2022-06-20
Numbers 1:1 NIV
A good leader is like a ship’s good captain; they plan the whole trip in their mind before they leave the dock. They have a clear vision of their destination, they understand what it will take to get there, they know who needs to be on board for the trip to be successful, and they recognize obstacles long before they appear on the horizon. And because they prepare well, good leaders can take their people just about anywhere.
Moses was such a leader. He spent forty days praying and fasting on a mountain, refusing to leave until he understood what God wanted him to do. Then he came back and communicated it to the people so they could participate in the vision.
In Leadership Promises For Your Week, Dr. John Maxwell writes: “As a good leader, Moses methodically arranged the tribal camps in the wilderness (See Numbers 2:34). We would do well to… organize as he did.
(1) Give time for planning and organizing. Determine your primary purpose.
(2) Understand where you are before trying to develop a strategy.
(3) Prioritize the needs and goals of the team by asking the right questions.
(4) Write goals that are realistic, measurable, and convicting.
(5) Clarify goals and communicate with your team.
(6) Identify possible obstacles. Have an open system approach to your planning.
(7) Budget your cost and time by scheduling everything you can and setting deadlines.
(8) Study the results. Evaluation prevents stagnation and exaggeration.”
If you want God to bless your plan, you must have a plan He can bless. And it must come from God Himself. So, talk to God today about His plan for your life.
Soul food: 2 Kings 16:1-18:16; Matt 19:15-30; Ps 139:1-6; Pro 13:21-23
Numeri 1:1 NLV
‘n Goeie leier is soos ‘n goeie skeepskaptein; hulle beplan die hele reis in hul gedagtes nog voor hulle die hawe verlaat. Hulle het ‘n duidelike visie van hulle bestemming, hulle verstaan wat dit gaan verg om daar te kom, hulle weet wie aan boord moet wees sodat die reis suksesvol sal wees en hulle herken struikelblokke lank voor dit op die horison verskyn. Omdat hulle goed voorbereid is, kan goeie leiers hul mense omtrent enige plek neem.
Moses was so ‘n leier. Hy het veertig dae op ‘n berg gevas en gebid en geweier om te loop totdat hy verstaan het wat God wou hê hy moes doen. Toe het hy teruggegaan en dit aan die mense gekommunikeer, sodat hulle aan sy visie kon deelneem.
Dr John Maxwell skryf in Leadership Promises For Your Week, die volgende: ‘Moses het as ‘n goeie leier die stamme se kampe metodies in die woestyn gerangskik (sien Numeri 2:34 NLV). Hoe kan ons ook so goed georganiseer wees? Deur die volgende te doen:
1) Neem tyd om te beplan en te organiseer. Bepaal jou primêre doelwit.
2) Verstaan waar jy tans is, voordat jy probeer om ‘n strategie te ontwikkel.
3) Prioritiseer die behoeftes en doelwitte van die span, deur hulle die regte vrae te vra.
4) Skryf doelwitte wat realisties, meetbaar en oortuigend is, neer.
5) Klaar doelwitte op en kommunikeer met jou span.
6) Identifiseer moontlike struikelblokke.
7) Begroot vir jou koste en tyd deur alles wat jy kan te skeduleer en spertye daarvoor te stel.
8) Bestudeer die resultate. Evaluasie verhoed stagnasie en oordrywing.’
As jy wil hê dat God jou plan moet seën, moet jy ‘n plan hê wat Hy kan seën. Dit moet van God self af kom. Praat dus vandag met God oor sy plan vir jou lewe.
Sielskos: 2 Kon 16:1-18:16; Matt 19:15-30; Ps 139:1-6; Spr 13:21-23
2022-06-19
Lamentations 3:22 NCV
Today is Father’s Day, a chance for us to celebrate and say thank you to our dads and the father figures in our lives. But it can be a time of sadness or resentment if we haven’t had a good experience of a father or our relationship has broken down. But however we feel about our earthly fathers, we always have a heavenly Father who we can rely on.
