Brandon Heath sings, "There is hope for me yet because God won't forget all the plans He's made for me. I have to wait and see. He's not finished with me yet." ("Wait and See") We have to remember that God is in control and to trust in His timing. Patience is sometimes, if not oftentimes, hard, but we must learn to possess it.
The central verse this evening is Ezra 4:3, which says: "But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the rest of the heads of the families of Israel answered, 'You have no part with us in building a temple to our God. We alone will build it for the Lord, the God of Israel, as King Cyrus, the king of Persia, commanded us.'" (NIV) Zerubbabel had the ability to read those who came to him and could tell that they had false appearances.
Maxwell says, "Leaders must read the people, then lead the people." As leaders, we must be able to read situations and make wise decisions based on our discernment. Take note of the order. We must think and then act, not act then think. According to Maxwell, "Discernment always precedes decision. Analysis always precedes action." We should not act hastily, especially in critical situations.
We were appointed leaders for a reason. Our followers look to us for the right guidance. We have to be trained well enough and disciplined enough to make the right decisions in times of need. And we can do that, if we let God lead us!
The reflection question this evening asks: "How do you read people before making decisions?" It may be smart to ask questions before making a decision. That can help you get more information about a situation before taking any action. Let God lead you so that you can effectively and efficiently lead your followers!
God bless you!
Wednesday, July 15, 2015
Tuesday, July 14, 2015
Impossible? Not with God!
"We can rise above the typical and be anything but usual. We know, we know, we know that there's no such thing as impossible! And nothing is unreachable when we trust the God of miracles. We know, we know, we know that there's no such thing as impossible!" --Building 429, "Impossible"
Nothing is impossible with God!
The central Scripture for tonight comes from Luke 9:1-2, which says: "When Jesus had called the Twelve together, He gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and He sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick." (NIV) God gave power to His people. This is key. Keep it in mind.
Leaders must be able to effectively coordinate and organize their teams. Jesus did that with His disciples. He taught them as a group, then sent them out. Some stayed together in small groups, some worked solo at times. However it happened, Jesus led them effectively. Maxwell says, "Shared experiences and the give-and-take of communication are the greatest ways to promote team growth." Follow Christ's example of leadership: Communicate with your followers (He definitely did that). Also, share experiences with your followers. That means being involved.
Maxwell suggests using multiple methods to ensure team growth and cooperation: regular meetings with everyone; a smaller, more personal meeting with a group working on a specific project; and sending team members to professional development seminars.
Whatever methods you utilize, make sure that your team members are working cohesively and getting things done right. Remember, you are the leader for a reason, and the success or failure of projects under your supervision ultimately falls on your shoulders.
In everything, put God first and look to Him for guidance to lead your team effectively. We serve the God the impossible! Nothing is impossible with God! "'For nothing is impossible with God.'" (Luke 1:37, NIV)
Think about that specific verse for a moment. Not only is everything possible with God (see Matthew 19:26), but nothing is impossible with God. If you are like I was, you don't really see the difference. I didn't until my pastor, Jon Robertson, pointed out what he saw in it. When you put your faith in God and trust wholly in Him, it is impossible for nothing to happen! God will work and results will come! So, not only is everything possible with God, but nothing is impossible with Him!
The reflection question this evening asks: "How do you ensure the growth of your people?" I suggest this: Be involved! Don't just stand off in the distance and give orders. Show your team that you care by being involved in their work. This should help you gain the trust of your team and more cooperation when you need something done.
I leave you with lyrics from the band Sidewalk Prophets. "Be strong in the Lord and never give up hope! You're gonna do great things; I already know! God's got His hand on you so don't live life in fear. Forgive and forget, but don't forget why you're here. Take your time and pray. These are the words I would say! From simple life to another, I will say: Come find peace in the Father!" ("The Words I Would Say")
Nothing is impossible with God!
The central Scripture for tonight comes from Luke 9:1-2, which says: "When Jesus had called the Twelve together, He gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and He sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick." (NIV) God gave power to His people. This is key. Keep it in mind.
Leaders must be able to effectively coordinate and organize their teams. Jesus did that with His disciples. He taught them as a group, then sent them out. Some stayed together in small groups, some worked solo at times. However it happened, Jesus led them effectively. Maxwell says, "Shared experiences and the give-and-take of communication are the greatest ways to promote team growth." Follow Christ's example of leadership: Communicate with your followers (He definitely did that). Also, share experiences with your followers. That means being involved.
Maxwell suggests using multiple methods to ensure team growth and cooperation: regular meetings with everyone; a smaller, more personal meeting with a group working on a specific project; and sending team members to professional development seminars.
