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Tag: #inspirational
leadership & togetherness
Togetherness. Does togetherness always mean unity? Unfortunately, no, it does not. In fact, sometimes, when we experience hoards of togetherness with the same group of people, we become agitated, irritated, and unharmonious. Why? Because we are imperfect individuals living in an imperfect world.
However, we can overcome these imperfections when we work together at being unified.
Unity.
When we work together toward a common goal, we experience camaraderie. We learn the value of each person as we observe and celebrate them utilizing their greatest talents, gifts, and skills
The greatest leader of all time, who taught us how to lead in
Jesus did not work alone when He was walking this earth. He brought together a band of leaders He personally selected for His mission. Jesus’ ultimate mission was to offer Himself as the final and perfect sacrifice required to save mankind from sin and destruction, and to provide the promise of eternity with Him. To carry out that mission, He brought together this band of men. They became like-minded following Jesus and teaching others about Him and His identity.
Each of Jesus’ disciples had his own skill set, his own profession, his own sphere of influence; carpenter, fisherman, tax collector, etc. Jesus mentored this group, bringing together these personalities with their gifts, talents, skills, and abilities. He taught and trained them for the purpose of carrying out and continuing His work after His departure.
These men walked together. They followed Jesus. They were trained and mentored by Him and a bond was forged between them. These disciples learned together, worked together, laughed together, grieved, cried, and mourned together, and they celebrated together. Although they were somewhat separated after Jesus’ arrest, their bond, their commonality, brought them back together after Christ’s death. Jesus appeared to them following His resurrection and allowed them to witness His ascension into Heaven. Then, they were more determined than ever, to carry out the work of Jesus individually and together, and they did.
When we are in a place of leadership, how do we follow Jesus’ example? We bring together people of varying talents, abilities and skill sets. We cast a vision in which everyone is shown why we need to move from our current status to the envisioned place. We invite everyone to participate in achieving this mission and vision. We celebrate our differences because together, we have everything needed to achieve our common goals and accomplish our stated vision.
“If then there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by thinking the same way, having the same love, sharing the same feelings, focusing on one goal. Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. Everyone should look out not only for his own
Points for the WIN! What the Bible Says About Overcoming in LIFE: Session 3
Happy WINS-DAY, friends!!
Making final preparations for a speaking event this Friday, and woke up Monday morning with a very sore throat and struggling to talk. Got better, then worse. Today, I sit in a doctor’s office, waiting.
Bronchitis.
Breathing treatment, meds, rest, healing, and trusting the Lord for fully restored health!
Here’s the thing: this is only a circumstance of the day, today. Tomorrow’s circumstances will be different. I have the opportunity to choose where to place my focus. We cannot allow the day’s circumstances to dictate the day’s outcomes. Our focus needs to remain on the PRIZE, the ULTIMATE GOAL, the GOD-GIVEN, LIFE VISION.
We cannot allow the day’s circumstances to dictate the day’s outcomes. Click To Tweet
Today’s illness is challenging. I am a speaker and singer, and booked to do both at two separate events this weekend. I need my voice. It is my art’s medium, the tool of my trade, the gadget of my gifting, the device to my duty, the engine to execute my call. You get it. I need my voice!
Similarly, in the account we are following in John 6, the circumstances were challenging. There were multiplied thousands of people who had come to listen to Jesus teach. They wanted to hear from Jesus and learn. All was good, that is, until it was time to eat. Everyone was there. Everyone was ready. The Challenge: No one brought groceries.
When Jesus received the fish and bread the young boy brought, practiced gratitude to the Father for what He was getting ready to do, then served the people, the circumstances changed.
As we discussed last week, we can help the circumstances of our lives for the better, simply by looking at them wearing the right attitude. The circumstances themselves may not be different, but our perspective will improve, and we can address the circumstances more effectively, bringing change.
Using what we have, we take action to continue progressing. Today, bronchitis prevents me from being with people. Yet, I can take care of some other things I need to handle in a quiet place. So, here I am in the quiet of my home office, writing to you.
Before I began writing, I went to the pharmacy and picked up my three prescriptions. I opened the bag, retrieved each container, and took the medicine. Actually, before I ingested any of it, I did one other thing. I read the label of each container.
When Jesus was told about the boy’s basket containing the fish and bread. He told the disciples to have the people sit down.
In verse ten, the scripture says, “Then Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, so they sat down.”
Lesson 3 in the account is this:
Do what is prescribed. Follow the directions.
When a doctor prescribes a medication, gives the patient clear direction, and the patient follows that protocol, he or she is relatively assured the outcome will be a positive improvement in the health of the patient.
