Back to Work

"Back to work. It was a normal day in the office. Normal meaning that I sat and intended to pray and study and get some of my desk cleared and didn't do anything that I set out to do because of meetings and pressing ministry needs that arose."

Can you identify with my quote from last year? I am sure you can in one way or another. You had plans. You intended to get something done. You were going to make it happen. 

Then you got busy. 

It happens to all of us. We get distracted with the day and pressing things interrupt our best laid plans. This is okay every now and then. We need to be flexible. Stuff happens. The problem that we all know far too well is that this is a regular occurrence. It becomes the norm. 

So we live with our dreams and desires on the shelf we label "When I have time..." and there they sit collecting dust. 

Or not. 

Isn't it time for a change? Aren't you sick of living an unfulfilled life? I know I can't stand having dreams and desires that look like empty rooms in my house. (This expression comes from the fact that I really need to print some photos on canvas and metal and decorate the house I have lived in for a year and a half so it looks like someone lives there...too much info?) 

So how do we change it? Glad you asked. 

It starts with the priority. How valuable is that dream or desire? If the desire is to have a prayer and study time in the morning with the Lord before you start your day you better lose some sleep or go where you can't be interrupted. I recently fasted two hours of sleep every morning for ten days and gave that time to the Lord. It totally revived me. I had fresh prayers, my journal was filled with insights from the Lord and I just had better days. In fact I made breakfast for the family two mornings in a row. Not just cereal either, it was bacon and eggs and then Dutch Babies on another day. (If you don't know what Dutch Babies are you need to start living.) Sure I was tired but the benefit far outweighed the loss of sleep. 

Our priorities will drive our actions. This means saying no to things that would distract us. This also means strategic planning for what we want. I had a plan to wake up early. I am still waking up earlier than I was before my fast and putting the priority on giving God the first part of my day. It was like a reset for me. 

For you it may be a different time of day is when you set aside for your priorities. Maybe it is setting aside time to be distracted. What a thought! If e-mail is a distraction why not give yourself an hour just for e-mail and then discipline yourself to stay away for the rest of your day? It just might work. 

The staying power of all this is consistency. The commitment without consistency is not a real commitment at all. It is just a dusty whim on the shelf. Stay after it. If you get off then get back on. Don't beat yourself up but rather discipline yourself. There is a huge difference. On defeats and deflates you the other will propel you and pump you up. 

Take some time to dream this week and write down what you really want from life. Is it more time in the word and prayer? Is it more family time? Is it a more productive work day? Whatever it is, and it may be a lot of things, place numbers or values next to the items you listed in order of priority. Then ask God to help you with a plan of action. Look for the distractions and overcome them before you get distracted by them. Also you may want to involve a spouse or friend as an accountability partner to keep you focused. I know I need that in my life! 

This year let's not stay with the norm, let's grow to new heights!

Day 282 - A Small Church With A Lot of People

"Small church hospitality with the large church opportunity. We need the best of both worlds. It is possible."

These thoughts are really notes from what I was crafting regarding our church staff and volunteers attitude towards our members and guests. We have a church in a rough area. At times it is difficult to have a gentle approach when confronted with some of the issues that come on our campus. Regardless, we need to still have the right approach to our people. There are times we have to say no but it must be done in the right spirit. 

What we concluded after wrestling with these issues is that this year of 2015 we were going to love people more and do church better. That included accommodating our members and guests. We needed to streamline processes and make it easy to be connected and involved. 

We are not perfect at this and the change is still taking place. Just today I heard of instances in two separate ministries that needed adjustments. The good thing is that we are noticing it and making the changes. 

Really the problem and the solution are found in one word: family. If we know that the problem is because we are too familiar with our family then we need to love one another and overlook offenses because we are family. In the Bible we are told to treat our elders as father and mothers, young women as sisters and young men as brothers. We are the family of God. All brothers and sisters in the Lord. 

Families can have their issues. Especially large ones. But family also has the closest bond of all, blood. We are bound together by the blood of Jesus. We are family and we need to stick together, love one another and prefer one another above our own interests. 

What would a church, business or home look like if we truly started doing this? What are some practical ways to do this?

Day 247 - Leadership Awareness

"He had a good insight that the one word to be a good leader was awareness."

Leaders should know and be aware of their sphere of responsibility. The Bible says we should know the state of our flocks. What has been entrusted to us can only be effective if we know what is going on. 

As a leader myself I require all the information before I make a decision. Many things are effected when you make changes. The question is always bigger than the immediate need. It goes into other areas. Like a domino that when you push it over topples over a line of others leaders need to know what their decisions will do and be able to see ahead. 

When I have been heading in a direction and become aware of new information and the whole picture I have found that many times it will either change the direction or the approach. It all hinges on my awareness. It is no one else's responsibility for my awareness. I will often go to the departments and ask questions or walk into areas just to see what we are talking about so that I can make intelligent decisions. 

Without awareness you will be shooting in the dark. It doesn't matter if you are managing a Fortune 500 company or managing your home, if you are not aware you won't be able to effectively manage. Ask the right questions, limit distractions and find out the whole story. 

What are some things good leaders should be aware of? How can we become more aware of the state of our homes, businesses and organizations?

Day 161 - God's Business

"We had an estimate for our blinds to be repaired on the back door. It seemed like we got taken because the lady gave us a price we thought included installation but then she added $99 for installation. We just went ahead with it and I prayed that if it was the wrong price The Lord would reveal it."

I think we all could say that at one time or another we have been taken on a business deal or in a purchase. It makes you angry doesn't it? 

As a Christian it makes it even harder to be a shrewd business man or woman. There is an expectation that we are to turn the other cheek and let people wrong us without any recourse. Additionally you have a witness to uphold. If you misuse or abuse people in business they won't want to have anything to do with your God. 

So often it feels like you are a sheep being sent out among wolves. But isn't that what Jesus said anyway? If that is the way it is in our Christian walk then why would it be different in business. I can't tell you how many times I have been mistreated or had to turn the other cheek in business or purchases. God has always taken care of me. He is the best business partner you could ever have. 

After all the extra money I have spent to maintain my witness and keep my integrity I have lacked for nothing. God always makes up the difference. We have lived tight from time to time but we have never lacked. You can trust Him. Your good name is worth more than an extra $99. 

Have you ever had to pay more because you were keeping your Christian witness or upholding your word? Are there any other principles of business this could apply to?