datethewordtest

Category: Verse to DATE

  • Verse to DATE the Word on April 5 (4/5) is 2 Timothy 4:5

    Verse to DATE the Word on April 5 (4/5) is 2 Timothy 4:5

    “But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist,
     fulfill your ministry.” – 2 Timothy 4:5
    FINISH your race and FINISH FAITHFUL

    In getting to know God’s Word it is important to KNOW WHY THE WRITER WRITES what they write.  Looking at an introduction of 2 Timothy one will find that the Apostle Paul is writing to Timothy, his son in the faith, to give him words of ENCOURAGEMENT as well as words to EQUIP him so that HE DOES NOT QUIT running the race that God has set before him.  It is clear in chapter one that Timothy needs this as Paul tells him that he knows about his tears (2 Tim. 1:5).  Paul also knows that Timothy is struggling with him being in prison and is moving to a place of not wanting anyone to know he is a follower of Christ nor a friend of Paul.  Paul writes, “Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner.” (2 Tim. 1:8a)  

    The letter to Timothy then is to help him with practical instructions.  The help starts with 2 Timothy 1:6 where Paul tells him to STIR UP THE GIFT (keep the fire burning is the idea) and concludes with 2 Timothy 4:5.  After 2 Timothy 4:5 Paul will share some personal information.  Our verse to DATE in 4/5 is in many ways a summation of all that has been said and becomes one of those verses we all need to be holding onto as we run the race that God has for us.   Let us look at the 4 things Paul instructed Timothy to do.

    First, he tells him to “be watchful.”  The idea is ALERT.  It means to keep a clear mind. Timothy is a leader, and he is to be calm, cool, and collected in the face of a crisis.   He can’t let the enemy get the best of him.  As situations arise he must remember that God has not given him a spirit of fear but of power and love and a SOUND MIND.  As everyone else is losing their head in the crisis the Christians are keeping their head.   

    How do you need to apply “be watchful” to your daily life?

    Second, he tells him to “endure afflictions.”  The idea is to HANG IN THERE no matter how tough and rough and hard it gets.  In the first chapter, Paul invites Timothy to join him in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God.   (2 Timothy 1:8b)  In chapter 2 Paul reminded Timothy that he is like a SOLDIER and soldiers ENDURE HARDSHIPS.   

    Isaac Watts wrote in his great song Am I a Soldier of the Cross, “Must I be carried to the skies on flow’ry beds of ease, while others fought to win the prize and sailed through bloody seas?  Great question for us!

    How do you need to apply “endure affliction” to your daily life?

    Third, he told him to “do the work of an evangelist.”  This is basically a repeat of the first verses of 2 Timothy 4 where Paul tells Timothy to PREACH the Word and to preach in season and out of season.  Timothy was to step out and SPEAK UP!  Even if the message of the gospel is offensive, people have to know the TRUTH.  Paul is telling Timothy he can’t be silent.  

    How do you need to apply “do the work of an evangelist” to your daily life?

    Fourth, he told him to “FULFILL his ministry.”  This is the FINAL charge.  Be a FINISHER and FINISH FAITHFULLY.  Don’t ever quit.  Regardless of the persecution, regardless of the failures, regardless of the rejections, regardless of the objections, regardless of the resistance, etc. Paul wants Timothy to stay focused on what God has for him to do and to do it so that Timothy might finish the race and hear “Well done My good and faithful servant!   

    How do you need to apply “fulfill your ministry” to your daily life?

    Verse to DATE the Word on April 5 (4/5) is 2 Timothy 4:5. It says, “But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”

    To be FOUND FAITHFUL (1 Cor. 4:2) will mean FULFILLING God’s assignments!  
    “Don’t Quit.”  Dr. Jerry Falwell

    Continue Strong,
    And remember to DATE The WORD
  • Verse to DATE the Word on April 4 (4/4) is Matthew 4:4

    Verse to DATE the Word on April 4 (4/4) is Matthew 4:4

    But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’”
    Matthew 4:4 says, “But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’”
    EAT YOUR SCRIPTURES

    One of my favorite cartoons growing up was Popeye the Sailor Man. It was a cartoon that made eating spinach famous because as Popeye was facing his arch nemesis, Bluto, he would pop open a can of spinach and squeeze the contents of the can into his mouth. Immediately he had big muscles and was STRONG, so strong that he started whipping up on the bigger and stronger Bluto. Parents and grandparents (moms and grandmothers) seized on the opportunity to encourage the eating of spinach by saying EAT YOUR SPINACH so you can be strong like Popeye.  

