I hope by now you have had a chance to connect to us on Twitter.  We are so happy to make this change in the way we do our Leadership Devotionals. We want to continue to bring you encouragement and helpful information, and using social media is a great way to connect! Rather than a once-a-week email, we will be utilizing Twitter to consistently encourage our leadership; that’s you!   This is the last Focal Pointe email you’ll receive so if you haven’t yet, please click the blue button and begin following us @npserve on Twitter.

 God bless you all and have a wonderful week!

 Please enjoy the article below…

    -Shawn 

Everything is for Your Good

 by Pastor Steven Furtick

There’s a tension that exists in the Bible that we all feel and live in every day.

In Genesis 1, God made the heavens and the earth and He called them good. So there’s some things that are good simply because God has made them and called them that.

     The earth. Life. Marriage.

All God-made and good things.

But not everything is good. We have Genesis 3 to thank for that.

     There’s the earth, but there’s also earthquakes.

     There’s life, but there’s also death.

     There’s marriage, but there’s also divorce.

This is where we live. And we could say that that’s just something we have to accept. It’s a tension that we have to live with. We’re going to have some good and some bad in this world.

While in a sense that’s true, I think there’s something we frequently overlook – the reality of Romans 8:28:

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

This changes everything. It eases the tension. Because here’s the truth:

     Some things God makes and calls them good.

     Some things He makes work together for the good of those who are called.

Either way, there is absolutely nothing in your life that isn’t good or beyond God’s ability to work for your good.

     Your body, which is good. Or the cancer in it, which is terrible.

     Your wife, who is good. Or her death, which was tragic.

     Your children, who are good. Or them walking away from God, which is heartbreaking.

This is why Paul can go on to say in Romans 8:39 that nothing in all creation is able to separate us from the love of God. It’s because there is nothing in all creation that God did not make or that is beyond the scope of His redemptive power to remake.

You might think you’re the exception, but you’re not. Romans 8:28 isn’t a statement of probability or possibility. It’s a statement of reality. It’s not, God can make all things work for your good, but maybe that doesn’t apply to you. It’s that every second of your life He is making all things work for your good.

Whether you can see it now or not, your life is one of the greatest testimonies to the goodness and creative capabilities of God you’re ever going to behold. For what He has already given you that’s good. And for how He can redeem your life after it falls apart, or remake your heart after it’s been shattered.

No matter what position you’re in, there’s no place where God’s love cannot find you and recreate you. No matter what you have experienced, your life is stamped by the goodness of God.

Yes, there’s good and bad. But it’s all for your good.

 We are happy to announce a transition in the way we do our Leadership Devotionals. We wish to continue to bring you encouragement and helpful information, and we would like to do this in a more fluid manner. Rather than a once-a-week email, we will be utilizing Twitter to consistently encourage our leadership; that’s you! So please click the button and begin following @npserve on Twitter. God bless you all and have a wonderful week!

 Please enjoy this article I found helpful in my ministry…

     -Shawn

Tune into God

by Rick Warren

 “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” Luke 8:8 (NIV)

All through Scripture, the Bible says God is speaking to us. Why? Because you were created for a relationship with God. That is the whole reason you exist. God wants you to know him intimately.

Now you can’t have a relationship without communication. The problem is that communication is very easily misunderstood. I’ve been married to my wife for 35 years and I still don’t always hear her or understand her. So if I can’t even figure out somebody I’ve lived with for 35 years, how am I expected to always get it right hearing God?

That might surprise you because a lot of people think pastors have a direct hotline to God. The truth is, sometimes I’m just as confused as you are in hearing God’s voice. I don’t get it clear every time – no different from anybody else — but I will tell you this – it get’s easier.

After 35 years of marriage, I can recognize my wife’s voice when she calls me on the phone without her having to identify herself, even if it’s an overseas bad connection. And after more than 45 years in a relationship with God, I know his voice when he talks to me.

The longer you grow in your relationship with the Lord, the easier it is to know when he’s talking to you. The key is learning how to tune in to him.

Jesus said in Luke 8:8, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear” (NIV). God has given you all the equipment you need to hear him, and over the next few days, we’ll learn how to tune in to him.

