When I Am Weak, Then I Am Strong
June 29, 2007 |
"You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, ‘I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.’ You must do the thing you think you cannot do.”—Eleanor Roosevelt in You Learn by Living
No doubt hardships strengthen us. In my experience, some of the best leaders are those who have come through great difficulty or tragedy and carry the depth of their experience with them. And for those who follow Christ, difficulties do more than build our own confidence. In fact, sometimes we're at our strongest when we don't feel confident or strong or whole. Sometimes it's not about growing stronger but about knowing we're weak.
Posted by Amy Simpson on June 29, 2007 | Comments (14)
Impasse to Action
June 26, 2007 |
One of the great foilers of good intentions is “overwhelm-paralysis.” The engulfing wave of global suffering can immobilize the most ardent leader. Gary Haugen, in Good News About Injustice, writes, “We feel like deer frozen by headlights . . . Instead of energizing us for action, the overwhelming injustice in our world actually makes us feel numb.”
All of us, at one time or other, find ourselves here. When we do, it helps to learn from trailblazers who are forging ahead. One guiding light is Dr. Viji Cammauf—founder of Little Flock Children’s Homes, an organization aspiring to reach orphans and widows worldwide.
Viji’s overwhelm-paralysis hit after watching Bandit Queen. The film depicts the true story of a child-bride who endured savage abuse. For three days, Viji wept in despair. Until finally, she got up and asked herself, “What am I going to do about it?” At the time, she was minister of missions at First Covenant Church in Oakland, California. Her position provided a platform to rally like-minded supporters, and in 2005, Little Flock Children’s Homes broke ground in Kondamangalam, India. To date, 10 cottages to house 100 children have been built. A dining hall, guest facility, and community center with library and computer lab are on the horizon. From impasse to action, Viji shares her insights:
Posted by Caryn Rivadeneira on June 26, 2007 | Comments (7)
Solitude for the Busy Mom
June 22, 2007 |
If you’re a mother, you can relate: Between caring for kids, managing the house, and tackling work or other responsibilities, the idyllic quietness of heart and deep communion with God we long for can seem like a mirage, a perpetually unattainable goal. Real life with real kids is seldom quiet, and dedicated moms are hardly ever alone. For us, even using the bathroom can become a family affair! Of all the classic spiritual disciplines, silence and solitude can seem the most unrealistic for a mother with young children.
In many ways these disciplines are incongruous with parenthood. It’s not possible to live as a hermit and bond with your children. It’s not possible to take a vow of silence and simultaneously supply your children with the verbal affirmation, songs, and bedtime stories they need.
Continue reading...Posted by Caryn Rivadeneira on June 22, 2007 | Comments (8)
Tailor-Making Spiritual Formation
June 19, 2007 |
If I were to think of myself as the model godly woman, I’d picture myself sitting at the table in my breakfast nook, steam rising from the fresh cup of coffee in my hand, reading my study Bible and Beth Moore book by the rays of the early morning sunlight that stream through my windows, the faint sound of birds chirping in my flower-filled yard.
As I’ve struggled for years to reach this spiritual “ideal,” I’ve finally realized there are a number of problems with it: 1. I don’t like coffee; 2. I am not a morning person; 3. I have two young boys who fill the house with noise the minute they awaken; 4. I don’t do flowers, just ask my husband; 5. I don’t have any of Beth Moore’s books.
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to spiritual formation.
Continue reading...Posted by Caryn Rivadeneira on June 19, 2007 | Comments (13)
The Audacity of Dreams
June 15, 2007 |
Dreams are powerful things. They help propel us forward in life. They are the aspirations of our hearts, and we hope, the framework of the extraordinary. For better or worse, what we think and what we dream tends to materialize. “As a person thinks in the heart, so a person becomes” (Proverbs 23:7).
The best dreams call us to our higher selves, participating creatively in the things and plans of God. Good dreams reflect a Philippians 4:8 orientation: “Brothers and sisters, think about things that are good and worthy of praise. Think about the things that are true and honorable and right and pure and beautiful and respected.”
