I didn’t attend worship last Sunday at the Mars Hill Baptist Church because I was being a father.
My son Josh & I were on a requiting trip at the University of Louisville. I’m excited to share pictures of his visit to the University of Louisville. It was an exciting trip and they have a great campus, field, and training facilities. The coaches were awesome and I love that they love to develop players & WIN!!! Enjoy it!
An encouraging word has the power to move mountains, yet harsh words can just as quickly kill ideas, motivation and inspiration. In The Message Bible puts it aptly: “Words kill, words give life; they’re either poison or truth – you choose” (Proverbs 18:21). Encouraging your team is an integral part of being an effective leader.
You need to be conscious of your words and constantly check to see if you are giving criticism in an encouraging way. Remember that part of a leader’s mandate is to build up the people that they lead. Some people are natural encouragers. Others have to work at developing skills of encouragement. The important thing is that you are conscious of the importance of encouraging the people you lead.
How do you rate yourself (A, B, C, D, or F)?
Just finished Empty Promises: The Truth About You, Your Desires, and the Lies You’re Believing by Pete Wilson, author of Plan B, as part of the Thomas Nelson Booksneeze program
We all long for more of something in our lives. In our endless pursuit to feel worth and acceptance we find ourselves sacrificing everything for the promise to be a little more beautiful, a little richer, a little more powerful and successful, a little more loved.
How do we break free from these empty pursuits and start chasing the only Promise that will ever satisfy? How do we uncover the hidden idols that are driving us and turn our devotion toward the one true God?
Join Pastor and best-selling author Pete Wilson in discovering the joy and freedom that comes with seeking after God with your whole life. Learn how to replace, and not just relinquish, life’s empty promises by turning your focus and worship toward Him. It is the only thing that will set you absolutely free from the endless pursuit of everything else.
My Thoughts:
I became aware of Pete Wilson after reading his first book Plan B. I was at a crossroads in life and his book help me think through the issues. I was thrilled when I saw that I had the opportunity to review Pete Wilson’s new book Empty Promises. His first one, Plan B, is one that I frequently recommend to others and have been told it has changed their lives. I also love reading Pete’s blog and couldn’t wait to see what his next book held for me.
Empty Promises: The Truth About You, Your Desires, and the Lies You’re Believing addresses head on the issue of idols in our lives. Wilson notes that “idolatry is when I look to something that does not have God’s power to give me what only God has the power and authority to give. He then goes on to explain that we, including those in the church, are practicing idolatry on a daily basis not allowing us to achieve our purposes. Wilson then chronicles the common idols of our day, including the warning signs that we are worshiping at a false idol. These idols include; power, success, money, beauty and religion. Wilson notes that humans are inclined to worship and that only by worshiping God can we achieve our true purpose of reflecting Him. Wilson finishes with practical tips for connecting with God and throwing off false ones.
Conclusion:
Not every page in this book will apply to you. But this book is definitely worth the read. You will find yourself in some of those chapters and find out how to pray for those you know who can be found in other chapters of the same book.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
To be able to offer genuine encouragement as a leader you need to get to know your team players. In working with them you can find out their strengths and weaknesses. Focus your encouragement on both areas. Use an individual’s strengths to build up the team and move it forward towards its goals.
Use weaknesses as an opportunity for learning or training. With encouragement people work better as a team, there is more cohesiveness in an organization. Effective teamwork results in people that feel motivated and empowered. People will be more willing to put forward ideas and less scared to fail. A culture of encouragement is contagious and filters down through an organization. As a result an organization will enjoy a positive and creative energy. Leaders should make a conscious effort to incorporate encouragement into their daily communication with their team. This develops and models a culture of encouragement and result in positive attitudes.
How will you these helpful tips?
Encouragement is something that can spur a team on to reach big goals. Any professional sports team will tell you how valuable it is to be playing at a home ground. The encouragement of seeing a stadium filled with team colors as they run out onto the field gives players a huge emotional boost at the start of the game.
And then in the crucial parts of the game, when there is a break in play, when the team is about to score, the stands erupt! So many times it’s the cheering and encouragement of the fans that seems to help carry the ball over the goal line. This is the power of encouragement and smart leaders know that it plays an important part in any team. When a team member is encouraged in an area of weakness and they grow as a result, it benefits the whole team. By initiating a culture of encouragement a leader sets his team up for success.
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I hope you find this helpful. Let me know if you have any specific requirements or changes you'd like to make.