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Posts tagged ‘goals’

22
Mar

Discovering Ministry in the Midst of the Stuff

I’m working and writing on the premise that God speaks best through me what He has been speaking in me. God has been prodding me onward and helping me wade through some of the tough stuff in every day ministry.

A missionary associate recently discussed with me an AIMer (short-term missionary) that had arrived on the field. He/she felt bewildered and blameworthy he/she wasn’t doing actual “ministry.” It’s a repetitive regular restlessness among those in kingdom business.

In 1999 I visited one of the executives in his office at World Evangelism Center. I asked if it were possible to do ministry in the midst of his administrative responsibilities. He pointed to a large stack of files and said, “Ministry, every time I want to do ministry, there is all this work staring at me.”

Lest we think this is a phenomenon isolated to World Evangelism Center, or AIMers on the mission field, I wonder how many pastors feel the same way. I recall, after marrying my wife, Linda, receiving a letter from her pastor-Dad. He wondered if he was truly making a difference in the small church he pastored and was close to giving up and throwing in the towel. Thankfully, he faithfully pressed on. Read more

1
Jan

Vision and Purpose

Chances are that at the end of your life you will die in bed, waiting. “People are appointed to die once, and then to face judgment” (Heb 9:27). Imagine you there, lying in bed (above) and reflecting. Reading back through the chapters of you life story.

What did my life add up to?

Did I really matter?

What did I live for?

What legacy did I leave?

Who will remember me?

What will they say about me when I’m gone? Read more »

26
Dec

Best Practices for Mentoring – Part 3

Progress You Can Measure

It is important to encourage your potential leaders to review their goals and progress frequently. Ben Franklin set aside time every day to review two questions. In the morning he asked himself, “What good shall I do today?” In the evening he asked, “What good have I done today?”

How do you overcome discouragement so you can move ahead?

  1. Take time to grow.
    I minister better when I take time to relax, read, recreate, spend time with family and friends, and grow professionally. Read more »
26
Dec

Best Practices for Mentoring – Part 2

 

Guidelines For Mentoring Relationships

from “Developing The Leaders Around You, by John C. Maxwell

When you find someone who can personally mentor you, use these guidelines to help develop a positive mentoring relationship with that person.

  1. Ask the right questions: Give thought to questions you will ask before you meet with your mentor. Make them strategic for your own growth.
  2. Clarify your level of expectations: Generally, the goal of mentoring is improvement, not perfection. Perhaps only a few people can be truly excellent – but all of us can become better. Read more »
27
Aug

Planning for the Future

Planning is defined as an aim, intention, purpose or something that is considered in advance.

Ecclesiastes 3:1:- states, “To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under the sun.” From this verse we learn that there is time and plan of God for everything that happens to us here on the earth.

Romans 8:28:”And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God to them who are called according to his purpose”  – (PLAN).

Why did God make the sun?

Because it was His plan to make the distinction between the day and night (Genesis 1:16).

Read more »