Let’s spend some time in scripture together. Take a moment to?read Philippians 3:7-17 slowly and reflectively.?Then make your way through the thoughts below. We grow more mature in Christ as? He Himself fills more and more of the horizon of my life (7-8). Paul looks at the advantages of his Hebrew heritage, his religious family, […]
Spiritual Dynamics: Death Leading to Resurrection
Watchman Nee, in the two quotations below, says that we can sometimes so cling to the gifts of God that we focus on them rather than on God Himself. Listen?. ?Sometimes God reaches out his hand to take ours in fellowship. Then we need an empty hand to put into his. But when we have […]
God?s Unexpected Methods of Leadership Development
?[Quoting Charles Spurgeon] Have none of you ever noticed, in your own lives, that whenever God is going to give you an enlargement, and bring you out to a larger sphere of service, or a higher platform of spiritual life, you always get thrown down? That is His usual way of working; He makes you […]
Mother Teresa and the Soul’s Dark Night
A while back, I read Come Be My Light, a collection of materials from the life of Mother Teresa of Calcutta. Many have talked about her extended lack of God?s felt presence for most of her years of ministry among the poorest of the poor. Some have thought she was being hypocritical in proclaiming good […]
Spiritual Leadership: Lessons from Spiritual Direction
Here is a great summary of what makes a good spiritual director. These qualities are also useful for those of us in any form of spiritual leadership. You can easily change out the words ?spiritual director? for ?Christian leader.? How is God growing these qualities in your own life and ministry? The lines in bold […]
Trusting in the Dark What We Saw in the Light
Can you think of moments or seasons when God?s purposes for you seemed quite unmistakable? And have you been walking with Him long enough to encounter seasons when your confidence is tested through long seasons of lesser certainty? I know I have. I read the following word from Jean Blomquist in an edition of Weavings […]
Deeply Rooted Leadership
One of our core themes in The Leadership Institute is holding the cultivation of the inner life (of prayer and communion with God) and the outer life (of ministry and leadership) in healthy tension. It?s easy to give attention to one and neglect the other. One writer who spoke often on these themes was Elton […]