    Today’s verse to DATE reminds us that we need to be EATING GOD’S SCRIPTURES. Jesus speaks right back at the Devil as he tries to convince a hungry Jesus to misuse His power and command rocks to turn into bread. Even though He was hungry from fasting for 40 days Jesus knows He is not to fulfill a natural appetite in an unnatural way. He quotes to the devil Deuteronomy 8:3, using Scripture to push back on the devil’s temptation to fulfill or satisfy the lust of the flesh.  

    As humans, we are more than a physical being. We are spiritual and our soul must be fed just as our physical beings need to be fed and nourished. The Scriptures are SOUL FOOD. In order to be spiritually healthy and in order to be spiritually strong we need to feed on the Scriptures DAILY.  To the new believers, Peter wrote in 1 Peter 2:2   “As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,”. The writer of Hebrews spoke of moving forward to solid food or what might be called the meat of the word.   

    One of my favorite verses about eating God’s Word comes from Jeremiah 15:16. Jeremiah said, “Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O LORD, God of hosts.”  I think Jeremiah might say EAT YOUR SCRIPTURES!   

    There is another verse for April 4 that ties to Matthew 4:4. It is Proverbs 4:4. Proverbs 4:4 says, “He (KING DAVID) also taught me (Solomon), and said to me: “Let your heart retain my words; Keep my commands, and live.” Our spiritual LIFE is so dependent on the SCRIPTURES! It is imperative to hear (EAT) and read (EAT) and memorize (EAT) and study and meditate and APPLY God’s Word, Scripture to LIVE! 

    To cap off EAT YOUR SCRIPTURES let us be reminded that John wrote to young men and commended them for being STRONG. They were STRONG because the Word of God was in them. Because God’s Word was in them they were STRONG and they OVERCAME the evil one. (See 1 John 2:14)

    Friends, EAT THE SCRIPTURES! Do not become spiritually malnourished. In the morning (before physical breakfast) EAT THE SCRIPTURES Psalm 143:8 says, “Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, for in You do I trust; Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, For I lift up my soul to You.” In the evening BEFORE BED read God’s Word so that you might meditate in your bed as Ps 63:6 says, “When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches.” My friend, Stu Epperson says, Bible before breakfast, Bible before Bed!   

    Please listen to Jesus: ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’  EAT THE SCRIPTURES!

    Verse to DATE the Word on April 4 (4/4) is Matthew 4:4. It says, “But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’”

    Continue Strong EATING THE SCRIPTURES
    And remember to DATE THE WORD
  • Verse to DATE the Word on April 3 (4/3) is Colossians 4:3

    Verse to DATE the Word on April 3 (4/3) is Colossians 4:3

    Our verse to DATE the Word on April 3 (4/3) is Colossians 4:3
    Colossians 4:3 says, “meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains,”
    PRAYING for OPPORTUNITIES to SHARE CHRIST

    What do you pray about when you pray?  What are you earnestly and fervently praying for God to do? What do you ask others to pray about when you ask for prayer?  Does your personal prayer time and do your prayer requests to others include asking that you would have opportunities to share Christ?  More than praying for a person you know that is lost to be saved (a very important prayer request) are you praying that God will OPEN DOORS of opportunities to be a witness for Him?

    One of the reasons we hold the Apostle Paul in such high regard is because of his unflinching focus on being a soul-winner.  As the books of Colossians and Ephesians are being written the Apostle Paul is in Rome in jail.  I would think he would have numerous prayer requests for God’s people as he sits in jail.  Surely he would be asked for prayer that he would be released and/or treated fairly.  YET his prayer request to the Colossian believers is for OPPORTUNITIES to witness.  His prayer request to his friends at the church of Ephesus was “praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints — 19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.”

    What can we learn from Colossians 4:3?  Without question one of the answers is our prayer list needs asking GOD TO OPEN DOORS FOR US TO WITNESS.  

