Dave Lloyd | Leading With Impact

Building ‘Quiet’ Into Our Lives

Dave — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 03:33:38 +0000

There is an epidemic of ‘hurry sickness’ in our society today! Most people are rushing here and there, frantically trying to get a 1,000 things done in a short amount of time. ‘Busy’ seems to be the buzz word of the day. Our daytimers are filled, our calendars are overflowing, our pocket organizers cannot hold any more information! We seem to have the need to cram our days so full, that when our head finally hits the pillow at night we finally breathe a sigh of relief. It is nothing for us to live lives that are constantly overextended, overloaded, and overwhelmed.

There is a valuable word for us found in Psalm 46:10 which says, “Be STILL and know that I am God.” In the midst of our crazy, hurried-up lives, God tells us to BE STILL. Take time to get quiet. Let Him fill our overworked lives with His peace. We need to build ‘quiet’ into our lives. We need to intentionally schedule times of quiet and meditation, so that we can regroup and let God speak to our hearts. I don’t know about you, but my life needs times of solitude. I need those times when I can step back from things and get quiet before God. Not only will we experience His tranquility deep within us, but He will give us fresh perspective and wisdom on our daily responsibilities.

Determine this week that you will intentionally build some ‘quiet’ in your life. You’ll be glad you did!

Don’t Forget TODAY!

Dave — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 02:51:48 +0000

The writer of Ecclesiastes says in 7:10, “Do not say, ‘Why is it that the former days were better than these?’ For it is not from wisdom that you ask about this.” Do you know anyone who seems ‘stuck’ in the past? It’s like they’re locked in to experiences, relationships, events, and memories of times that can never be replicated. The past is past! To spend too much time and reflection about things that can never be brought back, or experienced again, is to lose emotional strength. A preoccupation with the past, will rob us of the joy of valuing the PRESENT moment.

In Philippians 3:13 Paul said, “No, dear brothers, I am still not all I should be but I am brining all my energies to bear on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to the future to what lies ahead…”. Paul felt that the most productive thing for him was to press on towards the future. Of course, he learned things from his past experiences, but he learned not to spend all of his time and energies dwelling on them. He knew he would only be successful as he embrace the PRESENT moment and moved with enthusiasm towards the future.

Enjoy the PRESENT moment as a GIFT FROM GOD! In reality, the PRESENT moment is all we have. The past is past, and the future hasn’t arrived yet. We live in the moment of TODAY! The God we know and love; the God we serve and worship; the God we adore and delight in–His name is I AM! I believe it’s vital that we enjoy TODAY and accept this moment as a gift from God. God has something special for us TODAY. God wants to do something through our lives TODAY. There are people TODAY that need to hear about His love, peace, and forgiveness. There are people who need a little kindness today. There are people who need a smile, a hug, a touch. Will you commit TODAY to Him and ask for His guidance?

TODAY is the day you can make a difference for Christ!

Training Volunteers

Dave — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 03:57:52 +0000

In the last several weeks I’ve spoken with many people who have reiterated to me, over and over again, the need for more training. The training of volunteers in any organization is one of the key elements to seeing growth and health. Every leader needs to see that this is a priority in his/her organization. When volunteers are adequately equipped and trained for their responsibilities, they will be much more effective and successful in their work.

Training needs to be a vital part of strategic planning and budgetary planning. Too many volunteers either burn out, lose interest, or become discouraged in their work because of lack of training. If you are a leader, you must make sure that the people who come to you to volunteer their time and talents, are adequately trained for their job so they they can be effective in their work. Quality training will include the proper resources, equipment, and personnel to see that volunteers are properly equipped for their work. You will find much more enthusiasm and success in your organization if you see that quality training is provided on a regular basis for your volunteers. What a joy it will be to see people really enjoying their work and excited about their role in your company.

Providing quality training for your volunteers will be one of the greatest investments you can make in the lives of the people who work for you!

