What to Do If You Are Exhausted from Doing Ministry – Rainer on Leadership #441

Podcast Episode #441

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Ministry never stops. Because of this, it can be quite exhausting. Today, we discuss how to combat this exhaustion.

Some highlights from today’s episode include:

  • Try to do more things that energize you in ministry and fewer things that drain you.
  • Too many pastors are people pleasers and spend too much time dealing with the squeaky wheels in ministry.
  • Pastors and church staff should try to spend 20% of their time training others to do ministry.
  • When you’re on vacation, visit other churches to get ideas and encouragement.

The eight potential solutions we discuss today are:

  1. Take a break.
  2. Make certain you are spending time on those things for which you are passionate.
  3. Make certain you are not spending too much time on those things that drain you.
  4. Be cautious about the “energy vampires.”
  5. Allocate 20% of your time to equipping the saints.
  6. Visit other churches.
  7. Spend more time in prayer and the Word.
  8. Ask your spouse to give you guidance.

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Click here to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Thom Rainer.

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Methodist Church calls Universal Credit roll out a ‘car crash’

The National Audit Office (NAO) said the scheme had not delivered value for money, it had caused hardship for many people and its roll out was happening more slowly than intended.

Adding his criticism, policy adviser at The Methodist Church, Paul Morrison said: “What we’ve been watching is a slow car crash of a benefit roll out.

 

“The problem is that the people who are trapped in that car crash – the people who are being damaged – are not being listened to and are, at times, being straightforwardly ignored.”

A spokesman at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) insisted that UC is “good value for money”, adding that evidence shows claimants are “getting into work faster and staying in work longer”.

Emma Revie from the Trussell Trust charity – which supports hundreds of church-run foodbanks – told Premier 70 per cent of people they spoke to fell into debt making the switch to UC.

 She added: “In our experience, it’s taking too long to sort and – whilst it’s being sorted out – hundreds of thousands of being are being affected adversely.

“Many of them are ending up at our foodbanks requiring emergency food…”

The NAO said UC – which is replacing six payments including job seeker’s allowance, tax credit and housing benefit – cost more to administer than the previous benefits.

The DWP spokesman said: “Previous…

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Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Premier Christianity News.

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Man pushes woman home after her wheelchair breaks; video goes viral

Bilal Quintyne of Smyrna, Georgia, was headed out for a morning jog with a friend. He came upon a woman in an electric wheelchair stranded on the side of the road. Her chair’s engine had died, leaving one wheel on the busy street and the other on the sidewalk.

Quintyne took off his shirt in deference to the heat and pushed the woman for thirty minutes until they arrived at her home. His friend shot a video of the incident. As of this morning, it has been viewed more than three million times.

Why does this story resonate with so many people? I think its hero explained it best: “There’s so much hatred in the world and it costs nothing to love someone.”

How Muslims earn joy

The Muslim observance of Ramadan began this year on May 16. Since that time, observant Muslims around the world have abstained from eating, drinking, and sexual relations from sunup to sundown.

Ramadan ended yesterday with the celebration of Eid al-Fitr (“feast of breaking the fast”) that began at sundown and continues until this evening. Different countries and sects observe the holiday in different ways. Most include family and social gatherings, traditional sweet dishes, feasting, wearing new clothes, shopping, and gift-giving.

As a result, today is one of the most celebratory days of the Islamic year. But there’s more to the story.

I could find the word joy only five times in the Qur’an. The first citation states, “Those who believe and do right: joy is for them, and bliss (their) journey’s end” (13:29). Abdullah Yusuf Ali’s commentary on this verse explains that this joy “reflects itself in the life of the good man, through good and ill fortune, through good report and evil.”

Such joy is Allah’s future reward for present obedience: “No soul knoweth what is kept hid for them of joy, as a reward for what they used to do” (32:17). It comes only to the “righteous” (76:5), for whom “Allah hath warded off from them the evil of that day, and…

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Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Denison Forum.

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Lord Alderdice quits Presbyterian Church after leaders issue same-sex relationships rebuke

Lord Alderdice, the former speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly, has left the Presbyterian Church of Ireland in opposition at leaders rebuking a sister church in Scotland over attitudes towards same-sex relationships.

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Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Premier Christianity News.

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Teens Open Heavens 15 June 2018 – Link To A Miracle

Topic: Link To A Miracle [Teens Open Heavens 15, June 2018]

Memorise: Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: 1 Peter 1:10

Read: 2 Kings 5:1-5 (KJV)

1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:

3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.

4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.

5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.