Whatever methods you utilize, make sure that your team members are working cohesively and getting things done right. Remember, you are the leader for a reason, and the success or failure of projects under your supervision ultimately falls on your shoulders.
In everything, put God first and look to Him for guidance to lead your team effectively. We serve the God the impossible! Nothing is impossible with God! "'For nothing is impossible with God.'" (Luke 1:37, NIV)
Think about that specific verse for a moment. Not only is everything possible with God (see Matthew 19:26), but nothing is impossible with God. If you are like I was, you don't really see the difference. I didn't until my pastor, Jon Robertson, pointed out what he saw in it. When you put your faith in God and trust wholly in Him, it is impossible for nothing to happen! God will work and results will come! So, not only is everything possible with God, but nothing is impossible with Him!
The reflection question this evening asks: "How do you ensure the growth of your people?" I suggest this: Be involved! Don't just stand off in the distance and give orders. Show your team that you care by being involved in their work. This should help you gain the trust of your team and more cooperation when you need something done.
I leave you with lyrics from the band Sidewalk Prophets. "Be strong in the Lord and never give up hope! You're gonna do great things; I already know! God's got His hand on you so don't live life in fear. Forgive and forget, but don't forget why you're here. Take your time and pray. These are the words I would say! From simple life to another, I will say: Come find peace in the Father!" ("The Words I Would Say")
Monday, July 13, 2015
Leadership Voices
The song "Shoulders," by for KING & COUNTRY, holds a great truth that we should remember: God is holding us. He knows what is going on and, above all, He is in control! "My help comes from You. You're right here, pulling me through. You carry my weakness, my sickness, my brokenness all on Your shoulders, Your shoulders. My help comes from You. You are my rest, my rescue. I don't have to see to believe that You're lifting me up on Your shoulders, Your shoulders."
The verse for this evening is Proverbs 30:5, which says: "'Every word of God is flawless; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.'" (NIV) His Word backs up what for KING & COUNTRY sing: He is there for us! We can run to Him for help, shelter, and peace.
Having a worthwhile vision is essential to being a good leader. You must have vision to see where you are going. John Maxwell points out four voices that you should listen to to find your vision:
The verse for this evening is Proverbs 30:5, which says: "'Every word of God is flawless; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.'" (NIV) His Word backs up what for KING & COUNTRY sing: He is there for us! We can run to Him for help, shelter, and peace.
Having a worthwhile vision is essential to being a good leader. You must have vision to see where you are going. John Maxwell points out four voices that you should listen to to find your vision:
- The Inner Voice
- The Unhappy Voice
- The Successful Voice
- The Higher Voice
Each of these can help you in your leadership by enabling you to find your vision and true purpose therein.
Your inner voice comes from deep within and is anchored in your beliefs. The unhappy voice is what helps you push past failures and on toward great ideas. The successful voice comes from a mentor or advisor who can help you hone your vision. Most importantly, you need to listen to the Higher Voice, that of God, the One who really knows what you are capable of. (Maxwell)
Listening to all of these can help you to form a strong vision that you can use to direct your steps in leadership.
The reflection for this evening asks: "What voice do you listen to the most? The least?"
We should listen to the Higher Voice above all, since it is that of God, who cares for you, carrying you on His shoulders and giving you rest. However, for me, I probably tend to listen more to the inner voice. Even so, I think that it is guided by the Higher Voice at times. On the other side, I believe I listen to the unhappy voice the least.
Answer the question for yourself. Find a proper balance and let them guide your vision!
God bless you!
Sunday, July 12, 2015
Acknowledge God's Role
When you feel down and need some encouragement, listen to the song "Redeemed," by Big Daddy Weave. He sings, "Then You look at this prisoner and say to me, 'Son, stop fighting a fight that's already been won!' I am redeemed! You set me free! So I'll shake off these heavy chains and wipe away every stain. Now I'm not who I used to be. I am redeemed!" Remember: God loves you and will never leave you, nor will He forsake you!
The central verses for tonight are Psalm 8:3-5, 9: "When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have set in place, what is man that You are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You made him ruler over the works of Your hands; You put everything under his feet...O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your Name in all the earth!" (NIV)
Those of us whom God has called to leadership must not become arrogant. We have to remember that, ultimately, God is in control. "'The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the Name of the Lord be praised.'" (Job 1:21b, NIV)
Looking at Psalm 8, Maxwell notes three ways that David maintained the right attitude and outlook:
The central verses for tonight are Psalm 8:3-5, 9: "When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have set in place, what is man that You are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You made him ruler over the works of Your hands; You put everything under his feet...O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your Name in all the earth!" (NIV)
Those of us whom God has called to leadership must not become arrogant. We have to remember that, ultimately, God is in control. "'The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the Name of the Lord be praised.'" (Job 1:21b, NIV)
Looking at Psalm 8, Maxwell notes three ways that David maintained the right attitude and outlook:
- He saw his own weakness and humanity.