The Power of Encouragement

Dave — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 02:24:52 +0000

A great verse of scripture is found in 1 Thessalonians 5:11, “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” Something that all of us can do everyday is be an encourager! We never know when the people we meet are struggling, having a bad day, or maybe going through some tough times. An encouraging word can make the difference in how one faces the day. An encouraging word can help lift someone’s spirit. An encouraging word may make the difference in helping someone turn a corner emotionally in their day. How rewarding it is to know that your words can make a huge impact in people’s lives.

Can you think of a time in your life, when someone came to you with encouraging words and it made all the difference? There is power in encouragement. Friend, you can make a great impact everyday with your life and your words. Be the kind of person that builds up other people, not tears others down. Let your words be such that lives are inspired and motivated to be the best that they can be. Why not take this verse of scripture and let it be become the focus of your service to others this week?

Worship As a Lifestyle

Dave — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 03:23:32 +0000

How many times do we think of ‘worship’ as something that we do once or twice a week? Shouldn’t we be thinking of worship as something that is part of our daily lifestyle? Worship is more than just a specific period of time in which we are singing songs, voicing prayers, taking communion, or celebrating God’s presence in a house of worship. Worship should involve every area of our life and be a part of our daily walk with God. Worship is celebrating God’s presence, exalting Him in our hearts, and living in a growing relationship with Him.

I like how Romans 12:1 reads in The Message translation, “Take your everyday, ordinary life–your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking around life–and place it before God as an offering.”
Notice how that verse ends, “…place it before God as an offering.” You see, everything that is going on in our lives is important to God. We don’t just have to be in church to worship Him. We don’t just have to be singing spiritual songs to worship Him. We worship Him by declaring our adoration of Him, and delight in Him as being our Lord, by taking our everyday lives and offering all we do as a worship to Him.

Maybe our day is made up of mowing the lawn, or doing laundry, or playing on the sports field, or changing diapers, or working in the garage, etc., etc. It does not matter what we are doing, we can have a heart of worship as we do it all before God. God is interested in every aspect of our lives, and we can dedicate every area of our life to Him and live for His glory. William Carey, known as “the father of modern missions”, was a shoemaker before he felt his call to go to India. Carey used to tell his friends that he would put great quality and excellence in each pair of shoes “as if, God Himself, were inspecting each pair” when they were finished. Wow! Does God smile at our work? Do we offer up all of our daily responsibilities and duties to God and worship Him as we carry them out. Here is a man who worshipped the Lord in his work!

Are you learning to worship God in your ‘everyday life’? Do you include Him in all you are doing?
We need to remember every day that worship is a lifestyle we choose. Whatever our days are made up of, we can dedicate it all to God and seek to give Him the glory in what we do!

What an excellenct way to live!

The Nations of the World

Dave — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 03:17:32 +0000

Every week I have the privilege of speaking to people all around the world–South America, Canada, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. All around the world people are hungry for meaning and purpose in life. They are looking for hope and peace. The prophet Haggai wrote in his small book, 2:7, “…and the desire of all nations shall come.” The prophet was speaking of Jesus!

Jesus is the desire of the nations! Men and women from all the nations of the world are seeking after a changed life, the peace, the forgiveness, and the hope that Jesus can bring. What a joy it is to write people from all around the world and tell them about Jesus and the wonderful love He can bring to their lives. What the world has to offer does not compare to what Christ can bring to a person’s heart.
Many people’s lives are empty, confused, guilt-ridden, and hopeless because they have, either strayed away from God, or are ignorant of His wonderful grace. Jesus is the answer they seek.

In John 10:10, Jesus said, “I have come that they might have life and have it more abundantly.” Jesus is the desire of the nations. He is the Savior of the world. The world is full of religions–but there is only One Savior who can bring men to God and cleanse them of their sins. Jesus is the mediator who has come to reconcile us to God, so that we might enjoy life to the fullest. Jesus is our Hope!

Let’s celebrate the wonderful gift God has given mankind, His Son, Jesus Christ! He is the Light of the World!

Focus on the Important

Dave — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 02:57:49 +0000

I think all of us would agree that we cannot do all that we would like. We are not superhuman people. We are all limited by time and energy; we only have so much of both that we can expend each day. We do not have the strength or ability to be everywhere at once. We cannot meet all of the needs that we are aware of; nor, can we take care of everything that needs our attention.

