The Door

We all have opportunities and choices to make in life. Some of us have many doors that are opened for us to choose to walk in. Other of us are invited or pulled in while many have doors closed right in their face. These doors are opportunities or choices we make. When we choose the right door, good things will happen. When we choose the wrong door, we will suffer the consequences. We need to plan ahead and know what doors we want to walk through in life.

Decide on the door – Doors are opportunities in life. We have to know what we want before we can choose a door. If we don’t know what we want we will find ourselves going through many doors than lead to nowhere in particular. Sometimes we have to go through doors that lead nowhere to know what it is we really want to do. So we must first know what we want.

New doors – There are occasions when new doors appear out of nowhere. We have to be flexible and open enough to know that new doors are sometimes new opportunities where God wants to use us. He may see opportunities we don’t see where we can use our skills and talents to help others. So we should be open to other doors that may be opened

Be ready to walk in – Being prepared to enter when that door is opened is key. If we wait around and spend most of our life procrastinating we will miss that opened door. We have to know that others are ready and willing to enter these doors. If we wait too late the door will either close or someone else will go in first. So we should prepare now before the door opens.

Whatever the door that is front of us right now, we need to be sure that we are prepared for this door. We need to be sure that we have decided to handle whatever is on the other side of that door. And we can choose to walk away from that door and not go in. Sometimes we are surprised. Sometimes we are ready. Whatever door we choose, we need to be ready to use it for the glory of God.

As leaders, we need to know that doors will come and go. As leaders, we need to know that preparation is key to going through the right door. As leaders, we need to choose our doors wisely. We never know who will see us go through that door. We never know what others will follow us. That is why it is so important to know what we want, have a plan and be ready for anything. The door we choose should be one that will help others on earth and create the riches God has planned for us in Heaven.

What can we do today to grow our leadership and prepare for the doors we want to enter?

 

Priorities and Limits

If someone were to ask us what we needed to do today, we would probably pull out a long list of things we feel we needed to get done. Some of the things on the list are things we have been putting off that we should do and some are things we wish to do but don’t really need to do. If we want to be a great leader, we need to learn to make decisions every day about what we really need to accomplish for the day. We need to learn and practice knowing our priorities and knowing our limits.

Prioritizing is the best way to start anything. We need some sort of device or paper to capture all we have to do and then look at what is important for us to do right now. We can then determine what things we simply must do in order to make a difference today. We can eliminate anything that can wait or that we really don’t have to do because we can’t get it all done. We have to know our limits.

Knowing our limits is a little bit harder than prioritizing because that means we have to give up something. If we are honest with ourselves, we know we are not going to be good at everything we need to do. Some things can be delegated to others to do who are better at doing these things than we are. When we let go of the things we can’t do well or don’t want to do, it frees us up to do what is important now for us and allows someone else to do something they enjoy or are really good at.

When we have a long list of things to do but we know we can’t possibly get them all done, we have to look at what is important. Lou Holtz, motivational speaker and coach, says we have to ask ourselves what is important now. We have to ask ourselves what is it we should be doing right now and do it. However, he also says “when all is said and done, more is said than done.” He knows we have limits as well as priorities. We can’t possible get everything done that we want to do.

As leaders, we should know our priorities and our limits. We need to take time to determine what we need to do, what is important now and what we just don’t need to do. There is no reason to feel frustrated or guilty that we can’t get it all done. God knows what we need to do and what we don’t. We can go to Him every day to help us determine what our priorities and limits are.

What things do we need to put first today and what things should we simply let go?

ACTION STEPS:
1. Make a list of ten things you want to do today.
2. Ask God to reveal to you what He wants done.
3. Prioritize your list and focus on your top three.
4. Check off what you can do later or delegate.

Don’t Always Let Others Go First

We have always been told to be polite and let others go first; however, that is not always good advice. If we find we are waiting on someone else to do something that needs to be done, it may never happen. Leadership is about getting things done and sometimes that means we have to step up and be first getting things in motion.

Looking back on powerful leaders in our history such as George Washington, Martin Luther King, Abraham Lincoln, Bill Gates, Benjamin Franklin and others, we can only imagine what may not have been accomplished without them stepping up and going first to make a change for the better
for everyone. We know of great leaders in our work, our communities and in our churches who decide to go first to begin to put things in motion. If it weren’t for them, others may have possibly stepped up, but what if they did not?

There are times when we need to be first. We need to set the example. We need to
step up and take charge. If we don’t and no one else does either, things may stay the same or even get worse. There are things that need to be done just about wherever we go. If others are not stepping up to get those things done, that may be a sign that we need to step up and be first.

