Joshua Practices the Leadership Principle of Victory

You shall march around the city, all you men of war; you shall go all around the city once. This you shall do for six days. Joshua 6:3 Perhaps the most memorable of Joshua’s many victories was the destruction of Jericho. But what a strange story it is! Try to picture how absurd God’s military strategy must have seemed to real men of war. March around Jericho 13 times in one week, blow some trumpets – and that’s it? No weapons? No plan of attack? No doubt, the resident of Jericho laughed heartily at the weeklong entertainment provided by the Hebrew army circling their walls. Yet Joshua was committed to doing whatever it took to gain victory, and if God said shout, then the general would discard his swords and spears and wholeheartedly go with the absurd. Consider the following ten things to really like about Joshua’s leadership. He: 1. Made obedience his first priority. 2. Never waited to see what the crowd wanted to do. 3. Made decisions from an eternal perspective, not a temporary one. 4. Acted decisively. 5. Deeply appreciated the past without worshipping it. 6. Valued results more than image and reputation. 7. Knew that to influence others, he had to stand up and be counted. 8. Never wavered from his understanding of what was right. 9. Trusted God more than this own gifting and abilities. 10. Made glorifying God his ultimate objective. How does your leadership style and objectives compare to Joshua? Truth@Life can help you, regardless of your location. Call 248-396-6255 or email me at curtis.songer@gmail.com for a free consultation. If you receive value from these blogs, please consider donating to keep this blog site up and running. This ministry cannot continue without the generous donations of its readers. Just click on the "Donate" button in the upper right. For more info on help I can provide check out http://truthatlife.com/ or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com

The Desires of Your Heart

Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. Psalm 37:4-5 This passage in the Psalms is sometimes misunderstood. Some have thought that it means God will give us all the things that we desire in exchange for delighting in Him. Instead, He works in our hearts to actually change what we desire. The source of our delights shapes the nature of our desires. If we delight in someone, we genuinely what that person to be happy. If we delight in acquiring bigger and better possessions, we won’t be able to stop until we have enough to satisfy us – and that will never happen. But if we delight in God, our interactions with Him shape our hearts so that we gradually desire what He desires and value what He values. Author and pastor John Piper has said, “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.” To delight in God is to be satisfied, and in fact, thrilled with His love, forgiveness, and purpose for us. As we know and love Him more, we want to pursue his will, we make choices to follow His leading, and we take action to accomplish the things He has directed us to do. It doesn’t take a psychologist to unlock the secrets of our desires. We need only to look at what excites us, what frustrates us, and what hopes and fears fill our minds. We can choose though, to focus on God, to delight in Him so that He gradually changes the desires of our hearts to fit more with His. If we will make the choice, God will make the change. What do your joys, frustrations, hopes and fears say about your desires? To what degree to you need to more genuinely delight in God? Truth@Life can help you regardless of your location. Call 248-396-6255 or email me at curtis.songer@gmail.com for a free consultation. If you receive value from these blogs, please consider donating to keep this blog site up and running. This ministry cannot continue without the generous donations of its readers. Just click on the "Donate" button in the upper right. For more info on help I can provide check out http://truthatlife.com/ or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com

Profiles in Leadership: Joshua - A Leader’s Obedience Sets the Pace

Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and said to Him, “What does my Lord say to His servant?” Joshua 5:14 Look at every phase of Joshua’s life, and you’ll see a man who gave himself wholeheartedly to completing whatever task was assigned to him. The first time Joshua appears in Scripture we see him immediately obeying the instruction of Moses. Thereafter, Joshua took on the role of Moses’ assistant. Joshua again displayed his obedience when he agreed to spy out the Promised Land. Upon his return from the reconnaissance mission, he and Caleb, alone among the spies, were ready to obey God and enter Canaan. Forty years later, when Moses was ready to hand the reins of power to his protégé, Joshua again obeyed the call. In the end, the people of Israel followed Joshua’s example and did what God asked of them – and as a result inherited the land that God had promised. Scripture says that “Israel served the Lord all the days of Joshua”. When the people followed Joshua’s lifelong example of obedience, they prospered. By the time of his death, Joshua was simply known as “the servant of the Lord”. That is indeed high praise! While today we consider Joshua an excellent leader, nowhere does Scripture describe him as a man of extraordinary might, intellect, or talent. What made him extraordinary was his obedience. And when you’re a servant of the Lord, that’s all you really need. Are you an exemplary servant of the Lord? Are you ready to do anything that you are called upon to do? Truth@Life can help you, regardless of your location. Call 248-396-6255 or email me at curtis.songer@gmail.com for a free consultation. If you receive value from these blogs, please consider donating to keep this blog site up and running. This ministry cannot continue without the generous donations of its readers. Just click on the "Donate" button in the upper right. For more info on help I can provide check out http://truthatlife.com/ or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com 

