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)

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?

LEADERSHIP QUOTE:

"Once you've committed yourself to something, pace yourself to the finish line." Meb Keflezighi

A LITTLE BIT DEEPER:

These words are powerful from the perspective of Keflezighi, a long-distance olympic runner.

But in life, they are just as powerful.

Pace can be defined as the "rate of movement" and/or the "rate of progress".

I've found that many times in my life, I commit to do something without anticipating or calculating the pace that will be required to actually accomplish it.

I find myself surprised and sometimes even dumbfounded that I miscalculated or didn't think it through.

Pace is critical because sometimes I push myself to a pace that is unsustainable, and it's at that time that things begin to fall apart and then I spend my time and energy managing disaster and trying to pick up the pieces.

I'm not a long-distance runner... just ask my High School Basketball Coach. I like to run in short spurts of energy, get some rest and then move again. This is kind of how I live my life.

Pace is important. Finishing well is important.

Are you moving at a pace that is sustainable or are you getting to a point of decision where something will have to change? Evaluate your pace today.

LEADERSHIP QUOTE:

"Three Rules of Work: Out of clutter find simplicity. From discord find harmony. In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity" Albert Einstein

A LITTLE BIT DEEPER:

This final thought on SIMPLICITY from Einstein. This guy spent his life taking the complex and making it simple!

How are you doing with the clutter in your life?

There's an INC. article that speaks to Einsteins quote and they talk about 2 kinds of clutter: Physical clutter, which is easy to see because it's right in front of our eyes and Emotional clutter, which can be a pattern of "coulda, shoulda, woulda." Read the full article HERE.

Have you been able to identify the clutter in your life and take some steps to eliminate it?

Physical Clutter: That pile in the garage, the mystery mound of paper on the side of my desk, the drawer where everything goes that doesn't have it's own place... clutter. Clean it out & there's freedom!

LEADERSHIP QUOTE:

"Simple can be harder than complex: You have to work hard to get your thinking clean to make it simple. But it's worth it in the end because once you get there, you can move mountains." Steve Jobs

A LITTLE BIT DEEPER:

Continuing the conversation around simplicity, Steve Jobs makes the above statement and it's so true.

Simplifying things is difficult!

Example: Prepare for a 20 minute presentation and a 5 minute presentation. Which one is more difficult? When you have to limit your words, you are forced to choose the RIGHT words.

I think this is why we make things so complicated... it's easier!

Jobs proved that simplicity around technology created not only a great product, but a brand that would last. He was so focused on being simple that he drove people crazy with his demands and his pursuit of the right

features on his products that would keep it simple, but make it highly functional.

We can learn a lot from that pursuit, and when I say "WE", I mean ME.

I don't pursue simplicity because I don't have the margin in my life to focus on it and keep it simple and effective. I tend to just throw myself into everything, keeping things moving, which often is much more complex. What keeps you from the pursuit of simplicity?

LEADERSHIP QUOTE:

"Simplicity boils down to two steps: Identify the essential, eliminate the rest." Leo Babauta

A LITTLE BIT DEEPER:

I want to spend the next 2 weeks looking at quotes about SIMPLICITY. The reason? I tend to make things way to complicated.

This quote from Leo Babauta is the simplest way to define what simplicity is all about? How's that for a sentence....

Step One: Identify the Essential: What is critical to my purpose, my plan, my passion, my pursuit? What HAS to get done, and there's no way around it?

Step Two: Obviously, there are a bunch of things that aren't essential, but for some reason, I keep doing them.

I think the problem is that we have a hard time defining what is essential and core to our purpose.

Here's an easy way to determine what you should and shouldn't do: Make a long-list (a list of everything you think you need to do). Write it on a white board or on a piece of paper. Now, start crossing out things that you don't think are critical to your plan. Sometimes, just seeing it written down helps put it in perspective and helps you determine if it's essential or not. Try it, it actually works!

LEADERSHIP QUOTE:

"If you can't fly, then run.

If you can't run, then walk.

If you can't walk, then crawl,

but by all means, keep moving."

Martin Luther King Jr.

A LITTLE BIT DEEPER:

I shared with you my desire to dive into these 3 words more intentionally this year:

PURPOSE - PACE - PRODUCTIVITY

The quote from Martin Luther King Jr. speaks to this directly with the challenge and the motivation to keep moving.

I've found that FEAR PARALYZES ME.

When I'm uncertain, when I'm concerned, when I don't know instinctively what to do, I freeze. Usually I don't freeze for long, but sometimes it's takes a little while for the plan, the clarity and the WIN (What's Important Now) to kick in.

I know people who freeze for long periods of time because they're afraid to make the wrong move.

The quote is a reminder to simply keep moving. Sometimes it means you have to slow down to a crawl, but don't stop, don't freeze, don't become paralyzed.

What causes you to STOP? What gets you STUCK? What do you do when you're not sure what direction to move in?

LEADERSHIP QUOTE:

"Our grand business undoubtedly is, not to see what lies dimly at a distance, but to do what lies clearly at hand." Thomas Carlyle

A LITTLE BIT DEEPER:

I was doing a LifePlan this past week with a young leader, and we get to a point in the 2-day conversation where we look at the 20 charts that are filled with her life all over the walls of my office, and I ask the question: "What's Important Now?"

We've already talked about her vision for 10 years from now. We've already talked about her dreams and opportunities, but I believe the most important part of the engagement is this moment when we define 7 - 10 action steps and we chart them, we break them down, we evaluate them, and then we schedule them.

She walks away with clarity knowing that if she works towards these 9 things over the next 3 months, it's going to move her closer to her dream and her vision. These are her WINS (What's Important Now) and they will bring clarity!

The words of this Scottish Philosopher are great words for us today. Carlyle knows the importance of focusing on the WINS in front of us.

It's January 11th, and you might be overwhelmed by all that you are hoping to accomplish this first month of the year, and you've already experienced failure, frustration and fatigue. STOP! Focus on the WINS.

LEADERSHIP QUOTE:

"Be strong. Take courage. Don't be intimidated. Don't give them a second thought because God, your God, is striding ahead of you. He's right there with you. He won't let you down; he won't leave you."

Deuteronomy 31:6 MSG

A LITTLE BIT DEEPER:

On January 1st, I was on a walk and these words just began swimming around in my head....

"Be strong and courageous; Be strong and courageous"

I've been thinking about them for a few days and when I looked up a passage in the Bible that talks about this, it's the story of Moses giving this message from God to Joshua. Joshua would need all the strength and courage needed to lead the Israelites across the River Jordan to the promised land.

But these words are for me as well.... and for you.

It's 2022. It's a New Year. New challenges, new opportunities, new fears, new hurdles, new stories. It's all new.

But, if you're like me, you're questioning the road ahead, you're wondering what will it be like, you're concerned things will be the same, you're tired of the constant changes and challenges, and you just want to know how to plan!

Here's my plan: Be strong. Be courageous. Don't be intimidated. Why? Because MY God is with me. He won't leave me and he won't let me down.

I don't know what you're facing this year, but this message is for you.