Perhaps you have heard the story of the woman searching under a streetlight for a quarter she dropped. A stranger comes along and asks if all is okay. She explains she dropped a quarter and is looking for it. The stranger joins he woman in her search. After several minutes the stranger asks, “Where exactly did you drop the quarter?” The woman straightens up, points across the street and says, “Over there about half way up the block. But there is no light over there to search for it.”

Truth is everyone is searching for something. However, many people in our world know not what they are searching for. Many Christians do not know what they are searching for. Do you?

God has a plan for His church and a plan for you. Finding God’s plan requires a search. It is not difficult, but a search requires commitment and work. True satisfaction comes only in finding and accomplishing God’s unique purpose for your life.

Salvation is free. Our faithfulness to the Lord, however, requires a commitment.

Jer. 29: 11-13 says, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

¹² You will call to Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. ¹³ You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.”

Our commitment is to be faithful in seeking the Lord and His will. Do you know the plans God has for you? This is your search.

God has a plan for each one of us. The fact is though, God will not reveal His plan for us more than one step at a time. We cannot see around the next corner. Therefore, trust and faith in God are required. Too many people search for what they think would please God. This is not God’s plan.

For Christians our search is for Christ-likeness. Our search must be a committed search (with all our hearts). We must count the cost and be willing to forsake all. Luke 9:62 says, “And Jesus said unto him, ‘No man having put his hand to the plough (plow) and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.’”

There is no time to look back. We are to keep our eyes focused on Christ and the task ahead. What happens when someone plowing a garden or farm field turns his head to see how the row looks behind him? He will always veer off course. You cannot look backward and plow a straight line.

We must keep our eyes focused on Christ and the work that God has at hand. This is the only way to move forward and join God in the work He is doing.

A committed, continuing, and consuming search for the Lord, the Bible says will allow you to find Him according to verse 13 of Jer. 29.

In your search for the Lord you can draw closer & closer to Him if you so desire. The question is, How is your want to?

George Yates is an Organizational Health Strategist and coach, assisting churches, organizations, and individuals in pursuing God’s purpose for life. Click here to receive this blog in your email inbox each Tuesday.

Dr. Billy Graham is the about only person I can think of in my lifetime whom I can never remember hearing anything negative or bad about.

I tried to think of others who had such a stellar life in front of the public and I could not think of anyone who could stand alongside Billy Graham, other than George Beverly Shea, perhaps.

If for no other reason, you can see God’s hand upon Billy Graham. The media today is built to find the downside of everyone. If they cannot dig something up from your past, they create something. Yet, no one was ever able to fabricate anything on Dr. Graham.

Isn’t it great when all of our memories of someone are happy ones? The Apostle Paul in Ephesians 1:3-5 says, “I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you, ⁴ always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer, ⁵ because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.”

Paul begins this passage stating that every memory he has of the Philippian church is a good memory. He is thankful for these memories.

The Joy of the Christian Journey is what Paul is speaking of. He is full of gratitude, very grateful for the believers in Philippi. What Paul is saying is no matter what, when I think of you I only have wonderful memories. There have been no bad experiences. Wouldn’t you like to have all your relationships like this? This, I believe, is the mark of Christian joy.

It is with joy that Paul prays for his friends at Philippi. Do you pray with joy for others in your church, or do you consider it a task or obligation? We should take a lesson from Paul and pray for each other with joy. It should be with joy that we lift the name of others to the mercy seat of God.

What greater thing could you do for someone than to ask God to be with that person, and to give that person a great blessing?

With the acceptance of joy comes sacrifice. In life whenever we desire something it normally requires some type of sacrifice, does it not? If you want a new set of golf clubs, or a pair of jeans, you must take your hard-earned money and sacrifice some of it for that desired purchase.

Valuable time is given and sacrificed for you to have a clean house, and fresh, clean clothes to wear, not to mention a good hot meal. Someone has had to sacrifice for  you to enjoy these things.

The same is true with our Christian life. For the true joy of the Christian life, sacrifices must be made. In verse 6 Paul says, I am sure of this, that He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

If you and I can grow to experience the joy of the Christian journey, and truly pray for one another in joy, it will not be a difficult task to experience the Christian sacrifice for others and for Christ. This will draw us into a closer partnership with one another serving the God who gave us breath, life, and life eternal.

There is JOY in the Journey.

George Yates is an Organizational Health Strategist and coach, assisting churches, organizations, and individuals in pursuing God’s purpose for life. Click here to receive this blog in your email inbox each Tuesday.

One night following Jesus’ resurrection, after He had appeared to His disciples at least twice, Peter and some of the other Disciples were together. The gospel of John, chapter 21 includes,

“I’m going fishing,” Simon Peter said to them. “We’re coming with you,” they told him. They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. ⁴ When daybreak came, Jesus stood on the shore. However, the disciples did not know it was Jesus.

 ⁵ “Men,” Jesus called to them, “you don’t have any fish, do you?” “No,” they answered. ⁶ “Cast the net on the right side of the boat,” He told them, “and you’ll find some.” So they did, and they were unable to haul it in because of the large number of fish.

They had fished all night and caught nothing. Most fishermen can relate to this experience. Most women and other cooks can relate to attempting to prepare a nice meal and it not coming together as planned.

Peter saw Christ die. He knew how the Jewish leaders planned the persecution of any of Jesus’ followers. Then Jesus was resurrected, and He had met with Peter and the other Disciples, more than once in His resurrected body.

Perhaps Peter was perplexed about all this and his own future. Or having been locked in this upper room, waiting for a couple of weeks Peter needed to get out. He needed time to think through all this, and he wanted to do it in a familiar setting. So, he went fishing. We read that he had caught zero fish all night.

Peter returned to something he knew. Something he was good at and comfortable doing. Each person that is a child of God has a purpose, a mission to fulfill. You have a skill set to be used to further the God’s Kingdom by fulfilling your God-given purpose. You are a unique person, designed by God and gifted for a specific purpose.

Do you know your spiritual gifts? What are your natural skills and abilities? What do you love doing? What is your passion? God has given you a passion that coincides with your purpose. Your life’s experiences are exclusive to you alone.

God has mixed all these things together with your individual personality to make you a one-of-a-kind. Out of the 8,019,876,189 living people on earth, not one of them has the same mix as you. Not one of the 7 billion who have lived before you had the same mix as you, and no one ever will. That is how unique God created you.

Peter followed Jesus’ instructions. Jesus simply suggested to throw the net out on the opposite side of the boat. Following Jesus’ one instruction, the disciples pulled in a net so full it should have been breaking.

The disciples spent the night trying in their own effort to catch fish and came up empty. Yet, the disciples found out very quickly that by listening to Jesus’ one instruction, following His coaching, their net was filled to capacity and more.

Who are you listening to? Jesus has the exact counsel you need in every situation. Will you listen and follow His instruction as did the Disciples in this passage? God alone knows the limit of the nets He has provided for you.

George Yates is an Organizational Health Strategist and coach, assisting churches, organizations, and individuals in pursuing God’s purpose for life. Click here to receive this blog in your email inbox each Tuesday.

Have you ever known a leader who was maddeningly insecure – about everything? They live among us. These are people in management or leadership positions who are wobbly and always teetering, questioning, seeking the right answer to appear. Never confident in their decision-making abilities.

Honestly, we all – every leader at every level has a little insecurity inside. A little secret, that is okay and, in most cases healthy to have a small bit of insecurity, but not overly insecure.

I was once selected to serve on a Pastor Search Committee for our church. I tried to talk my way out of it. That did not work. Then I was elected to chair that committee. Though I was serving in leadership roles in the corporate world, the only thing I was confident about in this situation was that all three of the other men (and the four women) on this committee were better qualified for the role of chairperson.

The men were twenty something years my senior, and well seasoned leaders. These men were role models for me. My confidence was in them, not me. God taught me a lot through that process. One of the main things was to place my confidence in Him and surround myself with great leaders.

Another principle I learned was as Craig Groschel writes, “You don’t have to be confident in yourself, your gifts, your talents, or your resume.” Our confidence is found in God alone. Serving on that committee was a great learning and a very humbling experience.

If you desire to be enduringly fruitful, confidence in God is significant. It is not about being the most experienced, eloquent speaking, wisest person in the room. Confidence comes not from mastering certain skills or abilities. Confidence, as a Christian, comes from trusting God and being open to the work He calls you too. Even if that work appears to be beyond your scope of capability.

When God told Moses that he would be the one to stand before Pharoah to have him free the Israelites, Moses said, “But God, I am not a good speaker.” God said “I am!”

Paul wrote to the Corinthian church about his weaknesses, and his confidence in the power of the Holy Spirit. We all have weaknesses. But rather than dwell on them, find those God has placed around you who have strengths in the areas you are weak. Do not try to hide or masquerade around weaknesses. Recognize them, delegate those areas and concentrate on the confidence of using what God has given you to be fruitful for Him.

