Author Archives

Garry Brackett

BA - Fort Wayne Bible College
MAR - Trinity Evangelical Divinity
D.Min - Grace Theological Seminary
Birkman Certified Coach
John Maxwell Certified Team Member
Myers/Briggs Certified
FIRO-B Certified
TKI Certified
25 Years Executive Coaching

Posted on

The Magnificat – Mary’s Song

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 26:04 — 35.8MB) | Embed

Angelic Visitation

INTRO: What would your reaction be to an angelic visitation? Would it be like Mary’s who offered six lessons on praise?

Scripture: Luke 1:46-56

  1. The Testimony – Mary gives thanks to God for six things – 1:46-56
    1. God’s Condescension – God Took Notice of Her – vv.46-48
      1. The reality of God noticing and bestowing favor upon her caused Mary to state two definitive comments
        1. My soul glorifies
        1. My Spirit rejoices
    1. God’s Holiness – God has done great things for her – v.49
      1. Holiness allows for greatness – unholiness brings destruction doesn’t it?
      1. God’s holiness here is more than His moral perfection. Rather it refers to His acts of righteousness and justice by which He fulfills His covenant with His people. In other words: GOD IS ABLE!
      1. God’s name is a name of action – right action. His holiness brings rewards to the humble and judgment to the haughty. Take note of Psalm 111:9 9; He sent redemption to his people; he has commanded his covenant forever. Holy and awesome is his name!
    1. God’s Mercy – His mercy goes on from generation to generation – v.50
      1. Mary sees herself not as the only person to be blessed. Rather God’s mercy is available to all generations far beyond my life.
      1. Psalm 103:17-19: But(AC) the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on(AD) those who fear him,
           and his righteousness to(AE) children’s children,
        18to those who(AF) keep his covenant
           and(AG) remember to do his commandments.
        19The LORD has(AH) established his throne in the heavens,
           and his(AI) kingdom rules over all.
    1. God’s Power – God does tremendous things with His power – v.51
      1. God has performed mighty deeds with His arm
      1. God has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts [literally the heart is being referenced]
      1. Luke did not see God’s power merely as political power. He saw it as a contrast between the humble poor and the haughty rich [Ref Luke 6:2-26 – Read]
    1. God’s Sovereignty – God humbles the proud and exalts the lowly – vv.52-53
      1. God brought down the rulers from their thrones
      1. God exalted the lowly
      1. God filled the hungry with good things
      1. God sent the rich away empty
    1. God’s Faithfulness – God has kept all His promises to Israel – vv.54-55
      1. God did not forget what He promised – He remembered Abraham and all that was said.
      1. God has not forgotten in this modern time – He will bring about all that He promised in His Word.

Three Lessons From Luke

  1. The humble are exalted and the arrogant are brought low
  2. God fulfills all prophecy and all promises
  3. Mary understood the significance of the Christ child being greater than Elizabeth’s child. Prioritize Christ at the top of your understanding.

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.

Posted on

Your Choice To Believe There Is More Than Enough

LEARN IT

What is it like to live on the other side of “NO”?

  • It is limiting – It takes you away from opportunities
  • It is easy – When you say NO nothing else is required of you
  • It is comforting – It is familiar – you are not risking anything
  • It is deceiving – It appears to be safer when it is not
  • It is crowded – It is where average people hand out

LIVE IT

  • Abundance people possess high belief in themselves
  • Abundance people understand the power of perspective
  • Abundance people are generous to others

LEAD IT

  • When faced with an opportunity, are you naturally a YES person or a NO person?
  • Belief in abundance begins with a belief in yourself. How do you rate your self worth?
  • What are you currently looking at in your life that you say, “There is no way?”

Shepherds Advantage provides Servant Leadership that helps people close the gap between where they are and where they want to be. Shepherds Advantage closes that gap by providing Leadership Development, Keynote Speaking, and Executive Coaching. 

