Happy Thanksgiving
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.
May God fill you with faith, hope, love,
and abundant blessings.
Tag: God
Defining Moments
Occasionally, there are those events that becoming defining moments in our life. The birth of a child, getting married, graduation, critical decisions on the job, or tragedies are those moments in life that define who we are and influence who we become.
These defining moments vary from one individual to the next and the degree to which they define us is based on what we do in those moments.
The most defining moment in our lives as leaders must be built on the foundation of God. When our relationship with God is the defining moment, the decisions and activities that form the rest of our lives find their proper place.
Spiritual Formation
Social justice, human dignity, community awareness, liberation, and other issues often come to the forefront of a discussion about spiritual formation.
However, our participation in these alone does not result in spiritual formation.
Spiritual formation must involve the following:
1) God: There is no spiritual formation without Him.
2) Holy Spirit: We don’t know the full depths of His activity, but He is essential to spiritual formation.
3) Jesus: The cornerstone to our spiritual house, and without Him there is no formation.
4) The Word: This book guides us in the spiritual formation needed to complete and perfect us for every task.
Spiritual formation requires all four.
Leading by GPS
A global positioning system (GPS) makes travel in unfamiliar territory much easier. Now, we have a variety of apps on our smart devices that provide this luxury.
From a leadership perspective, imagine the impact on followers with leaders that know they are the GPS, God’s Purposeful Servant.
God is the foundation of our leadership, guided and directed by the Creator of the universe.
Purposeful indicates two ideas: 1) God’s will drives our leadership, and 2) we lead with intentionality.
Servant is the descriptive word. We are servants of God and others as we lead them with hope for a better future.
Faith-based Leadership
An old Chinese proverb claims that “limitations are the boundaries we place in our minds.” What do we consider to be possible or impossible?
While we claim that all things are possible with God, do we really believe it?
We say we have faith, then turn around and place limitations on what we hope to accomplish because it has not been done before. Do we really believe?
Since God is our strength and He made us fellow-workers in His kingdom, we need to stop thinking in the realm of impossibility. Maybe if we moved out of the way, God would do some incredible things.
Leading with Constancy
Have you ever heard the phrase “constancy of purpose?” Constancy involves dependability or faithfulness. There are strong implications in leadership. Once leaders understand their purpose, constancy is demonstrated in four areas.
1) Faith: We need to know and trust that our God is able and He will be there each step of the way.
2) Focus: Without focus, Satan is masterful at distractions, which take our eyes off God’s purpose.
3) Fortitude: We need fortitude to stand firm when distractions and challenges arise.
4) Follow-through: Once we commit ourselves, constancy will follow-through with the plans.
Constancy helps leaders accomplish more for the Lord’s kingdom.
Leading Technology
Be familiar with newer and emerging technologies.
Leadership (being a great leader) is not contingent on using or keeping up with emerging technology. Many leaders from the past and many in the future may never use technology.
However, we cannot deny the incredible opportunities that technology presents in the development of our leadership.
Tools for training, mentoring, guidance, and encouragement are available to everyone.
If we have the opportunity to utilize the tools of technology to grow in our leadership and influence thousands, if not millions more, will God not hold us accountable for such?
Four Steps
Reflection, remembrance, consideration, and gratitude are words all leaders should know.
1) Now is the best opportunity to reflect on how we started, where we are now, and what steps brought us here.
2) While reflecting on our accomplishments, remember that God placed us in this position at this time. Let us be faithful.
3) We need to consider the lessons learned. We should also consider those involved in helping us reach this point.
4) Of all the steps, none holds more significance than gratitude. We need a thankful heart that expresses an understanding that where we are is because God has placed us here. Let us honor Him!
Collaborative Leaders
Working together to produce or create something defines collaboration.
Leadership is characterized by numerous qualities, principles, and ideas for developing others to lead. Sadly, leaders often feel they must “go it alone.”
We also find that leaders who fail or refuse to work with others, choosing to work alone, suffer both physiologically and psychologically.
When Solomon said “two are better than one…and a cord of three strands is not quickly broken,” he lays down a principle that supports collaboration.
When leaders work together and promote working together as a team, God will give an increase that lasts eternally.
Disciplined Leaders…Part 2
The bigger picture of discipline focuses on the importance of understanding “self-discipline.” Scripture emphasizes the necessity of discipline. Paul spoke of fathers disciplining their children, God disciplining those whom He loves, and the need to discipline our own bodies.
Examining areas that shape the development of discipline in our lives, we find the need to challenge and eliminate excuses.
Whether we talk about leaders or followers, there is a great tendency to make excuses why we are not involved or accomplishing a task, “I would, but…”
We cannot allow excuses to hinder us from achieving the greatness God will accomplish through us.