I've been reading though the books of 1st & 2nd Timothy as well as Titus as I've been studying leadership development and the role of the minister over the last few days in preparation for some meetings next week.  I've especially been focused on the charge that Paul gave to Timothy (his young protege) in 1st Timothy 1:5 where he writes, "The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith."


This passage hasn't left me alone since I read it 3 days ago, so I came back to it this morning to for some additional study.  What I found is too good to keep to myself.  Paul gives Timothy three sources or foundations for love and leadership:

1) A Pure Heart  
We do not purify our hearts, God does.  It happens as we spend time with him in prayer, confession, reflection, and listening.  I have to stop trying to purify myself and allow God to do that work in me.   
QUESTION: Am I trying to maintain my purity or am I allowing the presence of God to purify me?

2) A Good Conscience  
This is about our relationship with God.  The Greek for "conscience" is all about having nothing to hide from God or others.  I'm convinced when we hide things from God or others leadership and love become an impossibility. 
QUESTION: Am I currently hiding anything from God or others in my life?

3) A Sincere Faith  
The Greek for "sincere" is about not being a hypocrite.  The final source of love and leadership is an authentic desire to know God and to become like Christ.
QUESTION: Am I authentic in my faith or am I playing a part for others?

Take a minute and ask yourself these questions.  Allow God to speak to you.  Obey what He says and just see if it doesn't increase your capacity for love and to lead.

Yesterday, I shared about some of the Bibles that I find helpful in my quiet time.  Today, I'd like to share some of the journaling tools that I use on a regular basis.

Reading the Bible is a great thing, but unless it moves you towards application/action you're missing out on what God is trying to do in your life.  Journaling helps me to apply and take action on what I've read in Scripture.

Here are some of the tools I've found helpful in journaling.

Yesterday, I shared several Bible Reading Plans for 2010.  Today, I want to provide you with some of the tools that I find helpful when studying the Bible during my daily study and prayer time.  Tomorrow, I'll share some of the tools I use to take notes and journal during my quiet time.

vs 20-22 "I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy...now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy."

One of the main transformations that Jesus works in our lives is the transformation from grief to joy. As a pastor, I often get to walk through some very sad and grief-filled times with people. There are times during the process that I wish I had the ability to change the situation for them, but that would shortcircuit the process that God uses to produce maturity and growth in their lives. It is through the process of seeing our grief turned into joy, that God produces the maturity that we all need.