As I was preparing a business training program this morning, the Lord told me to begin to write as I was led by the Holy Spirit:

The Lord says to those who serve customers today to serve others as you would serve Me. Serve with humility and not only out of duty. You seem to be going through motions that repeat with a daily boredom.

Know you not that you have served My angels? Unaware of My presence?

Give love unto the people I send you this day as you would give to Me if I asked for your help.

You have been gifted with a ministry of helps. You are called to serve the one who stands near you seeking help.

You are called to change the outcome of someone’s day today. Serve the unlovely with your full capacity and with your full heart.

This is the day I have made for you to serve My people and My angels I will send your way. {eoa}

Dr. Steve Greene is the publisher and executive vice president–Media Group, Charisma Media. Sign up here for Dr. Greene’s leadership e-newsletter.

When high levels of uncertainty are present in a decision matrix, the risk of making wrong choices will increase.

Leaders crave facts like I crave pizza at the end of a fast.

More is better. While we must be aware of the need for speed to decide, we must also receive input to aid the decision-making process.

In my season of working with McDonalds’ franchise owners, I remember a couple of years in which the cry for facts never seemed to end. Some franchisees had grown weary of “group think.” The loudest and most demonstrative leaders influenced key decisions through behavior, rather than facts.

The process evolved with a willingness to accept facts to catalyze decisions. Data were applied to past marketing campaigns to help in the assessment of new proposals. The “numbers” enjoyed a time of counsel. There was a seat at the board table for hard thinking. Promotions were ended and started fresh because “key performance indicators” (KPI’s) pointed the way.

I love a good fact. But, I’ve also learned that not everyone wants to be confused by fact-based decision making. Sometimes leaders just want what they want. “My gut tells me,” this or that and “I’ve learned to trust my gut, even in the face of contradictory facts.”

In one of my stops along the way in my career, I sat at board tables with high-powered ministers. Some of the men I remember had achieved a measure of success (large ministries.)

I observed that as the church grew, the leaders became somehow, smarter and “righter.” A willingness to receive input seemed to decline as attendance increased.

I remember one meeting in particular in which people at the table were speaking about a future program and debate was healthy. Then the leader said, “God has already shown me what He wants to do with this project.”

End of debate. End of discussion. God said.

I’ve also wondered why meetings are ever necessary if God said. I wonder in greater depth when I hear “God said,” something different about the project a few weeks later.

Leaders who claim “God said,” need good memories. The Lord is an author AND a finisher. Alpha projects are plentiful. Omega projects seem few.

When we gather at a decision-making table, I count on the Lord to speak to everyone at the table through the leading of the Holy Spirit. I also want to pray specific prayers for guidance. And facts will always be welcomed.

Leaders who are led by the Lord have predictable and consistent decision-making paths. 

Today’s Scripture

“Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ whenever you turn to the right hand and when you turn to the left” (Isaiah 30:21, MEV). 

Platform Tip No. 149

Work hard to keep your quantity of input equal to your quantity of output.

Read as much or more as you speak.

This is a ratio worthy of frequent review. 

{eoa} 

While writing my Greenelines blog early this morning, I stopped to answer an email and was nudged to open a new writing window.

I stopped what I was working on and began to type this fresh word for several readers today. I don’t know for whom, but I believe the specificity of the word will call you out. Your spirit will bear witness.

“As you grow closer to Me, I will draw nearer to your business. If I am Lord of your life, I will be Lord of your business. I long for your business to honor Me as I rain down upon it.

“The increase that I will give you is coming. This season of growth will be like none other you have experienced. New doors will open to a new people. You will think new thoughts and do a fresh work. Others have not done this work. Behold! I give you a new path. You’ve been walking the path I intended for others. This new path is your path.

“Know that I will be with you as you move with the gifts and specific knowledge I have given to you. 

“Do not look to the left or to the right but along the path I will direct. Set your eyes upon Me, and I will do what I have promised.

“Do not try to be like others or join others along their paths. This is a new thing that I intend for you. The path is blessed. Your gifts will be multiplied as you lead others along this way. This is a path of business that I have birthed in you. I will bless others through you as you travel this path. Fear not, for I am saying to you on this day, in this way, that I have prepared hearts and minds to receive you and this new work.

“My words will not surprise you today. Lead the people I have given to you with this fresh anointing. I am in this work. I will bless many through you. This is the word of the Lord.”

God bless you as you draw nearer to Him. {eoa}

Dr. Steve Greene is the publisher and executive vice president–Media Group, Charisma Media. Sign up here for Dr. Greene’s leadership e-newsletter.

Effective leaders teach with light.

