Guiding Principles
Hello Leaders,
I want to thank each of you for the insights you shared last week I particularly want to thank Deacon Yolanda for pointing us to Jesus and His poignant example of the weight of ministry. May we all be just as set on doing the Father’s will as Jesus was and may we all get back up each time we fall.
Rev. Glass said something that was a needed reminder. She said (I am paraphrasing) it is best to decide on our guiding principles/priorities before hand. By extension, if my guiding principal is obedience, then when I am caught between showing up for ministry (obedience) and doing what my flesh is demanding, the decision is made for me by my guiding principle (obedience). I can testify that this is a faithful truth.
Considering that thought, what adjustment in your guiding principles can you make to help make difficult decisions easier? Please be specific.
The thing that has made difficult decisions easier to make is to think about where my priorities are. Your priorities say a lot about you and past what you say, your actions will always indicate where your priorities are. I was recently confronted with a situation where I had to look at where my priorities are. I had to do a very big self evaluation, because a decision to follow what the Lord said and be obedient did not come as easily as I wanted it to. When God is your first priority, whatever situation you come in contact with, regardless of how hard it is, will be easier to resolve because you will know that you’ve done what God says.
I remembered having a conversation with an Elder who was struggling with his call to start a church in North Carolina. I told him “if God told you to go be obedient and go”. I told him if he takes care of God’s business God will take care of him and his family. He went and stayed focused being about his Father’s business. The man is an Apostle and has built 4 or more churches. He has sons and daughters in the ministry. When I left LFCC and joined Ann and my grandchildren I just knew I was in the will of God. I was sitting during a church service and God spoke to me “get up and go back to LFCC”. I remembered that Elder I talked to and remembered his obedience to God. I humbled myself being obedient to God and came back to LFCC. I volunteered for 10 years as a Chaplain and sometimes it was difficult but I stayed faithful. I kept my priorities in place and stayed obedient tending to my Father’s business ministering to the sick. I know that I know it is attributed to my obedience volunteering for 10 years and humbling myself coming back to LFCC that I am an Associate Chaplain at Sentara.
Hello Leaders,
As we go through our daily lives each day we are buffeted with having to make adjustments to our guiding principle. As I tend to have to make some adjustments throughout each day I find that my guiding principle can vary from responsibility to obedience to stewardship and so on. When difficult decisions arise for example, I consider what aspect of my character will be challenged. In one instance I had a long time friend who was employed with me at the same organization and I had to do a disciplinary conference on this person. As their friend I did not want to have any parts of doing a conference on them however I found that being the supervisor, I had the responsibility to do so. I wrestled with it for three days trying to garner an excuse for I didn’t need to conduct the conference.
Inevitably, I realized that I was blessed with the authority of my position. I will not be an effective leader if I cower in the face of adversity. This incident set the stage for much greater adversities to come. Each time I face one , I would pray for wisdom and strength. And the Lord would answer.
Leaders,
A guiding principle, being obedient to God. I make every effort to put God, family, and church first. I do testify that sometimes my flesh want to rise and not attend Bible study, Jeremiah hour, and/or other expected but required services – I should be intentionally committed to my acceptance of my calling. Nevertheless, sometimes, my flesh is battling with my spirit man – saying you have an excuse. The wrestling excuses of my mind – I have worked all day, I have served the community for God, I need to finish my research and write my dissertation, you are tired, my body is in pain, I am allowed to miss one service, I just want to be alone, etc. – then my spirit man, says ‘Man Up!’ – put your flesh under subjection. Press your way through for God, God has something for you. God has my reward. My reward/my blessing come through my obedience. And it never fails, in my press I receive a blessing. The blessing can come in the form of my deliverance, a family member, or associate. Just recently, I was extremely tired after a long shift of being at work most of the evening and throughout the night; and to provide more context I had worked back to back – 12 plus hour shifts after working the entire week, and then this particular morning when I was suppose to get off, my relief was late due to family circumstances and now I am getting off at 8:00am. I need to be at church by 9:00am; what is the opposition, what should I do? I could go home and go to sleep, but know I need to be in position, there is no excuse or rhyme or reason for me to miss and be out of position for morning worship service. I know by me being in position and/or out of position effects the body. It simply saying my guiding principle.
Because of His Grace,
Richard
I know for me that the biggest priorities for me are God, my family, and church. They are in that order and that helps me to make decisions on where I will spend my time and energy. It was interesting growing up in a church plant. My parents were seemingly always on call for members and their issues. As a child, I sometimes felt that my parents were more involved in the church than with home (That was NEVER the case, my parents did the best they could to keep their priorities straight and ensure that Tore and I felt loved and appreciated.) My favorite case of my parents making their priorities apparent was Family Night on Fridays. They, still to this day, do not take phone calls and stress to leadership that Friday nights are for family, if it can wait, wait. It is an example I plan to use for my family as well. Clay and I are heavily involved in the church and I never want my kids to feel like church comes before family. It does not. My priorities helped me to make a decision just the other day. On Wednesday, Marleigh had a fever all day. She was not well and needed to be home. While I wrestled for a short time with my decision, I chose to stay home. If my family is more important than church activities then I would not take her to bible study and allow Marleigh to rest at home.