Getting a Good Report Card

Oh, love the Lord, all you His saints! For the Lord preserves the faithful, and fully repays the proud person. Psalm 31:23 I’ve got some good news and some bad news – and which it is depends totally on you. The news is that, in some ways, God gives people exactly what they deserve. In the Scriptures, we see this in two scenes. In his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul teaches us that all believers will stand before God one day to give an account of our faithfulness. On that day, God will review everything that we have done since the day we trusted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. We’ll be rewarded for all eternity for the things that we did to honor Him. The rest of our actions - the ones done for selfish motives - will burn up and turn to ashes. At the end of the Bible we find the Great White Throne of Judgment, where believers are rewarded and unbelievers are punished for eternity. Of course, without Christ, we would all be deserving of the same eternal punishment. Bust Jesus paid the price as a substitute for our punishment. These scenes in the Scriptures aren’t put there just to fill up space. They are important lessons God wants to impart to us. The choices we make today are very important. In fact, we will receive a report card at the end of our lives, and we’ll live with the results for all eternity. Even in this life, we’re given what we deserve. God rewards our faithfulness in many ways. He preserves us, blesses us richly, and gives our lives meaning and peace. But we also pay for wrongdoing. In this life, arrogant, self-absorbed people often pay the price of strained relationships and other heartaches. Both in this life and the life to come, God gives us what we deserve. You can count on it. Are you ready for your report card? What choices do you need to make today so that you’ll get a good report card on the Day of Judgment? Truth@Life can help you, regardless of your location. Call 248-396-6255 or email me at curtis.songer@gmail.com for a free consultation. If you receive value from these blogs, please consider donating to keep this blog site up and running. This ministry cannot continue without the generous donations of its readers. Just click on the "Donate" button in the upper right. For more info on help I can provide check out http://truthatlife.com/ or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com 

The Leadership Quality of Communication: Mementos Help Us to Remember God’s Work

That this may be a sign among you when your children ask in time to come, saying, ‘What do these stones mean to you? Joshua 4:6 Effective leaders look for ways to use the successes of today to empower their people for the challenges of tomorrow. Every year, Martha and I hold a social event at our home called “Giving Thanks.” The idea of the social is that everyone will bring one memento, as a symbol of something they are thankful for, to share with everyone present as to how God has done a special work in their life during that past year. It is a great time of transparent sharing and everyone is encouraged and their spirits lifted by the end of the sharing. In the Bible, Joshua did something similar. Although God would work a miracle to allow the people to cross the Jordan on dry ground, Joshua knew that only those who saw the incident would remember it – and he wanted to leave a legacy for future generations, born long after the miracle had occurred. Joshua wanted to find a way to communicate God’s greatness to the children of Israel yet to be born. To accomplish his goal, Joshua devised a plan called “Stones of Remembrance.” He directed that 12 stones be taken from the middle of the dry riverbed – one for each of the Twelve Tribes that crossed the river – and be piled as a monument on the shore. Thereafter, whenever Israel’s’ children or grandchildren asked, “What do these stones mean?” the people would have an opportunity to recast God’s vision and recount God’s victories. The stones served as mementos to communicate what God had done. God leaders always provide mementos to help enable their people to grab hold of the vision. Effective leaders fins a ways to communicate future vision and past victories, because their people need to be constantly reminded of both. Are you an effective leader who provides symbols as reminders to your people of the vision and the past victories? Truth@Life can help you, regardless of your location. Call 248-396-6255 or email me at curtis.songer@gmail.com for a free consultation. If you receive value from these blogs, please consider donating to keep this blog site up and running. This ministry cannot continue without the generous donations of its readers. Just click on the "Donate" button in the upper right. For more info on help I can provide check out http://truthatlife.com/ or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com 

What to do in Retirement?

