Jeremy Camp sings, "He Knows." "He knows! He knows every hurt and every sting. He has walked this suffering. He knows! He knows! Let your burdens come undone. Lift your eyes up to the One Who knows!" It is comforting to know that the Lord knows what we are going through, no matter what it is, good or bad. Jesus Christ, God incarnate, walked this earth as a man. He felt our temptations and our joys. He knows what we face, and He can help us through it, if we just look to Him for His unfailing love!
Judges 9:1-2 says, "Abimelech son of Jerub-Baal went to his mother's brothers in Shechem and said to them and to all his mother's clan, 'Ask all the citizens of Shechem, "Which is better for you: to have all seventy of Jerub-Baal's sons rule over you, or just one man?" Remember, I am your flesh and blood.'" (NIV)
Leaders should not be proud. Rather, "Godly leaders must remind themselves of the Lord's instruction: 'Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time' (1 Peter 5:6)." (John Maxwell) Pride can cause one to put themselves above others to the point that the leader degrades others. Such self-promotion is not a godly attitude.
It is okay to have a position that is higher that someone else's, but a leader should never use that to put others down and hurt them. It is God who has appointed leaders, "for there is no authority except that which God has established." (See Romans 13:1.) Instead of having a self-centered attitude, a leader should focus on working cohesively with others for the benefit of the entire group.
Maxwell asks, "How do you resist self-promotion?"
I thank God for my achievements. That helps me to remember that He has given me what I have. Furthermore, He knows what I need, and what I want, even before I ask for it, as Psalm 139:4 says.
Whether you struggle with this or not, pray this prayer: Father, thank You for all that You have given me. Please keep pride from setting into me. Help me to always remember that, "every good and perfect gift" has come from You. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen.
(See James 1:17 for the verse I quoted in that prayer.)
God bless you!
He Knows
Monday, September 7, 2015
Sunday, September 6, 2015
Handling Poor Performers
Tenth Avenue North sings the song, "By Your Side." It is written from the perspective of God talking to His children. "I'll be by your side wherever you fall, in the dead of night whenever you call. And please don't fight these hands that are holding you. Yeah, My hands are holding you." God's love isn't dependent upon our actions. Nor is His presence with us at times and not others. When you accept Christ as your Lord and Savior, His Spirit dwells inside you. He will never leave you nor forsake you (see Deuteronomy 31:6). He is always by your side!
Acts 15:38 says, "But Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work." (NIV)
Sometimes it is necessary to step up and make the tough decision to let someone go from the team. Maxwell says, "Some of the toughest decisions a leader faces concern poor performers." A poor performing colleague who cannot be trained (taught how to do the work) or transferred (to a position that more suits his or her skills) needs to be terminated (cut from the group). (Maxwell)
Such a person is holding the team back. It is a hard decision to make, but as a leader, it is one that you may need to make at some point. However, should that time come, handle the situation in such a way that there is no hostility, if you can prevent it. A professor of mine says to handle others with diplomacy. That is very necessary, especially for leaders.
Maxwell asks, "Do you need to make a tough call in your life?"
Is there someone on your team or in your organization who needs to be trained, transferred, or terminated? If you are fighting answering that question, especially if it comes down to termination, chances are, that is the move you need to make. But remember, you are not alone. God is by your side!
Pray this prayer: Father, thank you for being by my side. Please guide me in my leadership. When I am faced with a situation involving a poor performer, please guide me in the right direction and reveal to me what I need to do about it. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen.
God bless you!
By Your Side
Acts 15:38 says, "But Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work." (NIV)
Sometimes it is necessary to step up and make the tough decision to let someone go from the team. Maxwell says, "Some of the toughest decisions a leader faces concern poor performers." A poor performing colleague who cannot be trained (taught how to do the work) or transferred (to a position that more suits his or her skills) needs to be terminated (cut from the group). (Maxwell)
Such a person is holding the team back. It is a hard decision to make, but as a leader, it is one that you may need to make at some point. However, should that time come, handle the situation in such a way that there is no hostility, if you can prevent it. A professor of mine says to handle others with diplomacy. That is very necessary, especially for leaders.