I think that there are other principles that I can add to my guiding principles that would help me to make better use of my time. I am a TV lover! I know I watch waayy too much TV and most of the time TV is the reason why I get little does during my day. I think my habits show that guiding principles, or priorities, need some tweaking. It is hard to change those things when you are enjoying what you are doing. I find it difficult at some times to turn off the TV. It’s always, “one more show,” or, “after the next commercial.” By the time I turn around my day is almost over and I have put everything I said I would do today. I have tried to get up earlier to have more time before TV gets good (I am trying y’all) but that doesn’t last. One day Marleigh is on the perfect schedule and the next she is not (she tends to be my excuse nowadays). I am working on being better, but an adjustment to my guiding principles, or priorities, would help. I just have to do it…easier said than done…
Everyday I have to decide to place God, family and church as my number priority. Although at times I give into my flesh and make decisions that are contrary to that. They’re times when I don’t want to go or show up but I press my way through and I find that when I do I’m truly blessed. I’m also reminded that I said yes the God and that pushes me to stay committed and obedient to His calling on my life.
As I read the Book of Ruth, this epistle speaks volume to my life. I believed that God already had a direction for my life But Life Happened! The clear vision shows me that God already knew this would happen.
In the last couple of years, life has been HARD! Why it’s because of me half serving! I took my eyes off the work of the Ministry to be a better employee and get recognized (truth be told) or the spouse that does so much for her sick husband. I was Angry, disappointed, stressed, and nit happy to this life! Why do I care what the World thinks of me..could it be because I am a People Pleaser?
Fast Forward to Today, just like Ruth ,serving God with my whole heart, daily studing His Word and not seeking glory from man, promotion comes from The Lord! Whenever I didn’t feel like coming to church The Lord moved right at that moment.
Philippians 3:13-14 ESV
Brothers I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead. I press on toward the goals for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
God Called me to Due Season.. I WILL Serve You Lord!
In His Service
Deacon Yolanda
Considering that thought, what adjustment in your guiding principles can you make to help make difficult decisions easier? Please be specific.
Everyday as i am awaken by a new day, i am reminded of how grateful i should be that God saw me worthy to bless me a new day. Before i get out of bed, i would say, “thank you” Lord. This scripture would rise up within me, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:33 NIV.
I have to purpose to keep that scripture on the forefront of my mind. Everyday i know how my schedule is going to be. Monday, i work at the church. Tuesday – Friday, i am at the day center from 10-4pm. 1st Tuesday, Couples Ministry. Wednesday, corporate Bible study. 3rd Tuesday, Men’s Bible study, i have to cook for my husband to take to the church. 4th Tuesday, Women’s Bible study. Saturday, Jeremiah Hour when i am scheduled. And other ministry happening in the church.
I shared this to say that the Pastors have these ministries on scheduled, the same days and time every month and every year. I must purpose to change my schedule to ensure it does not conflict the church schedules. What i do with the organization must work around the schedule set at the church. It’s Matthew 6:33 that reminds me that God comes first.
Even though i know the schedules, i am still challenged. There are certain times, i do not want to attend the church ministries. My flesh would say, well some leaders do not attend some of the scheduled ministry, why do i have show up? This is my flesh speaking. There are times, i would talk myself to not going. Then i am convicted, pressed my way to get there. I am reminded that it’s not about them not coming, it’s about my obedience to God and to the Pastors.
My family knows my schedule. They know they are my priority as well. I have to ensure dinner is provided and other things needed for the house. They know i will make time for them.
My obedience is on the line for my blessings. So i have to prioritize the way God would want me to prioritize it. I praise God for the Holy Spirit that would guide and instruct me to the path of righteousness. It’s not easy, daily i have to abide in Him as He abide in me to help me obey.
I may not make to every ministry events, and it’s those events, i need help in. It’s in those ministry events that God is speaking to me on my pride, my disobedience, my failure to abide, failure to fulfill, failure to commit, and failure to be apart. It’s in those ministry events, i feel the disconnect.
I desire so much to have all the blessings God has for me. My healing, my deliverance, and my freedom. The blessings for my children, my siblings and mom to be saved, my nieces and nephews to be saved, and the organization to prosper. So, i must renew my mind daily to the mind of Christ, to obey even the more so. I must put my flesh under subjection to obey God. I must truly purpose to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, all will be added to me. Pray my strength in obedience.
I do not seek to adjust my guiding principles but I allow them to guide me, lead me and provide me with structure that God says I shall do. Having those guiding principles that are established by God for me such as love, humility, obedience, prayer, hearing the word, persevering and having a repentative heart is necessary and mandatory for my everyday journey. Having these as my core principles can help push away those things of the world that try to rule and capture my heart. For example when it comes to having a loving spirit toward those who mock you, don’t show love back, take advantage of you or just simple are mean spirited. God’s guiding principles makes me love them anyway, in spite of their antics and foolishness.