No one is great in every area of leadership. Focus on what you can do with the strengths God has given you. Develop those, strive to be better at the things you can improve, while at the same time accepting your weaknesses.

With what limitations have your thought processes shackled you? Step out of Satan’s shackles by stepping into confidence in God’s design for your life. What will you do this week to build better alignment in your life?

George Yates is an Organizational Health Strategist and coach, assisting churches, organizations, and individuals in pursuing God’s purpose for life. Click here to receive this blog in your email inbox each Tuesday.

You often hear people speak of motivating others. There is even a category of speakers called “motivational”.  I enjoy motivating others and I’ve taught and written on motivational topics. However, there is something much greater than motivation, and I try to use it regularly – daily.

Motivating denotes getting people to do something they are not planning or wanting to do. Motivation can be used in leadership. But can it not also be slight manipulation? My findings are that motivation is short-lived and therefore more and greater motivation will be required after the initial motivation wears off.

I remember when I was starting in sales, our company owner or our manager would offer financial rewards, as one hundred dollars for the first person to sell three machines (vacuum cleaners) on a given day. Jim Freeman or I, would win, always, no matter the reward or contest. After a few of these contests other salespeople faded away, not even attempting to compete.

Even for Jim and I the motivation became, not the money but the competition with each other. The motivation waned for everyone. Though we did enjoy the money. Motivation is like dangling the carrot in front of someone. Craig Groeschel has said that motivation is more like pushing someone to do something.

So, what is better for those you lead than motivation? Inspiration! Inspiring someone is to bring them along which is the definition of leadership, to bring along with you. To inspire is to help others reach inside him/herself for his/her best. Now, more than motivate, my desire is to inspire others to reach for their potential. Here are a few ways to inspire others.

• Reside in genuine humility
• Build an atmosphere of trust and confidence
• Set organization values
• Celebrate all victories, big and small, celebrate those in your circle of influence
• Share of your personal vulnerabilities
• Develop an atmosphere of openness to creativity and inquisitiveness
• Assist all others in increasing his/her skills and abilities
• Empower all members at all levels by giving them the freedoms to grow themselves and the organization.

These are but a few. Yet, improving these few attributes in your leadership will inspire others to strive for greater achievement for themselves and your organization. Inspiration is not about a rousing speech, that’s motivation. Inspiration comes from inside. It’s the genuineness of wanting to bring others along on the journey. What can you achieve this week to be a greater inspiration to others?

George Yates is an Organizational Health Strategist and coach, assisting churches, organizations, and individuals in pursuing God’s purpose for life. Click here to receive this blog in your email inbox each Tuesday.

What thoughts do you dwell on when you see others overcoming obstacles that you just can’t seem to overcome? Why do other organizations like yours seem to be flourishing and yours seems to be struggling? Do you ever wish or even pray for “what they’ve got?” Can I let you in on something? You do not need what they’ve got. Stay in your God-given lane.

You have got you, and God created you to be you, not someone else. You have something God wants to use. I know you have, because God Himself gave it to you. You may not have what it takes to grow a mega church. The reason you do not have it is because God created you for something greater.

I’m reminded of the widow in 2 Kings 4. The creditors were coming to take her sons as slaves to pay for her debt. When the prophet Elijah asked what she had in her house, she said, “Nothing except a little oil” (for cooking). She did not even have a full jar of oil, three dollars in today’s economy.

Yet, that little bit of oil is what God had given her to use for His glory. It was not enough to pay her debt, yet God used it to provide for not only resolving her debt, but gave her enough for living expenses for she and her sons.

You have something God wants to use and like the widow, you may think it is not enough. What you must remember is; what you have, in the hands of God is more than enough. God has given you something that he wants to use. He has entrusted it to you so that through you He will be glorified, and you can rejoice in God’s great blessings.

It is important for us to position ourselves to be contenders for God to use.

1, Pray – for eyes to see what God sees in you and your organization.

2, Pray – for humility in your life and the life of your organization. Remain within God’s boundaries.

3, Pray – for discernment of why God wants you to be you, not what someone else is doing.

4, Pray – for an understanding of the Christ-like greatness for which you were created to fulfill.

5, Pray – for humility (yes a second time). It is God working through you, not your own victories.

