When was the last time you had a really tough day?

There are days when circumstances seem to conspire against us.  There are times when hell’s forces seem to target us.  How we handle days like these says a lot about our character and maturity.  How we deal with a bad day reveals our leadership potential.

There is a great story in the Bible about a really bad day in David’s life.  The story is found in 1 Samuel 30.  During this period of time David was a fugitive, running for his life from King Saul.  A group of men had joined forces with David (see 1 Samuel 22:2), and he became their leader.

One day something terrible happened.  While David and his men were away from their camp, enemy troops invaded their turf.  These ruthless men burned the camp, gathered up the valuables and kidnapped all the women and children.  David and his team returned and discovered this awful situation:

When David and his men came to Ziklag, they found it destroyed by fire and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive.”  –  1 Samuel 30:3

As tough as this was, things were about to get worse for David.  It was not long before David’s own men turned against him.  They blamed David for their circumstances.  In their minds, their losses were David’s fault.  The Bible describes the intensity of the situation:

“David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him, each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters … ”  –  1 Samuel 30:6

Here is David, his own family and possessions stolen, his camp destroyed, his men’s families and goods gone, and his formerly loyal men now talking about killing him.  This qualifies as a bad day!

How did David respond to all this?  His response tells us a lot about his character and maturity.  It shows us something about his leadership.

The Bible records what David did:

” … But David found strength in the Lord his God.”  –  1 Samuel 30:6

Somehow, surrounded by chaos and confusion, David got a grip on God.  He took positive action.  One translation says, “David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.”  In the middle of the crisis, David did something for himself.  There were no encouragers around.  There were no supporters lining up to strengthen David’s spirit and offer him their help.  David had to draw on his personal relationship with God.  He had to take control of his attitude and get God’s perspective on the situation.

Once David did this, things started to change.  David’s men, who only a few moments earlier were discussing his death, re-engaged with him against the enemy.  Division was replaced with unity.  Frustration was replaced with faith.  The end result was the recovery of everyone and everything that had been stolen.

David’s response shows us what  character, maturity and leadership are all about.  Real leaders shine in adversity.  When facing difficult days, when discouragement tries to settle into the soul like a dark, thick fog, real leaders fight through it with personal faith and tenacity of spirit.  Their faith becomes contagious.  It lifts the level of everyone around them.

Having a bad day?  Be a leader like David.  Encourage yourself in God and see the positive impact you will have on others!

Pastor Dale 

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The other day I was talking to a man who was doing some carpentry work around our church facility.  As he was getting ready to cut a piece of wood for the project, I jokingly reminded him of the old adage most certainly coined through some carpenter’s painful mistake, “Measure twice, cut once!”  The basic advice being, “double-check your measurements before you put your saw’s teeth to the wood!”

Later I found myself thinking about this woodworkers’ proverb.  It has to do with decision-making.  Carpenters are advised to use a particular process when they make decisions.  There are some lessons for all of us in it.

1.  Decision-making is a personal process.  Everyone has their own decision-making style.  Do you know your style?  Using the carpenter analogy, which of the following statements best describes your style:

• Measure and cut.
  
• Measure, measure again and cut.
  
• Measure, measure, measure, measure, measure and cut.
  
• Measure, measure, measure, measure, measure … (and never cut)!
  
• Just cut!  (Measuring is for wimps; eyeballing is better!)

2.  Good decisions require front end effort.  A good carpenter sees the tape measure as a friend.  It helps him know what is needed before action is taken.  It brings precision to his decisions.  Careful measuring is done on the front end to avoid problems on the back end.  The front end effort identifies the true need before a solution is initiated.

3.  Good decisions take time.  Measuring carefully before cutting takes time.  However, having to re-cut material because accurate measurements were not taken consumes even more time.  Either way, decisions take time.  The quickest way to a good decision is to slow down before “the saw is engaged.”

4.  Good decisions come from considering consequences.  Decisions have consequences.  A carpenter knows that once his saw sinks its teeth into the material, consequences are set in motion.  The piece of wood will never be the same again.  Mistakes in the cutting process may or may not be redeemable.  The consequences of a mistake will certainly cost something in terms of wasted time and resources, and potentially in the quality or appearance of the product.

5.  Good decisions require commitment.  The purposes of a carpenter’s careful measurement is to make a precision cut.  It would be strange to see a guy with a tool belt wandering around a job site with a tape measure, always measuring but never cutting.  At some point, when the measuring is done the commitment to cut must be made.  Once the cutting has begun it must be continued.  The carpenter must stay focused, refuse to second-guess, and stick with the commitment he has made, keeping his eyes on the goal.  If he has measured well, he will cut accurately, if he stays focused and committed.

Remember, measure twice, cut once!

Pastor Dale

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There is no principle more universally understood than the natural law of sowing and reaping.  In the agricultural world, the farmer knows that the seed  planted determines the crop harvested — corn seed is required to grow corn, soy bean seed is required to grow soy beans, etc.  It is also understood that the size of a harvest is in direct proportion to the amount of seed planted.

Jesus taught us that this agricultural principle applies in all realms of life.  In multiple ways He reminded us that we reap what we sow, and we reap in proportion to the amount we sow.  Here are a few of Jesus’ reminders:

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.  For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”  –  Matthew 7:1, 2

“Give, and it will be given to you.  A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap.  For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”  – Luke 6:38

“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you … ”  –  Matthew 7:12

The Apostle Paul stated the principle in very clear terms:

“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked.  A man reaps what he sows.”  –  Galatians 6:7

Everyday we sow seed.  Through our words, actions and attitudes we plant the seeds that will determine our future fruit. Through the habits we develop, or fail to develop, we set the course of our destiny.  What our tomorrows look like is actually being fashioned by the things we do, or don’t do today.

Planting good seed now insures a good harvest in the years to come.  Planting lots of good seed now brings promise of a good and abundant harvest for our future.  The degree of blessings we experience in the days and decades to come is determined by the kind and amount of seed we plant today.

Let’s get busy planting lots of good seed!

Pastor Dale

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One valuable life principle to learn and live by is the principle of  ”big decisions.”  A big decision is a choice we make that settles a lot of smaller choices and sets the course of our life in a particular direction.  It is a commitment that simplifies options.  When we make the right big decisions, good things happen.

For example, in marriage, when a husband and wife make the big decision that divorce is never an option it settles, sets and simplifies how they handle their struggles and conflicts.  When problems arise in the relationship, their big decision of “no divorce” helps direct and determine the course they are going to take to resolve their challenges rather than run from them.

Another area where the power of making the right big decision is very helpful is in our church attendance.  Most people would agree that attending church worship on the weekend is a good thing to do.  They believe it is valuable for themselves and their children.  Even though the value is understood,  it is still difficult for some to maintain consistency in their worship attendance.  Each weekend they go through the mental or verbal ritual of determining — “Will we go to church?”

This is where the power of the big decision comes to our aid.  Instead of deciding on a “weekend by weekend” basis whether you are going to church, go ahead and make the big decision — “Every weekend we will go to church!”  The commitment — the big decision —  settles, sets and simplifies your choices!

By the way, I am looking forward to seeing you this weekend for worship!

Pastor Dale

(For information and directions to our church services visit www.church-redeemer.org)

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It has been said that one of the toughest things about life is that it is so daily.  It just keeps coming!

If you are like me, you have probably had days when you simply wanted the “dailyness” of life to take a little break.  There are moments when it would be great if we could simply call a “time out” on the continual forward march of time.

But, as we all know, time does indeed keep marching forward.  We have no “time out” options with our time.  Seconds, minutes, hours, days, decades (you get the idea) come and go relentlessly.  Our present moments very quickly become a part of our history.  Our future, more rapidly than we imagine, becomes our current experience.  And the older we get the faster this process seems to go.

Understanding that “time outs” are not an option in life, how do we manage our time in ways that work for our good, the good of those we love, and the good of God’s Kingdom.  Here are a few thoughts:

• Value time.  See it for what it is, a true gift from God.  How we use this gift determines the quality and destiny of our lives.

• Understand the trust that comes with the gift of time.  With every gift of God comes a responsibility to steward it well.  It is a trust from Him.  We will give an account to Him one day for what we did with what He gave us.
  

• Keep an important maxim in mind — Wasted time is a wasted life.
  

• Prioritize and plan the use of your time.  Think of time as you do your finances.  Actually, think of it more seriously than you think of your finances.  If your finances are depleted you can usually do something to get more, but your time cannot be replenished.  That is why we need to carefully prioritize and plan how we use it.  We need a time budget even more than we need a financial budget.
  

• Put God first with your time.  There is a simple principle we would all do well to remember.  If we want God to bless some area of our life we must put Him first in that area of our life.  For example, if we want a blessed marriage, God has to be first in the relationship.  If want God’s blessings on our finances, we put God first through giving  of our tithe.  The same principle applies to time.  If we want God to bless our time, we must put Him first in the use of our time.  Give God the first part of your day, the first part of your new week, etc., and watch what He will do with the rest!
  

Listen to Paul’s instructions to us:

“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.  Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.”  –  Ephesians 5:15-17

There are no “time outs” with time, so let’s use our moments wisely!

Pastor Dale

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