Shepherdsadvantage@gmail.com

Posted on

Your Character Choices Are Based On Good Values

LEARN IT

  • Your VALUES become deeper and stronger as you age
  • Solid values do not change over time and location
  • Beliefs ebb and flow with time and experience – Values remain constant and sure
  • Values are what shapes character and character provides the foundation of success
  • Strengthening your Values System is life changing

LIVE IT

  • Good Character is a choice you can make every day
  • Good Character speaks louder than words
  • Good Character provides consistency in all aspects of your life
  • Good Character is tested in times of trouble
  • Good Character takes the high road of life
  • Good Character delivers on its promise

LEAD IT

  • If you cannot articulate your values in writing you are daydreaming – WRITE THEM DOWN!
  • How consistent are you in living out your values?
  • Do your values and character choices come into alignment?
  • When dealing with others do you take the Low Road, Middle Road, or High Road?

Shepherds Advantage provides Servant Leadership that helps people close the gap between where they are and where they want to be. Shepherds Advantage closes that gap by providing Leadership Development, Keynote Speaking, and Executive Coaching. 

Shepherdsadvantage@gmail.com

Posted on

Choose Your Life Sentence

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 17:29 — 24.0MB) | Embed

Have you given any thought about writing you life sentence. This is a legacy exercise that summarizes your life work that you want to leave behind. In the words of that great theologian Tim McGraw; “I went sky diving; I went rocky mountain climbing; I went two point seven seconds on a bull named Fumanchu. And I loved deeper, and I spoke sweeter, And I gave forgiveness I’d been denying.” And he said, “Someday I hope you get the chance To live like you were dying.” (Song: Live Like You Were Dying).

Sociologist, Anthony Campolo talks about a study in which fifty people over the age of ninety-five were asked one question: If you could live your life over again, what would you do differently?” The question was open-ended, and people’s answers were varied. However, THREE themes consistently emerged:

I would reflect more

I would take more risks

I would do more things that would live on after I am dead

In the book Tuesday’s With Morrie, there are some perspectives on writing a life sentence.

Life is Brief – Billy Graham once stated that we cannot fully appreciate life until we understand that one day it will be taken from us.

Life is Difficult – The difficult thing about life is that it is daily!

Life is A Book – I highly encourage you to purchase the book; The Greatest Story Ever Told. You will be shocked to discover the pages are blank. You see, your life is a book and the greatest story that can be told is about your life. Start writing!

Life Compounds – There is a choice you have to make in everything you do. So keep in mind that in the end, the choice you make, makes you.

Priorities For Our Life Sentence

Today, Live Life Fully – Make your life a mission not an intermission.

Today, Live Thankfully – Life isn’t tied with a bow, but it is still a gift.

Today, Live Faithfully

Today, Live Thoughtfully

When you are eighty, sitting on that porch rocking, and looking back on your life, how will you feel? You won’t have to answer to anybody but yourself…not your parents or your spouse or your business associates. What did you do with this gift of living? It will be an important question to you then. So you should make it an important question now.

LINKS

Shepherds Advantage Leadership Podcast is now on iTunes – SUBSCRIBE

Shepherds Advantage Leadership Podcast is now on Stitcher – SUBSCRIBE

FREE GIFT – “Servant Leadership Questions” – Click on the icon at the bottom of the page

Executive Coaching Service– Private message me for details on this customizable service

Birkman Assessment

Leadershift by John Maxwell

Q&A – Contact me at ShepherdsAdvantage@gmail.com

Music: “Gratitude Mood” by David Arivett. You can learn more about his music by clicking on his name. THANKS DAVID!

