Are You a Shepherd Warrior?
We can’t fight all the time; we need time for refreshment and encouragement. The warrior becomes a shepherd through his or her love and affirmation of the sheep.

We can’t fight all the time; we need time for refreshment and encouragement. The warrior becomes a shepherd through his or her love and affirmation of the sheep.
Have you ever wondered why some leaders see incredible growth and others seem to struggle? I think back to leaders that I have worked with who have all had great potential. Some have gone from strength to strength and others just didn’t make it. Having pondered this question for some time, the Lord gave me an insight. Put the right gifts [...]
We can’t fight all the time; we need time for refreshment and encouragement. The warrior becomes a shepherd through his or her love and affirmation of the sheep.
It’s been said that “Pain is inevitable, but misery is optional.” We cannot stop what happens to us, but we can certainly stop what happens in us.
It’s humbling to have to admit this, but I am not as merciful and peace loving as I have wanted or hoped to be.
While writing this, I am watching four seagulls that are initially sunning themselves on the sand. Then suddenly two start squawking at the other two and a battle is begun, until one party is intimidated and retreats. But no reconciliation or resolution has taken place. How often does that happen in life?
When we talk of attractiveness we usually think of our outward appearance, but of course our looks account for such a small percentage. Our attractiveness has much more to do with the depth of our relationship with God, the fruit of the Spirit growing from our lives and how we behave and interact with people.
There is no right way to journal. Everyone needs to find their own rhythm. You don't have to journal every day or every week but a growing number find it very beneficial to journal regularly. Let me share some of the benefits that I have found in journaling in recent years.
In order to come to a place of silence and experience God’s presence, I have found it necessary to deal with the noise in my outer and inner life. I need to know how to allow that noise to either become a part of the background or to allow it to become transformational through the surfacing and dealing of those inner thoughts and [...]
Every leader has values, it’s just that some leaders haven’t clearly identified them or taken the time to process them through yet.
What might coaching one of your staff look like? Even if you don’t see yourself becoming a coach as a main ministry, these skills are so useful in everyday life that I would encourage anyone, and especially leaders, to at least get basic coaching skills training.
The coaching approach listens and asks for understanding through open questions first, rather than sharing opinions and making judgments. It can be useful for all kinds of issues and in all kinds of relationships, including marriage and family, not just ministry or with our staff.
The following four questions and statements can give an insight into whether we are infants, children, adolescents, or adults emotionally.
As we grow secure in our leadership it can become harder to discern between anointing, depth of respect, loyalty and strength of character. This is the danger zone where we have to be aware of the power we are wielding. Unfortunately, often by this time we are unaware of the danger and no one is willing or able to say NO. Let me [...]