Herodical Leadership

"Although Herod wanted to put him to death, he feared the crowd, because they regarded John as a prophet. 

Although he was grieved, the king commanded it to be given because of his oaths, and because of his dinner guests." (Matthew 14:5, 9 NAS95S)

Observation: Leading by popular opinion is both grievous and capricious; both fickle and sorrowful.  In Herod's case, he wouldn't put John to death because he feared the crowd (Matthew 14:5), but it wasn't long before He put the prophet to death, "because of his dinner guests" (Matthew 14:9).  

And as a result of this inconsistent leadership, he found himself grieved.  Unfortunately, it wasn't the kind of grief that let to repentance.  He was sorry for his misjudgment, but not sorry enough to say he was wrong; not sorry enough to go back on his word.  Mistakenly, he thought it was better to honor his word than God's.  

Application:  For a long time I have known I was a people pleaser.  I want everyone to be happy.  I want people to like me.  When I look at people like Herod and Saul, I am scared.  Because I can see how easily I could go down their path.

Prayer:  Lord Jesus I surrender my leadership to You this morning.  Lord teach me to pray through my leadership decisions.  Teach me to say and do what I believe to be Your will.  Teach me to stand up to the people around me and not simply do what I think they will respond well to.  Lord Jesus build in me strength of character.  Build in me a commitment to do the right thing regardless of the outcome.  Please Jesus, I need Your power and grace.  Amen!

By Force or By Faith?

^NAU 2 Kings 11:3 So he was hidden with her in the house of the LORD six years, while Athaliah was reigning over the land.

Observation:  Our agenda is not always God's.  Athaliah thought that if she killed all her potential enemies she could reign forever.  But the reign of cowardly rulers is always cut short by the sovreign reign of the ruler of the universe.  They may dictate for a season, but God always brings them to justice.

Application:  Will I lead with force or with faith?  Will I seek to make my children or shape them?  

Prayer:  Father make me a Godly ruler in my home.  Give me a spirit of humility.  Teach me to push the pause button rather than fathering out of fear.  Please Jesus.  I invite you to take the throne of my heart.

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

"I sought the LORD, and He answered me, And delivered me from all my fears. 

The LORD is near to the brokenhearted And saves those who are crushed in spirit.  Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all."  (Psalms 34:4, 18-19 NAS95S)

Observation: I was getting ready to journal on this passage, and for some reason I took a detour to Connie Talbot singing the song Somewhere Over the Rainbow. 



In reflecting on this... in reading the verse "The Lord is near the brokenhearted..."   Well, I can't help but think of the young talents that have been chewed up and spit out by the industry of entertainment.  We are a consumer culture that truly does consume our kids.  And part of me tears up because of this.

Part of me tears up because I see in Connie, along with so many others, something we all long for.  All of us, within our inner core, in the depths of our heart, wants to be loved, and praised, and affirmed.  We want to know we are innocent, pure, child like.  

"But we have sinned and grown old... and our Father still waits and He watches down the road to see the cryin' boys come running back to his arms, and be growin' young..."  --Rich Mullins

O man, o man, o man... Do we realize that this is it.  That He wants to bring us home.  Do realize that he weeps for all the broken kids who have walked down the path of stardom and fame and are now just throw aways... shells of the people they were...  robbed of their innocence and youth...  This is our modern child sacrifice... Offered up in the flames of consumeristic passion... Offered up in the lust for the lastest, the hippest, the greatest.

O God forgive us!

And yet, there is a silver lining to it all.  It is this:  The Lord is near the brokenhearted, and saves those who are crushed in Spirit.

Yes the Lord is near all the Hollywood heart throbs who are dying of a broken heart.  He sees them when their Spirit is crushed.  He is reaching out in the love, the grace, and unconditional acceptance they have always longed for.

He is the audience of one who can truly bring joy, peace, and true satisfaction.  

Prayer:  O Jesus bless the stars.  Redeem them.  Call them by name.  Capture them as jewels for their crown.  Rich Mullins, once wrote:

Sometimes I think of Abraham, how one star He say had been lit for me.

Lord You have lit a star for every actor of Hollywood, for every singer from Motown, and every crooner from Nashville.  It is a star of acceptance, a star of grace... it is more than just a star in the heavens... although it's that too.

Ultimately, You sent the bright and morning star who came into this dark world... The only One who is worthy of all our praise... The Son of Righteousness who shall rise with healing in His wings.  

O Jesus rise in the hearts of the stars... Let them see they are really just moons.  Created to reflect Your glory.  Called to display Your splendor.  You are the bright and shining star lit for us.  You have always been, You always will be.

And if we could just make our orbit around Your grace... If we could live to reflect Your love, that would be enough... O Jesus... make us like a child again.  And may we be Your love song to a world that is lost.  May our eyes sparkle with the good news that we are loved, and with the wonder of our Father who loves our great big world too!

You Cannot Loose My Love

"Then Saul became very angry, for this saying displeased him; and he said, "They have ascribed to David ten thousands, but to me they have ascribed thousands. Now what more can he have but the kingdom?" Saul looked at David with suspicion from that day on." (1Samuel 18:8-9 NAS95S)

Observation:  Saul's trust was in His appearance, while David's trust was in His God.  Saul was concerned about how he looked in comparison to the young shepherd boy.  This is not unlike the time when He went ahead and offered a burnt offering at Gilgal because the people were leaving him.  And when confronted by Samuel, he said:  

""Because I saw that the people were scattering from me, and that you did not come within the appointed days, and that the Philistines were assembling at Michmash, therefore I said, 'Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not asked the favor of the LORD.' So I forced myself and offered the burnt offering." (1Samuel 13:11-14 NAS95S)

Saul's mistake was thinking the favor of the Lord came through burt offering; through a ritual or by going through the motions.  His mistake was thinking that his greatest loss was his soldiers departure.  This was no loss at all.  Rather it was an invitation to pray.  An invitation to wait upon the Lord.  And an invitation to trust.  But rather than trusting, Saul took matters into his own hands.  Rather than waiting, He said, I must go to work.

Later, he will do the same thing with the King of Amelek.  Rather than trusting the Lord and being obedient to His word, Saul works to maintain his reputation:  

""I have sinned; I have indeed transgressed the command of the LORD and your words, because I feared the people and listened to their voice. "Now therefore, please pardon my sin and return with me, that I may worship the LORD." But Samuel said to Saul, "I will not return with you; for you have rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD has rejected you from being king over Israel." As Samuel turned to go, Saul seized the edge of his robe, and it tore. So Samuel said to him, "The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to your neighbor, who is better than you. "Also the Glory of Israel will not lie or change His mind; for He is not a man that He should change His mind." Then he said, "I have sinned; but please honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel, and go back with me, that I may worship the LORD your God." So Samuel went back following Saul, and Saul worshiped the LORD." (1Samuel 15:24-31 NAS95S)

Unfortunately, even as Saul confesses his sin, he refuses to forsake His sin:  "I feared the people and listened to their voice," and yet he never came apart to make reconciliation with the Lord.  Instead he asks Samuel, "honor me now before the elders... go back with me, that I may worship the Lord your God."

In reality, Saul would not be worshiping Samuel's God, rather He would be worshipping his god: The god of appearance, and the god of reputation.  His position had blinded him to his condition.  His identity was in his title rather than in the Almighty.  If his identity had been in the Lord, he could have accepted the loss of the kingdom, he could have accepted God's rejection of him as king over Israel because he would have understood that this wasn't a rejection of him as a person.  He would have seen that while he was no longer Israel's King, He was still God's child.  And that's what matters most.  

Application:  Yes, It's not the title we hold, or the accolades we receive that matter most.  Rather, it is the Father we call upon.  Jesus put it this way:  

"do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven.""  (Luke 10:20 NAS95S)

As leaders, as church members, as professionals, we may have a moral fall.  We may make a grave mistake.  We may even be stripped of power and prestige.  But this is no cause for weeping.  

No use crying over the loss of prestige or position.  What we must weep over is the potential loss of our salvation.  What we must weep over is if our names were to be erased from heaven's record.  

However, God will not let us go without a fight.  We might loose fame, or fortune, or even family.  But we cannot loose his love, as Sara Groves so poignantly sings in her song, You Cannot Loose My Love:

You Cannot Lose My Love

You will lose your baby teeth. 

At times, you'll lose your faith in me. 

You will lose a lot of things, 

But you cannot lose my love.

You may lose your appetite, 

Your guiding sense of wrong and right. 

You may lose your will to fight, 

But you cannot lose my love.

You will lose your confidence. 

In times of trial, your common sense. 

You may lose your innocence, 

But you cannot lose my love.

Many things can be misplaced; 

Your very memories be erased. 

No matter what the time or space, 

You cannot lose my love.

You cannot lose, 

You cannot lose, 

You cannot lose my love.

And it is this love, that if we will let it, will lead us to true repentance: not of our losses, but of our sins.  In fact, this love may even restore us.  But we mustn't repent for the restoration of our position, we must repent for the renewal of our characters, and the salvation of our souls.  

Personally, I must confess that I have fallen into the trap of worshiping my reputation.  Of asking my church leaders how I'm doing.  Of worrying about taking a stand because it may offend someone or cause them to think less of me.  And today I pray God will forgive and work in me a genuine repentance.  

Prayer:  Father God, forgive me for worshipping at the alter of reputation.  Forgive me for prostituting myself to the fickle fancies of public opinion.  Father, I need the courage of David.  I need the boldness of Paul.  I don't want to lead for the praise of people.  I want to lead for the glory of Your Name.  And to do so, I must daily follow in the footsteps of Your Son Jesus.

So lead me on dear Jesus.  Lead me to that place where you were in John 2:

"Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men, and because He did not need anyone to testify concerning man, for He Himself knew what was in man." (John 2:24-25 NAS95S)

May I entrust myself to no man, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.  You alone are my trust Jesus.  You alone are my safety.  There is no where else to turn.  No one else worthy of my allegiance.  Let me look to You alone, and fill me with Your Holy Spirit, that He may guide me safely home.  

They Have Not Rejected You

"And it came about when Samuel was old that he appointed his sons judges over Israel. Now the name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judging in Beersheba. His sons, however, did not walk in his ways, but turned aside after dishonest gain and took bribes and perverted justice. 

Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah; and they said to him, "Behold, you have grown old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint a king for us to judge us like all the nations." But the thing was displeasing in the sight of Samuel when they said, "Give us a king to judge us." And Samuel prayed to the LORD. The LORD said to Samuel, "Listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them. "Like all the deeds which they have done since the day that I brought them up from Egypt even to this day—in that they have forsaken Me and served other gods—so they are doing to you also." (1Samuel 8:1-8 NAS95S)

Observation:  What was the difference between Eli's relationship with His sons, and Samuel's relationship with his sons?  Was there a difference?  

The Scripture records of Samuel's boys:  

"His sons, however, did not walk in his ways, but turned aside after dishonest gain and took bribes and perverted justice." (1Samuel 8:3 NAS95S)

And of Eli's sons it says: 

"Now the sons of Eli were worthless men; they did not know the LORD...  the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD, for the men despised the offering of the LORD." (1Samuel 2:12, 17 NAS95S)

And the Scripture also says of Eli:  

"'Why do you kick at My sacrifice and at My offering which I have commanded in My dwelling, and honor your sons above Me, by making yourselves fat with the choicest of every offering of My people Israel?'" (1Samuel 2:29 NAS95S)

Maybe the difference between Eli and Samuel as fathers was that Samuel sought to discipline His sons and Eli did not.  However, it says that Samuel made His sons judges in His old age.  Surely he knew what was in their hearts by then.   However, maybe he didn't.  The story of David's selection as king, when the Lord informs Samuel that God looks on the heart, seems to suggest that possibly Samuel wasn't the best judge of character.  

What's going on here?  Hmmm...  Are there any other clues?  

The book Patriarchs and Prophets offers some interesting insight into this whole story regarding Samuel and His sons:

It was with the full assent of the nation that Samuel had appointed his sons to office, but they did not prove themselves worthy of their father's choice. The Lord had, through Moses, given special directions to His people that the rulers of Israel should judge righteously, deal justly with the widow and the fatherless, and receive no bribes. But the sons of Samuel "turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment." The sons of the prophet had not heeded the precepts which he had sought to impress upon their minds. They had not copied the pure, unselfish life of their father. The warning given to Eli had not exerted the influence upon the mind of Samuel that it should have done. He had been to some extent too indulgent with his sons, and the result was apparent in their character and life.

The injustice of these judges caused much dissatisfaction, and a pretext was thus furnished for urging the change that had long been secretly desired. "All the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah, and said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations." The cases of abuse among the people had not been referred to Samuel. Had the evil course of his sons been known to him, he would have removed them without delay; but this was not what the petitioners desired. Samuel saw that their real motive was discontent and pride, and that their demand was the result of a deliberate and determined purpose. No complaint had been made against Samuel. All acknowledged the integrity and wisdom of his administration; but the aged prophet looked uponthe request as a censure upon himself, and a direct effort to set him aside. He did not, however, reveal his feelings; he uttered no reproach, but carried the matter to the Lord in prayer and sought counsel from Him alone.

And the Lord said unto Samuel: "Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them. According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken Me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee." The prophet was reproved for grieving at the conduct of the people toward himself as an individual. They had not manifested disrespect for him, but for the authority of God, who had appointed the rulers of His people. Those who despise and reject the faithful servant of God show contempt, not merely for the man, but for the Master who sent him. It is God's words, His reproofs and counsel, that are set at nought; it is His authority that is rejected.  Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 605, 606.

Apparently Samuel had a desire to please, in that He took the people's request for a king as a rejection of His leadership.  However, the Lord rebuke's Him in saying, They are not rejecting You, They are rejecting me.  

Application:  This truth is so critical to my leadership in my home.  When my children throw a fit because they are not getting their way, they are not rejecting me.  They are rejecting the Lord.  

That's not to say that they are little rebels with no hope of salvation.  It's just to say they are human.  They are sinful and selfish like everyone else.  They are like Israel asking for a king.  "The kid across the street has a game system, why can I have one too."

Or, "Johnny parents let him watch thus and such, and why can't I?"  

Well, if I take these "Give us a king" requests personally, then I'll easily be tempted to think they're rejecting me.  And I want to be liked.  

However my job is not for my kids to like me, my job is to teach them the kind of responsibility that will one day lead them to a deep and abiding love for Jesus.  My job is not to indulge them, but to disciple.  Not to pass them off to the DVD player, other parents, or other friends, but to pass onto them what I have learned of Jesus, of life, and of the grace of the Father.  

And if I do this, they will like me in the long run...   Short term, they may say... "Your mean.  You don't love me," and blah blah blah...  But it is all worth it when they say, "Thanks for showing me Jesus.  Thanks for doing what was right and not always what I liked."

Yes, always doing what my kids like, will not have a likable outcome for them, me, or others... 

Maybe there is a time to let them do as they like and suffer the consequences of their choices, as God did with Israel when they asked for a King...  However, this time shouldn't be by accident or simply in an effort to please.  It must come through a prayerful decision making process.  

On the flip side, there are clearly times when my children must here "NO!" Or, must be redirected toward a better decision.  

Prayer:  O Jesus, I feel week as a father.  I think my weakness is in a great part because of my own lack of discipline and focus.  I have not traveled light.  I have taken stuff with me.  I have taken lust with me.  I have taken indulgence with me.  And all of this stuff... All of this consumption has taken it's toll on my soul... on my integrity.

Jesus forgive me.  Cleanse me.  Change me.  Don't give up on me Jesus.  Restore unto me the joy of Your salvation.  Restore to me the joy I have found in children in years gone by.  Make me intentional about investing in the lives of my children.  Please Jesus, I need Your power and grace to be a leader who teaches my children to be leaders in the Kingdom of God.  Don't let me make the mistake of Eli and Samuel.  Don't let me walk that painful road.  For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world for Christ, but loose his own children.

O Jesus, save me, and save me children.  Change me and change my kids.  Make me a priest... first in my home.

Jim Moon's Compass

Roles:  Disciple, Husband, Father, 

Pastor, Prayer Coordinator

Jim's Mission:  My life mission is to be a disciple-making disciple of Jesus Christ; first in my home, than in the World.  I will walk with God, pray with power, serve as priest of my home, love without fear, and live with integrity.  

Geri's Story

May I Pray For You?

by Geri Morrison

“You can pray for me,” she said.  “Anything specific?” I asked.  Her brow knit as she contemplated how much to tell a stranger.  “Could you just pray for me in general?”  “Of course,” I replied.  “Would you like for me to pray now or during my private prayer time?”  “Can you do both?”  “Sure,” I said, and I did.

I wear a 2 ¼ inch button that invites “MAY I PRAY FOR YOU?”  It started at camp meeting.  My brother and I are RN’s, and were sharing experiences of opportunities we’d had to pray with our patients, and how to “break the ice”. 

