engee

When we lead, we do so imperfectly. 

I've made plans for today and you probably have too. But how often do we forget to realise that God has plans for us? And that His plans are far greater and often very different to what we have in mind? In the midst of Israel's darkest hours God declares in Jeremiah 29:11 - "I know the plans I have for you"… "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." This verse is notorious for being misrepresented, particularly within the context of the 'prosperity gospel' but when we take this verse in the context of the entire gospel - the trials that we are promised, the battles and race that is set before us AND the blessings that receive in Jesus Christ - this verse represents a great hope and reality for each of us.

Our job is to continually renew our mind and align it with the plans that God has for us. Ephesians 3:20 paints a picture of God's promises in this light, "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us." That is pretty amazing; if you're able to plan and ask for something, according to His spirit - God is able and willing to do far greater than that. The moment we wake up, we hold tightly to the plans that we make for ourselves, because we think they're good. And for the most part they are - how can I make the most of today? How can achieve my goals? But according to God's word, there is something far greater than OUR plans… HIS plans. 

The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership || John C. Maxwell

I've had the privilege of leading in a number of different roles both in church and university, all which have been first and foremost challenging, but nevertheless abundantly rewarding. I don't consider myself a natural leader by any stretch of the imagination, but there has always been a persistent theme in my life of encouragement from those around me to step into leadership and an innate desire in me to see people reach their full potential. I'm so grateful for the people around me who have pointed out the potential in my own life that I have not identified myself and I hope to do the same for those entrusted to me. This year I'm stepping up to lead a small group of young adults and more than ever I'm realising being a great leader doesn't happen by chance - it’s a deliberate process which requires persistent attention and work. This book is a collection of 21 principles from John C. Maxwell, known for his teaching on leadership over many years, on how we can be more effective and purposeful leaders.

1. Leading vs Managing

A clear distinction has to be made between leading and managing, with the former being about where one is going and the latter about how one gets there. We first have the responsibility of leading our life and pointing in a direction which lines up with our beliefs and calling. Only with this clear vision does implementing management strategies and techniques (such as improving productivity etc) make sense and actually become effective in helping us achieve our end goal. Proverbs 29:18 says "where there is no vision, the people perish" - we need to be certain of our vision before we can run with it. And with a vision, we have to prayerfully plot our course and count the cost.

2. Heart before hand

In leading a group, connecting with each individual is important in developing a culture of ownership and buy in. A member who knows you have their best interest in mind is released to serve to their full potential. People are more likely to follow people they connect with rather than a grand vision without any connection. So how does that look for me and the people entrusted to me? Firstly, prayer. On the topic of having compassion for the lost, A. W. Tozer writes -  "But the multitudes that were so dear to Christ shall not be less dear to me. If I cannot prevent their moral suicide I shall at least baptize them with my human tears. I want no blessing that I cannot share." Likewise should it be for anyone who is entrusted to us, that our hearts be so torn in prayer for them. Secondly, be proactive in doing good. Going back to "what's best next" by Matt Perman, we should be proactive in seeking out opportunities to serve people, rather than passive spectators.

3. Leading leaders

The end goal of a leader is not to lead a whole bunch of followers, but to empower and establish the next generation of leaders. You have to look no further than the life of Jesus and the commissioning of his disciples, where you find this principle in place. This means knowing how to identify giftings and talents, provide opportunities for them to outwork and most importantly lead by example. Particularly with small group leading, I think we fall into the trap of good meeting = good lifegroup and that is hardly the point. The point is 1 Corinthians 11:1 - "follow me as I follow Christ" and that each member would grasp this vision and run with it.

9 Things You Simply Must Do || Dr Henry Cloud

My dad passed me this book during my end of year break and at first I was quite reluctant to read it because it sounded like the title of a viral video on youtube or one of those clickbait links on social media. However, what discovered from the book wasn't any new ground-breaking tips or tricks for the successful life, but solid principles that are good for us to review and take stock of in our own lives.  Here are a few that stood out to me.

1. Act like an ant I often think up grand plans or give myself enormous goals to achieve, only to find 3 days in I've hardly moved from my starting point and lost all motivation to see these things come to fruition. The principle of "act like an ant" comes from Proverbs 6:6-8 - "Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest." Wanting it all keeps you from having any and wanting it now keeps you from having it at all. Sometimes less is more when we are choosing our goals and what we want to do - being focussed allows us to be effective. Break big goals into achievable routines. We have get used to trusting the process, the routine and most importantly trusting God that in the right time and season we will see a harvest.

2. Know who to upset Growth in relationships often requires confrontation and a process of working things through - a stronger, deeper relationship can often result. Another perspective of this principle is to know that we can't please everyone. I've sometimes thought that being a Christian meant being compliant with everyone's wishes, but looking at the life of Jesus, this was far from the case. Jesus knew his mission on earth from the outset and knew that to truly love people, more than just a few people would be upset with him along the way.

3. Don't play fair Playing fair sounds … fair. If you mess up, you bear and work with the consequences. But when you think about it, playing fair is far from the best way to approach relationships and in most cases its detrimental. If I fail you in our relationship, the last thing I want you to do is get even at me. There is so much in this principle but essentially, we should approach people with the same love and grace the Christ has demonstrated to us. I've found that this requires us to be proactive in our relationships, even in just the simple things. Smile and greet others first, look for needs that can be met, don't let a harsh word change the way you interact with people. It starts with the little things.