Tag: Jesus

1 John 3:18 NLT, “Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.”

Last month, I had the pleasure of attending a webinar and heard Anne Beiler speak, the founder of Auntie Anne’s, the world’s largest pretzel franchise. As she candidly shared about her faith in Jesus Christ, and how He helped her to grow personally and professionally, I was inspired. She said she always felt so small and insignificant as a person, and had to learn to believe that she is who God says she is.

I have enjoyed Auntie Anne’s pretzels numerous times in the past while at the shopping mall. Most recently while my daughter was visiting from Spain this summer, we had some of these delicious pretzels; however, I had never heard the story behind it all. She brought much hope to those of us who want to lead like Jesus in our daily lives.

Some points she made about leadership are below:

Lead by example:

We often hear this, but to actually do it takes perseverance because we sometimes have to go against the grain, and choose the ways of Jesus over the ways of friends, family, or others we are around. (Matthew 19:29)

Invest in others and respect them:

We live in a world where we are encouraged to selfishly put our own needs before the needs of others. But Jesus says to think of others first and love them. Kindness and compassion are needed in our world. (Philippians 2:3-4)

Do not engage in negativity:

This is a reminder to avoid godless chatter and useless arguments. In the world of social media, it’s easy to get caught up in negativity. We must even guard against negativity in our personal lives and in the workplace. It’s not necessary to respond to every negative thing that comes our way. (2 Timothy 2:16)

Trying to be perfect is impossible:

Excellence is possible, but perfection is not. Represent Jesus by striving for excellence, which simply means doing things to the best of your ability. He is our strength. (1 Peter 2:9)

Do not compromise truth:

Be who you are in Jesus Christ, and set a good example of His love to those around you. Make wise choices and act in a way that reflects His glory. Stand for the truth in God’s Word. (John 17:17)

Previous Lead Like Jesus post: Lead like Jesus : Heart, Head, Hands & Habits

Matthew 14:27 NLT, “But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!”

I am sure most of us are familiar with the story of Jesus walking on the water, and Him calling Peter out of the boat to join Him. You can read the whole story here if you like, Matthew 14:22-33.

However, this particular verse in the chapter, verse 27, stood out to me the last time I read it. It is a reminder that Jesus wants us to be willing to step out in faith and not be afraid because as He said, “I am here!” When we are met with new challenges or even called to pursue new ventures, He is with us, giving us what we need to obey Him and move forward. Do you trust Him to supply your every need and be with you as He promised? Our faith filled steps of obedience will lead to God’s best for our lives, and our obedience is even a blessing to those around us.

Trust Jesus today and don’t be afraid to do as He says; He is right there with you. Take courage!

Psalm 118:24 NLT, “This is the day the LORD has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.”

Rejoice and be glad! Our days may not always go perfectly and life sometimes brings unexpected circumstances our way, but since we know God is in control, we can rejoice. Nothing we encounter is a surprise to Him, and He already knows what we need, even before we ask. We are privileged to have a Heavenly Father who delights in hearing our requests and our praises, so rejoice and be glad.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 NIV, “9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships,in persecutions,in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

It is human nature for us to want to be self sufficient and in control of our lives. We think we can take care of ourselves by ourselves. But the truth is that in our own strength, we are not capable. We need God’s strength to sustain us because we fall short in many ways. Even when we go through seasons that seem like we “have it all together,” one thing can suddenly happen that reminds us we need the Lord. Life can change quickly.

Paul said that He boasted about his weaknesses, because through them, He experienced the power of Jesus Christ. We often struggle to make things happen in our own strength, but when we give our life over to Jesus, day by day, one situation at a time, we will find that through His power, we become strong and capable. Even when we experience feelings of fear or uncertainty, we can find the courage to keep progressing step by step.

Do you boast about your weaknesses knowing that through them Jesus can still use you to accomplish His will? The closer I have gotten to Jesus, the more I am understanding what Paul meant. There is a freedom that comes when we begin to understand that in Christ, we don’t have to be perfect. When we humble ourselves before the Lord, He lifts us up in due time (1 Peter 5:6). Apart from Him, we can do nothing; even overcoming our weaknesses requires His help. Trust Jesus to sustain you. He loves you, even when your performance is not perfect.