September 7. A Quenching System Or Just A Bottle?

I do not know who said different strokes for different folks. But as leaders of a team, entrepreneurs who know their purpose deliver value. How the team delivers their purpose is likely to look a little different to each team member and to each client.

Delivery of a bottle of water to a thirsty eight-year-old soccer player will be different than to a plane wrecked survivor at his rescue. Same product, same purpose and different value. I do not believe there is anything inherently wrong with the same product delivering different value.

In fact, it might serve as proof that you are focused on delivering value instead of a commodity. It can also help us to see where we can deliver more value and create byproducts. A water bottle delivered to someone in the desert could have a reflective wrapper on it.

If taken on the original expedition, it might become a distress signal if the traveler gets stranded in the desert. Where has your team found byproducts in your value proposition? When was the last time you looked for byproducts? What would your company do with the profitability that a byproduct could deliver?

As a leader, we can look past the limits in our mind to find byproducts. What is the first thing you can do about it in the next seven days?

As a people of faith, we are in relationship with Jesus. Every area of our lives have the opportunity to change. We read, "Out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot— yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root.” Isaiah 11:1 NLT. New fruit, did you see that?

Something new has arrived because of Jesus. It does not matter when Jesus shows up to have new fruit. We wake up daily and have the opportunity to start with something new if we start with Christ. Where are we limiting ourselves to the old where new might occur?

Do we welcome Jesus into our lives just on Easter and Christmas or do we welcome him on every Sunday? Why just on Sunday, why not every hour? What is the purpose of just getting something new occasionally when we just might be in stronger relationships if we welcome Jesus anytime we are in relationship with others?

What might be the byproduct of that in your life? Could it be forgiveness, possibly a spouse, a new friend or compassion and love? I think those are worthy reasons to consider it. What is the first thing you can do about it in the next seven days?

Let us pray, Heavenly Father, in you and through you, we can have all things new. Let us recognize the opportunities for the new fruit regularly. Help us to see the reflection of the message from the past to quench our thirst and see the new of today.

Bring us into relationship with new eyes and hearts. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen,