Project Quantum Leap: A Higher Stratosphere of Success

Growing up there was a man in our church that whenever he spoke it was always from the same passage of scripture, Acts 3, where the lame man sat by the gate called Beautiful. As he expounded on this passage it was nothing eloquent or even memorable about his delivery. Without fail, once he got to the place where the lame man got up and started leaping, that man in the church would be transformed.   read more . . .

Rainbows In The Sky! Best Is Yet To Come!

While riding with a friend we experienced such a remarkable event-a beautiful rainbow was arched directly in front of us. It was so vibrant that we had to stop and snap photos of it. It was an aah-hah moment that allowed us to reflect on the covenant promises of God.  read more . . .

Saving All My Love: Dancing In The Present

Over these past few days after learning about Whitney Houston’s death, the world have exclaimed how much they loved her, her voice and her songs. They’ve held vigils and reminisced about what her life and songs meant to them. The reality that she will no longer record another song, perform in another movie or sing on stage causes us to think about what her life actually meant to us.  read more . . .

Bouquet of Dreams: Believe In the Seed

In a conversation with one of my nieces she indicated that she wanted to be an actress. As I queried her and gave recommendations about fulfilling her dream, I shared with her that she should get involved with some of the local repertoire theaters. She emphatically indicated to me that she had no intention of doing that because it was gross (my words) and went on to say that she just want to be on the big screen. Well now!    read more . . .

Respect The Position: In Authority, Under Authority

Growing up it was never a question about who had authority in my mother’s absence. My mother made it plain and clear to us that we had to do whatever my eldest sister said because she was in charge. For many years, we were more frightened of my sister’s wrath than my mother’s. You know, this respect for the position of authority was so entrenched in us that when my mother made her transition from this life, we all looked to my eldest sister for guidance. In essence, it was a natural progression that authority had passed to her in my mother’s absence.

Growing up it was never a question about who had authority in my mother’s absence. My mother made it plain and clear to us that we had to do whatever my eldest sister said because she was in charge. For many years, we were more frightened of my sister’s wrath than my mother’s. You know, this respect for the position of authority was so entrenched in us that when my mother made her transition from this life, we all looked to my eldest sister for guidance. In essence, it was a natural progression that authority had passed to her in my mother’s absence.

In Matthew 8, the centurion soldier professes his understanding of not only being in authority, but also being under authority as well. So much so, he recognized and respected Jesus’ authority. You see, you will never be an effective leader if you have not mastered being an effective follower. You may desire to be Lone Ranger, but you can never be Lone Ranger until you have mastered being Tonto.

A true authority figure is able to submit to other’s authority. You aren’t always trying to find some loophole to circumvent authority for your own gain. We knew that if we tried to circumvent my sister’s authority we had to answer to my mother. You see, my mother had given my sister full authority over us. In essence, whatever my sister said or did she was operating in the delegated authority that had been given to her by my mother.

Delegated authority is the same as the lead person themselves giving you instruction, guidance and correction. You have to ask yourself, if the head person required something of you would you do it? If the answer is yes, then you must do the same for the person that has been given delegated authority.

You may not respect the person, but you have to respect the position. Disrespecting the position of authority is an obvious indication that there are some things you have to work out within yourself. Arizona Governor Jan Brewer displayed a total disrespect for the position of President of the United States when she arrogantly shook her finger in President Barack Obama’s face for all the world to see. What a display of undermining not only the authority of President Obama, but our country as well.

How in the world do you expect to have someone submit to your authority if you have problems submitting to and respecting others? Whatever you put out there is what is going to be returned to you.

Growing up one of my pet peeves was that I felt adults, especially those in authority, should adhere to my rules of authority. If they did not do as they told me to do I definitely would let them know it. I was out of order. True, they may not have done everything the way I felt they should have done, but it was not my place to correct them.

My mother taught me something that I find to be the best way to work with those in authority who may appear to be out of order. She told me that you cannot do anything to change the head, but you can go to the head’s head. That is God.

Along the way this clicked with me. You know it works. In the process, I remain in good standing with God as David did with Saul who was trying to kill him. David never went against Saul because he respected the position and the anointing that went with that position. He turned Saul over to his head–God.

This respect for position is the same regardless if it is a family member as with my sister, someone on your job, a teacher or someone in the household of faith. Each of us has a responsibility to respect authority, even delegated authority. It is in this respect where great faith, promotion and blessings dwell.

read more . . .