Where Are You Going and How Are You Going To Get There? Part 2 – I Can Figure It Out Myself

So have you ever been driving and you think you know where you’re going. But in actuality, you have no clue?  Or maybe the GPS is telling you where to go. But obviously is as clueless as you are. It keeps saying, “Please make a legal u-turn,” as you continue driving in circles.

Even though your back seat driver insists you should stop and ask for directions, you are determined to keep pushing on.  You think if you just drive long enough, surely you will recognize something or see a sign that gets you back on track.

This happens all the time for friends coming to our house in the country. If you don’t know where you are going, you can drive for hours and never find the house.

Why is it that we are so determined to try and figure it out ourselves? 

Why are we so hesitant to stop and ask for help?  (You know who you are!)

Is it because we think we should know where we are going?  Maybe we’ve even been down this road before, so we should remember? Is it a sign of weakness or even failure to admit we don’t know? 

Are we concerned others will think we don’t know what we’re doing? (I bet they already know. They’re either in the car or waiting for you to arrive.)  Or do we not want to be a bother by asking others for help?

Isn’t it awesome that our Heavenly Father knew we’d need lots of help!  He sent Holy Spirit on special assignment to be our Helper!  He always knows we’re we are going and how to get there.  All we have to do is ask! 

So next time instead of saying, “I can figure it out myself.”  Save a lot of time and frustration.  Stop and say, “Holy Spirit, Help!”

Think About It

• Where do you need direction?
• What are you trying to figure out?
• What is causing you stress right now?
• What is the Lord saying to you about your situation?

Now Do Something About It

• Ask for Help!  (Either the Holy Spirit or maybe you need to ask a person!)
• Spend time praying in the Holy Spirit.
• Spend time reading scriptures to build your confidence that God is leading you in the right direction
          Jeremiah 29:11, Proverbs 3:5-6,
          Phil 4:6-9, I John 4:16-19,
          Matthew 6:25-34, Matthew 11:28-30
• Stop trying to figure everything out.

Say this out loud:

“Holy Spirit, Help. Thank you Lord for leading and guiding me every step of the way. You know what you are doing, so I am not going to try to figure it out. I trust you with my life. I hear and do what you tell me to do when you tell me to do it. I will always be in the right place at the right time with the right people doing the right thing. I know you love me and you have great plans for my life.”

 

John 14:26-27  (AMP)

26 But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you.

27 Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.]

“Don’t be shy about asking for help.  It doesn’t mean you’re weak, it only means you’re wise.” --Unknown

Where Are You Going and How Are You Going To Get There? Part 1 - Better Than GPS

It seems like there are so many people in transition right now. You’re leaving what is comfortable and stepping out into the unknown. 

That can be really unsettling and honestly -- even scary.  It can be especially difficult to those of us who like to have a plan before moving forward.

 

That’s why a GPS is the coolest thing.  If you are like me, your entire trip is mapped out before you leave home.
 

You can enter your destination (because you always know where you want to go…right?). 

Then the navigation system, gives you the option of which route to choose. Do you want the shortest route?  Or the fastest?  Do you want to avoid toll roads?  Which towns do you want to go through?  

It will tell you how many miles to your destination and what time you will arrive. You can track each step of your progress along the way.  You always know where you are and when you’ll get to the next place on the way to where you are headed.  You know how far you’ve come and how far you have left to go.

If only life could be that easy!

What if you didn’t know exactly where you were going? 

And what if you for sure didn’t know how in the world to get there. 

What do you do then?

As simple as this sounds, and as hard as it is, you’ve got to trust God!  He knows exactly where you are going.  He knows exactly how to get you there.  He knows when you need to be there.  He knows where the hazardous conditions are and which paths to avoid.  And He knows what you need to have when you arrive at your destination.

Unlike your typical GPS, He often takes you on the scenic route.  There are things He wants you to see.  There are people He wants you to meet.  There is experience He wants you to gain and lessons He wants you to learn.  All of this will prepare you and equip you for what He has ahead.

So instead of insisting on the shortest or the fastest route, let’s sit back and enjoy the ride.  It’s not just about the destination, it’s about the journey. 

Think About It

• What are you trying to figure out?
• What is causing you stress right now?
• What is the Lord saying to you about your situation?

Now Do Something About It

• Spend time praying in the Holy Spirit.
• Spend time reading scriptures to build your confidence that God is leading you in the right direction
                  Jeremiah 29:11, Proverbs 3:5-6,
                  Phil 4:6-9, I John 4:16-19,
                  Matthew 6:25-34,  Matthew 11:28-30
• Stop trying to figure everything out.