David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep, and was laid among his fathers. Acts 13:36 John Piper, a longtime pastor and author, was skimming Reader's Digest one day. He came across the story of a middle-aged couple who had been financially successful enough to retire early and pack their bags for Florida. Imagine the thrill, they said, to do nothing but relax. Just kick back and collect seashells. John began wondering whether this should ever be the sum game of a Christian's earthly existence. "At the end of my life," John says, "I hope I'm mainly preparing to meet the Judge of the earth and give an account of my one little, vaporous life. And I'm pretty sure He's not going to ask to see my shell collection." I'm not saying for one minute that there's anything wrong with play and recreation, perhaps even a seashell collection. God has designed these things for us to enjoy. But when you dream of your life in retirement, do you see yourself being content with lowering your golf handicap, bagging a bigger buck or traveling the world? Or do you see yourself pursuing a purpose that will outlive you? As I look at the Scripture for today, I realize that in my latter years, I want to be fulfilling God's purpose for me in this generation. I want Martha and I to be living in the center of His will. Do you have a heart that burns for building relationships and using your gifts, abilities and experience, even in the final chapter of your life? Or will you merely be a shell of what you could have been? Truth@Life can help you, regardless of your location. Call 248-396-6255 or email me at curtis.songer@gmail.com for a free consultation. If you receive value from these blogs, please consider donating to keep this blog site up and running. This ministry cannot continue without the generous donations of its readers. Just click on the "Donate" button in the upper right. For more info on help I can provide check out http://truthatlife.com/ or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com 

Is Your Life a Train Wreck?

Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” Luke 23:43 Three men – two of them thieves and one of the Jesus Christ – hung on a cross, suspended in mid-air above the soldiers, religious leaders, and curious onlookers. The sense of hopelessness caused one of the thieves to bark at Jesus in derision, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself, and us.” The other criminal though, saw things differently. Somehow, he had heard about the life of Jesus, and he corrected the other man saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing that you are under the same condemnation? We receive the due reward for our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” The man then turned to Jesus and said, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” Many people had abandoned Jesus and many had betrayed Him. This man’s simple request must have sounded gratifying to Jesus. He turned to the man and promised, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” Jesus didn’t go into a long explanation about the afterlife. He didn’t recite the “four spiritual laws” and explain what happens to the soul when a person dies. He simply spoke an unmistakably clear promise that because the man had believed, he would be in Paradise that very day, at the moment that he died. Before this conversation with Jesus, this man’s life had been a train wreck. He had resorted to theft, been caught, and condemned to die a horrible death. At that moment though, only one thing mattered: His identity and eternal destiny had changed forever. He realized that the ultimate victory is eternity with Jesus Christ. Does your life at times seem to be a train wreck? How does your view of eternity affect your perspective about your life and your death? Truth@Life can help you, regardless of your location. Call 248-396-6255 or email me at curtis.songer@gmail.com for a free consultation. If you receive value from these blogs, please consider donating to keep this blog site up and running. This ministry cannot continue without the generous donations of its readers. Just click on the "Donate" button in the upper right. For more info on help I can provide check out http://truthatlife.com/ or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com 

