Frank's Bible Blog

Trailblazing Leaders: Why Adversity Precedes Great Leadership

“It was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.” --Genesis 45:5

Joseph was a leader in Egypt—he was the Jew whose godly foresight saved countless lives by preparing for a massive famine. If you are not familiar with his story you can read it in the Bible, in Genesis chapters 37-50. Notice two things about leadership from the verse above. First, leaders are sent ahead of others. That is the very nature of leadership—to be out in front blazing a path where few or none have gone before. Second, leaders are prepared ahead of others.

How was it that Joseph could be sent ahead of anyone? It was because he was sold into slavery, falsely accused of a crime, and forgotten about in prison. In particular, it was because he excelled in each of those situations as he determined to exalt God regardless of his circumstances.

While it may seem that some leaders become leaders through the “fast-track” of family or professional relationships by getting placements and breaks that others don’t, the reality is that most leaders are forged over time. And that forging process is often painful, dark and sometimes even depressing. Great leaders more times than not have had to overcome great adversity—in fact, this is one thing that separates leaders from everyone else. For it is in adversity that leaders-to-be learn how to overcome problems through faith, focus, positive attitudes, and ingenuity. And it is problem-solving that most people see as the primary contribution leaders bring to the table.

Now, for those of us who are students of leadership, we know the importance of vision, seeking out opportunities, and balancing emotion with reason, but the average follower only sees the immediate and the problems before them. Good leaders solve problems.

Joseph was such a leader but he became that way because he was sent ahead of everyone else. In a sense, he experienced the hardships so that others wouldn’t have to. He went ahead of them in suffering so that he could one day be ahead of them as a proactive leader who saves lives.

What about you today? What is your attitude and approach to difficult times? The struggles you are encountering now may be just what you need to mold you into a problem-solving trailblazer who saves and helps lives.

Psalm 63—How Bad Do You Want It?

For fans of the National Basketball Association’s Dallas Mavericks, 2010-2011 was an exciting year. It was the year that the team won the NBA championship for the first time in franchise history.

As the team worked their way through the playoffs and the eventual finals win, you could see a hunger in the eyes of every Dallas Maverick. You could sense their thirst for victory and their unstoppable determination to let nothing stand in the way of a win. You see, they had been to the finals once before only to come up short. This time, however, it would be different. They played with a focus and intensity that was second to none.

That intensity, however, was lost as the team started the next season going 0-3 and looking terrible in their first few outings. 2011 Finals most valuable player Dirk Nowitzki said after the poor start that they were still riding the wave of excitement from winning and had not yet regained their focus and drive. He was convinced, however, that the veteran team would get back on track.

When I read Psalm 63 I can’t help but think about championship teams and their drive to be the best. Except in this Psalm it’s not about winning a temporal trophy but rather it is about enjoying an intimate relationship with the Creator. One thing that comes through loud and clear in this Psalm is David’s passion to know and walk with God. He had a true hunger and thirst to glorify the Lord.

Look at the words he uses here to describe his focus on God: seek, thirst, long, see, behold, glorify, praise (used twice), lift, satisfied, sing (twice), remember, think, and cling. I look at these words and I see intensity. David wanted God and nothing or nobody else. David was pursuing his relationship with the Almighty with an unstoppable determination greater than the greatest sports champions.

This begs that question: How bad do you want it?

How bad do you want to walk in the Lord’s presence? How bad do you want that intimate relationship with Him? Bad enough to sacrifice for it? Bad enough to put in the time to attain it?

This brings us back to Nowitzki and the Mavs, who spent hours in extra practice time even when it wasn’t expected of them, all so that they could hold a trophy.

Are we willing to do whatever it takes to bring honor to the Lord? Or do we find ourselves in the same position as the Mavs were starting the season after their victory. Have we lost the focus and drive that we once had? Are we resting on our past faith rather than pressing forward in renewed faith? Are we basking in the glory of what was rather than attempting new things for God?

I’ve been pondering the “How bad do I want it?” question. Hopefully today you will ask yourself the same thing.

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Frank Banfill is an international speaker and leadership developer who seeks to help individuals and ministries realize their full potential in Christ. Please forward this to your family & friends. To get Frank’s devotionals delivered free to your inbox, or to request reprint rights, visit www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Psalm 61—Climbing the Rock that is Higher than I

Towering over the village of Bukabwa, Tanzania in East Africa is a large rock formation. At the base of the rocks is a school—the only school for miles around where the teacher to student ratio is 1:60. Our mission team was ministering in the area when a couple guys on our team decided to climb to the top of the rocks. They had been told by locals that it was an easy climb and wouldn’t take more than 10 minutes.

The guys asked that I take their picture once they reached the peak. So I waited for them to climb—and I waited and waited. Finally I could see a figure emerge onto the top of the rocks. Even with the camera zoom it was hard to make out who it was—but I was able to figure out that it wasn’t one of our team. It was one of the locals who was serving as a guide.

So I waited longer until eventually our two guys appeared with arms raised in victory. They had successfully made it to the top of the rock that was higher than everyone and everything else. When they came down they told me that the hike wasn’t so simple. At points they had to pass through very narrow areas that required them to get on their hands and knees to crawl through. But they also told of the incredible views and new perspective they gained by reaching the summit.

When I read Psalm 61 I can’t help but think about that experience in Africa. David is praying—crying out to the Lord in a time of adversity. He says, “From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I” (v2). David had turned to the Lord in the past for protection (v3) and God had been faithful. Now he longed to enter once again into the Lord’s shelter (v4) but to do that he would need to be led to that Rock that was higher than he was.

Just like my teammates had to be led to find their way up that African rock formation, we have to be led into the place that God would have us. That means that we have to first humble ourselves and acknowledge that there is something or someone higher than us. We have to admit that we cannot do it all ourselves, that we cannot find our own way out. We have to become dependent on the Lord. And that means that we need to get on our hands and knees as we seek His face and allow Him to take us through even the narrow, difficult crevices to reach the top.

Yes, sometimes that ascent takes longer than we anticipated. Sometimes the going is slow in spots. Sometimes we may entertain thoughts of stopping or going back. But when we continue our ascent, God brings us to a place of perspective, a place of peace, a place of victory. Once you reach that place you realize the trip was worth it.

May we humble ourselves today and trust the Lord to lead us to the rock that is higher than us.
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Frank Banfill is an international speaker and leadership developer who seeks to help individuals and ministries realize their full potential in Christ. Please forward this to your family & friends. To get Frank’s devotionals delivered free to your inbox, or to request reprint rights, visit www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Psalm 39--Are You Really as Young as You Think?

Are you young or old? Now before you answer consider this: the concept of being young or old is really based on when we expect to die. If you are 20 and you figure you have at least 60 years left, then you consider yourself young. If you are 80 then you might consider yourself old. But should the 20 year old actually think he has plenty of time left? What if he is going to die in the next year? Then he really is old...he has limited time left. The point is this--we often do things or don't do things based on our concept of our age. If we are young, we may put off doing important things because we think we have plenty of time. If we are older, we may aggressively try to complete a"bucket list" while we have time and miss out on some bigger issues. In Psalm 39 David prayed a very interesting prayer. "Show me, O Lord, my life's end and the number of my days" (v4). He went on to ask the Lord to "let me know how fleeting is my life." In essence he was saying, "God, remind me today and every day that I don't have much time left." David wanted to make sure that he made the greatest impact possible for the Lord with whatever time he had left. David also saw that the greatest hindrance to that productivity was sin. "Save me from my transgressions," David pleaded, "do not make me the scorn of fools" (v8). Some live for wealth, but David reminds us that sin can consume that as well. "You rebuke and discipline men for their sin; you consume their wealth like a moth" (v11). Those who pursue wealth do so in vain, "he heaps up wealth, not knowing who will get it" (v6). The message is don't allow sin and worldly pursuits to rob you of years of productivity for the Lord. Whether we consider ourselves young or old, we all should keep our mortality in view and maximize every day that we have for God's glory.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Psalm 30--Seeing Your Way Forward in the Dark

It's the middle of the night and everyone in your home is asleep. It's pitch dark but you silently make your way to the kitchen to get a drink. Although your hands are out to feel your way through, you don't need them. You walk unhindered to the refrigerator. You have made that walk so many times before in the light that you know your way around even though you can't see a thing. You know without a doubt that the refrigerator is there even though that is not confirmed until you grab the handle. You are able to see your way forward in the dark because of your past experience. Life is like that for the person of faith. As we move forward it is like walking in the dark--we are traversing unchartered territory. But we go forward with confidence because of the experience we have had in the past walking with the Lord. Psalm 30 is a great reminder of this. What is especially insightful isn't in the verses themselves (although they are amazing) but what is in the title, which David also wrote.  "A song for the dedication of the temple." David never saw the temple dedicated. David never saw the actual construction of the temple even begin. But David knew it would be completed so he prepared for it in faith. What was the song that would be sung when the temple would be dedicated? "Weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning" (v5) and "You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy" (v11). The night is dark. The night brings sorrow. The night has tear-soaked pillows---but morning is coming! Rejoicing, dancing, singing--it's all coming in the morning! You can see it in the dark because you know the God of the morning. You can see it in the dark because all of your experiences with God declare His mighty power. You can see it in the dark because the Lord has been with you on past journeys and He has never let you down. You can see it in the dark because you walk by faith and not by sight. Faith is the incredible force that allows you to operate in the dark--but it's not blind faith. No, it is a solid faith based on the person and past work of Almighty God and the completed work of Christ on the cross. It is that faith that lets you see your way forward in the dark.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Psalm 25-- Lessons from the Karate Kid

Several years ago there was a popular movie and sequel called the Karate Kid. (A re-make was done in 2010). It was about a boy with a difficult home life who took up karate. The boy had a lot of potential but knew if he was going to be successful he needed training by a real karate master. There was such a person who agreed to train him. At first, however, the training was nothing like the boy thought it would be. The master had the boy wax his car! Not only that, but he was insistent that it be waxed a certain way with very deliberate strokes. "Wax on, wax off," the master kept repeating in a famous scene from the movie. Day after day the master had the boy do other seemingly meaningless tasks. After a while the boy got very frustrated. "When is he going to start teaching me!" he wondered in exasperation. He almost quit on the master but was persuaded to stick it out--and boy was he glad he did! When he went into the big karate match he discovered that he had not spent days doing worthless tasks. He actually was learning discipline and how to move his arms, hands and body in certain ways that were beneficial to karate. The master did not tell him why he had the boy doing certain moves, just that he needed to do them. In the end, the master knew what was best and the boy became a champion because he learned to intimately follow the master. I believe that you and I can become champions in life when we, too, learn to follow the Master--the Lord. Psalm 25 is a great picture of a learner--a student--desperate to follow the master and ready to reap the rewards of this discipline. "Show me Your ways...teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation. On You I wait all the day" is how the psalmist-learner expresses it in verses 4-5. He was ready to wait "all the day" on the Master because he knew that the Master had the truth. He knew that the master knew the best path to take. He knew the master would lead him to victory. "Who is the man that fears the Lord? Him shall He teach in the way He chooses. He himself shall dwell in prosperity...the secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him" (vv12-14). Today, you and I can unlock the Master's "secret" and find true success if we will become desperate students. Desperate students who linger on every word of the Master. Desperate students who seek the Master's guidance in everything, even when it doesn't make sense. Desperate student's who turn only to their Master for truth and nothing or no one else. Desperate students who trust their Master (v20) and live in integrity as they wait on their Master's direction (v21). Are you a desperate student of the Lord today? Are you even teachable?


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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Psalm 21--Lasting Leadership

"I guess it was easier to fire one guy than to fire 15." Those were the words of an NBA player following the announcement that his basketball team's head coach had just been fired. This particular coach had good success with the team early on, but as trades occurred and personnel changes were made the coach found himself having a difficult time leading. His style, personality and approach just didn't work anymore. It is common in sports for a leadership change to be made and then the team begins to flourish under the new coach.  Successful leadership in sports is one thing, but what about successful leadership in life? What about successful leadership for a business, ministry or even a nation? Psalm 21 is a great chapter on great leadership--godly leadership. Notice some things about the leader mentioned here, who happened to be King David, the leader of Israel. He found joy in God's strength, not his own (v1). God gave him his heart's desire because his heart was set on God (v2). Likewise, God listened and responded to his prayers (v4). This leader discovered his glory by focusing on God's glory (v5). This leader loved to spend time in God's presence and trusted Him fully (vv 6-7). This leader saw the big picture of what God was doing in the world (vv8-12) and realized that the world revolved around God and not himself. Finally, this leader publicly praised the Lord (v13). Do you want to be a great leader that lasts? Then learn some leadership lessons from David's example. Let your leadership be an extension of God's glory not you trying to create your own glory.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Psalm 20-- Leaders with Praying Followers

We often talk about praying for our leaders, whether they are political officials, church leaders, or our boss at work. We need to pray for those who lead us, but what if we are in some kind of leadership role? Do we have people praying for us? If so, what are they praying? The kind of leader you are influences the types of prayers that followers can pray for you. A great example of this is Psalm 20, written by David while he was king of Israel. Although David penned this psalm and set it to music, it really was the prayer of the people he led concerning him. This psalm is how David's followers prayed for him. Notice a couple specific things in this prayer that reflect on David's leadership. They prayed that God would remember the offerings and sacrifices that David had brought to the Lord (v3). They had seen David's example when it came to sacrificing for the Lord. They knew he was someone who brought his best to the Lord. They prayed that God would give David his heart's desire and fulfill all of his plans (v4). They knew their leader's heart sought after God's heart and that he pursued God's plans above his own. They also knew David was a man of prayer (v5) and that he prayed the kinds of prayers that they would want answered. Thanks to David's example, the people had learned to put their trust in the Lord, not in their armies, military weapons, or anything else (v7). They had all of those things--but they knew ultimately that only God could deliver. They also knew that David was a leader responsive to their needs and concerns (v9). This chapter, then, begs the question, "What kind of leaders are we?" Are we the kind of leaders that exemplify godly sacrifices? Are our hearts set on things above and not on the earth? Do we seek God's direction first rather than planning first and asking Him to bless our plans later? Are we mature in our praying? Do we encourage others to grow in their faith? Are we cognizant of the needs and concerns of those we are leading? Maybe there is even a more basic question--do we desire and seek the prayers of others that we might be great leaders? These are some great questions for every leader to ponder.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Psalm 18-- Count Your Blessings and Make Good Decisions

Growing up in church, there was this hymn that we sang all the time titled, "Count Your Blessings." I don't think I have sung that song in years, but I still remember the lyrics. I sang the song as a child, but didn't understand lines like "When upon life's billows you are tempest tossed." I did, however, understand, "Count you blessings, name them one by one, count your many blessings see what God hath done." It is important to have regular times in our life where we pause and specifically take note of what God has done for us. This is the case in Psalm 18. I get the impression that this psalm or song was one that David sang regularly as he paused to look back over his life and note what God had done for him. David was very specific in exulting God and describing all that He had done for David. This is also an anthem celebrating the benefits of making good decisions. In verses 20-24, David praises God for rewarding his choices to live right and blameless before God. I'm sure David had in his mind those occasions where King Saul was trying to kill him and David actually had the opportunity to kill Saul instead. His soldiers justified the killing to David, but David would not go along with them. He went against peer pressure, avoided rationalizing the situation, and stuck to his convictions. Now years later, David looks back at those decisions and rejoices. There are two questions that we are faced with as we look at this psalm. First, are we making decisions today that we will be proud of 25 years from now? Second, do we have regular times in our life when we pause and enumerate the blessings of God? Two very important questions for all of us to ponder.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Psalm 16-- "Stay Close, Children!"

The warning signs were abundant as we began walking around the national park--"Stay on the Path." There were numerous hazards if one wondered off the path and no further warnings or protections were available. If you stayed on the path, you would enjoy some of the most incredible beauty of God's creation. But if you strayed, the results could be absolutely devastating. My children were small, so I made sure I had a firm grasp on them and kept them close to my side. In Psalm 16, David is pictured as walking through life just like my children walked that path with me--right at the side of their father. Twice he refers to being next to God (vv8,11) and he says that, "I have set the Lord always before me" (v8). He stayed by God's side and stayed where he could see Him at all times. Because David had put such trust in God (v1) and maintained complete dependency on Him (v2), David experience some wonderful benefits. He received multiple blessings (vv5,6), had guidance for his life (vv7, 11), enjoyed gladness and hope (v9), and had the assurance of eternal pleasures (v11). He also knew that just as Christ would conquer death (v10), God would not leave him in the grave. We too can experience these same benefits as we put our trust in the Lord, and as we walk intimately with Him along life's path. Yes, there are unbelievable dangers in life, but when we hold God's hand and keep our eyes fixed on Him, we have nothing to fear. There is safety in the presence of Father.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Exodus 11--Planning Ahead

Have you ever gone someplace only to realize once you got there that you were missing something you needed? Maybe you realize once you arrive at your beach vacation destination that you forgot your sandals. Or you travel to a business meeting and realize a critical handout is sitting back on your desk--1,000 miles away.

Maybe it's not that you forgot something, maybe it is that you never had what you needed to start with. I remember in college I was encouraged to try to test out of several courses because of my strong high school grades. So I signed up for the science, history and humanities tests. Science and history went great. The problem was humanities. At the time, I didn't even know what the word humanities meant! But I took the test anyway--which included identifying famous paintings, painters, literary works, authors, etc. I looked at the questions and had absolutely no idea what the answers were. So I guessed at all of them. Needless to say, I failed miserably.

The problem was that I was not equipped with what was needed--in this case knowledge--to accomplish the task before me. Had I known a couple years earlier that I would be taking that test, then maybe I would have made sure that I got what I needed. The point is that sometimes we forget what we need, and sometimes we never had what we needed in the first place.

God, however, knows exactly what we will need in the future to do exactly what He calls us to do. He gifts us and equips us and allows certain experiences--all to prepare us for what is to come. We see a great example of this in Exodus 11. Now it's easy to miss because it is just an aside in the story of Moses telling Pharaoh that the 10th and final plague--the death of the firstborn--was about to come.

In verse 2, God instructs Moses to tell the Israelites to ask their Egyptian neighbors for articles of silver and gold. We find out later that the Egyptians were more than happy to oblige. Now this verse looks strangely out of place in this chapter. After all, we are talking about the death of scores of people if they fail to appropriate God's remedy. Yet while God gives instructions on the plague, He also throws in the gold and silver task. Why?

If I'm an Israelite, all I'm thinking about is how do we get out of town--quick. I'm not thinking about asking for a bunch of extra stuff to take with me. God, however, was looking ahead. He was looking ahead to the tabernacle that He would instruct the Israelites to build while they were in the middle of the wilderness. He was providing them with the materials they would need in the future, even though they had no idea at the time that they would need it.

Friend, whatever it is that you are going through now may just be God preparing you for tomorrow. It may be God giving you the tools now that you may not use until years later. But that is just how God is--always looking ahead.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and leadership developer. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Exodus 6--Now You Will See

"It's got to be right around here," I said to myself in excitement as I drove the mini-van with our family in it. I must admit that even as a grown man, I was pretty excited. After all, when you hear about something all of your life, see numerous pictures of it, study it in school, and so on, it is exciting to know that you are about to finally see it for yourself.

The terrain got steeper as we made our way around the mountain until finally I could see a nose. Within moments the rest of a head came into view.

We were looking at George Washington's head on Mt. Rushmore!

We continued to drive and found the park entrance. There we could see the massive carvings of the four U.S. presidents who had been memorialized in the Black Hills of South Dakota. It's funny--those heads are so big yet from the angle that we approached them, we couldn't see them at first. We had to drive a little farther until the whole scene came into view.

In Exodus 6 God makes an interesting statement to Moses. It starts off with the phrase, "Now you will see what I will do" (v1). Moses had complained that God hadn't answered the Israelites call for help (chapter 5). He couldn't see God at work. But the reality was that he hadn't reached the right point--the right angle--where he could see God move. Like our approach to Mt. Rushmore, things did not come into full view until we had reached a certain point. God's workings are often obscured for us until we reach a certain place where we can see and appreciate them.

