Leading From The Edge

I feel like the only issue we have with reaching a goal sits within our effort... I know that can feel a little unfair - but with all the times I have seen persistence win, or perseverance, or patience win the day... Could it be that we are giving ourselves too much "room" for failure? Today we talk about... Do or Do Not... There is no try.   Listen on Spotify Or iTunes or Youtube Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/leading-from-the-edge   Want to know more? Follow me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/leadingfromtheedge/ Join the conversation on my website: http://www.leadinfromtheedge.net     SHOW NOTES         Before I begin I want to share a testimony and an apology  I have been absent for the past month getting ready for our first camp… and it was amazing!!! I will be putting a video together, but let me say that the families that were here had such an encounter with the Lord that we believe it will forever be a part of their lives!   Todays leadership podcast is titled…   Do or do not - there is no try   I am not a big Star Wars guy LOVE Star Trek - shout out to my dad on that one   But there is a figure in the Star Wars saga of a teacher, a creature that teaches the young Luke Skywalker how to use the fullness of his abilities… and in this particular scene, Luke says that he can't do something (that Yoda the teacher KNOWS he can)… Actually Luke says Alright - I will give it a try Yoda says no… try NOT   Do or do not, there is no try…. That is the theme of todays session on leadership   I have been blessed to group coach an amazing set of young men at the church over the last few months.  When I say amazing, I mean young men who WANT to honor God, become better men and prepare for Gods future for them.  These guys sacrifice half a day a month to learn about how to be a purposeful, godly man and they seem to enjoy it Ha ha  In these meeting we are talking about a LOT of things from knowing themeselvws and how God designed them    To knowing WHO God has placed in ther lives and their responsibilities to them   Even into discipleship and discipline  But we hit the wall on something as a group concerning discipline    It's a wall that is super common among men -  prob common amount  everyone   The wall is the space between what we want to do  and what we actually do!   Paul writes it this way Romans 7:15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I..   IN other words The things I want to do - I don't The things I don't want to do - I find myself doing   When Paul writes this - we can feel his pain! We know that feeling of doing what we don't want to do, abd not doing what we know to do!   But I feel like we make the words of Paul a get out of jail free card.    Paul wasn't declaring surrender or defeat, it was voicing what is likely the biggest battle that we will face.     Doing what we know to do   When we look at the life of Paul, there were many things that he obviously overcame -  denying the flesh,  living a life of servantude to the Lord Sacrificing his life for the call     But as Christians - well we play around with sin.   Instead of “warring” against our flesh or our desires... we accept them.     Or worse - we just “try” to change them    Why do I use the word Try   Well that is where I realized the wall that these young men were hitting.     And it's not unique to them We all use this word... try   So in one of my charges I shared  that spending time with the Lord on a daily basis  is the FIRST and MOST IMPORTANT step of a  foundational walk with the Lord.     That at the minimum they should be having a daily walk with the Lord - r eading the word,  praying and listening to the Holy Sporit.     When we went around the room to declare our actions steps    I heard several say “I'm going to try to wad my Bible everyday”...   And it hit me I “try” a lot of things I try to lose weight  I try to eat healthy  I try to be a good example to my kids I try to love my wife the way Christ would   And in all those areas I have accepted a “failure” rate  or at Best the  “good enough level”     I mean why is that?  Why is it that we give ourselves safeties -   I will only have Taco Bell once a week   My wife just made a decision that blows me away -  Not going to tell you what it is - but it reminds me of the promise I made Years ago that I wasn't going to have Taco Bell for a whole year. Believe it or not - I did it and it was HARD But New Years eve I picked up Taco Bell and ate it after midnight Seriously     It's like we don't want to look at ourselves in the mirror and consider ourselves failures  Of anything that we attempt to do that we don't get it done completely.    So instead of seeing a failure, we avoid it by throwing the word try in there.   But let me give you some of the dangers of the word try     What I have found is that when we live a life of “try“ we're never fully satisfied with our attempts    we never get the best or the most out of our failed attempts    we never get to fully celebrate when we win    and we never truly mourn our loses…   But why are those things so important us   why is it important to feel accomplished    why is it so important to recognize a failure and not avoid it?    why is it so important to celebrate a win?   Let's break those areas down like this…   What does trying cost me.    1- prevents growth from failure Let's read what the apostle Paul what's   2 Corinthians Chapter 12   9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.     Think about it what is Paul saying here? He say that he takes pleasure in his failures  he takes pleasure in realizing when we are weak -  God is made strong in his mistakes.    Can I tell you the power of realizing that!   I used to talk about this as removing the destructive power of failure  but it's really not removing the destructive power failure  it is harnessing the power of failure    what I meant by removing the power failure in times past  is the power of our emotional distress and failure.    But we have to realize just like fear is perverted faith  what I mean by that is that fear is simply putting more faith in what you are concerned or are afraid would happen  versus what God says and what God‘s Word says about the situation.    It's the same way with failure!   You can choose to be empowered through failure or to live in fear. And when you remove the power of failure - or I should say the fear of failing    and instead realize the empowerment of failing  then you look forward to every situation no matter the outcome.   And that's a tough statement   Notice I didn't say I look forward to the opportunityof every situation Im still learning this as well     And if I'm speaking to leaders that I think I am –    I know that feeling that failure is not an option.  And I am trying to - I am SHARING this interesting cycle   When we see that failure is not an option, we tend to lower the goal Instead of giving our all and letting failure be a process!   When we say we're going to try we are literally literally literally giving our self the very option that we don't want to give ourselves.    We're afraid of failing but we're making room to be ok with failing…   Because here's what happens when we give ourselves room to fail.  We don't give our best effort.    Because once we bring in the word try into our goals   we have told ourselves in our mindset the fro Ne-Yo of our thoughts that's the biblical word for the seat of our motions    Actually its Psyche - sorry - the seat of our emotion, and Phrone is the seat of our THINKING… so  Both   WHEN WE DO THIS - WE ARE SAYING IN OUR MIND AND OUR EMOTIONS     we are likely not going to accomplish this and we are too afraid to hold ourselves accountable to giving our best effort   Why? Because should we feel FAIURE - WE ILL THEN then we're not good enough —— BELIEVING A lie of the enemy   point 2 Trying prevents growth from success  Not only does it rob us from learning from our failures It prevents us from learning from our success!     I know this one seems weird but hang on with me  let's keep talking about our emotional mindset when we put the word trying into our goals     We put this word trying we succeed accidentally.  Or we succeed at goals that are not satisfying That didn't require hard work     What do I mean by that?    When we try something with part of our effort, with some reserve, with something left in the tank – than what we succeed at is only a portion of what we were capable of doing.   The word of God tells us that this is not the wya to LIVE! Sticking with the Pual Theme here He writes tot he church of Colossians Colossians 3:23-24 "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ."          In the world of business coaching we aim for 90 Daily goals that stretch them    Its what they feel like they can accomplish along with all the other things that they need to do.    And I'm gonna be honest with you when a company comes back and hits 100% of their goals I'm disappointed.   Why?    Because that means that we set goals that we knew we could accomplish.    Now, that is a blanket statement and there are definitely times when it took all of the effort to get 100% of the goals done.    But what I'm referring to I really want us to be somewhere between 80% and 90% of her goals reached. Why?    Because that means that we pushed ourselves to the limit.    We gave our best effort and we got most of our goals done.  And! It gives us the room to grow!   We literally have examples of areas that we didn't succeed so that we can analyze them look at them work on them and grow from them!   There's nothing more disappointing than accomplishing the goals and learning nothing in the process.    So when we put tri-into our goalsetting we don't get the full benefit of celebrating our success.    Because on the inside of us we know we could have done better!   In the Old Testament the priest would atone for sins through two animals.  The sacrificial lamb and the scapegoat.  The lamb took away the sins and the scapegoat would literally take the shame out of the city as it was released…   I want to challenge you Sit down and write down ONE goal One goal for the next 3 days, or the next week or til the end of the month. I want you to make it hard Make it something that will require you to GROW in order to succeed - and Then I want you to write It out I WILL ….   Here is mine - I will exercise 3 days a week til the end of June (at the gym)and my daily 1.5 mile walk with my wife doesn't count…   Here is another one of mine… I will complete my new Kingdom Business Mastergroup strategy - by the end of June… Including all the roadmaps, sheets, pages and launch ready status.  Do or Do not There is no try…

  I've been questions about what happened 30 years ago that made me want to change my life? It's probably not the story that you would have expected - it's actually a time that I completely ignored God and it may have cost my friend his life...   Want to know more… Check it out!   OR want the show notes...  Just scroll down!     Listen on Spotify Or iTunes or Youtube Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/leading-from-the-edge   Want to know more? Follow me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/leadingfromtheedge/ Join the conversation on my website: http://www.leadinfromtheedge.net     SHOW NOTES  Its been 30 years And for my friends the Stevens family Its been 1 582 weeks   30 years of saying yes to the passion that God has placed on the inside of me to lead   See - its a journey of leading others to find their God-given purpose   And because of that - you have this feeling on the inside -  that it is our leadership responsibility to do eve tying in our power to help  Others achieve their God-given purpose   You know - this week I want to do some explain why I say it been 30- years I get asked this several times, about why I look at a specific date…   I can't say that I started logging the time at that date, but I will say that when I look back in my life at an event that shook me An event that made me look at myself in the way of being responsible for the gift that God has given me and the people that He has put around me.   I have to go back to my sophomore year of High School In a little town in Louisiana - Leesville Good of LHS and the amazing wampums cats!~   I moved to Louisiana when I was in 8th grace and decided that summer before (when we spent two weeks in Wst Virginia while dad was getting everything ready) that is as going to be a trumpet player I LOVED jazz and blues type music and wanted to learn something My aunt Kathy had been a trumpet player and she had given my parents an old ambassador trumpet that they had redone for me right before we left Germany.     I remember sitting on the driveway at my grandmamma's house and playing - I am sure it was difficult for the neighbors as well as my mom - but hey, I was a budding star!!!    When we got to Louisiana I didn't fit it - I'm a military kid at a public school that must be moved from Europe where culture is different AND I'm a Christian by faith that wants to be a Christian…     So, my only place that I found that I fit in was the band!!! And let me tell you - I loved the band - it was my place to connect and grow and belong There was this one particular guy (who was better than me - at the time) who was in that band who also played trumpet that we started getting along pretty good - his name was Eddie Garcia     Over the next 1.5 years rest of 8th grade and all of 9th grade He and I worked our way up thr0ugh the ranks of trumpet players  We would challenge each other for first chair positions We would challenge each other  and our abilities to the point that we were both in the symphonic band at LHS almost immediately - as a freshman. So here we are in 2nd row 1st and 2nd  position behind all the better juniors and seniors - but we were on the team!   Fast forward into the summer right before our sophomore year - we are loading up to go to band camp (2 weeks of marching practice and song development ) and Eddie and I determine that we are going to room together! We both loved music   Leading up to band camp I had a summer where I started working on. My walk with God I was blessed, I saw my parents every day spend time with God - they had Bible studies all the time at the house, opened our home for people to come and grow in their walk with God - it was very special to        use and it was something that I wanted to do - I wanted to be close to God So I started reading my bible  everyday I started praying more and asking God about what I should be doing in the future…  In short - I had started having my relationship with God Not only that - I remember hearing from our church that I needed to be spending more time telling people about my walk  with God What if there is something this important to me, I should make it part of my    friend lives. We took my sister to a youth conference and I r3emeber seeing her being more about God too - so, it was like - I need to do this     So back to our story...   We are on the bus to go  to camp and for what I remember as being the first time in my life I felt like God was talking to me. I felt this voice behind my ear saying - Ben, tell Eddie about me…    I was excited, scared, afraid of rejection, but super stoked at the same time to share God with Eddie  I decided that - that night I was going to get my bible out and read it, and then Eddie may ask me what I am doing and I can share with him about God.    Well, we got to camp  and immediately we were practicing - out on the concrete parking lot going over our marching show… Dinner came late that night and by the time I showered and got to bed, I completely forgot to read my bible and fell asleep -  Missed opportunity I woke up in the morning feeling the burden - tell Eddie about it tonight. OK -    The day was hot!!! I remember that when the Afternoon Lousisianer rain come through at the exact time it always does - 330pm - we didn't get off the concrete field, everyone cheered and just stood there getting soaked…   That night we had some activities and again, it was LATE when we got to our room and we chatted across the room and both just fell asleep…    This happened again the next night and now we are going into Thursday morning… I knew I needed to say something to him that night because the next night was the dance and I knew that I wouldn't be able to say something then….   So - I determined all day that I was going To tell Eddie about my walk with God no matter what… I even told him at lunch that I wanted to talk to him about something that night…    But at 330pm our director told us to pack our rooms up, we were going to head home early because there was another school there that was causing problems and we were not going to be part of that…   So we packed our stuff up and when we loaded up the buses, we were on different buses and my opportunity to share with Eddie was gone   Now, if I am going to share with all honesty what happened next, I would say that I would think of that voice telling me just a couple more times before it faded away and I went on with Life   The next few weeks I didn't see Eddie cause it wasn't school season yet and with that lack of seeing I went on with my life and that desire faded away   When school started back up - it was 90-nothing putting together our band show, our positions, our practices and we just went on with life until the unthinkable happened    I remember showing up to school and walking into my AP English Class - miss Scotice and Eddie's seat had a black ribbon on it. And our teacher was sitting at her desk just crying…    What happened?  Ms. Scotice - where is Eddie What is happening? She didn't say anything - just motioned for me to sit in my seat - which was RIGHT next to this empty chair with a big black ribbon My heart sunk My chest felt heavy and I started crying I knew -  Eddie had died   What we learned during that class time was that Eddie had gone for a run on base near the  the hospital where his dad worked, and a heart condition that he had since a kid that none of us knew about acted up and his heart stopped and he died This 15-year-old kid was now dead My friend and bandmate was dead My roommate was gone   And… It hit me with so much shame and guilt. I hadn't told him about Jesus God had placed on me the responsibility to tell Eddie about Him And I failed   And now Eddie's blood was on my hands Now, before everyone who loves me, or loves themselves and wants to take the responsibility off of us… I want you to suspend that for just another 10 minutes   What if Eddie didn't know Christ And I was eddies last chance to decide for christ That God was speaking to me to share - and I missed it Surely I wasn't the only opportunity, right?  I would assume with how loving God is that th4ere were many others But, I won't know whether Eddie ever gave his heart to God  It could be that when I talked to Eddie about God that he would have shared with me his amazing walk with God - but I will never know here on earth    And that is my fault Eddie died with my assignment never being complete   It says in Ezekiel 3: 16 And it came to pass at the end of seven days, that the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, 17 Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.   Give them a warning from me!!! I was given this assignment     18 When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood will I require at thine hand.   His blood I will require at thy hand… Now - our role was to share with the wicked that they are not going down a p[ath that is going to help them!  It ends in spiritual death The wicked die IN his iniquity   19 Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turns not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.   If we do share we are delivering our soul - we are keeping ourselves right before GOD! 20 Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumbling-block before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him a warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand.   Same thing for a righteous man - and I know you all have heard me share about this - how we have a duty to each other as brothers and sisters in Christ to warn each other!!!   They will die in their sin - in other words again, they will die because of THEIR ACTIONS - but their blood is at our hand because we didn't do our part!! 21 Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul.     When God dsiredcrt3ed me to this passage soon after Eddie passed away, I was so convicted (I already was feeling down and shame) but now it shifted - to conviction. IN stead of shame, it became a NEED inside of me to never let that happen again   Never to hear the voice of the Lord and ignore it, delay it… Can I say that I have never - nope, I still need the mercy of the Lord like David shares in the psalm - that I want to be like the green olive tree planted in the house of the lord, where his mercies are daily poured on me!!!   I need the mercy of The Lord I think we ALL need the Mercy of the Lord And… if I am completely honest about this - I still carry this weight of Eddie - every podcast that I do, I remember the day that I heard that Eddie had passed and how I left my role in his life, how I ignored the stirring of the Spirit    But now instead of it being a weight like I yoked to sin and shame, no, it is a shared yoke with the Lord    That I will be the kind of leader that LISTENS to the LORD and chooses to do the hard things instead of acting like MAYBE it was pizza and not the LORD   So many stories of arguing with God and this story popping back in my mind.     I pray that this is a reminder to us all If salvation was the end of our call, we would all disappear the moment that Jesus came into our hearts No - we are the light to a dark world We are the hope of the world, the hands, and feet of a loving savior who wants the entire population to know HIM as Lord that none would perish…    Who is in your life that God has placed as an assignment?  Are you at a place where you can hear HIS voice about them, about their situation, about your role    And if you are at a place spiritually - are you listening.   Are you turning your spiritual antennae to listen to what THE LORD is saying?    Over the years I have been challenged in this between my first mentor who would stand beside me on the platform whole people were getting a minister to and ask me - do you feel that? What do you feel?  Ben, start to associate that with what you see in the spirit happening… that is how God is speaking to you!!! To those moments when Nili would challenge me to seek the Lord before every staff meeting, to pray for 5 minutes before every counseling or coaching appointment. Something that I carry still today - to just stop and make sure that my ultimate assignment is being at the front of my eyes. Not the coaching, but am I being attentive to the Holy Spirit    Am I going into every action today with the intent of hearing the voice of God to my LIFE assignment?   See, that is why I believe that REAL leadership in is everyday Every day you are striving to be at least one step ahead,  at least one experience in front of those you have been given the gift of leading   . It's not a matter of being the BEST, or  It is not a badge It is not even being the brightest, Or even getting it right all the time…     BUT IT IS about having the courage to lead     Because it takes commitment,  It takes persistence and  It takes patient (for others and yourself)   But above all of that - it takes an everyday God experience      I'm Benjamin Stewart And until next time Go lead from the edge Your Every Day God Experience                                                                                                     

  Why do you do what you do? Are you feeling like you are still in the same place you were 10 years ago? Today we are diving into the NUMBER 1 reason why we make bad decisions and get frustrated... we lose sight of our PURPOSE! Want to know more… Check it out!   OR want the show notes...  Just scroll down!     Listen on Spotify Or iTunes or Youtube Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/leading-from-the-edge   Want to know more? Follow me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/leadingfromtheedge/ Join the conversation on my website: http://www.leadinfromtheedge.net     Good morning, afternoon, or evening - if you listen to podcasts as I do…    I wanted to take a quick tangent on my podcasts to share a little about why we do what we do…    Now, this podcast is all about how we develop the best versions of ourselves so that we can live out our faith and our leadership to its highest place!   So that we can truly be responsible for those that God has given us charge over, or the opportunity to serve    That goes for pastors, that goes for fathers, that goes for business leaders or new entrepreneurs as well!   But today - I want to talk about your why…   Too often we set goals, we set up dreams but we don't take the time to connect our “why” to our actions, our goals, our jobs, our leading opportunities.   Have you stopped to pray about what motivates you?  Why do you work 40-70 hours a week  Is it so that you did a good job  Is it so that you provided jobs for your employees Is it so that you can have 2 days off on the weekend?    Why is it that you do what you do?  What truly motivates you?    Now - because my faith is what drives me Let's read Matthew 20: 20 Then came to him the mother of Zebedees children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him. 21 And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom. 22 But Jesus answered and said, Ye, know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able. 23 And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father. 24 And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren. 25 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye, know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. 26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; 27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: 28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.     think about what is going on - all these guys are following Jesus, still unrenewed and all of a sudden there is the possibility that two of them are going to be elevated - - what??>    And they got their mom to ask… that's a low blow right?    Well - this story is when we find the reason why Jesus came - we found out his WHY!!! This WHY is what drives him to do what he came here to do!   To minister and to give his life as a ransom for many…   What did you come for? Why are you here and have you taken the time to find out?    When I think about why I am on this planet - I get excited, confused, and overwhelmed at the same time…    I am on this planet to encourage people to become a better, more dogly version of God's plan for their life.    It has been that since I started operating in relationships with Others It is why I raise my kids the way that I raise them It is why every business idea I have, has to be centered around that purpose…    I guess that is another word we could use instead of WHY Purpose…    So - do you know your purpose?  I will tell you - it doesn't come easy And it isn't a 20 question survey to find your purpose…    No this one comes through prayer and seeking the Lord So I am not going to have 3 points on how to find your purpose…  BUT I am going to tell you three things KNOWING your purpose will do for your life and others! 1 - It is your litmus test - when you know why you exist, then when opportunities, jobs, ministry, locations, moves, purchases come top… you can take your purpose and ask… does this line up with that? My purpose is to passionately pursue God by silently serving-man …. Did you know that I am not a pastor of a mega church>? Could I be>? Yes, I believe I Could be - I believe that if I were to start a church that it would grow quickly and it would become as large as we wanted it to be - BUT that is not my call and that is not my role. There is a reason why I have moved from being a pastor…   When you know your purpose - when the GHolyt Spirit has revealed this to you- then you have the perfect litmus test.     Litmus paper stained with litmus is used to indicate the acidity or alkalinity of a substance. So that when a liquid comes into contact with it - you can know its alkalinity or acidity…    In your life - when you have your purpose established then you can line it up to everything and ask… does this fit in>?      2 - Your purpose is your drive - - - if you want to be the strongest - operate in your purpose. You want to have the most energy - operate in your purpose. Want to provide the best for your family and your community - figure out how to operate in your purpose. I know for some listening that may sound irresponsible BUT, my reply back is… how long do you want to live misearble>.     Why do we think we feel unfulfilled in our 9-5 jobs?   Could it be that no matter where you go you will have difficult people to work with, difficult responsibilities, difficult circumstances? I say yes - it is not only possible - it is likely that the problems you are facing are common to man!    That means that we need to rethink why we are there. Sometimes I can do the same job, but with my purpose in front of me all of a sudden, the same job becomes a part of my journey. I can pull the most from my situation when I have my purpose in front of me!     I believe that living in our purpose is the best version of our lives. It is the reason why we have a part in our family visi0on weekends where we walk through what each kid in the family brings to the family. Why is your 3rd child a little quirky and think outside of the box./. Why is your first child more of a dominant type and your 4th child is quiet?     For each of your family members, there is a purpose - a God-given purpose on the inside them, and there is a purpose for them to be in your family. But we have to find that, encourage that, and give room for that.    Now when we are facing an obstacle, we have identified who in our family is the best for helping us through it… those who have disciple, but Also our out-of-the-box thinker!!!     So - use your purpose as a litmus test, use your purpose as your drive And lastly - keep your purpose in front of your eyes~!      I can imagine that Jesus had his purpose figured out at the age of 12… I think that He figured out that He was different and that His life call was amazing    I know some of you are probably thinking that I am off on my interpretation of the Bible - I just believe that he was all god and all man. And I believe that he was tempted in every area - even in knowing his Call on his life…    But moving on - our third point in walking out our purpose… Keep it in front of you   To make decisi0ons about your purpose - you need to keep ut in front of you. WE have been talking about trusting God in our circumstances, the past few podcasts, but this piece is critical to being able to do that. When we know our purpose, then we can look at our situations and line it up and ask… how does this bring life to my purpose.     Write it down, keep it in front of you!  I have my purpose in the signature of my emails I have since 2005 when I discovered my purpose… Can't say that I have always made decisions based on it - sometimes I wanted to move things into more of a spotlight on me…    But then when I found myself back in the presence of God I would be reminded that my role is to passionately uprise God while silently serving-man!     So what is your purpose?  What are you doing to know your purpose?    Can I challenge you to take time this week to seek the Lord to KNOW your purpose?   Maybe fast a meal - maybe stay up late one night and just spend time with God and have him begin to stir in you the unique reason why he chooses YOU!     What I do know is that HE did choose YOU!  You - selected you, positioned you - now be the best version of it -  Not the perfect version but the ever learning version    Because leadership in my onion means that every day you strive to be at least one step ahead,  at least one experience in front of those you have been given the gift of leading . It's not a matter of being the BEST, or  It is not a badge It is not even being the brightest,    it is about having the courage to lead     It takes commitment, persistence, and patient And it takes an everyday God experience    I'm Benjamin Stewart And until next time Go lead from the edge                                                       