- He saw his God-given position and privileges.
- He saw a balance by giving God all the glory.
We can use these points and model our own leadership after that of David.
In fact, the reflection question for tonight asks, "How do you acknowledge God's role in your work?"
I give thanks to Him when I succeed. I also look to Him for guidance. I have to remember to be still and know that He is God, as He says to do in Psalm 16:10. When doing so, I remind myself that He is in control. He knows what He is doing. After all, He is God! You can also pray the Scripture in this manner. The Lord will listen!
God bless you!
Saturday, July 11, 2015
Providing the Vision
"Living water, flowing through, God, we thirst for more of You. Fill our hearts and flood our souls with one desire: Just to know You and to make You known, we lift Your Name on high. Shine like the sun. Make darkness run and hide. We know we were made for so much more than ordinary lives. It's time for us to more than just survive. We were made to thrive!" These lyrics from Casting Crowns' "Thrive" remind us to rely on God and let Him live through us so that we can reach our greatest potential: "Joy unspeakable; faith unsinkable; love unstoppable; anything is possible!"
The central Scripture for tonight is 2 Samuel 5:1-3, 6a: "All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, 'We are your own flesh and blood. In the past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel on their military campaigns. And the Lord said to you, "You will shepherd My people Israel, and you will become their ruler."' When all the elders of Israel had come to King David at Hebron, the king made a compact with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel...The king and his men marched to Jerusalem to attack the Jebusites, who lived there." (NIV)
Using David as an example, John Maxwell points out five things that vision does. Vision:
The central Scripture for tonight is 2 Samuel 5:1-3, 6a: "All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, 'We are your own flesh and blood. In the past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel on their military campaigns. And the Lord said to you, "You will shepherd My people Israel, and you will become their ruler."' When all the elders of Israel had come to King David at Hebron, the king made a compact with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel...The king and his men marched to Jerusalem to attack the Jebusites, who lived there." (NIV)
Using David as an example, John Maxwell points out five things that vision does. Vision:
- Unites
- Provides a center for leadership
- Dominates inner conversation
- Inspires greatness
- Attracts others to the leader
A vision is one of the most important things you can provide for, help develop with, and communicate to your followers. Vision is a strong driving force for the organization, provided the leader uses it to help direct the team. Without vision, how do you know where you're going?
The reflection question for tonight asks, "How do you see your vision energizing others?" It takes energy to perform work. How are you energizing your followers to help achieve your vision? Are you doing that? If not, ask God to help you, then follow through with guidance from the Ultimate Leader!
God bless you!
The reflection question for tonight asks, "How do you see your vision energizing others?" It takes energy to perform work. How are you energizing your followers to help achieve your vision? Are you doing that? If not, ask God to help you, then follow through with guidance from the Ultimate Leader!
God bless you!
Friday, July 10, 2015
Never Stop Improving
"My help comes from You. You're right here, pulling me through. You carry my weakness, my sickness, my brokenness all on Your shoulders, Your shoulders. My help comes from You. You are my rest, my rescue. I don't have to see to believe that You're lifting me up on Your shoulders, Your shoulders." The band for KING & COUNTRY sings these words in their song, "Shoulders." They remind us that God is always with us, carrying us when we can't walk on our own. The last line of the popular poem "Footprints" tells us, "When you see only one set of footprints in the sand, it was then that I carried you."
The central Scripture for tonight is 1 Corinthians 9:25a, which says: "Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training." (NIV)
As leaders, we should never stop striving to better ourselves, to strengthen and refine our skills. Even more important, we should never stop growing in our relationship with God, the Ultimate Leader.
Self-improvement can take many forms. Taking time alone with God can help you grow spiritually. Taking various courses for professional development can help you grow professionally. Even reading and studying independently can help you improve yourself. If you couldn't tell already, I reference John Maxwell a lot. I highly recommend his books for leadership development.
Maxwell presents an ongoing cycle of three processes that people should use to constantly improve themselves. The processes are: Preparation, Contemplation, and Application. We should, "be intentional about learning something every day." Then, we must remember take alone time and use it for self-improvement. From there, we must apply what we have learned. Then, start over. (Maxwell)
The reflection question tonight asks, "How do you remain in constant pursuit of self-improvement?"
