Do You Know You’re Born to Lead?

Leadership potentials have always been within you. You were born to lead.

Your failure to understand this timeless truth of leadership will either lead you to success or stagnation.

It’s either you will live on what you’re born for or die in this world without realizing your full potential.

Here’s what you can do to find success and significance about your birthright to lead.

1. Discover Your Leadership Design from God’s Word.

The truth is since the beginning, God designed you to become a leader.

The book of Genesis says, “Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

According to the Bible, when God created the first human beings–and that has a direct implications on all humankind–one of the major purposes was “that they may rule.”

Such rulership is in a generic sense. It means both men and women were designed to exercise some kind of leadership or influence in this world.

2. Develop In Us the Essential Character of God to Lead.

Even though God designed every human to rule or lead–that includes you and me–such design must still be developed.

“So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them,” The Bible says.

It is clear that humans were created in God’s image. I believe, this “image” is not just about our freedom of will or ability to think, feel, and do, but it is directly related to God’s rulership.

God’s image in us means we have to lead or rule the way God rules or leads. We have to reflect and represent His benevolent leadership to the world.

Through the years I’ve been reflecting on this “Genesis-Factor.” In fact, I did my doctoral dissertation in theology on this embedded truth and still striving to fulfill it in my personal life.

3. Dominate in a Godly Way.

The main essence of spiritual leadership is God’s benevolent rulership, not yours or mine.

To have “dominion” has always been at the heart of God for human leadership. It means that God designed human beings to reflect His benevolent rulership–nothing less, nothing more.

Today, however, domination has fallen into ill-will and bad image. It has almost a repugnant picture of authoritarianism, dictatorship, and despotism.

But “to dominate” (from Latin dominari or ruler or master) simply means to have a commanding influence and exercise healthy control over anything.

In the biblical parlance, dominion is leading like the way the Lord leads. It is not coercion, but Christlike.

The Bible says, “God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.’”

Since these words were first given in a perfect world by the perfect God, it’s meaning must be perfect, not defective. The context being was that this was declared before the first humans fell into sin and disobedience.

As such, to “dominate” and to “subdue” must be understood in sacred terms and meaning. It is about the godly rulership and overcoming leadership as God’s stewards and representatives.

Of course, at present, the truth remains. When we say, “absolute power corrupts,” it is only applicable to humans, not to God. God is still in absolute control, but that does not corrupt His benevolent nature.

Nonetheless, the sinful nature is not an escape route to abandon totally the idea of benevolent leadership.

Our weaknesses in sinful state must teach us to trust in the redeeming love Christ and His ability to change us from within. Then, and only then, we can have genuine dominion in Christlikeness.

As of now, you must understand that you’re born to lead, even though it does not guarantee you’ll effectively and efficiently lead. For even if you’re born into God’s family, you can still choose to live as a prince or a pauper.

It’s still your choice: to follow what you’re designed for or to find another way that you’re not designed to be.

As for me, I chose to live my God-given birthright to lead and exercise the benevolent rulership of my Father in heaven.

How about you?

Glenn Plastina (c) 2018

Why Should You Consider God in Your Work?

Peter Drucker, the management guru, has guiding principles in doing business. It is expressed in these two questions:

• What business are you in?
• How’s business?

If you are to put these questions in your professional or personal work, it might be easy to answer the first question. But the second one?

So, how’s work these days?

Some might say, “I’m bored to death.” “I feel empty.” “I think I’m lost and find no meaning here.” “All I got here is just a JOB–Just Over Broke.”

Can you identify with these? If so, let me encourage you to become better in whatever you do.

1. Go Back to the Source.

Life and work are like driving. When you’re lost, one of the best ways is to go back where you’ve begun, especially if you don’t have GPS.

Thankfully, we do have a spiritual GPS–God’s Principles for Success at work and business.

There are two very important concepts here:

A. God created the world and everything in it, therefore, He technically owns everything.

The truth is, if you realize that God is the ultimate source of everything good and the one who causes all things to grow you’ll change your perspective in everything you do.

