I’m Dr. Matthew Lee Smith and I want to share some Hope For Today to remind us that our community is such a HUGE mission field!
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!
“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1, ESV)
Faith is … assurance … conviction. Do you know anyone who’s a life-long member of Vacillator’s Anonymous? VA is a fictitious organization but since high school, I’ve had a friend who could have been its founding member. “Wishy-washy” was the term we used back then for this guy. “Perhaps,” “Maybe,” Well, sort of,”were all favorite go-to phrases for our friend.
Not knowing, or worse, not declaring one’s certainty is a tragedy of a life poorly lived. When we are fear-filled and choose to pull back we lose the vigor that seizes those who possess daring faith.
Faith is an action word. Some speak of it as risk. Others categorize it as almost a gamble. If it weren’t for the object of our faith, surely all of faith would be a game of chance. But faith isn’t like evolution. We don’t place our hopes on time and chance. We place them in the Person who is Almighty, all-knowing, and all-powerful: God Himself, Yahweh, Creator of the Universe.
When we realize that our faith isn’t blind and it isn’t random, but that it is grounded on something more solid than the real estate we are on right now, we find ourselves growing more confident. Confidence is infectious. It builds inside us until it has to come out, often in dynamic or explosive ways.
That’s “the assurance of things hoped for.” Faith assures us … it’s our insurance policy against despair. Faith tells us, “Things will work out because God is faithful and loving.” Such a certainty calms the heart and soul because we know that, “he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4, ESV)
Faith is all about the supernatural. It is “the conviction of things not seen.”In the Old Testament God repeatedly mocked the false gods by making one claim: “Can they predict the future and tell you with 100% accuracy that those predictions will come true? I can!” Our God is amazing. He knows the future. He shares what He knows with us, piece-by-piece, as we need it. And, when He doesn’t share, we gain comfort by knowing the God who loves us is working everything out.
Faith Filled Fridays hopes 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.
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”(Matthew 28:19–20, NASB95)
Go therefore and make disciples. Many people aren’t very mechanical. I know I am one of those who is far more book-smart than tool-smart. That’s how God made me. Maybe God made you more mechanically inclined. Could you send me your contact information? I’m always in need of your help!
When Jesus gave this command He had already spent three years of intensive, 24-hour a day, 7 days a week life-on-life training with the disciples. They watched Him in every conceivable situation. Whether He was leading or being attacked, walking along the dirt roads of Israel or teaching over the clamor of the city of Jerusalem, Jesus gave those He discipled full access.
When Jesus calls us to “make disciples’ He assumes a few things. First, we have chosen to follow Him with our lives. This isn’t a part-time, religious event we attend. Jesus is our King and Lord, Master of our Universe, so to speak.
Second, He also assumes that we have been discipled. Jesus knows that we cannot share what we do not possess. That is one of the reasons why He came to Earth. He chose to disciple the twelve. And, in so doing, He knew there would be a model that would not only be reproduced through the lives of those whom He personally discipled, but also a written record of how He discipled and what He did as He discipled. We call this journal of discipleship The Gospels.
As we dig through the historical records of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, we will be doing so chronologically. In so doing, we are attempting to understand what Jesus did first and second and so forth. As we do that, we will see how discipleship succeeds and what we should be doing with our disciples.
Working with people is wonderful. Discipling them is commanded. Choose to do more than follow Jesus. Choose to obey Him and make some disciples. By the way, we’ll be done when we reach the world!
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.
“Life was in Him, and that life was the light of men. That light shines in the darkness, yet the darkness did not overcome it.” (John 1:4–5, HCSB)
That life was the light of men. Have you ever noticed how dark our world is becoming? Whole neighborhoods are too dangerous to drive through. Some sections of town are filled with crime. There are even churches where it’s not safe to join because of the “hatreds, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, [and] factions.” (Galatians 5:20, HCSB)
As humanity takes on a self-serving and dehumanizing tendency, the follower of Jesus wonders, “What hope is there for a people so swept up by the darkening culture?”
