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Andy Stanley claims, “Embracing the principle of the path is the key to avoiding regret.” As you evaluate where you are relationally, professionally, financially or even spiritually, isn’t it true that when you look back, there is a pattern to your behavior?
Like most people, you see your decisions as individual, disconnected events. But they’re not that at all. Each was actually a step in a direction. Direction—not intention—determines our destination.
Divine direction begins with submission. Proverbs 3:5-6 puts it this way, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him; and he will make your paths straight.”
What gets our attention determines our direction and, ultimately, our destination. So, pay careful attention to what you are paying attention to. For as Jesus said, your eye is the lamp of your entire body. And if your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light.
Brady’s Blog
Over the past two years, I’ve used Devotional Bibles to guide my posts for the year. 2014 was the year of the NIV Leadership Bible, and last year focused on Maxwell’s Leadership Bible. This year, I’m taking a different approach. I’ll use my “Out of This World Leadership: How the Fruit of the Spirit Helps You Shoot for the Stars” tips as an outline for the year and dig a little deeper into each fruit of the spirit—from my readings and experiences—over the course of 2016.
I’m also slated to give that presentation again at this year’s Christian Leadership Alliance’s Outcomes Conference in Dallas in April. Then in July, I’ll be sharing lessons on “Building a Culture of Innovation” at the Human Capital Institute’s Employee Engagement Conference in Denver. At the conference, I’ll be representing the Johnson Space Center, which claimed the #1 spot in Government for Innovation according to the Partnership for Public Service based on our 2015 Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey results.
In September, I’m scheduled to deliver a workshop again at the CareNet Conference…this time at DisneyWorld in Orlando. I especially appreciated my partnership with Cindy Hopkins in the Christian Leadership Alliance’s Outcomes Mentoring Network over the past year and was glad to hear that she invited me back to the CareNet Conference!
Our Family
On January 1st, our family set some goals for the New Year. We each had to choose one spiritual goal plus another either mental or physical goal. Here were our choices:
Dad (Brady)
Spiritual Goal: To lead the family in a Weekly Devotional, where we read from Experiencing God at Home (check out my blog post on the book here). During our family devotional time, we’ll also share progress against each of our goals.
Physical Goal: Move at least 50,000 steps per week. Since I purchased a FitBit last May, I’ve averaged a little more than 35,000 steps per week (or 5,000 per day), so I need to increase my level of physical activity!
Mom (Jennifer)
Spiritual Goal: To have regular Quiet Times with God each morning
Other Goal: Focus on the Fruit of the Spirit “Self-Control” this year
Katy
Spiritual Goal: To write in a Prayer Journal every night
Other Goal: Utilize different techniques to control stress
Cody
Spiritual Goal: To be more Worship-ful during Church Services and to be Salt & Light for others who may not enjoy church
Other Goal: Push myself harder and show strong effort in school & sports
Tanner
Spiritual Goal: To complete my “I’m a Christian…Now What?” 90-Day Devotional with Dad & Mom
Other Goal: Complete 1 hour of physical activity every day
Our family is resolved to have a better year in 2016…and as Jennifer likes to say, “It’s a proven fact that those who set goals do better than those who do not!”
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention how much our family enjoyed watching Star Wars: The Force Awakens on Christmas Eve…but I really liked (and resonated with) this poster that I saw on Facebook –
May you Awaken to a New Year with a New Start, as you Shoot for the Stars!