“I wish I could just put a sign across my chest that says “I’ll pray for you if you want me to,” I’d offered.  “Why don’t you?” he challenged, so the button was made and I’ve been wearing it ever since.  And the Lord has blessed me with countless opportunities to pray with people, so much more than before I advertised it.  I’d been aching to go on another mission trip where I could really feel used by the Lord.  He showed me that I’m already there, and have been all along! And the blessings continue to overwhelm me.

I took her hand in mine, and knelt beside her hospital bed.  I did not know her faith, or to whom she would address a prayer.  But I prayed as though she were a fellow church member.  After her “Amen” I looked up to find her crying, and a nurse’s aide who’d entered the room was wiping her own tears.  I prayed with this patient every time I was assigned as her nurse, and staff members told me she’d ask if I was coming in on days she didn’t see me.  The day she finally became strong enough to be discharged she had someone call me to swing by the hospital if I could.  I found her dressed and waiting for me.  She smiled and took my hands.  “I want to pray for you and your work,” she said, and she offered such a beautiful heartfelt prayer that I’m sure angels cried with me.

My personal prayer life has been enriched as I intercede for those I’ve promised to lift up before the Lord.  I spend more time with my Heavenly Father than ever before.  More praises ascend from my lips as I thank Him for His goodness and unfailing love as evidenced by answered prayers.  My confidence in Him grows firmer, my dependence on Him grows deeper, and my love for Him grows fonder as I walk with Him.  Interceding for others has caused me to dig deeper into His word to find the blessed assurances and promises I need so I can share them with others. Now I wear the button everywhere.  Several co-workers are on my prayer list.  I’ve had grocery clerks, bank tellers, wait staff, and other strangers request prayer, and of course, my patients.  I ask if there is anything specific, and if the person wants prayer now or at my private prayer time.  Sometimes people share a particular concern, sometimes not.  Some I have the privilege of seeing again, some I don’t. At times I’m asked what religion I follow, and when I say Seventh-Day Adventist I often hear “I have a friend”, or “I have a relative”, or “I used to work with a Seventh-Day Adventist”, and conversation ensues about our beliefs and the similarities we share.

Four of my co-workers are wearing “MAY I PRAY FOR YOU?” buttons now.  One is a Christian Jew, one a Catholic, one Mormon, and one attends an Assembly of God Church.  I pray for everybody who wears one.

Some of us want to lift up Christ and share His love, but don’t know where to start.  Wearing the button has made this task so easy.  I used to be afraid of saying the wrong thing, fearful of rejection, concerned with what others might think of me.  Now I’m deeply concerned about what others think of Jesus, and how I represent Him while I claim His name.  Everyone out there has a burden, a heartache, a struggle, a need.  The longing for peace, healing, love and hope transcends all faiths.  Most of us want to share some of our load, even with a total stranger.  Oh, the thrill of giving hope to someone through Christ, the joy of helping to lighten someone’s burden.  The blessings of an enriched personal walk with God, working with Him, sharing His love, all give a new depth to everyday life.

In the middle of a 12 hour night shift a co-worker brought me a note.  On it was the home number of one of my supervisors.  She said I was to go to the Doctor’s dictation room, close the door and call her ASAP.  My mind raced as I wondered what I had done wrong and how bad it could be.  I held my breath as I dialed.  She answered with “Geri, I need you to pray, NOW.”  She was terribly upset, and began to tell of a family crisis and immediate need to petition the Lord. For nearly an hour we talked and prayed.  I continued daily to bring the situation before the Lord, and she kept me posted.  To the Glory of His name we received the answers we sought.  And I still pray for her.

Another night I had orders to discontinue a nasogastric tube for a patient only when certain criteria could be met.  She told me that for two days she’d been hoping to have this uncomfortable device removed.  After praying with the patient we checked, and praise God, she made the mark!  She is absolutely sure this was a direct response to prayer.

I have watched monitors and seen vital signs stabilize within minutes of praying aloud for patients.  I have seen pain levels decrease and anxieties fade away.  Many times patients have reported that they are “hard sticks”, difficult to start IV’s on. I tell them I need to pray before starting their IV, and every time I do, the Lord brings honor and glory to His name by granting this simple request.  Every time! Praise His worthy name!

Almost every shift I work, God gives me someone to pray for.  My prayer list continues to grow.  My prayers are less “me” focused as I plead for others.  We are a people of prayer.  If you are longing for an even closer walk with your Savior, ask Him if inviting prayer requests is a mission work for you.  You may find that you need Him more, trust Him more, praise Him more, and love Him more.  And that, my friend, is true joy.