The Leadership Principle of Influence: God Uses Rahab

By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace. Hebrews 11:31 The story of Rahab proves that God can, and will, use anybody. This woman worked as a prostitute in Jericho as the Israelites approached the city. Although the Hebrew spies needed someone to help them scope out the best approach to conquering the city, there seemed little logical reason why Rahab should have been considered for the role: 1. She occupied no position and held no official title in the city. 2. The Israelites looked upon women as lower class citizens. 3. As a prostitute, she held an even lower social rank than the average woman. But because leadership depends less on titles than it does on influence, God chose Rahab. She helped the spies by her quick wisdom, gutsy style, and clever plan. By doing so she saved not only her own life, but aided in accomplishing the purposes of God in Jericho. The name “Rahab” even occupies an honored place in the Hall of Faith as one of Jesus’ ancestors. Real leadership is influence – nothing more, nothing less. Would you like to improve your ability to influence others in a positive way and to leave a lasting legacy? Truth@Life can help you, regardless of your location. Call 248-396-6255 or email me at curtis.songer@gmail.com for a free consultation. If you receive value from these blogs, please consider donating to keep this blog site up and running. This ministry cannot continue without the generous donations of its readers. Just click on the "Donate" button in the upper right. For more info on help I can provide check out http://truthatlife.com/ or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com 

Profiles in Leadership: Rahab – An Unusual Woman of Faith

The king of Jericho sent to Rahab, saying, “Bring out the men who have come to you, who have entered your house, for they have come to search out all the country.” Then the woman took the two men and hid them… Joshua 2:3-4 God uses individuals of all temperaments and backgrounds to accomplish His purposes – even prostitutes. God strategically positioned Rahab, whom the Bible calls a prostitute, in a home built into the wall of Jericho. When two Hebrew spies came to her for aid, she displayed a clear understanding of spiritual issues. She described how the dread of Israel had overcome her people. She acknowledged that the land belonged to the Israelites and therefore willingly risked her life to hide Joshua’s spies. Rahab leveraged her hospitality on behalf of her parents, siblings, and their extended families, begging the spies to spare the lives of all who belonged to her. They agreed. Rahab was a woman of her word. Although she could have tipped off her king to the whereabouts of the hiding Israelites, she sent Israel’s enemies on a wild goose chase. Why? Because she really believed that God was about to hand her city over to the Hebrews. Even prostitutes can exhibit saving faith. Wise leaders remember that God sees the human heart. While many would never trust a woman with a personal history like that of Rahab, God selected her. Because Rahab faithfully served God, her family lived and was adopted into Hebrew society – and she became the ancestor of the Lord Jesus Himself. Have you been too quick to judge others on the basis of outward appearances or on first impressions? Truth@Life can help you, regardless of your location. Call 248-396-6255 or email me at curtis.songer@gmail.com for a free consultation. If you receive value from these blogs, please consider donating to keep this blog site up and running. This ministry cannot continue without the generous donations of its readers. Just click on the "Donate" button in the upper right. For more info on help I can provide check out http://truthatlife.com/ or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com 

The Leadership Principle of Timing: Joshua Begins with a Divine Call & Charge

God speaking to Joshua: “No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you.”
Joshua 1:5

Consider this: It took 40 years for Joshua’s leadership style to match the need of the moment. Moses led diplomatically. He sat and judged the people patiently as they grumbled through long years in the desert. By the time the Israelites reached Canaan, fierce enemies awaited them – and they needed a much more confrontational leader, a military man skilled in war. Joshua enters the scene. Note the differences between Moses and Joshua and see how timing can dictate appropriate leadership styles:

1. Moses led through 40 years of desert travel. Joshua led through 30 years of conquering Canaan.

2. Moses was a political, diplomatic leader. Joshua was a military, in-your-face leader.

3. Moses patiently listened to complaints. Joshua confronted laziness and fear of the enemy.

4. Moses led the people as a peacemaking shepherd. Joshua led the people as a tough commander.

5. Moses provided water from a rock when the people got thirsty. Joshua told the people to dig their own wells when they got thirsty.

When the right leadership style and the right timing come together, incredible things happen. Great leaders learn to take the right action at the right time.
Does your leadership style need to adapt to new circumstances at this time? Have you been having trouble “getting traction”? Truth@Life can help you, regardless of your location. Call 248-396-6255 or email me at curtis.songer@gmail.com for a free consultation.

If you receive value from these blogs, please consider donating to keep this blog site up and running. This ministry cannot continue without the generous donations of its readers. Just click on the "Donate" button in the upper right. For more info on help I can provide check out http://truthatlife.com/ or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com