Eagles In Leadership

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This past month has watched the meltdown of long-time financial institutions and the seizure and quick sale of the largest bank failure in the history of the United States. IRAs, 401ks and pension plans, not to mention the saving accounts of thousands upon thousands have felt the awful truth that the harvest of greed is now reaping upon our nation. You have felt the pain, just as my wife Melodee and I have. As once-secure money now evaporates, even many church’s financial pictures are threatened.

As pundits and people scratch their heads and ask questions about the future, many have failed to ask questions of the past. Solving the problem is as important as dealing with the symptoms of a crisis. Jesus addresses such an issue when he says …

“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” Matthew 6:24 (NKJ)

We become like Jesus when …

¨ We choose to make our money serve God’s mission!

Our final destination should have incredible pull over our present habits. When we choose to make our money serve His mission, we choose to follow the warnings and directives of the Sacred Writ instead of the compulsions of our culture.

Change is in order when we follow Jesus. That change works into the very heart of our lifestyles. When we serve God, we choose to make money our slave, not vice-versa. We have incredible hope in God, for we understand David’s testimony to be our own …

“I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread.” Psalms 37:25 (NKJ)

Today, as you watch the news reports, ask yourself this simple question: “Who am I serving?” If you are serving the King of kings and Lord of lords above all others – including the pursuit of money – you have nothing to fear!

© 2008 By Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

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In His Image!

If you would like to learn more about this great God and His great plan for your life, we suggest you read Pastor Matt’s book, “In His Image”. We know you will want to get your copy (and perhaps a few extras for your friends) today. To order your copy of “In His Image” click the link on the right hand toolbar. To learn more about the ministry and resources of Dr. Matthew Lee Smith, click the ‘RESOURCES’ link at the top of this web page.

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Becoming Like Jesus! is written and published by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

For more information: www.EaglesInLeadership.org

PastorMatt@EaglesInLeadership.org

Dr. Matthew Lee Smith
Sep 25, 2008

Becoming Like Jesus! (Part 33)

© 2008 By Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

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These are turbulent times for our economy. Many people have watched as their retirement accounts have shrunk, their home equity has been reduced and their financial picture has turned dark.

In such times, we begin to look at securing our assets and guarding ourselves against further deflation. And just as we want to protect our financial future, Jesus reminds us in Matthew 6.19-21 that we should be securing our eternal future as well …

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21 (NKJ)

We become like Jesus when …

• We store up eternal treasure while we are still on Earth!

That last sentence from Jesus is very telling … “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” How do we know what we truly value? This is easy! Where do we put out time and our finances?

Let’s be clear: You can’t buy your way into heaven! However, you can invest in the things that will last forever! People, your character and God’s Word all last forever! Who will you invest in to bring them into a personal, saving relationship with Christ? How will you become conformed to the image of Jesus Christ? What is your plan to impress the heart of God, as expressed in His Word, into your very being?

Starting this week, why not re-evaluate the places you invest your time and finances in? Ask yourself, does this truly reflect an eternal security plan for your assets? Perhaps placing more of an investment in the eternal through your local church would strengthen your long-term eternal goals!

Becoming Like Jesus! (Part 32)
© 2008 By Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

Feel free to forward this to a friend!

Many of my friends know that I like a good buffet! (After all, in these troubling times we all want to get our money’s worth – it’s just good stewardship!) So when the doctor asked me to do a medical fast for a blood test, I was less than thrilled!

While I have fasted much in my life, I know the difficulties that come from not eating! And only in times of greater need do I seem to be motivated to stop eating (like for a medical test). Jesus reminds us that some people seem to live their spiritual lives so that when they do something sacrificial they want other people to see their sacrifices and honor them for it. Jesus explains to us how fasting really works in Matthew 6.16-18 …

“Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites [literally: actors], with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. Matthew 6:16-18

We become like Jesus when …

• We appear to be fasting to our Father in Heaven alone!

Fasting seeks to carve out time from our busy schedules for prayer because of need. When we get alone with God during normal meal times – without drawing the attention of others to our personal sacrifice – God hears and rewards us in public ways.

I do not know what big need(s) you might have in your life right now … but I do know that life goes by too fast to get enough prayer time in! Let me encourage you to invest the time you would normally spend eating in something much more valuable – prayer. Get alone with God during lunch time and skip the Big Mac so you can spend time with the Master!

God will reward you for your sacrifice.

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ON FACEBOOK!

For those of you who are ‘connected’ on Facebook, Dr. Smith would love to connect with you as ‘friends’ there! You can find him as ‘Matthew Lee Smith.’

PERSONAL PRAYER JOURNAL!

It seems like there are so many things that call our attention to prayer. One person recently told me they were upset with their prayer life because they couldn’t keep all the requests together to pray for. (Recently some one asked if she was still praying for them. Embarrassed, she had to admit she had lost the note and forgot to lift them up.)

The ‘Personal Prayer Journal’ was designed to organize your prayer requests in a single location and by theme. When you intercede for people, carrying them to the Lord is much easier when they are right in front of you.

Set up to make organization simple, there are themes for each day and a location for prayer requests for every day! For more information and ordering instructions, simply follow the link: https://www.eaglesinleadership.org/resources/.

IN HIS IMAGE!

If you would like to learn more about this great God and His great plan for your life, we suggest you read Pastor Matt’s book, “In His Image”. We know you will want to get your copy (and perhaps a few extras for your friends) today. To order your copy of “In His Image” and to learn more about the ministry and resources of Dr. Matthew Lee Smith, check us out at www.eaglesinleadership.org.

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Becoming Like Jesus! is written and published by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith
For more information: www.EaglesInLeadership.org
PastorMatt@EaglesInLeadership.org