King James makes this weeks message kind of funny off the tongue - But you can figure that one out.  What I know is that all to often we blame the horse we are riding, the job we have, the unsaved boss, the poor performing employee, our spouse, our kids, even ourselves for things that are simply GOD trying to work on US!  This week, is kind of a part two from last week - talking about when Balaam beat his ass because she wouldn't go where he wanted to go....   Want to know more… Check it out!   OR want the show notes...  Just scroll down!     Listen on Spotify Or iTunes or Youtube Stitcher:  https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/leading-from-the-edge   Want to know more? Follow me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/leadingfromtheedge/ Join the conversation on my website: http://www.leadinfromtheedge.net     SHOW NOTES  Its been 30 years 30 years of saying yes to the passion that God has placed on the inside of me to lead   See - its a journey of leading others to find their God-given purpose   And because of that - you have this feeling on the inside -  that it is our leadership responsibility to do eve tying in our power to help  Others achieve their God-given purpose     Good morning, afternoon, or evening - this week was going to be a completely different direction, but after last week - I think we are going to go into part 2 of the Journey How we approach life and issues will determine our outcome…   I was confronted with what we did “right”: last week almost immediately…  I've got another story for you - - -   And this time I am going to brag on my kids again…   I have been reading in Numbers and was reminded yesterday about a situation with Balak and Balaam…  Let's read it together Go to Numbers 22   In this passage, we have a kingdom that is scared of the Nation of Israel and we have a couple of characters in this - the son of the King of the Moabites, Balak and we have Balaam the prophet (some even call him a wicked prophet) - but a prophet none the less    The back story to what we are going to read is that in their fear the Moabites are wanting Balaam to come and speak a blessing from God over them as a people… Balaam doesn't want to do this because God told him not to   But they go back and forth and at one point - eventually, Balaam agrees to go with Balak BUT - - -    22 Then God's anger was aroused because he went, and the Angel of the Lord took His stand in the way as an adversary against him. And he was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him. 23 Now the donkey saw the Angel of the Lord standing in the way with His drawn sword in His hand, and the donkey turned aside out of the way and went into the field. So Balaam struck the donkey to turn her back onto the road.    24 Then the Angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, with a wall on this side and a wall on that side. 25 And when the donkey saw the Angel of the Lord, she pushed herself against the wall and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall; so he struck her again.    26 Then the Angel of the Lord went further and stood in a narrow place where there was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left. 27 And when the donkey saw the Angel of the Lord, she lay down under Balaam; so Balaam's anger was aroused, and he struck the donkey with his staff.     28 Then the Lord opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?” 29 And Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you have [e]abused me. I wish there were a sword in my hand, for now, I would kill you!”     30 So the donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey on which you have ridden, ever since I became yours, to this day? Was I ever [f]disposed to do this to you?” And he said, “No.”     31 Then the Lord opened Balaam's eyes, and he saw the Angel of the Lord standing in the way with His drawn sword in His hand, and he bowed his head and fell flat on his face. 32 And the Angel of the Lord said to him, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out [g]to stand against you because your way is perverse[h] before Me. 33 The donkey saw Me and turned aside from Me these three times. If she had not turned aside from Me, surely I would also have killed you by now, and let her live.”     34 And Balaam said to the Angel of the Lord, “I have sinned, for I did not know You stood in the way against me. Now, therefore, if it [i]displeases You, I will turn back.”     Now there are some fun things we can say about this story - but I want to bring out a few points about this. Last week I shared about how sometimes we go through things because they are part of our journey - not because it is something bad. Sometimes we call things bad that are God working in our lives… it may feel bad for the moment, but in fact, it is part of our journey.    Here is Balaam  Going somewhere and God sends an angel (unseen to Balaam) to stop him God wants to teach Balaam something important so God gets in the way of Balaam, but still gives Balaam the answer - just through a donkey - a place where Balaam didn't expect…   Keeping that in mind - I want to share a story of what we went through last week   So Thursday we brought the two oldest girls and two of the horses to the saddle club property (about 6 miles from our place ) to work with their horses. They spent the afternoon doing whatever it is that they do with their horses and I went back to our property to work on some projects getting ready for our family vision camps…    At some 4 pm, I head back to the property to drive the truck back and my oldest was still loading her mustang into the trailer. So I sat in the car for a little bit, but that little bit turned into an hour, then 2 hours, then 4 hours… Still trying to load her horse into the trailer It was getting cold,  It was getting dark…   I would go out there and offer to help or stand out there for moral support… But nothing was working   Now for some of you who know horses, there are several ways to do this One of which is to force the animal onto the trailer…  This is probably the way that I would do it, but I know that my daughter is working hard with this mustang. Not only that, it is part of her journey and the horses' journey.   She has worked hard on this bond with the horse and has stuck with the training that she has been doing in natural horsemanship.     But here we are, it is now 945 and we have been loading this horse for almost 6 hours! I was struggling too Not because I was tired of the horse not loading - but I could see my daughter facing a lot of things Emotions, cold, tired, hungry… But most difficult was watching the young lady who has been correct, right, perfect, overachiever - hitting a wall. It was a hard wall.. and I know that she probably was questioning everything she was doing…  Plus she was failing…  She was facing the pressures of her dad sitting out there for 6 hours The fact that we can't leave the horse on the property overnight alone So many pressures for a 19-year-old to face with the standard of all that she has work3ed with this horse to build in trust and development    Mind you - this horse was wild for 9 years of its life, and it has only been with Ellie for 4 months…   Ellies decision to not push her horse further than what was in line with her training was costing her and it was costing me, and it was costing the family - and there was no solution sight…   Yet, there was peace in me as a dad (even in my heartbreaking for her_) that God was working this for her.    That God was allowing her to face failure, face a new level of frustration, face a new need for dependence on others… This was probably a nightmare for her!   God was sending an angel to block her way - without her seeing that it was God She was pushing to get her horse to do what she was wanting (not striking like Balaam) but there was a bigger thing happening to her - God was working in her the fears of her life   Failing Not being enough And having to depend on others…    What a lesson that was taking place    Not only that when I called her back into the truck she had to then walk through how to solve And if you know me - I didn't just come in a rescue - I wanted her to use this opportunity in the middle of all those emotions to be able to think rationally about all the resources   Through discussion, we figured out a plan We would build a small round pen around the trailer right there on the property Go back to the camp and pick up the RV and we would stay the night at the saddle club to allow her horse to calm down and then work with her to load in the morning or all day if needed.   I couldn't help but think of how God used the situation with Balaam to not only still work His will of blessing Israel and influencing the Moabites - but God worked in Balaam as well.     Normally at this point in the podcast, I break down a few points or take-homes of the situation - but today I want to do this a little differently. I want to share some insights that may help you in the middle of your situation - call them questions instead of points?    Are allowing God to work on what HE wants to work on? One of the ways that God chooses to work on us is to see un into situations that expose our greatest fears, our greatest areas of not being surrendered to trusting HIM. Because it Is when we are facing our fears, that breakthrough happens. And in those moments - God gets to work on what he wants. I remember a dream I had where I was sitting in the doctor's waiting room. I had major stomach pain and I went to the front desk and asked for an appointment and they said gave me some dates to choose from - and instead of choosing the first date available, I put it off. Then in the next scene in this dream, I found myself sitting across the desk from the doctor - and he told me I had some conditions with my intestines that gave me two options - I could go the medicine route and live a pretty normal life with flair ups and issues with certain foods, or I could have surgery and fix the problem…  Then I was in the operating room looking down on the doctor working on me. I was watching when they were working on my intestine when all of a sudden there was an alarm and the doctor said - oh, we need to fix that and he did something up in my spleen area.     Then I woke up from the dream and asked God What does that mean?     Well, the first place was me knowing I had a problem, but putting it off - going to the right person (God - or the doctor) but putting it off until a time when was convenient for me.   The second situation was me sitting and listening to the doctor as he gave me two options, medicate or fix it. And I think we often have this opportunity with God and Ellie had that opportunity - she could have avoided what God was working on by forcing her horse to load and shunting the growth opportunity. But in this dream, I had a choice   Then the last scene was me choosing to let God (doc) work on what he wants to work on… And the awesome thing that happened was that when I surrendered to the doc, he worked on what we knew was wrong, but then when another thing happened, he didn't wake me up to ask permission, he just did it     And when we surrender to God, He can do what we know he is working on, but he can also work on everything!   Are you allowing God to work on what He wants to work on?     The next question Are you sticking to what He told you?   One of the most powerful things that happened is that when faced with her greatest fears (failure and dependency) Ellie denied the temptation to throw away what she was dedicated to - natural horsemanship. If only I showed that kind of consistency and stick-to-it-ness in my life when I have opposition.  She knows who she is, and instead of taking a shortcut and forcing her horse (and in essence shorting what God was doing in her as well), she took the route that forced HER to face her fears of failing and of depending on others.     Are you sticking to what he told you - in life, in family, in business? I think sometimes we give up right before our breakthrough…   Last question Are you keeping your mind right? One of the areas that I was able to bring some help to the situation was to focus Ellie on still making the best decision. A lot of times we get stuck when w are facing major emotional pieces of ourselves- and we don't stop to just process what we need to do. We stopped in the truck and walked through all the scenarios of our options, from forcing the horse to load to Ellie sleeping in the trailer to getting the RV. So many times I have rushed a decision before really taking inventory of what resources I had and what would be the best for everyone involved… I would make a rash decision on what would have cost me and not anyone else.     I think My oldest has that same tendency - she would have probably just wanted to stay in the cold trailer and avoided needing me to do anything. BUT, that wasn't what she needed to do so as we walked through the scenarios we came up with what I believe was the best! Which included her sister being with us, serving her older sister, and being a big help as well.       Here is the best part - I think God does this for us I think He truly knows what we need the most - and it is often dependent on how much we can trust Him with the process   So, back to the horse story - The next morning Her horse loaded within 20 minutes of her starting, but she didn't leave for another hour as she was wanting to truly get her horse to want to load.     All ended well, and I think some fears were faced that will set her up for life I know I learned a lot in the process and found myself having to trust God too!   So what is this podcast about  Part two of last week - sometimes what you are going through is an opportunity to grow in Christ, be exposed, be freed from fears, succeed through failing… so maybe stop cursing the situation or the donkey that you are riding and ask God to open your eyes to see if HE is standing in the way!   As you take on your leading (whether as a parent, a pastor, or an employer) with your eyes fixed on God and not the situation… you got this!    See Leadership in my opinion means that every day you strive to be at least one step ahead,  at least one experience in front of those you have been given the gift of leading . It's not a matter of being the BEST, or  It is not a badge It is not even being the brightest,    it is about having the courage to lead     It takes commitment, persistence, and patient And it takes an everyday God experience    I'm Benjamin Stewart And until next time Go lead from the edge         

Ok - kind of a baiting title - but I don't think that I am the only one who questions when things go bad... What could I have done differently, what was God trying to teach me, is the enemy attacking?   But, one thing that I have been learning more and more is... the story is just unfinished... B   Want to know more… Check it out!   OR want the show notes...  Just scroll down!     Listen on Spotify Or iTunes or Youtube Stitcher:  https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/leading-from-the-edge   Want to know more? Follow me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/leadingfromtheedge/ Join the conversation on my website: http://www.leadinfromtheedge.net   SHOW NOTES This week I want to talk about something we did right. I actually try to avoid that for some reason - always teaching from something that I have done wrong, As if that is a better qualifier When its really just my battle with not wanting to be prideful Ha - so backward we can be! So in this podcast today I want to teach a quick point about how w approach situations Growing up charismatic in my faith, seeing all the name it and claim, prosperity messages, tongue talking the way of listening to the Holy Spirit - I've had to do some unlearning these past 2 years Not that any of those things are wrong - and I know some that hear me say that may disagree with me… But the unlearning that I am talking about is the fact that I had determined so much of my WALK by what I see… While I believe that God wants us to be with instead of without (like I would my own kids) And that God wants us to walk in the spirit and putting the right emphasis on the power of the Holy Spirit - the gift given to us by God himself on the departure of Jesus.. something to be celebrat3ed whether you believe in praying in tongues, prophecy or not… just simple the gift of the Holy Spirit But too often in my charismatic background, I made these things the evidence of God in our lives Not the tools that God gives us to live our lives In other words, when I wasn't walking in prosperity - that meant that I messed up, or that it was an attack of the enemy… and instead of battling my discontentment, I was battling  the wrong battle Instead of walking the situation OUT and trusting the Lord I would trust in my faith and my ability   Dangerous territory What am I saying I think that as believers we have this NEED to know the value of what we are going through RIGHT NOW We have to have an explanation RIGHT NOW and what happens is that we go to our reserves when we are depleted or challenged   We start pulling from what WE KNOW, instead of leaning in and trusting God We NEED to know right now I need to explain this RIGHT NOW I need answers RIGHT NOW   Maybe this is a process/ Maybe this is so multifaceted in what it is doing in me that there is NO WAY for me to know what this is doing RIGHT NOW Why am I suffering? Why did I make that decision? Was it a bad decision or a good one? Why when I listened to God is this HARD? Did miss God when I took that job? Cause this is hard, the house has flooded, the business isn't growing I'm stressed out I'm losing my peace! Is this YOU GOD? WHERE AM I?     And I feel like we take those moments and we turn to ourselves to explain.. At least I do! I look at Ephesians 1:7 a little differently since I have been thinking through this 7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;   We focus on forgiveness and grace… but what about redemption through the blood? Jesus went through SOOOO much pain, torture, and being ridiculed and even questioned God…     Matthew 20:18 - Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death,       Jesus is letting them know - hey so, here is how it's going to go with me I am about to be delivered to the people and they are going to beat me till my last breath, mock me in front of everyone, stripped naked, then - they are going to give me a chunk of wood to walk and carry it to the place where I am going to be nailed to it and killed in front of the whole world   All because I am doing what I am supposed to do All because this is part of God's plan for me and for you…   Can we think about that? We just pass over that HE went through JUNK on this earth     But I find hope in this that in Luke we hear Jesus talking to God about this situation   Luke 22:42 - saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not My will, but Yours, be done.”   So, is Jesus saying Hey God, is this you? Is he saying, Hey God, can we make this easier?     I think what we are learning in this Eason of our life is this And please hear me - you have heard all of this before - but when do we LIVE IT???   1 - Not everything I think is bad, is bad…   Here is my story of what we got right We have been remodeling the camp for our opening dates. Let me stop and give a plug - if you have never invested in the goals, dreams, and God's plan for your family - you need to really consider coming to our camp.  We are literally walking families through the experience of hearing from God for the reason why they are together as a family.  There is nothing more powerful than having a FULLY GOD CENTERED Family Not that you will achieve perfection - we still argue, have strife moments in our family, but the expectation is in GODs plan and what each of us bring to the family PLEASE _ PLEASE consider coming to ur camp for your family We do this AT cost And if you don't like what you got - we will give you your money back Pray about   Ok - back to the story we have been remodeling up here and decided to find a furniture piece that would go into the cafeteria for books and supplies… well, I found the one and was pretty excited as it was “PERFECT” for what we needed.  So we Hooke dup the trailer, grabbed a few kids, and drove 45 minutes to the house where we oddly purchase   Pulled up, went, and looked at it - hmmm looks a little darker than what I thought And it is a little larger than I thought… But hey let's consider   I called Nili and we both felt like it was worth a shot And I pray3ed about it - felt like it was a yes   We loaded it all up (5 pieces ) and drove back home Sper excited I get it all unloaded and set up and then Nili is looking at it And… she's like, so, this is not going to work Now pause - in the past where we got this wrong was pride Nili would feel pressure because I took the time and money to get something I would feel pressure because I don't like wasting time or money We would both feel pressure because we would get frustrated that either of us either missed what God was saying, or we were making our own decision   In th3 past 0- this was huge potential to walk in bad thoughts and relationships To get offended at each other To be disappointed in me Lots of options Inst3ead, there was this easy place of just trusting God I was like - hey I'll post it for sale online and let's just sell it And Nili was like, it's all good - let's just see what happens   Wow - this was amazing We were handling this like adults and TRUSTING GOD Not sure God how this was good for us, but I know that I can learn Am I to learn that I need to hear you better Am I to learn that we can have bad decisions and we can get along through it? Work the money spent… But rather than feeling the need to ASSIGN what God was doing - I felt this peace and unction to just be in the moment and not try to define God and his plan for this entertainment center.   This leads me to point number 2 Point number 1 is Not everything I think is BADS, is BAD   Number 2 2 - Not everything I see NOW is everything to be seen   Sometimes I think we rush to make judgment So that WE have peace or direction - instead of relying on GOD   Jesus dealt with the NOW as if it was part of his journey Yep - I think we can do that a LOT BETTER! There is peace there - you know? There is joy there - you know? That place of confidently relying on God and not looking at what you see as the end of what God is doing…   So we put the entertainment back on the Facebook marketplace and just trusted God The next day someone comes out to see it and loves it for their remodeled Asked if I could deliver it Sure - I can deliver it - no problem… Again, normally I would not even consider delivering, but I felt like that is what we were supposed to put up this time (I'm a non - delivery guy - I'm like, you want it, come get it) Yep _ I am that guy   So, instead of thinking that there is a loss I just leave it to the Lords's hands We sell it to the person and the next day I load all of it up and we drive the 20 minutes to deliver the furniture   We get there and we unload it They are so thankful, and appreciative (and my super strong 16-year-old daughter is showing up these construction guys)… And we unload it all AND we make 20% on the sale BUT it doesn't stop there   My daughter and son get paid by the lady for working  (an unexpected blessing for them) And then she asked me   Do you need kitchen cabinets we are remodeling and I don't need these particular cabinets?  You can use them for your camp Well - what she didn't know is that we are putting a mini kitchen in one of the large rooms at the top of the mountain.  So we were blessed And when I look back at the entire situation We purchased a $275 entrainment center that we couldn't use That we sold for $370 with Talia and Zion getting $10 each to help Plus about $1500 in kitchen cabinets and stainless sink for a project that we hadn't even asked God for provision for…. Say what? Brings me to point three     3 - I need to look more to Code than what I am seeing I believe that in this situati0on - God was leading us the entire time Does it makes sense to make a bad purchase and it be God> Not in the natural mind But to ask HIM, get the, yes, and then immediately have the disappointment of it is the wrong item, to then selling it for a profit, and then to have my kids get blessed and complimented on their attitude of helping, and then to get blessed in an area that we aren't even ready to do…   Looking to God instead of relying on what I am seeing… That is the win!   But why do I share all of this? Lets recap   There are going to be times in your leading life Putting yourself out there to lead others That you are going to make decisions that look like a failure But the story is still unwritten Could it have been a wrong decision, yes or maybe no But that isn't what the end is about - It is about the journey and how amazingly God works for our good     Not just ou financial good But our health, spiritual growth, relationships, finances, peace, the fruit of the spirit EVERYTHING   And when we stop thinking everything that goes wrong is Bad, or that we have all the information of the situation, or that we should be looking to what it LOOKS like right now as a determiner of our emotions or strength… We are likely, missing God's best   And.. if Jesus needed to go to God… well, you probably need to also!   Because that what leade3rship is about It is about being one step ahead

You know that person who really has no business giving you advice... but its good advice? I remember when a pastor/mentor would say that you find out what's inside of you when you are thrown against the wall.  This week's podcast has a bit of transparency about how I handled the chaos of -7 degree weather, 20 inches of snow and being without power on the mountain…. Come on in! B   Want to know more… Check it out!   OR want the show notes...  Just scroll down!     Listen on Spotify Or iTunes or Youtube Stitcher:  https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/leading-from-the-edge   Want to know more? Follow me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/leadingfromtheedge/ Join the conversation on my website: http://www.leadinfromtheedge.net   SHOW NOTES Snow, Pipes, and what I learned about myself… I remember when a pastor/mentor would say that you find out what's inside of you when you are thrown against the wall. This week's podcast has a bit of transparency about how I handled the chaos of -7 degree weather, 20 inches of snow, and being without power on the mountain…. Come on in! B    So this is one of those podcasts where you get to see how unpolished and still growing I am. Transparency alert…   I was reading in Exodus with our family reading through the bible in a year…  So, as a leader who loves to teach leadership, I have forever been drawn to the passage in Exodus 18   5 And Jethro, Moses' father in law, came with his sons and his wife unto Moses into the wilderness, where he encamped at the mount of God: 6 And he said unto Moses, I thy father in law Jethro have come unto thee, and thy wife, and her two sons with her. 7 And Moses went out to meet his father in law   They meet, Moses tells his father in law all that had happened, pharaoh, Israel fleeing, the wilderness, the fire - everything…     9 And Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness     Then Jethro sacrifices to the Lord   Now we go to verse  13 And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses sat to judge the people: and the people stood by Moses from the morning unto the evening.   I love this passage next because it stood out to me in a BIG way!   Set the stage here Moses has been gone for years… Jethro is an idolatry worshipper… But there is a conversion that takes place... and then…  The NEXT DAY    Moses Father in law - who hasn't led the nati0on of Israel out of Egypt, hasn't suffered through plagues and persecution, hasn't been chased by the armies of Pharaoh, hasn't had to leave in the night,….    He comes and watches Moses and says…     14 And when Moses' father in law saw all that he did to the people, he said, What is this thing that thou doest to the people? why sittest thou thyself alone, and all the people stand by thee from morning unto even?     Moses explains… but no one else can do it I have to hear from God for leading them...   15 And Moses said unto his father in law, Because the people come unto me to enquire of God: 16 When they have a matter, they come unto me; and I judge between one and another, and I do make them know the statutes of God, and his laws.     Jethro says, umm - nope   17 And Moses' father in law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good. 18 Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone.   And he goes into a long discussion on HOW to do it Like this is a true business consultation happening right in front of our eyes     Skip down to 22 and we hear one of the biggest reasons why…   22 And let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee. 23 If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee so, then thou shalt be able to endure, and all these people shall also go to their place in peace.   And then the kicker…  24 So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said.   I've always taught this as in Moses delegating to people. , not holding onto everything and being the only one who can do it, because no one else can do it as I can…   And that is a great thing to learn... But this time when I read it I had to ask myself…  Can I get counsel from those around me that maybe aren't my trusted source?  Am I humble enough to be willing to learn from those around me, my family, my friends?    And before you go into the defense posture that we should have wise counsel, and to not be unequally yoked, and that those who are not Christians are not able to speak into your life….    - I completely agree (and I started that argument myself)…   But what I read when I see those passages  There are a few important things   Proverbs 11: 14 Where there is no guidance the people fall, But in an abundance of counselors, there is victory.       Proverbs 12:15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But a wise man is he who listens to counsel.       Proverbs 20:18 Verse Concepts Prepare plans by consultation, And make war by wise guidance.     So, what do we do then?  How can we just be subject to anyone giving us advice?  How do we stay humble…   So in our struggles of the ice storm and 20” inches of snow on the mountain, all the pipes freezing and fixing pipes…  After all of that… I am finding that I have some work to do on me   On Sunday we are heading gout to go to church and the bus can't make it up to our hill with all the snow and ice. The kids are wanting to go to church - they can't stand the idea of missing (plus there was. Friend of the family who had a birthday party afterward)…    And so all this pressure of getting to church and trying to be on time, and getting unstuck from the snow… the bus is sliding to the left (we live on a mountain, getting off the road is not a good idea)…   And the second time we were stuck, we are shoveling and my second oldest says to me, dad, get the 4x4 ford and push the bus instead of us trying to do this. I ignored her and accused her of being more worr3ed ab9out getting to a party than working together…    Wow - my flesh was struggling See, I was carrying all the hard work in gifts that the kids created, all the excitement to be with friends at church and to be honest, to leave our property for the first time in 9 days…    What I was carrying was the guilt and the weight of potentially disappointing them.. that if we can't then we can't and they will be upset and sad…    What silliness in me to think that would have to revolve around me… But what is more silly is that in my fear of that, I was treating some of them like they were not part of the solution.     Not one of them had a bad attitude, they would cheer the moment the bus started moving… uggg   So, at one point (4th time we were stuck) and I said, I am going to get the 4x4 ford and push the bus… on my walk back to the camp - I was praying and assign God Why am I acting like this   Simple… No humility because of my fear of rejection What???     I thought I had won that battle before I thought I was over that I mean 0 it is my kids and they think the world of me   Why is my worth wrapped up in not disappointing them or anyone for that matter…   I prayed in the spirit once that revelation hit me and by the time I got back with the 4x4 my spirit was uplift3ed, I apologized and I was back to being that fun-loving, fun, joyous dad that I want to be.     I told Nili to press the gas on the bus just enough to have pressure on the tires and I got the 4x4 truck right against the back bumper and it was like butter- so easy to move the bus   So what do we learn from this story and this passage in the word of God?   Humility will save us time and energy When we take the time to listen to those who are wanting to give our wise counsel., not only will we get things done quicker, better, but we get to be the better versions of ourselves. I love what it says in verse 22 of Jethro talking to Moses - so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee.   What - allowing people to come into our lives to HELP ups through words, through ideas through actions - - - - drop the pride and let us walk in humility  so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee.   Number 2: Wise counsel is less about the person and more about the counsel. When I've read those passat3es in the past I always turned counsel to counselors, And whenever the scripture says counselors only twice does it say wise counsel as a person, all the other times it is giving preference to the counsel as wise, not the person giving it.     Now I am not saying that you need to surround yourself with ungodly people - absolutely not saying that. But I am saying that if God can use a donkey to speak then maybe he can use someone that you don't like the way they live, or maybe how they said it…. Our job is to judge the counsel given, as much as we want to judge the person giving it.   Number 3: Do what good counsel is… what do I mean. Do it… listen and try out. When the spirit tells you, hey, you need to listen to this… then listen to it! And do it   Oh man - we could have cut our stuck time by 75% if I would have listened to the wise counsel of my daughter. If would have judg3ed it in the spirit instead of my flesh 0- then we wouldn't have had 3 more times of getting stuck, we would have had more peace and I could have learned something      Isn't leadership about continually growing,  Moses after all the growth as a leader, leading a nation of 2 million people - that's a big deal - bigger than anyone else that I know in leadership…   But even after all of that, to have the humility to listen to his father-in-law and to apply it to how he was leading… that is true leadership - to be humble enough to want to learn, even if it comes from a donkey…   Because that what leadership is about It is about being one step ahead    

I wish that someone would have talked to me early on in leadership about the cost it has on others... AKA myself. We need to realize that we will affect others with the decisions we make...  Even the perfect decisions that couldn't have gone any better... Want to know more… Check it out!   OR want the show notes...  Just scroll down!     Listen on Spotify Or iTunes or Youtube Stitcher:  https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/leading-from-the-edge   Want to know more? Follow me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/leadingfromtheedge/ Join the conversation on my website: http://www.leadinfromtheedge.net   So today we are going to talk about how your decisions as a leader affect those around you…   We've been reading in Exodus as a family and chapter five… wow for leadership this is huge for us Not the typical story of leading the nation Israel out of captivity  Nope this is the part where it gets worse before better   5 Afterward Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Let my people go, so that they may hold a festival to me in the wilderness.'” 2 Pharaoh said, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey him and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord and I will not let Israel go.”     4 But the king of Egypt said, “Moses and Aaron, why are you taking the people away from their labor? Get back to your work!”    6 That same day Pharaoh gave this order to the slave drivers and overseers in charge of the people: 7 “You are no longer to supply the people with straw for making bricks; let them go and gather their straw. 8 But require them to make the same number of bricks as before; don't reduce the quota. They are lazy; that is why they are crying out, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to our God.' 9 Make the work harder for the people so that they keep working and pay no attention to lies.”       15 Then the Israelite overseers went and appealed to Pharaoh: “Why have you treated your servants this way? 16 Your servants are given no straw, yet we are told, ‘Make bricks!' Your servants are being beaten, but the fault is with your people.” 17 Pharaoh said, “Lazy, that's what you are—lazy! That is why you keep saying, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the Lord.' 18 Now get to work. You will not be given any straw, yet you must produce your full quota of bricks.”     19 The Israelite overseers realized they were in trouble when they were told, “You are not to reduce the number of bricks required of you for each day.” 20 When they left Pharaoh, they found Moses and Aaron waiting to meet them, 21 and they said, “May the Lord look on you and judge you! You have made us obnoxious to Pharaoh and his officials and have put a sword in their hand to kill us.”   So - why is this a HUGE leadership lesson? Most leaders I know lead from their insecurity - in other words, they make decisions on what makes the least amount of trouble instead of leading from a God first mentality.   A couple of quick points of what we can learn from this story 1 - Understand the gravity   Moses and Aaron left Gods presence to go tell Pharaoh to let Gods people go And Pharough then brings down the wrath on the people   Why - cause Moses and Aaron were obedient!   We have to accept that our decisions are important They will affect more than ourselves - as much as you want it to just be you It's not - it will affect those you lead on the job, those who look up to you Your own family   And while the result is something to look forward to - we don't get to decide the path…     As much as you want to separate the worlds of your decisions and your family. It isn't separated  You get to realize that every decision you make is feeding the future of your family Even it if includes more hardship.     2 - Do what's God says - no extras  You only know this through Christ Whether it is letting someone go Or that your decisions carry unintentional consequences   To sugar-coat situations means that we are trying to get people to either come along or get along Think about that - as leaders in business, in churches, in our own homes - we sometimes make a decision and then try to paint the picture of how little it will affect them,    It is like we are trying to tell people how to feel and respond… Isn't that -= - - - manipulation?    Stay away from being the person who goes around trying to keep everyone happy It doesn't work!!!   Now, I am not saying that you are to be harsh or rude in what you do NO - I am simply saying don't make an excuse One of my rules in firing someone is to not apologize unless it is our fault. In the 100_ people that I have been privileged to let go, only one has stayed mad at me :)  And not a single was let go because we had to It was because it was the best thing to do!!!!     Let us look back to Exodus 5 20 When they left Pharaoh, they found Moses and Aaron waiting to meet them, 21 and they said, “May the Lord look on you and judge you! You have made us obnoxious to Pharaoh and his officials and have put a sword in their hand to kill us.”     Ha - they were waiting!!! Why - cause they didn't like how it felt… Not knowing that this was part of the process for them to become a nation!     3 - Get over yourself What do I mean Well - too often we live in this lie that our decisions won't affect anyone… or better, that NO ONE will be effective by your leadership or decision. We have problems with it causing anyone grief… and then you get stuck in this pleasing path.    I remember when I was watching SHkar tank and heard Kevin Oleary just be almost ornery… to the point that he would say to people who didn't agree with him… you are dead to me.   And I used to think that was harsh But when I looked at my life of leading… I realized that I had a lot of troubling times, stress, heart issues, literals spending time in the hospital from stress-induced physical issues. I was literally about to go on vacation and we had rented an RV (because ours wasn't working) and I was coming home to get ready to go when I had double vision…     I'm not sure if you have ever had that, but it was scary - my heart started racing and everything started getting dark around me. I thought -I am going to die right here driving this RV… trying to get away for some time away…     I took the next exit and pulled my RV into the parking lot of Silver Cross hospital Chicago… walked to the ER and they immediately admitted me    Before I know it, I am getting all these tests done to check the condition of my heart. EKG, heart monitor, stress test, dye test…    At one point I am running on a treadmill with my dress shoes cause that Is all I had! The result - the doc came to me and asked me what I did for a living   Pastor -  He smiled, you have to change something, Ben…    I go back to my impression of Kevin Oleary -  If what he says is true, that when someone doesn't want to do business with him, they are dead to him - then I bet he is living a much more free life than I was!~   Every hurt feeling, every decision that cost someone something, I would stress over what they thought, if they were hurt because of me and my decisions, could I have done it better or different (and every time I could find what I could have possibly done better and I would find myself at fault).   But when I read what Jesus told the disciples -  Mark 6:11 And whoever will not receive you nor hear you, when you depart from there, shake off the dust under your feet as a testimony against them. Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!”   Oh man - we feel like if it was this RIGHT ON then we wouldn't worry about it   NOPE - if you are like most leaders out there - even when YOU KNOW that it is the right thing to do we get stuck in ourselves We say it is about others, but it is killing Gus on the inside   Stop!!!!   Let us go back over the points    So how do I understand gravity? Pray - get in the spirit and allow him to tell you things to come I know that can sound a little silly or weird, but it is simply allowing the spirit of God to take your ability to predict and add his knowledge to it. Very rarely is it a vision or complete picture, but many times it is a hunch or a feeling about the situation that you want to pay attention to. Trust me, you want to be side on hearing what God thinks of the situation before you go into the absolute decision.    So ask God to show you the gravity of the decision you are making NOT FOR EXCUSES, or even to deflect But instead, to know the weight of it!   Point number 2 was 0 do exactly what God tells you How do we do that Well, write down what you feel he is telling you to do - BEFORE You start planning It out Then do all the planning you want, preventing, game plan to make the pivot or decision - And THEN - bring it back to God - Are you in this planning?   What are you wanting me to take out of it?   And then as a father, business leader, or pastor - move forward when you KNOW      Point number 3 was   Get over yourself    Get some emotional strength - we talk about this in my podcast because I believe the number one hindrance to being. The great leader is our own limiting beliefs - even more than blindspots.   You are not an imposter You are not a failure You are not a crazy person who makes irrational decisions You are not perfect -  Let me say that again, you are not perfect You are not responsible for other people behavior   So how do you get over yourself? Without getting too much into the god-given psychology of how he designed us We have to grow in our emotional intelligence! We have to allow GOD to get into every area of our life!   In other words - take an honest look at yourself  Get in front of the mirror and let God tell you about yourself! We all learn the same way We have to see and hear what we need to learn and grow in In other words   If you are dealing with pride - there are great scriptures that will speak to humility Ask God to humble you - and I know some of you are like don't ask God to teach you humility Cause he will knock you down… and it is ok!!!! Ask for it - why stay the same???   If you are dealing with imposter syndrome Study the life of Moses - find someone in the word of God who you can see the faithfulness of God! Get scripture and find out from God … where you have pride Yep - I have found that insecurity is pride…  It is us withholding Gods best for others because we are thinking about ourselves   So #1 get before God #2 get in the word And #3 - get some good words from mentors, books, coach!   So go I hope this podcast will create some good fruit for you You got this - you will be making decisions that will affect people, instead of acting like it won't.. own it and grow it!!!  

