Remember…

 

If you plant honesty, you will reap trust

If you plant goodness, you will reap friends

If you plant humility, you will reap greatness

If you plant perseverance, you will reap contentment

If you plant consideration, you will reap perspective

If you plant hard work, you will reap success

If you plant forgiveness, you will reap reconciliation

If you plant faith in Christ, you will reap a harvest

So, be careful what you plant now; it will determine what you will reap later.

Exemplary leadership

“Encourage your people…correcting them when necessary.” Titus 2:15 TLB

It’s hard to lead others further than you’ve gone yourself, especially when you’re more concerned about their reaction than keeping the team on course. Does that mean setting yourself up as “the be-all and end-all?” No, but as a leader it’s impossible to please everybody. If you constantly need approval you’ll end up being controlled by those you’re supposed to lead. Paul recognized this, that’s why he told Timothy: “Teach…and encourage your people…correcting them when necessary. You have the authority to do this, so don’t let anyone…disregard what you say” (Titus 2:15 NLT).

Insecure, inexperienced leaders agonize over decisions they suspect will cause unhappiness in the ranks. They feel responsible for other people’s emotional reaction. They fail to realize that when you’re doing what you should be doing and others don’t agree, that’s their problem, unless you allow it to become yours. A mature leader deals with disappointment and keeps a good attitude; he faces the music even when he doesn’t like the tune. Think, as a parent when you warn your children about putting their hand on a hot stove, it’s not your responsibility to make them enjoy hearing it, right? Hopefully, as they mature they’ll understand. But the truth is, some people won’t like hearing “no” regardless of how old they get! However, we all need to hear it from time to time, otherwise we’ll never be happy with anything other than getting our own way. Which means – getting nowhere, or getting into trouble!

“I’m with you all the way.” 2 Corinthians 7:4 TM

For leadership at its finest, consider the Apostle Paul. He told the fledgling, often-troubled Christians at Corinth: “I’m with you all the way, no matter what. I have…the greatest confidence in you. If only you knew how proud I am of you…despite all our troubles.” Goethe said, “Correction does much, but encouragement does more.” In spite of their immaturity, and “fights in the church” (2Co 7:5 TM), Paul was their biggest cheerleader. He knew how to comfort and correct, encourage and sharpen – hallmarks of exemplary leadership.

So, what does it mean to be a good leader? Good leaders: (a) are consistent; they set an example by “walking the walk,” so everyone knows that what’s heard at the bottom is first practiced at the top; (b) constantly express their appreciation, realizing people need to know they’re an important part of the team; (c) always listen to suggestions, opinions, fears and ideas without pre-judging or being dismissive. Author Betty Bender said, “It’s a mistake to surround yourself only with people just like you. Throw off that worn comforter – replace it with a crazy quilt of different and imaginative people. Then watch the ideas erupt!”; (d) don’t see people as statistics; Mary Kay Ash said, “P & L doesn’t just mean ‘profit and loss’ – it means ‘people and love’”; (e) explain why they like things done a certain way, because it lessens mistakes and the resentment that can stem from feeling “ordered around.” Clarence Francis said, “You can buy a man’s time, his physical presence at a given place, and even his skill. But you can’t buy enthusiasm…loyalty…and devotion…you have to earn these.”

“He gave constant encouragement.” Acts 20:2 TM

A good leader has 2 important characteristics: he or she knows where they’re going, and can show others the value of going with them. There are talented people who’ll never be effective leaders because they’re more interested in themselves than in those they lead. However, once they’ve gone through the school of hard knocks they become sensitive to other people’s needs. But effective leaders don’t wait for that to happen. They realize that ideas are a dime a dozen, while the people who implement them are priceless. Legendary football coach Bear Bryant used to say, “I’m just a plow-hand…but I’ve learned how to hold a team together; how to lift some men up, how to calm others down, until…they’ve got one heartbeat. There are just 3 things I say: if something goes bad, I did it; if it goes semi-good, we did it; if it goes really good, you did it!”