    Now you need to know something.  When you pray a prayer like that you better be READY and PREPARED for God to answer.  If you pray this prayer your “spiritual antennae” better be up because God will go to work designing “divine appointments” for you.  The apostle Paul began winning Roman soldiers to the Lord.  He even won members of Caesar’s household to the Lord.  Read Philippians 4:22. God used CHAINS in order for Paul to have CONVERTS in Rome!  As you pray for God to open doors to be a witness you need to be “spiritually ALERT” to divine appointments!  

    Verse to DATE the Word on April 3 (4/3) is Colossians 4:3. Colossians 4:3 says, “meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains,”

    Pray a prayer that is sure to be answered. Pray for God to open doors to share the gospel!

    Continue Strong making Him known,
    And remember to DATE the Word
  • Verse to DATE the Word on April 2 (4/2) is 1 Corinthians 4:2

    Verse to DATE the Word on April 2 (4/2) is 1 Corinthians 4:2

    Our verse to DATE the Word on April 2 (4/2) is 1 Corinthians 4:2
    1 Corinthians 4:2 says, “Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.”
    REQUIRED to be Found FAITHFUL

    In the Word of God with its 31,102 verses, there are very few that DEMAND more of us than 1 Corinthians 4:2.  Several words grab our attention starting with STEWARDS followed by REQUIRED and then FOUND FAITHFUL.   

    The word steward speaks of one who has been assigned to manage the household.  An owner of a home will ENTRUST another with MANAGING all that goes with running a home. Some of the work will be done by the manager but more often than not they will hire others to perform the duties. Those hired are then accountable to the steward and the steward is accountable to the owner.   

    We are STEWARDS. God, our owner, has entrusted us with various duties. One of the ways we have sought to explain these duties is to list 5 key areas that have been entrusted to us. They are: TIME. TALENT. TREASURE. TEMPLE. TESTIMONY.  

    Our verse tells us the STEWARD is REQUIRED. The word REQUIRED means to BE RESPONSIBLE with RESPONSIBILITIES. The Greek conveys there will be ACCOUNTABILITY as one has to ANSWER BACK.  A steward has to ANSWER BACK to the OWNER for how what was entrusted to them was MANAGED. A great example of this is found in Matthew 25:14-30. This passage is known as the Parable of the Talents. In verse 19 you find this phrase the owner came to “settle accounts with them.”  Those receiving the talents answered back with how responsible they were.  

    Before we look at the last two words it is worth noting that the word “required” is used in another place. Jesus said that “to whom much is given much is REQUIRED!” (Luke 12:48b) What a challenge!!

    The level of expectation in being responsible as a steward is FOUND FAITHFUL. One of the best ways to get the full understanding of “found faithful” is to look at what the opposite would be. One would be found unfaithful. One would be unreliable. One would be irresponsible. It is dropping the ball. It is failing to finish.

    To be faithful is to follow through and manage well what was entrusted to you. When this happens you are able to hear from the Lord, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant;” Matthew 25:21 and 23.

    To be FOUND FAITHFUL is to FINISH.  As Paul stated in 2 Timothy 4:7 “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

    To be FOUND FAITHFUL should be the goal of each believer.

    Verse to DATE the Word on April 1 (4/1) is 1 Corinthians 4:2. It says, “Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.”

    BTW – From this verse comes my personal mission statement: I want to be found faithful in fulfilling my God-given responsibilities. 

    Continue Strong being FAITHFUL with what God has entrusted to you.
    And remember to DATE THE WORD
  • Verse to DATE the Word on April 1 (4/1) is 1 Thessalonians 4:1

    Verse to DATE the Word on April 1 (4/1) is 1 Thessalonians 4:1

    Our verse to DATE the Word on April 1 (4/1) is 1 Thessalonians 4:1
    1 Thessalonians 4:1 says, “Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk (live) and to please God.“
    Making daily decisions that PLEASE GOD

    As we make daily decisions, we need a FILTER. One of the most vital filters for our decision-making is the question WILL THIS PLEASE GOD? While there is peer pressure to please a friend and/or family pressure to please a parent or grandparent or a spouse, maybe to please a boss and even personal pressure to please oneself the top question remains does the action you are getting ready to do PLEASE GOD? Earlier in my walk with God, I had a poster that read, “If you please God it does not matter who you displease and if you displease God it does not matter who you please.” 

