:7, HCSB)

And so He says to us: I will bless you if you will but obey me. This reward, this motivation, should pulse in our chests with every beat of our heart. God will do good for us if we will but trust Him enough to obey Him on the spot.

Today, whatever the difficulty, whatever the criticism, stand firm in your trust of the Lord Jesus. Despite the pain of the present, there will always be the fulfillment in the future of all He has promised!

 

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.

Posted in Leadership Blog, Willing Worker Wednesdays | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Turn-Around Tuesday – Doing All The Lord Has Commanded Us!

Posted on October 9, 2018 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

 

“Then the Lord said to Noah, “Go into the ark, you and all your household, for I have seen that you are righteous before me in this generation … For in seven days I will send rain on the earth forty days and forty nights, and every living thing that I have made I will blot out from the face of the ground.” And Noah did all that the Lord had commanded him.” (Genesis 7:1, 4–5, ESV)

 

And Noah did all that the Lord had commanded him. Those three little letters – “all” – change everything, don’t they? As absurd as God’s requests had been for Noah to become a master shipbuilder (when no ships this size had been build before), they went into the ludicrous at this point. Have you read what leads up to this chapter?

“And of every living thing of all flesh, you shall bring two of every sort into the ark to keep them alive with you. They shall be male and female. Of the birds according to their kinds, and of the animals according to their kinds, of every creeping thing of the ground, according to its kind, two of every sort shall come into you to keep them alive. Also, take with you every sort of food that is eaten, and store it up. It shall serve as food for you and for them.”” (Genesis 6:19–21, ESV)

Sometimes God asks for a LOT! And, to be honest, and real, we just don’t want to go to all the bother to do all that God asks for. This morning, as I was walking, I thought about the people who cut the corner, j-walk, and in short, cheat so they don’t have to exert as much effort to get – they suppose – the same results.

But that’s just it, isn’t it? Cutting corners doesn’t get you the same as doing everything. Oh, yes, in the short term we can get away with less without noticeable differences. But, over time, those shortcuts ARE the reason we are in trouble.

Consider Noah one more time. What if Noah had chosen to use shortcuts in building the ark? His rescue plan would have become his coffin. And what if, out of sheer laziness, he chose not to get TWO of every creature? Where would whole species of animals be today? And, where would humanity be as a result?

Turning around our situation means doing all the Lord has commanded us because that’s where our future is created!

 

 

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.

 

Posted in 2 - Turn-Around Tuesdays (trials and troubles), Suffering | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Magnificent Marriage Monday – Your Wife, Your Life!

Posted on October 8, 2018 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

 

“The man named his wife Eve because she was the mother of all the living.” (Genesis 3:20, CSB)

 

The man named his wife Eve. Eve means, “life” or “making alive.” What an incredible observation from Adam. She is the mother of all living humanity. For sure, from her womb came our first ancestors, their children, the first “born-ones.” But, for Adam, and for all alert husbands, Eve was so much more … she brings life to our existence.

Before we are married, life is a string of interactions, connections with little permanence. Even with our parents and siblings, we realize we were born to leave. But our wives were designed by God to stay by our sides – to be one flesh with us – and that is where we find completion, connection, and life’s companionship!

With each day after our union and pledge to one another, we have the opportunity and the joy of exploring whole new dimensions, of seeing life through new eyes and new thoughts. Truly, when God gifts us with a wife, He gives us more than a companion … He gifts us with life abundantly.

In this relationship flows the oneness of hope, honor, and holiness. We have the privilege of walking into the vast unknown with someone who has our back, who believes in our strengths, and watches over us with protection.

While it may be hard for some to imagine, God’s purpose for marriage is to reflect the joy and fulfillment He has in the Godhead. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit dwell in a relational connection that is unseverable. And, thus, God’s design and purpose for marriage are the same (See Mark 10:9).

Today, as you step into your day, start with a prayer of gratitude for the wife God gave you that brings you life! Enjoy her creativity. Listen to her wisdom. Explore her understanding. Feel with her emotions. Enjoy her companionship. Embrace her totality.

Truly you are blessed with life, and that, more abundantly! She stands beside you as your companion. She sits beside you as your friend. She lies beside you as your heartbeat. She’s God’s gift!

 

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.

Posted in Magnificent Marriage Mondays, Marriage | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Hope For Today – Letting God Lead!

Posted on October 7, 2018 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

 

I’m Dr. Matthew Lee Smith and I want to share some Hope For Today about letting God lead from Proverbs 16:9 (CSB) … A person’s heart plans his way, but the Lord determines his steps.

 

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!

Posted in Hope For Today, Transformed | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Faith Filled Friday – God Likes To Show Up and Show Off!

