Category Archives: Christian Living

Friday Focus: 3 Reasons it takes a team….

Five of you shall chase a hundred, and a hundred of you shall chase ten thousand, and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword. (‭Leviticus‬ ‭26‬:‭8‬ ESV)

If you have ever married or even if mom called on you to fix things I’m sure then you know the “honey-do” lists.  The list that make husbands sigh and the  handy-man, rich. I’m  talking about what had happened to me this week. I wanted to show my beautiful bride of 18 years, that I could be handy and replace the door lock/deadbolt combination.

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Unfortunately,  as my drill was losing battery power and I was running out of time before I was to report to work, I rushed and wanted to finish myself. This, now sits outside our door; at least for now.

Asking for help could be a challenging whether in ministry or business. You don’t want to appear weak or incapable of the position you are operating in. You believe you must have all the answers. Friend, that’s not healthy. It also hurts the very ones you are trying to help or serve. That’s why you need a team. Even jesus sent his disciples two by two…..  Even Jesus had disciples.

1. Teams help you keep balanced.
This is true for relationships as it is for ministry. You are good at many things however, there is one area that satisfies your sense of purpose. It answers what you were made for. This is the best use of you and your time. Although, what is needed in a situation may not be what’s in your toolbox. This is when great leaders shine! How? By pulling from their team members who are specialized.

2. A team increases your impact. Now as I am getting older I recognize that I am not the same punk kid I was almost 20 years ago. (I’m starting to sound like an old Tony Keith song). I want to leave a legacy. I want to share my knowledge with whomever would listen. Why be picky who your audience is when even Jesus said “whosoever hear, let him hear what the Spirit is saying.

3. Teams produce togetherness and reflects their focus.

How could one have chased a thousand, and two have put ten thousand to flight, unless their Rock had sold them, and the Lord had given them up? (‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭32‬:‭30‬ ESV)

There is satisfaction about acomplishing a set goal with people of like-mindedness. Take the championship game for example; one team of individuals working together as one team, covering the weaknesses of their team members with their strengths to produce a common goal. Though many enter the champion race only one wins due to preparation meeting the opportunity. As a fellow minister, what is your motivation for doing what you do?

Friends come and friends go, but a true friend sticks by you like family. (‭Proverbs‬ ‭18‬:‭24‬ MSG)

Team members can be the best of friends and the hardest people to get along with. They are team members who have the same mission as you do. And this like mindedness is the link that’s helps fulfill the goal. This weekend look at your team. You can not fulfill what God has in store for you alone. Allow the team to through your weak areas as you cover them with your strong ones.

 

Who do you love?

What if you had been diagnosed with an incurable sickness and diagnosed with less than six months to live? Would you feel differently? No,!? How about three months??? What is your passion? What thing you enjoy makes you say to yourself if they never pay me or give me another raise i would still do this?? Friend, that is your passion. Everyone has one, it is our unique gift that we can share with the world.
Show me what your checkbook looks like, and i will show you where your focus is. But describe to me your day and i should see what you love.  If i don’t?  How do you feel about that? Are you doing what you must because you choose too? What do you love? The bible records in the book of Matthew where your treasure is, your heart is there also. What is your treasure? I heard a saying in high school that “if you find a job you love, you will never have to work a day in your life..” I don’t know how true that is now almost 18 years later. But I know it makes the long hours bearable. It makes things you don’t enjoy drive you to go after what you want to do. It forces you to remain when you want to quit because it helps “pay the bills” while you work closer to your goal.

God has so much in-store for you, if you allow him your attention, not a minute or two at dinner time but an ongoing developing friendship. He can speak to you through his word. In your prayer time as well. Sure, I have heard from many that you really don’t hear anything in prayer. i get that. could it be that your life is turned up so where you don’t hear? Maybe you could turn down for Him?

I heard one of my favorite speakers say that the graveyard is where untapped ideas and hopes lay at rest in torment. Angry at the paradox they died with the only one that could have set them free and chose not to. My friend I don’t know what is worst. Know that I would die or, know that I had died and never lived. It’s not to late to follow after what makes you smile.. Praying for you to know your purpose and go after your dream.

-Mike

Wives are a blessing….. if you let them.