Bible In One Year: Ezra 9-10, Acts 1

MESSAGE:

A slave girl brought into Naaman’s house from Israel. She wondered why out of all the adults in Israel, it was her that had been captured. She frequently pondered on this while she did her domestic chores. Then one day she mistakenly stumbled on her master, Naaman, going through his depressive mood flanked by his wife and others. She found out that her master was a leper. It was then that it occurred to be that God could have brought her through slavery into Naaman’s house to be the link to his miracle.

Do you know that you can be a link to someone’s blessing? In fact, if you can take away your eyes from the negative aspect of your predicament, you will most likely discover God’s purpose and fulfil it. Have you discovered those that you are meant to link to their blessings? Go ahead and be the link. If not, ask God to show you.

Action Point: Help anyone you have the opportunity to help

If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read “Teen Open Heavens Daily Devotional by Pastor Adeboye’’ 

Hymn 13:

1. Is your life a channel of blessing?
Is the love of God flowing through you?
Are you telling the lost of the Savior?
Are you ready His service to do?

Chorus:
Make me a channel of blessing today,
Make me a channel of blessing, I pray;
My life possessing, my service blessing,
Make me a channel of blessing today.

2. Is your life a channel of blessing?
Are you burdened for those that are lost?
Have you urged upon those who are straying
The Savior who died on the cross?

3. Is your life a channel of blessing?
Is it a daily telling for Him?
Have you spoken the word of salvation
To those who are dying in sin?

4. We cannot be channels of blessing
If our lives are not free from known sin;
We will barriers be and a hindrance
To those we are trying to win.

Daily Devotional for Teen’s guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer’s Ministries.

Joyce Meyer’s Daily 15 June 2018 Devotional — Stay Safe in God’s Word

Topic: Stay Safe in God’s Word [Joyce Meyer’s Devotional Friday June 15, 2018]

But test all things carefully [so you can recognize what is good]. Hold firm to that which is good. — 1 Thessalonians 5:21

Hearing from God clearly and avoiding the possibility of deception comes only from spending regular time with Him and learning His Word. Listening for God’s voice without having knowledge of His Word is a mistake. Knowing God’s written Word protects us from deception.

Trying to hear from God without knowing His Word is irresponsible and even dangerous. People who want to be led by the Spirit but are too lazy to spend time in the Word and in prayer set themselves up for deception because evil spirits are eager to whisper to listening ears. The devil tried to say things to Jesus and He always replied, “It is written,” and then quoted Scripture to refute the lies of the enemy (see Luke 4).

Some people seek God only when they are in trouble and need help. But if they are not used to hearing from God, they will find recognizing His voice difficult when they really need Him.

We need to compare any idea, prompting, or thought that comes to us with God’s Word. If we don’t know the Word, we won’t have anything against which to measure theories and arguments that rise up in our thoughts. The enemy can present wild ideas that make sense to us. The fact that thoughts are logical doesn’t mean they are from God. We may like what we hear, but the fact that something appeals to us doesn’t mean it is from God. We may hear something that feels good to our emotions, but if it fails to give us peace it is not from God. God’s advice to us is to always follow peace and let it be an umpire in our lives (see Colossians 3:15).

Test everything you hear against the Word of God, because that is the only standard of truth that exists.

Prayer Starter: Father, help me to hear from You more clearly. Help me to always test everything I believe against the perfect standard of Your Word. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read “Joyce Meyer Daily Devotional HERE’’

From Joyce Meyer’s Ministries.

PM of Ireland Says Catholic Hospitals Will Have to Perform Abortions – Urban Christian News

Fresh off the repeal of the 8th amendment of their constitution prohibiting abortion nationwide, Ireland is set to require Catholic hospitals to perform the procedure, a move that is alarming many.

The BBC reported Tuesday that the European island nation, whose voters overwhelmingly opted to strike the pro-life provision of their national constitution on May 25, is now drafting legislation allowing any woman to request an abortion up to 12 weeks. This is subject to a “cooling off period,” and will also allow abortion in what are considered extreme cases between 12 and 24 weeks.

Irish prime minister Leo Varadkar said the law would be patterned after the 2013 Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act which allowed for abortion in extreme medical situations, and allow individual medical professionals to decline to participate.

“It will not, however, be possible for publicly-funded hospitals, no matter who their patron or owner is, to opt out of providing these necessary services which will be legal in this state once this legislation is passed by the Dáil and Seanad (senate),” Varadkar said.

“I’m happy to give you that assurance,” he added, noting the legislation “will allow individuals to opt out based on their consciences or their religious convictions but will not allow institutions to do so.”

He continued: “So, just as is the case now in the legislation for the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013, hospitals like for example Holles Street, which is a Catholic voluntary ethos hospital, the Mater, St Vincent’s and others will be required, and will be…

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Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Urban Christian News

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Open Heavens 15 June 2018: Friday Daily Devotional by Pastor Adeboye — Pray, Don’t Murmur

Topic: Pray, Don’t Murmur [Open Heavens 15th June 2018, Friday Daily Devotional]

Memorise: Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. – James 4:2

Read Exodus 15:22-26 (KJV)

22 So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water.

23 And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah.

24 And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?

25 And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them,

26 And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.

Bible in One Year: 2 Kings 12-13, Acts 10:44-11:18

MESSAGE:

One deadly habit that is very common among the people of God today is murmuring. Like the Israelites of old, many children of God today engage in it without even realising it! It is indeed a silent destroyer. For this reason, the Holy Spirit warns us against it in 1 Corinthians 10:10, saying:

Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.”

Do you know that there are times we think we are praying but we are actually murmuring?

In our Bible reading, the children of Israel were at Marah, where they found water that was not drinkable because it was bitter. Despite all that God had done for them, they did not consider that He already knew that they would pass through Marah and would have gone ahead of them to make provision for the water they would drink. All they could think of doing was to murmur about the bitter water. The characters at play in the events that occurred at Marah are indicative of the two types of Christians we have in the Church today. The first type behaves like the multitude who murmured, while the second type behaves like Moses who cried to the Lord for a solution. It is interesting to note that the murmuring of the multitude was an exercise in futility because their murmurings did not change the bitterness of the water. The prayer of Moses, on the other hand, yielded positive results because his cry to God moved God into action. God showed him what to do to reverse the situation, and the people’s need for good water was met. This mirrors what is happening with Christians today. We murmur about what we desire and the lack of it, instead of actually asking God and trusting that if He wills, our prayers will be answered.

Beloved, you need to ask yourself today which type of Christian you are between the two types we have considered. I beseech you to examine your prayer life and relationship with God before answering this question. Are you the type of Christian mentioned in our memory verse, just lusting, desiring and fighting for things but yet getting nothing? You need to ask God to reveal to you the truth on where you stand today. May the Almighty God hear your prayer in Jesus’ Name.

Prayer Point: Father, please forgive me for all the murmuring I have done against You consciously or unconsciously; I promise not to do so again. Please turn my unpleasant situation around today in Jesus’ Name.

If you missed yesterday devotional, please click HERE to read Open Heavens 14 June 2018 – The Mathematics Of Giving

Hymn 2: I Need Thee Every Hour

1. I Need Thee every hour,
Most gracious Lord;
No tender voice like Thine
Can peace afford.

Chorus:
I need Thee, Oh, I need Thee,
Every hour I need Thee;
Oh bless me now, my Saviour;
I come to Thee.

2. I need Thee every hour;
Stay Thou near by;
Temptations lose their pow’r
When Thou art nigh.

3. I need Thee every hour,
In joy or pain;
Come quickly and abide,
Or life is vain.

4. I need Thee every hour;
Teach me Thy will,
And Thy rich promises
In me fulfil.

5. I need Thee every hour,
Most Holy One;
O make me Thine indeed,
Thou blessed Son.

Open Heavens Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer’s Ministries. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC.

Flatimes Notice Board: Until you are born again, God ever abiding presence will never be with you. You must be born again to enjoy continuous victory. Please say the displayed prayer below in faith:

Lord Jesus, come into my life. I accept You as my Lord and Personal Saviour. I believe in my heart You died and rose from the dead to save me. Thank You Lord for saving me, in Jesus name Amen.

If you just prayed the prayer of salvation online please send your testimonies and prayer request to [email protected], 07026385437 OR 08141320204.

DCLM Daily Manna 15 June, 2018 by Pastor Kumuyi – Saul’s Final Night

Topic: Saul’s Final Night [DCLM Daily Manna Friday June 15, 2018]

Text: 1 Samuel 28:7-15 (KJV)

Key Verse: “Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor” (1 Samuel 28:7).

MESSAGE:

It was reported that Frances Havergal, the songwriter, lived and moved in the word of God, which was her constant companion. On the last day of her life, she asked a friend to read to her the forty-second chapter of Isaiah. When the friend read the sixth verse: “I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee”, Miss Havergal stopped her. She whispered, “Called-held-kept. I can go home on that!” And she did go home on that.

Alas, it was not so with King Saul. On his last night on earth, he was keeping an appointment with the devil. Saul was chosen by God to be king over Israel. Although he started well, but pride, envy and self-indulgence got the better of him and he later completely forsook the wise counsel of Samuel. Faced with a serious attack from the Philistines, he sought the face of the God that he had abandoned for so long. When every effort to get divine counsel failed, he sought help from satanic powers that he had once banished. His servants led him to the witch at Endor who eventually conjured an apparition that predicted his death. This sad development turned God’s anointed into someone grovelling before a witch for favour. What a tragedy!