B. People can separate their spirituality from work, but we can never separate our work from God. 

Some people have the idea of the separation between the secular and the sacred. But if a person is a genuine Christian, he or she cannot separate work from spirituality.

Since God is all-present, the thought of excluding God from our workplace is a double-standard between our faith and practice.

The challenges in not recognizing God at your work are serious. If you cut-off God from anything you do at work, what could you expect? Do you think God’s blessings will continue to flow?

2. Get Your Eternal Significance.

God ordained work to serve a better purpose. He originally appointed work as a mutual and dynamic cooperation between God and humans.

Paul says, “I planted the seed, Apollos [Paul’s fellow worker] watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow” (1 Cor 3:6-7).

Everyone knows. The farmer does not create seeds or cause these things to grow. He does not make land and water or cause the Sun to shine or rain to shower. Only God does.

However, it is the farmer’s role to cultivate the ground, plant the seeds, take care of the garden and field, and do the harvest. Both God and the farmer must work together.

If you regain that dynamics in your work, that God is your partner, you will think and do things differently. You will have a new sense of purpose that everything you do is to please God.

As the Bible says, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Cor 10:31). Indeed, whatever you decide to do, do it all for the glory of God.

3. Grow for a Total Success. 

Most, if not all, wanted to have success, regardless of how everyone defines it. But reality shows we don’t win always. Sometimes we experience challenges, setbacks, failures, and more.

The question remains is on what you do when those things come.

The Bible says. “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans” (Prov 16:3).

Plans are far from perfect. Sometimes we need to make adjustments along the way. But in order to succeed, we need to trust and do things God’s way.

Here are my checklists for a dream work and business.

• Spiritual: Is this work in line with God’s purpose for my life? Is God using me and is glorified in this work?
• Physical: Is this work promoting my wellbeing and health? Is this business making me physically healthy?
• Emotional: Do I love doing this work or business? Am I passionate in what I’m doing?
• Intellectual: Am I mentally growing in this business? Is this work making me mentally fit and not obsolete?
• Marital: In what ways my marriage is cultivated in this line of work?
• Parental: Is this work something my children can be proud of? Is this a work that makes me a good role model to my children?
• Professional: Is this work or business advancing my professional and personal growth?
• Social: What are my social responsibilities? Am I making a difference in my community or city or reaching out to people for God?
• Financial: Is this work financially rewarding? Would this work or business worthy of my investment of time, effort, and resources to be a blessing to God, my family, others, and me?

My prayer for you is this: “May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed” (Psa 20:4).

Glenn Plastina (c) 2018

Why Must You Have Wisdom?

Why must you have wisdom? Why not just teach your family to be wealthy?

Perhaps your children will become successful someday. That’s one of the reasons why you want them to be at the best school you can afford, right?

The truth is, if you’re a parent, the most important teacher your child could have is you.

And the most important lesson you can give is wisdom.

The wisest king who ever lived said, “My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity” (Prov. 3:1-2 NIV).

Here are simple truths you can learn from the wise king himself.

1. Possess Wisdom.

If you want to have a great life, have godly wisdom. This is the underlining principle of the book of Proverbs.

A person or family who values wisdom will have all the edge for success.

Foolishness may seem to succeed for a while, but eventually it will fall and pass away.

If you want your family to succeed, teach first the power of the wisdom of God.

King Solomon knew this first hand. He was given choices to have power, riches, success, and everything a man’s heart desires. But he chose wisdom–and teaches wisdom to others.

For this reason, the wise King knew the knew that the greatest gift he could give to his heirs is wisdom.

“My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart.” For wealth can be stolen and be gone, but with wisdom, one can regain everything.

There’s only a major challenge. You can’t teach what you don’t have.

If a person wants to teach wisdom, he or she must have it first before passing it on to others.

2. Prolong Your Life.

Have you ever wondered why people do something or get addicted on anything that would shorten their lives?

Or why despite the medical advances, people are very sickly and dying early?

While many get into physical activities and fitness for good reasons, others do it excessively at the expense of their lives.

Having the wisdom means a person respects God in whom everyone will be accountable for what he or she has done to the body.

If the person possesses wisdom, he or she will take good care also the body and avoids whatever would destroy such precious gift from God.

Teaching wisdom and obeying it are undeniably important “for they will prolong your life many years.”

Wisdom tells us that if people plant good seeds for life, they will reap good results in body, soul, and spirit.

If they abuse their bodies, eventually the body will give in return what has been planted. Even common sense could understand that.

3. Prosper in Every Way.

If someone asks you to choose between “health or wealth,” wisdom will tell you to choose both, not either/or.

Ancient wisdom teaches that wealth is both a gift and personal decision, not either/or. It means God gives wealth but it is also the choice of the person if he or she wants to be prosperous.

To prosper in biblical wisdom tradition is also not just about the mind, it also about massive action.

Wealth based on wisdom is better than folly.

Read for yourself in the book and you’ll consistently find out the truth that wisdom will not only prolong your life. It brings total well-being.

Wisdom gives a leading edge “and bring you peace and prosperity.” Again, it’s not either/or, but both peace and prosperity.

Wealth based on wisdom is full of peace, but riches full of trouble is not from God.

It’s because when God gives wealth, He does not usually include troubles in it that could shorten the life of the recipient.

Prosperity in the Bible is more than just financial riches. It means total growth and well-being of the person and family.

The biblical Judeo-Christianity is not a prosperity gospel, but there is a good news for prosperity in it.

It’s not the claim-it-you-got-it for the prosperity of the smooth sayer. But wisdom is an essential part of good success, the practical application of the truth with faith.

So, why not try wisdom? You have nothing to lose.

Glenn Plastina (c) 2017

What Can Tough Runners Teach Us?

Have you ever realized you were born to be in the game of life?

Life is a spiritual sport, although sport is not totally about life.

All of us are involved in this game of life. And that means there are athletes and there are those who remain to be audiences.

In life as a sport, there are players and coaches or winners and losers. Have you considered yourself to be a winner?

1. Run for the Prize.

There are many lessons we can learn about sports, whatever your favorite is. As for me, I like playing basketball, volleyball, and sprint.

I used to compete as a short-distance sprinter. And there were many life lessons I learned from it ever since.

It’s very interesting that the Apostle Paul used race running as a symbol of life. He says, “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.”

As there are many health benefits to athletic disciplines, it is unrealistic to expect that everyone will have equal shots and share equal benefits.

The truth is every athlete may be born equal, but they were not made equal.

The beauty of Christian life is that we are all born into God’s family and we all have extraordinary destiny.

When we go through the training of this life we run for the eternal prize that cannot be taken away from us. So, let us run the race to win.

2. Retrain Yourself.

There are many people who assume that they can be successful without investing significant time, giving resources, risking lives-and-limbs for proper training.

The Bible says, “Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.”

We have heard the super cliche “No pain, no gain.” But that’s how life works.

Athletes have to strain their muscles to gain strength. But it is more than just putting yourself into a physical torture for nothing.

If an aspiring athlete wants to be the best, he or she must be prepared to experience pain with passion.

Through proper training, they, at least, avoid serious injury that would shorten their athletic dreams and aspirations.

On the other hand, every Christian must be willing to go through the proper training of life. Oftentimes it involves certain level of hardships, pain, struggles, hurt, frustrations, and losses. After all, God did not promise that life as a race would be easy.

And yet, how many Christians are forfeiting themselves during the game or losing sight of the real essence of it?

The most inspiring part of being a spiritual athlete is the opportunity to be trained and run for eternity–not just to run for something we cannot keep.

So if you think practice makes perfect, think again. You might want to reconsider the power of right practice and win forever.

3. Refocus on What Matters the Most.

Every Christian who considers himself a tough runner must be intentional and intensive.

To be intentional, he must be clear about his vision as well as direction. To be intensive, he must be courageous, disciplined, and persistent.