    Our verse to DATE has the Apostle Paul PLEADING that we ABOUND – INCREASE – GROW in PLEASING GOD.  Hear his passionate appeal in the words we URGE and we EXHORT.  

    This idea of living to PLEASE GOD is reinforced by several other SCRIPTURES. 
    2 Corinthians 5:9 as it says, “So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please Him. 

    In Colossians 1:10 Paul prayed for the Colossians to walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him.

    In 1 Thessalonians 2:4 Paul said that he himself lived to please God. “But just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts.”

    2 Timothy 2:4 No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. 

    What does it look like to please the Lord? Scripture gives two significant things:
    1) live by FAITH. Hebrews 11:6 says it is impossible to please God without faith. Heb. 11:6 “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” 
    2) we OBEY what He says. 1 John 3:22 says, “We keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.”

    Is it your ambition in life to PLEASE GOD? Are you ABOUNDING in PLEASING GOD?  

    Verse to DATE on April 1 (4/1) is 1 Thessalonians 4:1.  It says, “Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God.”

    “If you please God it does not matter who you displease and if you displease God it does not matter who you please.” 

    Continue Strong pleasing God,
    And remember to DATE THE WORD
  • Verse to DATE the Word on March 31 (3/31) is Judges 3:31

    Verse to DATE the Word on March 31 (3/31) is Judges 3:31

    Our verse to DATE the Word on March 31 (3/31) is Judges 3:31
    Judges 3:31 says, “After him was Shamgar the son of Anath, who killed six hundred men of the Philistines with an ox goad; and he also delivered Israel”

     
    The Unconventional Warrior

    Whether I like it or not and whether you like it or not we are PRONE to COMPARE ourselves to others and in doing so we FIND EXCUSES for WHY WE CAN’T DO SOMETHING FOR GOD!  I don’t know if you have had the experience of the devil whispering in your ear that you should not do something for God because…. The devil’s “because” reasons are numerous, are they not? He likes to remind us of WHO WE ARE NOT.  It could be that you did not come from a Christian home and he tells you that you can’t do something for God because you don’t have the right background.  It could be that you don’t have the right education and the devil likes to remind you that you DON’T know enough to represent God. Our adversary likes to help us drum up excuses for WHY WE CAN’T DO SOMETHING FOR GOD!  

    Well for those times when you are feeling impressed to do something for God, but the devil is trying to convince you that you don’t have what it takes you need to REMEMBER SHAMGAR the UNCONVENTIONAL WARRIOR!  

    You do remember Shamgar, don’t you? He is listed in the book of Judges in chapter 3  I am sure you remember him because after all there is so much written about him IN JUST ONE VERSE. I was sure you would remember him because of who his parents were. You know Anath? Probably not. Then of course, you do remember him in the list of all the judges of Israel, like Gideon and Samson? You are probably scratching your head now as you can’t remember if you saw his name in the list of judges or not.  

    I like Shamgar and I like him because of all the people in the Bible who DID DO GREAT THINGS for God he is so unlikely to have done anything. He is so ordinary that he exemplifies ordinary. He does not have a family legacy or family connections. He may not even be an Israelite. He surely does not possess the tools for warfare. We should question, respectfully, his intelligence in deciding to take on 600 Philistines by himself. What word describes a person who decides to take on 600 warriors by himself?  ??? 

    Shamgar may have been ordinary and he may have had the devil whisper in his ear all the reasons WHY HE COULD NOT DO SOMETHING FOR GOD but he decided to take action. Notice three actions he took as I believe they are three actions you should take to make a difference for God.

    #1. He STARTED WHERE HE WAS. You should start where you are. Bloom where you are planted.
    #2. He USED WHAT HE HAD. Shamgar did not have the best weapons, but he did have an ox goad. Use what you have. It is amazing how God does not need you to have the most expensive and most up-to-date and the shiniest to accomplish great things. David had a slingshot. Moses had a rod. Elijah had a mantle.  
    #3. He DID WHAT HE COULD. He started fighting and killing the Philistines. He got off the sidelines and into the game and did what he could. Do what you can. Step up and get started doing what you can!

    Shamgar may only have a little written about him, but he sure did a lot! His unconventional means brought about a great deliverance for ISRAEL!   

