Wednesday, December 31, 2014
Looking forward by looking backward
Why the celebration every New Year's Eve? Is it not that we are celebrating the possibilities that every new year brings? As we celebrate, we also should consider the many mercies, blessings and moments of grace that God showered on us this year.
Mercy is unmerited favor - what we don't deserve. Think of God's mercy in our lives this year. How many times this year did we need his forgiveness, his empowerment, his help or his intervention? Every day of the past year has exhibited God's mercy in our lives. As Jeremiah said, His mercies are new every morning.
Grace is God's favor and good will. Every day of our lives is a day of grace. When Paul asked God to remove his "thorn in the flesh," God replied, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9). Those who have walked through tough times this year understand grace for sometimes the greatest gift we have is the grace to make it through another day. Yet, God always gives it. We live in the grace of God every day.
Blessings are all the ways that God provides for us. We cannot count the ways that God has blessed us in any given year but it is worth considering and recording some of them so that we do not forget. I was blessed this year with a fabulous staff, a wonderful job, great friends, God's provision for our needs, healing, my family, the publication of a new book and I could go on. They are all blessings from a gracious and generous God.
We can look forward to a year of possibilities because we can look back on a year of God's faithfulness. That is why it is always worth considering His goodness. Living with faith and thanksgiving is a product of remembering His amazing goodness in our lives. The more often we take stock of His grace, mercy and blessings in our lives the more we recognize them and live with the optimism that comes from living in His presence.
This is a good time to take stock in God's goodness. By looking backward we are able to look forward.
All of T.J. Addington's books are available from the author for the lowest prices and a $2.00 discount on orders of ten or more.
Mercy is unmerited favor - what we don't deserve. Think of God's mercy in our lives this year. How many times this year did we need his forgiveness, his empowerment, his help or his intervention? Every day of the past year has exhibited God's mercy in our lives. As Jeremiah said, His mercies are new every morning.
Grace is God's favor and good will. Every day of our lives is a day of grace. When Paul asked God to remove his "thorn in the flesh," God replied, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9). Those who have walked through tough times this year understand grace for sometimes the greatest gift we have is the grace to make it through another day. Yet, God always gives it. We live in the grace of God every day.
Blessings are all the ways that God provides for us. We cannot count the ways that God has blessed us in any given year but it is worth considering and recording some of them so that we do not forget. I was blessed this year with a fabulous staff, a wonderful job, great friends, God's provision for our needs, healing, my family, the publication of a new book and I could go on. They are all blessings from a gracious and generous God.
We can look forward to a year of possibilities because we can look back on a year of God's faithfulness. That is why it is always worth considering His goodness. Living with faith and thanksgiving is a product of remembering His amazing goodness in our lives. The more often we take stock of His grace, mercy and blessings in our lives the more we recognize them and live with the optimism that comes from living in His presence.
This is a good time to take stock in God's goodness. By looking backward we are able to look forward.
All of T.J. Addington's books are available from the author for the lowest prices and a $2.00 discount on orders of ten or more.
Tuesday, December 30, 2014
"Why I want to live"
Life is precious and severe illness, such as my friend Phil is facing clarify the issues of life like nothing else can. Phil leads one of the most critical ministry teams in ReachGlobal - The Global Equipping Team that equips movement leaders internationally for the multiplication of the church and the training of healthy pastors and leaders. He was recently diagnosed with a deadly brain tumor and I along with many are praying for a total miracle - God's full healing.
In the meantime, Phil and Peggy must deal with the reality of the diagnosis and the upcoming radiation and Chemo. Phil's latest blog entry puts life in perspective so I asked permission to share it. The blog entry speaks for itself. Would you join me in praying that Jesus would heal Phil? Each of us should answer the question of whether we have clarity regarding how we are using the precious days God grants to us on this earth.
To follow Phil's journey you can access their blog, Good Things from the Hand of God. Here is his latest entry.
To follow Phil's journey you can access their blog, Good Things from the Hand of God. Here is his latest entry.
Posted: 29 Dec 2014 09:43 AM PST
Brokenness that comes from dire circumstances can do one of two
things. It can shelve me, or it can bring about greater clarity and make me
more passionate about accomplishing what I’m called to do.
This past weekend, Peggy and I were able to get away
together—enjoying nice meals, crunching through the snow on the Centennial
Trail that borders the Spokane River, and sharing some tough and very
meaningful conversations. These two days have been just what we’ve needed to
gain fresh perspective.
Around the world, millions have yet to hear the name of Jesus even
once. Their lives are broken and lost. I was also broken and lost the first 19
years of my life. God’s transforming work in me over the past 40 years compels
me to help as many others as possible discover Him.
I do not merely want extended length and quality of life for
myself and my family. I long to live so that, together with the ministry team I
lead, I can equip national leaders to fruitfully reach their own people in the
hard places of the world. This will happen with or without me. So whether I
have a few months or a few years, this is why I want to live.
Monday, December 29, 2014
Sunday, December 28, 2014
Leaders who do not allow free expression of ideas are operating out of insecurity and fear
I run into them from time to time: leaders who demand that their staff think like they do. They are intimidated and fearful of those who freely express their opinions rather than simply agree with their views. Often, they try to find ways to ensure that independent thought is stifled or discouraged whether through intimidation, policies or signed documents (you must agree with me to be in leadership or on staff).
