daily devotional
-
-
Catching A Vision For The Future
-
Gather The Girls Together!
-
God’s Got BIG Plans For You!
-
Nehemiah–Wash Behind Your Hears
-
Leadership Leads… Good or Bad
“...from the prophets of Jerusalem ungodliness has spread throughout the land.” Jeremiah 23:15 NIV
All my John Maxwell training is going to be put to the test in three and a half weeks when I’ll be moderating a panel on Leadership at the Women’s Connection District Retreat in Grimsby, Ontario. {If you’re going, make sure to stop by my table and say hello!}
I have some amazing ladies on the panel who hold various organizational leadership roles in business, government positions, church leadership, and home management. The goal is to elevate the confidence of women in leadership positions and practically help improve their skills, enabling them to walk further and faster into the destiny God has for their lives.
As we’ve been preparing for the panel, I can’t help but look back and rate my skillfulness as a leader. Lots of passes, and plenty of fails. My thoughts went back to my first leadership position as a big sister. 🙂
Sometimes, my little sister, Lori would follow me around playing ‘Copycat’. Remember that annoying childhood game where people followed you around; often one-step behind you, repeating every word you said, copying move you made? Lori used to drive me crazy doing this! Thankfully, we’ve grown up and now have a great relationship! {Don’t we look cute together now 🙂 } As a “big sister” I hope I’ve given Lori more good examples to follow than bad ones! No matter how small your leadership role may seem, it will have a huge impact because
Leadership Leads…Good or Bad!
RECOGNIZING YOUR REACH
Sometimes we minimize the effect our leadership has in the home, school, court, field, rink, church or place of employment. Whenever God has elevated you to a place of leadership, people are going to follow in your footsteps—It’s a scary thing!
A friend once said to me,
“I was forced to go to church and I won’t put my kids through that.
I don’t want them to be forced to live what I believe but to be able to choose for themselves.”Since she never took her kids to church, they simply followed her lead and have seldom gone to church because they were never given another option to choose from. Failure to give guidance is, in fact, leading, since it causes people to blindly follow your example and not know why.
[tweetthis]You’re leading, even when you try not to lead. #leadership [/tweetthis]
Our leadership in life is followed,
much more than we recognize.Today’s verse comes from the book of Jeremiah. In his time, many of the prophets weren’t leading well. They weren’t proclaiming God’s word to the people, but instead speaking what they knew the people wanted to hear, so they would keep following them… following them down the wrong path.
These false prophets were sharing a watered-down message with false hopes that led the people to be disappointed in God; causing them to turn away from Him. Jeremiah had to swim against the tide of his time as their poisonous message,
“spread throughout the land”.
Leadership was difficult for Jeremiah, but he knew his responsibility was to clear the path for others, so they could follow the right way; because
[tweetthis]Leadership Leads… Good or Bad #leadership[/tweetthis]
So, what’s going to spread in the future as people follow you?
Prayer
Father… I’m overwhelmed when I recognize that you have given me such influence in my world. Help me to be wise with my words and actions so that my life impacts others to know and love you more! May others follow your plans for their lives as they see me chasing after the destiny you’ve set before me. In Jesus name…Amen
I WILL RISE
Women’s Connection Conferencehttps://womensconnection.ca/events/conference
If you’re in the area, I hope you’ll join us
Don’t forget to sign up for the Leadership Panel}.
- Ephesians 1:5
- Hebrews 13:7
- James 3:1
- 1 Timothy 4:12
If you liked the refreshing in this #SoulH2O devotion, you’ll love my latest Soul H2O Devotional book: 40 Thirst Quenching Devotions for Women.
#Dare2Share
Post in the Comment Section below and bolster the faith of someone else!
Other posts about my journey with John C. Maxwell, the JMTeam, or John’s Books:
John C. Maxwell And God Want You To Be A Talent-Plus Person
Mentored to Lead by John C. Maxwell
WHERE YOU CAN OFTEN FIND ME LINKING UP MY BLOG WITH OR PLACES WHERE MY WRITING HAS BEEN FEATURED
-
Divine Multiplication
“one man chase a thousand, or two put ten thousand to flight.”
Deuteronomy 32:30 NIV“Five of you will chase a hundred, and a hundred of you will chase ten thousand, and your enemies will fall…”
Leviticus 26:8 NIVDo you remember the Faberge Organics Commercial with Heather Locklear? She loved their shampoo so much that she told two friends, and they told two friends, and so on, and so on…until the screen was covered with faces? (For those too young to remember there’s a link to see the commercial at the bottom!) This infamous commercial teaches that profound mathematic phenomenon called multiplication. It’s an amazing thing, but not as incredible as divine multiplication that’s somewhat like compound interest!
These scriptures hint at the power of divine multiplication producing unity. In life you can only do so much on your own, but when you join forces with others you can do so much more! The Bible is full of examples where people worked together and saw greater results then when they worked on their own. I have seen in my own life how God has multiplied the effectiveness of what I could do by partnering me with others. Working alongside Todd seems to have engaged that phenomenon of divine multiplication that we know is producing a greater influence than we could see on our own.
