One of the things I notice about today's highly motivated student leaders is the epidemic of " busyness". Many leaders I know have schedules that are packed morning, noon and night. In fact they wear their busy schedules almost as a badge of honor. "I am so busy", "I am so tired" and the unspoken word seems to be "look how much I can accomplish, aren't you proud of me?"
Student leaders, I am proud of all you do for the campus, in your major and for your organizations. However, I want to challenge you to take time for yourself in three areas. 1-Take time to rest. Rest includes sleep, recreation and relaxing. Rest restores your body but relaxing and recreation restores your soul. (your mind, emotions and will) If you have a hobby, pursue it. It will keep you balanced. 2-Take time for God. No matter how busy you are take time to read your bible and pray every day. Ideally 15 to 30 minutes or more, but even 5 minutes is better than zero minutes. 3-Take time for fellowship.Do not neglect time in fellowship with other Christians and people who will encourage you, strengthen you challenge you and build you up. In many of your relationships you are giving giving, giving. Make sure you are also in relationships where you can receive encouragement. 4-Finally, work hard but trust God to bless the works of your hands.
David said in Psalms 127:
"Unless the Lord builds a house,the work of the builders is wasted.
Unless the Lord protects a city, guarding it with sentries will do no good.
2 It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night,
anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones"
Prayer: Lord bless each student leader who reads this to know how to Take time for rest, Take time for fellowship, Take time for God and to Work hard but trust their work to God's hands. Let them not run around with anxiety and fear but in peace and trust in your strong hand. In Jesus Name! Amen!
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Saturday, September 5, 2009
How to Offer Criticism to Others
Topic:
“How to Offer Criticism to Others”
“Keep criticism positive. Recently, I tried to analyze the reason I criticize. –and I think there are probably the reasons that all of us have a tendency to criticize. Three reasons were negative and one was positive.
1-We are just passing the buck on something we are mad at ourselves about.
2-We criticize to show superior knowledge.
3 We also criticize because our personal performance is not up to par.
Positive Criticism:
4-Positive criticism is “simply a desire to bring improvement,,,to help someone else by pointing out something that he or she might not see. It is done quietly and kindly. True positive criticism is not done within the earshot of others, (unlike the three negative types which are shouted gleefully before and audience). True postitive strong criticism is specific and is directed clearly toward the area that needs work for the sake of improvement. The motive of postivie criticsm-helping others, sets it apart from negative forms. When you criticize positively, you are demonstrating emotional stablility-a quality every leader must have. by Fred Smith Jr, “Breakfast with Fred”
A Word of Truth from The Ultimate Executive:
“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” Hebrews
“Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one should carry his own load” Galations 6:1
Closing Prayer: Lord, save me from negative criticism. When I do criticize, help me to examine the motive as to whether it is coming from a negative or unsecure place. When I do give criticism, let it be positive, constructive, be motivated by love and be given with humility and grace. Help me not to give criticism in anger, pride or selfishness but in a spirit of Christian humility.
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