Happy New Year is appropriate for today’s post. The start of a new year is exciting as a freshness of new beginnings exists.

An evaluation of the past year results in resolutions to improve. These areas may include physical, emotional, intellectual, or spiritual needs.

The first step is recognizing the need to improve. Unless we are able to see the need to improve, the steps that follow have no value. The urgency of the need changes the approach to the next step.

The second step is a resolution to make the improvements. The stronger the resolve, the higher the chance of achieving the improvement. Without the desire to make changes, recognizing the need is only a wish in disguise.

The third step is implementation of the resolution. Many people make resolutions each year and often times throughout the year. However, the difference between those who fail and succeed with their resolutions is a plan to implement the resolution. How will we accomplish the goal?

If leaders in the Lord’s church will approach 2014 with these thoughts in mind, God will make great things happen through us.

Five words are associated with the word of the week: organization, arrangement, design, forethought and groundwork. These components occupy a key role as leaders look at the year ahead.

Forethought: When planning for the future, forethought includes vision, goals, mission, core values, people, and obstacles.

Groundwork: What foundation must be prepared and laid before successive steps? The groundwork needed will be based on the forethought given to the specific nature of planning.

Organization: How is the organization structured for the new year? Are changes needed to achieve the plans for organizational success? An organization cannot outgrow the strength of its leadership.

Arrangement: The arrangement of each component is critical for development. Have the pieces been arranged to logically move from one stage to the next?

Design: The design stage in planning is where the dreams unfold into direction. Does the design provide the proper layout of steps that insure success?

When leaders in the Lord’s kingdom stop to give thought to planning based on these five components, the reality of success occurs at the right time and the right place.

An interesting place exists between one point and the next, a position of assessing what has been and determining what is yet to come.

This place is a deciding junction. Between yesterday and today is where leaders dream about the future, envision the possibilities and plan for ways to achieve greatness in the Lord’s kingdom.

One day remains in 2013.  Another year will be history and a new one begins. We cannot return to change the words or actions of yesterday. We can only look to the year ahead and make the appropriate changes to insure the mistakes of the past are not repeated.

As we consider the best approach to directing the steps of a new year, may we all remember three simple principles.

1) No matter where the road leads, God is with us. This is the beauty of Immanuel.

2) Our influence is worth the price paid to provide an example to emulate.

3) The strength to achieve any task is measured by the desire to succeed.

Time is a valuable commodity, and that moment between yesterday and today is an opportunity to direct the future to make a difference.

“A good objective of leadership is to help those who are doing poorly to do well and to help those who are doing well to do even better.” Jim Rohn

Improving others is one of the greatest keys to successful leadership. A recent reminder demonstrated the need to remember that leaders lose the right to think about self.

The task before leaders today involves working to develop others into something greater.

For those who do poorly, leaders should involve themselves in helping others do well. For the ones who do well, leaders can help them do even better.

The quality is simple. We are talking about the idea of genuine love.

When leaders care for and demonstrate love for others, they will always work to serve, placing the needs and desires of others above their own.

This attitude was beautifully exemplified in the life of Jesus and, as Christians, we have a responsibility to help the world around us see what Christianity truly looks like.

Hopefully, along the way, we will encourage the fainthearted and strengthen the mature, allowing both to fulfill what God intended in their leadership.

For Canadians, today is Boxing Day. The background to this day is worth the Google. However, for most, the idea of what happens the morning after Christmas requires a moment of thought.

Those who enjoy the holiday season continue to go on spreading the joy of family and fellowship celebrating with a little extra vacation time.

Many will return to work. When a holiday falls in the middle of the week, regardless of when it is set, the morning after is a matter of returning to the routine.

For some, a level of frustration is lifted, as the whole “commercialization” of Christmas that has swept the nation is past and they are just glad it is over.

Still, there are those who never have opportunity to celebrate with family or friends. The season is filled with sadness, and they are ready to move ahead.

Regardless of where we fit in the list above, this is a time to focus on a brighter future. Help others recognize that today is the first step to a better tomorrow.

Today’s post is a simple greeting to you and your family.

I pray God will bless your day, like many others, with the opportunity
to share time with family and enjoy the abundance of God’s blessings
(physically and spiritually).

I am thankful for each of you and hope you have a very Merry Christmas.

The Turner Family

Essence is the intrinsic nature or indispensable quality of something, especially something abstract, that determines its character. It is further described by words such as: substance, principle, fundamental quality, sum and substance.

The idea behind this description raises several questions and ideas for consideration.

What is the essence of our leadership?

When others consider that indispensable quality of our leaders that determines our character, how would they describe it?

Is there any substance to the fundamental qualities of our leadership?

The essence of our leadership needs to be built upon the ideas expressed by David when asking questions connected to dwelling with God in Psalm 15: the one “who walks with integrity, works righteousness, and speaks truth in his heart.”

We often focus on the ideas of “integrity, righteousness, and truth.” These are good and worthy to be at the core of our leading.

However, the idea behind “walks, works and speaks” is significant to describe the whole of the individual, what they think, do and say. Godly leaders know that when the whole of life’s activities is defined by integrity, righteousness and truth, others will follow.

How many children spend the last few days before Christmas counting the minutes until this special day arrives? Regardless of the reason, children eagerly anticipate the moment they gaze upon the presents specifically situated under a brilliantly decorated tree.

While the season is often characterized as an exploitation of commercialization, children tend to see through a completely different set of eyes.

Something special exists in the mind of a child that raises the level of anticipation for this specific day each year.

Leaders need to cast a vision of the future that draws the same eagerness and anticipation for what is to come for those who follow.

God provided Israel with a vision of a land flowing with milk and honey. The anticipation of Israel looking forward to the moment they entered this promised land can only be imagined.

He has provided us with a vision of something far greater. As we envision the moment we cross the threshold into this glorious place, how much anticipation exists?

We need to eagerly look forward to that day. Let the countdown begin!

“Stop being afraid of what could go wrong and focus on what could go right.” Author Unknown

Pessimism or optimism? The choice is one we make every day.

However, there is something beyond the actual making of the choice in this thought, and that is how debilitating fear can be in leadership.

When fear causes us to only see the possibilities of what could go wrong, we miss out on the power of positive thinking.

Fear is real. No matter how we might want to deny or ignore its existence, if left unchecked, fear can stop us in our tracks.

Fear of what could go wrong also causes us to worry and dwell on negativity, both of which bring a great level of unpleasantness and emptiness.

When we focus on what can go right, we lead with a vision of tomorrow that gives others hope, something to believe in for the future.

The result of recognizing future possibilities is connected to opportunities, and when we can see the possibilities, we will always find opportunities that improve our leadership.

Examining time in the wilderness is an interesting study in the Bible. A common thread found among the leaders of God’s people is time spent in the wilderness, physically and emotionally.

Consider the time Joseph spent in Egypt, from slavery to the dungeon, the time did not deter God’s plan to develop a leader who would deliver His people and fulfill a promise made to Abraham.

There is also Moses, who, after fleeing Egypt, spent 40 years in the land of Midian away from all he had known, a preparation that developed him to lead the nation of Israel to the mountain of God, Sinai.

Then, we have Jesus who spent 40 days fasting in the wilderness. The time ended with temptation and the demonstration of resolve to the will of God.

What is it about time spent in the wilderness that helps prepare people to be leaders for God?

This time identifies a need for and dependence upon God.

A walk through the wilderness is neither desired or pleasant. However, the time provides opportunities for growth and prepares us for leading God’s people.