Matt's Muzings
To help you think, ponder and reflect on the human side of leadership
February, 2008 Volume 10, Issue 84
Imagine for a moment, that you have been kidnapped. You are blindfolded and your ears are covered. You have been on the move for 24 hours. You can feel the movement of the helicopter you are in.
Finally, the helicopter descends and lands. You are thrown out the door, along with a small backpack. You struggle to get the freshly, cut ropes off while feeling the gusts of wind swirling around you as the helicopter leaves. You rip off the blindfold and take out the ear plugs. You frantically look around, and all you see for miles is a plateau. Nothing is familiar. No one is in sight. There are no reference points. All you have is a small amount of food and water in your pack. What do you do?
At different times in my life I feel like I have been kidnapped and dropped out of a helicopter. I find myself saying, “This is new territory. I am in a different world. I don’t have any reference points here. I feel alone. How do I lead when I am not sure where I am?”
Hold that thought for a moment...
I got a note a while ago from a friend talking about some things God was speaking to him. He wrote (paraphrased):
“I was challenged recently about decision making processes by looking at Eve's.
She chose on the basis of what "looked good," on what was ‘pleasing to her desires’ and it would ‘give her wisdom”… The basis of decision making then cannot be what looks good or right in our eyes but rather obedience to the Word. To the voice, because we're disorientated by the waves and can't judge forward from backward or up from down. So we have to keep our eyes on Him and listen for the voice and trust it, and therein is the peace, that passes all understanding.”
What kingdom are you in?
As I look at the challenge Jesus faced, it was similar for Him. How did He make decisions in the midst of being born into this world? He trusted the word of the Lord and the authority of His father.
So, let me link the two together. When we are saved, we change Kingdoms. We are transported out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light. Granted, we are not kidnapped, but adopted. This world is no longer our world and we are just ‘strangers passing through’. We have no more reference points in this world that work. That sounds a little to abstract to me. Let me try and say it another way.
We can’t trust our natural self. We can’t choose based on what looks good. We can’t rationalize within ourselves what is best. All we have is the Word of God, and His Spirit and voice leading us. Our focus in all aspects of leadership is not within ourselves, our capacities, desires or even wisdom, but an abandonment to God and His leading in our lives. His reason, love and wisdom that we gain through submitting to His Authority is the basis of all we do. It is the only reason why we do what we do, to manifest Him and His kingdom in this world.
I must remind myself of this as I am tempted to make decisions based on what seems good to me, on what will move my career or ministry forward rather than on what God has spoken to me. (Let me say these areas are not evil in themselves, they are just not the reason why we do something.)
May God give you his wisdom to know how to trust Him in you and lead you in all His ways.
Matt and Celia Rawlins
FAMILY MATTERS:
Matt: I had a great / busy time in Burtigny. My favorite past time there is going out for fires in the evening and watching the sunset. It was a bit cold, but very nice. The teaching, with the students went really well and then a staff workshop. I speak in my church, COOS, this Sunday so that is always a joy.
Celia: We are back from Burtigny, Switzerland. One of the things I did while there was to work with a team on writing curriculum for a book called Celebrating Children. This will be a year project to get all 8 modules done. We have only just begun… as the song goes but we were greatly encouraged by what was started. Next week, we go to KL,Malaysia for a TTI conference with Landa and then on the 20th we go to Cambodia.
Josh: He has finished the house he was working on with his Grandpa and is now wondering what to do. Not sure what is next for him so prayers are appreciated.
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