    You, too, can make a difference!  Be like Shamgar!  Start where you are, Use what you have and Do what you can!

    Verse to DATE the Word on March 31 (3/31) is Judges 3:31. It says, “After him was Shamgar the son of Anath, who killed six hundred men of the Philistines with an ox goad; and he also delivered Israel.”

    Continue Strong DOING WHAT YOU CAN!
    And remember to DATE the Word
  • Verse to DATE the Word on March 30 (3/30) is John 3:30

    Verse to DATE the Word on March 30 (3/30) is John 3:30

    Our verse to DATE the Word on March 30 (3/30) is John 3:30
    John 3:30 says, “He must increase, but I must decrease.”
    It is to be ALL about HIM!

    Our verse to DATE comes from the lips of John the Baptist.  John the Baptist is the FORERUNNER to Jesus.  John the Baptist was the voice in the wilderness and was assigned the task of PREPARING God’s people for the soon coming of the Messiah and then ANNOUNCING the ARRIVAL of the MESSIAH.  In preparing people for the coming of the Messiah John himself began to have a following as well as having disciples.  Yet JOHN never ever forgot what His purpose was and when his disciples started wondering about who Jesus was and what Jesus was doing (and why Jesus was becoming more popular) John made it clear that he was not the bridegroom but rather the friend of the bridegroom.      

    Notice how the story unfolded: John 3:26 And they (John’s disciples) came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified — behold, He is baptizing, and all are coming to Him!” 27 John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. 28 “You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent before Him.’ 29 “He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore, this joy of mine is fulfilled.”  

    Now comes one of the great statements in all the Bible as John the Baptist declares “HE MUST INCREASE, BUT I MUST DECREASE.”   For John, it was ALL about JESUS!!  He was not the way.  He pointed people to the WAY.  He was not the Messiah!  He pointed people to the Messiah!

    For John the Baptist it was MAKING IT MORE ABOUT JESUS and LESS ABOUT HIMSELF!

    We live in a world that is about INCREASING.  It is about getting to the TOP. It is about WINNING.  It is about ACHIEVEMENT.  It is about SUCCESS.  The world says CLIMB THE LADDER.  

    Now let’s get personal.  As Christians living in this world, we are easily drawn into the vicious mindset.  It is even found in Christian ministries.   It is found in those who are Christian ministers.  Hmmm.  We are not so different from the disciples of Jesus who wanted the chief seats.  

    Jesus addressed those worldly desires and in doing so gives us some insight into how to DECREASE!   

    To the one attempting to DO SOMETHING FOR JESUS remember John 15:4-5 “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”

    To the one who wants to be FIRST remember Mark 9:35, “And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.”

    To the one who wants to be IT (it being THE PERSON) remember Philippians 2:3-5, “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus,”

    Verse to DATE the Word on March 30 (3/30) is John 3:30. It says, “He must increase, but I must decrease.”

    When you DEPEND on Jesus you are decreasing!  When OTHERS go first you are decreasing!  

    Continue STRONG by the decreasing of self so that there might be the INCREASING of the SAVIOR!
    And remember to DATE THE WORD
  • Verse to DATE the Word on March 29 (3/29) is Nehemiah 3:29

    Verse to DATE the Word on March 29 (3/29) is Nehemiah 3:29

    Our verse to DATE the Word on March 29 (3/29) is Nehemiah 3:29
    Nehemiah 3:29 After them Zadok the son of Immer made repairs in front of his own house. After him Shemaiah the son of Shechaniah, the keeper of the East Gate, made repairs.
     HELP THEM HAVE OWNERSHIP

    In an interview with some other Christian University colleagues, I was asked to give several of the best “unknown” leadership lessons I had learned.  The aspect of “unknown” was they wanted to hear things that were not OBVIOUS.  As I pondered my answer I thought about the importance of generating student “ownership” of campus events and activities.  I recalled how I intentionally read through my Bible during the year and had done this several times.  By reading completely through my Bible meant I read all of NUMBERS and ALL of 1 and 2 Chronicles (you know these are challenging books).  And it meant I read all of Nehemiah 3.  While Nehemiah 3 has only 31 verses it has some of the hardest names to pronounce and it does seem many of the verses are repetitive as Nehemiah tells who was involved in building the wall.  Because I had heard the value of helping others on your team have ownership and I believed in cultivating ownership I noticed there were several verses in Nehemiah 3 about ownership that got my attention, such as Nehemiah 3:29.   To those interviewing me I would ask them to turn to Nehemiah 3:29 and from this verse with some hard names to say I gave them a RICH PRINCIPLE of LEADERSHIP.  I told them to HELP TEAM MEMBERS HAVE OWNERSHIP of their school, their residence hall, their teams, etc. like Nehemiah did with the wall builders.  I told them I did not know if Nehemiah was a genius or not but 6 words in Nehemiah 3:29 were pure genius.  