Of course, as always, the hope of the world is found within the people who God who have Jesus as their Lord and King. He is the great Rescuer, the great Savior of all peoples.
But how does Jesus rescue a world trapped in such death? He breathes life into the dying corpse of humanity. One. Person. At. A. Time. That’s how you came alive. That’s how life is spread.
Life brings hope. Possibilities. Change. Life creates. Life promotes. Life sustains. Life transforms. Life brings more life. Life brings light. And light, by its very nature eradicates darkness. It simply pushes back the gloom. It dries up the fog. It penetrates the impenetrable.
You who are His, you who claim His name know that You are the light of the world, the light of your community, the light of your neighborhood, the light of your job, the light of your school, the light of your group, the light of your church, the light of your family, the light of your marriage. (Matthew 5:14-16)
And wherever we are we bring light by speaking life, speaking hope, speaking possibilities, speaking new ideas and new thoughts, speaking encouragement and promise. As His follower, Jesus calls us to spread life. And where that life takes root, light shines. People are filled with hope by faith. They receive encouragement by our presence and they look to Jesus by our example.
Be willing to speak life. It will bring light into your dark places!
Willing Worker Wednesdays are dedicated to explaining the core realties 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.
““No! You will not die,” the serpent said to the woman. “In fact, God knows that when you eat it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” The woman saw that the tree was good for food and delightful to look at, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom. So she took some of its fruit and ate it; she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.” (Genesis 3:4–6, CSB)
You will not die! Our problems are often the result of outside influence. Most of the time, when I find myself suffering, I have done something that I shouldn’t of. And, to be perfectly transparent, I have suffered much in life because I simply chose to listen to that little voice in my head telling me to do things I knew at the time I shouldn’t.
Being “under the influence” is a regular reality for many people. Note that it takes just a little nudge here to push perfect people to choose badly – Adam and Eve have never disobeyed God, thus they had none of the influences we experience because of our sinfulness.
Questioning the words of God is where our problems often are birthed. Whether it comes to marriage, morals, ministry, or meals (gluttony is my personal “pet sin”), choosing to “rewrite” what God meant or said is where life takes an awful turn off the path of life.
Once we choose to be smarter than God’s declared words, we take the exit from life and enter Death’s Valley. Remember, the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). The only way to lessen the damage – and note, we can never erase all the consequences of our failures – is to turn-around and get back on the path of life!
Jesus would tell us that turning around and getting back on the path of life will involve a technical issue. The Bible uses the term, “repentance” when it explains this. To “repent” means to turn around in our thinking. Since our thoughts become our actions, we have to change the way we think about the choices we have made.
When Adam and Eve chose to step away, they immediately began to feel the consequences. If you are at that point, take a moment right now and choose to rethink your failure. Ask God for forgiveness. He is gracious and full of compassion. And, then, choose to make some right choices to rectify and lessen the damage of your choices.
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.
“Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, the whole earth, and the creatures that crawl on the earth.” So God created man in his own image; he created him in the image of God; he created them male and female.” (Genesis 1:26–27, CSB)
Created in God’s likeness! Whatever else marriage is, it is the unity of two people who are fearfully and wonderfully made. God, in His infinite wisdom, puts two of His incredible creations together to accomplish something spectacular! YOU are amazing!
When God brings you together with another of His creation, be sure you are looking every day for the amazing God created in them. So many people have chosen to purchase a lie, believing that either they are substandard or the person they marry will have to be substandard. This is the recipe for disappointment, discouragement, despair, and divorce.
You are so incredible!
When we think of God’s handcrafting of our soul – our body and our spirit – we cannot but come to the conclusion that God has done a great work.
Many of us carry the scars, the damage from bad choices we’ve made or others have made against us. Several of us have chosen to accept the insults and derision of others when it comes to how we look, the way we speak or the way we think. These scripts run in our heads like the nightly news – horror and calamity!
But you are not a horror! You are not a calamity. You are made in the image of God! You have the breath of the Almighty coursing through your veins. Today, choose to hold your head up high and say repeatedly, “I am made in the image of God. The spouse God will give or has given to me is made in the image of God. We are AMAZING! And that’s something I know without any doubt! God doesn’t lie!”
Now, pray for your spouse-to-be or your spouse. Ask God to show you MORE of whom He has made them to be. Then tell them all about what you see! That’s how magnificent marriages blossom!
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.
I’m Dr. Matthew Lee Smith and I want to share some Hope For Today to remind us that God wants our spirit to Thrive, not just survive!
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!
Art credit: http://drawingfit.com
We share from what we possess. That’s why the joy of the Lord is our strength. Once we have our hearts in tune with the Maker of our Souls and comprehend His incredible love and forgiveness, THEN we feel whole and we realize how much He values us. THAT alone can make us happy.
As we embrace the individuality of whom He made us to be, THEN we are able to sense a uniqueness and a happiness in the person He designed and is in the process of making. That happiness sloshes out of us in greater and greater amounts upon the people we surround ourselves with and THEN they are attracted to us or repelled by us because of the joy and the uniqueness.
As time passes someone will see us for whom we are and how we enjoy who God made us to be and will want to walk life’s journey together with us. They will be drawn to us because they realize they see joy and a stable, strong, self – someone who is safe and secure in their individuality to the point that they can share life together and pour into them from their abundance.
I welcome your comments and thoughts.
Photo credit: https://www.lifehack.org
I was asked recently … Why don’t today’s marriages have the longevity, stability, strength, endurance & true essence of LOVE?
Here’s my response …
Love = sacrifice. (John 15.13) Most people don’t understand that and have a different understanding: Love = lust. This basic failure in understanding is the crumbly foundation that ensures marriage failure.
Marriages fail because of …
* Selfishness.
* Self-centeredness.
* A misunderstanding that marriage is two friends coming together to fulfill the vision and mission of God for their lives together – that they can do MORE together than they can do separately for the King of kings and Lord of lords.
* A thinking that marriage will solve the problems of their immaturity and fulfill their fantasies of their irrationality.
* Some foolishness about believing that marriage is easy and they don’t have to work at the relationship on an hourly basis.
* An unwillingness to “wash the feet” of their spouse figuratively and literally.
* A pre-planned “exit strategy” if things get rough.
* An intolerance to living within a budget of time, money, and wisdom.
… and so much more.
Marriage is first and foremost a friendship between good friends. It is a covenant vow to work together not against one another. It is the choice that you will sacrifice your everything for the one you choose to love. It is “till death” – with the implication that we must “die daily” (1 Corinthians 15.31) to our self and live for the one we say, “I do” to each and every hour of the rest of our lives because we chose to.
Years ago I established a personal disciple that yielded immense benefits to my life. It was a simple discipline, but it was not always easy. I chose not to eat breakfast before I had taken time to read my Bible.
Life has a way of interfering with our disciplines. When Melodee got sick last year, and we begin to travel, the “No Bible, No Breakfast,” discipline fell away.
It was this past week, when one of my former students and a leader in my church, Kuya Fred Sangalang, posted about the “No Bible, No Breakfast,” discipline. He had learned it from me over a decade ago. He was talking about its benefits. It was at that moment, I realized that what had become a tremendous blessing to my life in years past had fallen away because of life’s interruptions.
So this morning I chose to once again, afresh, restore that discipline to my life. I know what that means. It means I choose to follow the path laid out by Jesus:“If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me.” (Luke 9:23, CSB) I also choose not to follow the grumblings of my tummy and bring it into submission. Yes, I have gained a few pounds lately listening to its demands more than being disciplined. Thank you for asking.
Perhaps you’ll think about your disciplines as a result of this post. Maybe it’s time for you to set aside some of your life’s interruptions, and discipline your self so that you can enjoy the abundant blessings that naturally flow from great choices. If so, leave a comment. I’d love to pray for you as you pray for me.
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Hope Enabler is the real-life story of one Christian parent’s struggle with a runaway child and the hope that God enabled her to have during the darkest moments of that struggle.