When we consider the life of Jesus, we will certainly note that He was an active teacher. He used object lessons to frame His lessons.

The fig tree. A mustard seed. Wheat and chaff. 

He taught as he walked with his disciples. He used visual cues to make points about kingdom living. He taught His disciples to see people in need … then He called for compassion.

It wasn’t enough that Jesus had spiritual vision; he wanted His followers to see what was around them every day. Sometimes the people we see throughout our day are invisible because we make no effort to see them.

We turn a deaf ear, stare with a blind eye, yet busy our thumbs with likes and shares.

There’s a big difference between someone who takes pictures and a photographer. One sees with a camera. The other just snaps a shutter.

Last week I spent time with a good friend and skilled photographer. I carved out a few hours of my vacation to just hang out with him and our cameras.

We didn’t go anyplace special. There weren’t any “Kodak Photo Spots,” pointing to an obligatory snapshot that begged for no vision.

Our first stop was at a retention pond off a busy street surrounded by corporate buildings and vehicles belonging to the building’s occupants.

When my friend parked and said, “Let’s see what’s here,” I had little faith that there would be many photographs taken.

We walked around the pond and my eyes were opened. I saw a beautiful fountain that sprayed tall into the sky. A rainbow danced through the spray. The shutter on my camera opened and closed with spurts of vision.

Mike showed me how to see a tree limb with reddish-brown leaves. I saw a willow tree with droopy limbs, yet full of joy. And I learned to see an evergreen boasting tiny balls of fruit unseen by people looking through office windows.

After an hour of vision therapy, we went looking for flowers. Mike took us to a place I have never taken a camera and would have never considered for photographs. We went to a landscape nursery.

My eyes opened wide and I saw buckets of flowers as if through the eyes of a child. I saw endless possibilities. I hurried from one flower to the next as if the other flowers might run away.

Mike showed me a few of the photographs he took and darkness was turned to light. I could see things I didn’t see through my own lens. It was an amazing few hours of learning to see the light.

Jesus taught his disciples to see light throughout His ministry.

Leaders must do what Jesus did as a teacher. Look for object lessons. Point to the light.

Light changes life. 

Today’s Scripture

“I know one thing: I was blind, but not I see” (John 9:25).

Platform Tip No. 132

One of the keys to developing a powerful platform is to have a clear destination and a path to get there.

First, find the right path. In my observation, the primary struggle with growing a platform is determining the right path to the right prospects.

Time and resources are often wasted on a path that leads to people without a felt need.

When we get there, there’s no there, there.

{eoa}

Mothers learn the essence of leadership from the first time they hold their baby.

There is always something that needs to be done. I believe a busy mom said it first …

I’ll take care of it.

While effective leaders must certainly develop the art of delegation, careers are built by getting things done.

It’s not just the busywork that gets done, but leaders are focused on getting the RIGHT things done. It’s easy to be busy being busy. But, at the end of the day, the story of progress is told by leaders who “take care of it.”

There is no better music to the ear of a leader than to hear a team member respond, “I’ll take care of it.” The best surprise to a leader is when the “it” is actually taken care of.

The best culture of an organization is one of execution—getting the right things done.

If execution is difficult in your organization, text a mom. Expect her reply to be, “I’ll take care of it.”

“When Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, ‘It is finished.’ And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit” (John 19:30).

Platform Tip No. 132

Procrastination is a habit. It’s a bad habit when it comes to building a platform.

Big name platforms—the ones that help many people every day—are built with sustained, consistent effort.

Showing up every day with content is a lifetime habit.

{eoa}

Leaders do not have the privilege of a mood.

Most of us have asked a similar question, “Is it safe to go visit with the boss? What kind of mood is he in today?”

Effective leaders strive for consistency. Precision is the goal. A key ingredient to quality decision making is objectivity.

Perhaps, how we feel about an issue is the cause of mood vibrations.

Good thinking crashes a mood party. Clean thinking is unaffected by feelings.

When Martha mixed a recipe of mood into her service bowl, she became less effective. Jesus called her out on it.

“Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled by many things” (Luke 10:41).

Jesus called Martha into a deeper relationship with Himself while Mary sat mood-less at the feet of the Lord.

Anxiety is expressed in moodiness. It gets in the way of spiritual and marketplace progress. 

Anxiety marks an independent man.

When we draw close to Jesus, we don’t need a mood meter.

“Jesus answered her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed. And Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken from her'” (Luke 10:41-42).

PLATFORM TIP No. 130

Speed does not build a platform. Speed kills.

Hurry creates flurry, not engagement.

A platform is built with sustained, consistent effort.

Your audience comes to you every day for one message. Stay on point and deliver it every day.