Posted on

Your Choice To Take Charge of Your Life

LEARN IT

  • Taking responsibility is the first step in maximizing your potential
  • Responsibility is the most important choice that you make in your life
  • Overcome the tendency to blame circumstances and people for failures
  • Taking responsibility is tied to increasing your success

LIVE IT

  • Responsibility creates the foundation for your success
  • Responsibility will put you in control of your life
  • Responsibility sets the course of your daily activity
  • Responsibility prepares you for action
  • Responsibility makes your habits serve you
  • Responsibility earns you respect and authority

LEAD IT

  • Have you connected the idea of taking responsibility and increasing your potential?
  • Do you think becoming more responsible could help you in your personal life and career?
  • On a scale of 1-10 would you rate yourself when it comes be prepared to take action?
  • What habits will change when you decide to become more responsible?

How do you daily manage the decision to be more responsible?

Shepherds Advantage provides Servant Leadership that helps people close the gap between where they are and where they want to be. Shepherds Advantage closes that gap by providing Leadership Development, Keynote Speaking, and Executive Coaching. 

Shepherdsadvantage@gmail.com

Posted on

Dealers In Hope – Peddlers In Truth

Leadership In Chaotic Times

The opening words in the Old Testament Bible book of Hosea, the writer identifies himself as Hosea Son of Beeri. Unfortunately, we do not know any additional facts about the author. While there are some Jewish traditions that attempt to add clarification, we are reasonably confident the time period of this writing was a collapsing of Israel as a nation in 722BC.  Recently in my morning devotional practice I literally froze as I read Hosea 4:4-6. Notice his words; 

Yet let no one contend,
    and let none accuse,
    for with you is my contention, O priest.[a]
5 You shall stumble by day;
    the prophet also shall stumble with you by night;
    and I will destroy your mother.
6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge;
    because you have rejected knowledge,
    I reject you from being a priest to me.
And since you have forgotten the law of your God,
    I also will forget your children.

Keep in mind that national Israel was divided – Israel to the north and Judah to the south. This was chaotic to say the least and about to get worse by 722BC. The Assyrian invaders would take Israel into captivity. Hosea 4:4-6 states God’s lawsuit against a Spirit of Whoredom in Israel’s worship practices. He specifically targets the Priests – “… for with you is my contention, O Priest”. The result of the judgment is “You shall stumble by day”. For Priests to stumble in the daytime is to lack situational awareness. It is to carry on priestly function that is not targeted for such a time as this.

Hosea then unpacks a linguistic feature that is called Lex Talionis – This for That! Notice Hosea’s two illustrations of this feature. 1). People are destroyed for lack of knowledge – you (Priests) have rejected knowledge – I reject you from being Priest. 2). You (Priests) have forgotten the law of your God – I will forget your children. Could it be that stumbling in the daytime is the result of not pursuing the Truth of God’s Word. There is an extreme difference from speaking a truth versus The Truth! If God forgets the children of Spiritual leaders who have forgotten His law, are we setting up ancestral conflict and struggle?

These words are the result of my recent devotional practice. I only share these thoughts to provoke thought within myself as a Baby-Boomer to other Boomers, Gen-Xers, and Millennial colleagues. In case you have missed it, our nation is on fire! National Leaders are dealing hope based upon politics. As spiritual leaders we are dealing in hope based upon God’s eternal Law. National Leaders are peddling hope based upon Constitution and Law. Make no mistake these are important foundations for our Constitutional Republic to survive. However as Spiritual Leaders we are peddling Absolute Truth that is knowable based upon scripture. Scripture is our ultimate mediator. While many things are true, all truth is not to be treated equally. For example, sugar is sweet, and Jesus is Lord. Both are true but not equally true. With a nation on fire silly sermon series are not what is needed. As I see it, a fresh prophetic message on the second coming of Christ and the making of disciples would be more appropriate! Hosea’s words reveal God’s litigation against the Priest. May we not stumble in the daytime and forget God’s Law.

Posted on

Your Ability To Lift Others

LEARN IT

  • Learn to communicate to your Team that you VALUE them
  • Do you have a clue what the value that your Team places upon themselves?
  • Lead your Team in a Growth Environment – Growth is required here!
  • Demonstrate that change is necessary for growth – You change first!
  • How connected are you to your Team?

