Magnificent Marriage Monday – God Specializes In The Impossible!

Posted on February 11, 2019 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

“When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him, saying, “As for me, here is my covenant with you: You will become the father of many nations. Your name will no longer be Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I will make you the father of many nations. I will make you extremely fruitful and will make nations and kings come from you.” (Genesis 17:1, 4–6, CSB) 

I will make you extremely fruitful and will make nations and kings come from you. When we think all is lost, that whatever we had hoped for and whatever we had chosen to do would no longer happen, God steps in. When we are powerless, our God is all-powerful.

Sometimes God simply waits until we use up all of our strength because we are stubborn or have chosen to answer His promises our way. When that happens His plan may be delayed, but it is not undone. God always accomplishes what He promises He will do.

For Abraham, over a decade had passed since God had rejected Ishmael and affirmed to him His promise:“Now the word of the Lord came to him: “One who comes from your own body will be your heir.” He took him outside and said, “Look at the sky and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” Then he said to him, “Your offspring will be that numerous.”” (Genesis 15:4–5, CSB)

Whatever you and your spouse are facing right now, no matter how bleak the situation looks, remember, God can do in a minute what we cannot do in a lifetime. Are you drained? Do you feel you are unable to go on? Then I have good news. God is able and willing to intervene if you will take your hands off of it.

Whether you are waiting for a child or in need of a job, no matter your situation God is saying to you today, “I will. I will make a way where there seems to be no way. I am the God of the Impossible! (Luke 1:49) There is nothing to hard for Me!” (Jeremiah 32:27; Luke 18:27)

I know its hard waiting. But, perhaps, it’s God who is waiting for you. Is it time to stop trying and trust God? If He gave you a promise He’ll give you His answer … in His time. We can trust Him. He alone is trustworthy. Whatever He promised you, He will fulfill. Why not stop, drop to your knees together right now and surrender to His ways!

 

Magnificent Marriage Mondays are helpful hints, clues, ideas, and solutions for the child of God who is looking for a spouse, in a relationship with someone, or are already married. Each post seeks to bring help, hope, and honesty to your life and make the rest of your life, the best of your life. They are written by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith, Executive Director of Eagles In Leadership, and come from his 38 years, 5 months and 2 days experience with his wife, Melodee, who was promoted to Heaven on November 11, 2017. He is currently seeking God’s will for his new life partner. He welcomes your comments below.

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Hope For Today – Loving Our Neighbor As Much As We Love Ourselves!

Posted on February 10, 2019 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

I’m Dr. Matthew Lee Smith and I want to share some Hope For Today about, Loving our neighbor as much as we love ourselves!

Check it out at the link below. Click the link below to listen. Hope For Today is a part of the ministry of Eagles In Leadership. If you would like to know more about the hope God gives and His abundant life through Jesus Christ, I would invite you to check out our website: EaglesInLeadership.org.

Just push the media button below to hear this encouraging message!

We hope you’ll consider going to Israel with the Eagles In Leadership group this December! Click the link, “Join Us In Israel This Fall,” at the top of the website for more information.

And, if you are so inclined, sign up for more encouragement through notifications (UPPER RIGHT CORNER OF THE WEBSITE) of other blogs and podcasts while you are at the Eagles in Leadership​ website.

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Faith Filled Friday – Believing God Will Work!

Posted on February 8, 2019 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

“The Lord, the God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house and from the land of my kindred, and who spoke to me and swore to me, ‘To your offspring I will give this land,’ he will send his angel before you, and you shall take a wife for my son from there.” (Genesis 24:7, ESV)

The Lord, the God of heaven, he will send his angel before you … and you shall take a wife for my son from there. God responds to faith. Those who walk in faith know and understand it. We simply trust the One who walks with us, as a friend trusts another friend.

Abraham, now old and wanting to make sure the son of his old age, Isaac, had a wife, commissions his most trusted servant with the task. Sending him some 1,000 miles through dangerous terrain and possible bandits, Abraham is adamant that Isaac’s wife should be of his family and not of the inhabitants of the land.

When the servant replies with skepticism, the dialogue grows pointed. “The servant said to him, “Perhaps the woman may not be willing to follow me to this land. Must I then take your son back to the land from which you came?” Abraham said to him, “See to it that you do not take my son back there.” (Genesis 24:5–6, ESV)

Abraham had no desire to cause Isaac any reason to drift away from the covenant and the promise. Too much was at stake. So, in faith, Abraham sends his servant in full assurance that the God who had never let him down would bring success to this journey as well.

Faith breeds assurance. God is trustworthy. However, just because He is trustworthy doesn’t mean we trust Him. Abraham had learned throughout his life that God “asks” for bigger and bigger things so that He can demonstrate He can be trusted.

