Leading

  What makes someone a leader? What makes someone want to lead? What makes a good leader, and why? When it comes to leadership I wonder these things. Why did I choose not to lead? But yet I’m in a leadership role at home. I think that I put off doing some of that because I mostly was self-centered, Self focused and just plain indifferent. For so long before I came to Christ I lived a self-centered life. Even after I came to Christ I still was so self-focused. I had learned different ways to manipulate others. To get people to see things my way so that I could get what I wanted. I learned to pit people against each other to get my own way (my parents for example). I learned several different ways of conning people and these things became very habitual because I thought I needed them to survive as an alcoholic. These character defects were ingrained into me as a survival mechanism. Because really when you turn your back on God you have to take care of the things that He would normally handle. These attributes are not what you want to have when it comes to leading. A good leader is going to be self-less, and compassionate, and honest. A person that is concerned about others. These attributes will serve you better as a leader.
Pressing on with excellence!
Keith  

Home Sweet Home

Over the past few months we have been shopping for a house. Actually we made an offer on a house back in November. Anyway its been quite a process getting through financing. But last Friday we finally closed and moved in on Saturday. Though this time has been exhausting and sometimes frustrating I knew that this was the house for us. There were times when we wondered if we were even going to get it or not. I seen too many things not to believe that we would be here. One of the best things this house has done for me is to give me the confidence that we are really where God wants us to be. When you up root your family and move far away from home it's easy to question whether or not you made the right decision. Especially if you have been struggling financially as we have. I wouldn't have thought that moving was so stressful or that buying a house would be so stressful. I have been very tired lately and the kids have been crabby. I believe that it was caused by stress. In fact when we found out we for sure were getting this house the kids attitude has changed dramatically. I'm sure all of our attitudes have changed. I'm grateful that God has given us this home and look forward to our future here. I'm also grateful for the many new friends the I have made here!
Pressing on with excellence!

 Keith  

Loving Others

  I heard a great message today at church by pastor Randy Gravitt. Talking about how we need to take inventory of how we are doing at loving others. One thing he mentioned was that it takes more energy to be self-centered than it does to love others. That I believe is true we spend a lot of time and energy thinking about ourselves. It is impossible to be self-focused and and loving at the same time. I think that if we are others focused than we are closer to the ideal person that God wants us to be. God is love and and he wants us to imitate him. So here are three things that can help us to get out of our selves and think of others more.
1.) Treat people as special. This takes some effort but the payoff is well worth it.
2.) Do more than what's expected. These are little things that often go unnoticed but God knows and you will know.
3.) Having a good attitude. After all none of these things will matter if you do them grudgingly.
 But I would add even if you do them with a bad attitude do them anyway. Action action action go through the the motion and the emotion will follow. Your attitude will change over time as you learn how to be less self-centered and how to love like God does.
Pressing on with excellence!!
 Keith  

new year new life

I have been thinking lately about how I can serve God this year. I feel like I squandered some of the last fifteen years of my life. I don't want to do the same thing the next fifteen years. I really want to make a difference for God. I'm not exactly sure what that looks like. But I do know one thing. I have been trying to go it alone before. But not this time I'm going to ask for help this time I need an adviser. Two is surely better than one and I believe will be much better than just myself.  I am In need of a coach. One who can look at my assets and guide me in the right direction to be of maximum usefulness of others. This is the year I am ready! No more time to waste! Let's Roll!
Pressing on with excellence!!
Keith

The Real Problem

Romans 8:6 says, "the mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the spirit is life and peace." (NIV) This was our life. Before we became Christ followers, we were dead to God and his ways and what he wanted to do in our lives for us and others. Now, we need to get into the habit of allowing the Holy Spirit to control our mind. The Holy Spirit is God and, if we allow him to control our mind, then we will have what we have been searching for all along; life and peace. When we have this we gain so much more than just peace. Because when you have this peace, then you treat others differently. You care more than you used to about them and their feelings and where they're at in life. You have less amends to make because if the Holy Spirit is controlling your mind then by default He's controlling your thoughts. If He's controlling your thoughts then He's controlling your actions and you will act differently and treat others differently. This Romans 8:6 has become my life verse. When I think that I have a problem, the problem that I have is not really the problem at all. The real problem is that I haven’t allowed the Holy Spirit to control my mind.
Pressing on with excellence!
Keith Smith

Friends

  Since we moved down here in GA in February I have met several people. I’ve met people at church and other venues here in Georgia. But meeting people and making friends are two different things. We have made some real friends while we’ve been here so far. Friends that help you out and watch out for you. We have had some financial difficulties and friends have helped out. Gone above and beyond what I would call the call of duty as a friend. What is the call and duty of a friend? Well let me tell you what some of my friends have been doing. When my daughters 13^th birthday came around and I didn’t have any extra money for a great 13^th celebration our friends took our whole family out to eat. They didn’t stop there they took us over to the bowling ally and covered two games for all of us. They didn’t stop there they also bought a DQ ice cream cake for us. They didn’t stop there they bought gifts for my daughter. Above and beyond. Since I’ve been looking for work I have a friend that has hand delivered my resume to the Human Resource Dept. He didn’t just do that he’s been hounding his boss to take a look at me. He didn’t stop there He has defended me when there was questions about my last job. Above and beyond. Do you have any friends like these? Are you a friend like this? I want to send out a very special thanks to all of my friends. I am so blessed to have you as my friends thanks so much may God greatly bless you all.

Pressing on with excellence!

Keith   

Can't Compartmentalize

One thing I believe is that if you do not have a relationship with God, then by default you’re against him. What I mean is; it is no wonder why our defects of character, our relationships with others, and our lives are messed up. We were running opposite of God, getting further and further away from what we were really meant to be, ideally.

  It may not be intentional, but without His help it is impossible to continue to become better and better. Therefore you stagnate and are never able to progress further in any area of your life. Each area of your life affects one another. For example if you have a resentment against one person, then it will effect other relationships in your life. You may be intolerant to your wife or kids. It is impossible to compartmentalize different areas of your life from each other. One thing that is cool is, when you, with God’s help, start improving in one area of your life, it affects all the other areas of your life. For example, if you start improving in physical fitness it may effect how you feel about yourself and your self esteem. If your self esteem improves, you may be more tolerant with others. One of the most revolutionizing things in my own life, that held me back for so long, was unforgiveness of myself. I don’t think I realized that I had a resentment against myself (you know you have a resentment against yourself when you use the guilt club on yourself.) Anyway, when I started forgiving myself, I found that my relationships with others improved. I was able to overlook others wrongs and I drew closer to God which gave me more peace. 

Pressing on with excellence!

Keith