Top 10 leadership tips

• Know the work. Your ability to lead your team effectively will be correlative to your knowledge of their tasks and workload. Take time to learn the tasks and rhythm of the work of your team members. Given the fact that a good bit of your time is spent solving problems, you will be able to find solutions more quickly if you have comprehensive and deep knowledge of the work. Proverbs 22:9

• Show respect for all team members. Maintaining a maximum level of team chemistry is essential. Treating every member of the team with an equal amount of respect and professionalism will go a long way toward building a trusting and collaborative team culture. 1 Timothy 3:2

• Develop your people. Take your team members to new places with intentionality. Give them opportunities to gain new skills and experience. The more you expand the horizons of your team, the greater the opportunity your organization will have to thrive, innovate, and expand in the future. Luke 6:40

• Have a plan. Go beyond the origination of an annual budget. Your team, products/resources, production processes, marketing strategies, sales campaigns, delivery methods, etc. should all be supported by goals and clearly outlined pathways to execution. Do your best not to leave any stones unturned. 1 Chronicles 28

• Communicate clearly and often. Few things frustrate a team more than not having access to information or direction. Know your plan and be sure to keep it before your team on a routine basis. As plans necessitate change along the way, be sure to share changes openly and with emphasis. Diversify your forms of communication, as varied personalities listen in different ways. Above all, maintain consistency in the content you communicate. Joshua 9:24

• Risk must be enriched by a willingness to fail. Any leader not willing to take risk will almost certainly have a short-lived tenure. Worldwide culture is changing at a faster rate than ever before. In order to adapt and innovate, leaders must adopt and cultivate a willingness to go to new places, all of the while not living in fear of falling short of established goals. Bravery and a spirit of adventure are the catalysts that will often times be the keys that unlock success. Deuteronomy 31:6

• Own your mistakes. Everyone misses the mark from time-to-time. When you find yourself at such an advent, be the first to confess and apologize for your missed steps. Denial leads to disrespect of your team. Casting undue blame leads to frustration and lack of trust on your team. James 5:16

• Be committed to your own development. Leaders should be devoted to their own learning and growth. Blind spots and comfort zones can easily creep into one’s routine and performance without a perpetual plan for personal development. Mentorship, avid reading, continuing education, additional responsibilities, and new training can all contribute to the growth and maturation of a leader. Philippians 1:9

• Be a model servant. With Christ as our ultimate example, it is imperative that leaders routinely practice being a servant to everyone around them. Placing others ahead of your own interests will earn more trust, respect, loyalty, and productivity than just about any other leadership practice. Philippians 2:3

• Love people. Far above any asset your organization possesses are relationships with people. Invest time to take a personal interest in the lives, families, interests, and work of everyone on your team. Treat partners and contract workers with fairness and integrity. You cannot and will not accomplish anything without quality people around you. These folks will not perform to their potential without knowing that their leader places highest value in who they are, as well as what they do. 1 Corinthians 13

taken from lifeway 

The Greatest Price Ever Paid To Set a Slave Free!

The Greatest Price Ever Paid To Set a Slave Free! 

Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. —Titus 2: 14

the word “redemption,” which comes from the Greek word lutroo. This is the word used in Titus 2: 14, where Paul says, “… That he might redeem us from all iniquity….” This Greek word depicts a person who paid a very high price to obtain the slave of his choice. Once the price was offered and accepted, that slave became his personal property. However, the word lutroo was used in another very significant way that also has to do with the concept of redemption. At times, a caring and compassionate individual would come to the slave market for the sole purpose of purchasing slaves out of slavery to liberate and set them free! In this case, the payment offered was viewed as a ransom —paid to obtain freedom for slaves. Because Paul uses the word lutroo to denote the redemptive work of Jesus Christ on our behalf, it tells us several important things:

1) Jesus came into the world, Satan’s slave market, because He was looking for us.
2) Jesus knew He wanted us and wouldn’t be satisfied until the purchase was complete.
3) Jesus was willing to pay any price demanded to purchase us from the slave market.
4) Jesus purchased us with His own blood so we would become His own personal property.
5) Jesus paid the price with His blood, purchased us for Himself, and gave us a liberating freedom that can only be known because of His work in our lives!

Our freedom from Satan’s power was extremely expensive. The price Jesus paid for us was the highest price ever paid for a slave. 

What was the ransom that Jesus paid in order to procure our freedom from Satan’s ownership? His own blood! 

This means that the word lutroo in Titus 2: 14 conveys this idea: “Who gave Himself for us, that He might purchase us out of the slave market to become His own personal property —yes, He was willing to pay the ransom price to see us liberated and set free.…”

My personal thoughts = It was the shedding of Jesus’ own blood that guaranteed our deliverance and lasting freedom from the demonic powers that had previously held us captive. The word lutroo unmistakably means Jesus paid the ransom that set you and me free! He bought us with His own blood! As Hebrews 9: 12 says, “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.” Jesus gave Himself as the ransom to set you free from sin. Someone had to enter Satan’s slave market, so Jesus chose to go. Someone had to offer a price, so Jesus offered to pay the price for your freedom with His own blood. Someone had to finalize the deal, so Jesus willingly paid the price with His own life on the Cross.

