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Take a few weeks to digest and mull over the information provided below. I won't post another devotional until December 9th. Enjoy!!!
Plain Janeness, The Separation is in the Preparation. Out of curiosity, who here doesn’t have a middle name? My mom is one of those people. Her name is Jane Smith. Doesn’t get much plainer than that. Who hear has ever heard of someone being referred to as a, “Plain Jane”? What does being a Plain Jane mean? It means that…
I’d like to tell you about two Plain Jane’s. One from the Bible and one from today. Two Plain Jane’s Description
Remembered As
What sets each of them apart? How does one go from being a Plain Jane to Greatness? Set Apart
"Who do you think you are?" I say I’m just a nobody, trying to tell everybody, all about somebody who saved my soul…I’m living for the world to see nobody but Jesus… And if they all forget my name, well, that’s fine with me I’m living for the world to see Nobody but Jesus” John the Baptist always pointed others to Christ. Prepare to be that voice calling out among your community, school and team. Be the Plain Jane who spends time in the playbook (in the Bible) and then desires to get in the game to tell everybody about the way, the truth and the life.
Dear Lord, Thank you so much for modeling humility, and holiness / set apartness. I pray that You would continue to do a work in Your creation, in me. Though myself and or others around me might not see me as something fancy or glamorous, I know that You view me as something VERY GOOD. And that You desire to use me as a tool to point others to Yourself. In all humility, I pray that I can have an impact in the life of others, for Your honor and glory. In Your Name, Amen! Additional inspirational / motivational articles concerning Russell Wilson that go along with our lesson. Try to view these articles with Spiritual glasses on. How can you apply these truths to your Christian life? Notice the impact that Russell has had on Kyler Murray’s life as well. How can each of us apply that principle in discipleship? Be thinking about who the Kyler Murray is in your life, and be a Russell Wilson to them. Russell Wilson Dropped Over $150,000 On Unique Gifts To His Offensive Linemen After Signing Record Extension by Nick Dimengo Russell Wilson is a very, very rich man — not that he wasn’t already, obviously. After putting the pressure on the Seattle Seahawks last week to get a new contract extension done by April 15, the team stepped to the plate and handed the Super Bowl-winning quarterback the largest deal in NFL history, giving Wilson $140 million over four years. Rather than spend all that money on himself, though, Wilson decided to at least pay it forward by gifting something pretty unique for each one of his 13 offensive lineman. No, Russell Wilson didn’t go out and drop thousands on jewelry for the big behemoths who protect him, or spend on a fancy dinner, but, instead, did something that should grow and grow over time: Amazon stock. That’s right, Wilson — who said that he learned some keen business advice and life lessons from former Seahawks owner Paul Allen before Allen passed away — spent about $156,000 total on stock in the online retailer, giving each player $12,000 worth of stock, according to TMZ, with Wilson giving a letter to each teammate to detail the decision. “Each player got a letter with the stock gift explaining why #3 hooked them up. “Every Sunday we go to battle together,” Wilson wrote … “You sacrifice your physical and mental well-being to protect me, which in turn allows me to provide and care for my family.” “This does not go unnoticed and it is never forgotten.” Russell says he wants to help his teammates prepare for life after football and believes stock in Amazon will help these players achieve their dreams. “When I sat down to think of ways to honor your dedication a dozen different ideas came to mind. Some were flashy, some were cool, but I wanted to give you something that had a lasting impact. Something that would affect the lives of you, your family, and your children.” “You have invested in my life … this is my investment into yours.” You’ve got to admit, that’s a pretty…[nice] gift, especially when considering Amazon’s stock price has risen year-over-year since 2014, going from $303/share on this date five years ago, with it currently sitting at $1,887/share today. If Russell Wilson’s teammates are smart and just let that stock continue to rise, they could see some big benefits down the road after their playing careers are over. This is a stand up move by Russell Wilson. Not only smart to reward and thank the big fellas who will be blocking for him, but wise in the fact that, as mentioned, the