Making Hard Decisions

 

Welcome to Multiply! This is a podcast to encourage village church planters and leaders. We are Brad & Daneille Snowden.

Today we are going to approach the topic on ‘Making Hard Decisions’. This is an issue all leaders face which can affect our mission and our church. 

2 Timothy 1:6-7 (in the amplified) says; “That is why, I remind you to fan into flame the gracious gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. (v.7) For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, or cowardice or fear, but He has given us a spirit of power, and of love and of sound judgement (which is) personal discipline).”

The Apostle Paul is exhorting Timothy as a leader in the church to boldly use the gift of leadership to edify the body in which sometimes means making hard decisions. 

Many years ago, in one of our churches that we pastored, we had a difficult decision to make, as we felt the need to start a specific teaching series with the church. It was about a subject that a good percentage of the church was struggling with. We knew once we started this teaching series, that it would stir up a lot of questions and possible problems. We noted that the people would either be moved to change, by surrendering their entire lives to the Lord or they could become angry. 

We obeyed the Lord in this, and we did see many grow deeper in Him and also ones who ran from God’s will, which did hurt not only themselves but many others. 

When we all make hard decisions, first it is important to fast and pray.

Then deeply study God’s Word on the subject we have felt led to teach. 

Also, as we feel the Lord has given us His clear direction, discuss it with a mentor or leader or whomever has been agreeing in prayer about this. 

Also, it is good to Listen to their counsel on the subject.

Next, we are able move forward in much grace and boldness; leading with God’s Word as our voice. 

This has been Multiply. Please share this podcast with fellow church planters, pastors, and leaders. Follow us on youtube called VCPencouragement OMS, and our website vcpencouragement.org.

REST

 

This is Multiply, a podcast to encourage church planters and all who are working diligently serving God by serving others in ministry. I am Daneille Snowden and today the Lord has given me a word for you on ….

REST

The Lord is  calling us all to take some time to be relaxing in His arms.

To be at rest, in our hearts, and minds. 

Jesus is challenging us to stop to feel the brush of a gentle breeze, and the warmth of a ray of sunshine! 

It seems in the days we all now live, there is a constant bustle, a hurried busyness that causes our minds to not stop thinking, our hearts are beating faster, and our bodies are constantly on the go.

Is that what Jesus displayed when He walked on this earth? Take a moment and reflect on the times Jesus was with His disciples, His parents and Himself. 

He walked everywhere, long distances. He walked and not ran. He sat down, He ate and even laughed. He played with the children, and He stopped to heal a leper, a blind man, and even to call out ones to follow Him.  

Multitudes began to hear of Jesus and listen to His wise teachings. After time well spent with them, He would whisk away to a place of rest. In this quiet time, He taught His disciples the importance of rest, who then they would one day in turn teach their students too. 

We read scriptures that say, “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles. They shall run and not be weary and walk and not faint.” (Is. 40:31) 

And another that we all know well, in Psalm 23:2-3 

“He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside the quiet waters, he refreshes my soul....”

There are seasons we all walk through in life when we are busier than other times. For all of us who feel the urgency of the Gospel being preached, and souls coming to the saving knowledge of Christ, this drives us on to the point that we can’t seem to stop till the job is done. Many of us have shepherd’s hearts and simply love people, wanting to guide, help and encourage other believers in their Christian walk and we’re doing this day in and day out. 

 During our 26 years of pastoring, we were coming and going all the time. Our telephone would ring through out the day, we had three children whom we home schooled and cared for, we had sermons to prepare, Bible studies to put together, hospital visits and many to disciple. It was joy to pour into lives, including our own children. God sent wise older ministers our way to encourage us to take time out away from all of this to be refreshed and renewed. What that looks like to us may look different to someone else. But God led us to those resting places as a family, a couple and even to ourselves. 

It is vital to trust the Lord, as we take time to allow our bodies to be regenerated, our minds to recalibrate, and our souls to be renewed; know that  when we this He will do more through you and I even in a shorter amount of time. 

The Lord says, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” In  Exodus 33:14 

I encourage all my fellow church planters, dear ministers of the Gospel; to rest! Take care of your soul, you body and mind. Allow Jesus to bless this time of rest to renew you and give you a fresh vision for the work He has called you to do!

This has been Mulitply, please share this with others as well as visit us on Facebook, Youtube and our website: www.vcpencouragement.org

#bestillandknowthatIamGod  #Rest #restyoursoulsinJesus #waitupontheLord

The Character of a Leader- Nehemiah 2

 

This is Chuck Rapp with Multiply, a podcast to provide a word of encouragement for village church planters.

In my most recent podcast, I began a series on some of the leadership qualities of Nehemiah, the Old Testament leader who led the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem.  

We resume the story in chapter 2, verse 5, continuing through verse 8.    

“and I answered the king, “If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city where my fathers are buried so that I can rebuild it.”  …  “if it pleases the king, may I have letters to the governors of Trans-Euphrates, so that they will provide me safe conduct until I arrive in Judah?  AND [emphasis added] may I have a letter to Asaph, keeper of the king’s forest, so he will give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel by the temple and for the city wall and for the residence I will occupy?”  And because the gracious hand of my God was upon me, the king granted my requests.”  

I observe several important leadership qualities in these verses.  

• Nehemiah was bold!  Realizing what the Lord had called him to do, he made not one, not two, but three very large requests of the king.  As leaders, having listened to and received the marching orders of our King, we need to have faith to ask Him boldly for everything needed for the task.  1 Thessalonians 5:24 promises us that “The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.”

• Secondly, Nehemiah was planful. Notice how he had thought through his series of requests.  

o He asks for time off from his responsibilities as cupbearer to the king

o He asks to go to Jerusalem.

o He asks for letters of safe passage.  The distance from Susa to Jerusalem was 1365 kilometers; this was not a short trek. 

o He asks for the provision of timber for building the temple, the city walls and his home. 

Nehemiah knew the details of what was needed, and he had a plan.  We need a similar approach in our leadership.  Jesus illustrated this is the parable about counting the cost.  “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’  (Luke 14:28-30)

• Finally, Nehemiah was grateful to the Lord. “And because the gracious hand of my God was upon me, the king granted my requests.”  As leaders, our success comes from the Lord, and we must be diligent and intentional to give Him the glory. 

 

This has been a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters.