Teaming up with God

I read a very interesting book. Beside the fact that one of my colleagues had talked about it  and my husband talked me into reading it, the comment from James H. Amos Jr about the book got me reading it.

He said it is: "A gripping analysis of what makes teams work effectively. This fine work is a must-read for any leader that has to come to grips with the fact that no one makes progress - much less succeeds - alone."  

The last part of his comment resonated with me:

No one makes progress - much less succeeds - alone.

We must need someone else to help us progress and of course succeed. Even if you claim to be a loner, without God you can only go so far. The 5 dysfunctions mentioned in the book even apply to our relationship with God...please come with me as we discuss them in detail:

Think on this...

"I believe God is managing affairs and that He doesn't need any advice from me.

With God in charge, I believe everything will work out for the best in the end.

So what is there to worry about."

Henry Ford

What a great combination of:
Isaiah 40: 13-14
- Who is able to advise the Spirit of the Lord? Who knows enough to give him advice or teach him? Has the Lord ever needed anyone’s advice? Does he need instruction about what is good? Did someone teach him what is right or show him the path of justice?*

Romans 8: 28
- We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose.**

1 Peter 5:7
- Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.**

Sources:
*NLT
**Amplified

"Why did you do that?"

Response: "Because that's what they/she/he did to me."

Have you ever heard (or been part of) such an exchange? I know how it is. Even between my children it's funny to see one not clean up because he feels that his sibling got away without cleaning up or helping out at home. Recently, I saw a "Respect the next user" sign; the question in my mind was: "Did the previous user respect me?" then this topic hit home.

Spending tips...

There so many things out there to be spent - money, time, ourselves etc. I came across 2 quotes that put "Spending tips" I've always known very succinctly. So you don't think these quotes are 2-legged stools i.e. the originator's idea and mine, I've also added the third and most important stool leg - the Word of God which is unshakeable and forever settled.

1. Don't spend your time - invest it.* ~ Waylon Bailey

This is exactly what the Bible says: 

Teach us to use wisely all the time we have. (Ps 90:12 - CEV)

So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise.
Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. 
Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.  
(Eph 5: 15-17 - NLT)

2. In bringing up children, spend on them half as much money and twice as much time. 

~Author Unknown

The best way to bring children up is not with valuable things but with valuable time. If you must spend time, spend it in a worthwhile manner - in a way that it becomes an investment. Spending time with your children in an investment with many earthly and eternal rewards. Investing your time in your children is the best and only way you can and will obey God. The reward of this investment is they'll be prepared for a great life that will also benefit you:

As long as you live, you and your descendants are to honor the Lord your God and obey all his laws that I am giving you, so that you may live in that land a long time. Listen to them, people of Israel, and obey them! Then all will go well with you, and you will become a mighty nation and live in that rich and fertile land, just as the Lord, the God of our ancestors, has promised. Israel, remember this! The Lord and the Lord alone is our God. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. Never forget these commands that I am giving you today. Teach them to your children. Repeat them when you are at home and when you are away, when you are resting and when you are working. (Deut 6: 2-7 - GNT, italics mine)

Abraham's blessings are ours...only if we did what he did then we'll receive God's promise:

For I have known (chosen, acknowledged) him [as My own], so that he may teach and command his children and the sons of his house after him to keep the way of the Lord and to do what is just and righteous, so that the Lord may bring Abraham what He has promised him. (Gen 18: 19 - Amplified)

If you must spend anything, spend wisely...

but it's always better to invest and invest wisely.

Wishing you a well-spent Christmas with great memories in return for time "invested"...

Further reading
*http://waylonbailey.com/2011/07/dont-spend-time-invest-it/

Watch what they wear...

A few days we talked about watching what our children watch. Trust me, that's not the only thing we need to watch. I've mentioned before that I like people-watching and I also look at what people wear - especially children. I never used to pay that much attention to it but over time my attention span in that area has increased because I simply cannot believe the kinds of things and brands they sell these days. I went looking - here are a few examples:

Watch what they watch...

With how busy some of us have become, it is so easy to let the TV be our "live-in" nanny. Some parents just plop their children in front of the TV or computer screen just so they can be quiet and give them time to do "stuff." The danger of this is beyond words which is why I cannot but encourage us to "watch what they watch." This phrase means 2 things to me:

Oracle or Receptacle?

The Bible tells us:
"If anyone speaks, [his speech should be] like the oracles of God;
if anyone serves, [his service should be] from the strength God provides, so that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To Him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen. (1 Peter 4:11 - Holman Christian Standard Bible)

I've noticed a lot of people desire and pray to speak as the "oracles of God" especially when they are preaching. There is nothing wrong with that prayer - once you realise that the key to speaking as an oracle is in first being a receptacle of God's word.

The other thing about being an oracle is to be careful that you are not just an orator - there is a sharp difference between them. Apollos is an example of an orator. Acts 18: 24-26 puts it this way: "At that time a Jew named Apollos, who had been born in Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent speaker and had a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures.He had been instructed in the Way of the Lord, and with great enthusiasm he proclaimed and taught correctly the facts about Jesus. However, he knew only the baptism of John. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him home with them and explained to him more correctly the Way of God." (GNT)

Tea-talk

What crossed your mind when you read the title? I heard this phrase from a colleague. First, I was amused then saddened when told what it really stands for in a particular office culture.

When I first heard the phrase, I thought about my "cuppa catch-up/connection" meetings - which are times when I catch-up with people I know preferably away from their desks or just connect with people I don't and/or would like to know better - for their sakes & mine.

Team - work

It's usual to see those 2 words as a compound word so when I saw them separate (& next to each other), it brought this to mind: Irrespective of the great things people say and we have experienced about teamwork, its benefits cannot be realised except the team actually works.

The realization that "teamwork divides the task and multiplies the success"* more likely than not led to the popular TEAM acroynm => "Together Everyone Achieves More!"*
Wow - how apt and creative of the unknown author - it couldn't be put better if you ask me.