You know this all too well. Each time God asks you pause. When God asks us to trust Him, He goes for the things that we doubt in, that we aren’t sure we can do. Those are the moments when God’s faithfulness is tested in our hearts and found to be true and real … if we choose to accept God’s request and do what He has called us to do.

Do you believe God is trustworthy? How are you demonstrating it right now? What are you doing by faith, without facts or evidence? That is when God responds. Do what He’s asked and watch Him work!

 

Faith Filled Fridays hope to boost your trust in God and accelerate your daring and courage in everyday life. Dr. Matthew Lee Smith, Executive Director of Eagles In Leadership, writes each encouragement out of a heart that has known both great joy and great loss – his wife of 38 years, 5 months and 2 days was promoted to Heaven on November 11, 2017. Through every experience, God has proven Himself more than faithful and trustworthy. He welcomes your comments below.

 

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Train Them Thursday – Worth Our Life!

Posted on February 7, 2019 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

“Then Herod secretly called the magi and determined from them the exact time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the Child; and when you have found Him, report to me, so that I too may come and worship Him.” After hearing the king, they went their way.” (Matthew 2:7–9, NASB95)

And he sent them to Bethlehem. Pretenders never do the hard work. They make a great pretense as to being with you, but in reality, their effort is always, at best, minimal. This is one of the great diagnostic tools of the disciple of King Jesus.

You see, people who are in love with Jesus will do whatever it takes to follow Him. We’ve come to understand that, apart from Jesus, there is only death. We have escaped the daily pain of another misguided failure. We know what it feels like to be without certainty, without direction, without purpose. Those were our days in death.

Some of us have been mangled by others. Others of us have been dragged through life by our own bad decisions. And now, we have found hope and help in the midst of our chaos and confusion. There is a light and we see the end of our long tunnel.

Shame and guilt no longer hound us. The failures of our past are just that … the past. Now, with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit we walk a new path, we have a new hope, we experience a new joy each day. Those gifts were unimaginable not so long ago.

And so, as we watch the sunrise on a new chapter in our new life, we who truly have surrendered to the King of kings and Lord of lords will do whatever it takes to serve and worship and honor Jesus, in public, at home, on the job or in the classroom.

Not so for the fakers of faith. They are, at best, half in and half out. They cringe at total surrender and abhor painful sacrifice. Theirs is a “show me first” kind of faith. They want to know, “What’s in it for me?” And like King Herod, they are unwilling to make the effort to search out and find the One who alone is worthy of life.

Rejoice in the reality of your King. Follow after Him with all your heart. He rewards those who diligently seek after Him. He blesses those who follow His commands exactly. He is worthy of our life!

Train Them Thursdays seeks to wed the Great Commission directive of Jesus with the practice He employed while on Earth. Each nugget is meant to encourage the reader with a “can-do” spirit to realize that discipleship is something each person is both capable of and empowered to accomplish. Dr. Matthew Lee Smith, Executive Director of Eagles In Leadership, writes each thought and they flow out of decades of his tried and true field-testing in multiple settings from rural to inner city. He welcomes your comments below.

 

 

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Willing Worker Wednesday – Am I Growing?

Posted on February 6, 2019 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

“The boy grew up and became strong, filled with wisdom, and God’s grace was on Him.” (Luke 2:40, HCSB)

The boy grew up and became strong, filled with wisdom, and God’s grace was on Him. Growth. It is the natural result of life. Where there is life there is growth. Where there is no life there is no growth.

The question is always the same: “Am I growing?” If the answer is, “Yes!” then life is present. Any other response means that we have a serious issue within.

Being a servant leader is all about growing … constantly growing into the person God is calling us to be. And, who is that? Paul answered our question for us two millennia ago when he wrote, “And He personally gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, for the training of the saints in the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ, until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son, growing into a mature man with a stature measured by Christ’s fullness.” (Ephesians 4:11–13, HCSB)

Did you catch the end of that thought? “Growing into a mature man with a stature measured by Christ’s fullness.” When we look and act like Jesus, we will be grown! In other words, we have a lifetime of growth yet to accomplish. God is working in us to bring about that growth. That is what eternal life is all about. Eternal life brings eternal growth.

You, as a servant of King Jesus, have plenty of opportunities to learn as you lead. You won’t always get it right, that’s why you need humility. Rejoice that God has placed you in leadership and remain humbled that He, at any time, could take that leadership from us because of our misuse of His gift or the abuse of others.

What an awesome privilege to be a willing worker of King Jesus! We have the constant opportunity to bring the peace and presence of our King, Jesus, into each and every person we come in contact with.

Today, as you step out the door or into the next encounter, rejoice that Jesus has chosen to fill you with wisdom and grace to lead for Him! Lead boldly knowing that you are growing into the worker He loves!