owned stock could grow big time and come in handy for the pro athletes once their NFL days are done. There’s no doubt that this has to mean more than some expensive dinner out on the town would have. https://brobible.com/sports/article/russell-wilson-contract-extension-seattle-seahawks-offensive-lineman-gifts-amazon-stock/ Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (left) and Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (right). ESPN illustration BY JASON REID@JREIDESPN September 27, 2019 GLENDALE, Ariz. — A few months before the Arizona Cardinals made Kyler Murray only the fifth African American quarterback selected first overall in the NFL draft, Russell Wilson, the Seattle Seahawks’ Super Bowl-winning signal-caller, reached out to the young quarterback. Impressed by how Murray performed on and off the field while starring for the Oklahoma Sooners last season, Wilson called Murray to offer some advice on how to succeed on his next journey. And to hear Murray tell it, Wilson connected with his audience. “Everything he said to me … it was really helpful,” Murray recalled recently. “He gave me all types of tips about coming into [the NFL], what you have to do to be the type of quarterback I want to be, just what to expect. “Just the knowledge about how to carry yourself, how to establish who you are and what you’re trying to accomplish, you have to appreciate that. But now that I’m here, obviously, we’re competitors. When I compete against him, I want to beat him.” Murray’s first opportunity comes Sunday. In the first of the NFC West division rivals’ two regular-season encounters, Arizona plays host to Seattle for Murray-Wilson I, which is among the most intriguing matchups this season: Murray is Wilson’s mirror image; Wilson was one of the black quarterbacks whom Murray most admired while he was climbing the ladder; Wilson helped open doors for Murray; and then Wilson, 30, extended a helping hand to the 22-year-old rookie. Add in the fact that African American passers are at the height of their power in the league during its centennial season and, well, there is a whole lot going on here. Wilson, who was the highest-paid player in NFL history until Los Angeles Rams passer Jared Goff recently eclipsed him, gets the big picture as well as any superstar quarterback in today’s game. “Murray is going to be special,” Wilson told The Undefeated during training camp. “I really believe that. He’s got to do it on the field. Obviously, that’s where you have to go make it count. But he can. He will.” Through his first three career games, Murray has experienced the inevitable growing pains that all rookie quarterbacks encounter. But the 2018 Heisman Trophy winner has also shown flashes of the talent that prompted the Cardinals to make him the top overall pick despite selecting quarterback Josh Rosen 10th overall in the previous draft (Arizona traded Rosen to the Miami Dolphins in April). Murray ranks 19th in Total QBR (ahead of Derek Carr, Andy Dalton and Baker Mayfield, among others), which is an encouraging sign for the Cardinals and their fans. Murray is still seeking his first victory, but what’s coming into focus is that the Cardinals appear to have a foundation on which to build. Knowledgeable observers of the team agree, including former NFL head coach Mike Shanahan. “This Kyler Murray … I watch him and I’m just blown away,” said Shanahan, who led the Denver Broncos to consecutive Super Bowl titles in the late 1990s. “Just how well he plays, how well he throws the ball. I was expecting to see a running quarterback, but no. He throws it.” Murray reminds Shanahan a lot of Wilson, which, as previously noted, isn’t surprising. Once upon a time in the NFL, a quarterback of Murray’s stature (at the scouting combine, Murray was measured at 5 feet, 10 inches) would not have been selected in the first round, let alone first overall. Seventy-four players were selected ahead of Wilson (5 feet, 11 inches), who went in the third round in 2012. Of course, Wilson then helped the Seahawks win a Super Bowl, and NFL decision-makers began to re-evaluate their anachronistic thoughts about the prototypical size for the position. Rams head coach Sean McVay will face Wilson and Murray four times during the NFC West schedule. He’s not looking forward to it. “Typically, the thought process has been that the bigger guys are the right guys, and all you can do is go on comps,” McVay said. “But the more you study the game, you realize that people aren’t necessarily throwing over people. They’re really throwing through windows, they’re negotiating pockets. Obviously, you have to be able to see. “But I don’t necessarily know, when everybody talks about height, if we’re talking about the right