We are happy to announce a transition in the way we do our Leadership Devotionals. We wish to continue to bring you encouragement and helpful information, and we would like to do this in a more fluid manner. Rather than a once-a-week email, we will be utilizing Twitter to consistently encourage our leadership; that’s you! So please click the button and begin following @npserve on Twitter. God bless you all and have a wonderful week!

Please enjoy this leadership article I found helpful in my ministry…

~Shawn

God’s Will or Your Will?

by Jon Walker

Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.” John 6:68–69 (NIV)

Even if we don’t understand God’s plan, we need to respond to his direction. In fact, when we don’t understand God’s plan, it is even more important to do exactly what he directs us to do.

Often, God asks us to make the choice to do his will before we know the specific details of his plan. That’s because part of God’s plan is to develop in us a trust of his character and his benevolence.

But this is where many of us get into a battle of wills with God, wanting him to reveal his plan to us first and only then will we decide whether or not to do what he tells us to do.

But that’s not the way it works. God wants you to decide in advance, trusting him and believing that his will is the best plan for your life, believing that he will strengthen you to do all that he asks you to do.

One reason God doesn’t give you the full picture of his plans for your life is that you may be overwhelmed by what you see. For instance, it may appear impossible for you to complete everything he plans for you during this Decade of Destiny. But that’s the point—there’s no way you can fulfill your mission without God empowering you.

Peter was in a constant battle with Jesus over what to do, but he also realized that there was no one else to trust but the Holy One of God, the Word of God in the flesh, Jesus Christ.

Do you still think there is someone else to go to find out what direction to take? Perhaps you still believe you know best? Tell God, “I don’t know that I’m willing to step out in faith without first knowing everything that’s going to happen, but I’m willing to be made willing.”

Shane and Shawn spent the week at  the Radicalis conference at Saddleback Church in Southern California so we don’t have a message from them today.  However, please enjoy the article below from Tom Holladay, a teaching pastor at Saddleback.

Check out previous devotional content at Focal Pointe Blog

Choose Faith and It Will Increase

by Tom Holladay

“God clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today but tomorrow is thrown into the fire. So you can be even more sure that God will clothe you. Don’t have so little faith!” Matthew 6:30 (NCV)

The disciples had good reason to worry in Matthew 8. They were fishermen, so they knew how dangerous the storm was that they faced. And yet, when they woke Jesus, he said to them, “Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!” (Matthew 8:26 NLT).

That statement is a big challenge to us. It reminds us that there is no reason good enough to worry. When we are in the midst of realities in our lives that might cause us to worry, Jesus is saying we need to choose faith instead.

How do you make this choice? You understand the character of God. You understand his love for you and how he wants to work in your life.

One of the pictures God used to help understand his character is the picture of flowers. Jesus said, “Look at the lilies and how they grow … if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow, won’t he more surely care for you? You have so little faith!” (Matthew 6:28-30 NLT).

Flowers are not made beautiful because of their anxiety. They are made beautiful because of the character of God. God is at work in your life too. He is a generous and loving God.

How do you increase your faith when there are so many circumstances in life that cause you to worry? Start praying in advance. Most of the time you can see what’s coming, so you can either choose to worry about it or you can start putting your faith in God before it gets here.

Jesus tells this story in Luke 8, “The seed that fell among the thorny weeds is like those who hear God’s teaching, but they let the worries, riches and pleasures of this life keep them from growing and producing good fruit” (NCV).

If you pray about the things that are worrying you, your faith will produce a burst of growth, joy, productivity and significance like you have never seen before.

ACTS- 2/20/11- Notes

The Volunteer Ministry Leader Application: Why We’re Doing It

1 Timothy 3:8-13 (ESV) [8 ] Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. [9 ] They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. [10 ] And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. [11 ] Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. [12 ] Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. [13 ] For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

*  Every person leading a ministry at NPCC is considered a Deacon-level leader.

*  If at all possible, we want to be Proactive when making additions, not Reactive

*  We can’t possibly know Every Person’s position on every issue.

*  We are not Adding to the Biblical qualifications for leadership.

* We are making our best attempt to be sure our Deacon-level leaders possess the Qualities of Character required of Ministry Leaders, as Defined in Scripture.

