It's Tuesday at 2:00pm! (PST Time: I live and work from Southern California)
LEADERSHIP QUOTES
We're exploring some great quotes that will help us in our lives and leadership. If you'd like to share your favorite with me, please post on the comments section of the Blog. You can read these past posts HERE.
The format for this season is the following:
#1) LEADERSHIP QUOTE: I'm going to share a quote with you. I'd like to encourage you to think about it, respond to it, process it. You can stop here, or go to Section 2.
#2) A LITTLE BIT DEEPER: I'm going to share a couple of thoughts that come to my mind when I think about the quote. Just a short reaction from me. You can stop here, or go to Section 3.
#3) DEEPER STILL: I'm going to share something I've found from someone else: A quote, some tips, a challenge, a thought....
#4) RUSS' LIST: I'll continue to share some links, ideas, books or products that I think some of you might benefit from.
Russ
LEADERSHIP QUOTE:
"Does the Lord really want sacrifices and offerings? No! He doesn't want your sacrifices. He wants you to obey Him." Samuel, 1 Samuel 15:22 (CEV)
What does this stir up? Either write me HERE or comment at the end of the blog post HERE.
A LITTLE BIT DEEPER:
I had a couple of things over the past few days speak to me, and it culminated when I read this verse this morning in a study I'm doing through the book of 1 Samuel.
Last week, a friend of mine, Dr. Wes Beavis, did a talk at The Barnabas Group and he talked about how our bodies have been created to not only withstand stress, but to continue to develop as we manage the things around us.
In church Sunday our Pastor reminded us that God uses everything for His purpose, even disobedience can draw people to God, however there might be some huge consequences in that disobedience.
This morning, while reading this chapter, I was reminded that God wants us to listen to Him and to obey. It's pretty simple.
If you're like me, I create many hoops and hurdles to get through, but today I was reminded that God does has a plan for me, I only need to trust Him and do what He says. King Saul took things into his own hands. I wish I could say that I've never done that, but it happens all the time.
God wired us and created us for purpose, but He also put some things in place to protect us: Things like REST, things like ACCOUNTABILITY, things like BIBLICAL INSTRUCTION. He tells us what to do. Are you hearing Him?
DEEPER STILL:
I was a pretty stubborn child. I always wanted to do things my own way. If I didn't know what to do, I wanted to figure it out on my own.
I learned years later in college that I could spend my time trying to be independent or I can leverage the relationships around me and learn from others. This was a game-changer!
Things accelerated. I was able to do more. I was able to move faster. I was able to avoid making so many mistakes, simply because I chose to listen to others and learn from them.
I wish I had started doing this earlier because I would have saved so much time and energy, and I could have avoided some early failure! Of course, I learned from that too.
This is true with God as well. He tells us, not as suggestions, but as commandments, yet if you're like me (you've heard that before), I want to make my own decisions which leads to my own mistakes.
He wants us to experience Full Life and He tells us how to do that. Why don't you listen to Him today instead of listening to your own voice for once.
Things I'm Reading, Listening To and Watching This Week:
Keith Green shared this song years ago, and it's even more powerful when I listen to it today. Watch it HERE. Listen to it on Apple Music.
Pick up Dr. Wes Beavis' book, "Let's Talk About Ministry Burnout" HERE.
I enjoyed this podcast from How I Built This on the launch of Goodreads.
A couple of things jumped out at me as I listened to Bob Goffs podcast, DREAM BIG: Living Undistracted
I got a new pillow! I think it's making a difference in my sleep! Beckham Hotel Collection Bed Pillow