things. Because what you’re really doing is, you’re negotiating and changing your arm angle. And those types of guys who maybe don’t have the height we’ve looked at in the past but can play … they changed the mold. Now, it’s definitely not a one-size-fits-all deal.” Which is great for the young quarterbacks behind Murray and Wilson who resemble them in more ways than one. “Kids who play quarterback and aren’t tall, they’re always reaching out to me and telling me they love seeing how I play,” Murray said. “They see someone they can identify with in a lot of ways, like I looked at guys like Michael Vick and Russell. They see an opportunity because the game has changed. They see that there’s a place for them.” As Vick, Wilson and others have already proved, there’s definitely a place in the NFL for Murray and their ilk, McVay said. “Most of these defenses are predicated on playing 11-on-10. They don’t account for the quarterback in the run game,” said McVay, who has led the Rams to consecutive NFC West titles. “When that creates an extra gap, they’re actually short. “Then, they’ve got to figure out creative ways to gain that defender back that they never had to utilize. A quarterback who can run helps balance out the numbers that most of these defensive rules have been predicated on for so long.” Just like Wilson, Murray has already confounded would-be tacklers with his elusiveness (he has also rushed for 86 yards and a 6.1-yard average). How to further hone that skill is something Murray will undoubtedly discuss with Wilson. With the relentless drumbeat of the season, and the fact that they’re competing within the same division, Murray and Wilson haven’t had an ongoing dialogue, but Murray said he “would love to get with him and pick his brain” in the offseason. Wilson, a five-time Pro Bowler, is eager to chop it up with Murray as well. “I’m looking forward to going to battle against him, watching his success and watching him play for a long time,” Wilson said. “He’s going to be a great player for a long time.” If Murray winds up being as good as Wilson believes he can be, they’ll have even more to talk about. https://theundefeated.com/features/can-kyler-murray-follow-in-russell-wilson-footsteps/ When it comes to facilitation, people only see what happens in the room. If you do well, they usually attribute that to talent and experience. Those things matter. But to quote Russell Wilson, “The separation is in the preparation.” The hard work happens in the design process, the pre-work, the practice. My mission is to get people to see that, to understand and appreciate that, and to learn how to do it. I’m still exploring how best to do this, but I know for sure that it starts by modeling it. http://fasterthan20.com/2014/03/the-separation-is-in-the-preparation/ Heading into the frenzy that is Super Bowl week, Richard Sherman’s post-game antics may still be at the forefront of everyone’s news feeds, but let’s take a minute to focus on the single most influential factor that has brought the Seahawks to the big game this Sunday. He can’t pass like Peyton, break tackles like Newton, or gallop out of the pocket like Kaepernick, (heck, he isn’t even as tall as Brees), but he’s responsible for bringing Pete Carroll's band of under-drafted misfits to the Meadowlands. Russell Wilson, drafted 75th overall in the 2012 NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks, was not expected to achieve greatness. In fact, he wasn’t even expected to start. Experts wrote him off as a 3rd string backup for Seattle, destined for a career of riding the bench and supporting superstar QBs that were bigger, faster, and taller. But now, less than a week away from the Superbowl, Russell Wilson, in his 2nd year in the NFL, has led his team to the biggest stage. After winning the starting job in Seattle as a rookie, Wilson has accomplished more than many players can in their entire career. On the short list (pun intended): Wilson has the most wins by a quarterback in his first two NFL seasons, been elected to two Pro Bowls, tied Peyton Manning for the most passing touchdowns as a rookie, and has the 2nd highest passer rating ever for a rookie quarterback. He has the best touchdown-pass-to-interception differential for a rookie in NFL history, is the 3rd quarterback in history to throw 50 touchdown passes in his first two years, and set the record for most passing yards in a playoff game by a rookie. Oh and did we mention he’s only lost at home once (all while being the last quarterback drafted in the 2012 draft)? So what makes Russell Wilson so special? On paper, he wasn’t supposed to succeed. But he has arguably become the most successful 2nd year quarterback in NFL history. In the Levi’s 2012 #GoForth commercial, Wilson talks about the three Ps of advice his father used to give him. Always Persevere. Always have a great Perspective. Always have great Purpose in your life. This is great advice to live and compete by, but Russell Wilson may actually be more well known for an additional P. “The separation is in the preparation.” Wilson’s work ethic has become legendary among the Seahawks camp. Renowned former NFL Coach Jon Gruden has praised Wilson’s study of the game and called him "exactly the kind of quarterback I would want to coach." As aspiring athletes wanting to reach another level, we can learn a lot from Russell’s preparation and applying that to our own training. 