"Being cheerful keeps you healthy. It is slow death to be gloomy all the time." [Proverbs 17:22. GNB] "You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever." [Psalm 16:11. NLT] As we love and serve God, he wants us to enjoy … Continue reading A Few New Year Tips – LAUGH
A Few New Year Tips – SIMPLIFY
"But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ." [2 Cor 11:2-3. NKJV] How easily life becomes complex in our fast-paced and ever-expanding world. Complexity usually leads to stress and overload. Peace and an inner sense of well-being … Continue reading A Few New Year Tips – SIMPLIFY
What Matters Most?
It’s hard to believe that another year is history and a new one has just begun. These times of transition between seasons give us an opportunity to “reflect” on how our life is really going and to “resolve” to do some things differently. Of course, we know that it will take more than reflection and … Continue reading What Matters Most?
Life Planning (Conclusion)
We've just spent the last 14 days doing some Life Planning exercises. Over this time we have looked at six steps for leading your own life. Each of these six simple steps can also be applied to your church, your ministry, your organisation or business, your family, as well as your career. You need to … Continue reading Life Planning (Conclusion)
Life Planning [Day 14]
Our final step in Life Planning is ... STEP 6 - Evaluate. Effective life leadership requires that we take time to evaluate our lives and our progress. Every Christian needs to periodically take a spiritual “stocktake”. We need to bring ourselves to account, to see how we are really doing. It is very easy to … Continue reading Life Planning [Day 14]
Life Planning [Day 13]
Let's move on to the next step in Life Planning ... STEP 5 - Do God's Will Paul’s instructions to the believers at Ephesus were action-orientated (Eph.5-6). He gave them things he wanted them to do. They were to take action, which meant to start doing things they weren’t already doing or to stop doing … Continue reading Life Planning [Day 13]
Life Planning [Day 12]
Let's now look at our next step ... STEP 4 - Organise Weekly To make the most of your time and to manage your life well means that you need to consider what you are doing with your time. That’s why a weekly planning appointment is so helpful. Use a calendar and schedule specific time … Continue reading Life Planning [Day 12]
Life Planning [Day 11]
Step 1 of Life Planning was Understand Your Mission. Step 2 was Identify Your Roles. Let's now move on to Step 3. STEP 3 - Establish Goals. As Paul identified each role, he gave some specific instructions or goals for the believers at the church of Ephesus to work on. Wives were to lovingly submit to … Continue reading Life Planning [Day 11]
Life Planning [Day 10]
STEP 1 in Life Planning is to Understand Your Mission. We have considered a number of things to help us get a better handle on our mission: a mission statement, core values, personal vision, prophetic directives, our unique SHAPE, a SWOT analysis, and some personal shifts. These all work together to show us different aspects … Continue reading Life Planning [Day 10]
Life Planning [Day 9]
In moving towards God's Mission for your life, there will be changes you need to make. God leads us day by day, step by step, level by level, and season by season. Another helpful analogy is shifting gears. There are times when God wants us to transition to a new gear, so we can move … Continue reading Life Planning [Day 9]
Life Planning [Day 8]
Another simple tool to help you as you continue to think through your Mission is a SWOT analysis. SWOT stands for: Strengths - what are you good at? When do you feel strong? Weaknesses - what do you find difficult? What drains you of energy? Opportunities - what are the greatest opportunities facing you right … Continue reading Life Planning [Day 8]
Life Planning [Day 7]
Another helpful thing to consider when reflecting on your Mission is your personal SHAPE. SHAPE is a concept developed by Rick Warren and it includes consideration of five things: Spiritual Gifts - what spiritual gifts has God given to you? Heart - what are your passions, interests, and motivations? Abilities - what are you good … Continue reading Life Planning [Day 7]
Life Planning [Day 6]
Another dimension of Mission is considering any Prophetic Directives God may have given you. This includes any specific prophetic words God has given to you directly or from others, as well as any specific Bible verses God has quickened for you. Listening to the Spirit's directives and then following them creates a sense of spiritual … Continue reading Life Planning [Day 6]
Life Planning [Day 5]
Another aspect of Mission is Vision. Vision answers the question, “Where?” Where are you going in the next period of time (3-5 years)? What is on the horizon and which way are you heading? Leaders are called by God to communicate a preferred picture of the future that motivates people with passion to give their … Continue reading Life Planning [Day 5]
Life Planning [Day 4]
Another dimension of Mission is Values. Values answer the question, “Who?” Who are you? What is important to you? What are you building on and what do you hope to outlast you? Jesus had specific values that he was building His kingdom on and he made them very clear to everyone. “You have heard it … Continue reading Life Planning [Day 4]