We have all seen examples of the tragic early deaths of celebrities and other successful people who seemed to have everything. Solomon writes about this in Ecclesiastes 6:2, “God gives some people great wealth and honor and everything they could ever want, but then he doesn’t give them the chance to enjoy these things.”

It is not that being successful or wealthy is wrong, but as we have seen on many occasions, those things do not provide happiness.

He says in Ecclesiastes 5:19, “And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life—this is indeed a gift from God. God keeps such people so busy enjoying life that they take no time to brood over the past.”

God has each of us where we are for a reason. Sure it would be great to have lots of money and success, but we need to trust that God has a plan for us, and enjoy what we have, while waiting, with faith, for what we would like.

Dear Lord, it is in our nature to want more, but help us enjoy our lives and trust that you love us, and have us where we are for your reasons. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

A while ago, I had the opportunity to do some very basic rock climbing and learn a little about how it is done. One thing that was very evident to me was how important and reassuring it was to have a “belay” line. A belay line is used by rock climbers to prevent falling a long distance if they lose their grip or footing and fall. On a climbing wall the lines hang down from the top, and slack is taken up as the climber ascends. On a natural climb, the belay line is anchored and another stationary climber feeds out the line as the other climber ascends. If the climber slips, he/she can only fall as far as the last anchor point and the amount of slack the rope allows.

The simple climbing I did looked so easy from the ground. However, once 30 or 40 feet up it felt much more serious. However, the knowledge that the belay line meant that making a mistake would only result in maybe a scrape or two, rather than serious injury, made it a completely different experience.

In a similar way, this is what Paul is saying in Hebrews 13:5-6, he writes, “For God has said, “I will never, never fail you nor forsake you.” That is why we can say without doubt or fear, “The Lord is my helper, and I am not afraid of anything that mere man can do to me.”

If we can get the belief God will not fail us, built into our hearts and minds, we can proceed with confidence on the mission to which he calls us.

Dear Lord, help us all truly know that you will not fail us, and use this knowledge to do your will even in the midst of our fears. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

How do we define life? It can be defined in many ways, our physical life, beating heart and active brain waves; our consciousness and awareness of ourselves and our existence; but more individually, our lives and our relationships, our interests and activities, our strengths and weaknesses, our skills and talents.

Jesus says in Matthew 10:39 “If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it.”

I think Jesus is referring to the entire variety of life definitions. If we surrender to God, those things that make up our life, he will give us, as He describes in John 10:10, “an abundant life,” not only in our eternal life, but in our life on earth, as well.

Dear Lord, thank you for the promise of eternal life most of all, but also thank you for the promise of an abundant life on earth, abounding in peace, hope, and joy. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

There never seems to be an end to the number of books and stories written on Leadership. There are books that advocate any leadership style imaginable, from the Autocratic brutal leadership of ancient warriors, to the softer consensus building leadership styles more common in some modern firms.

Jesus gives his disciples a lesson in leadership in Matthew 10:25-28 saying, “.. whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Leadership is difficult. It is taking on the responsibility for something you cannot do on your own, requiring others’ efforts to complete the objective. Some leaders become demanding and controlling, treating people as just tools to accomplish the leader’s objectives. The servant leader, that Jesus describes, serves people and helps carry their burdens, while they all contribute to success.

Few take on the responsibility to lead; It opens us up to criticism and risk, but it also offers the joy of accomplishing more than we can on our own, and the opportunity to share, with others, the love God shares with us.

Dear Lord, there is no better leadership example that Jesus Christ, and no more important mission than the one you gave us in Matthew 28:19, to “go and make disciples.” Help us be leaders for you. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

When you think of the word “courage,” what comes to mind? A soldier in battle? Performing on stage for the first time? Standing up to a bully?Skydiving?

Courage is doing something that we find frightening

1 Peter 2:19 says, “For God is pleased when, conscious of his will, you patiently endure unjust treatment.”

To consciously endure unjust treatment requires courage. Unjust treatment may be simple teasing when we skip participating in the gossip session, or dirty jokes, or the terrible persecutions of Christians by governments and organizations over the years.

When we demonstrate this courage, God is pleased with us, and it strengthens our faith and confidence in God’s power and protection. Lord willing, none of us will have to endure physical pain and torture for our faith. Let us, however, have the courage to accept the challenge and endure those situations that we are given.

Dear Lord help us have the faith and confidence in you to be ready to endure the unjust treatment that may occur when we do the right thing, knowing that this pleases you. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.