It is vital that we continually ask ourselves, “What does God want for my life? What is my purpose? How has God wired me, and gifted me? What events, activities, relationships, and commitments will help me fulfill God’s will for my life?” Every day we have to be tenacious in discerning what is ‘important’ and what is ‘trivial’! What do I need to be giving laser-focus towards, and what can I pass-up getting involved in? We can be busy all of the time, and not really accomplish our goals and dreams. Am I focusing on those things that are really important? I only have one life to live–I want to make the best of it for God’s glory!

Galatians 6:4 (Msg), “Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that.”

Is Your Heart Fertile Soil?

Dave — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 03:04:31 +0000

In Matthew 13 we find a chapter in the Bible where several of Jesus’ parables are mentioned. One of those parables talked about a man who went out sowing seed and the seed fell on 4 types of soil. Jesus tells us that the soils represent peoples’ hearts. The first soil is hard: no seed is able to grow there. The second type of soil is shallow: the seed cannot grow because there is no depth to the soil and it dies out. The third type of soil is full of thorns and overgrowth: and the seed is not able to grow because it is choked out. The fourth type of soil is fertile: the seed is able to take root and becomes fruitful and productive.

Jesus tells us the seed represents the Word of God. As the Word of God goes forth, and is sown among men through preaching, teaching, witnessing, loving, etc., that seed will either take root and bear fruit, or it will die out. Which soil represents your heart? Are you open to the Word of God? Are you allowing God’s Word to take root in your heart, and you are following it and obeying it to the best of your ability?

The challenge for me is to ask myself, “Is my heart fertile soil for the Word of God to take root and produce godly living for Jesus Christ?” Am I applying God’s truth to my life? Is my life changing by the power of the Holy Spirit, or am I limiting the Word, and letting it get choked out of my life by the pressures and distractions of life? Jesus wants to bless my life and help me enjoy His abundance. I have to open my heart to that. I have to believe Jesus has the best for me. I long for, and hunger for, more of the Word of God in my life! Do you?

Is your heart fertile soil for God’s Word?

Changed Lives

Dave — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 03:30:51 +0000

Listen to the words found in 1 Samuel 10:6, “The Spirit of the Lord will come upon you in power, and you will be changed into a different person.” Wow! The gospel message is all about changed lives! This should be the focus of our ministries. There are a lot of things that we can give energy, focus, and attention towards–but changed lives is what we’re all about as leaders for Jesus Christ!

It should be our desire that every person visiting, or attending, our churches experience the life-changing power of Jesus Christ. Life change does not happen just because we are more religious, more committed, or keep lots of rules or rituals. As the verse in 1 Samuel tells us, life change happens through the power of the Holy Spirit as he comes to transform and regenerate our lives. It is the power of God that makes the difference!

Have you experienced the life changing power of Jesus Christ in your life? Have you surrendered to His Lordship and confessed your sins to Him? He stands ready to forgive you, cleanse you, and give you peace.
2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old things have passed away, behold, new things have come.” You can become a new person in Jesus! You can experience His life changing grace and mercy in your life. Open your heart to Him!

Vantage Point

Dave — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 02:41:23 +0000

Why do hunters spend time up in tree stands? Because it gives them a better vantage point in seeing a larger portion of the field in front of them. It gives them an advantage in seeing the animals they are hunting.

Many times in life things are seen differently if we change our vantage point. It may be that we have been looking at something from the same point of view for so long, that we lose sight of what it is we are looking at. There can be something fresh and renewing by changing our perspective, and changing the vantage point from which we are looking at something. It may be, that things will actually become clearer to us, or problems solved more easily, if we can change our perspective.

God’s Word is full of truth and wisdom. It gives us God’s perspective on life. It gives us an eternal perspective on things. We need the vantage point that God’s truth can give us as we wrestle with issues, and deal with struggles in our lives. God has the best for us and wants us to trust Him completely. It is so important to make reading God’s Word a daily priority. We need God’s perspective! He has the wisdom we need to live life abundantly!