WATCH YOUR WORDS!

Leon FontaineDevoted

Words can bring death or life! Talk too much, and you will eat everything you say. Proverbs 18:21 (CEV)  We’ve all heard it said, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” There’s a lot of wisdom in that little saying! In fact, guarding your words is never more crucial than when you sense weariness pushing against you.  I remember reading an article by a neurologist who said that the brain area that looks after speech overrides the rest of the brain. That makes sense because our ears and hearts obviously listen to and believe the words we speak. That’s why saying things like, “I’ve had it. I just can’t do it anymore,” or, “I’m so sick and tired of …

ONE STEP AT A TIME

Leon FontaineDevoted

The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Psalm 37:23 (NLT)  When my wife and I first started leading our church, it exploded in growth. Attendance doubled almost every year for several years.  It was awesome, but at the same time, it put a lot of pressure on us. We had to figure out finances and locate larger buildings to rent. We needed to recruit volunteers, design kids’ programs and organize parking.  Whenever people face difficult problems where the solutions are complicated, or there aren’t any easy fixes, they can quickly grow mentally or emotionally exhausted. That’s when many people will begin to make wrong decisions, back away or give up altogether.  Whenever I face complex challenges, …

MÁS QUE FELICIDAD

Leon FontaineEntregate

Como buenos administradores de los diferentes dones de Dios, cada uno de ustedes sirva a los demás según lo que haya recibido.1 Pedro 4:10 (DHH)   Su destino es algo más que encontrar la felicidad.  Por supuesto, Dios quiere que usted esté en paz consigo mismo, experimente alegría y sea exitoso. Pero hay más. Usted tiene un llamado que va más allá de encontrar satisfacción personal. Se trata de promover la causa de Cristo y ser una bendición para los demás.  Lo irónico de hacer la obra de Dios y cumplir su vocación es que, en retorno, usted experimentará la mayor felicidad que pueda tener. Las personas que piensan más allá de sus propios planes y diseños son más despreocupados y alegres. Lo contrario es cierto …

REMEMBER YOUR “WHY”

Leon FontaineDevoted

After looking things over I stood up and spoke to the nobles, officials, and everyone else: “Don’t be afraid of them. Put your minds on the Master, great and awesome, and then fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes.” Nehemiah 4:14 (MSG) When people feel like their dreams are delayed or they’re making limited progress, they can grow weary. That can tempt them to give up. However, in the book of Nehemiah, we find a great principle to defeat this mindset.  Nehemiah had organized the Jews to rebuild Jerusalem. As the people worked, neighbouring enemy nations tried to discourage them through fear-mongering and threats. But Nehemiah was wise and powerfully countered their efforts. How?  He would remind the Jews …

VIVIENDO LA BUENA VIDA

Leon FontaineEntregate

Pues somos la obra maestra de Dios. Él nos creó de nuevo en Cristo Jesús, a fin de que hagamos las cosas buenas que preparó para nosotros tiempo atrás. Efesios 2:10 (NTV)  Dios tiene preparado un gran futuro para usted. Él quiere que usted tenga “una buena vida”. Efesios 2:10 dice que Él planificó grandes caminos para que los siguiéramos y cuando caminemos por ellos, vivamos “la buena vida que Él dispuso y preparó para nosotros.”  Muchos han malinterpretado que esto significa que Dios cuida de todo en la vida. Ellos se quedan atascados en un modo de vida espiritual, solo orando para recibir respuestas. Pero no es así como funcionan las cosas. Si eso fuera cierto, no habría responsabilidad de nuestra parte de caminar …