Usually its those with a lot of free time in their hands. They are easily offended no matter what happens. Those around them are careful with every word they speak, as they know they are “walking on eggshells.”
Truly they are an offense waiting to happen. Don’t live to appease these people. They’ll never be satisfied. Regardless of how far you go to be careful and non-offensive to these people, it will never work.
Release yourself from their invisible grip and control over you. Be free to live your life as you need to. Once you are free from their grip, you can be focused in your purpose. Otherwise, your purpose will be to satisfy them.
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A genuine desire to please God drives people to wear themselves out for God. But God is already pleased with you because you are his child.
There is a prevailing idea that the vision God placed in your heart will be left undone for eternity if you don’t do your maximum. Remember, if God has placed a vision in your heart, he also knows that you only have 24 hours in a day.
Some are convinced that the Kingdom of God advances according to the effort they put in. But God’s Spirit is already at work in this world and was active before we showed up. We simply have the privilege of joining him in his task.
Still others find significance in busyness. The more busy they are, the more useful and important. This is a subconscious, internal need that drives people to wear themselves out.
Moses sat to judge the people till the evening. This was the only solution he could find. He couldn’t think of it any other way. Until Jethro came and helped him to see things differently. (Exo 18:18)
For every person, there is a Jethro speaking sense into them. Only a few listen. Most ignore the message.
Please. Listen to this Jethro.
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It was a large international airport. Lots of people with uniforms. I asked for directions to four people. Three out of four gave me the wrong directions. Three times we wandered around, misdirected.
Their uniforms looked good. The people looked important. But they didn’t know the answer. I suppose they were just confused.
No, they don’t need to know all the answers. But there seems to be an “international” expectation that one should know all the answers. Thus the reason they spoke up and gave the wrong answer.
But its better to say “Sorry, I don’t know.”
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Move forward. Use every tool in your possession that will help you stay focused on your vision and to progress.
Don’t argue. Don’t say “after all I’ve done for you” to make them feel guilty. Making them feel guilty may make you feel good. But you just get stuck in emotions and arguments.
When his followers quarrelled with Moses, this is exactly what God told him to do. (Exodus 17:4-5)
Move forward. Stay focused on your vision.
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This takes lots of practice, but it is worth the effort.
Things around you may be chaotic, but learn to be still. Don’t become “chaotic” along with your environment. You are not your environment.
Stand straight. Be still. And behave as the person you are. Allow the surroundings to be as it is, but you be as you are.
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Savings is not unbiblical but worry is. When the Israelites gathered more Mana than they needed for one day, God was displeased. It signified that they did not trust God. They already had an issue of distrust. Whenever they faced any difficulty, they grumbled against Moses. This daily provision was much beyond provision. It was a daily lesson of God’s ability to take care is them.
Worry signifies distrust in God to take care of us.
See Exodus 16.
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On a recent travel, I counted the number of times people checked my boarding pass. As I stepped into the aircraft, the flight attendant was the 12th one to ask for my boarding pass. Why so many times?
Here are some possibilities why I had to show my boarding pass to 12 different people.- To be thorough. They want to make sure that the right person is entering the right flight.
- To be sure. They want to avoid unticketed passengers entering the flight.
- To provide more jobs. Now, this is certainly a good hearted effort on their part.
- Lack of trust. They don’t trust any of those 12 people to do their job properly. So, they want to cross-check to see where a mistake has occurred.
- Lower pay. If you have many people doing a job that one or two properly trained people could accomplish, you must not be paying them much.
- Lower skill. Due to the lower pay, you have employees at a lower skill strata.
I have two thoughts on this issue. First, the authorities want to make sure things are done appropriately. Second, there is a lack of trust in the employees to do their jobs efficiently.
How much do you invest in your people? Do all it takes to make them competent. Then hold them accountable. Expect quality.
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Leadership must stay in control until they enter the domain of the divine. Moses was fully in control of the entire process of constructing and setting up the tabernacle for the presence of God to dwell. But once God came down with his glory, Moses had to back off (Exodus 40:34-38).
It’s important for us to sense or “see” the move of God’s Spirit in a particular situation. At that moment we allow God to do his work. If we continue pushing our agenda, we risk forfeiting or stalling the work that God intends to do.
As we learn to recognize the move of God, we can allow for more of God’s work in people. The divine presence brings his divine initiative and his divine power. At that point, step back and watch him work.
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It’s amazing to see those who consistently pay the price to be in God’s presence. Some suffer ridicule and others suffer physical abuse, but those things don’t deter them.
Some borrow money for the bus ride. Others take the bus to the location they can afford and walk the rest of the way. Others clearly told their bosses that they will come to work only after church and work till evening. “You can keep me or let me go – it’s up to you.”
But others will come if it’s convenient. If all factors are favorable, then they’ll be in church. I don’t put down such people. Because I know that people will pay a premium price only for those things they value.
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“There is no need for appreciation – they’ve only done what they were paid to do.” Oh yes, I’ve worked under such leadership, and seen the results. Resentment, dissatisfaction, and sometimes, even rebellion are the results of such a perspective on leadership.
It may sound too simplistic, but when leaders bless the people, they are truly blessed. It impacts their mind, perspectives, and ultimately their work. The leader’s words of blessing flows through the people all the way into the final product.
Moses saw their work and recognized that they performed according to the Lord’s command – then Moses blessed them (Exodus 39:43). It is amazing to observe how the people followed Moses and followed through in response to his leadership. He was a leader who truly blessed the people.
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