“Self respect, self worth and self love, all start with self. Stop looking outside of yourself for your value.” Rob Liano

The world today seems to find meaning, value, and purpose within the sphere of what we do (success, acts of kindness or generosity, etc.), what others think or say about us, and what we have (health, good family, material possessions, etc.).

Considering today’s thought, something is amiss when our value is based on those areas outside of self. The challenge is recognizing the balance with thinking too highly or too lowly of oneself. Biblically, we see a responsibility to maintain the proper perspective.

Our value comes from God because we are created in His image. We are His beloved. When we understand the truth of this statement, we will stop looking for our value from any other source.

Leadership requires an ability to find the right perspective on self-value, but also to help others gain the needed perspective to their self-value.

Fulfilling this role as leaders opens a door of opportunity to reach greater potential in our service to the Lord.

When we boil it all down, what really matters?

We can sure make life complicated, and most of us are guilty. We can quickly get caught up in some of the most trivial pursuits and lose focus of what really matters.

Please do not misunderstand. We know there is a place for work to provide for our families. We know we need time for rest and recreation. We also know there are family responsibilities.

This is not an attempt to pull us away from the major areas of our life. The purpose is to simply ask what really matters with respect to these major areas?

If we believe that spiritual and eternal matters are the priority, then why would we spend our lives focused on areas that seem so temporary in nature?

If we can agree on the priority of the spiritual matters, then our prayer must be to see how this priority then influences our work, rest, and family responsibilities.

Let us all lead with our priorities firmly established and influence the major areas of life in ways to make heaven that much sweeter.

Everything that is learned about leadership simply indicates there is more to learn. It is amazing to consider the amount of information readily accessible.

There is no end to the books, articles, blog posts (sorry), and classes available on the subject of leadership.

We frequently discuss the need for leaders to be incessant learners, but in the abyss of information about leadership, where should leaders turn?

Obviously, followers must be able to turn to leaders, but where will leaders find help to grow in their leadership.

First, turn to God. The best leadership book available is the Bible. The examples and instruction found provide great learning for the student of leadership.

Second, turn to other godly leaders. Most people know someone who has been a godly influence in their life in leading. Seek their help and learn at their feet.

Third, turn inward for reflection. Many answers can be found by reflecting on how God continues to work throughout the journey and bring us where we are as leaders.

These do not exhaust the possibilities, but they do provide a few steps in benefiting from each learning moment.

In the arena of communication, when writing a speech, sermon, article, or other medium, one of the critical keys is transitions.

Transitions are those sentences (written or spoken) that build the bridge between the various sections of our communication. These bridges make it easier for people to follow what we attempt to express.

More could be discussed regarding transitions, but we need to consider the connection with spiritual leadership.

Our role as leaders is about transitions. We build bridges in three areas.

One, we build a bridge in relationships. Unless we can establish and maintain quality relationships, our transition into spiritual matters will not exist.

Two, we build a bridge for future leaders. As long as we exist on this earth, there is a need for leadership. We must make this transition smooth.

Three, we build a bridge to eternity. Ultimately, the task before us is to help make the transition from the physical realm to the spiritual.

Are we building bridges with the right purpose and in the right direction? If not, now is the time to rethink the transitions of our leadership.

“Nothing gives one person so much advantage over another as to remain always cool and unruffled under all circumstances.” Thomas Jefferson

We live in a world that tends to react before thinking how to act appropriately. Social media sites fill spaces of information with the reactions of one person to the comments of another.

Sadly, most reaction is based on anger, a lack of adequate details, false information, misguided perspective, and multiple other emotions that tend to eliminate reason and good judgment.

Before we react, consider the difference made when we take a moment to think first and then act appropriately.

As Jefferson stated, the great advantage to be gained is always the path of remaining cool and unruffled under all circumstances.

In these moments, our minds possess a greater ability to think clearly and make decisions that affect how we act. We prevent heated arguments, snap decisions, incorrect accusations, wrong conclusions, and the regret of saying or doing something we cannot retract.

Of all people, leaders need to demonstrate this character as an example for others to follow. Such action will emulate our Savior.

In the Greek language, a first class conditional sentence literally translates the if as since. Even though the English often uses if, a first class conditional sentence structure demands greater certainty.

Transferring this idea into areas of leadership carries an interesting thought.

Imagine the structure of our leadership from the standpoint of certainty. No longer would we speak of if concerning the various activities we want to accomplish, but rather the certainty of saying since these conditions exist we know the outcome.

Since we influence a minimum of four people a day, let us study extensive levels of leadership and the opportunity to make a greater difference.

Since we strive to lead others to heaven, let us prepare ourselves with a deeper understanding of God’s word.

Since we also work to keep the saved, saved, let us exercise tolerance in matters of personal opinion and work together to achieve unity.

A number of areas could be considered, but the idea is the same. Let us lead with the certainty needed to make the future of the church stronger. Think Souls.

Leadership congruence makes a powerful difference in the direction of any organization, especially the Lord’s church.

Ideas associated with congruence include compatibility, agreement, balance, and consistency. Examining each of these four words helps establish the significance of leadership congruence.

Compatibility among leaders indicates an ability to work together without conflict. Please do not think this means problems or disagreements are eliminated, rather the ability to avoid the destructive nature of conflict builds congruence.

Agreement is shared by leaders when the foundation upon which decisions are made comes from the standard of God’s infallible word. Pride, opinion, and agenda driven approaches to decision making destroy congruence.

Balance is one of the most important words in leadership. Leaning to the left or the right creates the potential of moving too far away from the center God provides as the balance for leadership congruence.

Consistency is often claimed to be a virtue, and that sentiment is true. Inconsistency promotes a level of hypocrisy that attacks the congruence leadership needs to help others reach the goal(s).

These few ideas provide a beginning point of consideration for strengthening leaders.

Faith, integrity, and love characterized our leadership posts over the last three weeks. Today, as we close this series, our focus turns to an area of foundational magnitude.

If there is one component needed to characterize leadership in the home, it is desire. Leadership requires the desire to lead, to develop the character necessary to lead.

We possess a tendency to do what we want to do. When that desire exists, nothing stands in the way. No mountain is too high to climb, no valley too low to walk through, no obstacle too great to overcome. When we want to do something, we find a way to get it done.

The opposite is also true. When we do not want to do something, it does not matter the consequence(s) of failing, or the reward(s) of succeeding, we will not get it done.

The same is true in the home. Fathers need that one foundational component to excel in areas of faith, integrity, and love. When we desire to lead as God planned for the home, nothing will stand in the way of our achieving His plan.

“Successful people keep their eye on the goal. If they encounter obstacles, instead of focusing on the obstacle, they find a way around it by keeping their goal in mind. It is a mindset of courage which makes it easier to pursue success.” Dr. Anil Kumar Sinha

Three key ideas stem from today’s thought: goals, focus, and courage.

Goals are essential to success. We need short- and long-term goals. Long-term goals provide the big picture of the future, twenty, thirty, or forty years down the road.

Short-term goals provide an opportunity to break the big picture into pieces that allow us to enjoy victories along the way. We build morale and sustain the momentum to reach the long-term goals.

Regardless of the short- or long-term goals, we must keep our eye on the goal, focusing on what is essential to success.

Courage is a fitting conclusion. Courage is more about a decision made when needed than a quality possessed. When the time comes, we need leaders with the courage to stand and lead.

Our prayer should be for the church to implement all three.