Running on a treadmill may train you, but it won’t get you nowhere unless you step out and go to the real track and field of life. We cannot even say, “do the ten mile run for me so that I’ll become a tough runner.”

Every follower of Jesus who has put on his running shoes must seriously consider:

• Where am I heading?
• Where am I right now?
• How will I get there?

Paul himself is very intentional. He says, “Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly.”

Have you ever thought that this could happen to anyone—that someone is running through this life aimlessly?

In fact, there could be some who are running the wrong race?

It is easy to get sidetracked and be disqualified in any sports. Every sport has its own rules and regulations. These are not to restrict the athletes but to serve and protect the sport, as well as the players.

If anyone wants to be successful in any games, The truth is, he will never become succesful if he will not strive to change himself in conformity to the game amd play by the rules.

Anyone may be the best in his own field, but playing the game that is not yours is a formula for disaster.

We must realize. It is helpful to ask ourselves: “What sports am I in?” and “How’s the game so far?”

If you seriously consider these, you will be able to see the changes you need to do. Then, you will become what you really want to be—a winner.

Glenn Plastina (c) 2018

Meditations on 1 Cor 9:24-26 (NIV)

Can Pastors Really Make a World of Difference?

While I believe that people and professions do make a difference in their own rights, I’ll focus on the short reflection if pastors can really make a world of difference.

As the United States of America is celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. Day, it is easy to just take it for granted, spending the day having a vacation and shopping, or rest without reflections.

Let me challenge fellow leaders and pastors to reconsider the question.

1. Pastor a Church.

Interestingly, if you search the word “pastor” in your Bible, there is only one text that explicitly mentions it. It says, “So Christ himself gave…the pastors” (Eph 4:11).

It means pastors are God’s gift to the church. God called them—not by their choice or position but by His will—as pastors for who they are, what to do, and what to become in the church, locally and globally.

Even though Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is a very prominent spokesperson of the civil rights movement in the US, he was primarily an American Baptist pastor. A man who is intellectually astute—and earned his doctorate degree in systematic theology—all his life he maintained Jesus Christ as his main influence.

Looking at the overview of his biography, King modeled his life as a pastor on Jesus’ teachings to “love God” and “love your neighbor as yourself.”

 

2. Pastor a Community or City.

Who would have thought that a pastor of Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama, could make a difference—not just to the church but also—to the community or city?

For King, loving God and loving people is not just something personal. It is proactively public—and he is not ashamed about it. This is the underlying principle behind his approach to a nonviolent protest against racial discrimination not just among his congregants but the community as a whole.

As a preacher and proponent of civil rights activism, King’s ambition is not for political purposes but for “excellence in the Christian ministry” and his concern for “the whole man,” not just the soul.

Before anyone could change the community, a person must not start just from within oneself but also on where he or she is located in the community.

Unlike some Christ followers who think Christianity is confined as a “personal matter” in the four walls of the chapel, King’s understanding of Christian faith is different. His faith is also relevant in the marketplace, the community and the city.

King’s non-violent thought and method differ from Gandhi’s pacifist view on resisting evil. King’s method is motivated by doing the will of God, demonstrating Christ’s Gospel of love, and keeping the right of humans (who are created in God’s image) against the evil of dehumanization. It means the motivation is spiritual, not secular.

3. Pastor a Country.

King’s influence as a Christian leader grew like a ripple effect worldwide. His prayer is not just for his community but also for the great nation plagued by the spiritual disease of racial discrimination as a whole.

But unlike the timid expressions of faith and prayers for freedom on a personal level, heavily protected for egotistic self-consumption, King’s prayer is different. His dream is transformative and its effect lived beyond his very own existence.

King might have not lived to see his pastoral influence spreading to the whole country, but he is remembered in all the states of America now. His legacy on the human rights is remembered for a life of dignity and giving the loving service to others.

In fact, King’s life and contribution is also honored in the UK and other parts of the world.

This day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, I’m reminded that a person who is ashamed of Christ and is not free to publicly share the Gospel of Christ is not free at all.

