FEAR - What are you afraid of?

The Worst Liars In The World Are Your Own Fears

Flashback: It was 1978, I had just dropped off my date and made my way to my apartment, alone. It was dark, late and incredibly scary. We had just watched the first of what would be many of the Michael Myers' "Halloween" movies. I was scared. Although it was just a movie -- and at 18, I knew better I was still scared. When I walked into my apartment, I turned on the light, sat on the couch and listened. I heard things I had never heard before: noises -- creepy noises; and I was convinced I would not live through the night. Paralyzed with fear, I ended up sleeping on the couch. FEAR: False Emotions Appearing Real

It is funny now (some of you are even grinning), but perhaps you are fearful of things in your own life that are just as real as Michael Myers was to me that night. Maybe they even have you paralyzed, sleeping on the couch afraid to act. FEAR: False Emotions Appearing Real

Look At What Fear Does

• Fear Makes You Stop Growing In Potential - Fear keeps your talents locked up, holds you back and causes you to miss opportunities. Are you afraid to try something new just because you are afraid? One of the greatest discoveries you can make is to find that you can do what you are afraid you cannot do.
• Fear Makes You Stop Reaching Out In Your Relationships - Fear prevents you from being honest with people. You fear rejection, so you wear a mask, pretend to be what you are not, and then deny what you really feel. Fear also keeps you from making commitments. You may be afraid of being hurt again. Fear prevents true intimacy because fearful people have a hard time giving and receiving love. Your fears affect everyone you relate to.
• Fear Makes You Stop Enjoying Life - You cannot be happy and fearful at the same time. An old man was asked what had robbed him of joy in his life. His answer was, "Things that never happened." How often are you worn out by your worries?
• Fear Makes You Stop Striving For Success In Life - How many decisions have you made based on fear? How many times have you sold yourself short because of fear? False Emotions Appearing Real.

What Should You Do With Your Fears?

• Pray - "Don’t worry about anything, but pray about everything." Philippians 4:6a CEV
• Turn It over To God - "God cares for you, so turn all of your worries over to Him." 1 Peter 5:7 CEV
• Trust Him - "When I am afraid, I keep trusting you. I praise your promises! I trust you and am not afraid. No one can harm me." Psalm 56:3-4 CEV

Leaving A Legacy

July is a special month in the Redd household. I celebrated my 46th birthday this last week and my oldest son Joseph will celebrate his twelfth birthday at the end of the month. Nathan, my youngest, will be turning nine at the beginning of September. Both Sharon and I have our hands full!

During this last week, I was thinking what kind of a heritage I was leaving our boys.

The heritage I want to leave my boys is:

• A Heritage of a Loving Family - I want my sons to know that I love and am committed to them. Not only them, but a gift that I can give my boys is to model for them a man that loves and honors his wife. A husband should love his wife as much as he loves himself. Ephesians 5:8
• A Heritage of a Life that Mattered - It would be great for my boys to be able to watch me and see that I lived a life that mattered. A life that made a difference. A life that had purpose. Know where you are headed and you will stay on solid ground. Proverbs 4:26
• A Heritage of Integrity - Honesty is something that is becoming more difficult to be able to find today. It really is all around us, but it is something that we have to look for to find it - its not pointed out to us very readily. I hope that my sons will be able to see the same man at Church as he does at home - a man who lives what he says. Never tell lies or be deceitful in what you say. Proverbs 4:24
• A heritage of a Helper - I want both boys to know that people matter. They matter to God and they matter to me. If I had everything, all that money could buy, but did not love people, I would be nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:1-4 para
• A Heritage of a Man Who Loved God - This really encapsulates all of the others, for if I do not love Him the way I should, all these other things will be out of balance. This is what God wants, See that justice is done, let mercy be your first concern, and humbly obey your God. Micah 6:8

Why is it so important that I think about these things now? Each day I am building their heritage. My boys watch me now, sometimes when I do not even know it.

What does this have to do with you? Simply this: What heritage are you leaving your family? What heritage are you leaving your co-workers? What heritage are you leaving those who know you? Remember, you are building your legacy, your heritage today. You are paving the road that those around you, family, friends and co-workers will follow. That is the role of a leader. Leadership is a privilege with great responsibility.


Build a great legacy - a day at a time - a decision at a time - a word at a time.

Integrity

In the book, Developing the Leader Within You, John Maxwell wrote, “When people have integrity, their words and their deeds match up. They are whom they are no matter where they are or who they are with. People with integrity are not divided (that is duplicity) or merely pretending (that is hypocrisy). People with integrity have nothing to hide and nothing to fear. Their lives are open books.”