If you aspire to lead others, consider this: exemplary leaders are approachable; they don’t get touchy and fly off the handle; they never let minor problems poison their outlook; they sandwich every slice of criticism between two layers of praise. Robert Louis Stevenson said, “Keep your fears to yourself but share your courage with others.” There are people who knock the heart out of you and others who put it back in. Encouraging others simply means giving them “a courage transfusion.” “Paul called the disciples together and…gave constant encouragement, lifting their spirits…charging them with fresh hope.” That’s exemplary leadership! So, do you have what it takes to lead?

Thanks,

Vincent D. Smith, Jr.

“You can achieve whatever you set out to accomplish. A positive attitude, coupled by a strong aptitude, will determine your altitude in life” …..Ben Ruffin

“THINKING WITH A CHRISTIAN WORLDVIEW – RENEWAL ”

“I beseech you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

Romans 12:1-2   NKJV

The Bible speaks about the reality of the carnal mind that is in opposition to a spiritual mind. The carnal mind is the mind that is still operating based on the understanding of the sinful nature. The carnal mind is still captive to the morals and values of this fallen world. Once a person becomes a Christian, their first steps are to begin to learn to think based on the truth of God’s Word. This is the beginning of spiritual formation as a disciple of Jesus Christ. Sadly, many Christians begin their new life in Christ by getting active in some church activity, but neglect the renewing of their minds with the Word of God. This is what leads to one becoming a carnal Christian or one whose mind is not being renewed. The result is a Christian who is trying to live for God from a worldly viewpoint. This person will never grow to spiritual maturity because no spiritual transformation will take place. Spiritual transformation is totally dependent on a Christian learning to think with a biblical worldview. This is what the Apostle Paul was referring to when he said, “If anyone is in Christ they are a new creation, old things have passed away, behold all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

 

The Apostle Paul said, “be transformed by the renewing of your mind”. The mind can be understood as the central and innermost part of your being where you have the ability to think, reason, understand, and know. It is essential that this renewal of the mind take place through the Christian Education ministry of the local Church. Also, it is the personal responsibility of every Christian to study God’s Word for themselves. Spiritual transformation of the mind will result in spiritual growth. Spiritual growth is evident when a Christian’s understanding is maturing in the things of God. The spiritually minded Christian is growing to see themselves, the creation, their relationships, their vocation, and their purpose from God’s perspective. This will lead to a transformed lifestyle and purpose of life. The Bible records this transformation taking place in the lives of all who came into a personal relationship with Christ. It is important to remember this transformation takes time and is not instantaneous. It takes time to grow spiritually, just like it time to grow physically. Spiritual understanding comes through learning in the midst of failure and success. Hebrews 5:14 says, “Solid food is for those who are mature, who have trained themselves to recognize the difference between right and wrong and then do what is right” (NLT). Ask yourself, if you are a carnal or spiritually minded Christian? Is your understanding of the things of God growing which is leading to a transformed mind and life? I exhort you to seek God’s Word with a sincere desire to be transformed by the renewing of your mind so that you will grow in living from a Christian worldview.

A Prayer for Fathers

The LORD your God, who is going before you, will fight for you, as he did for you in Egypt, before your very eyes, and in the desert. There you saw how the LORD your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place.

 Deuteronomy 1:30-31 (NIV)

He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse.

 Malachi 4:6 (NIV)

As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;

Psalm 103:13 (NIV)

My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline and do not resent his rebuke, because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.

Proverbs 3:11-12 (NIV)

The man of integrity walks securely,
but he who takes crooked paths will be found out.

Proverbs 10:9 (NIV)

Listen to your father, who gave you life,
and do not despise your mother when she is old.

Proverbs 23:22 (NIV)

The father of a righteous man has great joy;
he who has a wise son delights in him.

Proverbs 23:24 (NIV)