Leaders know how to pick up a crumb and carry it into the next room

One of my major goals for the coming years is to continue to develop male leadership in our church.  There are a group of guys that I sent this email out to today.

Guys,

Did you read Proverbs 30 today? What stood out to you? I am going to start putting these on my blog too. So, if you want, you can comment there. Or, you can hit reply-all to this message and share what stood out.

I have a confession. During our trip to Iowa I didn’t do Proverbs every day. I know, your confidence in me is shattered. Truth of the matter is, it isn’t that uncommon for me to miss a day. But, this is why I see Proverbs as a discipline for the rest of my life. I don’t get too stressed out if I miss a day or two because I know that I am going to come back to it over and over again.

Indeed, today’s chapter which points to the example of how the ant works (Proverbs 30:25) reminds us that smart workers know how to accumulate bit size portions of work over long periods of time.

I approach Proverbs like an ant.  I’ve told you before that whenever I read a chapter of Proverbs, I write the day and the month at the top of the chapter. I have different Bibles so no one Bible gives a comprehensive record of my Proverbs reading. But, in the Bible I used this morning I have down these days written at the top of Proverbs 30: (1/3, 5/7, 11/7, 6/3, 10/3, 5/4, 11/3, 9/4, 12/9) – – Over time, like the ant, reading a chapter of Proverbs a day will accumulate.

Press on. Rinse your minds in Scripture. Do just an ant-like portion of work today. Just pick up a crumb and carry it into the next room.

Chris.

P.S. Proverbs 30:2 is not my life verse, but maybe it should be. (If you think so, please don’t tell me).  Of course, that verse could be read in a wrong way that is just a form of self-pity. But, I use it as motivation to crave the Word of God.  After all, apart from it, I know nothing.

Published by Chris

9 thoughts on “Leaders know how to pick up a crumb and carry it into the next room”

  1. Dear Pastor Chris:
    Proverbs 31
    My father was born in 1899 and my mother in 1905 and I the youngest of our family arrived in 1950. I’m sure my parents went through hard time and what I remember is their attitude or disapline toward work. This chapter is reminding me to be focused providing for our families, those in need and praising the Lord. To do otherwise is a steep ditch on the left.

    Steve

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  8. I have not finished what your mother forwarded to me from you yet
    , but I would like to say that you have a phenomenal memory for remembering details…like the float from Philips 66. You created a picture that tells a story. It took me back to that time. I always remember Randy wanted to be in the parade because his older brothers were…Ryne in band and Robert band or some other creative thing. We usually decorated Randy’s bike and put some phrase on it that R/T the theme of the Sheep Empire Parade.
    I never won Queen of the Sheep Empire, but I remember Orville Lee’s daughter did. Candidates were elected by people voting with the dollars they spent for equipment. Orville was not sheriff then, but I think farmed around Cantril and someone purchased a combine and gave the votes to Patty Lee. I was in the contest that year. When I think about it now that does not sound so glorious anyway to be Sheep Queen. Right after high school, I won a “Queen of the Furrow” contest and went to state. I was working at a restaurant in Fairfield and my picture made the front page of the FF Ledger. There were some guys from Mayne’s grocery store next to the restaurant who loved to come in and harass me and they deflated my ego by calling me “A Plow Queen.” Story of my life! Bernadine

  9. I have not finished what your mother forwarded to me from you yet,
    but I would like to say that you have a phenomenal memory for remembering details…like the float from Philips 66. You created a picture that tells a story. It took me back to that time. I always remember Randy wanted to be in the parade because his older brothers were…Ryne in band and Robert band or some other creative thing. We usually decorated Randy’s bike and put some phrase on it that R/T the theme of the Sheep Empire Parade.
    I never won Queen of the Sheep Empire, but I remember Orville Lee’s daughter did. Candidates were elected by people voting with the dollars they spent for equipment. Orville was not sheriff then, but I think farmed around Cantril and someone purchased a combine and gave the votes to Patty Lee. I was in the contest that year. When I think about it now that does not sound so glorious anyway to be Sheep Queen. Right after high school, I won a “Queen of the Furrow” contest and went to state. I was working at a restaurant in Fairfield and my picture made the front page of the FF Ledger. There were some guys from Mayne’s grocery store next to the restaurant who loved to come in and harass me and they deflated my ego by calling me “A Plow Queen.” Story of my life! Bernadine

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