Maxwell asks, "Do you need to make a tough call in your life?"
Is there someone on your team or in your organization who needs to be trained, transferred, or terminated? If you are fighting answering that question, especially if it comes down to termination, chances are, that is the move you need to make. But remember, you are not alone. God is by your side!
Pray this prayer: Father, thank you for being by my side. Please guide me in my leadership. When I am faced with a situation involving a poor performer, please guide me in the right direction and reveal to me what I need to do about it. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen.
God bless you!
By Your Side
Saturday, September 5, 2015
Comfort
Mandisa sings, "Good Morning." In it are these lyrics: "It's a good morning! Wake up to a brand new day. This morning, I'm stepping, stepping on my way. Good morning! You give me strength, You give me just what I need! And I can feel the hope that's rising up in me!" The Lord's strength can carry us through the day, no matter what we are faced with. His love never ends, and it never fails!
2 Corinthians 1:3-4 tells us, "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, Who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God." (NIV)
Comfort can be one of the most powerful tools a leader can possess. Maxwell says, "We are to empower others with the power God gives us." Comfort can lead to establishing relationships, which is critical in good leadership. Being there for our followers even when they are having difficulties can show them just how much you care about them. Doing so proves that you are willing to go beyond mere words by stepping up and taking action when needed.
Maxwell asks, "Whom in your life do you need to comfort right now?"
Who do you know that needs your comfort, whether that be your physical presence or comforting words? You can comfort someone even if you cannot be physically by his or her side.
Looking back at Mandisa's lyrics can show us that our source of strength is the greatest one available. Our strength comes from the Father! We cannot say that we do not have enough to give someone, especially in this area. Material possessions may be tight, but we can always show others the love, comfort, and presence of the Lord in our lives.
Pray this prayer: Father, thank You for the comfort You give me. Please continue to comfort me and help me to extend that comfort to others, showing them Your love. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen.
God bless you!
2 Corinthians 1:3-4 tells us, "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, Who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God." (NIV)
Comfort can be one of the most powerful tools a leader can possess. Maxwell says, "We are to empower others with the power God gives us." Comfort can lead to establishing relationships, which is critical in good leadership. Being there for our followers even when they are having difficulties can show them just how much you care about them. Doing so proves that you are willing to go beyond mere words by stepping up and taking action when needed.
Maxwell asks, "Whom in your life do you need to comfort right now?"
Who do you know that needs your comfort, whether that be your physical presence or comforting words? You can comfort someone even if you cannot be physically by his or her side.
Looking back at Mandisa's lyrics can show us that our source of strength is the greatest one available. Our strength comes from the Father! We cannot say that we do not have enough to give someone, especially in this area. Material possessions may be tight, but we can always show others the love, comfort, and presence of the Lord in our lives.
Pray this prayer: Father, thank You for the comfort You give me. Please continue to comfort me and help me to extend that comfort to others, showing them Your love. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen.
God bless you!
Friday, September 4, 2015
Maintaining Integrity
Kutless sings, "I've seen dreams that move the mountains, hope that doesn't ever end, even when the sky is falling. I've seen miracles just happen, silent prayers get answered, broken hearts become brand new. That's what faith can do!" ("What Faith Can Do") Faith in God is the most important thing for a person to have. It creates a relationship with the Lord, when we accept His gift of salvation! And with His help, "It doesn't matter what you've heard; impossible is not a word. It's just a reason for someone not to try." "For nothing is impossible with God." (Luke 1:37, NIV)
Proverbs 11:1 says, "The Lord abhors dishonest scales, but accurate weights are His delight." (NIV) That comes down to one word: Integrity.
It is important for leaders to have and maintain integrity. Maxwell says that, "Integrity is not what we do, so much as who we are. And who we are, in turn, determines what we do." It starts on the inside. Furthermore, according to V. Gilbert Beers, "A person of integrity is one who has established a system of values against which all life is judged." That points to faith. And for me, and I hope for you, that is faith in the One True God, the Creator of heaven and earth.
I am going to use an example from IT (more specifically, information security). In that field, integrity is defined as, "security actions that ensure that the information is correct and no unauthorized person or malicious software have altered the data." (Ciampa, Security+ Guide to Network Security Fundamentals)
Now, let's take that definition and apply it to leadership. As a leader, I should exhibit moral (correct) behavior and remain firm in my beliefs (not allowing others to sway me in the wrong direction), in order to keep my path, if the correct one, from being maliciously altered. That's integrity.
That's not to say that I am perfect. I will inevitably mess up. That comes with human nature. However, I should get right back to the correct path, being guided by the Holy Spirit. With the Lord's help, I can maintain my integrity.
Maxwell says that, "People with integrity are 'whole' people; they can be identified by their single-mindedness."
Maxwell asks, "Would you consider yourself a 'whole' person?"
All-in-all, I would consider myself to be a 'whole' person, guided by the Lord.
What about you?
Pray this prayer: Father God, please help me to maintain integrity. Forgive me when I sin, lift me up when I fall, and help me along the path of righteousness. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen!
That prayer referenced Psalm 23:3b, "He guides me in paths of righteousness for His Name's sake." (NIV)
God bless you!
Proverbs 11:1 says, "The Lord abhors dishonest scales, but accurate weights are His delight." (NIV) That comes down to one word: Integrity.
It is important for leaders to have and maintain integrity. Maxwell says that, "Integrity is not what we do, so much as who we are. And who we are, in turn, determines what we do." It starts on the inside. Furthermore, according to V. Gilbert Beers, "A person of integrity is one who has established a system of values against which all life is judged." That points to faith. And for me, and I hope for you, that is faith in the One True God, the Creator of heaven and earth.
I am going to use an example from IT (more specifically, information security). In that field, integrity is defined as, "security actions that ensure that the information is correct and no unauthorized person or malicious software have altered the data." (Ciampa, Security+ Guide to Network Security Fundamentals)
Now, let's take that definition and apply it to leadership. As a leader, I should exhibit moral (correct) behavior and remain firm in my beliefs (not allowing others to sway me in the wrong direction), in order to keep my path, if the correct one, from being maliciously altered. That's integrity.
That's not to say that I am perfect. I will inevitably mess up. That comes with human nature. However, I should get right back to the correct path, being guided by the Holy Spirit. With the Lord's help, I can maintain my integrity.
Maxwell says that, "People with integrity are 'whole' people; they can be identified by their single-mindedness."
Maxwell asks, "Would you consider yourself a 'whole' person?"
All-in-all, I would consider myself to be a 'whole' person, guided by the Lord.
What about you?
Pray this prayer: Father God, please help me to maintain integrity. Forgive me when I sin, lift me up when I fall, and help me along the path of righteousness. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen!
That prayer referenced Psalm 23:3b, "He guides me in paths of righteousness for His Name's sake." (NIV)
God bless you!
Thursday, September 3, 2015
Establishing Relationships
Casting Crowns sings "East to West." "Jesus, can You show me just how far the east is from the west? 'Cause I can't bear to see the man I've been rising up in me again. In the arms of Your mercy I find rest, 'cause You know just how far the east is form the west: from one scarred hand to the other!" Psalm 103:12 says, "As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us." (NIV) I love the illustration that Casting Crowns gives at the end of the chorus. Just how far is the east from the west? From one pierced, scarred hand of Christ to the other as he hung on that cross, all so that our relationship with Him could be restored!
