Book of Thoughts #2

This is somewhat of a departure from Bible verses, but I believe this truth goes right along with biblical leadership. 


Here is a great lesson in leadership: People rise to what you expect of them. 


However, leaders must be wise in their expectations. Whether this is in ministry, in the workplace, or at home, if we place unrealistic expectations on those we lead, all that will result are feelings of inadequacy. 


Be a good leader. Lead people to their true potential, not the potential YOU want them to achieve.

Book of Thoughts #1

I have a small black moleskin book that I like to carry around with me. It is a place where I can jot down something quickly, whether it be an inspirational quote, bible verse, reference for later, or just something that sparks my interest at the time. 

Basically, anything PONDER-WORTHY may end up in my little book. When I pick it up later and read a passage I wrote, I may jot down my thoughts on that same page. It is an excellent tool that encourages me to keep on thinking. However, sometimes I turn to a page and think, "Why did I write THAT in there???"

I have decided to start a series of blog posts that highlight entries in my Book of Thoughts. I will try to keep the commentaries to a minimum and let the pages speak for themselves, as they do for me. My hope is that these will be an encouragement to others too.  

Peace in the Midst of My Storm: A Devotional Analysis of My Original Painting

I have a painting hanging in my office at work. It is a piece that is very personal and a gentle reminder to me when my job gets hectic and seems like too much to handle… which happens to be every day, it often seems.

It’s fun to see what kind of reactions it gets when people see it. Some look at it and are perplexed, trying to make sense of it. I have had others say that it is very dark. Some look at it for a few minutes and are encouraged by its message. But I am more concerned about what it means for me.

Here is a picture of the painting. I'm sorry that this does not do it justice:

Before I explain the circumstances under which the work was created, I want to explain what you would be able to see if you were looking at it in person.