Integrity is indispensable for a person who wishes to lead others. Whether you lead as a father, mother, teacher, or C.E.O. – integrity is a staple that must be developed, cultivated, protected, and cherished in order to effectively lead.

Five ways to demonstrate integrity

• I Will Live What I Teach – Deciding what to be is more important than deciding what to do. “Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life.” Proverbs 4:13
• I Will Do What I Say – A person of integrity will do what they promised they would do. They will keep their word. “Simply let you ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ and your ‘No’ be ‘No’.” Matthew 5:37
• I Will Be Honest With Others – When a leader loses credibility, he forfeits a trust that may never be regained. In any endeavor, trust and honesty allow individuals to cooperate so that they can all prosper. “I always speak the truth and refuse to tell a lie.” Proverbs 8:7
• I Will Put What is Best for Others Ahead of What is Best For Me – A person of integrity will remember they are there to serve others rather than to be served. “Be humble and consider others more important than yourselves.” Philippians 2:3b
• I Will Be Transparent and Vulnerable – A person can be closed and uncaring, but the people with the most genuine integrity will be those whose arms and hearts are open to those they lead. “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” Matthew 9:36

Be A Person of Integrity

I would be true, for there are those who trust me;
I would be pure, for there are those who care;
I would be strong, for there are those who suffer;
I would be brave, for there is much to dare;
I would be friend of all – the foe, the friendless;
I would be giving, and forget the gift;
I would be humble, for I know my weakness;
I would look up, and laugh, and love, and lift.
Howard A. Walter

Which Spud Are You?

This Life Lesson is sure to have a lot of “groans” in it.. Just be patient: these things too shall pass. There are distinct personalities in every church, business, organization, and family. Some are good while others are not. Today, we are going to look at the Tater Family. First, we identify The Rotten Taters, and next, The Good Taters. See if you can identify these “taters” where you are. Even better, which tater are you?

THE ROTTEN TATER FAMILY

• DICK TATER - He is the self-appointed leader. He has taken it upon himself to keep everyone else in their place by telling them what to do and when to do it. He feels it is his responsibility to keep everyone else straight.
• SPECK TATER - When asked to participate in teamwork or projects, Speck says no. He says he just spectates. He comes, he watches, he goes home. He sees the needs but he figures it's someone else’s job.
• AGI TATER - She keeps things stirred up by spreading some tale or story around about someone else. She is always ready with telephone in hand, ready to share the latest juicy story or tidbit about someone else. Agi- Tater really is a small-minded person with little or no self-worth. She feels that the only way she can look good is to make everyone else look bad.
• HEZZI TATER – He is one that is never willing to make a decision. He is paralyzed by the fear of failure and is terrified by life’s “what ifs.” He is usually the last to join in and the first to bail out at any sign of trouble.
• REGURGA TATER - He always brings things up from the past that did not agree with him. He is always looking back at how wonderful things were yesterday and how terrible things are today. Regurga-Tater is living in the past and missing the future; and while his head is turned towards yesterday, he is missing the opportunities for today.
• COMMON TATER - All he ever does is talk about what needs to be done. He talks about what was done wrong and how he could have done it better; however, that is all he does: talk. An old Indian proverb would have described this tater as, “All thunder, no rain.”

THE GOOD TATER FAMILY

• SWEET TATER - This person is an active team player. They have a sweet spirit and always finds the good in things . . . even when they have to look hard for it. “Finally, keep your minds on whatever is true, pure, right, holy, friendly and proper. Always focus on what is worthy of praise.” Philippians 4:8
• EMMY TATER – This is one who found a successful person of integrity and modeled themselves after that person. There is a great deal of emphasis on mentoring – it is great when you have someone to follow. By the way, be careful, there are people imitating you! “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 11:1
• FACILI TATER - This person is interested in helping others succeed. They want to see people grow and develop. They take great joy in helping people accomplish things and being successful. They enjoy helping people grow. “Encourage anyone who feels left out, help all who are weak, and be patient with everyone. Be good to each other and to everyone else.” 1 Thessalonians 5:14-15
• RO TATER – This is a person who will rotate from one job to the next. They are willing to serve in whatever capacity asked. Wherever this person is and whatever one asks this person to do, you can rest assured that they will do it to the best of their ability and with a smile on their face. "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." 1 Corinthians 10:31

Live in harmony by showing love for each other. Be united in what you think, as if you were only one person. Do not be jealous, but be humble and consider others more important than yourselves. Care about them as much as you care about yourself! Philippians 2:2-4

Which Spud Are You?