Register Online! Register by Phone: LeaderCare®TBA Location: Elkhart, Indiana Facilitator: TBA Cost: No Cost For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day ‒ and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for His appearing. (2 Timothy 4:6-8) In this passage, we see Paul describe his life as “having been poured out like a drink offering.” This was the last letter he wrote before he was executed. Paul knew he was about to die but was confident that he had finished his race and kept the faith. He wasn’t burned out but was doing really well. Did Paul face a lot of pressure in his life and ministry? He faced immense pressure of all kinds – spiritual, physical, emotional and relational. But at the end of his life, he is confident in the work that he did. He is not burned out and hopeless. It’s not the pressure that makes the difference in our lives, it’s how we respond to it. It’s not what is going on around us that will destroy us – it’s what is happening inside of us. Paul was able to finish well because he had lived his life well. The solution for our struggle as leaders is not merely to get rid of all of the pressure and then everything will be fine. Our solution is to follow the ways of the Lord Jesus and the ways of Paul. We need to protect our lives in the ways that they did. That includes physical rest and care for the body. But at the core of LeaderCare® is refreshment in the presence of God. Many times we see the Lord Jesus leaving the multitudes and His own disciples, getting away, and communing with the Father. Jesus did rest many times in the Scriptures but what gave Him true rest was His fellowship with His Father. Many times we see Him intentionally sending the crowds away, coming aside, looking at His Father, loving His Father, and receiving His Father’s love and rest. He is rejuvenated by the power and presence of God. We are all busy! Many of us have multiple ministry responsibilities and duties to the people, our co-workers and our families. But if we want to finish like Paul, we must be able to step away and spend time being nurtured and refreshed in God’s presence. Taking care of the physical body and having physical rest is a wonderful thing; but true refreshment comes only from fellowship with God – time in prayer, reading the Word, worship, and thanksgiving. LeaderCare® is a new course designed by Malcolm Webber, Founder and Executive Director of LeaderSource SGA, to teach emerging and existing leaders how to practically step away and spend time in fellowship with God. For more information about this course, please contact us. |
