Leaning In To God's Leading

In a conversation recently, we were talking about how when New Year's falls on Friday, by the time we go back to work, it feels like we're behind. Sure enough, as this year began, the sense of being behind tried to creep up on me, bringing it's friend, discouragement.

Thankfully, just two days before the year ended, a friend had invited me to do some strategic planning (complete with a calendar) and so, I have visual proof of progress to throw in the face of discouragement.

Standing in front of that calendar, it dawned on me that our invisible God also provides proof to throw in the face of discouragement. Visible proof in His Word, in the incarnate Christ, and through the work of His Spirit. Additionally, as we make time to be still in His Presence, we can shore up our proof- leaning in to God's leading- by inviting Him to speak to us.

It does require giving God our undivided attention and being disciplined about it. Let's pray that for each other this week- that God would lead us to be more disciplined about giving God our undivided attention, the He might deploy us to the purposes He ordained for us before the world began.

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.     1 John 1-3 

For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.      Ephesians 2:10

One Resolution That Makes ALL Others Possible

New Year. New Start. New Resolutions.

How many Resolutions are too many? How many will last more than the first week?

Many of us are list makers and yet we get carried away as the New Year starts and then we have the let down that comes from not making a resolution happen. The most notorious of these is "losing those 20 pounds".

As Leaders, we are often in a position to call the priorities for those whose work with us, especially those we lead. Isn't that what a resolution really is- a change in priority? Repositioning something to a new place of attention and focus?

When I'm called into an organization to turn around a team or a business process, the first thing we do it set the priorities and establish key measurements. We set no more than three priorities and then we focus on the one that drives the others.

All of our New Years Resolutions are driven by just one: Our resolve to seek God first, then God will meet us at the point of all the other resolutions. Inviting God in is the one game changer.

Join me in this challenge to seek God first, inviting Him to have His way and buckle up for this New Year.

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness,

and allthese things will be given to you as well.  Matthew 6:33 NIV (italics added)

and here in The Message:

Steep yourlife in God- reality, God- initiative, God- provisions.

Don't worry about missing out.

Multiplying Our Turkey and Dressing

 

Our Thanksgiving Traditions. Some of the things we share in our team meetings this time of year are listed here, and a few of them could launch other conversations over the long weekend:

• What is your favorite Thanksgiving food? Which leads to:
• What is your favorite Thanksgiving sweet? Then we switch it up...
• What one thing are you most thankful for this year in your life?
• What one thing are you most thankful for in your work life?
• What is your fondest Thanksgiving memory?

Around the dinner table, we bring our food traditions and other traditions. Even pre-dinner traditions: in the family I grew up in, it's one of the few times we pray over a meal.

Preparing means pulling together a grocery list which leads to Publix.  Strategically navigating through that sea of shoppers, I passed the seafood section. And at that moment, the sight of the fish laying out on the ice made me think of how Jesus took five loaves and just two fish, looked up to heaven, gave thanks, broke the loaves, and fed five thousand (more actually, see below) and had twelve baskets of leftovers. 

I wonder what He could do with our 15lb. turkey and assorted side dishes? And what about twelve baskets of leftovers? What a demonstration His power inserted into the everyday. He takes what we have, however meager it may seem, speaks over it the spices of heaven and changes everything!

As we gather this year, all across our great country, let's ask Jesus to multiply not only our turkey and dressing and everything we have and are as well...and see here that journey leads.

“We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered. “Bring them here to me,” he said. And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.  Matthew 14:17-21