So ask yourself, “Who does God desire to unite you with to create a greater kingdom impact for Him?” Don’t be a Lone Ranger. You might be able to accomplish some good things, but your efforts will kick into the divine multiplication realm “when we all work together” as the song is sung!
Prayer
Father…You don’t desire for me to live this journey of life by myself, but in partnership with others. Help me to open my eyes and see clearly those you have placed in my life to partner with and those you do not. May the unity of my partnerships multiply Your glory! In Jesus Name…Amen
Heather Locklear in the original Faberge Organics Commercials on Youtube
-
Encircle
“Mountains encircle Jerusalem, and God encircles his people—always has and always will.”
Psalm 125:2 MSGOne of the best perks of being a mom is getting and giving hugs! When my kids were little and would get hurt they would always come running to me for a squeeze. A cuddle seemed to help everything from cuts to bullies on the playground. Like a big hug, God desires to ENCIRCLE us in His care.
So often the enemy wants us to feel like we’re outnumbered…on the losing side…all alone, but feelings aren’t always in line with reality. This verse brings us back to the truth of where we are and where God is. The writer of this Psalm is speaking to a people who have known what it was like to be encircled by their enemies, and attacked from all sides. God wanted his people to be confident that He was encircling them. Just as God opened the eyes of Elisha’s servant to see the host of angels protecting him from his enemies, God desires for your spiritual eyes to be opened so you know that He has you surrounded!
Let God ENCIRCLE you today. Close your eyes and feel His warm embrace. Know He’s watching over, protecting and loving you—always has and always will!
Prayer
Father…I’m overwhelmed to think that the God of the Universe wants to hold little ‘ole me! May I allow you to encircle me, and shield me from all the enemy would try and do to take me down. Let me walk in the confidence of your protection and love as I feel your embrace. In Jesus Name…Amen!
Book Signing–Tuesday!
ICRS (International Christian Retail Show)
Tuesday, June 30th 4-5pm
Anchor Distributing Booth #211 -
Choose Your Words Wisely
“You have wearied the LORD with your words…”
Malachi 2:17 NIVCHOOSE YOUR WORDS WISELY
“…How have we wearied him?” you ask…” (Malachi 2:17 NIV) Speaking negatively when God has declared goodness wears our Father out! God is making me keenly aware that sometimes my words wear Him out! Do your words?
REPORTING RIGHT
Let’s take a look at a great example in the Bible of the effects words can have. After the Red Sea crossing, God directed Moses to send out 12 leaders to check out how good the land really was that He was bringing them into. 10 spies came back and gave reports full of fear; two gave reports full of faith. All ten who gave a bad report died in the desert. The two who spoke positively; Joshua and Caleb lived and were blessed in the Promised Land. It took a long time, but their words bore good, juicy fruit.
So ask yourself today. What are your words doing? Are they making God tired or are they giving Him the root to bear good fruit in your life?
Prayer
Father…help me to guard what comes out of my mouth. I give you permission to “Set a guard over my mouth, LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips.” (Ps 141:3 NIV) May my words be followed by fruit. In Jesus Name…Amen
[tweetthis]What are your words doing? Are they making God tired or are they giving Him the root to bear good fruit in your life?[/tweetthis]
-
Come Close
“The LORD spoke to you face to face out of the fire on the mountain. (At that time I stood between the LORD and you to declare to you the word of the LORD, because you were afraid of the fire and did not go up the mountain.)
Deuteronomy 5:4-5 NIVHave you ever heard the saying, ‘You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink’? The Israelites were like a horse led to water that refused to drink. God had called them to come close so He could speak to them, but they refused his invitation.
The scripture surrounding this verse in Deuteronomy gives more detail to the recounting of a time in the life of Israel when God desired to meet with His people. Moses told the Israelites God’s plans and they responded saying, “We will do everything the LORD has said.” (Ex 19:7) First, they were to prepare themselves to hear from God with a ceremonial cleansing—so, they bathed! Second, God would come down to Mount Sinai; smoke and fire would be all around. Limits were to be put around the mountain to ensure no one came close for three days so—they obeyed. During those three days they could actually hear God’s voice giving Moses the Ten Commandments!- Then, after the three days God had invited them all to go up the mountain. God wanted to meet with all of his people, but they were afraid and refused. The Israelites told God they were content to hear what He had to say through Moses, but they wouldn’t come up the mountain. How very sad for God to be rejected by the people He loved.
This morning God woke me up very early. I sensed Him calling me to come close so I could hear from Him. I believe His encouragement is the same for you today. His desire is for you to come close and listen to His voice.
Prayer
Father…Life is so very busy and it’s easy to stay distracted. Help me to find a quiet place and allow you to speak into my life so that I am refreshed. May my time with you be sweet. Take away all fear and help me to open my ears and my heart to you! In Jesus Name…Amen