Goals

Earlier this year I was asked to speak at a program at work called Bible and Brown Bag. It was going to be my first time speaking/teaching at Bible Study. I was excited and scared at the same time.

Like many people I put off working on the class until the last second. I really started to think about the class when I was flying back from I Leadership Retreat I was presenting at in Pennsylvania.

The class became a motivator for me because, I found the notes recently and they helped me focus on the goals I've set for 2013 and beyond.

Here are the note/talking points from the class that I taught.

Bible and Brown Bag Notes

Today is February 26, 2013.

We are 57 days into the New Year

Did any you set any New Years Resolutions?

Did any of you make goals for the year?

How are your goals and resolutions coming?

A Franklin Covey Study said 35% of New Years Resolutions are broken by the end of January. The same survey said that only 23% of resolutions made are kept.

One of my goals this year is to strengthen my relationship from god. This means speaking with him more, learning from his words and paying attention to what he teaches me.

I like to call these God’s breadcrumbs. He won’t do things for me, but he’ll lead me in the right direction if I pay attention.

A week ago I paid attention to the bread crumbs presented by god. I was with my friend Rodger. He began talking with me about how he was reading Psalms and needed to read more and talk with god more. Then I was in the airport and found this book, "Bible Promises." I said I wanted to read his words this year. This books lays out God's words in organized themes. It make things pretty easy for me.

One of the first sections I turned to was on Goals.

I read Corinthians 9:24

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.”

The passage reminded the marathon I completed. People in the race had the same goal to finish the race. They all got to the finish line at different times and and different ways. It wasn’t about the physical prize.  Bread crumbs... People ran the race to achieve their goal. Everyone couldn't get a physical prize, but they could still run like they would get one.

Then I read Matthew 6:33

Jesus, said, “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well.”

Another goal of mine is to encourage people to grow. Helping others grow also helps me with my goal to grow spiritually and mentally this year. I was reminded of this when I received this letter from a student named Ashley.

Hey Frank and Rodger,
I wanted to say thank you for the leadership retreat today. I know it was supposed to remind us of why we are leaders and how we influence others, but it reminded me of so much more.
I am senior and my best friend graduated last semester. It has honestly been pretty miserable here for the past month. Your leadership retreat made me realize, it's miserable because of me.
I forgot how easy it is to smile and to laugh and to be silly. You guys really have a way with words. Your lessons were felt today. They gave me back the little bit of spunk I was missing for awhile there.
I honestly thought going into it, oh boy, another person preaching.
However, you didn't preach. You taught. You reminded. You impacted. You gave me back my value.
So as I sat here and wrote down a grocery list, I remembered the littlest things and the major things, and I just wanted to make sure that a thank you to the both of you was included.
Thank you for helping me find the BAD in me again,

Ashley

Next I read 2 Timothy 2:15

"Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth."

We have to be honest about our goals and dreams and share them with people around us. "Share your vision, live your dream," is what Rodger Campbell always says to me.  I was out of work last year. My goal was to get work to help pays the bills. I could have been ashamed to admit that, but I wasn’t and shared my goal with several friends including my friend Kara. She directed me to several employers or which one hired me.

You can’t be ashamed of your goals and keep them to yourself.  If you are not proud of your goal, you can't believe in it and you will have a difficult time ever living it.

What is a goal you’re working on this year?

Colossians 3:12 was next on the list

"As God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience."

In the book, I read a quote from Billy Graham

“God still loves us, He yearns to forgive us and bring us back to himself. He wants to fill our lives with meaning and purpose.”

We set lots of goals, but when we achieve them they fill our lives with meaning and purpose. God doesn’t just make things happen, we have to work to make things happen. He uses our talents to build his kingdom.

Things happen at the right, place at the right time for the right reasons. God’s plan.

It’s up to us to pay attention to the bread crumbs he leaves out for us to direct us down the right path.

I truly hope attending bible and brown bag today is that bread crumb the inspires you to continue working towards your goals. We are only 16% of the way through the year. What will you do with the other 84% to build God's kingdom.

We often close with prayer, but I would like to close with the video called the Gospel. It will inspire you with the artists talent but the word too.

Here is a link to the video. G.O.S.P.E.L.

Thank you!

We're about half way through the year. It's time to regroup. Just because you haven't hit your goals yet, or you're not on the pace you set, it doesn't mean you stop working towards your goals. FOCUS on the prize and get back to work. Share your ideas with people closest to you. Pray or meditate and remember their is no EASY button in life, you have to work for everything you earn.