Thrill Rides Can't Match the Presence of the Lord

There is no magic in God's kingdom.
There is no magic in God's kingdom. (Flickr )

Our grandchildren are in town for their first visit to Florida. We took them to the Magic Kingdom on Saturday. 

After the drive through traffic, parking, walking, and waiting in line 30 minutes just for the monorail, we were finally near the front entrance when my 6-year-old grandson provided the prophetic word of the day.

"This doesn't look like it did on the commercial!"

How do we manage expectations of people we lead? Bad expectations morph into disappointment and disillusionment.

Amusement parks are designed for consumption. Lines and lines of people are seeking to consume a thrill ride, experience something entertaining or, if lucky, find a seat and a meal.

I would gladly give up three fast passes for a place to sit!

I thought about my grandson's expectations as we waited to ride things that reposition my stomach and back. I tried to think about what he was thinking about.

He made it clear that he'd much rather run and play on the beach than wait in line for a two-minute ride. It was his expectation of seeing Mickey Mouse that drove him to the park with silver dollar pupils.

I think the best a leader can do to manage expectations is deliver information and focus a team on facts. Goal achievement is not a walk in the park. It's hard. There will be difficulties. We will have some bad days together.

Jesus managed the expectations of His disciples. He told them about the costs they would pay to follow Him.

He spoke to others that "The kingdom of God does not come with observation. Nor will they say, 'Here it is' or 'There it is!' For remember, the kingdom of God is within you" (Luke 17:20-21).

There is no magic in God's kingdom. And all who have received His grace, will see Him as he is.

 

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 $24.97. My offer to you is a one-year subscription (6 issues) for $10.00.

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

"Beloved, now are we children of God, and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be. But we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is" (1 John 3:2).

 


 

Platform Tip No. 114

Platforms are not built by commercials. We don's make false promises and tout money back guarantees.

There is no shout of "but wait there's more" from a godly platform.

A platform is where we help people with their needs. We share a message of hope and offer a solution.

And we are called to do it every day.

 


 

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.

 


Dr. Steve Greene is the publisher and executive vice president of the media group at Charisma Media and executive producer of the Charisma Podcast Network. His book, Love Leads: The Spiritual Connection Between Your Relationships and Productivity, is now available.

Leaders, Dr. Greene wants to help you understand the spiritual connection between relationships and productivity. Read his new blog, here.

Get Spirit-filled content delivered right to your inbox! Click here to subscribe to our newsletter.

Dr. Steve Greene is now sharing stories, teachings, and conversations with guests who lead with love on Love Leads, a new podcast. Listen now.



Dr. Mark Rutland's

National Institute of Christian Leadership (NICL)

The NICL is one of the top leadership training programs in the U.S. taught by Dr. Mark Rutland. If you're the type of leader that likes to have total control over every aspect of your ministry and your future success, the NICL is right for you!

FREE NICL MINI-COURSE - Enroll for 3-hours of training from Dr. Rutland's full leadership course. Experience the NICL and decide if this training is right for you and your team.

Do you feel stuck? Do you feel like you’re not growing? Do you need help from an expert in leadership? There is no other leadership training like the NICL. Gain the leadership skills and confidence you need to lead your church, business or ministry. Get ready to accomplish all of your God-given dreams. CLICK HERE for NICL training dates and details.

The NICL Online is an option for any leader with time or schedule constraints. It's also for leaders who want to expedite their training to receive advanced standing for Master Level credit hours. Work through Dr. Rutland's full training from the comfort of your home or ministry at your pace. Learn more about NICL Online. Learn more about NICL Online.

Charisma Leader — Serving and empowering church leaders