Similarly, yet with absolute certainty, when The Lord directs us to do something, He already knows the outcome! Jesus knew there was plenty of grass for everyone to be seated on its green softness. He knew God was going to reveal His power and abundant provision to the people. He simply needed to prepare them to receive it.
So, Jesus directed the people sit and the disciples had them do so. No doubt, being directed to sit brought a calmness and tranquility to the crowd. Jesus gave thanks and distributed the food to the people.
The result of listening to the right voice, that of the Lord, then doing what He said, brought abundant blessing to the disciples, and the entire crowd. The same thing will happen for us when we choose to listen to God’s voice and follow His direction.
God Almighty is The GOD of ABUNDANCE. GOD knows the end from the beginning. When He gives us direction, He already knows the resulting outcome of our obedience. We will abound in His marvelous presence, and will receive from Him what is needed for that time.
Listen for Him. Act on His direction. Experience His abundant presence.
You’ve Come a Long Way, Baby! LET’S WIN!!
There was a slogan from the late 1960s and early 1970s spurred by the women’s equality movement that emphatically declared, “You’ve come a long way baby!” While the movement itself represented both things with which I fully agree as well as things with which I decisively disagree, I can say with clarity, “I have indeed come a long way from where I began! HUGE strides!”
For my WINNING WINS-DAY report, rather than a video, I have chosen to post a photo from 2011.
Leah Fort, January 17, 2011 “Life Lessons on Success” Women’s Council – Chamber of Commerce, Amarillo, Texas
In this photo I am addressing members of the Women’s Council of the Amarillo Chamber of Commerce with the theme Life Lessons on Success. It was Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. What a terrific day to share my personal story of how major traumatic incidents in my life did not define me nor prevent me from becoming the woman I am purposed to be.
That day, I shared my signature presentation The VineSweet Connection. In it I reveal the incidents that led to a life riddled with trepidation and the five steps I took which led me out of FEAR into FABULOUS!
Jesus made clear this beautiful connection, The VineSweet Connection, when He said,
Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me. I am the Vine; you are the branches. If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing. John 15:4-5
My WINNING report today is that I have risen as VICTOR this side of those circumstances! My path is defined by my walk with the Lord, Jesus Christ. I am grateful that by placing my trust in Christ, I have grown tremendously and as I walk this path am able to meet with success.
You see, there was a time in my life I would have chosen the unsuspecting corner rather than standing in front of a crowd of two, much less two hundred, five hundred, a thousand, etc., making a presentation. Yet here I am, living proof that God can and will change a person from the inside out, make him/her completely new, give him/her a voice for His glory and His Kingdom!
In everything you do, put God first, and He will direct you and crown your efforts with success. Proverbs 3:6
What are the results of my WINS? Because of my changed life, one HUGE win for me is the many opportunities I have to share my story and help overwhelmed people grow personally, triumph over past experiences, and find true success.
I would be remiss if I ever fail to bring glory and honor to the Lord for ALL the wonders He has performed in my life.
Through Him, therefore, let us [ME!] constantly and at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess and glorify His name. Hebrews 13:15 (AMP)
ENERGY = LIFE
LIFE = JESUS CHRIST, The VINE
You + LIFE = POWER
This is the VineSweet Connection
Join me as we Connect to The Vine!
2018 GOD with US!
Another cold and glorious morning! I am ALIVE!
The question for all us living, breathing folks is simple: How do I make this world a better place because of my life?
The only way for each of us to make this world better is for each person to fulfill their own place.
And how do you do that? Simply, be YOU!
YOU are unique. No one else can fill YOUR place and YOU cannot fill anyone else’s place. So…
Seek The Lord. Call on Him.
Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. ~ Isaiah 55:6
The great thing is that the Lord is always near because He dwells in us through the power and presence of His Holy Spirit. God’s Spirit is the very essence of who He is and He wants to fill each of us with His presence! The truth of this is vastly beyond my ability to fully comprehend, yet I know it is the truth! How? Because I experience the joy of His presence in my life every single day!
This truth is the reality of what we just celebrated at Christmas.
Jesus left the splendor and majesty of Heaven to come to earth. God Incarnate. He was born as a baby–fully human and fully divine. Jesus came as Emmanuel–God with us. He grew up, lived his life, had siblings and worked. He began ministering to people. He selected His disciples; a group of regular people, much like you and me. He walked, talked, taught, ate and slept. He healed the sick and delivered the afflicted. He also prayed, wept and mourned over the condition of mankind. Jesus, Emmanuel, God with us.
He gave Himself. He is the only One worthy–completely free of sin, spot or blemish–to be offered as The Sacrifice on our behalf. He died. He was buried. He rose from the dead. His disciples saw Him as the resurrected, risen Savior. Before He ascended to Heaven, He made a promise to send a Comforter. That Comforter is the very essence of Himself, His Holy Spirit, who dwells within us.
