Just before Jesus commanded Lazarus to rise, he thanked God for always hearing him. In one of his final prayers, he thanked God for giving him Peter, John, James, Mary, Martha and the rest of his staff. Jesus had a thankful heart.
Gratitude is a key element of leadership because gratitude means an open heart, a listening heart, a fairth-filled heart. How could anyone be a leader without faith and gratitude in a Higher Power or have a better future built on better ways?
One of the most breathtaking sights in San Diego is sunset on the beach. As the sun sinks slowly into the horizon, hundreds of seagulls stand and turn quietly to bid farewell. Pelicans fly by in perfect formation, skimming just the top of the waves in their sunset salute. On the bridge across from the beach, thousands of birds line up on the electrical wires, all sitting and facing the sun, saying good-bye to the day. Perhaps they are also silently praying "Thank you, God for knowing and caring when even one of us falls. Thank you, God, for declaring that even the sparrows shall be fed."
Jesus said, "Thank you."
QUESTIONS
Do you say thank you before you ask for something from God, from your boss, from your staff?
Do you realize that having a grateful heart my keep you from needing a transplanted one?
Jesus, CEO Lauri Beth Jones
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Monday, August 1, 2011
He Believed in Himself
Jesus was one of the most confident beings who ever lived. He envisioned himself as a vital opening for the people. He called himself The Gate....The Door. He believed his role was also to nurture others. He called himself The Vine...The Shepherd. He said he came to light the way. In other words, he believed in himself down to his very toes.
Belief in oneself is a crucial quality of leadership, because "a house divided against itself cannot stand." A leaders who fluctuates back and forth sends a very wavery signal. Like a soprano who can shatter glass by finding that high note and holding it, a leader who can hold that high note, without wavering, can shatter walls. Jesus had no ambivalence about who he was or what he was supposed to do.
I once attended a seminar where the leader asked, "How many of you believe in yourself 100 percent?" Two people raised their hands. As the leader went down the percentage scale, more and more people raised their hands. The majority of the people in the room believed in themselves 75 percent of the time. The leader then asked, "Why are you afraid to go that extra 25 percent" What do you think would happen?"
The group leaders asked, "Do you realize that power is assumed, not granted?" I questioned this at first, but then I thought about the times when someone in a group setting took it over, whether he or she had the authority to do so or not. How do people get tapped for leadership positions even when they are not looking for them? Probably because they emanate self-confidence. They have power over themselves, and people pick up on that energy.
Perhaps we think 100 percent belief equals arrogance. Arrogance, however, is lack of self confidence, not self belief. Jesus was never arrogant or cocky to anyone. Event when he was bound and thrown before the Sanhedrin for trial, he was not arrogant. Neither did he deny his own power.
My father, an action oriented person, was never known for his love of poetry. However, I'll never forget the day he sat down with me to plan my college career. He said, "Lauri, I learned only one poem in school that stuck with me. Here it is: 'I bargained with life for a penny, only to learn, dismayed, that any wage I would have asked of life, life would have paid.'" He looked me straight in the eye and said, "Go for what you want. You can do anything you set your mind to."
What do you think the world would be like if people believed in themselves 100 percent? How much damage is done in this country and in the world every day because of humanity's low self esteem?
Home many times have people said:
The list goes on and on. If only we believed in ourselves, the world would be a better place.
Jesus said he came from heaven and he was going back to heaven. He came to teach us what heaven was like and how to bring it about on earth and, more important, in ourselves.
Jesus believed in himself 100 percent.
QUESTIONS
How much do you believe in yourself?
What would it take for you to believe in yourself down to your very toes?
Reprint from Laurie Beth Jones in Jesus, CEO
Belief in oneself is a crucial quality of leadership, because "a house divided against itself cannot stand." A leaders who fluctuates back and forth sends a very wavery signal. Like a soprano who can shatter glass by finding that high note and holding it, a leader who can hold that high note, without wavering, can shatter walls. Jesus had no ambivalence about who he was or what he was supposed to do.
I once attended a seminar where the leader asked, "How many of you believe in yourself 100 percent?" Two people raised their hands. As the leader went down the percentage scale, more and more people raised their hands. The majority of the people in the room believed in themselves 75 percent of the time. The leader then asked, "Why are you afraid to go that extra 25 percent" What do you think would happen?"
The group leaders asked, "Do you realize that power is assumed, not granted?" I questioned this at first, but then I thought about the times when someone in a group setting took it over, whether he or she had the authority to do so or not. How do people get tapped for leadership positions even when they are not looking for them? Probably because they emanate self-confidence. They have power over themselves, and people pick up on that energy.
Perhaps we think 100 percent belief equals arrogance. Arrogance, however, is lack of self confidence, not self belief. Jesus was never arrogant or cocky to anyone. Event when he was bound and thrown before the Sanhedrin for trial, he was not arrogant. Neither did he deny his own power.
My father, an action oriented person, was never known for his love of poetry. However, I'll never forget the day he sat down with me to plan my college career. He said, "Lauri, I learned only one poem in school that stuck with me. Here it is: 'I bargained with life for a penny, only to learn, dismayed, that any wage I would have asked of life, life would have paid.'" He looked me straight in the eye and said, "Go for what you want. You can do anything you set your mind to."
What do you think the world would be like if people believed in themselves 100 percent? How much damage is done in this country and in the world every day because of humanity's low self esteem?
Home many times have people said:
- "I don't think I have any real power, so I'm going to get a gun and show that guy who's really boss."
- "I can't really change my life, so I'd better escape it. Give me drugs."
- "I'll never amount to much, so I might as well drown my sorrows. Make it a double."
- "I'm afraid that you'll take my power aways, so here's a fist, a knife or karate chop."
The list goes on and on. If only we believed in ourselves, the world would be a better place.
Jesus said he came from heaven and he was going back to heaven. He came to teach us what heaven was like and how to bring it about on earth and, more important, in ourselves.
Jesus believed in himself 100 percent.
QUESTIONS
How much do you believe in yourself?
What would it take for you to believe in yourself down to your very toes?
Reprint from Laurie Beth Jones in Jesus, CEO
Saturday, July 23, 2011
He Did Not Kick the Donkey
The Old Testament tells a story about the prophet Balaam. He was on a misguided mission to curse someone when his donkey suddenly stopped on the road. No matter how hard the prophet kicked her, she would not budge. Without the donkey, Balaam could not carry out his deed. He proceeded to beat the donkey severely, apparently practicing the management style of ruling through fear and intimidation. Finally, the donkey cried out, "Why are you beating me? Haven't I served you faithfully all these years?" An angel spoke to Balaam and said, "You fool, quit beating her. Even she could see I was standing here. Your donkey just saved your life, for if you had carried out this mission you would have been killed. In fact, I would have killed you and let the donkey live." The angel then left, and I can just imagine Balaam kissing the donkey all the way back to the stable.
There is a fine line between knowing when opposition is God trying to show you another way or when it is just a test of courage. If the passively opposing forces cause you to use violence to get them to move, you probably are not on God's path. If you do everything you possibly can to get something to happen, and it doesn't, then an angel must be on the road somewhere, so don't beat the donkey. Take a little time out, smell the flowers, and re-think your route... and your mission.
When the Roman guards came to arrest Jesus, Peter sprang to his defense and prepared to engage in massive violence. He actually did cut off one of the guard's ear. Here was a chance for Jesus to escape, but he knew that the Roman guard was part of the plan. He did not kick the Roman "donkey." He knew it was time.
Bernie Siegel, M.S., shocks his cancer patients when he asks them, "Why did you need this illness?" He claims our bodies break down to give us a message...and many times it is a message we have been ignoring. According to Dr. Siegal, while nobody wants to be ill, many patients say that cancer was the best thing that ever happened to them. They learned to appreciate life and to express their feeling to their loved ones. They were able to pick up the paintbrush they previously had been too busy to hold. Even illness can be a blessing.
Flat tires that keep us from catching a plane...missed appointments that cause a project's delay...bankers who tell us no...all of these can be donkeys that are keeping us from endangering ourselves in ways we cannot see.
Many times when you feel farthest from the truth, you are very close to it. And when you think are on top of the world, you could be sitting in a vary dangerous place.
When the donkey you are riding suddenly refused to move, don't kick it. Get off and look for the angel standing in the road. That donkey might be saving your life! (They weren't given big ears for nothing).
Jesus did not kick the donkey.
QUESTION
Which circumstances in your life remind you most of the balking donkey?
When has a "balking donkey" actually protected you?
Reprint from Lauri Beth Jones
There is a fine line between knowing when opposition is God trying to show you another way or when it is just a test of courage. If the passively opposing forces cause you to use violence to get them to move, you probably are not on God's path. If you do everything you possibly can to get something to happen, and it doesn't, then an angel must be on the road somewhere, so don't beat the donkey. Take a little time out, smell the flowers, and re-think your route... and your mission.
When the Roman guards came to arrest Jesus, Peter sprang to his defense and prepared to engage in massive violence. He actually did cut off one of the guard's ear. Here was a chance for Jesus to escape, but he knew that the Roman guard was part of the plan. He did not kick the Roman "donkey." He knew it was time.
Bernie Siegel, M.S., shocks his cancer patients when he asks them, "Why did you need this illness?" He claims our bodies break down to give us a message...and many times it is a message we have been ignoring. According to Dr. Siegal, while nobody wants to be ill, many patients say that cancer was the best thing that ever happened to them. They learned to appreciate life and to express their feeling to their loved ones. They were able to pick up the paintbrush they previously had been too busy to hold. Even illness can be a blessing.
Flat tires that keep us from catching a plane...missed appointments that cause a project's delay...bankers who tell us no...all of these can be donkeys that are keeping us from endangering ourselves in ways we cannot see.
Many times when you feel farthest from the truth, you are very close to it. And when you think are on top of the world, you could be sitting in a vary dangerous place.
When the donkey you are riding suddenly refused to move, don't kick it. Get off and look for the angel standing in the road. That donkey might be saving your life! (They weren't given big ears for nothing).
Jesus did not kick the donkey.
QUESTION
Which circumstances in your life remind you most of the balking donkey?
When has a "balking donkey" actually protected you?
Reprint from Lauri Beth Jones
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