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Tag: Inspire
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. Share on X
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.
His Majesty’s Service
When I consider how marvelous GOD—The One True & Living God, Creator of the Universe and all that is in it—truly is, I am overwhelmed by His greatness and His majesty!
When I focus on the truth of who God is, my frustration about the temporal is completely removed, and my heart is stirred to consider GOD, and GOD only.
He is my Creator, Redeemer, Counselor, Healer, Comforter, Keeper, Security, Protector, Peace, Joy, and so much more! He is my Sovereign King and Lord!
Consider these words from Job about GOD: “He stretches out the north over empty space and hangs the earth on nothing.” (Job 26:7 NAS)
GOD, JEHOVAH, does not require support nor affirmation. He set the sun, moon, stars, and planets into place, and their orbits into motion. He set the laws of nature, tides, and seasons. HE is all-sufficient, in and of Himself.
He is love. He is righteousness. He is justice and judge of all creation.
Therefore, God is all the support and affirmation we need. When we choose to follow Him, we choose to walk with Him rather than against Him. We choose to abide by the Law He sets forth rather than rebel against it. Being with Him, we are able to see how He walks alongside us and has His hand upon our lives.
Because of this, because of who HE is, HE is worthy of all our worship and praise.
May I choose always, by my spirit and in action, to praise Him with my whole heart! May I choose always, by my spirit and in action, to worship Him with all that I am! May I choose always, by my spirit and in action, to be in service to Him …
… All For His Glory!
