Develop your Call

The Call of God is His responsibility, the development of it is yours.

Has God put a Call on your life?  If so, what are you doing with it?  We need to develop what God has entrusted to us.  We do that by stepping out using the gifts, abilities and resources we have for His Glory.  Don't be like the servant who was given a "talent" from His master and then buried it.  Jesus called that guy, wicked and lazy!  Ouch!  Start where you are...Use what you have...Do what you can. How are you developing what you have been given?

oil and water

Growth and comfort are 2 words that mix as well as oil and water.  Growth requires change and change  causes friction and friction leads to pain.  As a leader, we should constantly be growing through reading, listening, coaching, being mentored, etc.  Then there are "forced growth opportunities."  These are the instances where we go through difficult situations that ultimately shape us....if we let them.

whirlwind

I left last Friday morning and headed to speak the Michigan Youth Convention Friday night and Saturday as well.  God showed up big with these hungry students.  Then got back Saturday night to be ready for our 3 services, which we had another great Sunday.  The whirlwind just finished this morning by speaking the Gahanna Christian Academy chapel.  I am wiped out, but amazed and honored to be a part of what God is doing.

me to we

I believe that one of keys to leading is to move from "me" to "we."  Nothing drives me more crazy then when I hear a leader talking about his church, organization, etc and using the words "I" or "me."  The truth is, no one can accomplish anything great without the help of others.  As leaders, we need to realize that and give away ownership and credit where it is due.  The simplest way to do that is by using the word "WE."

create your future

"The only way to predict the future is to create it." - Mark Batterson

We have been made in the image of God, who is THE CREATOR.  He has been gracious enough to give us the power to create.  This means we have the ability to create a great marriage, an incredible ministry, the list can go on and on.  Why wait for things to fall apart before we do something about it.  Get a picture of things that God would desire to bless and go after them!  What are you currently creating?

what do you have?

I think many times we get so focused on what we don't have.  We compare ourselves with others who may have more gifts or resources and therefore do nothing with what we have.  The real question is what do you have and are you doing all that you can with that?  Whether God has given you 5, 2 or 1 talents, you and I will be held accountable from God on what we have been given us.  So whatever you have, use it all for the glory of GOD....and He might just give you more!

adjustments

We won the city softball league our church played in, by going undefeated this year!  This was the first season that we have went undefeated in a pretty tough league.  One thing I have learned about softball is that momentum shifts quickly and a game can be blown open by just one mistake.  But what I have also witnessed is that 2 teams with close to the same talent will be one or lost by the team who can adjust the fastest.  Whether it is positioning ourselves to shutdown their strengths or exploiting their weaknesses.  The team that can adjust quickly and effectively will win.

Life is the same way and we all need to constantly adjust, whether to season of life, marriage, children, work, etc.  In what area of your life do you need to adjust to be more effective?