Do You Know Your Leadership Strengths and Weaknesses?

"I've never met an effective leader who wasn't aware of his talents and working to sharpen them."

-- Former NATO Supreme Allied Commander Wesley Clark, in The New York Times Magazine

Without an awareness of your strengths, it's almost impossible for you to lead effectively. We all lead in very different ways, based on our talents and our limitations. Serious problems occur when we think we need to be exactly like the leaders we admire. Doing so takes us out of our natural element and practically eliminates our chances of success. If you look at great historical leaders such as Winston Churchill or Mahatma Gandhi, you might notice more differences than similarities -- and it is the differences that defined them and led to their success. Churchill's bold and commanding leadership succeeded in mobilizing a war-ravaged nation. It is unlikely he would have had as much success if he had tried to emulate Gandhi's calm and quiet approach. Yet Gandhi's leadership, during India's struggle for independence, was much more effective because he did not try to emulate the domineering leaders of the past. Both men knew their strengths and used them wisely... follow this link to read more: http://gmj.gallup.com/content/112729/Finding-Your-Leadership-Strengths.aspx#1

C.H. Spurgeon on Mercy

Meditate a little on this mercy of the Lord. It is tendermercy. With gentle, loving touch, he healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds. He is as gracious in the manner of his mercy as in the matter of it. It is greatmercy. There is nothing little in God; his mercy is like himself—it is infinite. You cannot measure it. His mercy is so great that it forgives great sins to great sinners, after great lengths of time, and then gives great favours and great privileges, and raises us up to great enjoyments in the great heaven of the great God. It is undeserved mercy, as indeed all true mercy must be, for deserved mercy is only a misnomer for justice. There was no right on the sinner’s part to the kind consideration of the Most High; had the rebel been doomed at once to eternal fire he would have richly merited the doom, and if delivered from wrath, sovereign love alone has found a cause, for there was none in the sinner himself. It is rich mercy. Some things are great, but have little efficacy in them, but this mercy is a cordial to your drooping spirits; a golden ointment to your bleeding wounds; a heavenly bandage to your broken bones; a royal chariot for your weary feet; a bosom of love for your trembling heart. It is manifold mercy. As Bunyan says, “All the flowers in God’s garden are double.” There is no single mercy. You may think you have but one mercy, but you shall find it to be a whole cluster of mercies. It is abounding mercy. Millions have received it, yet far from its being exhausted; it is as fresh, as full, and as free as ever. It is unfailing mercy. It will never leave thee. If mercy be thy friend, mercy will be with thee in temptation to keep thee from yielding; with thee in trouble to prevent thee from sinking; with thee living to be the light and life of thy countenance; and with thee dying to be the joy of thy soul when earthly comfort is ebbing fast.

This devotional is found in C.H. Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening

Prayer of St Patrick - Strength and Power in Christ

St.Patrick…He said daily….

I am risen with Christ. Through Him I live Today.

I am bound to Him.
* there where He is ” there I am too
* that which He is ” that I am too
* that which He does ” that I do too
* that which He says ” that I say too
* that which is subject to Him ” is also subject to me
* that which is obedient to Him ” is also obedient to me

I live by the power of His resurrection…
* I live from His fullness
* I live from all His blessings
* I live from His righteousness

That which served Him ” that serves me too
* that which followed Him ” that follows me too
* that which loved Him ” that loves me too
* that which hated Him ” that hates me too
* that which took Him in ” that takes me in too
* that which He needed, that I need too
* that which He did not need ” that I do not need too
* that which comforted Him ” that comforts me too
* through that which He went ” I go too
* the road He walked ” that road I walk too
* that which held Him ” holds me too
* that which helped Him ” helps me too
* that which protected Him ” protects me too
* that which led Him ” leads me too
* that which gave Him strength ” gives me strength too
* that which saved Him ” saves me too
* that which kept Him from sin ” keeps me from sin too
* that which kept Him healthy ” keeps me healthy too
* that which stood by His side ” stands by my side too
* that which He did not fear ” I do not fear too
* that, through which He drove out demons “through that I drive them out too
* that which made Him strong ” makes me strong too
* that which was over Him ” is over me too
* that which made Him boundless ” makes me boundless too
* that which helped Him accomplish His mission ” helps me accomplish mine too
* that which held Him above, always ” holds me above, always too

Jesus Christ
* He is before me, and behind me
* He is under me, and over me
* He is with me, and in me
* He is on my right and on my left
* He is with me, when I wake up in the morning
* He is with me, when the day is hard and difficult
* He is with me, when things don’t work out
* He thinks for me
* He speaks to me
* He sees me

I live to day by the power of the heavens
By the power of the Holy Spirit…

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*** Please note, I agree with most the author is saying here but I haven't searched it thoroughly for "un-biblical" ideas. Take it and use it for what it's worth. Also check out the blog: 101pray.blogspot.com.