 

Willing Worker Wednesdays are dedicated to explaining the core realities of servant leadership – the Biblical principles and methods used by God’s faithful people throughout time. They further reflect the lifestyle of Jesus, the King of kings and Lord of lords as He walked on this earth announcing the Kingdom of God had arrived. These brief lessons are written by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith, Executive Director of Eagles In Leadership, and come from his extensive ministry within the local church, in higher education, in church consulting and as a Biblical author and leader. He welcomes your comments below.

 

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Turn-Around Tuesday – Who Are You Connected To?

Posted on February 5, 2019 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

“So the enemy took all the possessions of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their provisions, and went their way. They also took Lot, the son of Abram’s brother, who was dwelling in Sodom, and his possessions, and went their way.” (Genesis 14:11–12, ESV)

They also took Lot, the son of Abram’s brother, who was dwelling in Sodom, and his possessions, and went their way. Troubles come along in life, there’s just no way of escaping that fact. The issue is never, “Will problems come?” Yes, they will come. It’s always a matter of whether we are connected to someone, anyone who will care enough to do something about our problems.

We simply cannot do life alone! Connection is the key to turning our problems around. We need to be connected to someone who cares enough and is powerful enough to help us when life grows dark and the way becomes impossible.

Lot, the nephew of Abraham, hadn’t done much to endear himself to his uncle. However, Abraham cared for Lot. Perhaps more than he should of. When Lot had the choice in the past, he took all of the water rights to the Jordan River, knowing that his uncle had more flocks and herds than he himself had. Yet, Lot’s selfishness wouldn’t share.

Now, the enemies have come. They have taken everything, even Lot and all he had. Lot couldn’t save himself. Lot was a captive. Lot needed rescue from someone who cared enough and was powerful enough to do something about Lot’s lost condition.

Turning around our troubles happens long before our problems happen onto the scene of our lives. If we are going to be rescued from our catastrophes – and they will come – we will need to build good, solid, deep, close friendships with others now.

While Lot could count on his uncle, many of us know our families don’t have the means to rescue us from calamity. We need powerful friends to stand for us when others have stood against us.

Make new friends now. Be genuinely interested in them. Care and pray for them. And include the powerful and well off in that circle. Give them your love and intercession now. And, should you need it one day, they may just unlock your prison of pain and suffering.

 

Turn-Around Tuesdays are designed to bring hope and help, insight and encouragement to those of us who are simply overwhelmed by the flood of problems life throws at us. No one is immune to trials and troubles, but God has a way of lifting us from life’s torrents. Each short thought is written by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith, Executive Director of Eagles In Leadership, and comes from his life-journey with the God who never leaves us or forsakes us. He welcomes your comments below.

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Magnificent Marriage Monday – The Best Intentions of God’s Design!

Posted on February 4, 2019 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

“He slept with Hagar, and she became pregnant. When she saw that she was pregnant, her mistress became contemptible to her. Then Sarai said to Abram, “You are responsible for my suffering! I put my slave in your arms, and when she saw that she was pregnant, I became contemptible to her. May the Lord judge between me and you.”” (Genesis 16:4–5) 

You are responsible for my suffering! Sin breeds death (Romans 6:23). It doesn’t matter if you have “permission” from your wife to do something. If God has already set a standard or a command, then you know what is right and what is wrong.

Abraham’s act of unbelief had mutated into the act of immorality. Now, technically, it may have been acceptable by the standards of the day. Culture may have permitted it. The people of faith may have accepted it. But when God established marriage, He was clear about the methods and limits when He said, “For the man no helper was found corresponding to him. So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to come over the man, and he slept. God took one of his ribs and closed the flesh at that place. Then the Lord God made the rib he had taken from the man into a woman and brought her to the man.” (Genesis 2:20–22)

When God made marriage, He made it as a couple, a man and a wife for life. Abraham and Sarah had decided to add a third person to their marriage bed; an extension God never intended or designed. Thus, their choice missed the mark of God’s expressed will, which is the definition of sin.

Every husband has the role of exemplifying the desires of God in their marriage. This means, that he has the responsibility to uphold the highest standard of morality and faith, both for his and his wife’s future and spiritual growth.

Today, before you step into a questionable path, even if your wife is in agreement, ask yourself a simple question: Does this represent both the revealed will of God and the best intentions of God’s design in this area of our lives? When your answer is, “Yes!” to both of these then proceed with bold confidence that you are walking in faith and have the smile of God upon your lives.

 

Magnificent Marriage Mondays are helpful hints, clues, ideas, and solutions for the child of God who is looking for a spouse, in a relationship with someone, or are already married. Each post seeks to bring help, hope, and honesty to your life and make the rest of your life, the best of your life. They are written by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith, Executive Director of Eagles In Leadership, and come from his 38 years, 5 months and 2 days experience with his wife, Melodee, who was promoted to Heaven on November 11, 2017. He is currently seeking God’s will for his new life partner. He welcomes your comments below.