LIVE IT

  • Demonstrate transparency before challenging your Team
  • Put other people ahead of yourself
  • Learn to measure your success by what you give and not what you gain
  • As challenges escalate Teamwork must elevate

LEAD IT

  • How are you increasing your leadership capacity? Can you list the priorities of life that allow this increase?
  • How well do you connect with people?
  • How well do you challenge people?
  • What changes do you need to make to put others ahead of yourself?

Shepherds Advantage provides Servant Leadership that helps people close the gap between where they are and where they want to be. Shepherds Advantage closes that gap by providing Leadership Development, Keynote Speaking, and Executive Coaching. 

Shepherdsadvantage@gmail.com

Posted on

Your Ability To Accomplish Results

LEARN IT

  • How intentional are you about the production of possibilities and solutions?
  • NEWS FLASH: Everything worthwhile, everything you want, everything you desire to achieve, everything you want to receive is all UPHILL!
  • Do you have uphill dreams but are living a downhill lifestyle?
  • A downhill lifestyle is marked by unintentionality, complacency, and excuses.
  • Uphill is hard and requires intentionality and consistency

LIVE IT

  • Do you have vision enough to accomplish what you want?
  • Start working before you know how to accomplish your dreams
  • Learn to Fail Fast, Fail First, and Fail Often
  • Stay focused on your goals longer than any other person
  • Take inventory of your skills and resources – what areas need improvement? What areas need resourced?
  • Stop doing what you are not great at doing

LEAD IT

  • Do you live in the past, always analyzing the present, or acting to improve tomorrow?
  • What does the future look like for you?
  • What downhill habits are you involved in this moment that requires a HARD STOP?

Shepherds Advantage provides Servant Leadership that helps people close the gap between where they are and where they want to be. Shepherds Advantage closes that gap by providing Leadership Development, Keynote Speaking, and Executive Coaching. 

Shepherdsadvantage@gmail.com

Posted on

Your Ability To See Options and Find Answers

LEARN IT

  • It is said that we all are born with creativity. However, we lose that creativity as we grow up
  • GOOD NEWS, we all can rekindle the creativity that is within us
  • We can cultivate new pathways of creativity

LIVE IT

  • You must believe there is always an answer
  • You must believe there is always more than one answer
  • Believe that everything and everyone can get better
  • Questions help you to be more creative
  • Become comfortable letting go of what you embraced yesterday

LEAD IT

  • When it comes to problems, challenges and obstacles, do you believe there is always a solution? Why or Why not?
  • Do you find it easy or difficult to let go of past successes or ideas?
  • Can you put together a creative team around you? Do you just retreat to think?

Shepherds Advantage provides Servant Leadership that helps people close the gap between where they are and where they want to be. Shepherds Advantage closes that gap by providing Leadership Development, Keynote Speaking, and Executive Coaching. 

Shepherdsadvantage@gmail.com

Posted on

Your Ability To Build Relationships

LEARN IT

  • If your relationships are bad, learn to build better relationships
  • Increase your relational potential
  • Learn to place a higher value on people

LIVE IT

  • Demonstrate care for people daily
  • Make yourself more valuable in your relationships
  • Focus your relationships on benefiting others, not yourself
  • Be a consistent friend in your relationships
  • Unconditionally love people
  • Create memories for people

LEAD IT

  • When you interact with people, where is your focus? Are you thinking how can I help or what can I get?
  • Can you name consistent friends in your life? Who would not be consistent friends?
  • Who do you need in your life to increase your capacity?
  • How would you facilitate connections that you need?

Shepherds Advantage provides Servant Leadership that helps people close the gap between where they are and where they want to be. Shepherds Advantage closes that gap by providing Leadership Development, Keynote Speaking, and Executive Coaching. 

Shepherdsadvantage@gmail.com