Tag: Mark Saunders

Grace For Everyday People… With Everyday Issues

The Christian walk would be dull if it was just reading the Bible, praying and going to Church meetings.

As important as these things are our Christian walk is not these things. It’s more.

It’s finding the grace of God each day to follow Christ.

Following Christ in everyday life… it’s challenging.

Honouring God and being real and the same time…only possible if we sincerely desire that changing work of God’s spirit in our lives… not to bless us but to let the life of Christ be felt through us.

So often we don’t feel spiritual… but the Lord doesn’t work by our feelings or failings or successes… not my might, not by power but my spirit says the Lord.

Let’s keep the heart to be in need of His grace daily… that’s all. He’ll accomplish the rest.

  • Mark Saunders

How Do You Be A Leader?

My youngest son asked me, “Dad, how do you be a leader?” A deep question from a six year old boy.

By learning to help others was what I said in the moment.

It’s true, by learning to help others we give ourselves the opportunity he was asking about.

Learning – we learn from examples ahead of us. It implies we understand that from a place of submission we need to be equipped.

Helping others – leading for the good of the followers not the leader. Leadership is not “all about the leader” but the equipping of others.

As Christians perhaps we tend to err between two extremes – putting leaders on pedestals or being totally independent and unsubmitted to leadership.

From watching those ahead, being ready to lead is built from being “put through” many unglamorous, humbling situations that “strip away that man of the flesh” so he’s of less nuisance to God’s people.

Christian leadership could possibly be one of the toughest callings there is.

Let’s be faithful to pray for our leaders. We pray for what matters to us and good Christian leadership “really matters.”

  • Mark Saunders

He Who Is Of A Proud Heart Stirs Up Strife

He who is of a proud heart stirs up strife. (Proverbs 29:25)

It’s so easy to fall into strife with someone… no matter how much we pray and fast.

It’s like that “old man” is lurking in the shadows… he gets his life from our pride, finding strength in the strife that results.

Christians, we’re not doormats, but that pride that rises up in us needs to die… somehow to be starved.
It’s only through embracing the dealings of God that this happens. That hand of authority over us that humbles our hearts, softening us, refining us to reflect His own heart.

Religion thrives on pride. God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.

Our only hope is the cross! That continuing outworking in us of that complete work he’s accomplished… that work our pride so resists.

  • Mark Saunders

What Are We Doing With The Gift Of The Present?

There’s incredible testimony all around us of the existence of God. Nature is too well designed to be the random result of an explosion.

Many theories but look at the reality.

Our Christian witness is similar… many theories but what is the reality of our testimony?

We think of testimony as “when I was born again.”

Today’s testimony is far more relevant.

What are we doing with the gift of the present?

What do we present to others?

Christians, today it needs to be hope that people feel from us. Let’s find that hope again for our own lives.

Hope must rise.

  • Mark Saunders