Finding the right team

Often in sports, managers and coaches build their teams around their most talented players. They even go as far as building their offensive and defenses in order to allow their franchise player to have the freedom to operate in their strengths. Sometimes, after being loyal to the organization for many years, it become obvious that the chances of them winning a championship is very slim and the find another team to join. Many athletes join team know that they will not be the star or will have to play for less money. But all they car about is reaching the person goal they have set for themselves. As a leader, it is important to know you role. You may be a star and the organization you work for has built their program around your gifts but sometimes that doesn't guarantee that goal is being reached. Some of us are simple satisfied with just having a good team...doing alright but never really reaching a place where you are performing at the highest level. As in sports, many times a player becomes better when they finally learn how to discover the gifts of those around them and sacrifice there stats for the good of the team. How many of us are willing to do that? On a practical level. Are we will to preach less, talk less, or plan less? Are we willing to step down and allow others to do things that we have not control over? How much confidence do we have in our team? How much do they have in us? Because sometimes its better to work for the team you have been given that be traded just so you can keep control. The right team is where God wants you to be. Where ever He sends you, is where He wants you to be. We just have to decided if we want to be the star or win a championship.

It comes with the job

Many think that positions of leadership come with great privileges and perks. But true leadership requires a sacrifice and often the cost is high.  Jesus was and still is the greatest leader the world has ever seen and if you look carefully at His work on earth, you will find that every successful moment was accompanied by criticism and rebuke. Sadly, many leaders today desire to be successful but they refuse to suffer through the pain that comes with it.  In fact, many leaders avoid doing anything that will bring any negative backlash.   Jesus said that anyone who desires to follow Him would have to pick up their own cross as well. In other words, if they want be anything like Him in regards to their leadership qualities, they will encounter ridicule and strife.  As leaders we are called to be true to the mission that God has given us no matter what it might cost us. We must have the courage to press through the hard times and work even harder to accomplish what we have been commissioned to do and to be. And when we are attacked for doing what is right, we should remember, that it comes with the job.  And that is a great indication that we are heading the right direction. 

Forced to face it

There are many things you will never understand until you live through them. As a leader our strength comes from learning how to ask God for wisdom in the midst of not knowing what to do. We often find ourselves in situations where we are forced to make very difficult decisions.  Because of our responsibility to lead, there will be no one to give us counsel, we are expected to find the way. But in these times it is important to remember that we can trust God to give us the wisdom we need. If fact God is trusting us to learn how to seek what will glorify Him and his purpose.  We must trust that even if we make the wrong decision, God is able to teach us and make us better leaders. Sometimes, making the wrong decision is the best thing we could have even done, because a minor mistake made early will prevent a major mistake later.  Handling pressure gives us the opportunity make ourselves vulnerable and feel that we have lost control. Yet God uses these moments to force us the face the situation head on. If we seek what is right to do and guide our thoughts along what we know is the will of God, we will embrace difficult times without fear or restraint.