Satan is after children of God and desires to turn them away from the faith. He pursued Saul until he destroyed him. As heavenly pilgrims, we must jealously guard our faith with all diligence, always live above reproach and maintain a good testimony until the end to make it to heaven.

Thought For The Day: It is damning to turn the back against God when He calls.

Bible Reading In One Year: Psalms 134; 146-150

If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read Deeper Christian Life Ministry, DCLM Daily Manna HERE

DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.

Flatimes’ Notice Board: Until you are born again, God ever abiding presence will never be with you. You must be born again to enjoy continuous victory. Please say the displayed prayer below in faith:

Lord Jesus, come into my life. I accept You as my Lord and Personal Saviour. I believe in my heart You died and rose from the dead to save me. Thank You Lord for saving me, in Jesus name Amen.

If you just prayed the prayer of salvation online please send your testimonies and prayer request to [email protected], 07026385437 OR 08141320204.

Seeds of Destiny 15 June 2018 by Pastor Paul Enenche: Persistence – Key To Dealing With Negative Patterns/Habits

Topic: Persistence – Key To Dealing With Negative Patterns/Habits [Seeds of Destiny Friday June 15, 2018]

Scripture: And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. Genesis 32:25-26.

Thought For The Day: It is persistence that wears out resistance.

Previously, we noted three keys to dealing with negative patterns and habits in life, which are identifying the pattern or habit, deciding to confront the pattern or habit and actually confronting the pattern or habit.

Now, the fourth key to dealing with negative tendencies and habits is the refusal to give up the fight.

In dealing with the negative tendencies/habits, you must fight with the mentality of refusing to give up the fight. The angel of the Lord told Jacob, “let me go, for the day breaketh,” but Jacob refused and seemed to have told the angel, “I am not letting you go anywhere until this negative tendency of my life ends”. That was the mind-set that gave Jacob victory; it was a mind-set that refused to give up in the face of battles.

Why, then, is it important not to give up in the face of battles? It is persistence that wears out resistance; anywhere resistance is found, what you need is to match it with persistence.

Beloved, refuse to give up the fight. In the course of the fight to terminating the negative patterns or habits in your life, there may be setbacks but you must never allow temporary setbacks to become a permanent outcome. For instance, you may have vowed never to drink or smoke again and you stay without drinking or smoking for a long time; but all of a sudden, you find yourself in the trap of alcoholism and tobacco smoking and then the devil tells you that you would never overcome the habit. Just tell the devil that he is a liar and that you have overcome it already.

Beloved, refuse to give up when victory or the expected result seems to be delayed; even if your testimony appears to be delayed refuse to give up. Even when you have toiled all night and caught nothing like Peter (Luke 5:5), refuse to give up.

Remember this: It is persistence that wears out resistance.

Assignments:
1. Refuse to give up in the fight of confronting negative tendencies and habits.
2. Be tenacious in fighting to win the battles of life.

Prayer: O Lord, I ask for the grace not to give up in fighting the battles of destiny. I ask for the impartation of the spirit of tenacity, Lord, in Jesus’ Name.

FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE: DEALING WITH NEGATIVE PATTERNS AND HABITS.

Daily Bible Reading: 1 Kings 14:1 to 15:24, Acts 10:1 to 23, Psalm 133:1 to 3, Proverbs 17:7 to 8

Amazing Fact: Your ears never stop hearing, even when you sleep.

Today In History: 15/06/1752 – Benjamin Franklin experimented by flying a kite during a thunderstorm. The result was a little spark that showed the relationship between lightning and electricity.

Quote: If you have made up your mind to get to the top, then you have made up your mind to be a fighter. Culled from 30 SECRETS TO THE TOP by Dr Paul Enenche.

Don’t Forget To Attend: The Home church meeting tomorrow by 6pm at the centre nearest to you. Come with your friends and loved ones.

“If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read Seeds of Destiny by Pastor Paul Enenche “https://flatimes.com/category/seeds-of-destiny/

Today’s devotional was written by Pastor Paul Enenche of the Dunamis International Gospel Centre (DIGC), headquartered at Abuja, Nigeria, with Pastor Paul and Becky Enenche, as the Senior Pastors. It is a power-packed arena where God’s Presence, Principles and Power are at work for the salvation, healing and restoration of human destinies and dignities

Flatimes Notice Board: Until you are born again, God ever abiding presence will never be with you. You must be born again to enjoy continuous victory. Please say the displayed prayer below in faith:

Lord Jesus, come into my life. I accept You as my Lord and Personal Saviour. I believe in my heart You died and rose from the dead to save me. Thank You Lord for saving me, in Jesus name Amen.

If you just prayed the prayer of salvation online please send your testimonies and prayer request to [email protected], 07026385437 OR 08141320204.