Once we have gone first, once we have stepped out and lead by example, we will find that others will follow. We can be the one who goes first and that will be an encouragement to others to get out of their comfort zone and not wait for someone to go first next time. If we have a passion about getting something done, there is no reason to wait for someone else to go first. We can make the first move.

What are some things you are waiting on to get done? Some changes you want to see in your work? In your community? In your life? Decide to be first today and take that first step to make a change. You don’t always have to let others go first. What is your passion? What can you do today to make a difference?

We Are Tested

Probably what makes us stronger in all we do is the situations that come up in our lives, the people we have to deal and the things we say or do to ourselves. We have issues come up at home. We have things go wrong at work. We have our inner voice sometimes chatting away at us telling us we just need to give up or that we are not good enough. When those things happen, we can throw our hands up or we can decide to dig our heels in and get through them. Practicing patience and avoiding temptation can help us through these tests.

Patience is probably the hardest thing to manage in our lives; however, when we practice patience we will become stronger. Having patience when times get tough is a true quality of a leader. Being able to withstand the struggles and stay calm about it knowing it will all work out takes time. We can’t just be willing to wait things out for a few minutes. Some things take days, weeks or even months to work out.

Temptation is another thing we really need to learn to deal with to be a great leader. It is so tempting to do what we feel like doing rather than what is the right thing to do. It is also very easy to do what others think we should do rather than doing the right things. Practicing every time we are tempted to do what is right and not giving in to those who want us to do wrong will help us learn not to give into temptation.

Dealing with temptation and learning patience is an everyday occurrence. There are things in our lives right now where we could easily give up. People, too. However, when we are determined to wait things out and do what is right, the reward will be far greater than we could ever imagine.

James 1:12 “God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.” (NLT)

What can we do differently today to practice patience, endure testing and resist temptation?

Action Steps:
1. Write down what you are dealing with right now in your life.
2. List some ways you can wait on the right answers.
3. Write some ways you can avoid temptations.
4. Trust God to help you practice every day and learn from His direction.

Leadership Inside and Out

Thinking back on the past 30 years, I never really knew much about leadership until the last half of those 30 years. I always thought leadership was something unattainable for me. I thought leadership was something only supervisors and managers were able to attain. I thought it was a role or position in a business and that was where it stopped. At that time, I wasn’t aware that anyone could lead from anywhere.

Most of my life I spent going through motions, doing what others wanted me to do and being the follower rather than the leader. I really didn’t believe I mattered or my life made a difference to anyone. Looking back I can’t believe I went through most of my life doing things to get others to like me rather than finding out what I liked about myself and how I could help others. Instead, I chose to strive to hang out with those who seemed popular.

A change began in me when I realized I had the ability to lead. I was first encouraged to be a leader by someone who didn’t hold a leadership title either. I was encouraged because she believed in me and my abilities. She liked my ideas. She liked what I wanted to do. She encouraged me to do what I wanted to do to help others. From there my confidence grew and I discovered that anyone could be a leader.

Anyone can be a leader. Anyone can make a difference. It just takes a little bit of courage and support from others. It takes a desire to want to make a difference and to know how. We can’t use the excuse anymore that we don’t know how to lead. It starts from within. There are many resources available. Once we begin to want to change, we can reach out and lead others as well.

It happened to me. It can happen to you. Here are some ways to get started:

1. Write down some things you really believe in.
2. List some ways you can make a difference in these areas.
3. Talk with others who will support and encourage you.
4. Begin to take steps toward what you want to do and never give up.

We can begin leading within by mustering up our courage and talking to others about something we want to change. We can set goals to make those changes by finding others who want to make a difference as well. As we grow into leadership, we can bring others along who want to make the same things happen. It can happen and we do have what it takes to be a leader.

What can you to do today to make a difference to others and grow as a leader?

Leading From Within

We can be our own worst enemies. Sometimes we think too much. Sometimes we put ourselves down. Sometimes we treat ourselves worse than we treat others. Maybe it’s time we stop beating ourselves up over things and took time to talk more positively, take care of our bodies and find ways to encourage ourselves to do more. Then we can become a leader to others portraying the self-confidence we need to get things done.

First, we need to look at how we talk to ourselves. How many times do we catch ourselves saying that we aren’t good enough? We don’t know enough? We don’t look as good as we could? The list goes on and on. Our self-talk should be the first thing we change.

