Attitude of Gratitude 3
By Tommy Franks
An attitude of gratitude takes us higher in Leadership! William James said, “The greatest discovery of our generation is that human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitudes.” Our attitudes either project positive thoughts or negative ones. If we can believe that everything is possible, our attitudes will soar with new ideas, new thinking, and better self-control of our dynamic lives.
Some believe that “Attitude is a choice!” I do too!
We are where we are today because of the thoughts we have maintained up to this point. James Allen says, "A man is literally what he thinks, his character being the complete sum of all his thoughts."
We cannot change our thoughts without changing our lives…either for good or for bad. As we immerse ourselves in positive thoughts, we will become the person we long to be. If we plant corn, we will get a harvest of corn. If we plant wheat, we will harvest wheat. As we plant positive seed thoughts into our minds, we will receive a harvest of positive solutions! Read on…
A good attitude, an attitude of gratitude, and good leadership go hand in hand! With a good attitude, leadership is the ability of one person to influence another. It has little to do with what you do, but it's a matter of who you are as an individual. In other words, finding out who you are...then becoming the person that you were made to be. There are people that do great things, but they are not leaders! It is the ability to find out where you are going and then inspire others to go with you.
Leadership is composed of leaders who are ordinary people who accept the responsibility of extraordinary circumstances and still bring forth and develop the potential in themselves and others through confidence, trust, and character. GREAT leaders desire to serve...Leadership is a by‑product of that servitude.
Billions of dollars are spent annually on "want‑a‑be" leaders. Many of them are complete nincompoops as far as leadership. Why? Because leadership courses can only teach skills, not character or vision. Leaders are made through character and vision. They are products of initiative, drive, wanting to serve mankind, trust, courage, and goals. Leaders are not born. They are developed, and many times through adversity, disappointment, the challenges of life, and a need to serve in order to make life easier for others.
A leader is an original...not a copy. Everyone can be a leader if he/she chooses to be. If it's to be, it's up to me!
Effective Leadership makes life increasingly more successful! Effective Leadership is not necessarily doing things right; however, it is doing the right thing. For example: Let's say, one day, I ask my son Thomas II to wash my car while I am away in the big city of Atlanta. However, he decides to mow the lawn instead. Upon my return, the lawn looks superb and beautiful. It is simply wonderful to gaze upon...freshly manicured; the sidewalk looks well trimmed; the plants and young trees look so good in the freshly mowed lawn. It took Thomas a lot of time to mow the lawn. He had done a good thing and he had done it right; nonetheless, he had not done the right thing. As his father, I had asked him to wash my car, not mow the lawn. My car still needed to be washed.
Another thing, the purpose of leadership is not followers, but to lead others into becoming leaders themselves. The ultimate goal of leadership is independence and the development of more leaders.
Everyone is born to lead; however, most people die without ever knowing what they were born to do, what their purpose in life was all about, without knowing who they were, and without knowing true victory and great accomplishments! WHY? They did not DARE to be themselves. They tried to be what others told them to be. They did not even attempt to achieve their goals...because they had none. They tried to be a copy and not an original!
A leader is above all things...himself. God created all of us to rule, govern, control, and influence the earth. We are not to dominate or control man. We are to control the earth, the animal kingdom, the elements, our environment... We are to assist others to reach their maximum potential. We are to inspire and influence others to take their place as leaders, especially in their homes, workplaces, church, community, etc. We were never created to be dominated but to govern and control our circumstances and destiny. We were created by design and by the Designer to lead.
Leadership is the ability to inspire others to heights that they have never known before, to be the best they can be, to reach their goals, destiny, their full potential, and to be pleased with themselves.
Leadership is not necessarily a title or position. Leadership is the ability to motivate, mobilize, move, and activate the gifts and talents within others. Leadership is a vision with purpose that generates passion for accomplishment. There is no room in a leader's life for "average" or "mediocrity". To be average has killed many good potential leaders.
Leadership means to inspire others. Inspiration is the direct opposite of intimidation, manipulation, or domination. To motivate another human being is one of the greatest achievements in life. Leaders will draw the best out of others and inspire them to maximize their true potential, talents, gifts, and abilities.
Everyone has the capacity, potential, and raw material to become a great leader by the design of the Creator. However, most people on Planet Earth will die with the leader trapped within them in the grave of a follower. Most people die without ever knowing who they really are! Why? Because most us are products of our environment, childhood, circumstances, and other influencing activities!
So, what is it that we need to do? We must have the courage to change. We must refuse mediocrity! We must develop our full potential. We must have a healthy positive attitude and an attitude of gratitude! We need to maximize our gifts and talents. We must not reject who we are… individuals of dignity, great worth, and priceless potential! We were created to win…NOT lose! We were created and born to lead!
Friday, March 30, 2007
Attitude of Gratitude 2
Attitude of Gratitude 2
By Tommy Franks
"In this day and time...with people ever so BUSY, BUSY, we often want to correct the other person's attitude most of the time. We see "them" at fast food restaurants, grocery stores, the mall, church, auto dealerships, traffic jams, schools, home, and especially at our WORK environments.
During my time of living on Planet Earth, I have found out a very high-level and important secret...that follows: The most expedient way for me to skillfully reduce the tension in the air is to CORRECT my own attitude. Is that easy? Are you kidding me? No. Especially for a "Type-A" individual…No, it is not an easy chore, but it is absolutely necessary for my own welfare...both physically and progressively. In this life, there will always be individuals...who we think are airheads, hotheads, deadheads, buttheads, potheads, and cone-heads.
That is human nature...whether we vocalize it or not. This is how we think. It's a fact. But what really matters is…how we adjust, accommodate, and handle the situation. We can change our own attitude or "go ahead" and get an ulcer if we want. It is our choice!
John Maxwell said, "God chooses what we go through; we choose how we go through it".
"Our attitude determines our actions. Our actions determine our accomplishments” (John Maxwell).
Someone has said, “We cannot direct the wind, but we can surely adjust our sails.” I have personally found out in life that once I say that I am beaten, I am. If I want to win in the game of life, I must have the right attitude and my actions must match that of my speech. If I say that I can’t do a certain thing, then I can’t. The converse of that is: If I say that I can do it, the battle is 95% won.
As you have also found out, the victory does not always go to the strongest, most knowledgeable, the most talented...You have found out in life that sooner or later, the man/woman who gains the victory as a winner is the individual who THINKS
he/she CAN! Attitude determines altitude! An attitude of gratitude makes us even better.
"A successful man (woman) is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks that others have thrown at him (her)” (David Brinkley).
And people will throw bricks at you...if you are doing anything. The only way that this is not true is: If you are doing nothing with your life...and even then…you will be criticized! Therefore, make life count for something...and don’t worry about what others are saying. Believe in yourself and the victory is half won.
Pick your right foot up and place it in front of you toward your goal and the victory is 75% won. Take the left foot and do the same thing and the victory is 95% won. Then continue to focus, take high aim, pull back the string on the bow, and let the arrow go...BULLS EYE. With a great attitude like that, no one can stop you...except you!
By Tommy Franks
"In this day and time...with people ever so BUSY, BUSY, we often want to correct the other person's attitude most of the time. We see "them" at fast food restaurants, grocery stores, the mall, church, auto dealerships, traffic jams, schools, home, and especially at our WORK environments.
During my time of living on Planet Earth, I have found out a very high-level and important secret...that follows: The most expedient way for me to skillfully reduce the tension in the air is to CORRECT my own attitude. Is that easy? Are you kidding me? No. Especially for a "Type-A" individual…No, it is not an easy chore, but it is absolutely necessary for my own welfare...both physically and progressively. In this life, there will always be individuals...who we think are airheads, hotheads, deadheads, buttheads, potheads, and cone-heads.
That is human nature...whether we vocalize it or not. This is how we think. It's a fact. But what really matters is…how we adjust, accommodate, and handle the situation. We can change our own attitude or "go ahead" and get an ulcer if we want. It is our choice!
John Maxwell said, "God chooses what we go through; we choose how we go through it".
"Our attitude determines our actions. Our actions determine our accomplishments” (John Maxwell).
Someone has said, “We cannot direct the wind, but we can surely adjust our sails.” I have personally found out in life that once I say that I am beaten, I am. If I want to win in the game of life, I must have the right attitude and my actions must match that of my speech. If I say that I can’t do a certain thing, then I can’t. The converse of that is: If I say that I can do it, the battle is 95% won.
As you have also found out, the victory does not always go to the strongest, most knowledgeable, the most talented...You have found out in life that sooner or later, the man/woman who gains the victory as a winner is the individual who THINKS
he/she CAN! Attitude determines altitude! An attitude of gratitude makes us even better.
"A successful man (woman) is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks that others have thrown at him (her)” (David Brinkley).
And people will throw bricks at you...if you are doing anything. The only way that this is not true is: If you are doing nothing with your life...and even then…you will be criticized! Therefore, make life count for something...and don’t worry about what others are saying. Believe in yourself and the victory is half won.
Pick your right foot up and place it in front of you toward your goal and the victory is 75% won. Take the left foot and do the same thing and the victory is 95% won. Then continue to focus, take high aim, pull back the string on the bow, and let the arrow go...BULLS EYE. With a great attitude like that, no one can stop you...except you!
Attitude of Gratitude
Attitude of Gratitude
By Tommy Franks
"It is a FACT that you project what you are" (Norman V. Peale).
Someone once said that a pessimist is a person who...regardless of the present...is disappointed in the future.
A wise person (John Wooden) said, "Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what YOU CAN DO."
Formerly, I have said a lot about looking in the mirror every morning and talking to yourself. WHY? Because we behave in a manner that is consistent with the way we see ourselves. If you view yourself as a successful individual, your actions will follow through with every effort to make that happen. Eventually, you will see your goals and dreams fulfilled. We make our own destiny. We do. No one can cause us to fail...but us! I cannot blame anyone else for my failures, problems, shortcomings, idiosyncrasies, peculiarities, and inconsistencies... BUT ME. I must take the responsibility for my own life.
A good attitude is not only "getting a life", but it is also being responsible for your life and actions!
"Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do" (John Wooden).
Take a good look at yourself. What do you see? What do you really see? Do you see a positive individual or negative individual? We BEHAVE in the manner and way in which we see ourselves.
Someone once said that quitting is a permanent solution to a temporary problem!
William James said, "The greatest discovery of our generation is that human beings can alter their lives by altering their minds."
This morning I got out of bed on the right side. Sometimes, I get out of bed on the left side. Does it really matter on which side I get up? I personally believe that it is all "in the mind" and attitude!
"The greatest MISTAKE a person can make is doing nothing" (John Maxwell).
If you believe you can do something, the chances are...you can. If you BELIEVE that it is impossible, the chances are...you are right. However, if it looks impossible, but you somehow BELIEVE that you can do it anyway, the chances are...you will!
An old King Solomon proverb says, "As a man/woman thinks in his/her heart, so is he/she."
Is life fair? Is our justice system fair? Do we have inequities in this life on Planet Earth? How do we react to those inequities? Do we sometimes have difficulties with other people? Then pinch yourself because you are very much alive and living a normal life. We are measured by the winds of adversity, the heat of the fire/furnace, the grinding of metal (iron sharpens iron), and the elasticity of our strengths. No one has ever trained to fight a war by sitting around the camp fire on a warm summer night eating bun buns, roasted hot dogs, and homemade ice-cream. A good soldier is a soldier seasoned by adversity.
By Tommy Franks
"It is a FACT that you project what you are" (Norman V. Peale).
Someone once said that a pessimist is a person who...regardless of the present...is disappointed in the future.
A wise person (John Wooden) said, "Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what YOU CAN DO."
Formerly, I have said a lot about looking in the mirror every morning and talking to yourself. WHY? Because we behave in a manner that is consistent with the way we see ourselves. If you view yourself as a successful individual, your actions will follow through with every effort to make that happen. Eventually, you will see your goals and dreams fulfilled. We make our own destiny. We do. No one can cause us to fail...but us! I cannot blame anyone else for my failures, problems, shortcomings, idiosyncrasies, peculiarities, and inconsistencies... BUT ME. I must take the responsibility for my own life.
A good attitude is not only "getting a life", but it is also being responsible for your life and actions!
"Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do" (John Wooden).
Take a good look at yourself. What do you see? What do you really see? Do you see a positive individual or negative individual? We BEHAVE in the manner and way in which we see ourselves.
Someone once said that quitting is a permanent solution to a temporary problem!
William James said, "The greatest discovery of our generation is that human beings can alter their lives by altering their minds."
This morning I got out of bed on the right side. Sometimes, I get out of bed on the left side. Does it really matter on which side I get up? I personally believe that it is all "in the mind" and attitude!
"The greatest MISTAKE a person can make is doing nothing" (John Maxwell).
If you believe you can do something, the chances are...you can. If you BELIEVE that it is impossible, the chances are...you are right. However, if it looks impossible, but you somehow BELIEVE that you can do it anyway, the chances are...you will!
An old King Solomon proverb says, "As a man/woman thinks in his/her heart, so is he/she."
Is life fair? Is our justice system fair? Do we have inequities in this life on Planet Earth? How do we react to those inequities? Do we sometimes have difficulties with other people? Then pinch yourself because you are very much alive and living a normal life. We are measured by the winds of adversity, the heat of the fire/furnace, the grinding of metal (iron sharpens iron), and the elasticity of our strengths. No one has ever trained to fight a war by sitting around the camp fire on a warm summer night eating bun buns, roasted hot dogs, and homemade ice-cream. A good soldier is a soldier seasoned by adversity.
It's Still the Economy
It's Still the Economy
By Tommy Franks
Get Real! I gotta tell you. All future elections will be won by the "state of the economy" and how the potential voter feels about the economy and financial outlook for America and the world.
Our economy is no longer linked to the 50 states, but is linked to the entire world economy. Elections are no longer about a strong military force, work ethic, family, character, morals, spiritual matters, a person's religious preference, or even his/her sexual preference.
The fact is quite simple! From henceforth...all elections...everywhere (world-wide) will be won on the state of the economy; i.e., jobs, employment, national growth, stock market, business growth, and stock holders' shares.
BOTTOMLINE: In the vernacular, it's called money/socioeconomic growth/good economy/lot's of bucks. I gotta tell you also, the general public does NOT give a hoot what you or I think, say, or do about the elections. They do care about their pocket books, their bank accounts, and the trend of the stock market.
And I am happy as a lark! Yes Indeed! I have waited for over 50 years for this tremendous season of time. I am so excited until I can hardly see straight! Why? Because God is keeping His Word. He said that these things would happen...and they are...right before our very eyes right now! This EXCITES me! It won't be long now!
We can sit around and "talk" about the New World Order, Secret Meetings, the Russian complexity, the China syndrome, the US weaknesses, or various candidates' character if we want. However, God has a PLAN! No devil, no demon, no man, no woman, no society is going to change His Master Plan. God is on a time table...His!
His time table may NOT be in sync with ours. But that's all right. He doesn't need to have our consent, permission, or concurrence to move forward with His plan.
SOLUTION: Accept the challenge. Accept the call. Accept the Word. Pray. Read the Word. Share the Word. Save the sinner. Pray for the sick. Yes, this is a simple solution. "Keep It Simple Simon". I really get concerned when I hear of Christians "reading into things" and looking everywhere for all kinds of outward signs...and trying to always come up with "some new thing". The signs have already been given by the Master Teacher Jesus.
Read on...
"And Jesus said unto them…Take heed that no man deceives you. For many shall come in My name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And you shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all [these things] must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows...But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come...Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, you know that summer is nigh: likewise you, when you shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you...This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled" (Mt.24).
By Tommy Franks
Get Real! I gotta tell you. All future elections will be won by the "state of the economy" and how the potential voter feels about the economy and financial outlook for America and the world.
Our economy is no longer linked to the 50 states, but is linked to the entire world economy. Elections are no longer about a strong military force, work ethic, family, character, morals, spiritual matters, a person's religious preference, or even his/her sexual preference.
The fact is quite simple! From henceforth...all elections...everywhere (world-wide) will be won on the state of the economy; i.e., jobs, employment, national growth, stock market, business growth, and stock holders' shares.
BOTTOMLINE: In the vernacular, it's called money/socioeconomic growth/good economy/lot's of bucks. I gotta tell you also, the general public does NOT give a hoot what you or I think, say, or do about the elections. They do care about their pocket books, their bank accounts, and the trend of the stock market.
And I am happy as a lark! Yes Indeed! I have waited for over 50 years for this tremendous season of time. I am so excited until I can hardly see straight! Why? Because God is keeping His Word. He said that these things would happen...and they are...right before our very eyes right now! This EXCITES me! It won't be long now!
We can sit around and "talk" about the New World Order, Secret Meetings, the Russian complexity, the China syndrome, the US weaknesses, or various candidates' character if we want. However, God has a PLAN! No devil, no demon, no man, no woman, no society is going to change His Master Plan. God is on a time table...His!
His time table may NOT be in sync with ours. But that's all right. He doesn't need to have our consent, permission, or concurrence to move forward with His plan.
SOLUTION: Accept the challenge. Accept the call. Accept the Word. Pray. Read the Word. Share the Word. Save the sinner. Pray for the sick. Yes, this is a simple solution. "Keep It Simple Simon". I really get concerned when I hear of Christians "reading into things" and looking everywhere for all kinds of outward signs...and trying to always come up with "some new thing". The signs have already been given by the Master Teacher Jesus.
Read on...
"And Jesus said unto them…Take heed that no man deceives you. For many shall come in My name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And you shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all [these things] must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows...But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come...Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, you know that summer is nigh: likewise you, when you shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you...This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled" (Mt.24).
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Christmas 2006
Christmas 2006
By Tommy
During this time of year, we begin to sense a change in the air.
The weather changes and some even have snow in their yards.
One gets the feeling that Christmas is in the air and it gives us a sense of expectancy. Seems that, when the cold weather rolls around each year, we just assume Christmas is "right around the corner".
Even before Thanksgiving has come and gone, the malls begin to dress up for Christmas. The Christmas trees are decorated, garland is everywhere and the lights are turned on. The Christmas season has begun, and Tom Turkey isn't even out of the oven.
So our houses are all aglow with lights everywhere, the Christmas tree has been decorated, and we are into the spirit of the season. What is there left to do?
Why go shopping, of course!!
We have gifts to buy for all our family members and the time is growing short. Just what do we buy them? Doesn't matter as long as there is a nice gift under the Christmas tree Christmas morning. Just to see those faces light up means the 'world' to us.
There is no feeling better than seeing your children's eyes light up with excitement, their voices ring with laughter, when their dreams are realized on Christmas morning.
Off to the malls we go with our lists in hand. The children have told us what they want under the Christmas tree, but we, as parents, know what's best for our child.
Do we give them that dreaded toy they have yearned all year for after seeing it on a television program or do we give them something constructive, like a computer game for learning or maybe a new bike?
Sometimes we are guilty of falling under the pressure of the Christmas spirit so we won't disappoint our children and buy that dreaded toy. But then, when the day is gone, the ribbons and paper have been put in the garbage and the excitement is no longer there, that toy they longed for seems never to hold their attention for very long.
During this whole busy season how many times do we stop to reflect on the one to whom this season is supposed to give reverence?
Do we teach our children that Christmas is the day that we Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus?
We should teach our children the meaning of Christmas and also let them experience the season for themselves. With a healthy knowledge of what Christmas really means spiritually, they will grow up to be well-adjusted people.
The rush and bustle of the holidays won't get them depressed and into a frenzy, making them buy more gifts than they can really afford. They won't lose sight of what Christmas really means.
Matthew 1:20 says, "But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, 'Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.'"
The Christmas season traditions wouldn't be complete without a visit to see Santa. He has made his way down from the 'South Pole' to the malls during November and is waiting to talk with all the youngsters.
And all the youngsters can't wait to sit upon Santa's knee, to give him their lists of toys that they would like under that Christmas tree come Christmas morning. And Moms and Dads and Grandparents are straining those ears to hear every word the child says to Santa.
Some children do not want to confide in Mom and Dad. They only tell Santa, for after all, 'he' is the one that puts those toys under that tree for them to find!
Finally, Christmas has arrived, the gifts are under the Christmas tree, and your home is aglow with excitement! The house quickly fills with guests coming for that big Christmas dinner. What a feast on that dining room table!
The meal was so scrumptious! After all, there was so much to choose from to satisfy our taste buds. Karen had cooked both a ham and turkey, along with gravy. There was a host of dishes, including green beans, stuffed eggs, potato salad, homemade yeast bread, cranberry sauce, and let's not forget those sweets! There was pumpkin pie, coconut cake, fruit cake, and much more from which to chose. When we all finished our meal and slid back into our chairs, we could hardly move! Seems we forget on Christmas day that we've gone all year trying to avoid stuffing, and come away from the table miserable.
Now that all the activities are coming to a close, why not open up the pages of that worn and tattered Bible and share the reason for the season, Jesus Christ...with the ones dearest to our hearts?
Luke 2:7-11..."And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord."
By Tommy
During this time of year, we begin to sense a change in the air.
The weather changes and some even have snow in their yards.
One gets the feeling that Christmas is in the air and it gives us a sense of expectancy. Seems that, when the cold weather rolls around each year, we just assume Christmas is "right around the corner".
Even before Thanksgiving has come and gone, the malls begin to dress up for Christmas. The Christmas trees are decorated, garland is everywhere and the lights are turned on. The Christmas season has begun, and Tom Turkey isn't even out of the oven.
So our houses are all aglow with lights everywhere, the Christmas tree has been decorated, and we are into the spirit of the season. What is there left to do?
Why go shopping, of course!!
We have gifts to buy for all our family members and the time is growing short. Just what do we buy them? Doesn't matter as long as there is a nice gift under the Christmas tree Christmas morning. Just to see those faces light up means the 'world' to us.
There is no feeling better than seeing your children's eyes light up with excitement, their voices ring with laughter, when their dreams are realized on Christmas morning.
Off to the malls we go with our lists in hand. The children have told us what they want under the Christmas tree, but we, as parents, know what's best for our child.
Do we give them that dreaded toy they have yearned all year for after seeing it on a television program or do we give them something constructive, like a computer game for learning or maybe a new bike?
Sometimes we are guilty of falling under the pressure of the Christmas spirit so we won't disappoint our children and buy that dreaded toy. But then, when the day is gone, the ribbons and paper have been put in the garbage and the excitement is no longer there, that toy they longed for seems never to hold their attention for very long.
During this whole busy season how many times do we stop to reflect on the one to whom this season is supposed to give reverence?
Do we teach our children that Christmas is the day that we Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus?
We should teach our children the meaning of Christmas and also let them experience the season for themselves. With a healthy knowledge of what Christmas really means spiritually, they will grow up to be well-adjusted people.
The rush and bustle of the holidays won't get them depressed and into a frenzy, making them buy more gifts than they can really afford. They won't lose sight of what Christmas really means.
Matthew 1:20 says, "But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, 'Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.'"
The Christmas season traditions wouldn't be complete without a visit to see Santa. He has made his way down from the 'South Pole' to the malls during November and is waiting to talk with all the youngsters.
And all the youngsters can't wait to sit upon Santa's knee, to give him their lists of toys that they would like under that Christmas tree come Christmas morning. And Moms and Dads and Grandparents are straining those ears to hear every word the child says to Santa.
Some children do not want to confide in Mom and Dad. They only tell Santa, for after all, 'he' is the one that puts those toys under that tree for them to find!
Finally, Christmas has arrived, the gifts are under the Christmas tree, and your home is aglow with excitement! The house quickly fills with guests coming for that big Christmas dinner. What a feast on that dining room table!
The meal was so scrumptious! After all, there was so much to choose from to satisfy our taste buds. Karen had cooked both a ham and turkey, along with gravy. There was a host of dishes, including green beans, stuffed eggs, potato salad, homemade yeast bread, cranberry sauce, and let's not forget those sweets! There was pumpkin pie, coconut cake, fruit cake, and much more from which to chose. When we all finished our meal and slid back into our chairs, we could hardly move! Seems we forget on Christmas day that we've gone all year trying to avoid stuffing, and come away from the table miserable.
Now that all the activities are coming to a close, why not open up the pages of that worn and tattered Bible and share the reason for the season, Jesus Christ...with the ones dearest to our hearts?
Luke 2:7-11..."And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord."
Good Habits…Bad Habits!
Good Habits…Bad Habits!
Bt Tommy
They can be comfortable or uncomfortable! They can be easy or difficult. Habits can sometimes control our lives. Most of us at one time or another want to change our bad habits…and most of us have a couple. I have several!
How do we change a habit? First, get on a plane and go to Alaska or the North Pole (just kidding). However, in order to change a habit, we need to change our environment or our surroundings.
For example, if you have always studied in front of a television set, you might try turning the TV OFF. Hello! Another example is…If your wife has been beating you, you may want to go for a walk or stay out of her way! (Just kidding…I'm kidding!)
The point is: You must change your surroundings so that you can be more productive and get better results. This sounds easy, but I assure you, it is NOT!
Second, we may need to change our behavior. For example, when a hostile driver of a black Lincoln cuts us off, do NOT…I repeat, do not give him or her the "finger". This could be hazardous to your health.
You may want to talk to yourself as I do. It may go something like this: "Self, this is only a small thing on Planet Earth today. Even though, I feel like choking the living crapola out of this asinine driver, I choose not to. I will be nice today. I will change my negative behavior into positive behavior. I am aware of my surroundings. I will now commence to run into this dastardly clown! (Just kidding…Just kidding! Hello!)
Mr. Driver, you have a nice day. Arrive safely, you hear?" OK, OK…I know what you are thinking. It's NOT that easy! And you are right. But if we are to change a bad habit, we must change our environment and behavior. Furthermore, in order to break a bad habit, we must be aware of it.
Third, we must make commitments to ourselves and to others, perhaps our spouses and co-workers. We need to agree to be held accountable…by a spouse, friend, or co-worker.
For example, years ago, I quit "smoking" at the ripe old age of 24. I never inhaled, mind you. I just put the cigarette in my mouth to look "cool". Other people inhaled. I didn't! Of course, my lungs said otherwise! HELLO! Perhaps, I can now sell you the Brooklyn Bridge!
I did finally stop smoking cigarettes and graduated to cigars. Oh, Yeah! In those days, I would go to restaurants and light up an "Old Stogie" just to see the reactions from other hungry customers, especially at the next table. I was bad! I was a bad boy!
But later, when some of my relatives and friends started dying off like flies under a fly swatter…from "smoking"…I failed to see the humor in it any longer. I then made a commitment to myself and to my Maker that I would never put another burning cigarette butt or burning cigar butt in my mouth again. Thus, I was no longer a "butt head". And I felt so good about it! Hello!
In other areas of my life, I'm still under construction…I haven't arrived yet, but I no longer study in front of the TV…nor give other "bad" drivers a vivid presentation of their IQ…nor blow smoke in people's faces, especially in elevators! (Just kidding, Just kidding!)
Moreover, I go for a lot of walks these days, especially when my wife is upset with me!
Bt Tommy
They can be comfortable or uncomfortable! They can be easy or difficult. Habits can sometimes control our lives. Most of us at one time or another want to change our bad habits…and most of us have a couple. I have several!
How do we change a habit? First, get on a plane and go to Alaska or the North Pole (just kidding). However, in order to change a habit, we need to change our environment or our surroundings.
For example, if you have always studied in front of a television set, you might try turning the TV OFF. Hello! Another example is…If your wife has been beating you, you may want to go for a walk or stay out of her way! (Just kidding…I'm kidding!)
The point is: You must change your surroundings so that you can be more productive and get better results. This sounds easy, but I assure you, it is NOT!
Second, we may need to change our behavior. For example, when a hostile driver of a black Lincoln cuts us off, do NOT…I repeat, do not give him or her the "finger". This could be hazardous to your health.
You may want to talk to yourself as I do. It may go something like this: "Self, this is only a small thing on Planet Earth today. Even though, I feel like choking the living crapola out of this asinine driver, I choose not to. I will be nice today. I will change my negative behavior into positive behavior. I am aware of my surroundings. I will now commence to run into this dastardly clown! (Just kidding…Just kidding! Hello!)
Mr. Driver, you have a nice day. Arrive safely, you hear?" OK, OK…I know what you are thinking. It's NOT that easy! And you are right. But if we are to change a bad habit, we must change our environment and behavior. Furthermore, in order to break a bad habit, we must be aware of it.
Third, we must make commitments to ourselves and to others, perhaps our spouses and co-workers. We need to agree to be held accountable…by a spouse, friend, or co-worker.
For example, years ago, I quit "smoking" at the ripe old age of 24. I never inhaled, mind you. I just put the cigarette in my mouth to look "cool". Other people inhaled. I didn't! Of course, my lungs said otherwise! HELLO! Perhaps, I can now sell you the Brooklyn Bridge!
I did finally stop smoking cigarettes and graduated to cigars. Oh, Yeah! In those days, I would go to restaurants and light up an "Old Stogie" just to see the reactions from other hungry customers, especially at the next table. I was bad! I was a bad boy!
But later, when some of my relatives and friends started dying off like flies under a fly swatter…from "smoking"…I failed to see the humor in it any longer. I then made a commitment to myself and to my Maker that I would never put another burning cigarette butt or burning cigar butt in my mouth again. Thus, I was no longer a "butt head". And I felt so good about it! Hello!
In other areas of my life, I'm still under construction…I haven't arrived yet, but I no longer study in front of the TV…nor give other "bad" drivers a vivid presentation of their IQ…nor blow smoke in people's faces, especially in elevators! (Just kidding, Just kidding!)
Moreover, I go for a lot of walks these days, especially when my wife is upset with me!
DON’T BE A WHINER
DON’T BE A WHINER
By Tommy Franks
Complaining: There’s room for legitimate or illegitimate complaining, but if you let this deadly disease of attitude - complaining - loose it will conquer you.
Complaining can take over your life…Destroy you and leave you without anything.
Nobody wants to take along a complainer. Nobody wants to promote a complainer.
Nobody wants to live with one. Nobody wants to be a partner of one. Nobody wants to have one around. Complaining leaves you out of more opportunities than you can possibly imagine if you let it take over and grab you by the throat.
If you don’t think complaining is bad, ask the children of Israel of Old Testament fame. They are typical of us all, but their story just happened to get in the Book.
The story says that the children of Israel were slaves in Egypt. God performed a series of dazzling miracles and got them out. They now had freedom and were heading for the Promised Land. But... the tragedy of the story...they never got there. Reason: From day one they started to complain.
They griped about the food - they had just been delivered from slavery and they are complaining about the food?! They whined and cried and griped about the water.
In the desert they HAD water to drink, but... it did not taste that good! They whined and complained about the leadership... that had just delivered them from slavery.
They complained that it was too hot, too cold, too far, too difficult, too rocky. They whined and cried for years - forty to be exact. Finally, God said I have had it...Trip Cancelled!
The story says that they died in the desert and never reached the Promised Land - after all that trouble! I believe this story teaches two things:
1) Indulge in complaining long enough and you will get your future cancelled - future promotions, future opportunities.
2) Even God himself can only take so much complaining.
I think you get my point. Whining is not for the winners in life. You must focus on what you can do, not what you cannot. And you must focus on the opportunities not the difficulties. When you do this you will not only inspire yourself, but you will be an example for others to follow as well.
By Tommy Franks
Complaining: There’s room for legitimate or illegitimate complaining, but if you let this deadly disease of attitude - complaining - loose it will conquer you.
Complaining can take over your life…Destroy you and leave you without anything.
Nobody wants to take along a complainer. Nobody wants to promote a complainer.
Nobody wants to live with one. Nobody wants to be a partner of one. Nobody wants to have one around. Complaining leaves you out of more opportunities than you can possibly imagine if you let it take over and grab you by the throat.
If you don’t think complaining is bad, ask the children of Israel of Old Testament fame. They are typical of us all, but their story just happened to get in the Book.
The story says that the children of Israel were slaves in Egypt. God performed a series of dazzling miracles and got them out. They now had freedom and were heading for the Promised Land. But... the tragedy of the story...they never got there. Reason: From day one they started to complain.
They griped about the food - they had just been delivered from slavery and they are complaining about the food?! They whined and cried and griped about the water.
In the desert they HAD water to drink, but... it did not taste that good! They whined and complained about the leadership... that had just delivered them from slavery.
They complained that it was too hot, too cold, too far, too difficult, too rocky. They whined and cried for years - forty to be exact. Finally, God said I have had it...Trip Cancelled!
The story says that they died in the desert and never reached the Promised Land - after all that trouble! I believe this story teaches two things:
1) Indulge in complaining long enough and you will get your future cancelled - future promotions, future opportunities.
2) Even God himself can only take so much complaining.
I think you get my point. Whining is not for the winners in life. You must focus on what you can do, not what you cannot. And you must focus on the opportunities not the difficulties. When you do this you will not only inspire yourself, but you will be an example for others to follow as well.
ALLOW GOD TO PROSPER YOU
By Tommy Franks
A. God wants YOU to:
1. Be Fruitful (Gen. 1:27‑28)2. Increase3. Fill the earth4. Subdue the earth (take dominion over)5. Rule (be a ruler)6. Be careful what YOU hear (Mk. 4:23‑25).7. Be careful HOW YOU hear (Lk.8:18). 8. Obey HIM (Ex.15:26, Deut.28:1‑2, Jer.7:22‑23, Jn.14:21 & 23, Jn.15:14)9. HAVE HIS BEST (Lk.12:32)
B. CONTINUE TO THINK BIG even when some people try to drive YOU batty. Be BIG Pray for them. Wish them well.1. YOU are what YOU think YOU are. If you think you are weak, you are. If you think YOU are strong, you are. If you think you are a loser, you are. If you think you are a winner, YOU are. "As You think in YOUR heart...(Prov.23:7)."2. Look important.3. Concentrate on your assets/strong points.4. Be REAL enough to recognize how good YOU really are !!!5. YOU are Blessed.6. Be B I G enough to realize that quarrels, arguments, feuds, and fusses will not help YOU to arrive.7. Do not think defeat. Think BIG. Setbacks are only temporary. They are also STEPPING STONES.8. Be persistent. Be tenacious. HANG TOUGH. A quitter never wins. A winner never quits. YOU ARE SUCCESS!9. SMILE...SMILE...Notify your face that you are excited and on your way to heaven; and in the meantime, YOU are going to bring a lot of heaven down to this earth to enjoy and share with others because it's the Father's good pleasure to give YOU the kingdom. You are SOMEBODY. God has never made a nobody. He loves YOU. YOU are the APPLE of His Eye.
His Divine Favor is upon YOU. YOU ARE A WINNER. Therefore, SMILE B I G.WE ARE BLESSED AND NO LONGER CURSED FINANCIALLY! A. Christ has redeemed US from the curse of the law. (Gal. 3:13)1. The sinful curse of poverty was placed upon Jesus just like all of our sins were placed upon Him. (2Cor. 8:9, 5:21)2. Poverty is under the curse. (Deut. 28:16‑68)3.
WE HAVE BEEN REDEEMED FROM POVERTY. PRAISE THE LORD!‑ Redeemed means: (Greek) to buy up, ransom, to rescue from loss, to purchase; (Webster) to buy back, recover, to pay off a debt, to set free, to deliver from sin and its penalties, to restore to favor, justify‑ He paid a debt HE did not owe.
We owed a debt we could not pay. He made Himself poor so that YOU and I could be RICH.B. Slewfoot the degenerate ignoramus is becoming very fearful and frustrated because the CHURCH (the Body of Christ) is waking up and becoming the spiritual GIANT she should be.
The following are three reasons that satan the STUPID is losing control over the Believer.1. The Believer is getting smart. He is no longer the un-read he use to be. He is outgrowing ignorance through reading and hearing the WORD. God's people are no longer being destroyed by lack of knowledge (Hos. 4:6). The Believer wants answers. He is searching the scriptures and becoming the intelligent Christian he should be. The present day Believer wants some substance to preaching, teaching, and exhortation. He is tired of being sick and tired. He refuses to continue in poverty. He is too smart to go backwards. He is tired of namby‑pamby, wishy‑washy poppycock from the traditionalist. He is becoming the spiritual GIANT and Superman of this age. He's a WINNER, not a loser. Whatever he touches prospers.
THE BELIEVER IS DANGEROUS TO lucifer the LOSER. Satan fears and trembles when he sees the Believer decked out in his full armor. He goes bananas!. The Believer is starting to BELIEVE. He is now taking Heb. 11:6 and Phil. 4:13 to heart.
He is believing the WORD and acting upon it. Instead of devils chasing him, he is chasing devils and running them out of town. The Body of Christ is becoming the MOST SUPER and DYNAMIC FORCE upon the face of the earth. WE ARE INDEED DANGEROUS TO THE ENEMY (the scumbag).3. The Believer is starting to obey and walk in complete obedience to the LORD JESUS CHRIST. Col. 3:23, Joshua 1:8, and Mt. 6:33 are becoming a reality to the Christian. The Believer knows that walking in obedience brings prosperity. Therefore, he is now in the midst of a great harvest of MONEY. He can afford anything that his FATHER has. His Father is so very rich! The Believer is now heir and joint‑heir to everything the Father owns. He does not have to wait until he dies to enjoy it.
Poem called: “The Dust Eater"
By Tommy Franks
Mr. sluefoot, on the bottom of my shoe you will findA favorite line of mine.
EAT MY DUST.
Since you are the low‑life rascal that you are
And a total ignoramus by far,
I don't have to say, "Make my day."
But I would simply like to convey
Three choking words...Eat my dust
ecause dancing on your head, I must.
ou are a dumb defeated foe
And where you are going is not too cold.
You are indeed so uncouth…
And by far the world's worst nincompoop.
You will spend all eternity in the lake of fire,
While I am with the Father and those I admire.
“Father we thank You for this day. This day, we have another opportunity to welcome the Spirit of God. This day, we have the opportunity to be blessed and empowered to prosper by Your Spirit. And Lord we're coming to the realization of understanding and knowing that without You we can do nothing, but with You we can do all things through The Anointed One and His anointing…which strengthens us.”
Gen.22:1-5 says, “And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt (test) Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am. And he said, Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and get into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains in which I will show you. And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and took the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place in which God had told him. Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off. And Abraham said unto his young men, Stay here with the donkey; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.”
God tested Abraham. Why?Perhaps, this was not so much a test that would produce faith…as it was a test thatwould reveal faith. What do you think? God had been building Abraham slowly, piece by piece, into a man of faith for many, many years.Moriah: In 30 AD, another Son was also offered as a sacrifice on Mt. Moriah…Nowcalled Calvary. Who might that be?Isaac was the child of promise for over 25 years. Now, Isaac is about 30 years old.Therefore, 55 years earlier, God had made Abraham this promise. Why do you think God called Isaac…Abraham’s only son? Abraham (in fact) hadanother son (Ishmael).
Was it because Ishmael had been put away…as far as God was concerned?Abraham told the men that he and his son would return. How did he know?Gen 22:6-9 says, “And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid [it] upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together. And Isaac spoke unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?
And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together. And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood.”Isaac had to carry the wood for the sacrifice even as Christ had to carry the cross.Where is the sacrifice? Abraham replies, "My son, God will provide Himself a lambfor a burnt offering (sacrifice)". Did Abraham actually know this?God had (in fact) promised Abraham (Genesis 21:12) that his descendants wouldcome through Isaac, and since Isaac had no children when God asked for the sacrifice, Abraham knew that, if necessary, God would raise Isaac from the dead.Like Christ, Isaac was a willing sacrifice. Isaac (30) could have easilyoverpowered his aging father (now 130 years old).
Abraham died at 175 years.How would we react if God asked us to do such a thing as this?Why did Abraham take the knife? Why didn't he just "forget" it. I believe that“the knife” was cutting into his own heart as well. I would have left the knife at home and told God that I forgot it! Yeah!Gen 22:10-14 says, “Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here [am] I. And he said, Lay not your hand upon the lad, neither do anything to him: for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only [son] from me.
And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind [him] a ram was caught in a thicket by his horns. Abraham took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering instead of his son. And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-Jireh (the Lord will provide): as it is said to this day, in the mount of the LORD it shall be seen (provided).”
Jehovah-Jireh: "God sees, God provides, God is our Provider". "In the mount of theLord it shall be seen" was a prophecy of the sacrifice of Jesus by the Father on the same mount. Is God still Jehovah Jireh?Gen 22:19: So Abraham returned unto his young men, and they rose up and wenttogether to Beersheba. Abraham had given his best to God. God rewarded him immensely. God said, “That in blessing I will bless you, and in multiplying I will multiply your seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which [is] upon the sea shore; and your seed shall possess the gate of his enemies.
And in your seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because you have obeyed my voice” (Gen.22:17-18).Would God tell someone to do this today? This was done in Abraham’s day for aspecific purpose, specific plan, specific place, and to a specific person. We never see it again repeated. Some people say that Abraham had to learn the difference between trusting the promise and trusting the Promiser. I believe they are one and the same. Abraham responded to faith immediately: He never hesitated. Abraham rose early in the morning to do this. I doubt if he could sleep that night anyway.Abraham trusted God…even when he did not understand. He didn't debate or seek counsel from others. He knew what he had to do. How do you think Abraham felt inside?
Abraham was trusting God…even when he didn’t feel like it. He was truly walking by faith!Heb.11:17-19: By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, "In Isaac your seed shall be called," …concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.
Abraham believed God. Abraham believed that should he kill Isaac, God would raise him from the dead, because God had promised that Isaac would carry on the line of blessing and the covenant. Abraham knew that in Isaac his seed would be blessed. Isaac had to have children. Abraham knew that God was not a liar! It was impossible for God to break His promise."I have learned that success is NOT to be measured by the position that one has reached in life, but by the obstacles which one has overcome while trying to succeed in life" (Booker T. Washington).
"OUR ATTITUDE TOWARD THINGS IS LIKELY TO BE MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE THINGS THEMSELVES" (Tozer)."
Happiness depends NOT upon the things around me, but on my attitude toward life. Everything in my life will depend upon my attitude" (Alfred Montapert).Today is a good day! (By Tom Franks):Today is a good day! How could anything go wrong?Today is a good day! No one is ever alone! Today is a good day! Yesterday has come and gone. Today is a good day! Let’s go run a marathon! Today is a good day! It may be a time to eat bonbons. Today is a good day! My ICON has gone to Mt. Washington. Today is a good day! I love and adore my family. Today is a good day! Time is short when you are having fun. Today is a good day! Many things are still undone and unsung! Today is a good day! Mercy and grace come from the Holy One!
Today is a good day! You are all heroes in the sun! I love you…Continue today in the Light of the Son!
By Tommy Franks
A. God wants YOU to:
1. Be Fruitful (Gen. 1:27‑28)2. Increase3. Fill the earth4. Subdue the earth (take dominion over)5. Rule (be a ruler)6. Be careful what YOU hear (Mk. 4:23‑25).7. Be careful HOW YOU hear (Lk.8:18). 8. Obey HIM (Ex.15:26, Deut.28:1‑2, Jer.7:22‑23, Jn.14:21 & 23, Jn.15:14)9. HAVE HIS BEST (Lk.12:32)
B. CONTINUE TO THINK BIG even when some people try to drive YOU batty. Be BIG Pray for them. Wish them well.1. YOU are what YOU think YOU are. If you think you are weak, you are. If you think YOU are strong, you are. If you think you are a loser, you are. If you think you are a winner, YOU are. "As You think in YOUR heart...(Prov.23:7)."2. Look important.3. Concentrate on your assets/strong points.4. Be REAL enough to recognize how good YOU really are !!!5. YOU are Blessed.6. Be B I G enough to realize that quarrels, arguments, feuds, and fusses will not help YOU to arrive.7. Do not think defeat. Think BIG. Setbacks are only temporary. They are also STEPPING STONES.8. Be persistent. Be tenacious. HANG TOUGH. A quitter never wins. A winner never quits. YOU ARE SUCCESS!9. SMILE...SMILE...Notify your face that you are excited and on your way to heaven; and in the meantime, YOU are going to bring a lot of heaven down to this earth to enjoy and share with others because it's the Father's good pleasure to give YOU the kingdom. You are SOMEBODY. God has never made a nobody. He loves YOU. YOU are the APPLE of His Eye.
His Divine Favor is upon YOU. YOU ARE A WINNER. Therefore, SMILE B I G.WE ARE BLESSED AND NO LONGER CURSED FINANCIALLY! A. Christ has redeemed US from the curse of the law. (Gal. 3:13)1. The sinful curse of poverty was placed upon Jesus just like all of our sins were placed upon Him. (2Cor. 8:9, 5:21)2. Poverty is under the curse. (Deut. 28:16‑68)3.
WE HAVE BEEN REDEEMED FROM POVERTY. PRAISE THE LORD!‑ Redeemed means: (Greek) to buy up, ransom, to rescue from loss, to purchase; (Webster) to buy back, recover, to pay off a debt, to set free, to deliver from sin and its penalties, to restore to favor, justify‑ He paid a debt HE did not owe.
We owed a debt we could not pay. He made Himself poor so that YOU and I could be RICH.B. Slewfoot the degenerate ignoramus is becoming very fearful and frustrated because the CHURCH (the Body of Christ) is waking up and becoming the spiritual GIANT she should be.
The following are three reasons that satan the STUPID is losing control over the Believer.1. The Believer is getting smart. He is no longer the un-read he use to be. He is outgrowing ignorance through reading and hearing the WORD. God's people are no longer being destroyed by lack of knowledge (Hos. 4:6). The Believer wants answers. He is searching the scriptures and becoming the intelligent Christian he should be. The present day Believer wants some substance to preaching, teaching, and exhortation. He is tired of being sick and tired. He refuses to continue in poverty. He is too smart to go backwards. He is tired of namby‑pamby, wishy‑washy poppycock from the traditionalist. He is becoming the spiritual GIANT and Superman of this age. He's a WINNER, not a loser. Whatever he touches prospers.
THE BELIEVER IS DANGEROUS TO lucifer the LOSER. Satan fears and trembles when he sees the Believer decked out in his full armor. He goes bananas!. The Believer is starting to BELIEVE. He is now taking Heb. 11:6 and Phil. 4:13 to heart.