Posted on October 5, 2018 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

 

“When Abram was ninety-nine years old the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless, that I may make my covenant between me and you, and may multiply you greatly.” Then Abram fell on his face.” (Genesis 17:1–3, ESV)

When Abram was ninety-nine years old the Lord appeared to Abram. God never forgets His promises. When He delays, He has a bigger, better plan to accomplish. God delays because He has a purpose. And so, now God shows up so He can show off! When we read the promises of God to Abraham here (Genesis 17:4-8), we discover that God’s promises affect generations, not just our short futures.

Thirteen years after the birth of Ishmael, Abraham and Sarah’s child of doubt, God fulfilled His promise to give Abraham a son from Sarah’s womb. Post-menopausal and infertile, this couple had long since given up on the possibility of God fulfilling His promise to them through a child of their union.

But when He shows up, He loves to show off! And so it was with Abraham and Sarah. That long ago promised son was now on his way (Genesis 17:15-21)! Such a preposterous declaration made Abraham – the man of faith – fall on his face and laugh out loud.

And yet, God wasn’t amused. His promise had been made decades before. Now He was here to announce the time of its fulfillment. Why should Abraham find it so ludicrous? 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) When God promises, God fulfills. Not on our schedule, but on His.

With the promise though, came conditions. Before the covenantal fulfillment and the abundant multiplication, God called Abraham to “walk before me, and be blameless.”Abraham’s response is the same as any man or woman of faith: “Then Abram fell on his face.”

Worship and surrender mark the moment of decision. If you are at that place right now, today is the day to fall on your face and surrender to His will, His plan … and I must say His timing. Worship and adore the God who never forgets His promises. Even when they seem too late, too impossible, or too ridiculous at this stage of life. After all, He is the God of the impossible (remember the virgin birth)!

 

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.

 

Posted in faith, Faith-Filled Fridays | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Train Them Thursday – God Silences Doubt!

Posted on October 4, 2018 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

 

“Zacharias said to the angel, “How will I know this for certain? For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years.” The angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. “And behold, you shall be silent and unable to speak until the day when these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.”” (Luke 1:18–20, NASB95)

 

How will I know this for certain? Doubt is a powerful monster! It creeps in like a virus and kills like a poison. Just ask Zach about its effects. Here, in the midst of faithfully serving God, this blameless man of God comes face-to-face with an angel of God promising him the son he had prayed for his whole married life. And now he doubts!

God isn’t in to doubt. God doesn’t reward doubt. God isn’t pleased when we doubt. God reacts to our doubt. Just ask Zach! God is pretty demonstrable in His response to Zach’s doubt … “And behold, you shall be silent and unable to speak until the day when these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.”

As a disciple of Jesus, trusting God’s Word becomes central to an effective and fruitful life. After all, God means what He says. God can be trusted everytime He speaks. God never tells a lie. As the examples and epitomes of truthfulness and integrity, His disciples choose to proclaim and declare His words over theirs any time they can.

Yet, all too often we allow our circumstances to dictate how God can answer and what He can do in and for us. Of course, this is ridiculous. God is not limited by time, distance, situations, or the will of anyone. He can create out of nothing, give life to the dead and call into being that which does not exist.” (Romans 4:17, NASB95) There is nothing too hard for God to do.

Disciples depend on God’s character and ability. A lifetime of right living will not cover-up a season of doubt. Zach is our nine-month poster child for this truth.

In this quiet moment, what doubt do you need to destroy? What action do you need to believe? What change do you need to make?

 

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.

 

Posted in Discipleship, Train Them Thursdays (discipleship) | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Willing Worker Wednesday – Revealing Incredible Trust!

Posted on October 3, 2018 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

““I am the Lord’s slave,” said Mary. “May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel left her.” (Luke 1:38, HCSB)

 

I am the Lord’s slave. Attitude is the key to our spiritual altitude. We see it every day. Some people go around like a skunk has sprayed them. They are angry, upset, and, to be honest, their whole demeanor stinks! We avoid them like the plague. We can’t wait to get away from them. And once we have, we breathe a sigh of relief.

Is there any wonder why these same people have trouble making and keeping friends, see so many problems, and spiral into a dismal life? Our attitude attracts or deflects people who will either hurt us or help us. It also affects our faith. A bad attitude doesn’t have the energy to power faith. It doesn’t trust, it doesn’t believe, it blames, it rejects.

Mary reveals some incredible trust as she spoke spontaneously. She placed herself in total and complete submission to what would be a difficult issue to explain. (How many virgin births had anyone heard about up until that day? And who wouldn’t think some act of immorality or violation hadn’t happened to bring about the pregnancy?) Mary surrendered to all the ridicule, shame, and unknown because she simply trusted God and His goodness.

In that exposure of her character, we find a model to emulate as willing workers of Jesus. Are we willing to enslave ourselves to whatever God calls us to accomplish? Will we bear the shame of His name? Are we willing to be mocked and scorned for the activities of faith? Do we have the trust to step forward and declare our allegiance to the Carpenter from Galilee?

In an age of skepticism and selfie-ism, sacrifice and surrender to a spiritual leader finds less and less traction. In our, “every person for themselves” worldview, following God’s will and whim sounds ludicrous. And yet, we understand what God’s amazing compassion has done in our hearts and lives and we want others to share in it.

Changing others is God’s work. Accepting God’s change in our lives is our response. Whatever God is calling you to, I hope your response is simple, elegant, powerful, and courageous: “May it be done to me according to your word.”

 

Willing Worker Wednesdays are dedicated to explaining the core realties 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.

 

Posted in Leadership Blog, Willing Worker Wednesdays | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Turn-Around Tuesday – Responding to God’s Warnings!

Posted on October 2, 2018 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

“For behold, I will bring a flood of waters upon the earth to destroy all flesh in which is the breath of life under heaven. Everything that is on the earth shall die. But I will establish my covenant with you, and you shall come into the ark, you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you. Noah did this; he did all that God commanded him.” (Genesis 6:17-18, 22, ESV)

 

Noah did this; he did all that God commanded him. Sometimes we just can’t change people. It breaks our heart, but it’s reality. And when people ignore what is so plainly explained, all we can do is protect ourselves and weep for them.

Recently I watched a security video of a woman who was so intently into her cell phone that she ignored the drowning of one of her children in the pool right beside her. While her other little toddler was trying to get his mom’s attention, she dismissed him without looking up. By the time she paid attention, we saw the lifeless body of her child in her arms, a victim of her inattention to the warnings given to her by her other child.

In order to turn our troubles around, in order to avoid the dangers of life all around us, we have to pay attention to the warnings God sends us. They exist all over the place, from the stop sign at the end of the street to the Bible we own on our shelf. Our inattention to the signs and cautions of life can result in our destruction and perhaps even our death.

Listening to God’s strategic warnings, placed within the pages of His Word and given to us through our pastor, mentor, discipler, or friend, can avert catastrophe and bring life-giving change. But how do we sense when God is speaking to us?

If we know Jesus as Savior and Lord, we have the indwelling Holy Spirit of God to guide, explain, and lead us into life abundant. Those quiet nudges prompt us to remember something we had forgotten or remove our peace about a certain action or decision. Often these movements of the Spirit of God are accompanied by a Biblical example or verse we are familiar worth. However, God works in you, paying attention to the warning is His love at work. Act on His kindness!

 

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.

 

Posted in 2 - Turn-Around Tuesdays (trials and troubles), Suffering | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Magnificent Marriage Monday – Dealing With Your Disobedience!

Posted on October 1, 2018 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

“And he said to the man, “Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘Do not eat from it’: The ground is cursed because of you. You will eat from it by means of painful labor all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. You will eat bread by the sweat of your brow until you return to the ground, since you were taken from it. For you are dust, and you will return to dust.”” (Genesis 3:17–19, CSB)

 

Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘Do not eat from it’. All too often we choose to disobey rather than obey. Granted, Adam’s motive might have been something right out of our recent culture’s mantra: “A happy wife leads to a happy life.” But, as God demonstrates, that motto doesn’t apply to overriding what He has commanded.

Husbands are the spiritual heads of their homes, the ones who are supposed to “give their lives” for their wives (Ephesians 5). When a man chooses to follow the plan of God, God blesses the home of God. He is to follow Jesus Christ, just as Jesus follows the Father (1 Corinthians 11:3). When the man follows his King, Jesus, he is able to bring abundant and bountiful blessings to his wife and family.

Magnificent marriage happens when you, the husband, keep your focus and the focus of your family on the commands, directives, ordinances, statutes, and examples God has uttered through the pages of His holy Word.

And when we fail at that, when we choose to listen to anyone– including our wives – over the expressed and declared directive of God, we must brace for the impact those consequences will have not only upon us, but on the wife we want a happy life with.

Adam is our quintessential example here. He chose to listen to his wife over God and he paid a heavy price for it … and we still do today as a result. Generations are often blessed or scarred by the choices we make each and every day. To obey brings God’s blessing. To disobey brings God’s curse.

Whatever your situation today, choose to do the right thing. Choose God’s way. Bless your wife. Create a happy life.

 

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.

Posted in Magnificent Marriage Mondays, Marriage | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment