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Thankfulness

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.  Moutains

It is customary to speak of thankfulness on this holiday, and I thought it an appropriate time to discuss the part that thankfulness plays in a leader’s life. 

Leaders deal in complexity, and to a large extent, they are asked to carry an unfair load.  Leaders are often trapped in an organizational structure below the authority of individuals who are not as capable of leading.  Leaders are also the ones with the steepest hills to climb under the most adverse conditions.  Leaders, it goes without saying, are also the ones out front, catching the most flack and dealing with the most resistance.

Even so, leaders should be among the most thankful of people.  Why?  Because as Orrin Woodward once said, "I am just thankful God has seen fit to use me for something!"  And that’s the true spirit of thankfulness a leader should always have.  No matter how tough the climb, we should be glad for the mountain!  The Bible tells us to rejoice during our challenges!

So is your leadership journey a challenge to you right now?  Does your walk feel mostly up hill?  Are you plowing your way through obstacles?  Rejoice, my friends, and be glad God has seen fit to challenge you!

I hope you all have a happy Thanksgiving, and may you and your families be blessed!

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11 responses to “Thankfulness”

  1. kckarate Avatar
    kckarate

    Happy Thanksgiving! I am thankful for leaders who climb mountains like you and Orrin. The Team system helps me over and over get out of negative mindsets and back into positive thinking time and time again.
    I love how you never allow mountains to hold you back. And I do have a quandry.
    Certainly we shouldn’t excuse ourselves of mountain climbing action. Nor never stop seeking new challenges to face. An attitude of gratitude is certainly the way to go. I guess I’m just still not quite all the way convinced that the Bible teaches being thankful for struggles and mountains. Would it be okay to angle off that a bit?
    What if I said I’m thankful for every opportunity to exercise my burden removing, yoke destroying, mountain moving power based on the verses below and others? I am still welcoming challenges, struggles and mountains just with a slightly different angle.
    Matthew 17:20
    Matthew 21:21
    1 Corinthians 13:2
    Isaiah 10:27
    Keep me honest here Chris!

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  2. Joshua Avatar
    Joshua

    Chris,
    I’m always encouraged reading your blog! I was raised a Baptist and still am. I attended a Baptist college (not graduated yet, mostly due to tom-foolery and a deployment). I’ve always been told and taught to rejoice in trial and challenge. I’ve never been taught that by someone as joyful as you or Orrin. The Joy of Lord is plainly evident in your life and it warms my heart! What you teach is awesome! But the way you teach with joy speaks volumes! My wife and I are with you all the way! I got your 6! Let’s move to contact, overcome, and go to 1 million and beyond!
    Josh & Janelle in PA

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  3. Chris Brady Avatar
    Chris Brady

    kckarate:
    I really enjoy your comments. I hope you had a great Thanksgiving.
    Here are some verses that were the basis for my statements: James 1.2,3: My bretheren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. Philippians 1.29: Unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for His sake. John 16.33: In the world, ye shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer. Hebrews 12.5,8: And ye have gorgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of Him: for whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chastenteth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
    I beleive that the verses you reference speak to the power relative to struggles, and the ones I am offering speak to the attitude relative to struggles.
    I would also like to recommend an excellent book, one that Orrin Woodward said has taught him more about how to counsel and develop leaders than any other, and it is called “Spiritual Depression” by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones. I hope you like it!

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  4. Chris Brady Avatar
    Chris Brady

    Joshua:
    What a great point you’ve touched upon! Just because we are challenged in life should have no affect upon our joy! Paul said, “To live is Christ and to die is gain!” and that should be our attitude. Christians should never be downhearted or dispirited, if we truly understand what God has done for us in the finished work of Jesus Christ. When we are hit with trials, we are told to “be of good cheer.” Understanding that the big question of eternity has been taken care of for us by our savior, everything else is just a trial of our faith and a chance for growth!

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  5. Melody Bennett Avatar
    Melody Bennett

    Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family Chris!

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  6. Dawn Dornes Avatar
    Dawn Dornes

    Thanks Chris!! Sure needed to hear that today as I am struggling up a mountain right now! Blessings to you and your family.
    Dawn Dornes

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  7. Jaelynn Mchone Avatar
    Jaelynn Mchone

    Jaelynn Mchone

    Great, thanks for sharing this blog article.Really looking forward to read more. Want more.

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  8. JeanetteP Avatar
    JeanetteP

    Wow Chris, thanks for the re-post! That was very timely and fitting. This is a great reminder! I am thankful the Lord has seen fit to use my husband and I for HIS glory and thankful He has seen fit to bring yourself and Terri into our lives! The whole TEAM culture is a blessing from the Lord for sure! God Bless!

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  9. Slwideen@yahoo.ca Avatar
    Slwideen@yahoo.ca

    Thank you Chris, for this great reminder. My life right now seems overburdened- you have lightened my load with this great reminder
    Sandra wideen

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  10. Leslie Avatar
    Leslie

    Bring on the mountains!! They’re better than valleys!! :)(there’s got to be a pony in here somewhere!) 😉 Happy Thanksgiving to all the Bradys, I am very thankful to have you in our lives!

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  11. Tom Wilburn Avatar
    Tom Wilburn

    Blessings are always just on the other side of adversity and obstacles…..is this why not everyone finds them?

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