Tag: SIBI

Opportunities

Life is filled with opportunities. We may choose to pass or act on an opportunity. The possibility also exists that we will neither pass or act on an opportunity because we fail to see it.

Whether we see an opportunity or fail to see it, what a blessing to know God works in our lives daily. He provides us with opportunities to grow closer to Him, recognize the beauty of His handiwork, develop a stronger faith, help and encourage others, love family and friends, work and earn a living, remember those who changed our lives, and the list is unending.

Opportunities abound if we look.

Friends

Social media has redefined the way we think about friends. A friend is far more than someone who likes, comments on, or shares a link. The thought of having hundreds or thousands as friends through social media is a farce.

Knowing a few who are close friends is a great blessing in life. Many definitions of a friend exist. One that resonates with most says, “A friend is someone who understands your past, believes in your future, and accepts you just the way you are.”

For those people in our life that are true friends, today and everyday, we give thanks.

Family

Spiritually, we are blessed by God to share in the fellowship of a spiritual family, His church. The beauty of this relationship is our oneness, regardless of the color, age, gender, nationality, educational background, or social status. In God’s family none of these matter. What matters is our relationship with God through Christ.

Physically, we are also blessed to have those we love and who love us. Our physical family is not always biological in nature. Whatever the bond that brings us together, there is something special about family. All of our relatives make us uniquely our own. We may not always agree, but we have each other.

Comparison

On one hand, we compare ourselves with people below us to feel better about ourselves. We develop a bit of arrogance thinking we are better than others.

On the other hand, we compare ourselves with people above us and our pride crumbles. We never measure up. We feel as though we will never amount to anything.

Both ideas are dangerous. Someone once said, “You will never fully believe in yourself if you keep comparing yourself to everyone else.”

God made us unique. He does not expect, nor does He want, us to be someone else. He simply asks us to follow the example left by our Savior.

Consistency

Leaders need to be consistent in every area of life.

When there is a purpose that drives our life, we then align our words and actions with that purpose.

From this point, we develop greater consistency because there is a purpose behind our thoughts, which become our words, which influence our actions.

In our homes, neighborhood, on our jobs, or anywhere we go, people recognize consistency.

Consider the definition: “An attribute of a logical system that is so constituted that none of the propositions deducible from the axioms contradict one another.”

I thought you might like to ponder that thought for a while 🙂

A Leader or Leadership?

What is the difference in leadership and being a leader?

Certain authors who write about leadership indicate 2-3% of people in the world are leaders. Another segment of authorship claims everyone has influence. Thus, we are all leaders to a degree. The exercise of our influence may determine the type of leader we are or are not.

Leadership, however, seems to indicate the use of power to direct a group of individuals toward an objective, purpose, vision, or certain goals associated with these areas.

If we make this distinction, then the number of those who possess the authority to direct is fewer. Additionally, few desire this authority.

The Middle

As the days, weeks, months, and years fly by, taking a moment somewhere in the middle to evaluate and ask a few questions seems appropriate.

What have we done to reach our goals and achieve the vision? Would our assessment indicate progress, or are adjustments needed to move forward? Should our goals be raised because we aimed too low, or lowered because we were too ambitious initially?

Midway allows us to evaluate our progress to determine how we lead into the future. From this position we have a better perspective of what the future looks like and how we can cast a greater vision for what lies ahead.

Change

Change if often met with resistance. Once we are comfortable with the status quo, settled into our comfort zone, progress is stymied.

George Bernard Shaw once said, “Those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.” Even though many are resistant, change is the price of progress. And, change is biblical.

The proper use of technology, the introduction of new methodologies for teaching, and a general openness to evaluating what has and has not worked in the past would serve leadership well.

If the church desires to grow spiritually and numerically we need to be a bit more comfortable with change because growth does not occur without it.

Lifelong Development

Much has been said about leadership development as a lifelong process. Among the ideas expressed several are worth considering, such as the following:

Leadership is developed over time. God works throughout our lifetime to train us and give us the experience needed to develop our leadership.

Developing a leader can involve periods of suffering. Events occur throughout life that may involve periods of isolation designed to help us reflect and prepare for greater leadership.

Proper perspective is the goal of leadership development. As challenging as periods of suffering can be, they help shape our perspective to see God’s hand in the events of our life.

Circle of Safety

Mark Twain expressed the following idea, “Great things can happen if we don’t care who gets the credit.”

John Maxwell took this idea to another level saying, “Great things can and actually do happen when we give others the credit.”

We know from a biblical perspective that spiritual leadership will not allow a self-centered attitude to exist. Instead, scripture indicates over and over the need to seek after the well-being of others.

Jesus provided this example for us and He desires we pursue the same direction. The result might just develop what Simon Sinek refers to as a “Circle of Safety.”