Mark Williamson's Blog, page 3

Seven Ideas for Team Meetings

Leaders need to have lots of ideas for team meetings.

I spend a lot of my time in team meetings, and sadly I’ve sat through many more dull ones than energising ones. I’ve written in a previous post that I think the main purpose for every team meeting should be to release energy amongst the team – every team member should leave the meeting more excited about the vision than when they arrived.

So how do we as leaders create this environment? One suggestion is to mix things up a little, so that...

Amy Carmichael: Discerning A Call

Amy Carmichael has some great advice for those of us who are discerning a call.

She worked for 55 years as a missionary in southern India, rescuing children from domestic and sexual slavery to an immoral temple system.

During this time she grew a team of people to oversee this work of raising hundreds of children. She needed people to come and help in looking after the children, to provide their education, to run the hospital, and get involved in the myriad initiatives she pioneered at the Do...

Gratitude and Achievement

I find it very easy to get mixed up between gratitude and achievement, but I don’t think that leads to very healthy outcomes. Let me try to explain…

Gratitude is about recognising all the good things you have in your life, often especially those that are unmerited or down to your own efforts, and so becoming more thankful as you go through life.

Achievement is about recognising the worthwhile things that you’ve managed to accomplish, and taking a healthy (but not excessively proud) satisfacti...

Vision Obstacles

When you’re trying to implement a vision given by God, you can guarantee that you’ll face a series of obstacles. I’ve observed that it’s often the same six vision obstacles that come at you in different forms. They even often occur in the same order.

They’re the same vision obstacles that Nehemiah faced when he started rebuilding the walls around Jerusalem. And by looking at how he overcame each one, we can gain insight on how we can do the same.

 

Ridicule: Often the first obstacle we face...

Definition of Success

What’s the definition of success? It’s something so many people want to achieve, and yet can struggle to articulate when asked what it is they actually want.

Here are three definitions of success that I find really helpful or stimulating:

John Maxwell says that “success is the progressive realisation of a previously determined goal.” So many people see the concept of being successful as being based on luck, like winning a lottery ticket. Maxwell teaches us that success is about setting a wor...

Charles Spurgeon: Inspiring Quotes

Charles Spurgeon is one of the greatest preachers to have graced the pulpits of churches, in any age and in any country. Not surprising then that he’s associated with a series of inspiring quotes.

Here are 17 of our favourites:

“When your will is God’s will, you will have your will.”

“Our anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, but only empties today of its strengths.”

“Faith goes up the stairs that love has built and looks out the windows which hope has opened.”

“By perseverance th...

Hudson Taylor: Inspiring Quotes

Here’s a series of 17 Hudson Taylor inspiring quotes. This incredible man of God inspired nearly a thousand missionaries to follow him into the interior of China, and their work laid the foundations of the revival the Chinese church is now experiencing.

I you want inspiration for your prayer life, for missions, or for surrendering everything to Christ, then read on.

“Christ is either Lord of all, or he is not Lord at all.”

“You must go forward on your knees.”

“The Great Commission is not an o...

Five Causes of Depression

Here are five causes of depression that I’ve experienced in my own life. I’m not saying this is a catch all list – perhaps it’s just the areas where I am most vulnerable. But I share them in the hope that they may also help you. Because when you are aware of the causes, you can do something about trying to mitigate them, and so lessen any susceptibility to depression.

Selfishness: Focussing on myself rather than on other people is a dangerous thing, and can often lead towards depression. Lif...

Mother Teresa: Inspiring Quotes

Here’s a selection of Mother Teresa’s most inspiring quotes. The woman who inspired the order of the Sisters of Mercy continues to inspire thousands to live a life of single-minded devotion to God.

 

“Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.”

“Each one of them is Jesus in disguise.”

“I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love.”

“If you can’t feed a hundred people, then feed just one.”

“Let us always m...

What Will You Say No To?

What will you say no to? When you’re discerning vision, knowing what to say no to becomes just as important as knowing what to say yes to.

You only have a finite amount of time, energy, money and any other resources. So if you want to do a good job on the things you’ve said yes to, you need to know when to say no. If you’re in doubt, here’s a few questions that help me know when to say no.

Does this contribute to my other goals, or does it distract from them? If it doesn’t contribute to any...