1 Kings 12:16 says, "When all Israel saw that the king refused to listen to them, they answered the king, 'What share do we have in David, what part in Jesse's son? To your tents, O Israel! Look over your own house, O David!'" (NIV)
The establishment of relationships is one of the most important concepts any leader needs to understand. Without a solid connection, your followers will not go along with you for very long. You must first show them that you care about them and their well-being. As Maxwell says, you have to touch a heart before you ask for a hand. Otherwise, you may very well end up in a position similar to Rehoboam's, where his people abandoned him because he failed to connect on a personal level.
Take the example of Christ. He came to earth to reconnect with His creation. As sinners, we have failed to stand up to His perfect standard. We deserve punishment. However, He loves us so much, each of us individually, that He came to die for each of us! Think about this: If you were the only sinful person, Christ would have still come and died, for you. It is a personal relationship that He came to restore to each and every one of us, a relationship between the Father and us. Now that is personal!
Maxwell asks, "How do you connect with individuals?"
Make friendships, where appropriate. Connect with others in your career field and build a professional network. Connect with your followers individually.
Pray this prayer: Father, please help me to build strong, positive, lasting relationships with those who follow me. Help me to show them Your love and connect with them on a personal, individual basis. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen.
God bless you!
1 Kings 12:16 says, "When all Israel saw that the king refused to listen to them, they answered the king, 'What share do we have in David, what part in Jesse's son? To your tents, O Israel! Look over your own house, O David!'" (NIV)
The establishment of relationships is one of the most important concepts any leader needs to understand. Without a solid connection, your followers will not go along with you for very long. You must first show them that you care about them and their well-being. As Maxwell says, you have to touch a heart before you ask for a hand. Otherwise, you may very well end up in a position similar to Rehoboam's, where his people abandoned him because he failed to connect on a personal level.
Take the example of Christ. He came to earth to reconnect with His creation. As sinners, we have failed to stand up to His perfect standard. We deserve punishment. However, He loves us so much, each of us individually, that He came to die for each of us! Think about this: If you were the only sinful person, Christ would have still come and died, for you. It is a personal relationship that He came to restore to each and every one of us, a relationship between the Father and us. Now that is personal!
Maxwell asks, "How do you connect with individuals?"
Make friendships, where appropriate. Connect with others in your career field and build a professional network. Connect with your followers individually.
Pray this prayer: Father, please help me to build strong, positive, lasting relationships with those who follow me. Help me to show them Your love and connect with them on a personal, individual basis. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen.
God bless you!
Wednesday, September 2, 2015
"Failing Forward"
Newsong sings, "On this I stand, on this alone: All my hope, all my strength, and all my confidence is in knowing I've received every victory. Through the cross, through the blood, it is finished, it is done! I am saved. I am free. You are every victory! Oh, You have won! You have won! And the enemy is forevermore underneath Your feet!" ("Every Victory") No matter what we may go through, "With God we will gain the victory, and He will trample down our enemies." (Psalm 60:12, NIV)
Matthew 26:74-75 says, "Then he began to call down curses on himself and he swore to them, 'I don't know the man!' Immediately a rooster crowed. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: 'Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.' And he went outside and wept bitterly." (NIV) Disowning Christ was one of Peter's big failures.
Maxwell says that, "Failure is simply a price we pay to achieve success."
As leaders, we should not be afraid to fail. It's bound to happen; we are human. However, there is a good way to deal with our failures. Maxwell calls it, "failing forward."
When we make mistakes, we should step back and analyze the situation. We need to ask questions and seek honest answers. Then we need to make positive change so that we learn from our failures and know how to avoid them in the future. It all boils down to learning from our mistakes. After that, we can move forward in a positive direction.
Maxwell asks, "How does this new definition of failure alter your mindset about making mistakes?"
It can help us to view our mistakes in a positive light, to learn from them rather than fear them.
How does your viewpoint change from the way Maxwell describes failure?
Pray this prayer: Father, please help me to learn from my mistakes and make positive changes so that I don't repeat the same mistakes. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen!