1. Get Started Early Wilson is notorious for being the first player in the Seahawks office, sometimes even beating out his early-rising head coach, Pete Carroll. After Wilson’s first home loss (he’s 17-1 at home) against Arizona in December, he was back at the Seahawks practice facility at 4:30AM reviewing game tape from the night before. A quick look at Wilson’s Twitter will reveal one of his favorite hashtags “#NoTime2Sleep.” It’s clear that Wilson doesn’t waste the day while trying to become the greatest. Takeaway: We can take ownership of our fitness through our schedule. Wilson shows consistency in his preparation by waking up early to start the day. Instead of struggling with the decision to run after work or school, try waking up early and going on a run or heading to the gym. You’ll feel great the rest of the day and won’t feel conflicted with whether you feel up to exercising in the evening. 2. Know Every Detail of the Game Wilson’s preparation is manifest most in his study of the game. Wilson’s obsession with detail is truly next level. Get this: John Clayton of ESPN reported “Wilson knew there will be 56 footballs used, and they likely will be rotated every three plays. The balls have a Super Bowl emblem, which tends to make them slicker than the usual NFL footballs, so Wilson plans to make sure each ball is rubbed down to help cut down on the slickness.” Whoa. If that’s not detail, I don’t know what is. Takeaway: You don’t have to know the amount of stitches that are in your soccer ball, but being fully versed in the formations your coach wants to run is going to make you that much better (because you’ll have a greater understanding of your roll on the team). If you’re passionate about your sport, treat it like your job or schoolwork. Study hard, work hard, and results will show. Wilson’s not tall, but his football I.Q. is off the charts. 3. Find Your Inspiration When you ask Wilson who he looks up to, he’ll tell you his dad, Harrison Wilson III. Although Wilson’s father passed away from diabetic complications when he was in college, Wilson still relies upon the lessons his father taught him. In fact, Wilson's “the separation is in the preparation” came from his dad. Another hero of Wilson’s is Drew Brees, quarterback of the New Orleans Saints, arguably one of the most successful (and shortest) of the current era of quarterbacks. Wilson has studied everything about Bree’s game, from his throwing motion to his footwork and has worked to adapt Bree’s style to his game. Wilson still holds Brees in high regard, occasionally asking him for preparation advice, most notably in regards to the Super Bowl this weekend. Takeaway: Who are you inspired by? Whose game do you want emulate? Study how they play, how they compose themselves on and off the field, and be like them. 'Lil Bow Wow needed some magic sneaks to be like Mike, but Wilson wanted to be like Brees and he’s lived up to that, besting his hero twice this season. 4. Be Determined to be Successful If you didn’t know Russell Wilson, you may think the guy is a little cocky. But he really believes that he can do anything. So does his coach. Carroll says “he’s got great self-confidence, and believes in what he is capable of doing, in that there’s nothing that he doesn’t think he can’t do. He’s a fantastic athlete to go along with all of that, so whatever he can think of doing he can basically do.” Takeaway: You can decide in your mind that you are going to win. It’s not overconfidence, it’s confidence in yourself, your abilities, and your preparation. If you know you’ve done everything you possibly can to succeed, tell yourself you will. And you will. Wilson told himself that, and his team is in the Superbowl. 5. Find a Coach You Can Trust Wilson wouldn’t be nearly as close to where he is now without the special attention of the Seahawks coaching staff. He has an extremely close relationship with Carroll in which Carroll trusts Wilson to make the right on-field decisions and lead the offense. In return, Wilson trusts Carroll and offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell to call the right plays and provide the best training and practice regimens tailored to his game and the Seahawks offense. Takeaway: Find a coach! Pursue private coaching from someone more knowledgeable and experienced than yourself. Wilson has taken the advice from his father to heart, learned from great quarterbacks like Drew Brees, and sought out the instruction and guidance of the Seahawks coaching staff. Take your game to another level with a CoachUp coach, and prepare to be great just like Wilson. https://www.coachup.com/nation/articles/the-separation-is-in-the-preparation-5-steps-to-be-successful-like-seattle-seahawks-quarterback-russell-wilson Separation is in the Preparation Russell Wilson often says, “Separation is in the preparation”. My question is does this slogan apply to everyone no matter what your age? I cannot foresee every curveball life will throw my way but I’m still learning to prepare for them. If we prepare in 5 foundational areas of life then we’ll be prepared for the moments of great separation. Here are the 5 Key areas of my preparation:
Jeff Additional motivational passages for us to keep preparing. 2 Corinthians 6:17 (NIV) Therefore, "Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you." 1 Peter 1 :15 (NIV) But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy." Isaiah 62 vv. 6-7… You who call on the Lord, give yourselves no rest, and give him no rest till he establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth. God is always at work. He’s like the Coach who completely devotes himself to a playbook and game film. He is always in preparation mode so that he’ll have himself and his team fully ready for the big day. The problem isn’t that God doesn’t hold to His promise to continue preparing…the problem is that we sometimes view eternity in Heaven as fire insurance and sit back and wait for that day while doing no preparation work in the meantime. We are to make every effort to do the work the Lord has called us to do, and encourage others to do the same as well (alongside us…unified). John 5:17 (NIV) In his defense Jesus said to them, "My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working." John 14:2-3 (NIV) 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. Philippians 1:6 (NIV) And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. John 9:4 (NIV) As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. Genesis 1:27 (NIV) So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Therefore, we must make every effort to reflect His characteristics, to keep walking, to study God’s word, to proclaim the Gospel message, to add to our faith, to be holy, to pray, to seek Him (Heb. 11:6), to seek peace and unity (edification, encouraging and building others up), to rejoice, and to give thanks. This is how we can reflect His glory. 2 Peter 1:5-8 (NIV) 5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Hebrews 12:14 (NIV) Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. Ephesians 4:3 (NIV) Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 2 Timothy 4:2 (NIV) Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction. 1 Peter 3:15 (NIV) But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (ESV) 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Psalm 122:6 (NIV) Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: "May those who love you be secure. Romans 14:19 (NIV) Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. John 12:35 Then Jesus told them, "You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going. Revelation 21:1-5a (NIV) A New Heaven and a New Earth 21 Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” 5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” P R E P A R A T I O N By Roger Lipe I Peter 1:13 How do you prepare for competition? How do you bring your mind into focus? What do you think about and how do you keep your goals in sight as the season moves along? The Bible has some great instruction for such questions. In Peter's first letter to his friends, in chapter 1 and verse 13 he says, “Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.” Here's what you must do in approaching today's competition: 1) Prepare your minds for action. Bring some focus to your play. Don't be distracted by the officials' calls, the trash talking of other players, the fools in the stands or anything else. Prepare your minds for action. 2) Be self-controlled. Control your emotions and so avoid foolish penalties. Control your mouth and so improve your teamwork. Control your attitude and focus on accomplishing your task, not on placing blame for missed plays. 