Okay by now you have seen me post on social media or someone else post concerning the opportunity for Word of Life to participate with the Christian Camping and Conference Association on a segment for Fox News Channel’s show Fox and Friends Morning Show. The segment is all about the Power of Camp in the lives of a child, teenager and families. As you can imagine we are excited to be a part of this and I want to personally think Gregg and Penny Hunter of CCCA for their hard work on this.

• Yes – camp is fun
• Yes –  there are great activities
• Yes –  counselors are awesome
• Yes  – Meetings are high energy and the music is incredible
• Yes – We still believe in camp for the whole family
• Yes – I am excited about tomorrows show and nervous all at the same time
• Yes  – I have no idea what to expect

Okay, so I probably got your attention with the title… but in all seriousness in leadership and in life there are so many voices coming at you!

No, seriously I have numerous people throughout the day wanting to share their ideas, opinions or criticisms…  Now please if you serve with me understand I love to hear from you! If we network together I love our partnership and I love to hear from you! So who am I talking to…. No one in particular but some thoughts on dealing with the voices we hear or if we have a voice and like to share it.

So you like your voice:)

• Did you pray about what your getting ready to share? Seriously – when I pray about my words it is amazing how many times I don’t say anything or change it up.
• Do I need to say anything? Sometime the best thing to do is just be silent.
• Is this about me? Am I focused on my agenda or about God’s Glory and how I can serve and build up the person I am speaking with.

You did the above and now you want to speak up…

• Realize that the person you are getting ready to speak with has probably already heard to their full already – so be sensitive to their time.
• Realize they are hearing numerous voices and probably numerous times about the subject you are surfacing – so come with facts and solutions, not opinion and problems.
• Don’t expect immediate reaction or decision – some leaders or people are quick to make decisions others want to pray, process and provide feedback before rendering a decision.

If you hear voices here are a few things I do my best to practice…

• I always try and remember their are probably two sides of the story or multiple factors to consider.
• I don’t listen to just one voice but I have a multiple people I trust and work through when deliberating and preparing for a decision.
• Seek the Lord and ask for wisdom – James 1 tells us to ask for wisdom.
• When you know what the decision is – do not delay in communicating it… Delay only frustrates.
• Do not delay hoping it will go away… It won’t so either say you need more time and set an end time or render a decision.
• Guard against the continual negative voices – I have those in my circles who are brutally honest with me and help deliver reality, but if you are surrounded by continual negative voices… You are in trouble.
• Guard against the continual positive voice – everything is always perfect, you could be in trouble and they are not delivering reality.
• Use your voice to Glorify God not you!

If you are one who has the ear of someone, use your voice carefully – get out of balance and you could loose that ear. If you are one who hears the voices – be sure to listen carefully and when you use your voice in return use it for God’s Glory and the joy of others.

Monday… for many it is a dreaded day! Especially if you dislike what you do, but you are the only one who can change that. I am writing to the one who enjoys their job but does not enjoy or gets overwhelmed with Mondays. Experience tells me Monday needs to be your day of setting up for success.  I use Monday’s to set the pace for the rest of the week. I have a few written/understood rules about my schedule that I and my assistant keep. Mondays are for setting up the week and Friday is follow-up of the week. With my role I am in meetings continually throughout the week but you can almost guarantee it will take an act of congress (that is getting Abbi to make an exception) to book an appointment/meeting Mondays and Fridays. I made this decision about a year ago and it has changed my productivity tremendously. I remembered Michael Hyatt talking about his ideal work week – while mine does not look like his it did make me think about mine.