Massive platforms are built one brick at a time.

{eoa}

Who can find wisdom?

Solomon tells us that “Wisdom cries out in the street and utters her voice in the markets” (Prov. 1:20).

As we consider the decay of values and moral code, it is fair to conclude that America has lost the wisdom exhibited by our founding fathers. The streets and marketplace seem void of the cry of wisdom.

The book of Proverbs begins with a purpose statement:

“To know wisdom and instruction, to perceive the words of understanding, to receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, judgment, and equity; to give subtlety to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion—a wise man will hear and will increase learning, and a man of understanding will attain wise counsel … The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction” (Proverbs 1:1-7, MEV).

In a country known for the collective brain power to solve an equation for space travel, the presence of rocket scientists does not seem to have made an impact on our per capita wisdom.

It seems that knowledge puffeth upeth.

Perhaps the question is not “who can find wisdom,” but rather, “who wants it?”

P.S. Do you subscribe to Ministry Today? Will you please consider doing it? 

With the link below you will receive my special publisher’s offer. Our baseline subscription is $. My offer to you is a one-year subscription (6 issues) for $.

I’d like to know what you think of Ministry Today and would love to hear from you.

Please click here today for the Dr. Greene special.

Today’s Scripture

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men liberally and without criticism, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5).

Platform Tip No. 118

Think of your platform as a bridge.

Your message builds a bridge for your audience to cross—from pain to pain-free.

You are the catalyst to help people across the bridge.

Show up every day. Keep building a better bridge and help people cross the great bridge you build.

Do you want to learn more about developing your personal platform?

For my free eBook 7 Reasons Your Organization Suffers from Marketing Malpractice, plus 3 Things to do NOW to Prevent Further Damage, click here.

{eoa}

Mary asked the question, “How can this be?” An angel of the Lord told her, “Don’t be afraid, Mary. You have found favor with the Lord.”

We can all probably think of someone who has done a great favor or two for us along the way. We might even remember the favor.

I can remember my daughter asking me to “do me a favor and tie my shoes.” I’ve had college students beg for a grading favor. My wife is the best favor-granter I know.

Favor seems to be an act of service. So when we go to God seeking favor, are we simply seeking a box to be checked? Isn’t there more to favor than a vending transaction? I continue to believe that the favor of the Lord comes with His abiding presence. I know that I know He is with me.

“For whoever finds me, finds life, and will obtain favor of the Lord” (Prov. 8:35). We have favor because we have found Him.

Brother Lawrence said it powerfully, “Let us begin to be devoted to Him in good earnest. Let us cast everything besides out of our heart. He would possess them alone. Beg this favor of Him. If we do what we can on our parts, we shall soon see that change wrought in us which we aspire after.”

I want to find more favor for the emptying of my heart from anything but Him. When I pray, “Create in me a pure heart, Oh Lord,” I am believing my heart’s desire becomes more of Him and less about my daily wants and meaningless desires.

We also know that the favor of God provides a strong tower of defense for all who call His name.

“For You, Lord, will bless the righteous; You surround him with favor like a shield” (Ps. 5:12). I pray the favor of a shield over my children and know that they are protected. I am full of faith that we are hidden under the shadow of His great wings because of favor.

In fact, favor is whatever I have faith to believe it is. Joy Strang has favor over parking places because she knows that God loves her and saves a place for her at the front door. Strong-in-faith business people expect favor in meetings and sales calls. Godly musicians pray for and receive favor over every measure in a song.

People of God receive preferential treatment—even on those days when we don’t feel so special. Favor is always with us, but sometimes we aren’t able to receive it. “I believe. Help me in my unbelief.” We can speak to others and exhort that “nothing is impossible for God,” but when it comes to our own need to receive favor, we can easily recite a list of doubts.

Are you aware of the Lord’s favor in your life? While others are counting blessings, let’s also be thankful for His favor. “Remember me, O Lord, when You give favor to Your people; visit me with Your deliverance” (Ps. 106:4).

Dr. Steve Greene is publisher and executive vice president of the Media Group at Charisma Media.

I love the optimism that Charles Schulz gave to Charlie Brown.

Charlie was birthed in the comic strip, “Peanuts.” Many of us grew up reading the funny pages and “Peanuts” was a staple. Charlie Brown went on to star in theater, television and on the silver screen.

I rooted for CB every time Lucy offered to hold a football for him as he would attempt to kick an imaginary field goal. Lucy successfully tempted CB to make his run to kick the ball and always, at the last minute, she would pull the ball away and Charlie would soar into the air and crash. I didn’t see every cartoon, so maybe one day Lucy let him kick it.

