One of the most convincing evidences that there is a God is the change that takes place in a person's life as he or she becomes intimately acquainted with Him . Those who had the nature of a lion become like a lamb . Where there was hate , there is now love . Where there was fighting, there is now peace , Where there was turmoil within , there is now a quiet rest . Where there were endless questions, there is now confidence. He changes the selfish person into one who cares about others.

God is not a far-away God . Yet , He is waiting for us not only to seek Him but to find Him . The Apostle Paul explains it best in his sermon on Mars Hill , '' And hath  made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth , and hath determined the times before appointed , and the bounds of their habitation ; That they should seek the Lord if haply , they might feel after him , and find him , though he be not far from everyone of us . For in him we live , and move ,…

As my shepherd is from ( Isaiah 40:9-18). Isaiah describes God as the sovereign Lord coming with power, measuring the waters of the sea and the expanse of heaven with His hand . Yet in the midst of describing this almighty God , Isaiah seems to pause to make sure we see that our majestic God has a gentle , loving nature : '' He protects His flock like a shepherd ; He gathers the lambs in His arms '' ( V.11 ) . I've been comforted many times by this tender side of our all-powerful God . He…

To believe in Jesus is to be born again. Confess your sins and ask Jesus right now to save you. ''Everyone who calls on the…

New birth begins with the Holy Spirit convicting a person that the person is a sinner. Because of sin, we are spiritually dead. For this reason, spiritual birth, as Jesus described it, is necessary . God loves us and gives us spiritual birth when we ask Him for it.

The Bible says all person are sinners ( Romans 3:23 ). Jesus died on a cross and was raised from the dead to save sinners . To be born again means that a person admits to God that he or she is a sinner, repents of sin, believes in or trusts Christ, and confesses faith in Christ as Savior and Lord. Jesus told Nicodemus that everyone who believes in ( places faith Christ would not perish ( John 3:16 ). Jesus is the only One who can save us ( John 14:6 ).

Have you met someone, who, after a tragedy , has just given up on life and doesn't seem like he or she has anything for…

Jesus reminded His first leaders that He had chosen them to carry on His work . He said, '' You did not choose Me , but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit , and that your fruit should remain , that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you '' ( John 15 :16 ).A Leader is chosen by the Lord Jesus to bear fruit . The fruit that results from the work Christ appointed him to do is timeless . It never decays , never withers . It is eternal . The Leader…

Leaders are those who are willing to take the risk to help get others to where all need to be . Leaders come from everywhere and out of every background . Leaders are those who know in their heart that a certain thing needs to be accomplished , and they come to a point where they cannot wait any longer . They know in their hearts that something must be done ! At that point , they take a deep breath and say, ''I will try with all my heart to do it ! '' There always are risks involved,…

I The Leader can expect persecution and trouble as he follows the leadership example set by Jesus Christ . Jesus ' ministry is a vivid example of that reality . The Lord did not want His disciples to be surprised by the difficulties and opposition they would face . Therefore , He told them to ''remember the world that I said to you , 'A servant is not greater then his master , ' If they persecuted Me , they will also persecute you .If they kept My word , they will keep yours also '' ( John…

God also call us to suffer if need be in carrying out the Great Commission . Peter wrote , ''For to this you were called , because Christ also suffered for us , leaving us an example , that you should follow His steps '' ( Pet. 2:21 ) . Suffering and sacrifice in God's service are not popular among Christians today . But the fact is , God's call is a call to self-denial and suffering . Jesus made it clear that ''if anyone desires to come after Me , let him deny himself , and take up his…

God's call echoes  throughout the Bible . Moses experienced that call . ''God called to him from the midst of the bush '' ( EX. 3:4 ) , and '' ( God ) called to Moses out of the midst of the cloud '' ( EX. 24:16 ) . These great heroes of the faith---Abraham, Elijah , Elisha , Daniel , Amos , Jonah , , Samuel , Matthew , John , Peter , And Paul----are but a few biblical examples among the hundreds whom God called into His service . Each person was unique , and each person was called of God…

'' For you see your calling , brethren , that not many wise according to the flesh , not many mighty , not many noble , are called . But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise , and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty,,, that no flesh should glory in His presence ( 1 Cor, 1 : 26-27 , 29 ) .

We need to let his words, His presence, and His everlasting promises find  their place back in our life, our heart, our calling, and our place of service when we are  down . Let them be our joy, our peace, and  confidence. They are our legacy, our heritage, and our sacred trust in Him our Lord Jesus Christ .God bless you all my sisters and brothers. And in Jesus name I pray Amen.

The Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin . The leader's task is to speak the world of God , not to convict of sin . As the leader declares the truth of Jesus Christ , the Spirit convicts the world of sin . The Holy Spirit guides the leader in understanding the truth of God's World ( John 16:13 ) . He teaches the leader the deep truths of God . Jesus said , ''All things that the Father has are Mine . Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you '' (John 16:15 ) . The Holy…

Jesus could see the concern and anxiety in His disciples' faces . He urged them to trust Him and to look ahead . He said , ''Let not your heart be troubled ; you believe in God , believe also in Me...I go to prepare a place for  you .And if I go and prepare a place for you , I will come again and receive you to Myself ; that where I am , there you may be also '' ( John 14 : 1-3 ) . These diciples needed encouragement , a reason to continue . They easily could have given up , but Jesus calmed…

Fruitfulness in leadership is not the result of training , location , or resources . It is the result of abiding in Christ . Jesus taught the first leaders this principle when He said , ''Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes , that it may bear more fruit '' ( John 15 ;2 ) . As a branch must be in the vine to bear fruit , so must the fruit- bearing leader be in Christ . Effectiveness in leadership is a result of abiding in…

Jesus taught His disciples to love one another . He said to them , ''This is My commandment , that you love one another as I have loved you'' ( John 15 :12 ) . Believers , leaders especially , are to be known by their love for one another . Perhaps the saddest commentary on leaders is when competition , not love , controls and shapes their relationships . Jesus never intended for His leaders to compete with one anther . He wants them to love one another and respect one another's calling from…

Jesus gave two views of the shepherd in ( John 10:11-18 ) .Jesus compared Himself as the " good shepherd' to the ''hireling'' who flees because of danger . The hireling leaves the sheep to be caught by the enemy . The hireling is there only for the pay , compliments , and convenience and will not run a risk for the sheep . Jesus said that the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep , even those outside the fold , that they may be brought into the fold . Right now , God's Holy Spirit…

Jesus gave attention to the one hundred sheep by dividing them into two groups . It is not complicated the way Jesus viewed this flock . Undoubtedly , the flock was like others with thousands of different characteristics , quirks , idiosyncrasies , needs , preferences , demands , and urgencies . Beyond the sheep's individualities , Jesus saw them either safe or lost . What a critical clarification to catch through the eyes and heart of Christ ! Safe or lost ! My conviction is that God sees…