Say this out loud:

“Thank you Lord for leading and guiding me every step of the way.  You know what you are doing, so I am not going to try to figure it out.  I trust you with my life.  I hear and do what you tell me to do when you tell me to do it.   I will always be in the right place at the right time with the right people doing the right thing.  I know you love me and you have great plans for my life.” 

Proverbs 3:5-6 (MSG)Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own.  Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; He’s the one who will keep you on track.

“Enjoy where you are on the way to where you are going.” – Joyce Meyer

Is Gratitude Part Of Your DNA?

Dissatisfaction, discontentment & ungratefulness are running rampant in our world today.  The media is consumed with painting a picture of the perfect person, (with the perfect body and the perfect personality), having the perfect family, driving the perfect car, living in the perfect house, and working in the perfect job.

When you compare yourself to all that, it is almost impossible not to become discouraged.

I will have to say, that growing up, I was one of the most ungrateful people on earth. While my single parent mom, worked her fingers to the bones trying to make sure my brother and I were provided for and happy, I was never satisfied. No matter what the accomplishment, I was always striving for more. And I constantly blamed others for my unhappiness.

After stressing and wearing myself out, I finally gave up trying. I realized God really did love me just the way I was. I didn't have to lose one more pound or accomplish one more thing. He loves me simply because He loves me. He also loves all those others around me -- no matter what they did or didn't do.

A friend of mine always said, "Thankfulness builds a reservoir of contentment.”

A reservoir is a natural or artificial place where water is collected and stored for use, especially water for supplying a community, irrigating land, furnishing power. A place where anything is collected or accumulated in great amount.

So think about it. As you begin to thank God and others for every little thing you can think of, contentment starts accumulating. Your contentment reservoir begins filling up. It's contentment that begins powering your life. Your mind is at ease. Striving and depression stop. Peace, satisfaction and fulfillment come. Sounds pretty good, huh?
Believe me -- if I can do it, so can you!

Here are the 6 Steps to Cultivate a Heart of Gratitude.

1.    Believe and receive the unconditional love God has for you.

2.    Stop comparing yourself to others. God made you unique and special.

3.    Stop striving and pushing yourself and others.
4.    Shift your focus off the disappointments or what you don't have.
5.    Make a list and on purpose focus on things you can be thankful for.
6.    Start thanking God and others every day.

• Yep that means out loud. Every day. Even multiple times throughout the day.
• Don't bring up the negative. Just say, "Thank you for ___________.

This will be hard at first.  Because you are programmed to see the negative or what you don't have, you will have to reboot and reprogram.

You may have to work at finding things to be thankful for.  At first it may hard to think of anything. Eventually, everywhere you look, you will see that you are surrounded by people & things to be grateful for.

The same thing will happen to you that happened to me.  Gratefulness and gratitude will become a core value & part of your DNA.

 Think About It

•  What are the things you can be thankful for?

o   Are you healthy? If not is there a part of your body that doesn't hurt? For sure you are breathing. Start there.

o   Is the sun shining? Or is rain watering the ground. Can you breathe the fresh air?

o   What is something you can be thankful for about those around you? Start with one thing, and then add to your list.

Now Do Something About It

•  Follow the 6 Steps to Cultivate a Heart of Gratitude.

Philippians 4:6-9 (MSG)

[6-7] Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life. [8-9] Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious---the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.

Calling All Leaders

Calling all leaders. What do you think about when you hear that? Do you think, "Hey, that's me?" Or do you think, "She must be talking about someone else because I'm no leader."

 

If you are alive and breathing (and you are since you are reading this), then I am definitely talking about you.

 

Often times we view leadership as a title or position. But it's not. Leadership is influence. Good leaders will gain in influence beyond a position.  So whether or not you think you are a leader, all of us have the opportunity to influence those around us.

 

Think about it. Have you ever known a teacher or a boss who had the "title" of leader? Then there was that student or employee whom everyone followed. That's who had the influence. Title or no title, that's who the actual leader was.

 

So whether you are the head of a large corporation, a department lead, a teacher or coach -- you are a leader.

 

If you are a stay at home mom or a grandmother, you are influencing those children -- you are a leader.

 

If you are a student or have brothers, sisters, classmates or neighbors -- believe me, they are watching how you live your life -- you are a leader.

 

If you are an hourly employee with coworkers you see every day, you can influence their lives -- you are a leader.

 

If you are like my favorite cashier at our small town grocery store, who says, "God bless you" to everyone who goes through her line – you are a leader.

 

So be like our cashier. Think of the influence she has. I wonder who has come into that grocery store heart broken or hopeless and left with hope because of that sweet cashier.