Take Advantage Of All Kinds of Prayer

Take Advantage Of All Kinds of Prayer 

Praying always with all prayer.... —Ephesians 6: 18

If you want to grow in your spiritual walk, you need to make prayer a central part of your life. But in order for prayer to be the great adventure God wants it to be in your life, you must understand that there are all kinds of ways to pray. Don’t get stuck with just one form of prayer! The Bible tells us that there are several kinds of prayer, and you need to learn to use every kind of prayer that’s available to you.

Ephesians 6: 18 says, “Praying always with all prayer.…” The first thing I want you to notice is that this verse commands us to pray “always.”  The word “always” is taken from the Greek phrase en panti kairo. The word en would be better translated at. The word panti means each and every. You could say that this word panti is an all-encompassing word that embraces everything, including the smallest and most minute of details. The last word in this Greek phrase is the word kairo, the Greek word for times or seasons. When all three of these words are used together in one phrase (en panti kairo) as in Ephesians 6: 18, they could be more accurately translated at each and every occasion. But I want you to notice that this verse goes on to say that you are to pray “with all prayer.” This phrase is taken from the Greek phrase dia pases proseuches and would be better translated “with all kinds of prayer.” To assist the Church in maintaining a victorious position in life, God has given His people various kinds of powerful prayer. 

Other translations of Ephesians 6: 18 include: 

“Use every kind of prayer....” (Goodspeed) 

“Pray... with all manner of prayer....” (AMP) 

“Pray... with all kinds of prayers....” (NIV) 

“Pray... with all kinds of prayers that are available for you to use....” (REV)

Most people don’t realize there are different kinds of prayer. But according to this verse, God has actually made many forms of prayer available to us to use as needed, such as the prayer of faith, the prayer of intercession, the prayer of consecration, and the prayer of agreement. 

Sometimes life can be difficult and challenging. For one thing, the devil doesn’t want you to be blessed or successful in your endeavors. So in order to face the inevitable attacks that arise against your marriage, finances, body, job, and career, you must come to realize that prayer is indispensable. You cannot succeed as a Christian without an active and effective prayer life. 

No matter how anointed, skilled, or gifted you may be or how bold and courageous you think you are, you simply cannot maintain a victorious position in life apart from prayer. Without prayer, you can be sure of absolute and total defeat. But as you develop a lifestyle of prayer, taking advantage of every form of prayer available to you, you will find that victory is yours in the midst of every challenge! The various kinds of prayer have all been given to you for your benefit and spiritual growth. So take the time to study the Word and learn how to pray with “all kinds of prayer.” Don’t let this day go by without spending quality time in prayer with the Heavenly Father. There is victory waiting on the other side

YOU WILL ONLY SUCCEED WHEN YOUR ASSIGNMENT BECOMES AN OBSESSION

YOU WILL ONLY SUCCEED WHEN YOUR ASSIGNMENT BECOMES AN OBSESSION

 Focus Is Magnetic. When you focus your attention and time to achieving your Assignment, you will experience Favor. 

Jesus Rebuked Those Who Broke His Focus. But turning around and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, "Get behind me, Satan! You are not thinking about God's concerns but human concerns."(Mark 8: 33).

The Apostle Paul Was Obsessed With His Assignment. 

It explains his remarkable victories over enemies, adversaries and even friends who misunderstood him. He explained his focus to the Philippians, 

13 Brothers and sisters, I know that I still have a long way to go. But there is one thing I do: I forget what is in the past and try as hard as I can to reach the goal before me. 14 I keep running hard toward the finish line to get the prize that is mine because God has called me through Christ Jesus to life up there in heaven. Philippians 3:13-14

 He moved away from past hurts, failures and memories. 

Obviously, he had a photograph of those things God had placed before him.

6 Keys For Developing An Obsession For Your Assignment

1. Identify Any Distraction To Your Assignment.     (Hebrews 12: 1).  Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,

2.   Do not fall in love with programs and imitation

      (2 Timothy 2: 4).  No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer.

3. Become An Expert On Your Assignment. (2 Timothy 2: 15).  Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

4. Avoid Any Conversation With Those Who Disrespect Your Assignment.

    (2 Timothy 2: 16, 23).

16 Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly.

24 Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels.

5. Prepare For Uncommon Adversity. Satan dreads the completion of your Assignment. Each      act of obedience can destroy a thousand satanic plans and desires.

6. Disconnect From Any Relationship That Does Not Celebrate Your Obsession.

    (2 Thessalonians 3: 14). Take special note of anyone who does not obey our instruction in this letter. Do not associate with them, in order that they may feel ashamed.

>  Maybe it’s time to go back to the helper instead of doing it on our own - Holy Spirit 

>  find 2-3 people to pray with you - that are not ego strokes  / we all need a Nathan  

>  Don’t substitute your prayer and bible reading