Seven times in this chapter God says, "I will." "I will bring you out." "I will free you." "I will take you as my own people." Moses needed to get ready because he was rounding the corner where God's glory would be on display for all to see. "Fasten your seat belt, Moses. I'm about to take you on a wild ride where you and all of Israel will see Me at work like never before." (My paraphrase!)

Friend, today you may be discouraged because the future is obscured. You don't know what is around the next bend. God's working is not visible to you right now. But take heart! At the right time, when you've reached the right elevation, after you've turned that last corner, then you will see.

Fasten your seat belt, open your eyes, and look to the Lord above. His power will soon come into view.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Psalm 67-- Why Do You Want God's Blessings?

"God bless me today."

"God bless my family."

"God bless my church."

"God bless America."

Why do you want God to bless you, your family, your church or your nation? That may seem like a silly question at first glance. "Who wouldn't want God's blessings?" you ask.

But think again.

Do you want God's blessings so that you can have a better life? Do you want God's blessings so that you can accumulate more things? Do you want God's blessings so that you can boast of more people attending your church, ministry or programs? Do you want God's blessings so that you can experience prosperity in your nation?

Or do you want God's blessings so that you can be a blessing? Do you want God's blessing so that you have a message to take to those who don't know Him? Do you want God's blessings so that you can reflect God's glory into a world that desperately needs Him? Do you want God's blessings so that you can better accomplish His agenda?

Why do you want God's blessings?

The psalmist makes it clear in Psalm 67 that he wanted God's blessings so that God's "ways may be known on earth, your salvation among the nations" (v2). The psalmist craved God shining His face upon him so that all the peoples of the world would praise the Lord (v3). The psalmist desired God's favor so that those gripped in sin's prison would be set free and have a new song to sing (v4). The psalmist prayed for blessings so that "all the ends of the earth will fear Him" (v7).

Why do you want God's blessings?

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Psalm 39--Are You Really as Young as You Think?

Are you young or old? Now before you answer consider this: the concept of being young or old is really based on when we expect to die. If you are 20 and you figure you have at least 60 years left, then you consider yourself young. If you are 80 then you might consider yourself old. But should the 20 year old actually think he has plenty of time left? What if he is going to die in the next year? Then he really is old...he has limited time left. The point is this--we often do things or don't do things based on our concept of our age. If we are young, we may put off doing important things because we think we have plenty of time. If we are older, we may aggressively try to complete a"bucket list" while we have time and miss out on some bigger issues. In Psalm 39 David prayed a very interesting prayer. "Show me, O Lord, my life's end and the number of my days" (v4). He went on to ask the Lord to "let me know how fleeting is my life." In essence he was saying, "God, remind me today and every day that I don't have much time left." David wanted to make sure that he made the greatest impact possible for the Lord with whatever time he had left. David also saw that the greatest hindrance to that productivity was sin. "Save me from my transgressions," David pleaded, "do not make me the scorn of fools" (v8). Some live for wealth, but David reminds us that sin can consume that as well. "You rebuke and discipline men for their sin; you consume their wealth like a moth" (v11). Those who pursue wealth do so in vain, "he heaps up wealth, not knowing who will get it" (v6). The message is don't allow sin and worldly pursuits to rob you of years of productivity for the Lord. Whether we consider ourselves young or old, we all should keep our mortality in view and maximize every day that we have for God's glory.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Psalm 30--Seeing Your Way Forward in the Dark

It's the middle of the night and everyone in your home is asleep. It's pitch dark but you silently make your way to the kitchen to get a drink. Although your hands are out to feel your way through, you don't need them. You walk unhindered to the refrigerator. You have made that walk so many times before in the light that you know your way around even though you can't see a thing. You know without a doubt that the refrigerator is there even though that is not confirmed until you grab the handle. You are able to see your way forward in the dark because of your past experience. Life is like that for the person of faith. As we move forward it is like walking in the dark--we are traversing unchartered territory. But we go forward with confidence because of the experience we have had in the past walking with the Lord. Psalm 30 is a great reminder of this. What is especially insightful isn't in the verses themselves (although they are amazing) but what is in the title, which David also wrote.  "A song for the dedication of the temple." David never saw the temple dedicated. David never saw the actual construction of the temple even begin. But David knew it would be completed so he prepared for it in faith. What was the song that would be sung when the temple would be dedicated? "Weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning" (v5) and "You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy" (v11). The night is dark. The night brings sorrow. The night has tear-soaked pillows---but morning is coming! Rejoicing, dancing, singing--it's all coming in the morning! You can see it in the dark because you know the God of the morning. You can see it in the dark because all of your experiences with God declare His mighty power. You can see it in the dark because the Lord has been with you on past journeys and He has never let you down. You can see it in the dark because you walk by faith and not by sight. Faith is the incredible force that allows you to operate in the dark--but it's not blind faith. No, it is a solid faith based on the person and past work of Almighty God and the completed work of Christ on the cross. It is that faith that lets you see your way forward in the dark.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Psalm 25-- Lessons from the Karate Kid

Several years ago there was a popular movie and sequel called the Karate Kid. It was about a boy with a difficult home life who took up karate. The boy had a lot of potential but knew if he was going to be successful he needed training by a real karate master. There was such a person who agreed to train him. At first, however, the training was nothing like the boy thought it would be. The master had the boy wax his car! Not only that, but he was insistent that it be waxed a certain way with very deliberate strokes. "Wax on, wax off," the master kept repeating in a famous scene from the movie. Day after day the master had the boy do other seemingly meaningless tasks. After a while the boy got very frustrated. "When is he going to start teaching me!" he wondered in exasperation. He almost quit on the master but was persuaded to stick it out--and boy was he glad he did! When he went into the big karate match he discovered that he had not spent days doing worthless tasks. He actually was learning discipline and how to move his arms, hands and body in certain ways that were beneficial to karate. The master did not tell him why he had the boy doing certain moves, just that he needed to do them. In the end, the master knew what was best and the boy became a champion because he learned to intimately follow the master. I believe that you and I can become champions in life when we, too, learn to follow the Master--the Lord. Psalm 25 is a great picture of a learner--a student--desperate to follow the master and ready to reap the rewards of this discipline. "Show me Your ways...teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation. On You I wait all the day" is how the psalmist-learner expresses it in verses 4-5. He was ready to wait "all the day" on the Master because he knew that the Master had the truth. He knew that the master knew the best path to take. He knew the master would lead him to victory. "Who is the man that fears the Lord? Him shall He teach in the way He chooses. He himself shall dwell in prosperity...the secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him" (vv12-14). Today, you and I can unlock the Master's "secret" and find true success if we will become desperate students. Desperate students who linger on every word of the Master. Desperate students who seek the Master's guidance in everything, even when it doesn't make sense. Desperate student's who turn only to their Master for truth and nothing or no one else. Desperate students who trust their Master (v20) and live in integrity as they wait on their Master's direction (v21). Are you a desperate student of the Lord today? Are you even teachable?


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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Psalm 21--Lasting Leadership

"I guess it was easier to fire one guy than to fire 15." Those were the words of an NBA player following the announcement that his basketball team's head coach had just been fired. This particular coach had good success with the team early on, but as trades occurred and personnel changes were made the coach found himself having a difficult time leading. His style, personality and approach just didn't work anymore. It is common in sports for a leadership change to be made and then the team begins to flourish under the new coach.  Successful leadership in sports is one thing, but what about successful leadership in life? What about successful leadership for a business, ministry or even a nation? Psalm 21 is a great chapter on great leadership--godly leadership. Notice some things about the leader mentioned here, who happened to be King David, the leader of Israel. He found joy in God's strength, not his own (v1). God gave him his heart's desire because his heart was set on God (v2). Likewise, God listened and responded to his prayers (v4). This leader discovered his glory by focusing on God's glory (v5). This leader loved to spend time in God's presence and trusted Him fully (vv 6-7). This leader saw the big picture of what God was doing in the world (vv8-12) and realized that the world revolved around God and not himself. Finally, this leader publicly praised the Lord (v13). Do you want to be a great leader that lasts? Then learn some leadership lessons from David's example. Let your leadership be an extension of God's glory not you trying to create your own glory.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Zechariah 11-- When Having It All Costs You Everything

"When I arrest wealthy people, it is always because they feel there is no mystery to life. They have everything and can control everything, so they do illegal things to make life interesting." Those were the words of a veteran Dallas, TX police officer. What really struck me when he said that was the phrase, "no mystery in life." These people had the ability to plan out what would happen to them, and if things didn't go their way, they had the money to make it the way they wanted it. They turned to crime basically because they got bored. I don't know if boredom was the case here, but in Zechariah 11 we see a description of people who felt like they had everything, that they were in control. At the time it was given, Zechariah's words from the Lord were prophetic. There would be those in Israel's leadership who would have all they need and would show no pity to others, nor would they seek God (vv4-5). God told them that they would see their country come to ruin (vv 6,15-17). This is exactly what happened when the Romans later took over. Jesus said it is hard for a rich man to enter Heaven--not because the rich are worse sinners than the poor, but because it is difficult for them to trust in anything other than themselves. When we are all sufficient, we actually miss out on the fullness of this life, and we certainly miss out on the fullness of eternal life. Even for those of us who have trusted Christ as our Savior, we have to be careful that we don't slip into a state of daily self-reliance. A truly abundant and full life comes by allowing Christ to be in control. The "mystery" of the future becomes a wonderful adventure as we follow the Lord.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential.Please share this blog with your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Zechariah 9-- The Only Thing Constant is Change

I enjoy learning about history and the epic stories of generations gone bye. Whether or not you are a history buff, one thing is clear from even a cursory look at the past--things change. One day there is a global power and the next day that nation or empire's power is gone. We often think things are static and will always be as we know them now. The Egyptian, Babylonian, Persian, Greek, Roman and other world empires all thought their power and influence would continue forever. It didn't. God reminds us in Zechariah 9 of how quickly He can change the global scene, especially when an entity is known for being evil. We are told in verses 3-4 about great cities which had amassed enormous wealth but God promised to destroy them. We are promised in verses 9-10 that there is a coming King, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will change the global power structure once and for all. We also see in verses 11-17 the promise of the ultimate deliverance of God's people. These are all reminders that what we see now is temporary and that no nation is rich enough or powerful enough to sustain itself when God rejects it. This is also a reminder to each of us that we cannot expect the future to be the same as the present if we get too proud. Whatever wealth, prestige, power, or accomplishments we have amassed could be gone in a moment. 

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Zechariah 8--Rising from the Ashes

We remember the piles of twisted steel and other debris that sat smoking in New York City as a result of the September 11, 2001 attacks. Massive 100+ story buildings reduced to rubble. We remember scenes in 2005 of flood waters engulfing the City of New Orleans and surrounding environs as the costliest hurricane in U.S. history devastated the Gulf Coast. Looking at those scenes of devastation, the question on many minds was, "Could these ever be rebuilt? Can something new rise from the ashes?" The answer, as we see even today, is "Yes!" But the rebuilding started with a vision--and a belief. A vision of people once again walking the streets of a city and the vision of workers once again filling office buildings. A belief that enormous obstacles could be conquered. In Zechariah 8, God inspires the Jewish people with a vision and a call to believe in order to overcome the destruction of their city, Jerusalem. Some of the elderly Jews who had returned to Israel from Babylonian captivity remember seeing their beloved city utterly destroyed. Even though they now had been back in the land for several years, the city was still in bad shape. The rebuilding of the temple was not yet complete. The city walls were non-existent. Few people actually lived in Jerusalem itself. In the midst of this despair, God gives them a vision of children once again playing in the streets (v5) and people growing old there (v4). But they would have to believe. They would have to believe enough to be strong in their current situation (v9). They would have to believe that God would be faithful to once again prosper them (v12). They would have to believe enough to change their actions by speaking truth and living justly with each other (vv16-17). Vision and belief are what enable the Jews to rebuild. You might be in a situation where you feel like your life is in ruins. "How could something good ever rise out of the ashes of my devastation," you ask. It can if you have two things--vision and belief.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Zechariah 6-- Translating the Vision into Action

Vision is one of the greatest attributes that any leader can posses. If you study great leaders, you will see that they were all people of vision. Leaders need both a long-term vision and also a more immediate vision. But what really makes a great leader great is that they are able to translate that vision into action. In Zechariah 6 we find both a short-term and a long-term vision. They are reminders to us that we need to have both of these kinds of visions in our lives. The immediate need before the Jews who had returned to Israel from captivity was the rebuilding of the temple. In this chapter, God shows them that He is well aware of their situation. He also gives them a picture to symbolize that His glory will once again fill the temple. He tells them to construct an elaborate crown and put it on the head of the high priest whose name was Joshua. The crown was an encouragement to Joshua that he would be successful in his efforts. It also was a vision to the future of the Ultimate One, the Highest of high priests, the King of all kings, the Lord Jesus Christ whose glory will fill the whole earth. The chapter closes with a short but critical statement from God: "This shall come to pass if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God" (v15). While the long-term vision had nothing to do with Joshua's and the Jews obedience, the short-term vision had everything to do with it. If they wanted to be the ones to see God move to restore the temple and bring His glory to Israel once again, then they would have to do what God told them to do. They would have to translate that vision into action. Has God given you a vision for what He wants to accomplish in your life? Then translate that vision into action by diligently obeying the Lord one step at a time.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Zechariah 4-- No Mountain High Enough

We stood along the bank of Alaska's Copper River and listened to our guide tell us the stories of how early settlers had reached that spot. Inspired by the prospects of gold, these adventurers traversed steep mountains, trekked across dangerous glaciers, and stared down the wildest of creatures. Most, however, never struck it rich. In fact, few found gold at all. The real "gold" was in selling supplies to these fortune seekers! I am inspired, however, by the determination of these people who were willing to risk it all in an attempt to better their lives. It also makes me wonder why we so many people give up when they are faced with even the smallest of obstacles. Zechariah 4 records God's challenge to Zerubbabel to not give up. Zerubbabel was called by God to lead the temple rebuilding effort following the Jews' return to Israel from captivity. Zerubbabel had faced various "mountains" of opposition but God said to him, "Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain" (v7). It didn't matter the size of the mountain or the depth of the challenge because God was bigger than it all. There is, however, a critical fact that Zerubbabel, or for that matter anyone who seeks to overcome mountains in their quest to fulfill God's purpose, had to keep in mind. It is "Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit says the Lord of hosts" (v6). We fail at "mountain" climbing because we try to do it in our our strength and power. Some fail because the don't even try to venture out with God. They feel so insignificant and they can't see how God could ever use them. "For who has despised the day of small things?" asks God (v10). He has an unending supply (vv2-4, 11-12) of whatever is needed to enable you to fulfill the calling He has placed on your life. Let's venture out with God, knowing that there isn't a mountain too tall to climb when we are relying on His power and Spirit.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Zechariah 1-- Learning from History

We probably are all familiar with the quote, "Those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it." It amazes me how much our society ignores history. I cringe when I watch politicians make the same decisions today that met with disaster 50 years ago, like somehow past mistakes will magically work in this era. I also cringe when I watch individuals and families repeat the past mistakes of their ancestors, or even their own past errors. Like the woman who got cancer after years of smoking. She underwent extensive chemotherapy and saw her cancer go into remission. What did she do next? Went back to smoking--and then couldn't believe it when cancer hit again. Or the family that is in a perpetual financial crisis because any time they do get some money they squander it on unnecessary things. Or the guy who can't hold down a job because he refuses to listen and learn from his bosses. I could go on and on but you get the picture. In Zechariah 1 God challenges the Jews who had returned to Israel from exile, and He exhorts them to remember their history (vv2-6). After 70 years of captivity, brought on by their forsaking God, they returned to their homeland only to repeat the sins of the past. With that exhortation, however, also came a wonderful promise (vv7-17). There was hope if they would learn from their past and return to the Lord. "My cities will again spread out through prosperity; the Lord will again comfort Zion" (v17). Friend, what blessings might you be missing out on today because you have failed to learn from your past? What mistakes do you repeat because you are too stubborn to repent of your sin? Let's learn some lessons from history.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Haggai 2-- When Comparisons Cloud our Faith

We all do it. Often, we don't even realize we are doing it, but we do it anyway. We compare things and we compare people. "That restaurant is not as nice as this one." "That athlete is better than this one." "She doesn't sing as good as this person." "He doesn't look like he will amount to anything." Sometimes we compare what we see right now, in the present, to the way things were in the past. We then begin longing for the "good 'ole days." All of these comparisons, however, may cause us to miss the potential of something or someone. This was the challenge faced by the Jews who were rebuilding the temple following their return from captivity. God confronted this head-on in Haggai 2. "Who is left among you who saw this temple in its former glory," asked God. "And how do you see it now? In comparison with it, is this not in your eyes as nothing" (v3)? We are told in the book of Ezra that when the foundation for the new temple was laid, the older folks who had seen the original one cried. The new one paled in comparison. Yet the old saying is true: "You can't judge a book by its cover." This is especially true when it comes to God. "The glory of this latter temple will be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts" (v8). It may not have been as exciting to look at as the old temple, but God promised that He would do even greater things through the new one. Friend, you and I must be careful not to look at people or situations and automatically write them off. With God everything truly is possible, and He may have something great in store for what we see as lackluster.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Haggai 1-- How to Stop Spinning Your Wheels

It seemed like a good idea at the time. A buddy and I were on a fishing trip when we decided to drive down a dirt road running alongside a river. We were looking for a good fishing spot. We were a good ways along when we drove through a dip in the road with water in it. Well, the truck we were riding in got stuck in the mud. The more my friend pushed the accelerator, the more the wheels spun. We got out and tried to push it, but before we knew it we were both covered in mud. We were going no where! We finally gave up and called a tow truck. Haggai 1 describes a time in the life of Israel when they were spinning their wheels, figuratively. They had returned to Israel after 70 years of Babylonian captivity with the primary objective of rebuilding the temple. Opposition from non-Jews stopped the project, and it laid dormant for years. The people went on with their business and basically forgot about what should have been their top priority. God said that "Because of My house that is in ruins, while every one of you runs to his own house, therefore the heavens above you withhold the dew, and the earth withholds its fruit" (vv9-10). They were sowing seeds but reaping little fruit. They were working hard but never seemed to be able to get ahead. They were trying and trying but coming up short. They were spinning their wheels! God said it was because their priorities were wrong. They had placed themselves and their comfort above honoring God, and God withheld His blessings from their lives. Do you feel like you are just spinning your wheels? Do you feel like no matter what you do, you can never get anywhere in life? Maybe it is because your priorities are wrong. Instead of falling deeper into the mud, take a step back and prayerfully evaluate how you spend your time, money, and other resources. Look at your attitude and the goals that you have. Consider what you are passionate about and the things that drive you to do what you do. Are you seeking God first in all of these things? Let's fix our priorities and stop spinning our wheels.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Ezra 7-- How to Become an Overnight Sensation

I have a consultant friend who likes to say it takes 10-15 years to become an "overnight sensation." Whether it is business, ministry, music, art, etc. there is almost always a substantial amount of time that goes into becoming something that the public notices. Malcolm Gladwell in Outliers: The Story of Success actually documents that it takes the right opportunity plus 10,000 hours of "practice" to become a true success or true expert. He shows this with The Beatles, Bill Gates and others. We also see this in Ezra 7 as we are introduced to a Jewish priest and scribe by the name of Ezra. Ezra bursts onto the global scene as he leads another wave of Jewish exiles back to Israel and then goes on to institute spiritual reforms. He is seen as a strong leader with close ties to the king of Persia. Look deeper at this "overnight sensation" and you might be surprised by what you see. In verse 6 he is called a "skilled scribe in the Law of Moses." In the same verse we are told that the king gave Ezra "all his request."  The king acknowledged Ezra's "God-given wisdom" (v25) and authorized him to appoint magistrates and judges among the people. Finally, verse 28 says that Ezra gathered the leading men of Israel to go with him. When you put all of this together you see a man who had earned the respect and admiration of leaders over time. He became an expert in God's law through discipline, consistency, and effort. He sought God's wisdom and used that in his every day interactions. Most of all,  "Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel," (v10). Ezra prepared himself to fulfill God's mission for his life. That preparation paid off in a big way! This begs two questions for us to ponder today. First, are we committed to fulfilling God's mission for our life? Second, what are we doing to prepare ourselves to be successful in that mission? If we want to be a "success" in our walk with the Lord, we must be focused and put in a substantial amount of time and effort for that to happen. Remember, overnight sensations rarely happen overnight.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

Ezra 6-- How to Get God to "Show Up"

I've had the wonderful privilege of taking people on numerous missions trips around the world. It is always exciting to watch what God does in people's lives as a result of their stepping out of their comfort zone and into the Great Commission. I especially love watching the "first timers." Inevitably they come back with similar stories--"I didn't think God could really use me, but I went and saw God do amazing things." Before they could see the work of God they had to first respond to the word of God. When they stepped out in obedience to God's word, then they saw God's might. The Jews who returned from exile to Israel experienced this process first hand in Ezra 6. After their work to rebuild the temple had been stopped by their opponents and the construction site laid dormant for years, they listened to God's word. They started working again as they sought official permission from the Persian King Darius. Not only did Darius allow them to continue, but he offered to pay the costs from his treasury (v8). He went even beyond that and said that if anyone tried to change his decree allowing the rebuilding, "Let a timber be pulled from his house and erected, and let him be hanged on it, and let his house be made a refuse heap," (v11). Wow! No one wanted to block the reconstruction efforts after that! God showed up in a powerful way, moving the hearts of the powerful and empowering the hearts of His people. The Jews finished the temple, dedicated it, and re-instituted the sacrificial system (vv19-22). They heard God's word. They stepped out of their comfort zone, overcame opposition, and acted on God's word. Then they saw God "show up" and provide everything they needed. The problem with many of us, however, is that we want God to show His might first before we respond to His word. It doesn't work that way! Respond to His word, then you will see His work.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

Ezra 3--Fear Factor

There was a long running TV reality game show called Fear Factor where contestants would have to do a series of tasks in order to win the prize. These tasks usually involved something that most people would not want to do--jump across objects suspended high in the air, wade through a pool of snakes, or eat live bugs. The contestants tried to overcome their fears in order to win the cash. Honestly, you couldn't pay me enough money to do some of the things that they did! Now some of the contestants did quit--their fears got the best of them, while others stayed focused on the prize and overcame their fears. In Ezra 3 we see the Jews who recently returned to Israel from captivity overcome their fears in order to worship God. They gathered in Jerusalem "as one man" (v1) to sacrifice, worship, and begin the process of rebuilding the temple. Verse three tell us that, "Though fear had come upon them because of the people of those countries, they set the altar on its bases, and they offered burnt offerings." You see, they were not alone in Israel. There were many other people living there--people from foreign nations who had been captured and placed there. They didn't worship Jehovah, and I'm sure they were not too thrilled when 50,000 people suddenly showed up in their backyard! So even though this was the Jews' homeland, they were the outsiders. But they overcame their fears of "what would the neighbors think" and went ahead with their worship. They also freely gave of their money and possessions to rebuild the temple, overcoming whatever fears might have been associated with losing some of their assets. For some, there also was a fear that the future would not be as good as the past. When the foundation was completed, the older people, those who had seen the original temple, cried (v12). They feared this new temple would not be as good as what they experienced in the "good ole days." The younger folks shouted with joy--they had nothing to compare it to and were thrilled to see their dream starting to take shape. Whatever our fears might be--people, failure, loss of security, or the future--we cannot allow these to crowd out our faith or we will accomplish nothing for the Lord. Fear is a factor, but as people of faith, God's Spirit living in us enables us to do what otherwise would be impossible.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

Ezra 1--Going Behind the Scenes

When I was just starting into full time ministry, a veteran ministry leader said to me, "Frank, there are people today making decisions that will affect your life five years from now." His point was that God is always at work, often unknown to us, putting things in motion that will accomplish His will at some future point in time. Ezra chapter 1 is a great example of the culmination of God's "behind the scenes" work. In this chapter we see Cyrus, the king of Persia, mandating that the Jews, who had been taken captive under the now defeated Babylon, could return to Jerusalem. He makes a beautiful proclamation about who God is, how God had brought him to global power, and how God desired for him to allow the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem. He then made provisions for the building and to return some of the original articles taken from the temple before it was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar. What you don't see in this chapter is how God had been working "behind the scenes" to make this day occur. Isaiah 45:1-13 prophecies this day, even naming Cyrus, and telling how God would move so that Cyrus would recognize God's might and deliver His people. God was working, even when it must have seemed to His children that they had been forgotten. Plus, God was moving in the lives of individual Jews to take part in this rebuilding. "All whose spirits God had moved, arose to go up and build the house of the Lord" (v5). These people's lives would forever be changed as they made the move to Jerusalem to pursue what God had placed on their hearts. So here's the bottom line: just because you can't see God working doesn't mean that He isn't working. He may very well be putting things into motion that will one day intersect with His Spirit moving your heart to accomplish something great for Him.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

Psalm 20-- Leaders with Praying Followers

We often talk about praying for our leaders, whether they are political officials, church leaders, or our boss at work. We need to pray for those who lead us, but what if we are in some kind of leadership role? Do we have people praying for us? If so, what are they praying? The kind of leader you are influences the types of prayers that followers can pray for you. A great example of this is Psalm 20, written by David while he was king of Israel. Although David penned this psalm and set it to music, it really was the prayer of the people he led concerning him. This psalm is how David's followers prayed for him. Notice a couple specific things in this prayer that reflect on David's leadership. They prayed that God would remember the offerings and sacrifices that David had brought to the Lord (v3). They had seen David's example when it came to sacrificing for the Lord. They knew he was someone who brought his best to the Lord. They prayed that God would give David his heart's desire and fulfill all of his plans (v4). They knew their leader's heart sought after God's heart and that he pursued God's plans above his own. They also knew David was a man of prayer (v5) and that he prayed the kinds of prayers that they would want answered. Thanks to David's example, the people had learned to put their trust in the Lord, not in their armies, military weapons, or anything else (v7). They had all of those things--but they knew ultimately that only God could deliver. They also knew that David was a leader responsive to their needs and concerns (v9). This chapter, then, begs the question, "What kind of leaders are we?" Are we the kind of leaders that exemplify godly sacrifices? Are our hearts set on things above and not on the earth? Do we seek God's direction first rather than planning first and asking Him to bless our plans later? Are we mature in our praying? Do we encourage others to grow in their faith? Are we cognizant of the needs and concerns of those we are leading? Maybe there is even a more basic question--do we desire and seek the prayers of others that we might be great leaders? These are some great questions for every leader to ponder.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

Psalm 18-- Count Your Blessings and Make Good Decisions

Growing up in church, there was this hymn that we sang all the time titled, "Count Your Blessings." I don't think I have sung that song in years, but I still remember the lyrics. I sang the song as a child, but didn't understand lines like "When upon life's billows you are tempest tossed." I did, however, understand, "Count you blessings, name them one by one, count your many blessings see what God hath done." It is important to have regular times in our life where we pause and specifically take note of what God has done for us. This is the case in Psalm 18. I get the impression that this psalm or song was one that David sang regularly as he paused to look back over his life and note what God had done for him. David was very specific in exulting God and describing all that He had done for David. This is also an anthem celebrating the benefits of making good decisions. In verses 20-24, David praises God for rewarding his choices to live right and blameless before God. I'm sure David had in his mind those occasions where King Saul was trying to kill him and David actually had the opportunity to kill Saul instead. His soldiers justified the killing to David, but David would not go along with them. He went against peer pressure, avoided rationalizing the situation, and stuck to his convictions. Now years later, David looks back at those decisions and rejoices. There are two questions that we are faced with as we look at this psalm. First, are we making decisions today that we will be proud of 25 years from now? Second, do we have regular times in our life when we pause and enumerate the blessings of God? Two very important questions for all of us to ponder.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

Psalm 16-- "Stay Close, Children!"

The warning signs were abundant as we began walking around the national park--"Stay on the Path." There were numerous hazards if one wondered off the path and no further warnings or protections were available. If you stayed on the path, you would enjoy some of the most incredible beauty of God's creation. But if you strayed, the results could be absolutely devastating. My children were small, so I made sure I had a firm grasp on them and kept them close to my side. In Psalm 16, David is pictured as walking through life just like my children walked that path with me--right at the side of their father. Twice he refers to being next to God (vv8,11) and he says that, "I have set the Lord always before me" (v8). He stayed by God's side and stayed where he could see Him at all times. Because David had put such trust in God (v1) and maintained complete dependency on Him (v2), David experience some wonderful benefits. He received multiple blessings (vv5,6), had guidance for his life (vv7, 11), enjoyed gladness and hope (v9), and had the assurance of eternal pleasures (v11). He also knew that just as Christ would conquer death (v10), God would not leave him in the grave. We too can experience these same benefits as we put our trust in the Lord, and as we walk intimately with Him along life's path. Yes, there are unbelievable dangers in life, but when we hold God's hand and keep our eyes fixed on Him, we have nothing to fear. There is safety in the presence of Father.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

Psalm 1--Who are You Listening To?

Have you ever sat down at a long, crowded dinner table where everyone was talking to each other? It is a bit overwhelming at first. There are so many different conversations taking place it is hard to know where to focus and pay attention. In life, there is a lot of noise around us vying for our attention. There are hundreds of cable TV channels and social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter--not to mention the explosion of blogs--where everyone has something to say to you. To whom will you listen? In Psalm 1, the Psalmist eloquently reminds us that for us to be truly blessed and prosperous in life, we need to listen to and spend our time with the right kind of people (v1). We also need to filter out all that noise with the truth of God's word (v2). Who are you listening to today? Who or what do you allow to speak into your life? Is it the ungodly who are "like the chaff which the wind drives away" (v4)? Or are you surrounding yourself with godly counsel and encouragement? I have never forgotten what I heard a camp speaker say when I was a teenager: "You will be as godly as your friends; you will be as righteous as those you hang around." Those are good words to remember and live by.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

Genesis 50--Leaving a Lasting Legacy

Have you thought about your legacy? Have you thought about the impact you will have even after you are gone? Most people never think about their legacy until it is too late to do anything about it. It is unfortunate that many people squander much of their lives when they could be living in such a way that glorifies God and impacts the next generation. In Genesis 50 we are told about the end of two men's lives--two men who made a difference in their world. Two men who left a lasting legacy. They were Jacob and his son Joseph. Jacob had moved his entire family and all they had to Egypt, at the request of his son Joseph who had become second in charge of the country. Verse 3 tells us that when Jacob died the Egyptians mourned for him 70 days. Jacob's body was moved to his homeland of Canaan for burial and it was accompanied by "chariots and horsemen, and it was a very great gathering," (v9). On the way to bury him the group stopped and mourned for seven more days, causing the people there to proclaim "this is a deep mourning of the Egyptians" (v11). Jacob wasn't an Egyptian, but because of his influence and the influential life of Joseph, even the Egyptians were impacted. Jacob lived 147 years. His son Joseph's life was characterized by forgiveness and perspective, which we see again right after his father's death. His brothers, fearful that Joseph would seek revenge for the way they had mistreated him, begged his forgiveness (vv17-18). Joseph had already forgiven them because he realized "you meant evil against me; but God meant if for good...in order to save many people" (v20). Joseph died at 110 (v22) having saved not only his family from destruction but countless others as well. "One day," he told his family just before his death, "God will take you back to our homeland, the land of Canaan. And when you do, take my bones with you." Joseph's life impacted their past, their present, and even their future. Jacob and Joseph--what a beautiful legacy and what a great example they are to all of us. Pause for a moment and think about your own legacy. What kind of a legacy will you leave?
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

Genesis 49-- Same Parent, Different Children

We have several friends who have large families of eight or more children. It is fascinating listening to them describe the differences of each child. Even though they try to be consistent in how they parent, the children still react to things differently. They each make their own decisions. As with all children, as they become adults they think for themselves and make their choices. Sometimes those choices are good, sometimes they are not. Jacob had 12 sons, all very different. And although Jacob loved God and worshiped Him with his life, his sons did not always make the right decisions. He certainly taught them the things of the Lord, but not all of them made choices that were honoring to God. When we think of Jacob, we usually don't think of him as a prophet, but he was. Genesis 49 is a fascinating passage where Jacob blesses his 12 sons and foretells their future. Five of the 12 predictions especially stand out, and they give us insights into the differences of these children. Jacob said his firstborn, Reuben, was "unstable as water" and "shall not excel" (v4). Reuben had an illicit relationship with one of Jacob's concubines. More than 40 years later his act was still a stain on the family. Instability characterized Reuben's life and it ruined him. Simeon and Levi were called "instruments of cruelty" by Jacob as he noted their fierce anger which led to them slaughtering an entire town of people (vv5-7). How crushing it must have been for these two men to hear their father, on his death bed, say in effect that he did not want to be associated with them. Judah, on the other hand, is predicted to be the fore-father of Christ (v10). Jacob eventually turns to Joseph and gives a beautiful summary of Joseph's life. "The archers have bitterly grieved him, shot at him and hated him. But his bow remained in strength and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the Mighty God of Jacob" (vv23-24), which is a reference to the hatred he had received from his brothers. Joseph was made strong and became a "fruitful bough" (v22) because of his walk with God. There are a lot of principles that we can learn from this passage, but notice two principles for parents. First, we need to teach our children how to make good choices and to stick with them. Second, we need to be sure that they see the Mighty God through our lives. While there is no guarantee that our children will always make the right decision, we can be at peace knowing that we did all we could as parents to set them up for true success in life.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.