The Way

We loved you so much that we shared with you not only God’s Good News but our own lives, too. 1 Thessalonians 2:8 (NLT)

Paul’s purpose is very clear. During the Thessalonian Mission and in an effort to deeply connect with those he was called to lead, Paul makes one of his strategies very clear…to be personal and transparent.
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• Has there been a leader in your life that has had a great effect on you?
• Did you connect with that leader because of their skills or because of their ability to relate to you?
• How do you connect with those that you are leading?
• Do they feel like you can relate to them?

I find that transparency is a much easier approach, it prevents you from exerting energy to be something you are not and more of who you are. Can also relieve leadership loneliness.

In it together,

DeWayne

“Why did you beat your donkey those three times?” the angel of the LORD demanded “Look, I have come to block your way because you are stubbornly resisting me. Three times the donkey saw me and shied away; otherwise, I would certainly have killed you by now and spared the donkey.” Then Balaam confessed to the angel of the LORD, “I have sinned. I didn’t realize you were standing in the road to block my way. I will return home if you are against my going.” (‭Numbers‬ 32-34‬ NLT)
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1. Are you getting resistance from a trusted source on a decision that you are making?
2. How are you responding?
3. Are you willing to see their perspective and understand their conviction?
4. What will it take for you to retract and correct your course?

How ironic, God uses a donkey to speak to a man who is being stubborn.

Unfortunately, I am living this as I write it. – In it together.

DeWayne

“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. He called together his servants and entrusted his money to them while he was gone. He gave five bags of silver to one, two bags of silver to another, and one bag of silver to the last—dividing it in proportion to their abilities. He then left on his trip. (‭Matthew‬ ‭25‬:‭14-15‬ NLT)

To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away. Now throw this useless servant into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ (‭Matthew‬ ‭25‬:‭29-30‬ NLT)

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1. Are you delivering a return with what you have been entrusted?
2. Are your leaders delivering a return with what you have entrusted them?
3. Have you delegated in proportion to their individual abilities?
4. Do you have leaders who doubt, operate out of fear and bury the potential of your organization?
5. What do you do with those who do not deliver a return?

Survival will depend on it.

Onward,

DeWayne Ables

Purpose Driven Leader Profile:
Name: Phil Robertson
Passion: Christ and The Outdoors
Skills: Speaks Duck – Designs and Produces Duck Calls
Platform: His Business and The Outdoors Market
Audience: Outdoorsmen and families
Advocates: living your life for Jesus
Message: Jesus replied, “‘You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:37-40 NLT)

How would you fill in your profile?
How clear is your message?

Onward,

DeWayne Ables

For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. (2 Timothy 1:7 NLT)

You have been authorized and equipped for today and the journey.  In 2015, don’t let fear and timidity slow you down.

Onward,

DeWayne Ables

“Your eye is a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is good, your whole body is filled with light. But when your eye is bad, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is! “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” (Matthew 6:22-24 NLT)

Spiritual vision is our capacity to see clearly what God wants us to do and to see the world from his point of view. But the spiritual insight can be easily clouded. Self serving desires, interests and goals can block that vision. Serving God is the best way to restore it. A good eye is one fixed on God.

Onward

DeWayne

So do not throw away this confident trust in The Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you!
Patient endurace is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised. Hebrews 10:35-36

Footnote for these verses say: (New Living Translation)
“The Bible gives us a clear choice between two life directions. Because life often forks off in two directions, you must take the higher road, even though it looks more difficult and treacherous. That road gets steep in places. The climb takes a toll on your energy. It gets lonely. Not many on it, but more than you imagined, and some because of your example. It gets slippery; the devil blows ice on the narrow passages. Despite its dangers, the higher road is bound for the peak, and you’ll make it – God has a lifeline around you. When you are temped to falter in your faith or to turn back from following Chirst, keep focused on what he as done for you and what he offers in the future. Then keep climbing.”

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This time of the year most leaders are taking inventory of the progress their organization has made against what was planned or expected in preparation for the upcoming planning season. Its easy to get disappointed in what was not accomplished or delusional about a small victory.

A Purpose Driven Vision has a divine timeline that we often want to control but can’t.

Do you have clarity around the timing of your vision?
Do you have realistic mile-markers defined for where you should be?
Are you and your team focused on priorities that are needed for the next mile-marker or are you getting to far ahead?

If you are frustrated, spend some time focusing on realistic mile-markers for the next quarter and recalibrate your plan and expectations accordingly.

Onward,

DeWayne Ables

Faith is the confidence that what we hope will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation.

By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.

By faith that Enoch was taken up to heaven without dying—“he disappeared, because God took him.”

By faith Noah built a large boat to save his family from the flood. He obeyed God, who warned him about things that had never happened before.

By faith Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going.

By faith Sarah was able to have a child, though she was barren and was too old. She believed that God would keep his promise.

By faith Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice when God was testing him. Abraham, who had received God’s promises, was ready to sacrifice his only son, Isaac.

By faith Moses left the land of Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger. He kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible.

It was by faith that the people of Israel went right through the Red Sea as though they were on dry ground.

By faith that the people of Israel marched around Jericho for seven days, and the walls came crashing down.

It was by faith that Rahab the prostitute was not destroyed with the people in her city who refused to obey God. For she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.

How much more do I need to say? It would take too long to recount the stories of the faith of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and all the prophets.

By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them. They shut the mouths of lions, quenched the flames of fire, and escaped death by the edge of the sword.

Their weakness was turned to strength. They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight.

(Hebrews 11:1-3, 5-8, 11, 17, 27, 29-34 NLT)
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What are you being called to lead, to do or to go?
Does it seem impossible?
Will it take more than what you can see to achive it?
What challenge do you face this week that will require Faith?
What are you expecting The Lord to do?
As a Purpose Driven Leader – what you most known for: what you have done, the vision you have or the Faith you have to achieve it?

Onward,

DeWayne

Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified. (1 Corinthians 9:24-27 NLT)

In culture studies completed the past 24-36 months we have discovered a volatile shift in the “operational mode” of companies we have evaluated. Coming out of the recession most companies have gone from “Survival Mode” (doing what ever it takes to survive) to “Growth Mode” (a sweet spot that enables personal, revenue and strategic growth) to “Crisis Mode” (Overloaded with work and no capacity for anything else).

The net sum of that shift has many leaders and employees asking 3 questions:

1. Why do I do this job?
2. Why do I work here?
3. What are we doing this for?

Why does your business exist?
Is the Purpose of your business clear and communicated?
How does your Purpose impact decisions that you make?
Do you hire people who have a passion for those your business serves?
Do you train and disipline your people to deliver your Purpose?
What is the prize (or impact) of working in your business?

• On them (the employees)?
• On your customers?
• On the community?

Do your partners and management team agree with your answers to these questions?

Lead On,
DeWayne