Have you ever wanted to have the final word? Have you ever wanted to be the
one who makes the decision after hearing all that others have to say? I am
sure at times it would be a welcome task and at other times it would be a
difficult task. Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Leadership is a difficult endeavor; it involves having the last word. A
leader interprets all that is said and all that is done and has the
responsibility to set the direction. Leading others comes with a great
responsibility. Is the person you are following moving you to the front?
I was thinking about the final word and how it guides a race team. The
crew chief is the one that makes the decision but who has the final word? I
think the man who turns the wrench ultimately decides. The driver has input,
the crew chief has the decision to make, but ultimately the guy that sets
the tire pressure, the guy that adjusts the chassis or shock has the final
say. He actually does it.
I have had times when I had the last word, it comes with any leadership
position, when all is said and done the leader has the final word. The
leader has to decide what was said that was significant. They have to set a
direction. Having the final word is one thing, but what happens if no one
follows your instructions?
Leadership not only involves making decisions, providing guidance but
also people have to follow. If you turn around and there is no one following
you then you are not leading. That is the most difficult time, having to
take a step back and figure out where you lost everyone, collect them back
up and recommit to move to the front together.
Race teams deal with this on a constant basis, there is always a level of
trust required and a belief that the one leading knows the way. The one
leading has a responsibility not to lose those he is responsible for
leading. There must be a mutual respect from each team member to be
committed to the direction of the team.
Who have we allowed to lead our lives? A couple of Scriptures come to
mind that help remind me who should be the one I follow.
Proverbs 3:5-6; Trust in the LORD with all your
heart and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
Jeremiah 29:11-13; For I know the plans I have
for you," declares the LORD,
"plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.
Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to
you.
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
These verses will help us move to the front, when we commit to seek
God with all our heart and let Him guide our path we will move beyond the
pettiness of life and find true satisfaction and fulfillment. That only
comes from one source, Jesus Christ.
We all desire to have the best life possible, but we put our trust and
faith in things that will not help us attain that. We seek life in things
that lead to death and destruction. Not everything will help us move to the
front; in fact Scripture tells us if we want to lead we must serve.
Philippians 2:5-8; Your attitude should be the
same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something
to be grasped,
but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in
human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became
obedient to death -- even death on a cross!
So how do we move to the
front? We need to move to the back, the most effective leadership comes from
an attitude of service. We get this so wrong in life. We think the powerful,
the bullies, the proud and arrogant are the natural born leaders, but the
truth be told leadership comes from surrendering yourself to the service of
others.
Think about it, how many times has someone doing something for you stuck
in your mind? It is easy to remember those times when someone reached out to
you in your time of need and helped you. Those are the times in life when we
are encouraged, fulfilled, satisfied. Those are the times we don’t feel
alone. Those are the times when we see hope and a future. When we know
someone is looking out for us, we stumble and fall but there is someone
there to pick us up, dust us off, walk alongside us until we can stand on
our own: that is true leadership! The secret is to move someone else to the
front.
Christ desires to lead us to the most satisfying, meaningful and
fulfilling life here on earth. We need to allow Him to lead us, move us to
the front. Don’t be surprised if the view from the front isn’t what you
expected. If you are there, you will start to see how many other lives you
can touch by giving them hope and a future. Surrender to Christ and let Him
have control over your decisions and actions; that is a life worth living.
THOUGHTS FROM THE ROAD
LEE
USA CLOSES OUT THE SEASON - Bobby and Vinetta were on hand to help close
the 2014 season under almost perfect skies. The team at Lee deserves high
marks for getting the show completed in a timely fashion. It isn't always an
easy task when dealing with touring divisions along with your regular weekly
divisions and extra divisions for a special show but the team at Lee did a
great job even with the curve of a rain delay.
WORLD SERIES WEEKEND - Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park closes
out the Whelen Modified Tour this weekend and a champion will be crowned. It
is always good when the championship comes down to the last race. The whole
season builds to the point where one team secures the hardware. We look
forward to being on hand for the celebration, come join us.
Until next time, be a witness for our Lord with the ministry decals
and apparel. See them at the Show Your Faith Apparel Store at
http://www.rwjm.com/store. Send us your prayer and counseling needs no matter
what part of our racing family you are in, or give us a call. Remember that
God loves you, we love you and Jesus is Lord over Auto Racing. GOD BLESS.
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Numbers 6:24-26 "The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord
make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face
toward you and give you peace."
May God always Bless you, everyday in everyway. Rev. Don
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