3) Set your hope fully on Jesus Christ. Ultimately the only person who can fully enable you to do all these things is Christ Jesus. He has the power to bring a focused mind, self-control and real hope. Trust Him in prayer, give yourself fully to Him and He will never fail you. As you pray today, prepare your mind for action, be self-controlled and set your hope fully on Jesus Christ. He is the ultimate winner in all things! MIDDAYS WITH SUSIE LARSON God is preparing you for GREAT things!Susie Larson on January 11, 2017 God puts dreams in our hearts and writes a destiny over our lives. And if we trust Him enough to take Him at His word, we will find ourselves on a journey toward the fulfillment of that dream. Unfortunately, the path that takes us to the promise is always wrought with thickets and thorns. Nothing worth having ever comes easy or without opposition. Storms will come, lions will roar, and our fears will be confronted. God allows the path to be difficult because He intends on refining us and preparing us for our place of promise. He is intent on extracting from us, that which our enemy would love to leverage against us. God loves us too much to promote us before we are ready. Learn what God has to say about who you are with this free devotional. And so, as we follow His lead, we will at different times, find ourselves in a valley – a valley of decision. Marriages die there. Dreams die there too. The flesh dies hard and unfortunately for many, they’ve opted to let their dream die before they’d ever allow their flesh to be confronted. We all have weak spots and areas of inconsistency in our character. Until we see Jesus face to face, we will need His guidance and correction. He wants to take us from strength to strength; from glory to glory. Ephesians 3:20 tells us that He wants to do abundantly above and beyond ALL that we could ever ask or think, but there’s a clincher in this verse…it’s according to His work within us. To the extent that He’s allowed to work in us, will be the extent that He does great things through us. After pondering this idea a little more, I envisioned a valley of dry bones. Bones from marriages, relationships, and dreams abandoned because many people refused to die to themselves, to humble themselves, and to let God have His way in their lives. Don’t let your dream die in the valley! If you’re in a season of refining, lean in. Trust the loving hand of your precious Savior and know that He will lead you to the other side. Refuse a sense of entitlement and don’t demand to be understood. Instead, humble yourself and seek to understand what the Lord is doing around you. He will faithfully lead you and you will be strengthened as you go. On the other side of this refining time is a fresh perspective and new mercies. Humble yourself under the mighty hand of God; in due time you will be lifted up and honored before a watching world. Here’s my question for you: Do you have a sense of how God is using your current circumstances to prepare you for a great calling? https://life1025.com/2017/01/blog-god-is-preparing-you-for-great-things/
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Common to Uncommon
Acts 17:6 (NKJV) But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, “These who have turned the world upside down have come here too. 1 Peter 4:3-4 (NLT) You have had enough in the past of the evil things that godless people enjoy—their immorality and lust, their feasting and drunkenness and wild parties, and their terrible worship of idols. Of course, your former friends are surprised when you no longer plunge into the flood of wild and destructive things they do. So they slander you. Christ was good at taking something very common in culture and making it uncommon. Taking a world around Him and turning it completely upside down. This is what upset so many of the Romans. They had their society faithfully following them, and then Jesus shows up and messes up their plans. Consider the following this morning: What are some things in life that are uncommon that in time become common? What are some things in life that are common that can be used in uncommon ways? We often think of the uncommon becoming common, but God had a way of taking the common and making it uncommon. Following me? Hang in there. Christ could take something…Old and make it New. He pointed out that the Last will be First. That those who are the Greatest are the ones considered to be the ones who Serve (Servants). He reassures us that the Weakest are the Strongest, and that the Poor are actually the ones who are Rich. Common… Uncommon in their minds…
Practicing His Presence, Nate As you read through this I’d like to encourage you to be looking at and thinking about the potential characteristics, convictions and consequences that can come from living by some of the Unwritten Rules of Christianity.