He is believing the WORD and acting upon it. Instead of devils chasing him, he is chasing devils and running them out of town. The Body of Christ is becoming the MOST SUPER and DYNAMIC FORCE upon the face of the earth. WE ARE INDEED DANGEROUS TO THE ENEMY (the scumbag).3. The Believer is starting to obey and walk in complete obedience to the LORD JESUS CHRIST. Col. 3:23, Joshua 1:8, and Mt. 6:33 are becoming a reality to the Christian. The Believer knows that walking in obedience brings prosperity. Therefore, he is now in the midst of a great harvest of MONEY. He can afford anything that his FATHER has. His Father is so very rich! The Believer is now heir and joint‑heir to everything the Father owns. He does not have to wait until he dies to enjoy it.
Poem called: “The Dust Eater"
By Tommy Franks
Mr. sluefoot, on the bottom of my shoe you will findA favorite line of mine.
EAT MY DUST.
Since you are the low‑life rascal that you are
And a total ignoramus by far,
I don't have to say, "Make my day."
But I would simply like to convey
Three choking words...Eat my dust
ecause dancing on your head, I must.
ou are a dumb defeated foe
And where you are going is not too cold.
You are indeed so uncouth…
And by far the world's worst nincompoop.
You will spend all eternity in the lake of fire,
While I am with the Father and those I admire.
“Father we thank You for this day. This day, we have another opportunity to welcome the Spirit of God. This day, we have the opportunity to be blessed and empowered to prosper by Your Spirit. And Lord we're coming to the realization of understanding and knowing that without You we can do nothing, but with You we can do all things through The Anointed One and His anointing…which strengthens us.”
Gen.22:1-5 says, “And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt (test) Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am. And he said, Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and get into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains in which I will show you. And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and took the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place in which God had told him. Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off. And Abraham said unto his young men, Stay here with the donkey; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.”
God tested Abraham. Why?Perhaps, this was not so much a test that would produce faith…as it was a test thatwould reveal faith. What do you think? God had been building Abraham slowly, piece by piece, into a man of faith for many, many years.Moriah: In 30 AD, another Son was also offered as a sacrifice on Mt. Moriah…Nowcalled Calvary. Who might that be?Isaac was the child of promise for over 25 years. Now, Isaac is about 30 years old.Therefore, 55 years earlier, God had made Abraham this promise. Why do you think God called Isaac…Abraham’s only son? Abraham (in fact) hadanother son (Ishmael).
Was it because Ishmael had been put away…as far as God was concerned?Abraham told the men that he and his son would return. How did he know?Gen 22:6-9 says, “And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid [it] upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together. And Isaac spoke unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?
And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together. And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood.”Isaac had to carry the wood for the sacrifice even as Christ had to carry the cross.Where is the sacrifice? Abraham replies, "My son, God will provide Himself a lambfor a burnt offering (sacrifice)". Did Abraham actually know this?God had (in fact) promised Abraham (Genesis 21:12) that his descendants wouldcome through Isaac, and since Isaac had no children when God asked for the sacrifice, Abraham knew that, if necessary, God would raise Isaac from the dead.Like Christ, Isaac was a willing sacrifice. Isaac (30) could have easilyoverpowered his aging father (now 130 years old).
Abraham died at 175 years.How would we react if God asked us to do such a thing as this?Why did Abraham take the knife? Why didn't he just "forget" it. I believe that“the knife” was cutting into his own heart as well. I would have left the knife at home and told God that I forgot it! Yeah!Gen 22:10-14 says, “Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here [am] I. And he said, Lay not your hand upon the lad, neither do anything to him: for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only [son] from me.
And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind [him] a ram was caught in a thicket by his horns. Abraham took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering instead of his son. And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-Jireh (the Lord will provide): as it is said to this day, in the mount of the LORD it shall be seen (provided).”
Jehovah-Jireh: "God sees, God provides, God is our Provider". "In the mount of theLord it shall be seen" was a prophecy of the sacrifice of Jesus by the Father on the same mount. Is God still Jehovah Jireh?Gen 22:19: So Abraham returned unto his young men, and they rose up and wenttogether to Beersheba. Abraham had given his best to God. God rewarded him immensely. God said, “That in blessing I will bless you, and in multiplying I will multiply your seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which [is] upon the sea shore; and your seed shall possess the gate of his enemies.
And in your seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because you have obeyed my voice” (Gen.22:17-18).Would God tell someone to do this today? This was done in Abraham’s day for aspecific purpose, specific plan, specific place, and to a specific person. We never see it again repeated. Some people say that Abraham had to learn the difference between trusting the promise and trusting the Promiser. I believe they are one and the same. Abraham responded to faith immediately: He never hesitated. Abraham rose early in the morning to do this. I doubt if he could sleep that night anyway.Abraham trusted God…even when he did not understand. He didn't debate or seek counsel from others. He knew what he had to do. How do you think Abraham felt inside?
Abraham was trusting God…even when he didn’t feel like it. He was truly walking by faith!Heb.11:17-19: By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, "In Isaac your seed shall be called," …concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.
Abraham believed God. Abraham believed that should he kill Isaac, God would raise him from the dead, because God had promised that Isaac would carry on the line of blessing and the covenant. Abraham knew that in Isaac his seed would be blessed. Isaac had to have children. Abraham knew that God was not a liar! It was impossible for God to break His promise."I have learned that success is NOT to be measured by the position that one has reached in life, but by the obstacles which one has overcome while trying to succeed in life" (Booker T. Washington).
"OUR ATTITUDE TOWARD THINGS IS LIKELY TO BE MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE THINGS THEMSELVES" (Tozer)."
Happiness depends NOT upon the things around me, but on my attitude toward life. Everything in my life will depend upon my attitude" (Alfred Montapert).Today is a good day! (By Tom Franks):Today is a good day! How could anything go wrong?Today is a good day! No one is ever alone! Today is a good day! Yesterday has come and gone. Today is a good day! Let’s go run a marathon! Today is a good day! It may be a time to eat bonbons. Today is a good day! My ICON has gone to Mt. Washington. Today is a good day! I love and adore my family. Today is a good day! Time is short when you are having fun. Today is a good day! Many things are still undone and unsung! Today is a good day! Mercy and grace come from the Holy One!
Today is a good day! You are all heroes in the sun! I love you…Continue today in the Light of the Son!
Excitement in the Work Place!
Excitement in the Work Place!
By Tommy Franks
Excitement should be the "norm" for all us in the work place. Why? Because we are special. We are excited and high on life. We are filled with enthusiasm because we know that we are the best "product" in the world, especially as team members and players. We do "make it happen"!
How can we implement and continue this type of excitement? Mr. Hal Rosenbluth says, "The highest achievable level of service comes from the heart, so the company that reaches its people's heart will provide the very best service."
We must "Capture the Heart" of the employee. Excellence is only possible with an open heart that is filled with confidence, trust, and happiness! We must capture the hearts of our Team Players with exciting things like…shared visions and balanced workloads and life demands. We must implement and re-introduce celebration and fun into our workplace! Excitement is a decision! We can choose to be enthusiastic or we can choose to be “a stick in the mud”. It’s our decision. Parties are fun!
We must initiate and continue "Open Communication". Employees are more loyal and excited if they feel "connected" to what's going on in the decision making process. We all feel better if we are "in the loop" and kept informed on key issues. Most importantly, we need to know that our opinions matter with managers and other staff members. We need to know that they are 100% interested in our input. We want to be heard!
We must continue to “Partner with one another as Team Members”. We must never treat our fellow employees like hired hands. This is degrading. We must create a vibrant team spirit with all employees.
Training programs and courses are vital to the work force. We are constantly learning. One of the keys to success is to “sharpen our skills” to do a better job and to learn something new everyday. None of us is as smart as all of us! We must encourage our Team Players to attend training classes. We must provide the necessary resources to continue good training programs.
People will NEVER be filled with excitement on the job…unless they can go beyond the traditional empowerment programs which only allow them to "follow policies, plans, and programs". We must emancipate them and give them the "freedom to succeed". We must allow them the freedom to act, implement new ideas, and challenge the old ways…think outside the box. Freedom of action drastically increases greater loyalty and trust among employees. Employees must have the freedom to fail and try and then try again. They must have the "right to make mistakes" without retribution. This is a basic human right!
By Tommy Franks
Excitement should be the "norm" for all us in the work place. Why? Because we are special. We are excited and high on life. We are filled with enthusiasm because we know that we are the best "product" in the world, especially as team members and players. We do "make it happen"!
How can we implement and continue this type of excitement? Mr. Hal Rosenbluth says, "The highest achievable level of service comes from the heart, so the company that reaches its people's heart will provide the very best service."
We must "Capture the Heart" of the employee. Excellence is only possible with an open heart that is filled with confidence, trust, and happiness! We must capture the hearts of our Team Players with exciting things like…shared visions and balanced workloads and life demands. We must implement and re-introduce celebration and fun into our workplace! Excitement is a decision! We can choose to be enthusiastic or we can choose to be “a stick in the mud”. It’s our decision. Parties are fun!
We must initiate and continue "Open Communication". Employees are more loyal and excited if they feel "connected" to what's going on in the decision making process. We all feel better if we are "in the loop" and kept informed on key issues. Most importantly, we need to know that our opinions matter with managers and other staff members. We need to know that they are 100% interested in our input. We want to be heard!
We must continue to “Partner with one another as Team Members”. We must never treat our fellow employees like hired hands. This is degrading. We must create a vibrant team spirit with all employees.
Training programs and courses are vital to the work force. We are constantly learning. One of the keys to success is to “sharpen our skills” to do a better job and to learn something new everyday. None of us is as smart as all of us! We must encourage our Team Players to attend training classes. We must provide the necessary resources to continue good training programs.
People will NEVER be filled with excitement on the job…unless they can go beyond the traditional empowerment programs which only allow them to "follow policies, plans, and programs". We must emancipate them and give them the "freedom to succeed". We must allow them the freedom to act, implement new ideas, and challenge the old ways…think outside the box. Freedom of action drastically increases greater loyalty and trust among employees. Employees must have the freedom to fail and try and then try again. They must have the "right to make mistakes" without retribution. This is a basic human right!
Thomas II Goes to Africa and Europe
Thomas II Goes to Africa and Europe
My son Thomas Franks, II will be going to several countries doing missionary work for the next several months. He and his church have planned this special event for a long time. He will be departing on April 1, 2007 for the World Missions Ministries (WMM) Department of his denomination.
This trip is very special to Thomas. He will be visiting and video-taping the lives and ministries of missionaries around the globe. The productions will be shown in the US and other countries by several different media venues.
This trip is a spearheading and pioneer adventure. The WMM has never had a video department of its own before until now. Thomas is excited about this new and important endeavor. He certainly has the pioneer spirit. He believes that “Great Things” are on the horizon for him and others through this ministry.
He will cover all four regions of WMM. He will travel to Africa and Europe within a few days. Later he will travel to Asia and Latin America. He will be in Africa 1 April thru 21 May 07…then on to Europe May 22 - July 1. He will return to the US for a special missions school in July 07.
Afterwards, it’s on to Asia and Latin America for another 3 months.
Thomas says, "This is the Lord's doing! It is marvelous in our eyes” (Psalm 118:23).
PS: In Africa, Thomas will be visiting Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Togo, and Benin.
Thomas sends blessings to each of you.
My son Thomas Franks, II will be going to several countries doing missionary work for the next several months. He and his church have planned this special event for a long time. He will be departing on April 1, 2007 for the World Missions Ministries (WMM) Department of his denomination.
This trip is very special to Thomas. He will be visiting and video-taping the lives and ministries of missionaries around the globe. The productions will be shown in the US and other countries by several different media venues.
This trip is a spearheading and pioneer adventure. The WMM has never had a video department of its own before until now. Thomas is excited about this new and important endeavor. He certainly has the pioneer spirit. He believes that “Great Things” are on the horizon for him and others through this ministry.
He will cover all four regions of WMM. He will travel to Africa and Europe within a few days. Later he will travel to Asia and Latin America. He will be in Africa 1 April thru 21 May 07…then on to Europe May 22 - July 1. He will return to the US for a special missions school in July 07.
Afterwards, it’s on to Asia and Latin America for another 3 months.
Thomas says, "This is the Lord's doing! It is marvelous in our eyes” (Psalm 118:23).
PS: In Africa, Thomas will be visiting Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Togo, and Benin.
Thomas sends blessings to each of you.
Motivational Management By Participation
Motivational Management By Participation
By Tommy Franks
Regardless of where you work or supervise, your behavior as a leader/manager has a direct impact on staff performance, productivity, satisfaction, and turnover. You can MOTIVATE and inspire others!
Perhaps the single most important technique for motivating other people is to treat them the same way you want to be treated: as responsible professionals. This is what I tell my people…all the time. It sounds simple, but most supervisors do not know this SECRET. We can gives others respect, dignity, fairness, incentive, and guidance…and this will create a motivated, productive, satisfying, and secure work environment. Yes!
Unfortunately, as soon as the complexities of some of our problems evolve and mix with human relationships, even some of the best-intentioned supervisors may find the management side of their jobs deteriorating into chaos. In today's society with the expanding workloads, fewer resources, greater expectations, increasing tasks, and closer scrutiny…especially from third-parties, the complexities are increasing!
Leaders/managers have tremendous responsibility and sometimes very little real authority. Job performance is reflected more in the bottom line than in the quality of customer service. Why do some leaders thrive while others burn out? The answer lies in the leader's ability to inspire trust, loyalty, and commitment among fellow team members.
Sometimes, we have to UNLEARN certain things to be more effective. Good management techniques used to be simple. The boss told employees what to do and they did it. No one worried if somebody's feelings were hurt along the way. Employees who failed to toe the line were either whipped into shape or fired. These authoritarian (rigid) managers believed that authority should be obeyed. Therefore, they expected unquestioned obedience from their subordinates. What could be simpler? Fear ran the work force! The system was efficient and effective. It worked for awhile! Hello! But today's workforce is much different than yesterday. Consequently, we have some old wineskins still around attempting to mix the new wine into the workplace. It will not work. And to tell you the truth, I do not think that it ever was the most efficient use of resources.
The autocratic (tyrannical and oppressive) model worked for centuries. The boss ruled… without question or negotiation. First and second line supervisors…in turn…had their own hierarchy. Authority was understood, respected, and obeyed.
Some of these autocratic (despotic) managers led the way because they honestly and consciously believed it was the best management style. For most, however, it was how they were treated throughout their careers … particularly on their first job. The cycle works very much like child abuse, where the abused child grows up to be an abusive adult. If you were managed by an autocrat, it is very likely that your most natural, comfortable method of management reflects that of some previous supervisor…
Why change at all? Why not continue with the authoritarian approach? Because it DOES NOT work in today's marketplace. While fear as a management style can accomplish impressive short-term results, the long term consequences are normally devastating. With high demand and short supply of resources, no leader can afford to alienate others. Similarly, efficient support staffs are also becoming harder to recruit and train…as the technology of the workplace speeds along at a tremendous pace. Disgruntled employees may vent their frustrations by being rude to customers, performing poorly, quitting, or complaining to upper management. Some supervisors may even face lawsuits for treating subordinates unfairly. This happens often in government at the tax payer's expense.
An autocratic (tyrannical) management style feeds high staff turnover and low employee morale. Low morale, in turn, causes a decline in productivity and in the quality of customer service. And while many autocratic managers still populate the American workforce, the current reforms demand higher efficiency and productivity. Motivational Management By Participation (Participatory Teamwork) and Team Playing (treating others the way that we would like to be treated) will eventually squeeze out these managers.
In short, motivational management produces the best results. Leaders who focus on positive reinforcement rather than fear, intimidation, and manipulation will be the successful leaders/managers in the next millennium. Period!
Autocratic (dictatorial) management is a learned behavior focusing on dramatic, short-term results. I must emphasize and reiterate, true change can come about only from within. Such change requires an understanding of the need for a new management approach. Motivating yourself to change is the first step in learning to motivate others. If you are NOT motivated, you will NEVER motivate someone else! Decisions that incorporate the ideas of a group are vastly superior to the single viewpoint of one person imposed on the rest of the group. None us are as smart/effective as ALL of US! Huge advances in information technology and vast amounts of new information pounding at us every day make it impossible for a single leader to know more than the sum of his/her subordinates. Each team member's knowledge and perspective are essential to good decision making. Decisions that incorporate the ideas of the group are vastly superior to the viewpoint of one single person imposed on the rest of the group. Period!
In past generations, employees stayed with a company for the duration of an entire career. Today, people change jobs several times during their working years and many change careers altogether. This adaptation to change gives employees more options. When a well-trained employee quits, the business incurs not only out-of-pocket hiring/training costs, but also (sometimes) hiring someone who is less knowledgeable, effective, and productive…as a Team Member.
Fundamental changes in American society also herald the end of the autocratic (oppressive) manager. The extended family unit…two-parent households…Divorce…quick mobility undermine the role of the nuclear family. Most leaders now know about and accept child care, family leave, and single-parent households. But I gotta tell you, this creates a void that was previously filled with powerful family units which had a feeling of "belonging"! The role of the traditional family is being replaced by the workplace. More and more employees look for jobs where people matter. Such employees want to work with leaders/managers who understand them and who care about them. This presents a huge challenge for businesses and creates a responsibility for which most leaders are currently unprepared.
Autocratic (despotic) management requires less skill and effort than participatory management. The decision to change requires commitment. In the historical autocratic model, the manager simply exercised his/her authority, made a decision, and took responsibility for the results…if the results were positive. If the results were negative, the manager usually looked for a scapegoat! Hello!
Hence, participatory management (Team Work) means learning and playing by a whole new set of rules. This type of change is not difficult, but some managers may want to remain a dinosaur or fossil! The first step toward a new leadership style is deciding that we want to change and embrace a better quality of life. Involving our staff in decision making requires diverse and refined interpersonal skills. We need to learn the capabilities and aspirations of each subordinate in order to use participatory techniques. Time constraints, various personality traits, and lack of motivation can often make the managers' efforts…in developing these skills a little complicated and perhaps frustrating. Therefore, behavior change takes time, focus, and practice.
Good leadership is the result of daily conditioning. The following qualities will lead to successful motivational management: Good Planning, Teaching/Mentoring, Delegating (do NOT dump), Encouraging independent thinking, Building a Team, LISTENING, Being a Good Example, Accepting Responsibility, and Sharing the Spotlight.
Planning is an important aspect of effective management. We need to plan our time and resources accordingly. Remember the phrase, "A lack of planning on my part does not create an emergency on your part". Good planning involves a sense of strategic direction. What does the team need to do to get to an established goal? What constraints can be identified? Can each member of the team contribute? Sometimes, detailed action plans for certain strategies are critically important.
The key to effective management is how we involve our subordinates in the development of these plans. Solicit input from all and listen with an open mind. The people who actually do the work can provide us with invaluable insight into how to get the job done. Negotiate a consensus and then make certain everyone agrees on who will do what and when. Once an action plan is adopted, provide the team with the proper resources; ie., the funds, equipment, and personnel with the right skills to execute the plans.
Become a teacher. Effective motivational and participatory management is essential in becoming a good teacher…one who views any shortcoming as an opportunity to grow. Always focus on the potential of the individual. In doing so, we will consistently support our employees, helping them discover the paths to success. We need to share our commitment with subordinates. Know this: Our personal power is greatly enhanced when we live up to our own principles and values.
Remember this: To be an effective teacher we do NOT need to know everything our subordinates know. Rather, we need to invest our energy in creating opportunities for our subordinates to become experts in their skilled areas. Then, give them the chance to demonstrate their expertise. As our subordinates grow, reward them, nurture them, assist with their careers, and be involved with their professional growth in every way possible.
Delegate. Never Dump! The easiest way to become good at delegation is to surround yourself with subordinates whose abilities you respect. Use your people to the best of their capabilities. When people sense that you expect great things from them, they tend to be challenged by that expectation and work hard to live up to it. Load your people with responsibility. Provide them with the resources to do the job and never be critical or punitive when they make mistakes…and they will…and so will you! Hello!
Delegation crosses the line and becomes dumping when we delegate only the work we don't want to do ourselves; ie., like keeping all the "glorious" fun projects for ourselves. We must never fail to provide adequate resources for our subordinates to complete their work. Delegate both the responsibility and the authority to do the job. Never abandon your subordinates. Provide them with your time/guidance/ and personal counsel when they need it.
Encourage Independent Thinking: Consistently encourage your subordinates to come to you with problems and solutions. If they come to you only with problems, it's your job to elicit their opinion for correcting the situation. Listen to their suggestions. Draw them out. Help them to think the solution through. Ask them questions and encourage them. Lead them to a workable solution. Such independent thinking demands your recognition and tells you that that your solution is not the only solution. It may not even be the best solution. Give your subordinates the latitude to try new options, within limits of course, and your workers will start to develop their real potential. YES!
Build a Team: Effective participatory leaders/managers strive to build cohesive teams, seeing themselves as the Team Captain…and Chief Servant. The team captain inspires excellence and earns loyalty, SERVING as the Chief Servant…serving as a role model to be admired, NOT feared. Fear is counter-productive! The most effective teams comprise members with diverse skills and personalities. Sometimes, these are also the most difficult teams to manage. It can be frustrating work, but the rewards are tremendous when you watch the team become greater than the sum of its parts. Determine the goals of the team. To manage the team successfully, make sure everyone clearly understands his/her role in reaching those goals. Communicate the rules or norms for operating together. For instance, a rule that many successful teams adopt is, "When you have a problem with any team member, it is your responsibility to discuss the problem directly with that team member. If you approach another team member instead, you will immediately be referred to the team member who has caused you difficulty." As the team leader, it is also your responsibility to help integrate the individual personalities of team members. Encourage cooperation/coordination among team members. This may occasionally mean sharing the perspective of one member with another to facilitate mutual understanding and respect.
LISTEN: Many managers talk about being good listeners, yet this skill often remains an area in need of substantial improvement. The benefits of good listening are numerous. Relationships improve, productivity and work performance are enhanced, team spirit is fostered, morale increases, and your staff gains better perspective and understanding of your mission/objectives. Good listening skills engender trust. And trust is what separates effective participatory leaders from autocratic (despotic, oppressive) managers.
If you're listening effectively, the odds are that your subordinate is talking 80% of the time, and you're talking only 20% of the time. When you speak, you ask short, simple questions that draw the person out. What's more, you ask questions in a concerned, non-threatening style and tone. Good listeners will let their subordinates vent when necessary and acknowledge their feelings. A good leader will not be condemnatory or judgmental!
It is critical that the listener stay open and non-defensive, conveying genuine concern, no matter what the staff member says. Maintain the attitude that this person is your teammate and wants to improve things. Learn all you possibly can from your teammates so you are able to address their concerns effectively. Demonstrating your concern by helping team members resolve problems to their satisfaction not only strengthens the unit, it also provides flexibility for you when problems that are beyond your control arise. Past successes build trust, so your teammates are more likely to listen to you and be reasonable when a problem exceeds your authority.
Set an Example: People rarely learn from what we tell them to do. More often they learn from example. If you have any doubts, go back to the discussion of autocratic managers and child abusers. Not only does the example you set dictate your success as a leader/ manager, but also it teaches others how to lead. Set a good example!
Start by living up to the rules that you have already negotiated with team members. Treat each staff person with respect, dignity, professionalism, and kindness. Be courteous. Keep your cool in crisis situations. Your calm will be just as contagious as your panic and temper flare-ups. Keep your word…to the letter. Keep you word! Nothing undermines trust in a professional setting more precipitously than a manager who breaks his/her commitments.
Accept Responsibility: Perhaps the most frightening aspect of management is that you have become responsible for someone else's performance. People do things their own way and sometimes make mistakes. While your subordinates are responsible to you for their mistakes, you are responsible to your boss for those mistakes. Don't pass the blame down to your subordinates. It's your department. The buck stops with you. Your team respects your integrity and trusts you to lead. You will become a champion, not an oppressor.
Share the Spotlight: I cannot emphasize this too much! Yes, you must accept the responsibility for things that sometimes go wrong, but you must also give your subordinates their due credit for everything that goes right. Never take credit for a subordinate's work! Don't do it! This is STEALING and the same as THEFT! Mention their names at every possible opportunity. Do this and you will be a saint! Ignore this and you will be a complete nincompoop with no respect!
Don't be afraid that this approach endangers your own career. You were made a supervisor because others in authority recognized your capabilities. The test of your value as a supervisor is your ability to create a productive and efficient team. Show management that working for you is the best thing since jelly beans. Promote your staff by drawing attention to each subordinate's excellent performance. If your team is performing at a high level, you will not need to blow your own horn…Your value will be obvious. Do you get my drift?
WHAT will it TAKE to be SUCCESSFUL IN the 21st Century? Assume responsibility for your own actions. If you are not successful, don't blame others. Take it on the chin and learn from it. Assume responsibility for your emotional reactions. It's not what happens to you that matters. It's your reaction to what has happened to you. Stand back and ask yourself, "What can I learn from this?" Believe me, I have been there. Never be afraid to say, "I was wrong. I have learned a valuable lesson through this!"
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Identify the potential in each of your subordinates. Remember that people tend to live up to our expectations of them. Let your people know how terrific there are. Brag on them. Encourage them! Tell them that they are doing an excellent job! Make an inventory of the resources at your disposal and use those resources to help your staff perform better. We live in a world of limited resources. Given this restraint, how can we optimize and maximize the results? Be optimistic. Optimism is contagious…so is pessimism. If your team is going to develop a positive, can-do attitude, you will need to set the tone. Develop a team vision for your department. Define what the team will become…make it inspiring! Be enthusiastic! This is particularly powerful when you develop your vision as a team.
Set specific and measurable goals to make that vision come true. Include time frames and resource requirements. Treat others with empathy and respect…no matter what. Gain the independence, power, and self-respect that come from doing the right thing, without regard to what others do. Think less about your own needs and more about the needs of your team. You will reap what you sow. Set an example. Be a high performer! Work hard and smart. People will follow your example. Be honest with yourself and your team. Realize that eventually, people who work with you will know you for who you are. Be open to their criticism and learn from it. Set a schedule for your own training and development…stick to it. Keep yourself growing and motivated. You're worth it. Model your management style after someone who inspires you…someone whom you admire…perhaps a mentor. It's hard work to cut a path through the woods. It's much simpler to walk in someone else's tracks. Learn from your mentor! And then be a mentor to others!
Good input equals good output. Find and consistently use good sources of management guidance for reading, viewing, and listening. You are same person you were ten years ago with the exception of two things: The people you have met and the books you have read! PERIOD!
We are now in the 21st Century…facing all kinds of exciting possibilities unlimited. No man or woman is an island. We not isolated. We work together. We play together. We plan together. We activate the resources that lie within us!
We no longer make decisions based solely at the top of an organization. More and more mid-level management staff and employees at all levels participate in the decision making process. This is good! This is the missing ingredient that has been needed for the past 100 years. In customer service, our vision is to help people, support people, bring people together, and increase our mission strength toward cooperation. Our focus on customer service becomes even stronger now. As you well know, customers not only want personal attention and professionalism, but today…in our society…they expect it. We expect it! This is good! During the next five years, much emphasis will be placed on quality, focus, value added, and better support mechanisms for customers. Every individual is a customer!
Today, as the nuclear family becomes even more mobilized with increased technological advances, we still need to remind ourselves that we are human and NOT machines. During the next few months and years, exciting breakthroughs in technology, medical science, education, and outer space will occur more rapidly. However, we as human beings will need to slow down a bit because we still have basic needs; ie., to be respected, admired, loved, nurtured, and we all need to feel appreciated. Our exciting achievements will be no substitute for these internal/external rewards. We still need to be accepted and needed. We all have emotions, feelings, aspirations, passions, dreams, and visions. Our visions come from having faith and trust in whatever we conceive or dream possible!
We live in a Win/Win society. We refuse to live or work in a vacuum any longer. We now network and create a winning environment around us by creating a good support system. Yes, we still have idiosyncrasies such as equipment or computer failures, slow modems, FAX delays, server problems, and network problems, but this is the price that we pay for living in the 21st Century. These are the good old days! Hence, we continue creating a winning environment in the workplace. We continue to implement support systems. We continue to develop a new respect for one another because we need each other for the maximization of our full potential. Not one of us is as smart or clever as "all of us"!
I believe we are communicating better today than ever before. We know it is so important to understand our customers. We must take the time to consider his/her point of view. In going the extra mile with others, we find that a "bonding" begins to take place…Thus creating a win-win relationship. This blending of both individuals' intent contributes toward a collective consciousness for higher growth.
In general, people are more positive today than last century. As we continue to be positive in our thoughts and purpose, this will enable us to create marvelous results in our lives. We will continue to experience stories/victories of triumphs, awards, and joys as we work together toward a common goal and purpose. WHY? Because we are people of "The Right Stuff" and people of destiny!
"Dream on"…Ever heard this expression before? I gotta tell you, in America, anything is possible. Yes, we will continue to dream. If you can dream it, visualize it, or believe it can happen, you are NOT far from tremendous success.
Personally, I believe that everyone is born to lead; however, some people in the last century died without ever knowing what they were born to do, what their purpose in life was all about, without knowing who they were, and without knowing true victory and great accomplishments! WHY? They did not DARE to be in themselves. They tried to be what others told them to be. They did not attempt to achieve their goals...because they either had none or only mediocre ones. They tried to be a copy and not an original!
We have choices. We can either be positive or negative. All the resources to reinforce either a positive or negative vision/dream are available.
Today, we can visualize and actualize our success and dreams by activating the following in our lives: Purpose, Planning, Passion, Persistence, and Patience.
Purpose: We need to define our dreams. Create our visions. Write out our goals. I believe that part of our purpose is to love life…love what we do…and stay true to our values and principles. This in no way precludes change when change is needed to make us better individuals, especially in our relationships with others. When we deal with customers, colleagues, or fellow workers, we need to check ourselves to see if our purpose and motive is a reflection of who we really are in order to maintain a winning environment. In so doing, conflict, concerns, struggles, or "heartburn" will be reduced dramatically.
Planning: Our purpose must be translated into a plan…a plan that is logical, rational, sound, and articulate that defines our goals and objectives to include financial and sociological goals. Another part of planning is our professional image. This includes the way we deal with others, the way we dress, the words we use, our accountability, and even our work spaces. In times past, I have become so involved in what I was doing that I forgot some of the necessary mundane details. Sometimes, it is carrying out these boring (tedious) details with staff support that helps us to maintain our focus and planning. Planning details consist of day-to-day operations, using our time management skills wisely, setting goals, targeting completion dates, financial budgets, strategic planning, organizational development, training, research and development, testing our ideas, and human resources.
Passion: Passion is the driving force behind putting our purpose and plans. Passion helps us to get into action. It keeps us committed and motivated. It is the vehicle that transports us to our destination. The positive side of passion is…its exciting, kinetic energy that seems to create a life of its own and it often transforms our work into pure joy. (This is no joke!)
Persistence: What happens when the "joy" or "passion" is NOT there? Sometimes, things can get a little difficult and strained. Our spirits may be "down" or perhaps we seem a little tired. Maybe, we are having a "bad hair day". I certainly have them occasionally! This is when our persistence kicks in to help us stay on the path. At times, we will need a kind word or two from friends or co-workers…a little understanding. At other times we may be the one who gives the kindness or empathy. Remember, we are a Team. Remember how far we have traveled together. Give acknowledgment and encouragement where needed…sometimes in large doses. Thus, persistence means having the courage to look at our mistakes, reassess our next move, and then move forward toward the goal. It means that we must persevere, stick to the task at hand, and keep "trucking" on without procrastination, but completed the project.
Patience: I must admit, this is one point that Tom Franks must continually confront in my own life and continue to work on and fine tune. It is not easy to be patient in the work place. It's not easy to wait for the right things to happen or for justice/fairness to prevail. However, the waiting time can be most creative and resourceful. It is during these intervals that we create new ideas. We have a golden opportunity to restore our balance by reflecting upon our successes. We can be proactive and productive by using this creative waiting time to pause and take inventory of where we are and where we want to go. Patience does not mean that we stop or give up or give in to our doubts. Patience means allowing and watching the process unfold. Patience teaches us to listen to our intuition and insight for guidance. We re-evaluate, reconnoiter, take another look at the situation, and re-survey the circumstances. Patience also gives us time to renew ourselves, refuel our passion, and become re-energized with excitement. Patience is sometimes needed in our lives to force us to slow down, assess our position, change our strategy, and create new plans, new goals, and new dreams.
BOTTOMLINE: We are leaders! We choose to inspire others. Inspiration is the direct opposite of intimidation, manipulation, or domination. To motivate another human being is one of the greatest achievements of life. We choose to draw the very best out of other people and inspire them to maximize their true potential, talents, gifts, and abilities. Everyone has the capacity, potential, and raw material to become a great leader by the design of our Creator. It is my hope that we can bring our personal light into the workplace to illuminate the lives of others. By sharing our own process and inspiring others to create their own success, we become a powerful catalyst for transforming dreams into reality.
By Tommy Franks
Regardless of where you work or supervise, your behavior as a leader/manager has a direct impact on staff performance, productivity, satisfaction, and turnover. You can MOTIVATE and inspire others!
Perhaps the single most important technique for motivating other people is to treat them the same way you want to be treated: as responsible professionals. This is what I tell my people…all the time. It sounds simple, but most supervisors do not know this SECRET. We can gives others respect, dignity, fairness, incentive, and guidance…and this will create a motivated, productive, satisfying, and secure work environment. Yes!
Unfortunately, as soon as the complexities of some of our problems evolve and mix with human relationships, even some of the best-intentioned supervisors may find the management side of their jobs deteriorating into chaos. In today's society with the expanding workloads, fewer resources, greater expectations, increasing tasks, and closer scrutiny…especially from third-parties, the complexities are increasing!
Leaders/managers have tremendous responsibility and sometimes very little real authority. Job performance is reflected more in the bottom line than in the quality of customer service. Why do some leaders thrive while others burn out? The answer lies in the leader's ability to inspire trust, loyalty, and commitment among fellow team members.
Sometimes, we have to UNLEARN certain things to be more effective. Good management techniques used to be simple. The boss told employees what to do and they did it. No one worried if somebody's feelings were hurt along the way. Employees who failed to toe the line were either whipped into shape or fired. These authoritarian (rigid) managers believed that authority should be obeyed. Therefore, they expected unquestioned obedience from their subordinates. What could be simpler? Fear ran the work force! The system was efficient and effective. It worked for awhile! Hello! But today's workforce is much different than yesterday. Consequently, we have some old wineskins still around attempting to mix the new wine into the workplace. It will not work. And to tell you the truth, I do not think that it ever was the most efficient use of resources.
The autocratic (tyrannical and oppressive) model worked for centuries. The boss ruled… without question or negotiation. First and second line supervisors…in turn…had their own hierarchy. Authority was understood, respected, and obeyed.
Some of these autocratic (despotic) managers led the way because they honestly and consciously believed it was the best management style. For most, however, it was how they were treated throughout their careers … particularly on their first job. The cycle works very much like child abuse, where the abused child grows up to be an abusive adult. If you were managed by an autocrat, it is very likely that your most natural, comfortable method of management reflects that of some previous supervisor…
Why change at all? Why not continue with the authoritarian approach? Because it DOES NOT work in today's marketplace. While fear as a management style can accomplish impressive short-term results, the long term consequences are normally devastating. With high demand and short supply of resources, no leader can afford to alienate others. Similarly, efficient support staffs are also becoming harder to recruit and train…as the technology of the workplace speeds along at a tremendous pace. Disgruntled employees may vent their frustrations by being rude to customers, performing poorly, quitting, or complaining to upper management. Some supervisors may even face lawsuits for treating subordinates unfairly. This happens often in government at the tax payer's expense.
An autocratic (tyrannical) management style feeds high staff turnover and low employee morale. Low morale, in turn, causes a decline in productivity and in the quality of customer service. And while many autocratic managers still populate the American workforce, the current reforms demand higher efficiency and productivity. Motivational Management By Participation (Participatory Teamwork) and Team Playing (treating others the way that we would like to be treated) will eventually squeeze out these managers.
In short, motivational management produces the best results. Leaders who focus on positive reinforcement rather than fear, intimidation, and manipulation will be the successful leaders/managers in the next millennium. Period!
Autocratic (dictatorial) management is a learned behavior focusing on dramatic, short-term results. I must emphasize and reiterate, true change can come about only from within. Such change requires an understanding of the need for a new management approach. Motivating yourself to change is the first step in learning to motivate others. If you are NOT motivated, you will NEVER motivate someone else! Decisions that incorporate the ideas of a group are vastly superior to the single viewpoint of one person imposed on the rest of the group. None us are as smart/effective as ALL of US! Huge advances in information technology and vast amounts of new information pounding at us every day make it impossible for a single leader to know more than the sum of his/her subordinates. Each team member's knowledge and perspective are essential to good decision making. Decisions that incorporate the ideas of the group are vastly superior to the viewpoint of one single person imposed on the rest of the group. Period!
In past generations, employees stayed with a company for the duration of an entire career. Today, people change jobs several times during their working years and many change careers altogether. This adaptation to change gives employees more options. When a well-trained employee quits, the business incurs not only out-of-pocket hiring/training costs, but also (sometimes) hiring someone who is less knowledgeable, effective, and productive…as a Team Member.
Fundamental changes in American society also herald the end of the autocratic (oppressive) manager. The extended family unit…two-parent households…Divorce…quick mobility undermine the role of the nuclear family. Most leaders now know about and accept child care, family leave, and single-parent households. But I gotta tell you, this creates a void that was previously filled with powerful family units which had a feeling of "belonging"! The role of the traditional family is being replaced by the workplace. More and more employees look for jobs where people matter. Such employees want to work with leaders/managers who understand them and who care about them. This presents a huge challenge for businesses and creates a responsibility for which most leaders are currently unprepared.
Autocratic (despotic) management requires less skill and effort than participatory management. The decision to change requires commitment. In the historical autocratic model, the manager simply exercised his/her authority, made a decision, and took responsibility for the results…if the results were positive. If the results were negative, the manager usually looked for a scapegoat! Hello!
Hence, participatory management (Team Work) means learning and playing by a whole new set of rules. This type of change is not difficult, but some managers may want to remain a dinosaur or fossil! The first step toward a new leadership style is deciding that we want to change and embrace a better quality of life. Involving our staff in decision making requires diverse and refined interpersonal skills. We need to learn the capabilities and aspirations of each subordinate in order to use participatory techniques. Time constraints, various personality traits, and lack of motivation can often make the managers' efforts…in developing these skills a little complicated and perhaps frustrating. Therefore, behavior change takes time, focus, and practice.
Good leadership is the result of daily conditioning. The following qualities will lead to successful motivational management: Good Planning, Teaching/Mentoring, Delegating (do NOT dump), Encouraging independent thinking, Building a Team, LISTENING, Being a Good Example, Accepting Responsibility, and Sharing the Spotlight.
Planning is an important aspect of effective management. We need to plan our time and resources accordingly. Remember the phrase, "A lack of planning on my part does not create an emergency on your part". Good planning involves a sense of strategic direction. What does the team need to do to get to an established goal? What constraints can be identified? Can each member of the team contribute? Sometimes, detailed action plans for certain strategies are critically important.
The key to effective management is how we involve our subordinates in the development of these plans. Solicit input from all and listen with an open mind. The people who actually do the work can provide us with invaluable insight into how to get the job done. Negotiate a consensus and then make certain everyone agrees on who will do what and when. Once an action plan is adopted, provide the team with the proper resources; ie., the funds, equipment, and personnel with the right skills to execute the plans.
Become a teacher. Effective motivational and participatory management is essential in becoming a good teacher…one who views any shortcoming as an opportunity to grow. Always focus on the potential of the individual. In doing so, we will consistently support our employees, helping them discover the paths to success. We need to share our commitment with subordinates. Know this: Our personal power is greatly enhanced when we live up to our own principles and values.
Remember this: To be an effective teacher we do NOT need to know everything our subordinates know. Rather, we need to invest our energy in creating opportunities for our subordinates to become experts in their skilled areas. Then, give them the chance to demonstrate their expertise. As our subordinates grow, reward them, nurture them, assist with their careers, and be involved with their professional growth in every way possible.
Delegate. Never Dump! The easiest way to become good at delegation is to surround yourself with subordinates whose abilities you respect. Use your people to the best of their capabilities. When people sense that you expect great things from them, they tend to be challenged by that expectation and work hard to live up to it. Load your people with responsibility. Provide them with the resources to do the job and never be critical or punitive when they make mistakes…and they will…and so will you! Hello!
Delegation crosses the line and becomes dumping when we delegate only the work we don't want to do ourselves; ie., like keeping all the "glorious" fun projects for ourselves. We must never fail to provide adequate resources for our subordinates to complete their work. Delegate both the responsibility and the authority to do the job. Never abandon your subordinates. Provide them with your time/guidance/ and personal counsel when they need it.
Encourage Independent Thinking: Consistently encourage your subordinates to come to you with problems and solutions. If they come to you only with problems, it's your job to elicit their opinion for correcting the situation. Listen to their suggestions. Draw them out. Help them to think the solution through. Ask them questions and encourage them. Lead them to a workable solution. Such independent thinking demands your recognition and tells you that that your solution is not the only solution. It may not even be the best solution. Give your subordinates the latitude to try new options, within limits of course, and your workers will start to develop their real potential. YES!
Build a Team: Effective participatory leaders/managers strive to build cohesive teams, seeing themselves as the Team Captain…and Chief Servant. The team captain inspires excellence and earns loyalty, SERVING as the Chief Servant…serving as a role model to be admired, NOT feared. Fear is counter-productive! The most effective teams comprise members with diverse skills and personalities. Sometimes, these are also the most difficult teams to manage. It can be frustrating work, but the rewards are tremendous when you watch the team become greater than the sum of its parts. Determine the goals of the team. To manage the team successfully, make sure everyone clearly understands his/her role in reaching those goals. Communicate the rules or norms for operating together. For instance, a rule that many successful teams adopt is, "When you have a problem with any team member, it is your responsibility to discuss the problem directly with that team member. If you approach another team member instead, you will immediately be referred to the team member who has caused you difficulty." As the team leader, it is also your responsibility to help integrate the individual personalities of team members. Encourage cooperation/coordination among team members. This may occasionally mean sharing the perspective of one member with another to facilitate mutual understanding and respect.
LISTEN: Many managers talk about being good listeners, yet this skill often remains an area in need of substantial improvement. The benefits of good listening are numerous. Relationships improve, productivity and work performance are enhanced, team spirit is fostered, morale increases, and your staff gains better perspective and understanding of your mission/objectives. Good listening skills engender trust. And trust is what separates effective participatory leaders from autocratic (despotic, oppressive) managers.
If you're listening effectively, the odds are that your subordinate is talking 80% of the time, and you're talking only 20% of the time. When you speak, you ask short, simple questions that draw the person out. What's more, you ask questions in a concerned, non-threatening style and tone. Good listeners will let their subordinates vent when necessary and acknowledge their feelings. A good leader will not be condemnatory or judgmental!
It is critical that the listener stay open and non-defensive, conveying genuine concern, no matter what the staff member says. Maintain the attitude that this person is your teammate and wants to improve things. Learn all you possibly can from your teammates so you are able to address their concerns effectively. Demonstrating your concern by helping team members resolve problems to their satisfaction not only strengthens the unit, it also provides flexibility for you when problems that are beyond your control arise. Past successes build trust, so your teammates are more likely to listen to you and be reasonable when a problem exceeds your authority.
Set an Example: People rarely learn from what we tell them to do. More often they learn from example. If you have any doubts, go back to the discussion of autocratic managers and child abusers. Not only does the example you set dictate your success as a leader/ manager, but also it teaches others how to lead. Set a good example!
Start by living up to the rules that you have already negotiated with team members. Treat each staff person with respect, dignity, professionalism, and kindness. Be courteous. Keep your cool in crisis situations. Your calm will be just as contagious as your panic and temper flare-ups. Keep your word…to the letter. Keep you word! Nothing undermines trust in a professional setting more precipitously than a manager who breaks his/her commitments.
Accept Responsibility: Perhaps the most frightening aspect of management is that you have become responsible for someone else's performance. People do things their own way and sometimes make mistakes. While your subordinates are responsible to you for their mistakes, you are responsible to your boss for those mistakes. Don't pass the blame down to your subordinates. It's your department. The buck stops with you. Your team respects your integrity and trusts you to lead. You will become a champion, not an oppressor.
Share the Spotlight: I cannot emphasize this too much! Yes, you must accept the responsibility for things that sometimes go wrong, but you must also give your subordinates their due credit for everything that goes right. Never take credit for a subordinate's work! Don't do it! This is STEALING and the same as THEFT! Mention their names at every possible opportunity. Do this and you will be a saint! Ignore this and you will be a complete nincompoop with no respect!
Don't be afraid that this approach endangers your own career. You were made a supervisor because others in authority recognized your capabilities. The test of your value as a supervisor is your ability to create a productive and efficient team. Show management that working for you is the best thing since jelly beans. Promote your staff by drawing attention to each subordinate's excellent performance. If your team is performing at a high level, you will not need to blow your own horn…Your value will be obvious. Do you get my drift?
WHAT will it TAKE to be SUCCESSFUL IN the 21st Century? Assume responsibility for your own actions. If you are not successful, don't blame others. Take it on the chin and learn from it. Assume responsibility for your emotional reactions. It's not what happens to you that matters. It's your reaction to what has happened to you. Stand back and ask yourself, "What can I learn from this?" Believe me, I have been there. Never be afraid to say, "I was wrong. I have learned a valuable lesson through this!"
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Identify the potential in each of your subordinates. Remember that people tend to live up to our expectations of them. Let your people know how terrific there are. Brag on them. Encourage them! Tell them that they are doing an excellent job! Make an inventory of the resources at your disposal and use those resources to help your staff perform better. We live in a world of limited resources. Given this restraint, how can we optimize and maximize the results? Be optimistic. Optimism is contagious…so is pessimism. If your team is going to develop a positive, can-do attitude, you will need to set the tone. Develop a team vision for your department. Define what the team will become…make it inspiring! Be enthusiastic! This is particularly powerful when you develop your vision as a team.
Set specific and measurable goals to make that vision come true. Include time frames and resource requirements. Treat others with empathy and respect…no matter what. Gain the independence, power, and self-respect that come from doing the right thing, without regard to what others do. Think less about your own needs and more about the needs of your team. You will reap what you sow. Set an example. Be a high performer! Work hard and smart. People will follow your example. Be honest with yourself and your team. Realize that eventually, people who work with you will know you for who you are. Be open to their criticism and learn from it. Set a schedule for your own training and development…stick to it. Keep yourself growing and motivated. You're worth it. Model your management style after someone who inspires you…someone whom you admire…perhaps a mentor. It's hard work to cut a path through the woods. It's much simpler to walk in someone else's tracks. Learn from your mentor! And then be a mentor to others!
Good input equals good output. Find and consistently use good sources of management guidance for reading, viewing, and listening. You are same person you were ten years ago with the exception of two things: The people you have met and the books you have read! PERIOD!
We are now in the 21st Century…facing all kinds of exciting possibilities unlimited. No man or woman is an island. We not isolated. We work together. We play together. We plan together. We activate the resources that lie within us!
We no longer make decisions based solely at the top of an organization. More and more mid-level management staff and employees at all levels participate in the decision making process. This is good! This is the missing ingredient that has been needed for the past 100 years. In customer service, our vision is to help people, support people, bring people together, and increase our mission strength toward cooperation. Our focus on customer service becomes even stronger now. As you well know, customers not only want personal attention and professionalism, but today…in our society…they expect it. We expect it! This is good! During the next five years, much emphasis will be placed on quality, focus, value added, and better support mechanisms for customers. Every individual is a customer!
Today, as the nuclear family becomes even more mobilized with increased technological advances, we still need to remind ourselves that we are human and NOT machines. During the next few months and years, exciting breakthroughs in technology, medical science, education, and outer space will occur more rapidly. However, we as human beings will need to slow down a bit because we still have basic needs; ie., to be respected, admired, loved, nurtured, and we all need to feel appreciated. Our exciting achievements will be no substitute for these internal/external rewards. We still need to be accepted and needed. We all have emotions, feelings, aspirations, passions, dreams, and visions. Our visions come from having faith and trust in whatever we conceive or dream possible!
We live in a Win/Win society. We refuse to live or work in a vacuum any longer. We now network and create a winning environment around us by creating a good support system. Yes, we still have idiosyncrasies such as equipment or computer failures, slow modems, FAX delays, server problems, and network problems, but this is the price that we pay for living in the 21st Century. These are the good old days! Hence, we continue creating a winning environment in the workplace. We continue to implement support systems. We continue to develop a new respect for one another because we need each other for the maximization of our full potential. Not one of us is as smart or clever as "all of us"!
I believe we are communicating better today than ever before. We know it is so important to understand our customers. We must take the time to consider his/her point of view. In going the extra mile with others, we find that a "bonding" begins to take place…Thus creating a win-win relationship. This blending of both individuals' intent contributes toward a collective consciousness for higher growth.
In general, people are more positive today than last century. As we continue to be positive in our thoughts and purpose, this will enable us to create marvelous results in our lives. We will continue to experience stories/victories of triumphs, awards, and joys as we work together toward a common goal and purpose. WHY? Because we are people of "The Right Stuff" and people of destiny!
"Dream on"…Ever heard this expression before? I gotta tell you, in America, anything is possible. Yes, we will continue to dream. If you can dream it, visualize it, or believe it can happen, you are NOT far from tremendous success.
Personally, I believe that everyone is born to lead; however, some people in the last century died without ever knowing what they were born to do, what their purpose in life was all about, without knowing who they were, and without knowing true victory and great accomplishments! WHY? They did not DARE to be in themselves. They tried to be what others told them to be. They did not attempt to achieve their goals...because they either had none or only mediocre ones. They tried to be a copy and not an original!
We have choices. We can either be positive or negative. All the resources to reinforce either a positive or negative vision/dream are available.
Today, we can visualize and actualize our success and dreams by activating the following in our lives: Purpose, Planning, Passion, Persistence, and Patience.
Purpose: We need to define our dreams. Create our visions. Write out our goals. I believe that part of our purpose is to love life…love what we do…and stay true to our values and principles. This in no way precludes change when change is needed to make us better individuals, especially in our relationships with others. When we deal with customers, colleagues, or fellow workers, we need to check ourselves to see if our purpose and motive is a reflection of who we really are in order to maintain a winning environment. In so doing, conflict, concerns, struggles, or "heartburn" will be reduced dramatically.
Planning: Our purpose must be translated into a plan…a plan that is logical, rational, sound, and articulate that defines our goals and objectives to include financial and sociological goals. Another part of planning is our professional image. This includes the way we deal with others, the way we dress, the words we use, our accountability, and even our work spaces. In times past, I have become so involved in what I was doing that I forgot some of the necessary mundane details. Sometimes, it is carrying out these boring (tedious) details with staff support that helps us to maintain our focus and planning. Planning details consist of day-to-day operations, using our time management skills wisely, setting goals, targeting completion dates, financial budgets, strategic planning, organizational development, training, research and development, testing our ideas, and human resources.
Passion: Passion is the driving force behind putting our purpose and plans. Passion helps us to get into action. It keeps us committed and motivated. It is the vehicle that transports us to our destination. The positive side of passion is…its exciting, kinetic energy that seems to create a life of its own and it often transforms our work into pure joy. (This is no joke!)
Persistence: What happens when the "joy" or "passion" is NOT there? Sometimes, things can get a little difficult and strained. Our spirits may be "down" or perhaps we seem a little tired. Maybe, we are having a "bad hair day". I certainly have them occasionally! This is when our persistence kicks in to help us stay on the path. At times, we will need a kind word or two from friends or co-workers…a little understanding. At other times we may be the one who gives the kindness or empathy. Remember, we are a Team. Remember how far we have traveled together. Give acknowledgment and encouragement where needed…sometimes in large doses. Thus, persistence means having the courage to look at our mistakes, reassess our next move, and then move forward toward the goal. It means that we must persevere, stick to the task at hand, and keep "trucking" on without procrastination, but completed the project.
Patience: I must admit, this is one point that Tom Franks must continually confront in my own life and continue to work on and fine tune. It is not easy to be patient in the work place. It's not easy to wait for the right things to happen or for justice/fairness to prevail. However, the waiting time can be most creative and resourceful. It is during these intervals that we create new ideas. We have a golden opportunity to restore our balance by reflecting upon our successes. We can be proactive and productive by using this creative waiting time to pause and take inventory of where we are and where we want to go. Patience does not mean that we stop or give up or give in to our doubts. Patience means allowing and watching the process unfold. Patience teaches us to listen to our intuition and insight for guidance. We re-evaluate, reconnoiter, take another look at the situation, and re-survey the circumstances. Patience also gives us time to renew ourselves, refuel our passion, and become re-energized with excitement. Patience is sometimes needed in our lives to force us to slow down, assess our position, change our strategy, and create new plans, new goals, and new dreams.
BOTTOMLINE: We are leaders! We choose to inspire others. Inspiration is the direct opposite of intimidation, manipulation, or domination. To motivate another human being is one of the greatest achievements of life. We choose to draw the very best out of other people and inspire them to maximize their true potential, talents, gifts, and abilities. Everyone has the capacity, potential, and raw material to become a great leader by the design of our Creator. It is my hope that we can bring our personal light into the workplace to illuminate the lives of others. By sharing our own process and inspiring others to create their own success, we become a powerful catalyst for transforming dreams into reality.
LEADERSHIP FOR THE 21ST CENTURY
LEADERSHIP FOR THE 21ST CENTURY
By Tommy Franks, Ph.D.
The same old "same ole" type leadership for the last century will not be productive for this century! Fear tactics, intimidation, domination, manipulation, threats, and Napoleon tyranny will simply NOT work anymore! Now, we come to the question…Are leaders born or made? Most experts cannot agree on the answer to this question; however, they do agree that leadership is a set of learnable experiences and that exceptional leaders are learners.
I believe that Leadership Development is a process of self-development. The very first element of leadership is to discover who we are and where we are going. If we don't KNOW where we are going, how can we expect anyone to follow?
We are all unique individuals! Most of us do not see ourselves as others see us. This is simply a human fact. All of us, especially me, have some blind spots that can sometimes hinder our ability as leaders. Leader Development requires continuous probing of our blind spots. For this, we need the help of others.
In today's world, we sometimes see both a leader's strengths and weaknesses, yet we find it difficult to tactfully or constructively bring this information to the leader's attention. We fear punitive backlash or fallout. If we acquiesce and say nothing, it's a lose/lose situation for everyone!In the past century, only the direct supervisor gave this kind of feedback, but in today's world, people are working across departmental, functional, and cultural boundaries. We have customers everywhere…both inside and outside the organization from every type of background.
We now work more closely with teams than with supervisors. The view from above is somewhat limited and certainly will be different from the views/perceptions of peers, teammates, customers, and subordinates. Yet these are the people who most often are affected by the leader's performance.An assessment in leadership competencies are (in fact) measurable!
The first question is: What is important to our organization? How do we treat others? What is our attitude toward the customer environment? What are our values for the organization? When we answer these questions, we will identify those categories of leadership behaviors which are important to our organization's success.
Some experts say that we can create group norms for the entire organization and then compare individual performances to the group norm. The only problem with this type of thinking is…The group must have high standards and values.Jim Whittaker (the first American to climb Mount Everest) said, "You never conquer the mountain. You only conquer yourself."Leaders are NOT just born. They are made through discipline, hard work, inter-personal skills, people skills, education, training, life experiences, and a high value system. Can they be developed? Yes! Do we want to develop leaders? Absolutely!
As we mentor others, they will grow in leadership skills, practices, and traits that will be more effective in our organization and will be ready to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow.Developing leadership in our Command is an investment with tremendous and significant returns. In these precarious times, skilled leaders will provide the customer advantage for successful organizations to reach their maximum potential and productivity. Training and mentoring leaders help to inspire the entire workforce to become more effective, efficient, competent, successful, energetic, and visionary for the challenging days ahead.
Success in the workplace/marketplace during this century depends on more than just meeting traditional goals and targets. Success in today's complex environment also demands a new kind of leadership, such as: creative problem solving, visionary strategies, strategic thinking, Encouraging and Inspiring Others, motivational management by participation, creating networks of relationships (within and outside the organization), Teamwork, and communicating effectively with a wide variety of people.Success indicators are increasingly becoming part of the leader's performance expectations. It is not enough to measure only what was done, but also how it was accomplished. However, this is more difficult to measure in traditional performance management systems because they are currently based on numerical objectives, targets, and results.
Many organizations in the future will add multi-rater feedback on critical competencies to their performance management systems. This will emphasize the importance of "how results" are achieved. This feedback will be from team members, customers, colleagues, and subordinates. This emphasis will encourage development of individuals to become better leaders with acceptable behaviors.
Today, let's look at two important concepts in sound leadership…efficiency and effectiveness. Leaders/managers must be able to focus on these two essentials. Busy leaders must manage their time and direct it to things that count for success in their organizations and in their personal lives.In short, leaders/managers should use efficient means to achieve effective results. They do things right, but also do the right things. We must be able to distinguish between the two. This is critical to organizing efforts.
Efficiency means doing things right. We use its tools to achieve effectiveness. It disciplines the pursuit of effectiveness, so that the price is not too high. Efficiency emphasizes form and process. It addresses how well we accomplished something, but not necessarily its substance; ie., clearly defined procedures, streamlined operations, timely and accurate information, and well-maintained equipment.Effectiveness means doing the right things. It stresses substance of the outcome: A worthy cause, challenging objectives that support the mission, our focus on priorities, quality products that customers want/accept.
Efficiency and effectiveness go hand-in-hand. Effectiveness is difficult to achieve without efficient ways of managing. Efficiency is irrelevant unless applied to worthwhile pursuits. Killing flies with a sledgehammer may be effective, but it’s not very efficient. Timely and accurate reports may indicate efficiency, but if unnecessary, they contribute nothing to effectiveness. Therefore, effectiveness is paramount! It's senseless to do things right if they're not the right things.
Those who pursue efficiency for its own sake betray their own lack of vision and perspective. They live in a world of narrow views and immature solutions… deficiencies that visionary leaders cannot tolerate.If efficiency becomes an end in itself, it can replace effectiveness as the ultimate goal. The two may become antagonistic rather than complementary. If they conflict, they can tear down the moral fabric of organizations. Lacking a focus on effectiveness, people may work hard, yet achieve little. They'll drift into the so-called activity trap. This occurs when an organization lacks a worthy mission or its leadership fails to clarify goals or demonstrate commitment to achieving them.
By Tommy Franks, Ph.D.
The same old "same ole" type leadership for the last century will not be productive for this century! Fear tactics, intimidation, domination, manipulation, threats, and Napoleon tyranny will simply NOT work anymore! Now, we come to the question…Are leaders born or made? Most experts cannot agree on the answer to this question; however, they do agree that leadership is a set of learnable experiences and that exceptional leaders are learners.
I believe that Leadership Development is a process of self-development. The very first element of leadership is to discover who we are and where we are going. If we don't KNOW where we are going, how can we expect anyone to follow?
We are all unique individuals! Most of us do not see ourselves as others see us. This is simply a human fact. All of us, especially me, have some blind spots that can sometimes hinder our ability as leaders. Leader Development requires continuous probing of our blind spots. For this, we need the help of others.
In today's world, we sometimes see both a leader's strengths and weaknesses, yet we find it difficult to tactfully or constructively bring this information to the leader's attention. We fear punitive backlash or fallout. If we acquiesce and say nothing, it's a lose/lose situation for everyone!In the past century, only the direct supervisor gave this kind of feedback, but in today's world, people are working across departmental, functional, and cultural boundaries. We have customers everywhere…both inside and outside the organization from every type of background.
We now work more closely with teams than with supervisors. The view from above is somewhat limited and certainly will be different from the views/perceptions of peers, teammates, customers, and subordinates. Yet these are the people who most often are affected by the leader's performance.An assessment in leadership competencies are (in fact) measurable!
The first question is: What is important to our organization? How do we treat others? What is our attitude toward the customer environment? What are our values for the organization? When we answer these questions, we will identify those categories of leadership behaviors which are important to our organization's success.
Some experts say that we can create group norms for the entire organization and then compare individual performances to the group norm. The only problem with this type of thinking is…The group must have high standards and values.Jim Whittaker (the first American to climb Mount Everest) said, "You never conquer the mountain. You only conquer yourself."Leaders are NOT just born. They are made through discipline, hard work, inter-personal skills, people skills, education, training, life experiences, and a high value system. Can they be developed? Yes! Do we want to develop leaders? Absolutely!
As we mentor others, they will grow in leadership skills, practices, and traits that will be more effective in our organization and will be ready to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow.Developing leadership in our Command is an investment with tremendous and significant returns. In these precarious times, skilled leaders will provide the customer advantage for successful organizations to reach their maximum potential and productivity. Training and mentoring leaders help to inspire the entire workforce to become more effective, efficient, competent, successful, energetic, and visionary for the challenging days ahead.
Success in the workplace/marketplace during this century depends on more than just meeting traditional goals and targets. Success in today's complex environment also demands a new kind of leadership, such as: creative problem solving, visionary strategies, strategic thinking, Encouraging and Inspiring Others, motivational management by participation, creating networks of relationships (within and outside the organization), Teamwork, and communicating effectively with a wide variety of people.Success indicators are increasingly becoming part of the leader's performance expectations. It is not enough to measure only what was done, but also how it was accomplished. However, this is more difficult to measure in traditional performance management systems because they are currently based on numerical objectives, targets, and results.
Many organizations in the future will add multi-rater feedback on critical competencies to their performance management systems. This will emphasize the importance of "how results" are achieved. This feedback will be from team members, customers, colleagues, and subordinates. This emphasis will encourage development of individuals to become better leaders with acceptable behaviors.
Today, let's look at two important concepts in sound leadership…efficiency and effectiveness. Leaders/managers must be able to focus on these two essentials. Busy leaders must manage their time and direct it to things that count for success in their organizations and in their personal lives.In short, leaders/managers should use efficient means to achieve effective results. They do things right, but also do the right things. We must be able to distinguish between the two. This is critical to organizing efforts.
Efficiency means doing things right. We use its tools to achieve effectiveness. It disciplines the pursuit of effectiveness, so that the price is not too high. Efficiency emphasizes form and process. It addresses how well we accomplished something, but not necessarily its substance; ie., clearly defined procedures, streamlined operations, timely and accurate information, and well-maintained equipment.Effectiveness means doing the right things. It stresses substance of the outcome: A worthy cause, challenging objectives that support the mission, our focus on priorities, quality products that customers want/accept.
Efficiency and effectiveness go hand-in-hand. Effectiveness is difficult to achieve without efficient ways of managing. Efficiency is irrelevant unless applied to worthwhile pursuits. Killing flies with a sledgehammer may be effective, but it’s not very efficient. Timely and accurate reports may indicate efficiency, but if unnecessary, they contribute nothing to effectiveness. Therefore, effectiveness is paramount! It's senseless to do things right if they're not the right things.
Those who pursue efficiency for its own sake betray their own lack of vision and perspective. They live in a world of narrow views and immature solutions… deficiencies that visionary leaders cannot tolerate.If efficiency becomes an end in itself, it can replace effectiveness as the ultimate goal. The two may become antagonistic rather than complementary. If they conflict, they can tear down the moral fabric of organizations. Lacking a focus on effectiveness, people may work hard, yet achieve little. They'll drift into the so-called activity trap. This occurs when an organization lacks a worthy mission or its leadership fails to clarify goals or demonstrate commitment to achieving them.
“Excellence"
“Excellence"
By Tommy Franks
Excellence is caring more…than others care. It is doing more than others do. It is producing quality more…than the average. It is taking a risk that may NOT be safe or wise to the ordinary person or to the mediocre. It is continuing to dream and placing goals along the way that may seem impractical to others, but will assure you of victory and a win/win situation. Excellence is expecting more out of life than many ever dream possible.
Finally, it is getting off of our seats and making it happen. Excellence is the opposite of: Average, Mediocre, Ordinary, Normal, Standard, Par, Commonplace, Run-of-the-Mill, Inferior, Second Place, second-class, nondescript, Forgettable, Not bad, middle-of-the-road, fair-to-middling, Regular, Unimpressive, Moderate, and Unimportant. Service and excellence go to together like a horse and carriage!
Service is the lifeblood of any organization. Everything should flow from it and be nourished by it. Customer service is not a department...it's an attitude. When we find true service today, it is a rarity and so infrequent. Sometimes, we as the customer are treated in such a manner that we sometimes feel as if we have just inconvenienced the clerk, cashier, proprietor, owner, salesman, or rude individual. This is why that 85% of all new businesses fail! However, on rare occasions, I do receive prompt and professional service. When this happens, it startles me. Therefore, I say things like…'Thank you. This is wonderful. You have made my day.' And if it is a waiter/waitress, I show it by separating myself from some of my greenbacks!"
The following "roots of character" were written by an anonymous Native American: "Those who preserve their integrity remain unshaken by the storms of daily life. They do not stir like leaves on a tree or follow the herd where it runs. In their mind remains the ideal attitude and conduct of living, this is not something given to them by others. It is their roots ... it is a strength that exists deep within them."
"If you're not riding the wave of change... you'll find yourself beneath it." "If you chase two rabbits, both will escape."
We MUST have the Courage to Succeed. WHO SAID THE FOLLOWING? "The sea is dangerous and its storms terrible, but these obstacles have never been sufficient reason to remain ashore...unlike the mediocre, intrepid spirits who seek victory over those things that seem impossible...it is with an 'iron will' that they embark on the most daring of all endeavors...to meet the shadowy future without fear and then conquer the unknown."
WHO SAID IT AND WHEN? Give up? Time: 1520 AD. Place: A thousand miles Off Shore. Who: Ferdinand Magellan (Explorer).
By Tommy Franks
Excellence is caring more…than others care. It is doing more than others do. It is producing quality more…than the average. It is taking a risk that may NOT be safe or wise to the ordinary person or to the mediocre. It is continuing to dream and placing goals along the way that may seem impractical to others, but will assure you of victory and a win/win situation. Excellence is expecting more out of life than many ever dream possible.
Finally, it is getting off of our seats and making it happen. Excellence is the opposite of: Average, Mediocre, Ordinary, Normal, Standard, Par, Commonplace, Run-of-the-Mill, Inferior, Second Place, second-class, nondescript, Forgettable, Not bad, middle-of-the-road, fair-to-middling, Regular, Unimpressive, Moderate, and Unimportant. Service and excellence go to together like a horse and carriage!
Service is the lifeblood of any organization. Everything should flow from it and be nourished by it. Customer service is not a department...it's an attitude. When we find true service today, it is a rarity and so infrequent. Sometimes, we as the customer are treated in such a manner that we sometimes feel as if we have just inconvenienced the clerk, cashier, proprietor, owner, salesman, or rude individual. This is why that 85% of all new businesses fail! However, on rare occasions, I do receive prompt and professional service. When this happens, it startles me. Therefore, I say things like…'Thank you. This is wonderful. You have made my day.' And if it is a waiter/waitress, I show it by separating myself from some of my greenbacks!"
The following "roots of character" were written by an anonymous Native American: "Those who preserve their integrity remain unshaken by the storms of daily life. They do not stir like leaves on a tree or follow the herd where it runs. In their mind remains the ideal attitude and conduct of living, this is not something given to them by others. It is their roots ... it is a strength that exists deep within them."
"If you're not riding the wave of change... you'll find yourself beneath it." "If you chase two rabbits, both will escape."
We MUST have the Courage to Succeed. WHO SAID THE FOLLOWING? "The sea is dangerous and its storms terrible, but these obstacles have never been sufficient reason to remain ashore...unlike the mediocre, intrepid spirits who seek victory over those things that seem impossible...it is with an 'iron will' that they embark on the most daring of all endeavors...to meet the shadowy future without fear and then conquer the unknown."
WHO SAID IT AND WHEN? Give up? Time: 1520 AD. Place: A thousand miles Off Shore. Who: Ferdinand Magellan (Explorer).
Sunday, March 25, 2007
You are the same person today that you were ten years except...
You are the same person today that you were ten years except...
By Tommy Franks
You are the same person today that you were ten years ago with the exception of two things…the books that you have read and the people that you have met. Hopefully, one of those books is the Bible and one of the people…Jesus Christ.
The reality is…Some people have not read a new book in 25 years…Others perhaps in 10 years. This is a tragedy. These same people will watch TV for 4 or 5 hours a day without batting an eye, but when it comes to reading a good book (spiritual, motivational, or even a good novel), the majority of people just do not like to read books. These same people will buy a newspaper and read it from front to back…even the comics and attached magazines. But please don’t ask them to read a book. Books are an excellent source of growth for our lives. Unless you read good wholesome books from time to time, your life will not change much at all.
If you do not like to read, at least listen to some good books on tape. You can get hundreds of good books on tape at any reputable library in the country. Invest the time in yourself to do this.
I said earlier, you are the same person today that you were ten years ago with the exception of two things…the books that you have read and the people that you have met. So, what about people that you have met in the past ten years? Have they influenced your life? Yes. For good or bad? You will have to answer that question.
We all need to meet people who can mentor us or teach us greater things than we now know. This is how we grow.
Hopefully, one of the books that you have read is the Bible. And one of the people that you have met is Jesus Christ. Books are good; however, the greatest stories that have ever been told are found in the Bible. Some of the greatest characters that have ever lived are found in the Bible…including Jesus Christ.
Finally, let me end this article with this:
Ten years from now, you will be same person that you are today with the exception of two things…the books that you have read and the people that have met. Period!
No exceptions!
By Tommy Franks
You are the same person today that you were ten years ago with the exception of two things…the books that you have read and the people that you have met. Hopefully, one of those books is the Bible and one of the people…Jesus Christ.
The reality is…Some people have not read a new book in 25 years…Others perhaps in 10 years. This is a tragedy. These same people will watch TV for 4 or 5 hours a day without batting an eye, but when it comes to reading a good book (spiritual, motivational, or even a good novel), the majority of people just do not like to read books. These same people will buy a newspaper and read it from front to back…even the comics and attached magazines. But please don’t ask them to read a book. Books are an excellent source of growth for our lives. Unless you read good wholesome books from time to time, your life will not change much at all.
If you do not like to read, at least listen to some good books on tape. You can get hundreds of good books on tape at any reputable library in the country. Invest the time in yourself to do this.
I said earlier, you are the same person today that you were ten years ago with the exception of two things…the books that you have read and the people that you have met. So, what about people that you have met in the past ten years? Have they influenced your life? Yes. For good or bad? You will have to answer that question.
We all need to meet people who can mentor us or teach us greater things than we now know. This is how we grow.
Hopefully, one of the books that you have read is the Bible. And one of the people that you have met is Jesus Christ. Books are good; however, the greatest stories that have ever been told are found in the Bible. Some of the greatest characters that have ever lived are found in the Bible…including Jesus Christ.
Finally, let me end this article with this:
Ten years from now, you will be same person that you are today with the exception of two things…the books that you have read and the people that have met. Period!
No exceptions!
Jesus Is What The World Needs!
Jesus Is What The World Needs!
By Tommy
The whole world needs Jesus Christ. Jesus is all we need…We abide in Him. We have His power, His wisdom, His strength. Whatever we desire, need, or want is found in Jesus Christ. We have no lack in Him.
Jesus told His disciples, "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing" (Jn. 15:5).
If we become separated from the Vine (Christ), we have no power to affect the world around us. However, when we are connected to the Vine (our True Source), we are able to do all things through Him!
Our source of power is not found in ourselves, except through Jesus Christ. We can do nothing within ourselves without Him. Jesus said, "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you" (Jn. 15:7).
If we abide in Him and His words abide in us, whatever we ask will be done! When we first come to know Jesus, we know Him through the experiences of others and through the Word of God. As we receive Him and get to know Him, we begin to act like Him. We “call into being those things that do not yet exist" (Rom 4:17).
When we are abiding in Him, we speak the Word and the enemy flees. We use His Words and the enemy fears and runs away. We are connected with the most influential Person in the world…Christ. As we abide in Him, we have all the power we will ever need. As we speak His Words, our words become supernatural. Miracles happen!
We have all faced problems and difficulties. Sometimes, we did not know which way to turn. In Jesus, we find the answer…to every problem. He is our Source … our Wisdom…our great Mentor. He has the answer. He is omniscient …knows all…sees all. As we abide in Him, we unlock all the mysteries and secrets of humankind. Why? Because He is all Wisdom. Through Him, we access all the wisdom of the ages. Our wisdom is only limited by our level of intimacy with Him. This is Good News!
As we pray, we pray…we pray with the wisdom of Christ. His wisdom cannot be bought with money. It can only be obtained by eternally abiding in Him. When we try to obtain wisdom through our own minds, means, methods, mechanics, and man-made messages, we get convoluted information in which most of it is worthless. What we need is His Wisdom. Do you get my drift?
As we abide in Christ, He leads us by His Holy Spirit. Jesus is all and we are all one with Him as we abide totally in Him. We have access to all the Wisdom of the universe and solar systems…past…present…and future as we abide in Him.
David said, "The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall never be in want, because in Him I have all I need. My Loving Shepherd knows my needs and provides for me before I even know I am in lack. He leads me to places of blessing where I can rest. He restores my soul with His peace and comfort and makes me righteous so that I may become one with Him. I shall have no fear…because even in the face of death, He prepares a feast of blessing for me to enjoy as my enemies look on in defeat. He gives me all I need and fills me with His power. His goodness and loving kindness are with me as I walk and live in Him. I will never ever leave Him, because He holds me close and keeps me walking with Himself. I will abide with Him forever” (Ps.23).
Though satan rages, we can still experience God's protection and love. We are made fearless. His perfect love for me casts out fear (1 John 4:18). In the midst of the storm, you can experience great peace.
"Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the Vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me" (Jn.15:4).
Our authority does not lie in ourselves except through Jesus Christ living on the inside of us. You are filled with greatness because of Him. You are worthy because of Him. It is all about God and His Family. We are a member of His Family. We have great victory and lasting peace as we abide in Him. It is only in God and through Him that we are victorious. Apart from Him we can do nothing!
By Tommy
The whole world needs Jesus Christ. Jesus is all we need…We abide in Him. We have His power, His wisdom, His strength. Whatever we desire, need, or want is found in Jesus Christ. We have no lack in Him.
Jesus told His disciples, "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing" (Jn. 15:5).
If we become separated from the Vine (Christ), we have no power to affect the world around us. However, when we are connected to the Vine (our True Source), we are able to do all things through Him!
Our source of power is not found in ourselves, except through Jesus Christ. We can do nothing within ourselves without Him. Jesus said, "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you" (Jn. 15:7).
If we abide in Him and His words abide in us, whatever we ask will be done! When we first come to know Jesus, we know Him through the experiences of others and through the Word of God. As we receive Him and get to know Him, we begin to act like Him. We “call into being those things that do not yet exist" (Rom 4:17).
When we are abiding in Him, we speak the Word and the enemy flees. We use His Words and the enemy fears and runs away. We are connected with the most influential Person in the world…Christ. As we abide in Him, we have all the power we will ever need. As we speak His Words, our words become supernatural. Miracles happen!
We have all faced problems and difficulties. Sometimes, we did not know which way to turn. In Jesus, we find the answer…to every problem. He is our Source … our Wisdom…our great Mentor. He has the answer. He is omniscient …knows all…sees all. As we abide in Him, we unlock all the mysteries and secrets of humankind. Why? Because He is all Wisdom. Through Him, we access all the wisdom of the ages. Our wisdom is only limited by our level of intimacy with Him. This is Good News!
As we pray, we pray…we pray with the wisdom of Christ. His wisdom cannot be bought with money. It can only be obtained by eternally abiding in Him. When we try to obtain wisdom through our own minds, means, methods, mechanics, and man-made messages, we get convoluted information in which most of it is worthless. What we need is His Wisdom. Do you get my drift?
As we abide in Christ, He leads us by His Holy Spirit. Jesus is all and we are all one with Him as we abide totally in Him. We have access to all the Wisdom of the universe and solar systems…past…present…and future as we abide in Him.
David said, "The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall never be in want, because in Him I have all I need. My Loving Shepherd knows my needs and provides for me before I even know I am in lack. He leads me to places of blessing where I can rest. He restores my soul with His peace and comfort and makes me righteous so that I may become one with Him. I shall have no fear…because even in the face of death, He prepares a feast of blessing for me to enjoy as my enemies look on in defeat. He gives me all I need and fills me with His power. His goodness and loving kindness are with me as I walk and live in Him. I will never ever leave Him, because He holds me close and keeps me walking with Himself. I will abide with Him forever” (Ps.23).
Though satan rages, we can still experience God's protection and love. We are made fearless. His perfect love for me casts out fear (1 John 4:18). In the midst of the storm, you can experience great peace.
"Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the Vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me" (Jn.15:4).
Our authority does not lie in ourselves except through Jesus Christ living on the inside of us. You are filled with greatness because of Him. You are worthy because of Him. It is all about God and His Family. We are a member of His Family. We have great victory and lasting peace as we abide in Him. It is only in God and through Him that we are victorious. Apart from Him we can do nothing!
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