I like to read, so that is one method I use. I also worship God. By now I'm sure you have noticed that I start each post with lyrics from a Christian song. I begin my devotional time each night with a worship song or some other Christian song because my pastor recommended doing that when we have our quiet time or devotional time. It definitely enhances the experience and helps me to gather my thoughts and get focused. And what better thing to focus on than worshiping God!
Remember to keep God at the center. Never stop improving yourself and growing in your relationships, especially your relationship with the Lord. Further, remember to keep your skills up-to-date and even gain some new skills along the way to make yourself more marketable to potential employers, or even your current employer. Regardless of where you are or what you do, keep moving forward and improving yourself, with God at the forefront.
God bless you!
The central Scripture for tonight is 1 Corinthians 9:25a, which says: "Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training." (NIV)
As leaders, we should never stop striving to better ourselves, to strengthen and refine our skills. Even more important, we should never stop growing in our relationship with God, the Ultimate Leader.
Self-improvement can take many forms. Taking time alone with God can help you grow spiritually. Taking various courses for professional development can help you grow professionally. Even reading and studying independently can help you improve yourself. If you couldn't tell already, I reference John Maxwell a lot. I highly recommend his books for leadership development.
Maxwell presents an ongoing cycle of three processes that people should use to constantly improve themselves. The processes are: Preparation, Contemplation, and Application. We should, "be intentional about learning something every day." Then, we must remember take alone time and use it for self-improvement. From there, we must apply what we have learned. Then, start over. (Maxwell)
The reflection question tonight asks, "How do you remain in constant pursuit of self-improvement?"
I like to read, so that is one method I use. I also worship God. By now I'm sure you have noticed that I start each post with lyrics from a Christian song. I begin my devotional time each night with a worship song or some other Christian song because my pastor recommended doing that when we have our quiet time or devotional time. It definitely enhances the experience and helps me to gather my thoughts and get focused. And what better thing to focus on than worshiping God!
Remember to keep God at the center. Never stop improving yourself and growing in your relationships, especially your relationship with the Lord. Further, remember to keep your skills up-to-date and even gain some new skills along the way to make yourself more marketable to potential employers, or even your current employer. Regardless of where you are or what you do, keep moving forward and improving yourself, with God at the forefront.
God bless you!
Thursday, July 9, 2015
Wise Leaders Know the Power of Words
"And God says, 'I'm gonna turn it into something different; I'm gonna turn it into something good. I'm gonna take all the broken pieces and make something beautiful like only I could.' So put it all in the hands of the Father. Give it up, give it all over to the only One Who can turn it into something beautiful!" Steven Curtis Chapman sings these lyrics in his song, "Something Beautiful," reminding us that God is in control and can use us even in our low moments.
The central Scripture for tonight is:
"Blessings crown the head of the righteous, but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked...
The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked...
Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning, but a rod is for the back of him who lacks judgment.
Wise men store up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool invites ruin...
When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise...
The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of judgment."
--Proverbs 10:6, 11, 13-14, 19, 21 (NIV)
It is important for people to choose their words carefully. The tongue is very powerful. "The tongue has the power of life and death," says Proverbs 18:21 (NIV).
It is even more important for leaders to learn how to hold their tongues when necessary and to know when to be quiet. Also, we need to know when we should speak.
Maxwell lists five things that leaders can accomplish when they learn the power their words hold:
The central Scripture for tonight is:
"Blessings crown the head of the righteous, but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked...
The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked...
Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning, but a rod is for the back of him who lacks judgment.
Wise men store up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool invites ruin...
When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise...
The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of judgment."
--Proverbs 10:6, 11, 13-14, 19, 21 (NIV)
It is important for people to choose their words carefully. The tongue is very powerful. "The tongue has the power of life and death," says Proverbs 18:21 (NIV).
It is even more important for leaders to learn how to hold their tongues when necessary and to know when to be quiet. Also, we need to know when we should speak.
Maxwell lists five things that leaders can accomplish when they learn the power their words hold:
- "They proclaim justice and are blessed." (See verse 6.)
- "They speak hope for the future, becoming a fountain of life to others." (See verse 11.)
- "They speak forth wisdom and save others from ruin." (See verses 13 and 14.)
- "They know when silence is more powerful than words." (See verse 19.)
- "Their words feed and nourish many others." (See verse 21.)
He also says, "Leaders who use words skillfully increase their influence." So not only do leaders help others when they use their words carefully, but they also benefit themselves. Both parties win.
The reflection question asks: "What kind of influence are your words having on others?" Think seriously on this question. The answer may differ from time to time. However, when we fail, we should seek forgiveness, ask God to lead us back to the right road, and follow His guidance. His words are more important than ours. We should speak His Word in our lives, because His Word is mighty to save!
God bless you!
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