Today’s verse — Joshua 1:9 (NIV) “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” God calls leaders to courage—not because challenges disappear, but because His presence is constant. Strength comes from knowing you never step into a decision, a meeting, or a season of uncertainty alone. Live this today - Face one task you’ve been delaying out of fear. - Replace discouragement with the reminder: God is with me here, too. - Lead with courage rooted in His presence, not your own strength. “Lord, give me courage to face today with strength and faith, knowing You are always with me. Amen.”

Today’s verse — Matthew 11:28–30 (KJV) “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest… For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Jesus isn’t recruiting superheroes. He’s inviting tired people to walk beside Him. A “yoke” ties two oxen together so they share the load. His way doesn’t remove hard things; it replaces solo strain with shared strength, steady pace, and a Leader who carries the heavy end. How to live this today - Name the one burden you’re hauling alone. - Pray: “Jesus, I’m yoked with You on this.” - Set a gentler pace: one faithful step, not five frantic ones. - Ask for help where you’d normally just push through. “Lord, I’m tired. Teach me Your pace. Carry what I can’t, and guide me to do what I can. Amen.”

Leadership in Practice: Facing Payroll with Empty Pockets It was the mid-1980s, and our nonprofit was in trouble.Payroll was due in just a few days, and the math was simple: we didn’t have enough. For a young leader, it felt like a nightmare scenario. Staff were looking to me for answers. I was looking at the books and seeing red. And the enemy was whispering, “This is the end. You’re not cut out for this.” But here’s what we did: 1. We gathered the team for prayer.Not a panicked scramble. Not a strategy session with flip charts. Just honest, humble prayer. We named the need, reminded ourselves of God’s promises, and asked Him to make a way. 2. I picked up the phone and called three donors personally. No mass mailings. No polished campaign. Just a leader, voice-to-voice, sharing the urgency and the vision. I told them plainly: “We have payroll coming, and we need help.” 3. We trusted Philippians 4:19 over panic. “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” That wasn’t a platitude. In that moment, it was oxygen. By Friday, something remarkable happened. Not only was payroll covered, but one of those donors stepped up as a monthly supporter. What felt like a cliff turned into a foundation. Looking back, here’s what that moment taught me about leading through financial crises: ✅ Pray first, act second. Strategy without surrender is just noise. ✅ Personal beats impersonal. People respond to relationship, not to form letters. ✅ Faith steadies leadership. Panic spreads, but faith calms and carries. That week shaped how I’ve faced every financial shortfall since.The pressure may look different today — bigger budgets, bigger staff — but the principles remain the same. Reflection for You:When you’ve faced a financial shortfall in your work, what carried you through — panic, or prayer? Drop your experience below. Someone else in this community may need your story today.

Good morning Servant Leaders it is time to show our newest member some love with a warm welcome to @Mark Lindsay show him how it's done everyone!

I had barely unpacked. Just moved my young family across the country, fresh into my first role as a pastor. Boxes still sealed, books not even on shelves yet. That’s when a stranger walked up and told me:“You’re doing my wedding.” I blinked. “Excuse me?” He didn’t mean it as a request. He was insistent. And the wedding? It wasn’t at a church. It was at a bar. Here’s what I quickly learned: - He was 44. - She was 24. - And yes, she had once been his high school student. Not exactly the picture-perfect start for a young pastor hoping for a tidy ministry. But what could I do? I said yes. That day taught me two things right away: 1. You don’t get to choose where God asks you to serve. 2. Faithfulness starts before you feel ready. The wedding itself was … unconventional, to put it mildly. I felt in over my head, wondering what I had gotten myself into. But it planted a seed. Over time, I built a relationship with that man. We talked - We debated - We prayed. Slowly, he found his way back to church. Years later, he wasn’t just attending — he became a lay leader. When I look back, I see it clearly:That wedding in a bar was the doorway. The start of a long journey that ended in real transformation. Leaders, here’s the takeaway: 📌 You don’t always choose your assignments — sometimes they choose you. 📌 The most unorthodox doors can lead to the deepest fruit. 📌 Your “first” step of obedience often sets the tone for years of ministry ahead. Reflection for You:What was your first unexpected assignment? The one that didn’t fit the mold but ended up shaping your calling? Drop it in the comments — I’d love to hear your story.