She on purpose influences and blesses everyone who comes in. My friends, that is influence! That is leadership!

 

So whether you have the title or not, make a decision today to be intentional with your influence. Answer the call and make a difference in someone's life.

 

Think About It

• Who will you come in contact with this week?
• Who are the people with which you have influence?

Now Do Something About It

• Take time to make someone's day.
• Go out of your way to ask someone, "How can I help you?"
• Meet regularly with a young person, coworker or friend.

 

“The only thing a title can buy is a little time – either to increase your level of influence with others or erase it.”  --John Maxwell



Dream On!

How many times have you heard someone say, "Dream on"? 

When they said that, it wasn't to encourage you to actually -- dream. What they meant was, "Yeah right. That's never going to happen." 

But, I am saying to you today, "Dream On!" 

And I'm saying, "Dream Big!" 

You know who else says that to us?  Our Daddy, God.  And not only does He tell us to dream, He says that no matter how big we can dream, He will do even more!

Check out Ephesians 3:20.  The Amplified says, He is "able to carry out His purpose and do superabundantly, far over and above all that we dare ask or think, infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams."

The Message says, "God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams!"

Sounds like He is definitely for dreaming!

So Dream On!

If you haven't dreamed in awhile, then dust off your dreamer and start dreaming again.  If you have been dreaming, then dream BIGGER!  Spend time every day imagining the endless & unlimited possibilities.  And then expect God to do greater than that!  Because He will!

 

Think About It 

·         What would you do if you weren’t concerned about what others think? 

·         What you would want to do if money were no option? 

·         What would you do if there were NO LIMITS? 

Now Do Something About It 

·         Begin writing down your Big Dreams.

·         Begin taking steps toward accomplishing your Big Dreams.

·         Set goals with timelines.

·         EVERY day spend time praying about and working on your dreams.

“Your dreams could be God’s answer to the world!” –Sandi Krakowski

Add Value

Add value is such a common term used in the marketplace today. Usually it refers to increasing the value or worth of a product or a service.  Ultimately it is about increasing revenues or profits.

As leaders, if people are our greatest resource -- which they are -- then wouldn't it make sense that adding value to people should be our number one priority?

So what does that mean? 

 It’s really simple. 

You add value to people when you truly value them.  If you don’t value them, then bottom line, you will devalue them.

When you add value to people you are literally increasing their value, worth or importance.  You invest in them to become the very best they can be.  You do whatever you can to help them achieve what they were placed on this earth to do.

I hear from so many great people from all types of companies how devalued they are.  They are unappreciated, underutilized and have leaders who attempt to motivate with fear. 

You will shine if you are a leader who values others. 

Take time to find out what’s important to them.  Help them achieve their goals.  Believe in them.  Encourage and affirm them. Listen to, care about and love them.  Help them grow and impart to them.  Ask, “What can I do for you?”  “How can I help you?”  Then do it!

If you do this, not only will you add value to others, you will become invaluable!

 Think About It

• Who can you add value to?  A family member?  A friend?  A coworker?  A fellow student?  A team member?   A teacher?  A boss?

Do Something About It

• This week intentionally add value to someone!

 I’d love to hear your comments on what you have done to add value to others.

“Leadership isn’t how far we advance ourselves, but how far we advance others”  –John Maxwell



You Really CAN Make a Difference!

I read this story years ago. I think about it when I am having one of those days where I wonder if what I do really makes a difference.

(Modified from the original story, "The Star Thrower,"
by Loren Eisley)

One day a man was walking along the beach when he noticed
a boy picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean.
Approaching the boy, he asked, “What are you doing?”

The young man paused, looked up, and replied, “Throwing starfish into the ocean. The surf is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them back, they’ll die.”  “Son,” the man said, “don’t you realize there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish?

You can’t possibly make a difference!” 

After listening politely, the boy bent down, picked up yet another starfish, and threw it back into the surf. As it met the water, he said,
"I made a difference to that one!”

You may be a student, a stay at home mom, a cashier, an electrician or a salesman. You may think your influence is insignificant. You may feel like what you do really doesn't matter.

Well it does...or it could.

You may not be the next Sam Walton, Sarah Palin, Emmit Smith or Reinhard Bonnke. But you could be their mom, their classmate, their boss, their neighbor or the person who leads them to Christ.

We can get so busy and caught up with our own "stuff."  Each day, we can pass people by and not even notice them. Or we could stop and take time to make a difference in just one person's life.

The next time you are tempted to think, "what difference does it make?" -- remember the boy and the starfish. You CAN make a difference in someone's life. Do it on purpose. Do it today.