It was easy for many of us to identify with Charlie Brown. We have all had our ball to kick. We too, have endured antagonists, real and imagined. Charlie Brown and his tribe provided many opportunities for us to see ourselves through laughter.

I rooted for Charlie Brown every time he lined up to make his run for the kick. I knew Lucy was going to yank the ball away. I think even he knew she was going to do it to him again. But every time he ran, he ran with all his might, believing that this was the time she would let him kick it.

Leaders often develop similar blind optimism. “This time is different. We can do this. Let’s try again.”

We’ve all had our Lucys that convince us that circumstances have changed. It’s safe to go back into the water. We find out soon, that if we keep doing things the same way, we end up with the same results.

Optimism is often irrelevant.

Effective leaders are gifted with discernment. If a project isn’t going well and things seem to be messy, pray for the Holy Spirit to reveal the way forward. If I would have prayed this prayer more often, there would have been many footballs I wouldn’t have tried to kick.

I believe in the revelatory power of the Spirit of God. I believe in spiritual discernment. There is a spiritual difference between optimism and faith.

A fresh anointing may require a new path.

Charlie Brown should have played soccer.

P.S. Do you subscribe to Ministry Today? Will you please consider doing it? 

With the link below you will receive my special publisher’s offer. Our baseline subscription is $. My offer to you is a one-year subscription (6 issues) for $.

I’d like to know what you think of Ministry Today and would love to hear from you.

Please click here today for the Dr. Greene special.

Today’s Scripture

“Then you will again discern between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him” (Mal. 3:18).

Platform Tip No. 85

When I was courting my wife in 1973, I remember writing to her every day. We didn’t have text messages or email. We had pen and paper in the dark ages.

Last week, she showed me a few of the notes I wrote to her. I wondered who that terrible writer was who wrote to her!

It wasn’t a burden to write to her. I couldn’t write enough. I never considered she would grow tired of hearing about how much I loved her.

I had a clear message and I showed up every day.

Forty-three years later, I continue to believe that drip marketing is highly effective.

Do you want to learn more about developing your personal platform?

Send for my free series of lessons titled, “The Fundamentals of Creating, Curating and Developing Content for Multiple Platforms.” Send your request to: platform@.

This is an exclusive offer to Ministry Today and “Greenelines” readers. 

We will not share your email address with anyone.

{eoa}

Effective leaders develop their teams across broad skill sets. Unfortunately, the spiritual development of a team is often neglected by leaders of work teams.

Is the spiritual development taboo at work? Is it not politically correct to encourage faith? Are we concerned about HR issues?

Perhaps the problem with faith in the workplace is similar to the problem with faith in churches.

It seems to me that faith crises are issues of complacency. Too often, leaders are aware of hurting team members but fail to address a problem because of work priorities.

Complacency is a dangerous walking companion. The battle cry of this walk is “I just don’t care.”  

Survey research probably couldn’t uncover the reason leaders don’t care about their team’s spiritual development but spiritual complacency is a clear marker of independence from God.

If we don’t care, we must be satisfied with our progress. It’s easy to be satisfied with the way things have become.

“For the turning away of the simple will slay them, and the prosperity of fools will destroy them.” (Proverbs 1:32, MEV).

Do you demonstrate complacency about spiritual matter?

May I suggest a one-point action plan?

1. Offer prayer.

Make it clear to your team that you make prayer a priority. Encourage your team to seek the Lord in your workplace. 

Aren’t you glad Jesus wasn’t complacent?

Prayer creates care.

P.S. Do you subscribe to Ministry Today? Will you please consider doing it? 

With the link below you will receive my special publisher’s offer. Our baseline subscription is $. My offer to you is a one-year subscription (6 issues) for $.

I’d like to know what you think of Ministry Today and would love to hear from you.

Please click here today for the Dr. Greene special.

Today’s Scripture

“Now I ask you, brothers, through the Lord Jesus Christ and through the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf” (Rom. 15:30).

Platform Tip No. 80

One of my jobs while growing up was to go out to the driveway and retrieve our daily newspaper.

I remember asking my mom why we got a newspaper every day. The answer seems obvious now. Someone in our household needed to read the daily news. It was OK because I wanted the Cardinals’ box score.

Can you imagine receiving a daily email? 

If someone is sending you a daily message of hope and help, you probably welcome it.

Do you want to learn more about developing your personal platform?

Send for my free series of lessons titled, “The Fundamentals of Creating, Curating and Developing Content for Multiple Platforms.” Send your request to: platform@.

This is an exclusive offer to Ministry Today and “Greenelines” readers. 

We will not share your email address with anyone. 

{eoa}