1. What are you going to be for Halloween?
2. What’s one thing you would buy if you had $1million?
3. What’s your Pastor’s name and one thing you respect about your pastor? (Pastor Appreciation Month is almost over)
4. What are you looking most forward to about this weekend?
This isn’t sweet, it’s freaky!
If anything ever pops outta my Bible while I’m reading, I’m calling the cops and getting a new one!
No matter what we’re leading…
A church
A family
An organization
A business
A classroom
An office
Loving people is always more effective long term than using people.
Sure, it’s easy to manipulate and convince people to move in a certain direction or do a certain thing the way you want it done… for a while.
But eventually, the motivation used by manipulation runs it’s course.
In other words, a leader can only manipulate someone to do something (do it well) for so long.
Love on the other hand,
When flowing from a genuine care for the people you’re leading,
Never runs it’s course.
People will always be motivated and will always feel more appreciated if they feel our genuine love.
Sure, there may be bumps in the road,
You still may have to have the tough conversations.
BUT,
When they’re done in and through love, they will lead to a renewed motivation for the follower.
No matter what you’re leading today, use love as the motivator, not manipulation.
After all, if you’re manipulating, you’re really not leading, you’re dragging.
People eventually figure out you’re dragging them and will abandon you.
Love leads, manipulation drags.
Choose to love, not use.
Why do we so often forget that God desires our best not just our leftovers?
Why is it so easy to forget our real purpose for living?
Why is it so easy for us to get caught up in the day-to-day that we forget about eternity?
I’m constantly wrestling with this.
I never want to be someone that gets stuff done if it doesn’t get done well while I’m at it.
So, question for you…
How do we balance doing things with excellence and being over concerned with doing them with perfection?
Should we strive to be perfect in what we do, or just do it as best we can?
I was driving home last night with my radio up and windows down.
I don’t know what it was, but I had this thought…
I often turn up the volume to drown out the noise.
I think we all do.
We realize that if all is silent around us, there’s nothing to do but listen and reflect.
So, we turn up the noise around us so we won’t have to face reality,
so we won’t have to think about our faults.
We turn up the volume to drown out the voice of God and the noise of our convictions.
When all is quiet around me, I start to reflect on myself.
My short-comings.
My insecurities.
My mess ups.
So, last night I rolled the windows up and turned the radio down and listened to God.
Sometimes, we have to turn down the volume and allow God to help us see where we mess up.
Today, turn down the volume.
Psalm 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God;…
![Lamentations 3:22 [#scripture #iphoneography #instagram]](http://distilleryimage0.s3.amazonaws.com/743a5a569b8611e180c9123138016265_5.jpg)