Jesus, through the power and presence of His Holy Spirit, is still Emmanuel, God with us because He dwells within us!! Click To Tweet
What’s more is that I(we) did not have to ask Him to make this sacrifice. He chose to give Himself before I knew I needed Him.
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit–fruit that will last–and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. ~John 15:16
He promises to be near to us, to reveal His presence to us when we ask. We are taught this from the apostle James when he stated, ”Come near to God and he will come near to you.” He goes on to tell us we can be clean before the Lord when we, through the blood of Jesus, “Wash our [your] hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” (James 4:8)
When I seek Him and draw myself near to Him;
He will draw near to me and direct my path.
He will show me His will and purpose for my life.
He will enable be to produce the fruit that will last. Love.Joy.Peace. Patience.Kindness.Goodness.Gentleness.Faithfulness.Self-control. (Galatians 5:22)
He will inspire me to move forward to fulfill that purpose.
It’s time. Let’s go!!
🦃Happy Thanksgiving🦃
🦃🍁🍂🦃🍁🍂🦃🍁🍂🦃🍁🍂🦃
Happy Thanksgiving Day to you!
Feeling tremendously grateful this morning. No matter our circumstances, we all have so much to be thankful for today!
I am thankful that even if we are spending today working at our jobs, or our family members are far away, or friends are celebrating and we aren’t with them, we all are blessed in some ways and we can, and do, share this day of thanksgiving in our hearts.
Our family has experienced many kinds of trials in the past few years and I shared the following with them via text message this morning.
While this life on earth is not perfect and there are those we have loved who will be missing from our tables today, I am thankful we have this beautiful hope in our AWESOME GOD.
“The Lord redeems the lives of his servants, and none of those who take refuge and trust in Him shall be condemned or held guilty.”
Ps 34:22 AMP
It is because of this hope my heart is FULL of JOY!
My prayer today is that each person who follows me here, on my social media pages and those who may be seeing me for the first time, share this same joy and hope with me. If you want to know how, let me say it simply. We place our trust in the One True and Living God, Jehovah, through His Son, Jesus, the Christ. His gift of life is the greatest treasure of all.
Have a HAPPY & JOYFUL THANKSGIVING!
🦃🍁🍂🦃🍁🍂🦃🍁🍂🦃🍁🍂🦃
Discovery Weekend
Just returned Saturday evening from a quick jaunt to Abilene, Texas for the weekend. What a great time we had!
I always and absolutely love when Mike and I have opportunity to travel together, anywhere! We enjoy the ride. It’s a fabulous opportunity for us to talk; whether a visit about how we enjoy our family, friends, and others we dearly love, talk of ministry, discuss serious matters, or share giggles and laughs about our own silliness.
This particular weekend would be classified as a working trip. We were together as Mike came alongside to support me as I close in on finalizing the requirements for ordination in the Church of the Nazarene. We spent about ten hours in a classroom setting called Discovery Weekend. Mike participated in the course with me and enjoyed the opportunity. Of course, I LOVED it!
Mike~my blessing, my gift, my husband, for almost 36 years~ sitting through a class with me and a room filled with other pastors preparing for ordination.
I could talk for days on end about the solid-as-granite support Mike is to me! As I pursue the call of God on my life, Mike supports my education, my travels, my speaking ministry, and has been the instrumental backbone for me and with me in music ministry. So, KUDOS to my man, whose rigid strength is also my shield!
Now, about this weekend: We gathered with old friends and made new ones. The weekend was exceptional as we had opportunity to spend Friday and Saturday with a room full of fellow pastors and Kingdom workers. We gathered as laborers for the Kingdom of Christ to learn together.
The focus of our time was to discover our personal strengths as ministers, learn more about how those strengths are exhibited in performing our various ministries, how we work with other pastors, leaders, and volunteers, and how we relate to our spouse and family.
What a joy as Dr. Linda and Rich Cantwell presented the information and facilitated our class time. The weekend was a blessing, an informative and entertaining experience encouraging one another as we develop and grow as ministers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
I am thankful for our District Superintendent, Dr. David Downs, and our Assistant District Superintendent, Earl Robertson, for facilitating a successful meeting.
We ended our time taking Communion together. The presence of the Lord beautifully noticeable on the countenance of each person in attendance filled my heart with His peace and gratitude.
A few pictures from this weekend:
Dr. Downs addressing our group Friday evening.
Fellow pastors and classmates
Truly, there is no greater joy than serving the Lord. May you discover the strengths placed within you by our Lord and the gifts of His Holy Spirit and walk in them as you encounter the people in your sphere!