When Jesus commissioned his followers to make disciples of all “nations,” did he really mean “nations” like America, Philippines, Israel, etc.?

(Or out of safety-purposes and unbelief, let’s just twist it into “individuals,” “church members,” (or church members from other churches)—but never about a nation?)

Does the Great Commission have something to do with messianic Jesus’ title as the “King of kings and Lord of lords”?

Pastors, may God give us dreams bigger than ourselves!

Glenn Plastina © 2018

How to Make Your Leadership Good to Great?

Now you’re moving from being good to better, and better to great.

Read “How to Make Your Leadership Better than Good.” In this is next part, we go further in clarifying your vision, strategy, and sustainability.

4. Envision the Distinction Between Good from Better Towards the Best.

“Moses ‘father-in-law said to him,” and take note of this, “What you are doing is not good.”

Keep in mind: Good enough is not always better; and best is best.

More often, a leader who can picture the difference between a mediocre and excellent ministry is the one likely to succeed. But a person addicted to maintenance is usually not maximizing the ministry.

A leader must make a move to improve.

Any ministry can be good in our sight—especially if we like it and we take our legitimacy from it—but it may not be good enough.

Moses did God’s work (service), but what he was doing (strategy) “is not good.” There must be something better; whatever it is, it should be sought.

Doing the ministry carries with it the call for progress and growth.

5. Expand Your Leadership by Doing the Ministry With Others.

“You and the people with you will certainly wear yourselves out, for the thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to do it alone.”

The seminaries–or schools in general–teach leaders to know and do almost everything in the church. If not careful, we usually find ourselves doing (or hoarding) the ministry alone because we assume we are the “experts.” We are trained to do it.

But this individualistic mentality (perhaps imported from the West) made us “workers” in a sense of employees, hired servants, and administrators of what the board or council wants to do the work for the congregation.

It is always best when leaders work together as a team. But often times, what those uninvolved in the ministry have decided, we do. They lead; we follow.

Servant leadership becomes servitude when a leader attempts to carry the load alone.

The end result: many pastors are overworked and, some may be treated as employees, yet underpaid.

6. Embrace Godly Principles that Contain the Wisdom of Spiritual Leadership.

Understand this. “Now obey my voice; I will give you advice, and God be with you!” says Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, “You shall represent the people before God and bring their cases to God.”

Spiritual leadership covers lifetime listening, learning, and living.

We need to hear the “advice” from our experienced mentors and others. It may come from unexpected people.

Jethro is a Midianite priest (an outsider), but what he says contained major truths!

The prevailing wisdom here is spiritual leadership is an act of sacred representation. You are God’s representative.

Many pastors are wearied about their “transactional” leadership. Instead of being representatives of God, we become referees—not to mention facilitate through Robert’s rule–rather than follow God’s rule!

Indeed our “business” meetings often speak aloud than what we believe. We are more comfortable with the business model than the biblical.

However, as evangelical leaders, we must regain “covenantal leadership” and develop a godly team of spiritual leaders. We must reclaim the true nature of being God’s people, family, and body.

Glenn Plastina © 2015, 2017.

(To be continued 2 of 3)

This article originally appeared in the magazine The Lord’s Trumpet with the title “How to Make Your Leadership Better than Good.” This is the second part of the three articles.

How to Make Your Leadership Better than Good?

Perhaps you heard the phrase, “Everything rises and falls on leadership.”

Be careful. That could be a good leadership idea but a bad theology. Leadership is not divine. It is not the determining factor to the movement of everything.

Although leadership is one of the natures of God as Benevolent Ruler, only God sustains all things—not leadership itself.

If you compare your leadership styles between the previous years with the present, have you seen some improvements?

Honestly, how is your leadership going on at present? What are your expectations about your leadership skills for the future?

These are some specific questions. It’s better than just asking, “how’s leadership?”

For the obvious answer may be “good.” If you’re tired of just being good (or not good enough), let us consider some specific principles to help our ministry leadership overcome the curse of mediocrity.

Let me journey with you through Exodus 18:13-23.

How to improve your leadership style?

For every major point read the passage for your reference.

1. Eliminate Unnecessary Efforts in Taking Full Control of the Ministry.

There was a time that Moses, the great leader of Israel, tried doing things his way and everything on his own for the people he led—and that’s every day. “The next day Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from morning till evening.”

The truth is, you cannot control people and ministry—no matter how hard you work. Leadership is more than just hard work or job, like Moses, from “morning till evening.”

Although most seminary graduates were trained to be “jack-of-all-trade-master-of-nothing,” the ministry does not need super-leaders or super-pastors.

Though hard work is important, we also need to be smart, not insecure.

Taking full control of every affair in the leadership is unhealthy (although there is such a thing as “healthy level” of control). It may also mean we show a lack of security and competence.

Remember, we are not to be scholars (or experts) but servants, worse, not peasants but pastors. Our calling is not to control, but lead—that is to influence others.

2. Examine Your Methods and Purposes in Doing the Ministry.

According to the narrative, “When Moses ‘father- in- law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, “What is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone, and all the people stand around you from morning till evening.”

The lessons we can glean from this are clear. Look carefully at your style of doing ministry by probing your purposes, preparations, plans, processes, and practices (5Ps).

As you continue working, study the “what” and “why.”

What is your vision? Why are you doing the things that you do?

Your answers will shape your strategies. They will make a huge difference in terms of effectiveness in a certain situation and culture.

A ministry that lacks purpose will lead you to do something without realizing its relevance and importance.

Don’t major on the minor (but don’t minor the major too). Don’t be confused between the message and the method.

God’s purposes for his people are unchanging for both Israel and the church! Only our plans must change.

3. Establish the Real Needs that Require Crucial Decisions.

“And Moses said to his father- in- law,” as the story goes, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God; when they have a dispute, they come to me and I decide between one person and another, and I make them know the statutes of God and his laws.”

Here, needs are essential in the ministry but they are not of equal importance. Also, some needs change through times.

As spiritual leaders, we must be aware of our “messiah complex” to meet all the needs of the people. If we think we can save everyone, we lie to ourselves; and we act like God.

We have to understand that “God’s will” is not revealed through us alone. We must make a decision to decide not to rob people of their ability to decide for themselves, but only if it is of utmost necessity.

It may be that ministry requires a lot of crucial decision-making, but we have to make it sure that our decisions count to last.

(To be continued 1 of 3)

Glenn Plastina © 2015, 2017. This article originally appeared in the magazine The Lord’s Trumpet with the title “How to Make Your Leadership Better than Good.” This is the first part of the three articles.

How to Respond to Harmful Motives?

Few years ago, I know of a man who was exploited by the very people he least expected.

After all the years of sacrifices he did to establish and build his God-given dreams, when the time the project was already successful, the accomplishments were literally stolen right to his face.

The man was left with nothing as cunning individuals denied him of his rights to his accomplishments. His family was hurt but he kept on going to seek God’s perfect direction in an imperfect situation.

As the time passed by, he forgave and forgotten the pain of betrayal. The leader looked back–even wrote parts of his very rich experiences in a book–about what he learned as very important lessons in life.

Like Joseph, he said, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”

1. Control Your Responses.

Truth to be told. You don’t have control of anyone’s hidden motives, especially the vicious and deceptive ones. You can only control your responses to it.

Like Joseph who was betrayed by his very own brothers, the leader did not had any control at the manipulative and wicked intentions of those who deceitfully used and abused him.

Joseph’s deceivers could not stand his God-given dreams. In fact, they want to stand in between God and Joseph to hinder such dreams to be fulfilled. Before Joseph even knew, his brothers plotted against him–even kill him.

“You intended to harm me,” he said. But Joseph remained kind, courageous, and full of faith. He controlled his responses and did not took revenge.

Instead, Joseph allowed God’s success to take the sweet revenge on them. He became very successful, wealthy, and powerful as God blessed him for his faith that God is still in control, no matter what.

