We don’t drift in good directions. We discipline and prioritize ourselves there.

It takes a habit to break a habit. You can pray every day for a generous heart, but until you start acting in that direction, nothing’s going to change.

…often, stepping outside your comfort zone is not careless irresponsibility, but a necessary act of obedience.

In the shadow of my hurt, forgiveness feel like a decision to reward my enemy. But in the shadow of the cross, forgiveness is merely a gift from one undeserving soul to another.

What you fear most will determine whether you merely save for the future or give for the future.

Direction, not intention determines your destination.

To ensure that we are leading with our feet firmly planted on the soil of what is, we must live by the seven commandments of current reality:Thou shalt not pretend.Though shalt not turn a blind...

As a leader it is your job to protect the missional integrity of the Jesus gathering to which you have been called. It is your responsibility to see to it that the church under your...

Here’s a question every angry man and woman needs to consider: How long are you going to allow people you don’t even like — people who are no longer in your life, maybe even people...

Here’s a scary thought: What if God called you to give beyond your comfort level? Would you be afraid? Would you try to explain it away or dismiss it as impractical? And in the process,...

Where there’s no progress, there’s no growth. If there’s no growth, there’s no life. Environments void of change are eventually void of life.

Greed is supported by an endless cast of what-ifs. Greedy people can never have enough to satisfy the need they feel in light of every conceivable eventuality.

As you give to fund God’s needs, are you forced to trust Him to provide for yours? That’s what a growing faith is about. And over the long haul, it’s not enough just to commit...

As believers, we all have the responsibility to leverage our wealth for kingdom purposes.

Next generation leaders are those who would rather challenge what needs to change and pay the price than remain silent and die on the inside.

If you decide that what God is asking you to do with your life is just too much on you and is just a little too inconvenient, then you will never see the miracles he...

If you see your brother in need, it doesn’t matter if you already gave somewhere else. You should be open to the idea of God using you to meet your brother’s unexpected need.

The God of Christianity never claims to be fair. He goes beyond fair. The Bible teaches that he decided not to give us what we deserve–that’s mercy. In addition, God decided to give us what...

We have a tendency to measure ourselves against the people around us. They become our point of reference. A good coach will evaluate your performance against your potential.…if we are wise enough to listen, they...

Peace is a fruit of the Spirit, not the byproduct of accumulated wealth.

One of the primary reasons we don’t seek counsel from the wise people around us is that we already know what we are going to hear–and we just don’t want to hear it.

Likewise, most of the world goes to bed at night under the assumption that if they were to die in their sleep, they would find themselves standing at the pearly gates. After all, good people...

Striving for balance forces a leader to invest time and energy in aspects of leadership where he will never succeed. It is not realistic to strive for balance within the sphere of our personal leadership...

But in the areas that matter most, a burst of energy and activity cannot reverse the consequences that accompany a season of neglect.

You don’t sit around looking for reasons to do the right thing; it’s the bad decisions that require creative reasoning.

Just as Jesus predicted, what originates in the secret place won’t always remain a secret. … How do we guard — or maybe it would be more appropriate to say, guard against — our hearts?...

You may be good. You may even be better than everyone esle. But without a coach you will never be as good as you could be.

We rob ourselves when we make decisions in the moment with no thought of how those decisions will impact our futures.

Our greatest moral regrets are always preceded by a series of unwise choices.

Every arena of life intersects with what’s going on in our hearts. Everything passes through on its way to wherever it’s going. Everything.

right.” Leadership is about getting things done through other people…When a leader can’t find someone to hand things off to, it is time for him to look in the mirror. We must never forget that...

None of us plan–or intend–to get into trouble. The problem is, we don’t plan not to.

The root of anger is the perception that something has been taken. Something is owed you, and now a debt to debtor relationship has been established.

Whenever pastors assume people in their congregation know certain things, they miss opportunities to teach. If a pastor makes assumptions year after year, then a whole generation has never heard [that truth] for the first...

Your talent and giftedness as a leader have the potential to take you farther than your character can sustain you. That ought to scare you.

The health of your marriage tomorrow will be determined by the decisions you make today.

Relationships are built on small, consistent deposits of time. You can’t cram for what’s most important. If you want to connect with your kids, you’ve got to be available consistently, not randomly.

..the best strategy for giving is a two-fold approach: a basic plan combined with a willingness to consider spontaneous giving when unique opportunities arise.

[God] wants you to go home, look at your bucket of seed, and determine in your heart how much you’d like to sow. He wants you to consider thoughtfully your current circumstances, your life, your...

Loyalty publicly results in leverage privately.

Author has developed a routine of daily emotional debriefing with his kids as he tucks them in at night. To encourage the habit of keeping uncluttered, open heart, he starts with basic questions asking whether...

Past boldness is no assurance of future boldness. Boldness demands continual reliance on God’s spirit.

Theology isn’t what drove them to their…theology.” author writes on dealing with the embittering experience of those who protect a wounded place with abstract arguments.

So what do you do when you are stuck?The first thing I do when I am stuck is pray. But I’m not talking about a quick, Help me Lord, Sunday’s a comin’ prayer. When I...

Any fear associated with giving to God’s kingdom is irrational. It’s on par with a farmer who, out of fear of losing his seed, refuses to plant his fields.