Everybody ends up somewhere in life.

 

Everybody ends up
somewhere in life.

Taken from a message from Andy Stanley with my thoughts and comments worked in.

 

I have participated in every bad discission I have ever made.

 

And guess what You also have participated in every bad discission you have ever made.

 

We made many in our youth, we drop the ball in some bad choice of who we dated, after marriage, how we honor the covenant we enter into, we make bad discission with our children, our finances, our careers, our parents, and our God.

 

Each morning we face our greatest challenge in the mirror.

 

We are not easy people to lead, you know the ones that look at themselves each morning in the mirror.  So how can you and I become the one that leads the mirror people of this upside-down nations?

 

This nation pastime was baseball, but it has changed to judging the other pollical party, you know because you like me are good at doing so.

 

Shall we get honest, I have done more to undermined my success and progress than any pollical party or candidate elected to office.

 

So, with that insight this is the truth, Until we learn to lead ourselves we will never be able to lead anyone else.

 

Now we all have witness leaders that were not worth following, I bet you have worked for a few, and I know you have seen many in leadership roles at church, maybe at home, and in government.

 

Many of you like your parents, but it depends on how well they managed themselves, as to where you want to be like your parents.

 

Exceptional self-leadership is the key to sustained influence.  You understand there is a difference between influence and authority or a title.  Most of us are not open to people we do not respect, and we do not respect people who do not lead themselves well.  Self-leadership is the key to respect, it has little to do with education, or wealth, for integrity is not a requirement for education or having wealth.  And it is sad to say, it is not required for government office.

 

Great leaders last because they lead themselves first.

 

We are no better than what we do, and no one can make you do anything, but the person in the mirror.

 

Three things we all need to learn

 

1.    I will not lie to myself even when the truth makes me feel bad about myself

 

You need to fire the liar in you.

 

2.    I will prioritize what I value most over what I want now.

 

As a follower of Christ, I must do this, for it’s what Jesus did, He put us before Himself.  As a follower of Jesus, love your neighbor, and that is everyone you encounter.

 

What you learn at every funeral is this: The value of a life is measured by how much of it was given away.  As Christ-followers we are to lead our life by valuing others, people matter to God, and should to you.  Those who value others get more accomplished, but as Andy states, it will still not save the Western culture.

 

3.    I will not attempt to lead myself by myself.

 

You cannot lead yourself by yourself; your history should tell you that.  Your greatest regrets are with people you wish you had never met.  Your biggest regrets were with people you liked, and they liked you.  And you had common interests, but not common values. With that said and it is true, I’ve experienced it, and your life will be shaped by the people you spend time with.  Our friends determine the direction and quality of our lives.

 

Our great designer; Jesus Christ, designed us for the community because we cannot lead ourselves by ourselves.  You do not need to be in a community with people that share a common interest, no you need to be in a community of people that share your values.  People who love you enough to tell you the truth about yourself because they value you.

 

You will lose a few friends because of what you value most are in conflict with the people who want now.

 

Everyone in life ends up somewhere, and where you end up has nothing to do with who is in the Whitehouse, it only has to do with the person in the mirror.  Each morning you face someone created in the image of God and they deserve the truth.  The person in the mirror is looking to you to lead yourself well.

 

I hope you are one of the smart ones that will take these truths and learn to lead yourself, so you will be able to lead others.

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice