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How to Hang-on...

A little bit ago, Jada decided to grip my finger (homegirls got a grip) and it got me to thinking about the season of ministry we're in right now in GSM. It's fast, jam packed...and to the point if you know what I mean! (Everything is purposefully placed where and when it should be!) Sometimes in life God will take us down paths and seasons that are like our summer schedule are and it's all we can do to hang-on and keep up with Him! It's like a white-knuckle (or in my case brown-knuckle =) you can laugh) roller coaster ride that you're excited to be on but halfway scared for your life because you know there are twists and turns coming up that you don't slow down for, you just keep speeding up!!! And THAT is what can consume our minds...we forget during all the chaos that we're actually on a track, headed towards a destination that will bring safety, security, shelter, and excitement about the journey we just completed! I've discovered that leadership and vision are what brings teams through seasons like that where they're better on the other side and not dismantled, fragmented, resentful, and/or ready to quit! Here are some ways to "hang-on" in seasons where you feel like it's all you can do just to 'hang-on': 1. Make sure that everything you can control is 'purposefully' and 'specifically' placed where it should be as you look ahead. 2. Schedule and take time off 3. Be proactive (If you're working...work, if you're off...be off) 4. Grip tightly. The tighter you grip, the more you have to focus on what you're gripping...this leads to greater success in that which you're proactively engaging. 5. Embrace 'the gift of limitations' (When you reach your personal limitations, lean on God who supersedes your personal limitations - learned this from Mark Beeson during Camp prep) 6. Focus on 'health' as well as 'goals' (Goals are great but someone needs to focus on the health of those involved in reaching those goals...it HAS to be THE leader.) 7. Focus on 'why' you're doing what you're doing. (Without vision we perish - Proverbs) 8. Focus on having a great attitude. It's a choice...do it! 9. Have someone you can be 'unfiltered' with...not a complaining session, 'unfiltered' conversation. (It's always important to have someone around you who is level-headed and wise, but it's even more important when you're fatigue and trying to hang-on.) 10. Don't be a slouch...sit up straight, focus intently on where you're going, hang-on tightly, embrace the terrain and challenges, work through obstacles, check on those on-board, 'understand' where you're going, get excited about where you're going, 'understand' who you're going there with AND FOR...THEN GET THERE!!! All of that came from Jada grabbing my hand with her baby strength! I love that way God speaks to us.