Learning From the Greatest Leader in History

A substantial part of the success of institutions rises and falls on its leadership.

Entities like countries, teams, companies, families, non-profits, and churches.

And sometimes even in our own individual lives when we need leading for direction, purpose, goals, dreams, vocations, talents, and so on.

So, as with any other position or title, leaders come in many shapes and sizes. 

There are average leaders, good leaders, not-so-good leaders, and great leaders.

But there’s no category for perfect ones. Because no one’s without faults and downfalls—with one exception.

Greatest Leader Who Ever Lived

Only one leader in history was perfect. The greatest leader of all time.

He painted a picture of leadership we haven’t seen on the canvas of another human since.

Look at some of His leadership qualities: 

• wise
• kind
• humble
• gracious
• merciful 
• servant
• sinless
• above reproach 
• no evil dwelled in Him

His name? Jesus Christ. The Son of God. The King of kings and Lord of lords.

Servant Leadership by the Greatest Leader

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Do We Overlook Our Family in Kingdom Work?

How can I pray for you?

How can I help you?

My roles often prompt me to ask these two questions of others, especially other women.

This includes life roles and callings in both the past or present. Like pastor’s wife, youth pastor’s wife, women’s leader, mentor, Christian writer, blogger, and speaker.

Asking how to pray and help someone for mentoring, a conversation, hard circumstances, a Bible study, small group, a stranger in need, or simply talking with a friend fosters a connection unlike any other.

Prayer is one of the greatest gifts we give someone.

And offering real, authentic, and tangible help?

It’s what few are willing to do.

But what about my family and yours?

Do we overlook the people right in front of us in need of prayer and help?

First and foremost, those under our roof, our husband and children. And adult children who already left home. Yet it also includes siblings, parents, grandchildren, in-laws and possibly other extended family.

We often ask God to send us a ministry to help others. But we overlook our family members right in front of us in need of help and prayer. Share on X

Let’s consider some examples of how we flesh this out in real life.

Overlook or ask our spouse how we can pray for them.

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5 Ways to Center Our Marriage in Jesus

Our greatest hope in marriage is to center it in Jesus.

My love story with Christ began when I was sixteen as I gave my life and heart to Jesus.

Then, my love story with my husband, Mike, began when I was twenty. He heard me share my Jesus story at a college event. We were also in a sociology class together, Marriage and Family. I know—crazy!

Since we were both Christians, we became friends. After a few months, we went on our first date and dated over the next three years. We had a long engagement before we said, “I do.”

But there’s one thing I’ve learned in marriage over the years. The only thing that gives marriage real hope is to center it in Jesus Christ.

When we accept Jesus as Savior, He desires we center every area of our lives in Him. So it makes good spiritual and biblical sense to keep Jesus center in our marriage too.

When we accept Jesus as Savior, He desires we center every area of our lives in Him. So it makes good spiritual and biblical sense to keep Jesus center in our marriage too. #marriage Share on X

Here are 5 ways to keep Jesus center in our marriage.

(1.) Run to Christ for deep and wide and high love.

Jesus Christ is the only source of authentic love. We may know this truth, but we often forget to go to the source of real love. And then we find ourselves looking to other things, especially our spouse, for what only Jesus provides.

Going to Jesus helps us live satisfied with love from our Savior. The love in our marriage becomes a by-product of a much deeper and more authentic love.

“May have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:18-19 (NIV)

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When Wit’s End is Not the End: Real Peace

When we’re at wit’s end, it’s not the end, but an opportunity for Christ to show Himself as the beginning and the end.

Because Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega, real peace begins with Him.

Plenty of times in my life, I felt anything but peaceful. And I desperately wanted to refocus my mind and redirect my heart.

I desired to embody the peace Christ makes available to me.

Still, I felt nothing but frustrated and overwhelmed in the circumstances.

Yet, in an uncertain world, there is an undeniable peace, an unshakable anchor for our soul.

Even when bad things happen, the peace of Christ never changes and remains constant.

It offers security strengthening the weariest of souls.

Christ speaks words of peace over us. He applies the Spirit’s soothing balm to our deep wounds and restless minds. Jesus calms our last nerve.

When we're at wit's end, it’s not the end, but an opportunity for Christ to show Himself as the beginning and the end. Because Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega, real peace begins with Him. Share on X

So here are five ways to refocus our heart to find P.E.A.C.E when we arrive at wit’s end.

P-Pray

Sometimes we pray as a last resort. Which is the place we find ourselves at wit’s end. Perhaps if we started out our day by praying instead of diving into our daily routine and checking our phone and email, our heart would prove more peaceful. And our mind becomes more thoughtful about what lies ahead and how to ask the Lord for help.

Take time to pray first before thinking too much or talking too much with people other than God. And ask God for His peace, real peace.

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Overflowing: Giving up Half-empty and Half-full

Overflowing.

It paints a picture of filling and fullness spilling over in our lives.

Whether our current days of uncertainty rob our joy.

Or, we scramble for resources we fear are not available.

And even in times of abundance, when life seems good and our source secure.

The Lord wants us to remember, He is our true source. 

Our battle cry in this world becomes: “Lord, fill me.” 

But do we remember to go to the true source of everlasting joy and peace? Are we confident the Lord fills us with good and true things? Have we realized God’s fullness seeps into every corner and crevice of our empty places?

To answer these questions, let’s look at 3 points to keep us overflowing in God.

(1.) Remember our cup’s not half-empty or half-full but overflowing in God.

We no longer need to live with the perspective of the half-empty or half-full cup. And we no longer do just enough to get by until more is required to fill our own cup. Instead, we ask the Lord to give us the strength to run to Him for everything we need. Because these are promises found in His Word.

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows” (Psalm 23:5).

“For he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things” (Psalm 107:9 NIV).

“I am the Lord your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it” (Psalm 81:10).

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