Unwritten Rules of Church / Being a Follower of Christ:
Leadership in turbulent times...By Skip Lowe:
Servant / Leadership, and Gratefulness.Ox Strong Meeting in November…We had 34 men at Ox Strong this past Saturday. Brian Conway did a great job challenging each of us in the area of Servant / Leadership, and Gratefulness (a perfect follow-up from Chief Reilly’s message on Volunteerism, and perfect timing as Thanksgiving is fast approaching). For those of you who don’t know Brian…he is a native Grinnellian, and current principal at Davis Elementary. He recognizes his strengths and weakness and attempts to improve on both each day. His father, Denny, modeled for him a passion for education and for helping others. These qualities have been adopted by Brian as well. It brings him great joy to watch students learn and grow. Brian asked us to do some self-assessing and ask ourselves, “Are my priorities in the right place concerning servant/leadership, and gratefulness?” Below is his discussion on both topics.
Servant / Leadership:
Brian's Notes in Full Gratefulness and Servant Leadership by Brian Conway (Ox Strong 11-9-19). ● Gratefulness: warmly or deeply appreciative kindness or benefits received; thankful ● Servant Leadership: Being a servant first—- Robert Greenleaf (1970) ○ “The difference manifests itself in the care taken by the servant-first to make sure that other people’s highest priority needs are being served. The best test, and difficult to administer, is: Do those served grow as persons? Do they, while being served, become healthier, wiser, freer, more autonomous, more likely themselves to become servants? And, what is the effect on the least privileged in society? Will they benefit or at least not be further deprived?“ ○ A servant-leader focuses primarily on the growth and well-being of people and the communities to which they belong. While traditional leadership generally involves the accumulation and exercise of power by one at the “top of the pyramid,” servant leadership is different. The servant-leader shares power, puts the needs of others first and helps people develop and perform as highly as possible. ○ Key attributes: Self-awareness, listening, changing the pyramid, coaching/not controlling, developing your colleagues, utilizing strengths, and foresight ● A little bit about myself ○ How and why these topics are close to my heart—- My father as an example and one where I have truly looked back and assessed where I fall short as a man from time to time ■ That I feel strengths of mine can also be my downfall at times ■ Sadly, it is with the people closest to me where this is the case ● Scripture on Servant Leadership ○ Luke 22(25-27)--- Last supper with Jesus ■ And He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called ‘benefactors.’ But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves. For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves. ○ John 13 (12-17)--- Jesus showing the example of how to be a servant by washing the feet of people ● Why servant leadership? ○ Experiences growing up and how that set the table ○ School experiences ■ Helping to cultivate leaders to serve our community ■ No single part is greater than the sum of the parts ■ How do I show this each and every day? ■ What do we do from a school perspective to cultivate this in our students? ■ Why is this important and what can this mentality and way of doing business hopefully benefit our community in the long run? ○ Community Experiences ○ Home Experiences ■ Often times there is a disconnect between how I operate at my job and in the community and how I operate at home ■ Am I a servant leader at home? ■ If not, what example am I setting for my children? ○ Spiritual Experiences ■ Is what I show to my children helping them further their journey with Christ? ■ There is connection in what we do in our everyday lives and how that applies but what specific things can I do to further this? Gratefulness ○ Colossians 3:15—- A how-to on living a new life with Christ ■ And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. ○ Shifting our mindset ○ Showing this in my workplace ○ Showing this at home ■ What specific examples am I setting for my children ○ How am I showing this in my community? ○ How am I showing this with God? ■ Is there consistency or am coming to God mostly when the times get tough? ● Action Steps ○ Journal or jot down in which ways you feel you are currently exhibiting servant leadership and exhibiting gratefulness at your job, in your home, in your community, and in your spiritual life |
AuthorNate Smith is a husband, a father of 6 girls, grandpa to 3 granddaughters and one grandson, a police and fire chaplain, a pastor, and has a passion to see men grow in Christ. 
#girldad including granddaughter
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