We wish each of you a very Merry Christmas.

Thank you for another great year in leadership.

The Leadership Project

The holidays are always special when shared with family. Although it is sad to see everyone return home, nothing compares to being together.

Even though many families are characterized as dysfunctional, there is still much we can learn from the family unit to help our spiritual leadership.

Families must be skilled in problem resolution. No family is free from problems: financial, personality, health, communication, rivalries, etc. How problems are resolved determines the success of the family.

The same is true in leadership. Problem resolution must be a priority in leadership development, because there will be problems.

Families must learn to cooperate. The idea of parents and children sharing one bathroom, rationing the food supply, and taking care of household chores, demands working together. Dysfunctionalism results when people are unwilling to work together.

The leadership connection is powerful. The ability to lead in such a way to get along and work side by side, cooperating for the common goal, is indeed rare.

Families also need a common purpose. There will always be different personalities, opinions, objections, conflicts, and the list goes on. However, when families understand and strive for a common purpose, they can resolve problems and work together for the greater good of the family.

Leaders should be diligent in directing others toward a common goal. We need to promote the purpose and provide the leadership necessary to reach it. Why? Because, spiritually speaking, we are family.

“It’s the most wonderful time of the year.” We are familiar with the words of the song. We also know the words of our Lord: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

Certainly, it is the time of year when our minds are focused on giving and receiving gifts.

What gift is best suited for an individual on our list?

As we consider the nature of this time of year, spiritual leaders need consider the words of Paul: “I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls.”

Paul was willing to give of himself in every way for the benefit of others. Specifically, he desired their salvation. In a self-serving and self-driven world, it is challenging to find those who desire more the nature of giving than receiving. However, as spiritual leaders, our focus must be on giving ourselves to others so that they might be saved.

I pray our spiritual leadership is of such nature that we look for ways to give of ourselves to help direct people to heaven.

Everyone wants the best. We want the best technology. We want the best car. We want the best clothes and food. We want the best service. We want the best leadership. We want the BEST!

The problem comes in defining “the best.”

The bottom line? The definition is subjective. The best for one person may not be the best for another.

Additionally, what is the basis for the definition? Will the best be defined by work effort? Cost? Achievement? Time spent?

When considering leadership, one might think the pursuit of the best is the right direction. However, it depends on the definition and the foundation of the definition.

Instead, we must pursue excellence. The pursuit of excellence provides a consistency to leadership, especially spiritual leadership.

Pursuing excellence acknowledges the present situation and need.

Pursuing excellence desires to learn and improve.

Pursuing excellence strives to constantly make proper application.

We should give thought to the direction of our leadership. Making a difference in our life and in others is an excellent pursuit.

Each year about this time, we send and receive cards with holiday greetings. A few years ago, I received one quite unexpected.

The card was from a lady who lived in Washington State. I met her almost 20 years ago. Her and her husband lived outside of town in a modest home. I went by to visit each week, as his health was failing.

After his death, Miss Elsie became involved in the church. I continued to visit, and we developed a wonderful friendship.

As her health began to fail, her daughters moved her near them in Washington. At first, she would write occasionally and say hello, send a picture or a poem, inform me of the church family where she attended. However, in time I stopped hearing from her. I was uncertain of her condition or what might have happened.

I then received a lovely card from her with holiday greetings and a reminder of how much she missed our visits.

In leadership, I am reminded of the need to maintain contact with those we share life with through the years.

It can be as simple as a card to remind them how much they impacted our life. I hope we will take time, not just this week, but throughout the year to remind others of their influence in our lives.

Family Feud, a popular game show over the years, hosts the famous line, “Survey Says…”

Contestants work to provide answers to questions that are nearest the most popular answers given by people who were surveyed.

We may never participate in a game show like this, yet we need to constantly survey our lives. As we near the end of 2017, this evaluation is even more critical.

When we consider the nature of our influence within our homes, what would the survey say is the priority of our life?

When we examine our character on the job, what would the survey say about the quality of our work ethic?

When we look at our worldview, what would the survey say about the consistency of what we believe and practice?

When we take into account our outreach to others, what would the survey say about the “type” of people we seek to influence?

The list of questions could go on. We need to understand the value of surveying every area of life and measuring how we live by the example provided in Jesus.

Adhering to that standard supports positive survey results.

One of the strongest and most exciting areas of developing any project is the beginning. The morale and enthusiasm are high as the wheels begin turning.

There is something about the grand opening, the starting gun, the first day, or the kick off that strikes at the heart of people to get them on board.

Because we are often a short-sighted and an immediate-satisfaction oriented people, the long range goals seldom come to fruition.

Weariness, stress, slow movement, and discouragement set in and cause us to forget or lose sight of the excitement the original goals provided to get started.

This is true for individuals and congregations. In leadership circles, the idea of finishing well––or strong––is becoming more prevalent. We need leaders who know how to start and finish well.

Satan does not mind our starting if he knows he can prevent us from finishing. Scripture emphasizes the need for us to endure and be faithful until the end.

Instead of giving way to the pressures of accommodating the latest “whim,” let us stay the course and finish well.

Most of us have heard this phrase at some point in life. We take advantage of an opportunity quickly.

As we have expressed before, an opportunity involves circumstances presenting possibility, either to be gained or lost. We cannot take advantage of opportunities if we are unable to see the possibilities.

Leadership involves the ability to see the possibilities and take advantage of the opportunities the moment they arise.

Few people would turn down the opportunity to double an investment in a short period of time. When the presentation is skillfully done and the stakes are guaranteed we know the advantage of striking while the iron is hot. This may be the only opportunity we are given.

The same is true spiritually. We need to consider two significant questions: 1) Do we really see the possibilities of reaching out to the souls around us? 2) Do we want to take advantage of the opportunities God presents?

Unless we see the possibilities and want to take advantage of the opportunities the urgency of sharing the message of Jesus fades to indifference.

Seek, Ask, and Knock. Think Souls!

All of us, at one point or another, face fear. While we would love to be fearless, to possess an attitude or mindset of having no fear, or the absence of fear, we know the challenge.

We need to consider, however, a possibility as it relates to the direction of leadership.

The idea is to reverse the order. Consider examining the approach of having less fear.

There is an element of doubt when thinking that a leader will have no fear or even eliminate fear. Various events in life and leadership will always create times of fear. During those times we can demonstrate less fear, but what makes it possible to do so? Read Hebrews 11:1 – 12:4.

Enduring life’s challenges is an ability strengthened by victorious faith. Understand that others have also overcome. See the great cloud of witnesses.

Trust that God will keep His promise. He will see us through every trial. Run with endurance the race that is set before us.

No matter how great the obstacle, at its best it is still temporary. Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus who for the joy before Him endured the cross and despised the shame.

In the harshness of the twenty-first century world, the power behind a kind word gives the nature of leadership the greatness God desires.

The value of speaking with kindness benefits every level of a leader’s influence. When a word is spoken with kindness several results occur.

The desire to achieve what benefits others is demonstrated as a priority.

The value or worth of the individual is raised to a level of importance for both people involved.

The biblical expression of the fruit of the Spirit testifies to the development of Christlike qualities.

The goal of unity among brethren is exemplified as Christians strive to serve one another.

The example of Christ’s sacrifice is characterized by the sacrificial actions of His disciples.

The outreach to a world of nonChristians is built upon a foundation of love reflecting the nature of God.

More could be said about the power of a kind word. Kindness requires us to get our personal agendas, preconceived ideas, desires, and motivations out of the way so our Christian light can be displayed and God glorified.