Posted by Caryn Rivadeneira on June 15, 2007 | Comments (8)
In Memory of Ruth Bell Graham
June 14, 2007 |
The following article was first published in June 2000 in CHRISTIANITY TODAY. Wendy Murray Zoba painted a beautiful picture of what Ruth Bell Graham called her “martyrdom of a long life.” All of us at Gifted For Leadership extend our sympathy and prayers to the Graham family. Ruth was a leader we would all do well to follow—especially as her life pointed so clearly to Christ.--The Editors
I told my husband the other day that I didn't want to live to be old. I told him I thought the Lord would honor that prayer, and he said, "What makes you think he'd make an exception for you?"
Ruth Bell Graham once prayed the same prayer, more or less, when as a young girl she asked the Lord to let her die a martyr's death, preferably as an old-maid missionary in Tibet. Her life has been a testimony to that unanswered prayer.
Continue reading...Posted by Caryn Rivadeneira on June 14, 2007 | Comments (38)
Leader-Moms Build Better Dads
June 11, 2007 |
When my daughter was in kindergarten, she headed off to school one morning with her hair done up in an arrangement that only vaguely resembled a braid. Actually, at the top it looked almost exactly like a braid. But the hairstyle quickly devolved into a loose semi-tangle with an odd dogleg, like a fairway at Augusta National.
The following morning Jessi asked me to please just put her hair in two pony tails. That was the same week I sent her to school wearing orange socks, which didn’t fully complement her pink outfit.
Things were different when my wife, Jeanette, was in town—which was most of the time.
Continue reading...Posted by Caryn Rivadeneira on June 11, 2007 | Comments (21)
Edit Your Schedule, Practice Self-Control
June 7, 2007 |
I had a couple of ruthless high school English teachers who routinely “bled” across my and my classmates’ papers with their red pens—fabulous teachers who taught us to write. One point they eventually got across is how much harder it is to write a short paper than a long one. This is counterintuitive but true. Today this point re-emerges when a client is relieved to learn that a permitted proposal length is only 25 pages instead of 100... And I have to explain that the short proposal will actually be a lot more work than the longer one would have been.
Why is producing a short document—a quality one, I mean—usually harder than producing a long one? Because each word in a short document must be well chosen, providing a comprehensive picture in a limited space. This takes planning, editing, and painstaking revising. And the writer can’t indulge in any luxuries a longer text affords—lengthy explanations, sidebars, a little redundancy.
Posted by Caryn Rivadeneira on June 7, 2007 | Comments (13)
Leading toward a Higher Purpose
June 5, 2007 |
It is a simple proposition: In a culture of abundance, the greatest luxury is meaning. What does my life mean? What am I doing here? Do I matter? Is there more to existence than consumption? Are we called to improve the lives of our fellow human beings? Are we called to take care of the earth? Is it really possible for one person to make a difference?
If the above proposition is true and people in Western culture are looking for significance, then those who lead will understand this shift and will act accordingly. They will engage their staff and their organizations in higher purposes than simply making a bigger profit this year than last or beating out their competition. They will inspire people at every level of their companies and institutions to live into their potential. Not just because they want to be at the top of their game, but because how they do their job affects the quality of life in their community, nation, and just possibly, the rest of the world.
Continue reading...Posted by Caryn Rivadeneira on June 5, 2007 | Comments (2)
Off the Agenda Rocks
June 3, 2007 |
If you haven't read Off the Agenda lately, you are missing out. Take a minute and peruse the post this week by Sam O'Neal about the dangers of unintended curriculum. Also, this.
Posted by Rachel Willoughby on June 3, 2007 | Comments (0)
Loving Those We Lead
June 1, 2007 |
If you stay in ministry long enough, you will get hurt. In our small groups and church serving teams we can easily become close friends with those we lead. When hurt and disappointment inevitably comes, it’s tempting to throw in the towel and quit, or at least to withdraw from the ones we are called to shepherd. Toxic cynicism can easily seep into our souls.
After one heart-crushing experience I was faced with a dilemma: As their leader, how was I to deal emotionally with hurtful people?
I searched through and earnestly prayed for guidance. John 13 caught my attention.
Posted by Caryn Rivadeneira on June 1, 2007 | Comments (23)