2. Choose to Trust God’s Intentions.

At times, you might not be able to discern the evil intentions of others. Sometimes, our naïveté causes us to trust the persons we should have not trusted in the first place.

Have you ever thought that your intuitions and gut feelings were often right?

Mind you, even the most objective and smart people do commit mistakes in matter of trusting the right persons.

But even then, God can defeat the wicked intentions of others through His goodness.

Joseph’s brothers plotted against him “but God intended it for good.”

How could such evil intentions and deeds of men turned out into something good?

Here’s a mystery of life. What we often see are the evil things that happen to us. But what God sees is His sustaining grace to turn everything into the ultimate favor of His children.

The question is: do you trust God and His perfect plans?

3. Concentrate on God’s Intended Purposes.

No human motives–even the worst of it–can prevail against God’s eternal purposes.

Either we hurt or heal, but God’s plan in the midst of pain will still prevail.

Sometimes we don’t see the benefits of betrayal and pain at present. We can’t understand everything at the moment. But when the time would pass us by, we look back and see that God’s goodness was there upholding us.

Joseph focused, not on the pain but, on God’s purposes and plans. Despite the evil schemes and times, God was still there “to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”

The truth is that God can turn your tears into diamonds of faith.

Yes, it was painful, but instead of being bitter, Joseph–as well as the leader I mentioned awhile ago–used the pain to build his faith stronger and still continue to serve God’s purposes of saving lives (Ironically those who betrayed the leader are not actually saving lives or doing evangelism). In his long years, he learned this:

 Life is too short to waste on resentment. But man’s disappointments can be God’s appointments.

Don’t let other’s hidden motives destroy your life. Let God deal with those who exploited you. Trust God’s plan to keep you in perfect alignment to His redemptive plan and work.

Glenn Plastina (c) 2017

Why Pray for Your Success?

A long time ago, Abraham, the patriarch, was very old. He was concerned for his son, Isaac. He called his “senior servant” to go for a mission: succefully find the woman whom God prepared for his son.

It was an ancient story of love and loyalty–something quite missing in today’s employer-employee relationships–that gives a better dimension for a leader’s prayer for success.

Here are important ways you can pray for success.

1. See the Entire Journey.

The prayer for success is not some random acts of possibilities.

Success is achievable because with God nothing is impossible.

The truth is, the whole story of the Bible is a story of success. God sets the journey from the Creation to Consummation where He accomplishes all His purposes without fail.

Abraham’s story is part of God’s success plan. The man himself is a success model of an abundantly blessed person who is both faithful and fruitful.

Abraham is blessed with the posterity (family and the son), properties, prosperity (wealth), prolonged life (longevity) and living in the Promised Land.

Abraham’s servant witnessed, “The Lord has blessed my master abundantly, and he has become wealthy. He has given him sheep and cattle, silver and gold, male and female servants, and camels and donkeys. My master’s wife Sarah has borne him a son in her old age, and he has given him everything he owns.”

From the beginning to the end of the journey, God’s hand has blessed and led faithful servants to success. You need to see your life journey on that glass.

2. Seek Specific Signs.

It is understandable that seeking signs is quite risky and sometimes viewed as a symptom of lack of faith–that is of course, if you don’t know what journey you are in.

Even roads have signs for all to read that you won’t be lost in the journey. Or else, you’re clueless in a jungle or massive labyrinth of life.

Before the servant embarked on his journey, he was given the clear mission on where to go and what to do, as well as what not to do. His mission was still part of God’s purpose and plan for Abraham’s posterity.

As a servant, his mission for the journey was predefined and he pledged to his master to accomplish the mission. He prayed, “Lord, God of my master Abraham, make me successful today, and show kindness to my master Abraham.”

The servant asked for specific signs to know for sure that God is granting His prayer for success. But, “before he had finished praying,” God’s answer already came. He moved discreetly and “watched…closely to learn whether or not the Lord had made his journey successful.”

When God sets his servants on a journey, He leads, the servant follows. But God makes it sure he has signs to see and not be blindly lost. So there’s nothing wrong in asking for signs with proper reasons.

3. Stick to the Plan.

The servant was full of prayer and worship. He constantly recognized God’s leading in his journey to become successful. His prayer for success is solely dependent upon God’s will.

He prayed, “Lord, God of my master Abraham, if you will, please grant success to the journey on which I have come.”

The prayer for success is not about twisting God’s arm to make you successful, but to trust God that through His empowerment and guidance you succeed in accomplishing His purposes, plans, and programs.

However, the journey to success has lots of temptations. In fact, the servant in the story did not to allow any distractions when he said, “Do not detain me, now that the Lord has granted success to my journey. Send me on my way so I may go to my master.”

But that’s exactly why temptations are there: to reveal the real person within.

I believe, temptations play a vital role in every man’s journey to success. Without it, success is superficial. It’s because only temptations will magnify what’s really inside the heart of a person.

No wonder many sincere people do not want success because success will disclose what’s really inside their minds, hearts, and motives. They are scared to be tested if they are focused on God, but not be able to handle the deep responsibility of power, prosperity, or popularity.

For this reason, we rarely see the total successes of the likes of Abraham and his senior servant, as well as of Jacob, Joseph, Job, Moses, Joshua, David, Solomon, Nehemiah, and more.

The truth is you need not to pray if you set yourself to fail. It just naturally come, even if you do nothing. But if you want to be like the senior servant, start praying for your success now.

Have you noticed why the Bible left the senior servant nameless?

Perhaps, it is to inspire you to personally learn by putting your name in place of that servant. Would you do the same?

Glenn Plastina (c) 2017

What Are the 3 Major Habits of Highly Productive People?

Highly productive persons have a peculiar sense of intentionality in life. No, they’re not perfect. They’re simply purposive.

Today’s challenge for a productive life is a call that must be heeded, especially for those who claim to be living in the faith of Christ’s teachings.

However, becoming successfully productive in life is more than just possessing the mindset. It is methodological. It means that highly productive people have certain systems that are not usually applied by non-productive ones.

The Apostle Paul’s letter to his associate, Titus, states. “Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order to provide for urgent needs and not live unproductive lives.”

Here are the three indispensable habits of highly productive people.

1. Persist to Do Massive Action.

Highly productive people are doers of what they’ve learned. They have the habit of applying their learning and not just think about it.

This is evident in Apostle Paul’s statement: “Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good.” He is primarily speaking to the people of faith–but not just of faith, but of deeds.

First, they learn. Then, they take persistent and massive action–and learn further while performing.

True. Knowledge is power, but it’s only potential power. It is not enough without actions.

If you want to be a highly productive person, you must devote yourself to performing something you’re good about with your utmost best.

2. Provide for the Essentials.

Be intentional. Highly productive people are driven to provide a better life for their families and God’s work. Such is an essential norm in life.

Apostle Paul’s intentionality is clear. People do and devote themselves to work “in order to provide for urgent needs.”

It is essential for every person, especially for every believer, to make adequate provisions for the basic necessities of life and that of their family.

In fact, profitable entrepreneurs are very good at meeting needs–and greater still are those who create something so that massive people would need it. Learn from them too.

3. Produce Significant Results.

For Apostle Paul, productivity is a great testimony to Christian life and leadership. And there’s no reason why it should not be.

At all cost, every Christian must “not live unproductive lives.” It is bad for themselves and a poor testimony to others and to God.

In fact, Paul strongly believes that those who are not productive and not providing for their immediate families are worse than unbelievers.

How much more for a person who neglects the essential necessities of his spouse, children or family?

The same is true for leaders and entrepreneurs towards their followers and constituents.

Productivity differentiates effective people from those that are not.

Are you doing the same thing repeatedly and yet not getting your desired results?

There must be something wrong. Change it.

Thus, whether you like this or not, God will judge us based on our results also, not just our motives, intentions, and actions. (And by the way. On that day, we cannot plead for insanity.)

Why not consider doing better things and get different and better results?

Glenn Plastina (c) 2017