God bless you!
Matthew 26:74-75 says, "Then he began to call down curses on himself and he swore to them, 'I don't know the man!' Immediately a rooster crowed. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: 'Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.' And he went outside and wept bitterly." (NIV) Disowning Christ was one of Peter's big failures.
Maxwell says that, "Failure is simply a price we pay to achieve success."
As leaders, we should not be afraid to fail. It's bound to happen; we are human. However, there is a good way to deal with our failures. Maxwell calls it, "failing forward."
When we make mistakes, we should step back and analyze the situation. We need to ask questions and seek honest answers. Then we need to make positive change so that we learn from our failures and know how to avoid them in the future. It all boils down to learning from our mistakes. After that, we can move forward in a positive direction.
Maxwell asks, "How does this new definition of failure alter your mindset about making mistakes?"
It can help us to view our mistakes in a positive light, to learn from them rather than fear them.
How does your viewpoint change from the way Maxwell describes failure?
Pray this prayer: Father, please help me to learn from my mistakes and make positive changes so that I don't repeat the same mistakes. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen!
God bless you!
Tuesday, September 1, 2015
Leadership Heritage
In his song, "Do Everything," Steven Curtis Chapman sings, "While I may not know you, I bet I know you wonder sometimes, Does it matter at all? Well let me remind you, it all matters just as long as you do everything you do to the glory of the One Who made you, 'cause He made you to do every little thing that you do to bring a smile to His face. And tell the story of grace with every move that you make, and every little thing you do!" Sometimes we may be faced with the feeling of being unimportant or worthless. In such times, remember these things: God doesn't make junk, He created you for a purpose, and even if you are not doing anything "big," God can still use you! Just follow Him and trust in Him, even in the little things. You must prove faithful with little before being trusted with much. (See Luke 16:10.)
1 Chronicles 9:1 says, "All Israel was listed in the genealogies recorded in the book of the kings of Israel. The people of Judah were taken captive to Babylon because of their unfaithfulness." (NIV)
It was very important to the Israelite nation that they kept record of their family lines. It helped them in many ways, even when they were in exile. That is probably why a lot of the historical books in the Old Testament contain details of genealogies.
As leaders, we can use this as a pattern to go back and see where our leadership "heritage" lies. While we may not actually have a genealogy of leadership, we can look to see where the potential, practice, and passion began. Doing so could help us grow in our leadership today.
Maxwell asks, "Where is your leadership heritage? How do you honor it?"
I have been involved in leadership activities since high school. Looking back to that helped me to realize that leadership is my spiritual gift. That is quite a powerful discovery! God brought it to mind and I reflected back on the activities I had been involved with in high school and up to that point in college. God revealed a powerful thing in me that day!
How do you answer those questions?
Pray this prayer: Father, please help me to discover my leadership heritage, and use it to grow me as a leader today. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen.
God bless you!
1 Chronicles 9:1 says, "All Israel was listed in the genealogies recorded in the book of the kings of Israel. The people of Judah were taken captive to Babylon because of their unfaithfulness." (NIV)
It was very important to the Israelite nation that they kept record of their family lines. It helped them in many ways, even when they were in exile. That is probably why a lot of the historical books in the Old Testament contain details of genealogies.
As leaders, we can use this as a pattern to go back and see where our leadership "heritage" lies. While we may not actually have a genealogy of leadership, we can look to see where the potential, practice, and passion began. Doing so could help us grow in our leadership today.
Maxwell asks, "Where is your leadership heritage? How do you honor it?"
I have been involved in leadership activities since high school. Looking back to that helped me to realize that leadership is my spiritual gift. That is quite a powerful discovery! God brought it to mind and I reflected back on the activities I had been involved with in high school and up to that point in college. God revealed a powerful thing in me that day!
How do you answer those questions?
Pray this prayer: Father, please help me to discover my leadership heritage, and use it to grow me as a leader today. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen.
God bless you!
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