    Did you see the six words?  Look at it again. Nehemiah 3:29 says, “After them, Zadok the son of Immer made repairs in front of his own house.”  Just 6 words, but oh what they accomplished.  IN FRONT OF HIS OWN HOUSE.  One has to wonder how hard Zadok worked and how diligent he was to the details to make sure the WALL was built sound and secure.  After all his security and his family’s security rest on his diligent work!   

    As we worked to oversee the student body at Liberty we had leadership teams on every floor and we had prayer groups on the floor led by members of the leadership team on that floor.   I don’t know how many times I told teams to TAKE CARE OF THEIR FLOOR and TAKE CARE OF THEIR PRAYER GROUP.  I knew if each team member took care of their prayer group then the floor was taken care of and if each leadership team took care of their floor the campus overall would be taken care of.  And the guiding thought for all this came from 6 words found in Nehemiah 3:29 as he had a man build the wall in front of his own house.  

    In conveying what was not an obvious leadership principle I did bring it back to one of my most obvious leadership principles of the first person you lead is you.  Each of us should be RESPONSIBLE for ourselves.   

    To teach this idea of ownership I heard about a father-in-law who wanted to help his son-in-law out.  His son-in-law owned a construction company.  The father-in-law asked his son-in-law to build him a beautiful, grand house.  While he could not give him a blank check, he told him to spare no expense as he wanted him to build him a really nice house. The son-in-law went to work and knowing his father-in-law did not know how much things cost he decided to cut corners and buy cheap materials.  Using cheap materials ended up costing more as things broke while installing them.  When he finally finished the house, the son-in-law hardly had made any profit.  His father-in-law then comes over and, AND, instead of taking the keys to the new home from his son-in-law he tells his son-in-law to keep the keys as the house was his!    

    As said in another verse we need to have the mindset of autographing our work with excellence.  Are you owning your work?  If you are a student, are you owning your studies?   If you are part of a team are you “owning” the team?  

    Our actions or inactions can have a great impact on ourselves!  
    OWN YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES!!

    Verse to DATE the Word on March 29 (3/29) is Nehemiah 3:29. Nehemiah 3:29 says, “After them Zadok the son of Immer made repairs in front of his own house. After him Shemaiah the son of Shechaniah, the keeper of the East Gate, made repairs.”

    Continue Strong, 
    And remember to DATE THE WORD
  • Verse to DATE the Word on March 28 (3/28) is Deuteronomy 3:28

    Verse to DATE the Word on March 28 (3/28) is Deuteronomy 3:28

    Our verse to DATE the Word on March 28 (3/28) is Deuteronomy 3:28
    Deuteronomy 3:28 says, “But command Joshua, and encourage him and strengthen him; for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the land which you will see.”
    Preparing the Next Generation to LEAD

    As Moses reviews what God has done for and with Israel and for him and with him in the first few chapters of Deuteronomy, he tells how God had INSTRUCTED him to get Joshua ready to be the next leader.  Our verse to DATE serves as a great reminder that we are to not just pass the baton of leadership to the next generation but prepare them to RECEIVE the baton and then RUN with the baton.  

    AS WE LEAD, WE ARE TO BE PREPARING THE NEXT GENERATION TO LEAD!  

    We can see this being done by Jesus.  We can see this being done by Paul.  There are numerous ministries and organizations that have passed the baton of leadership and did so in such ways that the ministries, and organizations did BETTER than the previous generation!  As I have looked at Jesus and Paul and these various ministries it was clear that they were INTENTIONAL on not just leading in the present but were preparing those others to lead into the future when they were no longer here.  

