October 10. Pass The Pliers Please.

As leaders, we work with both new and our tenured team members. As we add new team members, it is important to learn about their talents, capabilities, and their attitudes. Many leaders have tools accessible to help identify what people are capable of and how they work in their capacities.

In baseball, a radar gun will show the speeds of pitches and a computer database will show batting averages. If a pitcher in a baseball game is not capable of hitting a curveball as a batter, then he is best suited to play in a league with a designated hitter rule.

What tools are you using to help your team function at a higher level? Have you added a tool lately or went back to one used in the past? It might make sense that using the same tools gets us the same results. What if you are wanting a bigger future or a different future though?

Maybe we should be looking to add tools for the benefit of our teams. But remember that a tool sitting in our toolbox that is not used, does not contribute to our value. How might you focus this week on your tools? Perhaps one could do an audit of the toolbox.

One could ask their team what tools they are using. You could even ask your external network what tools have worked well for them. What is the first thing that you can do about it this week?

We have been handed many things to us on our faith journeys. For many, the experiences with our families and friends, who are brothers and sisters with us in Christ, are important. They establish a foundation which challenges and changes our relationships.

We read, “I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you.” 2 Timothy 1:5 NLT. When we accept Christ, we are no longer just father and son, mother and daughter, but become brothers and sisters in Christ.

But this change is a significant one that those not living in faith might struggle to understand. We are transformed and cleansed through Christ, and we need to adjust our actions and attitudes. Sometimes we need tools to assist us with those adjustments.

Two tools that we might have access to which help us adjust are the Bible and the people of the church. Do you have to go to church to believe in Christ? If you do not have access to the people of the church, your toolbox is probably lacking. What might you do to improve the use of your tools?

If we put no focus on using the tools, then we are most likely going to fail to use them. Using the tools helps us to draw close to God, build our relationships and experience more love. What is the first thing you can do about using the tools of our faith in the next seven days?

Let us pray, Heavenly Father, thank you for the Bible and the ability to read. Thank you for the people that we connect with that help us to grow nearer to you. We ask that you continue to bless us and our growing relationships. May we find you in our actions together.

Draw us closer to you through the people of faith that we experience. Move us like a nut is tightened to the top of a bolt. We want to become tight with you Lord. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen,