VISIONARY LEADERSHIP MEANS FINDING CREATIVE WAYS TO INVEST, BUILD AND EQUIP THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS!

Copyright © 2012 by Dr. William Valmyr

"6 And these words which I am commanding you this day shall be [first] in your [own] minds and hearts; [then] 7 You shall whet and sharpen them so as to make them penetrate, and teach and impress them diligently upon the [minds and] hearts of your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down and when you rise up." (Deuteronomy 6:6-7; Amplified Bible)

One of the issues taking center stage as we move forward into the 21st century is the power of visionary leadership or the lack of sound biblical leadership.  As the first decade of this century ended, many in our world have reflected upon the advancement in technologies such as smart cars or smart phone, and the latest innovations or trends in social media but have failed to lead this generation under the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit. If we want to see spiritual renewal in the next decade, we must develop a godly vision for the future and we must empower the next generation of leaders with the biblical principles for a strong and vibrant future in God’s plan of redemption for the world! This means that we have to be intentional, creative and innovative about reaching, investing, building and equipping the next generation.  Sometimes you may have to use different platforms like sports to accomplish the vision of raising future leaders.

I am so grateful for the opportunity to impart some leadership principles to nearly 60 young talented football players and their coaches at the Counter Culture Sport/ Fellowship of Christian Athletes 2012 Football Leadership Camp. It was an honor for me to partner with men like Coach Kirk Hoza (Camp Director and Football Coach), James Pendleton (Area Director for Gold Coast Fellowship of Christian Athletes), Casey Palacious (FCA Area Representative and FAU Campus Director), former NFL Quarterback Chad Pennington, and a host of others. It is my prayer that the Lord would use us (mature/seasoned Christian leaders) as His instruments to impart truth and biblical principles of leadership to our young leaders (young men and women). So help us God!

STEWARDING GOD'S GRACE

Copyright © 2012 by William Valmyr

2 Corinthians 12:9 (NKJV)

          "And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in  weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

As I write this article, I am thinking of the souls who are living separated from the grace of God—they are graceless. We are living in perilous times (2 Timothy 3:1-7)! Save the grace of God, we are all but fools on our way to a sinner’s hell. “And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” (1 Corinthians 6:11, ESV). Thank God for His indescribable grace!

His Grace is Sufficient!

God has a special grace and a special anointing for you to fulfill your assignment on the earth. No amount of self-sufficiency can empower you to do what only God’s grace can accomplish through you. Our sufficiency as believers is found in the power of His grace for our every need and circumstances.

Friends, you will never fully understand God’s grace, until all you have to fulfill your purpose is His grace.

God’s grace is truly sufficient and His strength is made perfect in my weaknesses (2 Corinthians 12:9). I am grateful for God’s grace in and over my life. I have had my share of trials over the years (especially in 2010 and 2011), but God has delivered me out of them all. I am grateful that the grace of God is not only sufficient for my past, but it is sufficient for my present circumstances, and God promises to extend His grace through the rest of my life. He has covered me with His unmerited favor, and I pray that I can be found faithful as I steward His manifold grace toward me.

Treasuring God’s Grace!

Over the course of the past few months, I have been thinking about how blessed I am to have been a recipient of God’s grace. God has chosen you and me as vessels for the stewardship of His manifold grace. We have both the privilege and the responsibility to steward and share God’s grace in the most excellent and godly way possible. This is particularly true when I am reminded that I have been a Christian for 24 years this month—God has been so patient in working on me to develop both the character and servant qualities that reflect the grace and truth found only in Jesus Christ. I have a long way to go, and I am still a work in progress (Philippians 2:12-18; 3:12-16). The Christian life is indeed a wonderful journey of love, grace and forgiveness.

Choose Grace!

No matter what you are going through, I urge you to choose grace. Whenever you are dealing with exasperating situations and toxic people, I exhort you to choose grace. Listen to the words of the apostle Paul to his spiritual son Titus:

Titus 2:11-14 (Amplified)
For the grace of God (His unmerited favor and blessing) has come forward (appeared) for the deliverance from sin and the eternal salvation for all mankind. It has trained us to reject and renounce all ungodliness (irreligion) and worldly (passionate) desires, to live discreet (temperate, self-controlled), upright, devout (spiritually whole) lives in this present world, Awaiting and looking for the [fulfillment, the realization of our] blessed hope, even the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One), Who gave Himself on our behalf that He might redeem us (purchase our freedom) from all iniquity and purify for Himself a people [to be peculiarly His own, people who are] eager and enthusiastic about [living a life that is good and filled with] beneficial deeds. Tell [them all] these things. Urge (advise, encourage, warn) and rebuke with full authority. Let no one despise or disregard or think little of you [conduct yourself and your teaching so as to command respect].

I pray that as you envision to fulfill your calling on this side of eternity that you consider living a grace-filled life, and that you allow God’s grace to sustain you during these perilous times (2 Timothy 3:1).

Grace: Free but Costly!

I urge you to share God’s love with the people around you (friends, neighbors, co-workers, classmates, and family members), whom you know are living outside of God’s grace. A life without grace is a life without meaning and significance; hence, sharing the love of Jesus with unbelievers is an act of compassion. I urge you not to use grace as a license to sin. Grace is free but it is not cheap. Even though God’s gift of grace is freely given, it costs Him the life of His Son Jesus Christ (John 3:16). When the apostle Paul heard, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness,” Paul understood that Jesus is grace personified; and that it is only when we acknowledge our weaknesses, that the power of Christ and His grace can be fully manifested in and through our lives.

As Paul prayed for the Corinthians, may “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen,” (2 Corinthians 13:14, NKJV)!

Grace and peace be multiplied to you!

This article was first published at openchurch.com

SOWING SEEDS OF SUCCESS BY INVESTING IN OTHERS!

Copyright © 2012 by William Valmyr

“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” (Galatians 6:7, NKJV)

I have often heard Christians making great confessions concerning their future but many of them do not take the time to invest in others. Friends, the harvest that you are looking for, is in the seed that you plant. You cannot expect success in your life, if you are not investing in others and if you are not helping others to succeed in what God is calling them to do.

Do you realize that the harvest of your tomorrow depends on the seeds that you sow today? What you will be experiencing in the future depends on the kinds of seeds you plant now. If you want to see what your future looks like, spend the time to invest seeds of success in others. Galatians 6:7 says, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” My friends, I encourage to judge each day not by the harvest you reap but by the seeds you plant. As you plant seeds of success in others, I am confident that you are making an investment that is guaranteed to come back to you in greater measure than you could ever imagine. I am praying for your success!

Grace and peace be multiplied to you!

PRAYING FOR YOUR FAITHFULNESS IN CHRIST!

Copyright © 2012 by William Valmyr

“If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.” (2 Timothy 2:13, NKJV)

“God’s hand will always lead us to a specific calling, position of responsibility, or a particular task in order to glorify Himself as we faithfully serve Him. God is as interested in what He is doing in our lives as He is in those to whom He has called us to serve.”

BIBLICAL TEACHINGS ON PAIN AND SUFFERING!

Copyright © 2012 by William Valmyr

“18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, 39 nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:18, 37-39, NKJV)

Biblical Answers to Suffering

Before I begin, let me just say that God is not the author of pain, confusion and suffering. Although God may use them for our good; these human quandaries are the result of the fall of man (see Genesis 3) and too often the consequences of our own sins. Are you enduring pain and suffering caused by people or spiritual warfare? Do not be ignorant of Satan’s devices. In times of affliction, do nothing, say nothing, and write nothing that you would not be willing to embrace the consequences. God never promised that the Christian life would be easy. The apostle Peter writes, “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care [anxieties] upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:6-7, NKJV). Do not lean on your own understanding but trust in the Lord always. The writer of Hebrews states that “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:15-16, NIV). In times of unimaginable suffering, Christ promises to be real and a lasting hope!

The Place of Pain and Suffering!

Pain and suffering in the life of the disciple of Christ, are reminders that the more familiar I recognize my weaknesses, the more I can depend upon God’s grace to see me through. Thus, my personal struggles must be brought under subjection to the lordship of Jesus the Christ. As the battle continues, I am more convinced that nothing shall separate me from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. It was Andrew Murray who said that “A believer may pass through much affliction, and yet secure very little blessing from it all. Abiding in Christ is the secret of securing all that the Father meant the chastisement to bring us.” For many of us, pain and suffering is a tool that God uses to teach us the art of complete surrender to His will.

Surrender is the Goal!

Humans are wired to be spiritual, but they become more wired spiritually when they are enduring pain. When tragedy takes place, spiritual antenna of the human spirit goes up, and it is easier to find God’s frequency but the human spirit has to be channeled through the right Satellite (message). God’s goal in allowing suffering in your life is to give you an opportunity to surrender every single detail of your life to His caring hands. Since surrender is God’s ultimate goal for our lives, we must learn His will concerning us doing times of suffering. This is easier said than done, especially when everything in your life has been shattered into pieces or turned upside down.

Friends, I encourage you to search the Scriptures and learn to trust Him even in the face of doubts. This is the essence of the life of faith and herein lies the power of trusting in God’s unfailing love through His word. It means becoming doers of God’s Word by applying the principles of Scripture in your area of needs. Learning to integrate the Word of God in every area of life is the greatest and most rewarding journey for the followers of Christ. Integrating faith, living, and learning the wisdom of God is at the heart of discipleship. The Holy Spirit is our Helper and Teacher and this is an education you can build on for the rest of your life. Allow the Holy Spirit to lead, teach and guide you during your times of suffering!

Friends, whatever you have gone through or are still undergoing, may I submit to you that you can cast your burdens to the Lord. He cares for you and promises that He can handle your situation! Grace and peace, I am praying for you!

SALVATION IS ONLY FOUND IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST!

Copyright © 2012 by Dr. William Valmyr

“Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12, NKJV)

Life without Christ is meaningless and empty! With all the festivities around Passion Week, many are living life separated from Christ—the One Who died for their sins. My heart is broken and I have a burden to see people come to know Christ, Who is the only Source of true joy! I know that in me there is nothing that can bring a sense of completeness, except my daily fellowship in the presence of Christ. When I take the time to study the scriptures, I discover the eternal love of God for His creation in Jesus Christ. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved” (John 3:16-17, NKJV). Friends, God’s purpose in sending His Son to earth—to live and to die for us—so that you and I can be made whole again and walk in the completeness of knowing Him personally.

It was Jesus Christ Who through the Holy Spirit formulated the basis of a personal and communal relationship with God. Christ’s teaching provided a relational vision that was rooted in the Father’s revelation of Himself through His only begotten Son. As we prepare for the Easter weekend, let us seek to remain in God’s presence so that Christ can lead us into a new season of spiritual fruitfulness! We must resolve to practice His presence daily! I am praying for you! Grace and peace!

Newest Article Published!

STEWARDING GOD'S GRACE AND HIS DIVINE FAVOR, MY SECOND ARTICLE WAS PUBLISHED THIS MORNING!

Please help me as I praise to the Lord for His grace (favor) for expanding the borders of my writing and teaching ministry through the website openchurch.com: Please take the time to read my article at the following link:

http://www.openchurch.com/392/stewarding-gods-grace/