Take a minute to check on your relationship with Him. Is it strong and constant? Or do you need to rebuild you relationship and reconnect with Him? Even if we’ve neglected or rejected Him, God’s ready to welcome us back with His arms wide open. Just like the prodigal son’s father in Luke 15, God will celebrate the moment we come back. He loves us more than we could deserve or imagine.
The Bible tells us: ‘The LORD’s love never ends; his mercies never stop. They are new every morning; LORD, your loyalty is great’ (Lamentations 3:22-23 NCV). ‘God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life’ (John 3:16 ESV). ‘God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)’ (Ephesians 2:4-5 NLT).
God’s love for us never stops or weakens. Whatever your relationship with God is like at the moment, take the opportunity today to thank Him for His amazing love. Reconnect with Him, and be assured that He’s delighted to have you as His child.
Est 4:9-5:3; Heb 4:7-16
Joshua 24:15 NKJV
The beloved radio commentator, Paul Harvey, wrote: “At a time when being a buddy to one’s son is popular, I am going to stay a Father… If a gap exists between my sons and daughters and myself, I am going to work hard to understand, but I am also going to work hard to be understood… when they tell it like it is, I will listen, even if I like it better the way it was. If old fashioned things such as prayer, Bible study, worship and faith in God ever seem to my children to be out of date, square, or whatever – I trust God’s help to have faith enough to yet pray for them, and I pledge with the patriarch Job to offer additional sacrifices for them.
With love in our home, I will answer their questions about the facts of life, but at nudeness and lewdness I refuse to wink… If experimentation with drugs or Marijuana is ever a problem, it will be in violation of my every prayer and request… I want my children to know that I make mistakes, that I am foolish, proud and often inconsistent. But I will not tolerate that as an excuse for my hypocrisy. I will ask them to help me change… and to expect me to help them change…
Others may look to the under-thirty crowd for the wisdom to throw away the past, and to say what will remain for future generations; others may let the offspring in the house determine the foods, the music, and the spending of the household, but I am going to stay a Father.”
Soul food: Est 4:9-5:3; Heb 4:7-16
Josua 24:15 NLV
Die geliefde radiokommentator, Paul Harvey, het geskryf: ‘In ‘n tyd waar dit populêr is om jou seun se vriend te wees, gaan ek ‘n Vader bly. As daar ‘n afstand tussen my seuns, my dogters en myself ontstaan, sal ek hard werk om hulle te verstaan, maar ek gaan ook hard werk sodat hulle my verstaan. Wanneer hulle my vertel hoe dinge nou staan, sal ek luister, selfs al hou ek meer van hoe dinge was. As dinge soos gebed, Bybelstudie, lofprysing en geloof in God ooit deur my kinders as outyds of onnodig gesien word, sal ek op God se hulp vertrou om genoeg geloof te hê om vir hulle te bid.
Ek beloof saam met die patriarg Job om ekstra offers vir hulle te bring. Met liefde in ons huis, sal ek hulle vrae oor die feite van die lewe beantwoord, maar ek weier om vir naaktheid en onkuisheid te knipoog. As eksperimente met dwelms of dagga ooit ‘n probleem word, sal ek dit teenstaan in elke gebed en versoek. Ek wil hê dat my kinders moet weet dat ek foute maak; dat ek dwaas en trots en dikwels teenstrydig is. Ek sal dit egter nie as ‘n verskoning vir my skynheiligheid duld nie. Ek sal hulle vra om my te help om te verander en om van my te verwag om hulle te help verander.
Ander mense mag dalk na die jonger geslag kyk vir die wysheid om te besluit wat vir toekomstige generasies behoue sal bly en wat van die verlede weggegooi kan word. Ander mense mag dalk toelaat dat die kinders die kos, die musiek en die geldsake van die huisgesin bepaal, maar ek gaan ‘n Vader bly.’
Sielskos: Est 4:9-5:3; Heb 4:7-16