2 Timothy 2:15 (ESV) Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

Interesting…

“Leaders: Don’t apologize for expecting excellence. God deserves it, and people are capable of it. Call it out. My observation is that some leaders are afraid or embarrassed to expect excellence as a normal product from the people they lead. Usually it’s because they don’t want to appear to be demanding or demeaning. Apparently it’s an affront to expect a lot out of a person. But it’s actually just the opposite. It honors them.” –Steven Furtick-

In November and December 2010 the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project conducted a survey and found…

• 75% of all American adults are active in some kind of volunteer group or organization.
• 80% of internet users volunteer, compared with 56% of non-internet users.
• 82% of Facebook users and 85% of Twitter users are active volunteers.
• 75% of Facebook and Twitter users check their status at least once each day.

“If you’re a leader, let others make some of the mistakes! Don’t insist on making     them all yourself. You bring out the best in people by giving them a challenge,   giving them control, and giving them the credit.” – Rick Warren

*Approximately 40 percent of the world’s population still lives on less than two dollars per day.*

~ “There is a great deal of difference between an eager man who wants to read a book and a tired man who wants a book to read.” – G.K. Chesterton

The phrases “one another” or “each other” are used over 50 times in the New Testament.

We are commanded to love each other, pray for each other, encourage each other, admonish each other, greet each other, serve each other, teach each other, accept each other, honor each other, bear each other’s burdens, forgive each other, sing to each other, submit to each other, and be devoted to each other.

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1 ESV)

On a recent Wednesday night I had the privilege of sharing in the teaching at NorthPointe’s Celebrate Recovery program. I thoroughly enjoyed myself, and I thought it might be fun to share one of the points with you this week. It starts with a question. Have you fully accepted Jesus’ work on the Cross for your forgiveness? I’m sure most of us have accepted it, but do you realize that there are no exceptions?

Every now and then, memories of my past sneak up on me while I’m driving home or when I’m trying to study. They’re usually bad memories; of things I need to be forgiven for. I seem to forget that I have been forgiven. Does that ever happen to you; like there’s some kind of exception to what we’ve accepted? Let me remind us all, myself included, of what Paul says in Romans, chapter eight “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (8:1) Paul’s use of the word therefore indicates to me that he’s qualifying what he previously stated. And from Romans 3 through 8, Paul talks of the victory that comes through Jesus Christ our Lord. He really drives home the idea of new life in Christ; that we’ve been completely forgiven. No exceptions! Paul doesn’t make any mention of some small amount of condemnation for that one thing you did to your best friend back then, does he? No, there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus! That’s us! Once you’ve accepted the work of Jesus on the Cross for your salvation, there simply are no exceptions friends. Don’t ever forget that.

Have a great week!

-Shawn

10 Things That Cause Stress In A Leader

By:  Perry Noble

Actually…I am not sure if these cause stress in every leader…but I know these are the 10 most common things that cause stress in me…

#1 – I actually believe the church is MY church and not HIS church…and that I am in control rather than HIM!  (See Matthew 16:18)

#2 – I do not trust the people who I delegate authority and responsibility to and actually begin to believe the lie that, “if I want something done right then I must do it myself.”

#3 – When I know without a doubt what God has spoken to me to do…but I begin to listen to the “experts” who tell me that the very thing God has called me to do is an impossibility.

#4 – When I try to explain myself to those who don’t really want an explanation…they just want to argue.

#5 – When I refuse to take some time to disconnect and rest, claiming that the devil never takes a day off while not understanding that the devil isn’t supposed to be my example.

#6 – When I begin to take on the “Messiah complex” and begin to think about how much the church needs me rather than how much I actually NEED CHRIST!

#7 – When I worry about results more than obedience!!!

#8 – When I focus on the size of the problem rather than the size of God!

#9 – When I fail to share my worries and concerns and admit my mistakes to others for fear that it may make me seem weak and stupid.  (When…the opposite is the case, those around me actually love and respect me more when I ask for help!)

#10 – When I become unaware of HIS presence every single minute of my life!

Daniel 9:2 (NLT)
^“During the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, learned from reading the word of the Lord, as revealed to Jeremiah the prophet, that Jerusalem must lie desolate for seventy years.”