Whenever leaders must try to enforce agreement with their views, they are not only losing a valuable asset (diversity of views and opinions) but are displaying their own insecurities and fears. Let's be real: healthy leaders not only invite their staff to be honest and candid but value their opinions while unhealthy leaders are afraid of views that disagree with theirs. The end result is that leaders who insist that staff agree with them lose both the value of robust dialogue and the best staff who will not stay in a (dysfunctional) culture that demands conformity.
The more coercive the culture (you must agree with me), the more dysfunctional that culture is. Healthy leaders lead out of influence and persuasion, not out of control and policies. When a leader must turn to control and policies to ensure agreement with them it is always a sign to beware!
This is why we (in ReachGlobal) have a policy that any issue can be put on the table - we call it robust dialogue. The only exceptions are hidden agendas or personal attacks. We value the free exchange of ideas and we value the opinions of good leaders. We agree on the philosophic boundaries of our ministry but in strategy we encourage candid and honest dialogue. Does your church or ministry encourage robust dialogue or do you live in a culture of control and fear where leaders insist you agree with them? It says much about the health or dishealth of your leaders.
When leaders start being coercive in insisting that others agree with them they are operating out of insecurity and fear, rather than out of health. The best leaders listen closely to a variety of views and never insist that staff agree with their views.
Whenever leaders must try to enforce agreement with their views, they are not only losing a valuable asset (diversity of views and opinions) but are displaying their own insecurities and fears. Let's be real: healthy leaders not only invite their staff to be honest and candid but value their opinions while unhealthy leaders are afraid of views that disagree with theirs. The end result is that leaders who insist that staff agree with them lose both the value of robust dialogue and the best staff who will not stay in a (dysfunctional) culture that demands conformity.
The more coercive the culture (you must agree with me), the more dysfunctional that culture is. Healthy leaders lead out of influence and persuasion, not out of control and policies. When a leader must turn to control and policies to ensure agreement with them it is always a sign to beware!
This is why we (in ReachGlobal) have a policy that any issue can be put on the table - we call it robust dialogue. The only exceptions are hidden agendas or personal attacks. We value the free exchange of ideas and we value the opinions of good leaders. We agree on the philosophic boundaries of our ministry but in strategy we encourage candid and honest dialogue. Does your church or ministry encourage robust dialogue or do you live in a culture of control and fear where leaders insist you agree with them? It says much about the health or dishealth of your leaders.
When leaders start being coercive in insisting that others agree with them they are operating out of insecurity and fear, rather than out of health. The best leaders listen closely to a variety of views and never insist that staff agree with their views.
Key questions to ask about the upcoming year
Unexamined lives lack depth and richness while well examined lives are fruitful and enriching. God gave us the seasons and the years in order to give us a rhythm of life, including the opportunity to examine our lives on a regular basis. The end of one year and the beginning of another year is a prime time to do this.
As you consider the coming year and examine the past year, here are some key questions to ask.
1. What did I do really well this past year and what did I not do well?
2. Based on what I did not do well, do I need to make any changes to my life or priorities?
3. Is there any besetting sin in my life that Jesus would want me to address going into this new year? What is my plan to address it and who can encourage me in that journey?
4. Given how busy I am, are there things that I should give up or do differently in order to find margin in my life or make room for more important priorities?
5. Are there things I have not been doing that I should start doing?
6. What is my plan for personal development this coming year? What areas in my personal or professional life do I need to see progress in?
7. Are there any broken relationships that I should mend so that the relational disconnect does not get in the way of my own spiritual growth?
8. What is one thing my spouse wishes I would change this year? (You gotta ask on that one)
9. What areas of my physical health need to be addressed so that I can go the distance?
10. If this was the last year I had to live on this earth what would I want it to look like? (always a good way to live).
All of T.J. Addington's books are available from the author for the lowest prices and a $2.00 discount on orders of ten or more.
As you consider the coming year and examine the past year, here are some key questions to ask.
1. What did I do really well this past year and what did I not do well?
2. Based on what I did not do well, do I need to make any changes to my life or priorities?
3. Is there any besetting sin in my life that Jesus would want me to address going into this new year? What is my plan to address it and who can encourage me in that journey?
4. Given how busy I am, are there things that I should give up or do differently in order to find margin in my life or make room for more important priorities?
5. Are there things I have not been doing that I should start doing?
6. What is my plan for personal development this coming year? What areas in my personal or professional life do I need to see progress in?
7. Are there any broken relationships that I should mend so that the relational disconnect does not get in the way of my own spiritual growth?
8. What is one thing my spouse wishes I would change this year? (You gotta ask on that one)
9. What areas of my physical health need to be addressed so that I can go the distance?
10. If this was the last year I had to live on this earth what would I want it to look like? (always a good way to live).
All of T.J. Addington's books are available from the author for the lowest prices and a $2.00 discount on orders of ten or more.
Saturday, December 27, 2014
9 EASY-TO-STEAL HABITS OF THE SUPER SUCCESSFUL
This is a very practical and insightful article from FC. You may be surprised at what these habits are.
9 Easy-to-steal habits of the super successful.
All of T.J. Addington's books are available from the author for the lowest prices and a $2.00 discount on orders of ten or more.
9 Easy-to-steal habits of the super successful.
All of T.J. Addington's books are available from the author for the lowest prices and a $2.00 discount on orders of ten or more.
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