Archives For service

Fit For His Service (Guest Post)

December 20, 2012 — 1 Comment
This post was submitted by Sybil Brodie. At this time of year, Syb’s honest and transparent guest post reminded me of the plentiful opportunities you and I have as believers in Jesus Christ to share His message during the Christmas season. Syb’s prayer is that her writings will encourage and inspire others to seek Jesus as they read what He has done in and through her life. Follow Syb at her blog: Encouragem: Gems of Encouragement. You can also follow her on Facebook.

“…always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” 1 Peter 3:15

What message will we bring to a non-believing world? Will it be a message of a liberating, light-bearing Saviour who loves us unconditionally? Or will it be one of an intolerant, legalistic, judgemental God? Am I fit for His service?

Soldiers in the Service Running in Uniform

Image courtesy of worradmu / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

For years I have taken to heart the Bible’s message to “love my neighbour as myself.” No problem there. Where I fall on my face is when Jesus tells me to “go and be fishers of men.”

This sounds so simple, but I have wrestled often with how I can do this when my verbal skills are woefully lacking. When I try to tell others about Jesus, I get overly anxious. What I know in my heart does not come out of my mouth! Frustration with myself, along with the other person’s frustration with me, quickly ends any meaningful dialogue.  Continue Reading…

Posted on December 20, 2012 In Personal Development , ,
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3 Steps to Becoming Available for What Matters Most

July 17, 2012 — 2 Comments
This is a guest post by David Livingston. He and his wife, Earlene are Word of Life missionaries to the Southeast United States. The Livingstons make their home in Woodstock, GA. Questions or comments about this article may be addressed to David in the comments section below. You can connect with him at his website.

God recently convicted me of something in my life that needed to be addressed. I had become so “busy” with ministry details that I found myself unwilling or unable to slow down to even talk with my neighbor, Bill. That might be okay if all Bill needed was to chew the fat (he and I are both Florida Gator fans), but he has a deeper need. He’s lost. And I know it.

Hands reaching out to help

Free image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Often, as he’d see me come out of my home to load up my stuff into my vehicle, he’d walk across our busy residential street with his little poodle in his arms, and he’d start talking. Next thing you know, I’d be edging back toward the house to go get the rest of my stuff, all the while pretending that I was interested in talking. Continue Reading…

Posted on July 17, 2012 In Local Church, Personal Development , , , , , , ,
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5 Lessons I’m Learning About Life From A Very Pregnant Lady

April 17, 2012 — 7 Comments

My wife is very pregnant. There is something odd about that phrasing, isn’t there? “Ummmm, very pregnant? Either you are or you’re not.” Should the state of being pregnant really be quantified?

Lyons Family Feb 2012
Lyons Family – February 2012

Just about any day now, my wife will give birth to our second child; the first was a boy, Caleb, and we’ve been told this one will be a girl. We are thankful to the Lord.

I said this is our second child but, it’s really our fourth. Continue Reading…

Posted on April 17, 2012 In Personal Development , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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Leading Upward

February 1, 2012 — 8 Comments

Not long ago in one of the LinkedIn groups of which I’m a member, the following was posted by a fellow group member, Gene Ziesel (Twitter / LinkedIn), a pastor from the Roanoke, Virginia area. It is a vivid illustration of the fundamental purpose of this blog, “leading from beneath/behind.”

Image: jscreationzs / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I invite you to take a few minutes and soak this in, particularly if you’re in a similar spot as I am — leading, though not “the” leader.  Continue Reading…

Posted on February 1, 2012 In Local Church, Non-Profits, Personal Development , , , , , , , , ,
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