    Drawing from Deuteronomy 3:28 who might be your Joshua?  If you were the Apostle Paul who is your Timothy?   If we look at Titus 2:2-8 who are the younger men and younger women that you are pouring into?  Maybe I labor too much here but being very practical is asking if you have someone to pass your baton to.  If you don’t have a Joshua or a Timothy begin immediately to pray that God would bring a person into your life so that you may share your “learned lessons!”

    Drawing from Deuteronomy 3:28 we can see two essential actions to take with those we are mentoring or discipling.  One is ENCOURAGEMENT and the other is EQUIPPING them to become STRONGER.  

    The component of encouragement is letting them know you believe in them.  It is the pat on the back when failure has happened and the reminder to LEARN from the LOSS.  You can be an encouragement by providing a listening ear.  Encouragement can be done by a call just to see how things are going.  It is affirming their actions and appreciating the effort!

    The component of strengthening is a little more involved as you coach and train, in a word, you EQUIP them.  You train them to LEAD themselves.  You train them how to think about doing what is best for the organization.  You train them to care about and for their people.   You train them how to make decisions.  You train them how to solve problems. And this list goes on and on!

    May I share a word about training leaders for the next generation?  One of the best groups I have ever worked with in training for the next generation is Chick-fil-A.  I listened closely one day to Dan Cathy, President of Chick-Fi-A, teach on the subject of CHANGE.  In one hand he had a cell phone.  In the other hand, he had a Bible.  With the cell phone, he said we must know how to embrace new technologies and CHANGE in order to stay up to date.  (Having grown up with a party line and now owning an iPhone I could appreciate his example.)  With the Bible and he said we must also know WHAT MUST NOT CHANGE.  How we learn God’s Word and how we teach God’s Word surely changes but what we learn and what we teach does not change.  

    In other words, the methods may change but the message stays the same!

    As you mentor and prepare a next-generation leader focus on encouraging them and equipping them.  Convey insights for WHAT they NEED TO BE a lot more than HOW they need to be doing it.  Who they are is more important than what they do.  Character is more important than performance.  Methods change but the message does not. 

    Verse to DATE the Word on March 28 (3/28) is Deuteronomy 3:28. It says, “But command Joshua, and encourage him and strengthen him; for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the land which you will see.” 

    Find your “Joshua” and encourage and strengthen him!

    Continue Strong being a mentor,
    And remember to DATE THE WORD
  • Verse to DATE the Word on March 27 (3/27) is Proverbs 3:27

    Verse to DATE the Word on March 27 (3/27) is Proverbs 3:27

    Our verse to DATE the Word on March 27 (3/27) is Proverbs 3:27
    Proverbs 3:27 “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do so.” 
    The BEST time to do something for another is NOW!!

    Friends, if we are watching, PAYING ATTENTION, and being ALERT to the needs of others, we are going to SEE OPPORTUNITIES to be a blessing to others because there are always people in need! All around us are people who are struggling, and many are suffering.  Proverbs 3:27 challenges us to be the “good Samaritan” who sees a need and GIVES, instead of being “KEEPERS” like the priest and the Levite.  

    The verse instructs us to NOT WITHHOLD!  As believers, we should be givers.  As believers, we should share our blessings with others.  We have been blessed to bless!  

    Yet while we know we should give and share we are prone to procrastinate.  Our verse calls on us to do good and do it NOW!!!  When you have it in your power to do something for someone DO IT!  Don’t put it off.  Move your good intentions to ACTIONS!

    And you know this is great practical advice.  

    As a quick reminder, you will find that life will be so much better when you are a giver.  You receive and you give.  Think of the difference between the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea.  The Sea of Galilee takes in and gives out.  The Sea of Galilee is filled with fresh water!  The Dead Sea, on the other hand, takes in but there is no outlet.  Because it only receives and does not give it is DEAD.   One takes in and gives out and is FRESH and ALIVE.  One takes in only and is DEAD!

    Be a giver.  Don’t withhold!  See a need and do what you can to meet the need.  You don’t have to do everything but do what you can!!

    What might you do today to be a blessing to someone?

    Verse to DATE the Word on March 27 (3/27) is Proverbs 3:27.  It says, “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in the power of your hand to do so.”

    Continue Strong being a blessing to others!
    And remember to DATE THE WORD