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Hope For Today – Loving God With All We Have!

Posted on February 3, 2019 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

I’m Dr. Matthew Lee Smith and I want to share some Hope For Today about, Loving God with all we have!

Check it out at the link below. Click the link below to listen. Hope For Today is a part of the ministry of Eagles In Leadership. If you would like to know more about the hope God gives and His abundant life through Jesus Christ, I would invite you to check out our website: EaglesInLeadership.org.

Just push the media button below to hear this encouraging message!

We hope you’ll consider going to Israel with the Eagles In Leadership group this December! Click the link, “Join Us In Israel This Fall,” at the top of the website for more information.

And, if you are so inclined, sign up for more encouragement through notifications (UPPER RIGHT CORNER OF THE WEBSITE) of other blogs and podcasts while you are at the Eagles in Leadership​ website.

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Faith Filled Friday – Accepting the “Ask” of God!

Posted on February 1, 2019 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

“And the angel of the Lordcalled to Abraham a second time from heaven and said, “By myself I have sworn, declares the Lord, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies, and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.”” (Genesis 22:15–18, ESV) 

Because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you. Faith receives after faith acts. We have to step forward before God steps up. God will plant the blessings in our lives afterwe choose to trust His words and do what He commands us to do. 

Once Isaac was sacrificed, albeit only by choice and not by death (See Genesis 22:10-11), God’s blessings kicked in. Notice that this is the second timein this encounter that God assured Abraham from Heaven that all was well. If we want to hear God’s voice we will have to first choose to release who or what we’ve been holding too tightly. 

Once Abraham had acted to sacrifice the son of his old age, God promised untold benefits: assured blessing, exponential multiplication, possessive victory, and unbridled philanthropy all flowed from his selfless act of obedience to God. 

Sometimes the “ask” of God is so great that we shrink back in doubt and our faithlessness consigns us to a life of “could have been” instead of “should have been.” Abraham swallowed his fears and walked by faith, not by sight. Today he is called, “The Father of Faith,” because of such choices.

What will you be called when you are long gone? Will anyone remember you? If they do, what will you be remembered for? Will it be for that one moment when all of life changed because you were selfless and obedient to God or will people remember you for your selfishness and refusal to work and walk with God?

Faith chooses to accept the “ask” of God, no matter the size of potential pain because it knows that the heart of God is wise and compassionate. Faith trusts the character of God. Do you? 

Faith Filled Fridays hope to boost your trust in God and accelerate your daring and courage in everyday life. Dr. Matthew Lee Smith, Executive Director of Eagles In Leadership, writes each encouragement out of a heart that has known both great joy and great loss – his wife of 38 years, 5 months and 2 days was promoted to Heaven on November 11, 2017. Through every experience, God has proven Himself more than faithful and trustworthy. He welcomes your comments below.

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Train Them Thursday – When Worship Flows!

Posted on January 31, 2019 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

“Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.”” (Matthew 2:1–2, NASB95) 

We saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him. Worship. It’s the natural response of a disciple’s heart to the One who has rescued them from their past life and promised them a new life. Out of gratitude and joy, fully devoted followers of Jesus long to step into His presence and give Him the honor that is due His name. 

And perhaps that is where we can make a significant observation. Worship flows from the longing of a grateful heart. And when it flows, there is no expense, no cost that is out of bounds in the pursuit of honoring our God.

Consider these men of Persia (current Iran). As they observed the stars and saw the phenomenon, they knew a new King was born and mounted a trek to see Him and bring Him gifts that would rival His worth. Perhaps knowing the Messiah was coming to Israel from the writings and wisdom passed down from Daniel of old, they sought some sort of sign of His coming.

Now, at extreme cost and great effort, they assembled their team, hired their security, acquired their provisions, and set out on the more than 1,000 mile journey to see “He who has been born King of the Jews.” For these men, no inconvenience was too great!

Admire their conviction. Appreciate their sacrifice. Imitate their devotion. If this is what men from a distant land did thousands of years ago to honor the One who was but born, not knowing His name or the fame that would come by dying for the souls of humanity, how much more should we demonstrate His worth through out actions?

As we reflect on the magi for one more moment, perhaps in your heart of hearts you realize that worship does not flow in such generous rivers. Your sacrifices are far less than extravagant. Your inconveniences are much more annoying than overcome. 

Could it be that there is a need within you to reflect and then return to your first love? Allow His love to flow through you again!

Train Them Thursdays seeks to wed the Great Commission directive of Jesus with the practice He employed while on Earth. Each nugget is meant to encourage the reader with a “can-do” spirit to realize that discipleship is something each person is both capable of and empowered to accomplish. Dr. Matthew Lee Smith, Executive Director of Eagles In Leadership, writes each thought and they flow out of decades of his tried and true field-testing in multiple settings from rural to inner city. He welcomes your comments below.

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