Proverbs 23:7 “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” (NKJV)

Next, we need to look at how we take care of ourselves. What things do we do to and put into our bodies. How are we taking care of the bodies God has given us? God only gave us one body so we need to be sure that we do what is best for it so we can give Him our best and we can better serve others.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 “Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.” (NLT)

Finally, we need to look at how we encourage ourselves. Once we talk better to ourselves and take better care of ourselves, then we need to be sure we encourage ourselves along the way knowing that God wants us to succeed and wants to help us.

Joshua 1:9 “This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” (NLT)

God doesn’t want us to be our own worst enemies. God wants us to succeed. To be a great leader, we have to believe in ourselves. We have to know that God has a purpose for us and that we will not fail if we are doing His will. So it’s time to stop beating ourselves us and start lifting up our arms and eyes to God so He can show us what His will is.

Leadership starts from within. Within us God has created a masterpiece. We are unique. We are special. We will slip and we will fall, but God is with us no matter what we do and ready to get us back on track for Him.

Let’s memorize Joshua 1:9 today and say it to ourselves each and every day to remind us that God is with us wherever we go. He thinks we are special and wants us to succeed as a leader.

Leading Through the Battles

A battle is an every day occurrence. Before we can win any war, we have to fight the smaller battles. Every day we have a battle. A battle against living healthier. A battle against making right financial decisions. A battle with those in our work groups. We have struggles every day. We can’t focus on the struggles of winning the war without first focusing on the battles. A leader knows this. Leaders can see the small battles, organize what needs to be done and tackle them every day. However, before tackling the other battles, they have to tackle the battles in their own lives.

If we want to grow as a leader, we must first acknowledge what we are struggling with personally. We must first acknowledge what things we are trying to get done and what is stopping us. We must first find the reasons these things keep coming up in our lives and decide what we are going to do about them every day. Once we determine what we are personally battling with and what actions to take, then we become better leaders to others.

We need to look at our lives. We need to determine what things we are doing that are keeping us from being successful. We need to determine what battles are fighting and what things we are ignoring that are keeping from getting things done. Leadership begins within us. We need to take stock of our lives today and determine what we need to do about our battles. Here are a few ideas:

• Write down everything that is on your mind.
• Make a list of what you want to accomplish.
• List some things that you feel keep you from getting things done.
• Decide what you are going to do about them and write out steps to do them.

Knowing there is a battle is one thing. Deciding to take it on every day until you have won the war is another. The first step is to get started. Let’s take one thing we wrote down to do and do it today. Leadership is identifying the battles, stepping out in front and taking action. When we do these things, we are better to lead ourselves so we can then lead others.

When Others Let Us Down

Sometimes we get very tired of people letting us down. We get very frustrated and aggravated when someone doesn’t do what we want them to do or what we believe they should do. We get upset when others don’t follow through with what they said they were going to do. We spend a lot of time and energy getting mad and talking about them when maybe we should spend more time and energy on helping.

Maybe our expectations are too high of them. Maybe they really had good intentions. Or it could be that maybe they just don’t care. It’s really hard to know the real reasons behind why others let us down. When we put our hope in others and expect more than they can deliver, we need to step back and determine if what we are asking of them is realistic. We should think about these things:

Do I really know what is going on in his or her life?

1. Is what I want important enough to get upset about?
2. Is there anything I can do to help them out?
3. What other options do I have rather than to rely on them?

The last question is key. What other options do we have rather than relying on others? When we take the focus off of what they are doing (or not doing) that is really aggravating us, we can step back and see their side of the story. They may be dealing with an frustrating situation we don’t even know about. They may have circumstances beyond their control that keeps them from following through with us. They may not have the knowledge, skill or desire to do what we are asking of them.

Rather than getting aggravated with others when they let us down, let’s look for ways to help them. Let’s look for what we can do for them. Let’s be more concerned about their situation and know that when we help them, it will help us as well. We will become better people. We will become better listeners when we decide to find out what all is going on their lives. We will be able to listen and help.

It’s all about a mindset. We can get irritated and all upset about the situation or we can do something about it. If we choose to let it go and find out how we can help them, we will take the focus off of us and on them. God wants us to stop focusing on ourselves and start focusing on others. When others let us down, that may be God saying “hey, they need your help” and He wants us to use that opportunity to be a witness for Him. God will never let us down so we can always put our hope and trust in Him.

Next time someone lets you down, do this:

Ask them what is going on in their lives.

1. Think about how you can help.
2. Take action helping them with their situation.
3. Use it as an opportunity to share God with them.