It’s a powerful insight to remember that even Daniel depended upon the reading of God’s word.  For you might think that a prophet who interpreted dreams, instructed kings, and spoke with angels may have no need to regularly read the scriptures.  And yet here he is, taking the time to read “the word of the Lord”.  God had instructed Jeremiah to write these words just a short time earlier.  It begs the question, How important are the scriptures for your life?     God commanded to write them and the prophets were diligent to read them.  This should give us a clue!  How devoted are you to reading God’s words?  Can I encourage you to follow Daniel’s lead?  You won’t be disappointed!   I pray you have a great week and enjoy the ministry that God brings your way.

P.S.: For your continued encouragement and training we will include below articles on “leadership” from various authors that we hope will encourage and strengthen you in ministry.  God bless you!

-Shane

How do I maintain a teachable attitude?

By John C Maxwell

Teachability is not so much about competence and mental capacity as it is about attitude. It is the desire to listen, learn, and apply. It is the hunger to discover and grow. It is the willingness to learn, unlearn, and relearn. I love the way legendary basketball coach John Wooden states it: “It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts.”

When I teach and mentor leaders, I remind them that if they stop learning, they stop leading. But if they remain teachable and keep learning, they will be able to keep making an impact as leaders. Whatever your talent happens to be – whether it’s leadership, craftsmanship, entrepreneurship, or something else – you will expand it if you keep expecting and striving to learn.

Futurist and author John Naisbitt believes that “the most important skill to acquire is learning how to learn.” Here is what I suggest as you pursue teachability:

1. Learn to listen.

American writer and philosopher Henry David Thoreau wrote, “It takes two to speak the truth – one to speak and one to hear.” Being a good listener helps us to know people better, to learn what they have learned, and to show them that we value them as individuals.

As you go through each day, remember that you can’t learn if you’re always talking. As the old saying goes, “There’s a reason you have one mouth and two ears.” Listen to others and remain humble, and you will learn things that can help you expand your talent.

2. Understand the learning process.

Here’s how learning typically works:

STEP 1: Act.

STEP 2: Look for your mistakes and evaluate.

STEP 3: Search for a way to do it better.

STEP 4: Go back to Step 1.

Remember, the greatest enemy of learning is knowing. And the goal of all learning is action, not knowledge. If what you are doing does not in some way contribute to what you or others are learning in life, then question its value and be prepared to make changes.

3. Look for and plan teachable moments.

If you look for opportunities to learn in every situation, you will expand your talent to its potential. But you can also take another step beyond this and actively seek out and plan teachable moments. You do that by reading books, visiting places that inspire you, attending events that prompt you to pursue change, and spending time with people who stretch you and expose you to new experiences.

4. Make your teachable moments count.

Even people who are strategic about seeking teachable moments can miss the whole point of the experience. I say this because for many years I’ve been a speaker at conferences and workshops – events that are designed to help people learn. But I’ve found that many people walk away from an event and do very little with what they heard.

We tend to focus on learning events instead of the learning process. Because of this, I try to help people take action steps that will help them implement what they learn. I suggest that in their notes, they pay special attention to…

Points they need to think about

Changes they need to make

Lessons they need to apply

Information that they need to share

Then after the conference, I recommend that they create to-do lists based on what they took note of, then schedule time to follow through.

5. Ask yourself, “Am I really teachable?”

I’ve said it before, but it bears repeating: all the good advice in the world won’t help if you don’t have a teachable spirit. To know whether you are really open to new ideas and new ways of doing things, ask yourself the following questions:

Am I open to other people’s ideas?

Do I listen more than I talk?

Am I open to changing my opinion based on new information?

Do I readily admit when I am wrong?

Do I observe before acting on a situation?

Do I ask questions?

Am I willing to ask a question that will expose my ignorance?

Am I open to doing things in a way I haven’t done before?

Am I willing to ask for directions?

Do I act defensive when criticized, or do I listen openly for truth?

If you answered no to one or more of these questions, then you have room to grow in the area of teachability. You need to soften your attitude, learn humility, and remember the words of John Wooden: “Everything we know we learned from someone else!”

Psalm 107:1, 8-9 (NIV) Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.  Let the redeemed of the Lord say this… let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.

One of the best ways to start the year is to remember the goodness of the Lord; reflecting on His faithfulness, musing on His justice, and revering Him for His righteousness.   The Lord is good; “let the redeemed of the Lord say this”.

Sometimes in the quietness of the morning I’ll extend my hands to the Lord and verbally acknowledge the wonders of His character or the tenderness of His heart.  When I don’t know what else to pray and find myself lost for the right words, giving thanks is my instinctive response.  You see, I am so thankful that through Jesus, God has saved my soul and refreshed my heart.  I’m so thankful that He loves me in spite of me, He forgives me but also cleanses me, He frees me but also disciplines me.  I have much to be thankful for! Now, I’m not talking about “feel-good religion”. The Psalmist doesn’t encourage great thanks because life is always easy. Not even close! Having read this Psalm just recently I remember that sandwiched in between the verses above, the writer recalls that “some wandered in desert wastelands, finding no way to a city where they could settle. They were hungry and thirsty, and their lives ebbed away” (Verse 4-5).   The Bible is nothing if not honest!  Even so, the writer enthusiastically gives God praise for His “unfailing love” and “wonderful deeds”.  He says God “satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things”.   How can this be? Is it denial? Is it dementia? I don’t think so. But it is dependence. Why?  Because great thanks flows out of great trust!  You see, if I don’t trust the Lord I’ll never acknowledge Him for anything good that comes into my life. I’ll think it’s all because of me.   I’ll thank myself for the good and blame God for the bad. But trust tells me everything I have is a gift from God and for God. My trust reminds me that when I’ve “wandered in desert wastelands”, gone “hungry and thirsty” and felt my life “ebbed away” that God is still good. This too is the reflection of God’s “unfailing love” doing “wonderful deeds for men. Let the redeemed of the Lord say this”! I encourage you this week to begin the practice of giving thanks to God for who He is and trust Him and ALL that He does.  God bless you as you lead others to know God’s wonderful grace!

Shane

Well friends, an entire year of Focal Pointe has come and gone. And what a first year it was!Some of the topics we brought to you included vision, goals, unity, Christ-likeness, serving, expectations, opportunities, love, adventure, peace, honoring God, suffering, purity, and many others. I feel very privileged to have the opportunity to participate in sharing Scriptural insight and study with you.

Pastor Shane and I would like to continue to send Focal Pointe devotionals to you this year also, and we’re interested in what sort of topics you’d be interested in reading about throughout the year. That’s right friends; we’re taking requests! So what is it that you want to know more about? Is there something you’d like to know our position on? How about our feelings or stance regarding a particular subject, based on the truth of Scripture? Ministry leadership topics, family-life topics, life-in-general topics; whatever it may be, we would like the opportunity to study the Scriptures and bring you observations. So feel free to respond this week and let us know!

On behalf of Pastor Shane and myself, thank you again for allowing us to be part of your walk in this way. We are blessed by you! God bless you and your families this year!

Shawn

“Resolution One: I will live for God. Resolution Two: If no one else does, I still will.”
-Jonathan Edwards

“And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” (Luke 1:34 ESV)

Good question; and Mary gets her answer.

“And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.” (Luke 1:35 ESV)

Let’s unpack this one. The Angel Gabriel says that the Holy Spirit will be performing the miracle of Jesus’ conception and birth. Then, Mary is told “therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.” This indicates to me that Jesus’ holiness is due to his being conceived by the Holy Spirit. Even though Jesus was a legitimate human being, he did not inherit a sinful nature and character from Adam, as all other human beings do. Anyway, Gabriel is not quite finished with his explanation. Next, Mary gets what is probably a much needed reminder of God’s infinite power. “For nothing will be impossible with God.” (Luke 1:37 ESV)

What I really love about this conversation is Mary’s response. “And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.” (Luke 1:38 ESV) After receiving instructions about something that needed to happen, Mary responds with the ultimate example of discipleship; obedience. Okay, so maybe an Angel hasn’t burst into your house and informed you…yet, but are you being prompted about something that needs to happen going into this new year? Or perhaps something that needs to stop happening? Friend, nothing is impossible with God! Will you respond according to Mary’s example? Good question…

God bless you in 2011!

Shawn

“One act of obedience is better than one hundred sermons”. -Dietrich Bonhoeffer