The March addition of the Andy Stanley Leadership Podcast was awesome! It was called “Do For One”. This lesson is helping shape the way I do ministry and work with people. I highly recommend clicking the link above and listening to it. Here is the summary of the lesson.

At a conference Andy was doing a Question and Answer and a woman asked this question: “Andy, with everything you have going on, all these goals, all these changes, creating churches, etc. How do you keep your heart from growing cold toward people? Because there are so many people, you can’t pastor all of them, how do you keep your heart soft?”

Andy’s Response:

“Do For One, What You Wish You Could Do For Everyone”

I don’t know about you, but I love people. I want to make a difference in everybody’s life! However, as I get older and gain more responsibility, I am recognizing that I can’t make a difference (the way I’d like to) in everybody’s life. I don’t have the time, energy, or resources.

When I heard that phrase from Andy, it set me free. I wish I could do for everyone what I can do for a few, but I can’t. But I realized that I can do for a few what I wish I could do for everyone.

So from now on, I’m going to do for a few, what I wish I could do for everyone. Then I am going to train my leaders and people around me to do the same. If we all do for one what we wish we could do for everyone, we will change the world.

Who is going to be your one today? This week? This month?

Go do for them today, what you wish you could do for everyone!

Thoughts?

What do people from before the 1900′s have in common? Answer: They are no longer here.

Billions of people have come in and passed through this world. They are no longer here. They are gone…forever. No second chances.  Game over. No going back and pursuing dreams, no going back and fixing relationships, no mulligans.

This life isn’t forever. We’ll be gone in the blink of an eye. The Bible says our life is like a vapor, here for one second, and gone the next. I read this quote often because it inspires me to live my life on purpose:

“This is the only time in history when I get to fight for God. This is the only part of my eternal story when I’m actually in the battle.”

So…

Stop waiting to pursue your dreams, go after them, the money and resources will come when you step out.

Stop waiting to fix relationships, other than God, they’re the most important thing you’ve got.

Stop waiting to do something, life is to short not to produce great work.

Stop waiting to live, too many people die way before they die physically because they give up.

Stop waiting to go after God, He is the source of everything, including your life.

Stop waiting to do something great for God, you can change the world.

Because before you know it, this game will be over.

What are your thoughts on this?

Every year, I try to thank all of the people who made a difference in my life throughout the year. For some people, I’ll give them a phone call and thank them for what they’ve done & to others maybe a text or a Facebook message.

Then I will specifically pick 3 people who made the biggest impact and write each of those people a letter. Then I’ll try to meet with them, give them the letter, and thank them personally for the deposits they’ve made in my life.

It’s been a great practice for me every year. It keeps me humble and grateful for all of the wonderful people God’s placed in my life.

This week is Thanksgiving, but it shouldn’t be the only week of the year we show people how grateful we are for them. We should be living lives of thanksgiving all year long!

Go out of your way to thank the people who have made a difference in your life. Make sure they know how grateful you are for their investment in you.

Who have been the three most influential people in your life this year? Why not call them, text them, or write them a letter knowing how big of an impact they’ve made on you?