Romans 5:5 “And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.” (NLT)

Andy Griffith – A Tribute

When we think about the people who really made a difference in life, Andy Griffith comes to mind. Everyone has heard of him. There are so many things we can learn from him. Even though he has passed, he has left behind some important life lessons to always remember.

Put God first. He wasn’t afraid to show his family going to church. He showed us there were sometimes issues in the church but they worked through them.

Have fun. He enjoyed life. He worked hard but had fun doing it. He was spontaneous in his work and didn’t mind taking on new ideas.

Learn something. He taught others. He had a message in every show about how we should live life. He wanted us to remember not to get too stressed about anything but look for learning opportunities in all we do.

Enjoy what you do. In his real life, he was persistent in his career. He was flexible about what he did and he continued to work doing what he loved.

We will miss you, Andy, but we are so appreciative of the legacy you left behind and the lessons that can continue to be learned in future generations. Thank you for making a difference!

For us, we need to remember why we are here on earth. We need to put God first, have fun, learn something and enjoy what we do. We can learn this from Andy and, perhaps, leave a legacy of our own behind for others as well.

A great way to make a difference is to “leave a Breadcrumb.” Order your free set of Breadcrumbs at www.leaveabreadcrumb.com

Be Consumed By God

The fires in Colorado are gaining more and more attention as they are forcing people from their homes; destroying everything in their path and taking lives. It takes a lot of effort to put out a fire when it gets out of control. Reading about the Colorado fires reminded me of how many times fire is mentioned in the Bible. God used fire as a way to get the attention of others reminding them not get out of control and how quickly things and people can be destroyed or consumed by fire.

Fire gets the attention of others. God used fire in the Bible to get the attention of others. The burning bush caught the attention of Moses when God wanted to speak to Him. When we hear about fires in our communities, we take notice. We want to know where and what happened. We want to know whom, if anyone was hurt. We need to pay attention to God at all times without having to be reminded by fire or other natural causes. God wants our full attention every day.

Ezekiel 20:19 “‘I am the Lord your God,’ I told them. ‘Follow my decrees, pay attention to my regulations,’” (NLT)

Fire can get out of control. If not contained or stopped, fire will continue to grow. It will continue to move and continue to destroy. We need to understand the danger of fire and how quickly it can get out of control. We can relate that to our lives and how quickly we can get out of control. We need to be careful we are living as we should so we don’t sin against God. Our sin can spread in our lives as well as the lives of others, just like fire.

Romans 5:12 “When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.” (NLT)

Fire destroys and consumes. Fire has a purpose. It moves through its’ path destroying anything or anyone who gets in its’ way. Fire is serious. We run from it because we know how destructive it can be. God used fire to destroy and consume people and things when He was angered by His people. We should always remember how great and powerful God is and fear Him for His power is all consuming. Even though He loves us and wants the best for us, He can get angry when we do wrong. That is why it is best to fear and obey Him.

Numbers 11:1 “Soon the people began to complain about their hardship, and the Lord heard everything they said. Then the Lord’s anger blazed against them, and he sent a fire to rage among them, and he destroyed some of the people in the outskirts of the camp.” (NLT)

Fire has its’ purpose. Fire does its’ job and moves on. When we understand the purpose of fire, we will know how to behave around it.

We, too, have a purpose in our lives. We need to understand our purpose and what God wants us to do so we can do our job and move on.  We shouldn’t get consumed by the things of the world and lose our focus on God. God wants us to be consumed by Him.

Just as God used fire to get the attention of others, He can use us as well. He doesn’t want our lives to get out of control. He doesn’t want us to destroy and consume others with our sins. He wants us to know why He created us. He wants to use us to bring others to Him. He wants us to make a positive difference giving Him the glory in all we do.

ACTION STEPS:

1. Think about any wrongdoing you may have done.

2. Ask God to forgive you of your sins and turn away from them.

3. Ask God to show you His purpose for you.

4. Give God your full attention every day and allow Him to lead you.

You can make a difference in your life and the lives of others. Make the decision and the commitment to God today.

***

Breadcrumbs can help you make a difference as well. They are little cards to leave behind for others that will make a big difference.

To order free cards to help make a difference in your life and the lives of others, go to:

www.leaveabreadcrumb.com

Ready to read through the Bible slowly to learn more about God’s word and how it applies to your life? Start in Genesis with this devotional journal “Breadcrumbs from Genesis” at:

http://tinyrul.com/d5etkw5