We can never pray too much and every aspect of the Christ-like life deserves, and is in need of prayer. Without it we tend to stumble in our own weaknesses. Stay centered (Christ-centered), stay in your God-given lane and God will use you to accomplish His great things.

George Yates is an Organizational Health Strategist and coach, assisting churches, organizations, and individuals in pursuing God’s purpose for life. Click here to receive this blog in your email inbox each Tuesday.

Occasionally I receive comments or questions regarding the way I dress for church. When preaching, I almost always wear a jacket and tie, or maybe a suit (depending on the church). I sometimes hear, “You know you do not have to always dress up (wear a tie or suit).” Other times It is the opposite, “I’m glad we’ve got someone in the pulpit who will wear a suit.

I’ll share my answer to both later in this post. Not quite like the music wars of the nineties and beyond, church dress continues to be a topic of discussion. Some use it as an excuse not to attend. Others want to condemn those who dress differently.

A young lady, in her thirties began attending our church (a few years and churches ago). She had never been in church before. We were helping her on her spiritual journey. She always wore blue jeans.She attended faithfully for two to three months. Then one Sunday, she did not attend. Myself and another gentleman went to her home for a visit – yes after she missed only one week. When you wait until someone misses three weeks, you’ve lost them. Show them that you care. But that’s another post.

This lady met us in her driveway and welcomed us, gladly. When I stated we missed her the previous Sunday, she said, “One of ‘your’ ladies said I need to learn how to dress for church and that I need to wear a dress. – I don’t own a dress.” I was immediately deflated.

Because of one careless – unbiblical – comment, she thought she could not attend church. Though we tried to convince her that was not God’s desire and certainly not the consensus of the church, she never returned.

Whether you wear blue jeans or suit and tie, you do not own the market of what to wear to church. My answer to the opening questions, comments; “I wear Jackets and ties because I have a closet full of them and I am comfortable in them. I do not wear them to impress anyone nor to influence anyone in what they should wear.

Because of what God has done for me giving His best, I do believe that when I come to worship God that I should dress a little better than what I would wear to Walmart or around the house. Again, that is me and my opinion, my belief for me.

What God cares about more than blue jeans or suits is how you come spiritually dressed. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart. (1 Samuel 16:7) If your concern is about what the preacher or others are wearing in the church, you are not able to focus on the right thing – worshiping God. Before you arrive…

1, Pray for a heart and eyes that focus on God alone.

2, When you see something that may distract you, ask God to help you see through His eyes.

3, In all things, go deeper in heart-felt worship of the one true God who sent His Son to die for you.

If these don’t work for you, study the wardrobe God prescribes in Ephesians 6:10-18, the full armor of God.

George Yates is an Organizational Health Strategist and coach, assisting churches, organizations, and individuals in pursuing God’s purpose for life. Click here to receive this blog in your email inbox each Tuesday.

The leaders of any organization have but one primary purpose. In the church or other volunteer organization, this primary purpose is magnified greatly. The leader’s job is to support the people in accomplishing the vision by removing barriers, ensuring policies, practices, & systems make life easier for the members of the organization.

Many churches and similar organizations have no true vision. They may have dreams, goals, or “hoped for” aims. In my mind a vision is the compelling image of an achievable future. Even in organizations that have what they call a vision, very seldom is there any part of that vision compelling members toward fulfilling it.

To compel is to desire something with all your heart. If it is not something that tugs at my heart I will not be compelled to help you achieve it. Leaders must cast a vision that tugs at the heart of individuals, compelling them to action.

Part of casting the vision for an organization is the removal of barriers. If I were in the jewelry business and our vision was to be the best known diamond carrier in town, I had better be certain we had a supply of fine quality diamonds in stock at all times. Yet, there is one organizational health factor even greater than carrying the needed inventory.

The greatest asset of every organization is the same – its people. The people in your church or organization need to know you understand this factor. The more you demonstrate to them your understanding of their importance to your organization, the more they will strive for the vision. Successful leaders know some of the greatest motivators for producing great workers have nothing to do with remuneration.

Successful leaders will always cast a vision, incessantly share the vision, and continuously work to remove any barriers that would stifle the work of fulfilling the vision. Before the vision is shared successful leaders have spent hours with others combing through the vision, identifying potential barriers. Then, more time is spent identifying approaches to break down or eliminate those barriers. Part of casting the vision then becomes equipping the members, not only in what the vision is, but how to overcome or eliminate the barriers.

Barriers to fulfill the vision are not always outside influences. In fact, most barriers reside inside the organization. Organizational systems, policies, and practices can be some of your thickest barriers. Be certain to evaluate these barriers as well as other obvious and not-so obvious ones.

Leaders, support your people, not in what you want, but in the way they need your support.

Support your people, they will accomplish the vision!

George Yates is an Organizational Health Strategist and coach, assisting churches, organizations, and individuals in pursuing God’s purpose for life. Click here to receive this blog in your email inbox each Tuesday.

This was first posted April, 2017

I was recently asked, “How can our Bible study leaders use Spiritual Gifts to organize and make their classes more effective?” I want to springboard off that question to share some ideas of how to make your church, organization, or Bible study class more effective. The following four avenues can improve the effectiveness of any organization or group of any size.

Structure – Having a workable, amicable structure in place allows everyone to use his/her abilities in pursuing the groups goals. Too often organizations have restricting structures in place that actually constrict effectiveness. Build your structure around the giftedness of your people for fulfilling your organizational goals. You will be much more effective.

Observation – Perhaps the greatest tool you have for employing the gifts of others is observation. Observe others in the organization to see where each one excels. Not only while engaged in the activities of your organization, watch during the down times. This is when you will often see some of the otherwise unseen, unknown giftedness.

Discuss and practice gift oriented ministry (service) – Employing and utilizing each person’s giftedness is a sure-fire way to increase effectiveness. Do not assign tasks because it needs to be done. Assign tasks according to the giftings of each person in the group. Tasks are not burdensome when we are employing our giftings.

Praise & celebrate – Celebrate all the victories, big and small, along the journey. No victory is too small to celebrate. Some celebrations may be a one on one thank you. But the greater and more you celebrate in front of the entire group, the more good work is recognized by the entire group. Remember, “What gets recognized gets emphasized and What gets emphasized gets recognized.” When people see others getting recognized for their contribution, they too will recognize the importance of their need to contribute accordingly.

Certainly, these are not the only four things that will promote effectiveness in your group or organization, but these four will go a long way in producing effectiveness personally and in the organization. What can you do to implement better practices in each of the four disciplines listed above?

Need help in any of these areas? Contact George Yates or your organizational leaders.

George Yates is an Organizational Health Strategist and coach, assisting churches, organizations, and individuals in pursuing God’s purpose for life. Click here to receive this blog in your email inbox each Tuesday.

Why are so many churches in decline today? What causes decline in churches?

Stop the declining trends in your church

I believe there is more than one cause for decline and each church has its own cause(s). Some churches face decline due to apathy within the church. Others suffer from decline because of a lack or loss of vision and purpose. Speaking with church members and leaders, you will find a plethora of reasons for the decline in churches today. However, most reasons can be traced back to one or possibly two causes.

If I had to list but one cause of decline in churches, I would reach for the words of Jesus to the church in Ephesus in Revelation 2:4, “Yet, I hold this against you, you have lost your first love.”

I am not writing to condemn the church or church practices, but to encourage and to uplift the church. This verse of scripture is difficult for us to hear and accept about our own church because we are the church. But we should not stop in reading this verse alone. In the next verse Jesus gives us the cure. He says, “Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first.” Revelation 2:5 What a glorious revelation from our Lord and Savior to the people of the church at Ephesus and to you and me as part of today’s church.

Churches do not intentionally walk away from their purpose (first love). Decline is certainly not in the motives or objectives of any church. Oftentimes we get caught up in the busyness of church life to the detriment of being the church. Other times it is being the church that begins the slide.

Being versus doing requires a tender balance. Faith without works is dead so we know we are commissioned to “do.” However, we can also fall into the trap of doing and doing and doing and lose track of “being” God’s church. How is the balance in your church?

Questions church leaders can ask of their church include:

1) What are we doing that is not directly related to one of the tenets of The Great Commission? What will it take to implement new strategies for effectiveness in fulfilling The Great Commission?

2) Where are we caught in tradition?

3) What do we need to let go of to allow God to move in greater ways for His Kingdom through our church?

4) What must happen in the hearts of each member (& leader) in our church to become a more effective Great Commission church?

Portions of this article are excerpted from the introduction of Reaching the Summit: Avoiding and Reversing Decline in the Church and was first posted July 9, 2012.

George Yates is an Organizational Health Strategist and coach, assisting churches, organizations, and individuals in pursuing God’s purpose for life. Click here to receive this blog in your email inbox each Tuesday.