Encouraging - Hope

To hope for our children is not to bind them to our dreams for their success, fame, safety, or even happiness. Neither is hope the futile effort to redeem our own past by seeing our children do better than we have done. To dream for our children is to lean into the quiet cries of the Holy Spirit that call out the true, God-given name of our child. If we refuse to quit dreaming, we may one day hear this name. We must have the hope to imagine, and the imagination to dream, the reality of God for our children.

Dan B. Allender, How Children Raise Parents: The Art of Listening to Your Family (Waterbrook Press, Colorado Springs, CO: 2003), 147.

Encouraging - Character

Recently a dear family friend was appointed the top CEO position of a major multinational corporation. Upon hearing the news, a college friend of mine wrote me an email to recount a funny story involving their first meeting. A few years ago, my college friend had the pleasure of meeting this major executive at my rehearsal dinner. They exchanged niceties, such as "what do you do?" Not surprisingly, the family friend answered very humbly never giving any indication to his position. My college friend went so far as to suggest that his wife might be able to help the major executive if he needed some assistance in Nashville. This interaction was not suprising. If you were to meet our family friend, one would never know the amount of power or influence he wields in the world. Yet, some would argue he is one of the most influential people in corporate America; his servant's heart, character, approachability and integrity separate him from others in his field.

"No competent leader is going to be anxious to impress people with his credentials. Leaders who are truly able are qualified because of their character. They are easily identified, not by letters of commendation, but because of the influence they have on others. They are people who are confident in their calling, and yet at the same time, they know they are utterly dependent on God as the source of their true power."

John MacArthur, The Book on Leadership (Thomas Nelson, Nashville, TN: 2004), 103.

Encouraging - Self Care

“Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching” (1 Tim 4:16)
“Discipline yourself for the purpose of the godliness” (1 Tim 4:7)

Leaders cannot focus on their mission, care for their people, or reproduce and multiply if they do not take care of themselves. Spiritual care is the first priority. Practice what you preach. Do not neglect a regular time with the Lord in prayer and the Word. Ministry preparation – preaching, teaching, serving – is not the same as personal time with the Lord. Nourish yourself spiritually. Don’t neglect to confess your sins and receive the blessing and empowerment of God’s forgiveness. Avoid compromise, violating your conscience, and falling into patterns of sin. Maintain your witness with a faithful lifestyle. Strive before the Lord to live above reproach to honor your Savior.

Harry L. Reeder III, The Leadership Dynamic: A Biblical Model for Raising Effective Leaders (Crossway, Wheaton, IL: 2008), 74.