Self-Care… Do you need it? I love this topic - and I LOVED doing this podcast because I feel like I was finally able to communicate what “I” need to hear concerning this.  Why do we sacrifice the wrong things, and invest in the wrong things.  I believe it is because we have missed the true meaning of self-care Want to know more… Check it out!   OR want the show notes...  Just scroll down!     Listen on Spotify Or iTunes or Youtube Stitcher:  https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/leading-from-the-edge   Want to know more? Follow me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/leadingfromtheedge/ Join the conversation on my website: http://www.leadinfromtheedge.net     Self Care  So this weekend we are going to be taking time as a family to dive into our goals, core values, core focus, and spiritual desires for 2021. It is something that we do every year and it has become the basis of our year - keeping us fully in front of what God has for us  It is full of worship time, quiet time, fun time, fellowship, learning, praying, seeking God for HIS plans for our lives - each one and for our family. Such a beautiful weekend of going from hearing about God to looking at him, seeking to hear from him, to gaze upon him! I was reading in Job with our family bible plan and I saw something that I have missed over the years It's in Job 42 5I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. 6Wherefore I abhor myself and repent in dust and ashes. Of course, I am going to dive into it - what Did Job mean that his Eyes see God Did God come down and talk to Job face to face?  We know that occasion happened with Moses, but Moses couldn't look upon God SO… what is this When you look at th4e Hebrew word for seeth It means to perceive, gaze, inspect, consider… Oh man - there was a transition in Jobs life from being righteous by Gods definition to being in a relationship with God…. It was the transition from God telling Job to gird up his loins like a man To Job being honest with himself and with God  WHICH HAPPENED when Job shares this statement Job 42 5I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. But what happened when Job looked at God??? Verse 6 says… 6Wherefore I abhor myself and repent in dust and ashes. Job saw in himself the flesh of man, the pride of life…  He saw that his best position was to repent in dust and ashes  But he also says I abhor myself We think of Ahbor as the greek word which means to HATE  But in this context, it is the Hebrew word that comes from reject, despise, refuses  To refuse me  to reject me IN a world where I hear so many people saying you have to love yourself first I think we have made too much of us being the center of the Universe I do not see that anywhere in the example of Christ… We think of Jesus as being the most influential person on the planet And he was BUT - he was also the most hated and his 3 years of ministry ended in people being so disgusted with him and his message and his followers that they decided to KILL him Yet - we strive so hard to build ourselves us We get told by so many people that we have to take care of ourselves WHICH IS TRUE - but not the way that we do it… I look at our lives as a tool in the hands of God There are several types of knives… Zion loves knives - infract while we were in Israel he and I spent over 2 hours looking for just the right knife And we finally found one that he loved… it is like an Israeli version of a bowie and Dao blade  Has this wonderful ivory handle -  Super ornate sheath Just simply a beautiful knife… but guess what The blade is so dull it has a hard time cutting butter Then there are our kitchen knives Some good friends came over to spend the night - family sleepover! And the father Jan di was in the kitchen getting our taco night ready to go and he gets my kitchen knife And goes to cut the tomatoes. And is like… this has been used so much it isn't even sharp anymore Do you have a knife sharpener?/ Nope - sure don't Ok… And then… I have another friend who carries a knife on his belt -  And he takes pride in how sharp knife is Any time we have been working on a project he would be there first one to get his knife out to cut a rope, or strip a wire or - name it…  Having that knife ready to use and using it a lot When I look at how we are supposed to have self-care I feel Like God had a different plan than what we hear in chat rooms, Clubhouse, or read on Facebook. Even the gurus who get out there and tell us to pamper ourselves…  I think God's view - I think we are seeing it in these chapters in Job Gird up your loins like a man - taking the role that we are supposed But then also the revelation that Job has in WHO God is in relationship to JOB himself There is the first knife that is the part of us that just wants to look good We spend so much time making sure that we are clean, pretty, the right materials, the right look And I know that saying it that way I am probably missing some of it Let us try this - how about we spend time doing what we want, filling our lives with pleasures and what is easy for us. Things that make us feel happy - or I should say make our flesh feel happy…  That is that first knife - beautiful, even the sheath was beautiful - well taken care of No dust, no blemishes on the blade, and…  COMPLETELY UNUSED! Why is unused - not because it isn't a knife Not because it isn't capable of being used But because all the effort was making it look good Not making it sharp Not making it fit for use! That is when we do all of our self-worth exercises  And please understand there is self-care that is needed WE need to rest (that is called a sabbath) But when we put all our efforts into what we want, what we want to accomplish most of us neglect the sabbath. But we all indulge in staying up late watching movies, or crashing down in the evenings in front of the TV….  Instead of investing when we should and resting when we should. We need self-care - but self-care is many things Let us ask it with these three questions  1 - Are you sharpening the blade or making the blade look sharp? 2 - Are you keeping the knife ready for use? 3 - Are you using it? I mentioned the first knife, there is self-care found in sharpening the knife! When my friend mentioned that I need to sharpen my knives I realized that I always just went out and purchase anoth3er knife set…  All that money wasted when all I had to do was sharpen them… I know that sounds so silly  BUT - hey dads, hey husbands, hey wives, hey employees, hey pastors How many of us are looking for new knives?  ouch!!! Gird up your loins like a man This is what happens when we get into a need and our knife isn't sharp We go looking for a new knife, instead of taking the time to care for the RIGHT THINGS    Marriages - couples - do you talk to each other Do you still talk?  Are you sharpening your marriage or is it dull from all the use and never tending… Or your walk with God Are you spending time developing the position of the leader of your life, or your position as leader more? Self-care is about keeping our knives sharp Our walk with God sharp Our walk with each other sharp OH man - and what sharpens us?  I know a lot of you are thinking of scriptures BUT right now - can you just take a minute and think about what in your life needs to be sharpened Write it down right now hit pause and take 2 minutes Ok - welcome back Now - can you write down what is the MOST important thing you can do to sharpen those areas. I want action written down Write two things… The first one is Prayer - I want you to spend time in prayer every day for those areas that God is showing you in your life, in your business! Then, you can get creative about what DAILY or WEEKLY action you need to do to sharpen that area  Pause this and write that down for each area Please - take the time to go from hearing the word of the Lord to seeing the LORD in those areas So the last knife is the one that my friend keeps sharpened Did you know that he was so quick to use it? So quick to offer others to use it He even had to tell - be careful its sharp I cannot t4ll you how many times I would use his knife and say to myself I want to have a knife like that But I have been on trips where he would get done with his knife, wipe it off, do a quick sharpening and then put it back in his sheath WHAT??? He was always assessing his knife after use - is this as sharp as it needs to be?    That is self-care It is realizing that you are a child of God first A father, husband, son next And then a pastor, business owner, leader next… Guess what is down on the list Golfer, football lover, guitar player, chess player, fisherman, hunter… So in our self-care - if I am honest with myself Sometimes I spend more time sharpening my business skills than I do my marriage …. Can we let that sit  Sometimes I lead from a dull blade Old information, old revelation, old hurts… old offenses, old unforgiveness SO going back to the top of this -  God's desire for us is better than we have for ourselves, but we take the easy path and we just get enough for God to hear him, but not to stop and gaze, perceive, inspect Him, and He - us… Let God take your life and show you what you need to self-care Where are you IN your leadership - in your staying in the position of being in the hands of God as a parent, as a spouse, a child - in the hands of God as a business owner, leader pastor - - -   Are you going to take the time to let God speak to you about what areas need to be sharpened? And then seek the Lord about what you need to do to sharpen?    And will you consider letting me know what God is sharing with you?  I love to connect, grow together

Every one of us has hit the ceiling, most of us find ourselves stuck every day.  How do we get out of it, especially when we are in a position of leadership? How do we get closer to being who God designed us to be? Check out this week's practical lesson in doing things in HIS strength and HIS timing.   Let's lead from the Edge    Listen on Spotify Or iTunes or Youtube Stitcher:  https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/leading-from-the-edge   Want to know more? Follow me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/leadingfromtheedge/ Follow me on Clubhouse @benjaminstewart Follow me on Twitter  Join the conversation on my website: http://www.leadinfromtheedge.net

About to enter the New Year - what do you need to leave behind, how will you start fresh? What happens when you go to walk in the Blessings of the Lord and it just doesn't seem to make any headway...   We are talking about taking advantage of this season and really removing all the obstacles that would hinder you from walking in the best form of how God has designed you! Let's lead from the Edge    Listen on Spotify Or iTunes or Youtube Stitcher:  https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/leading-from-the-edge   Want to know more? Follow me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/leadingfromtheedge/ Join the conversation on my website: http://www.leadinfromtheedge.net

Stuck? What happens when you are 20 years into a path, but on the inside you know there is more?  Taking on the heart of why we NEED to find God's purpose for our lives. Let's lead from the Edge    Listen on Spotify Or iTunes or Youtube Stitcher:  https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/leading-from-the-edge   Want to know more? Follow me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/leadingfromtheedge/ Join the conversation on my website: http://www.leadinfromtheedge.net

Is it my fault? I think we may have more responsibility than you realize Concerning your God-given design… If you want to find it, launch it, live it and give it - then check out our latest Podcast on the 4D's Part 5: Am I my brother's keeper?   Check out this weeks podcast Let's lead from the Edge    Listen on Spotify Or iTunes or Youtube Stitcher:  https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/leading-from-the-edge   Want to know more? Follow me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/leadingfromtheedge/ Join the conversation on my website: http://www.leadinfromtheedge.net

Is anyone else tired of knowing what to do, and not doing it? Well, if you want a good ole fashioned butt-kicking followed by encouragement that will get you doing more than you have ever done? Check out this weeks podcast Let's lead from the Edge    Listen on Spotify Or iTunes or Youtube Stitcher:  https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/leading-from-the-edge   Want to know more? Follow me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/leadingfromtheedge/ Join the conversation on my website: http://www.leadinfromtheedge.net

I am so excited about this new series on leadership.  So many of us know that we are called to something greater, but we either get discouraged, or we don't know what steps we need to take.  In this weeks podcast, we go into the number #1 way to go from stuck into action! Don't miss part two   Let's lead from the Edge   Listen on Spotify Or iTunes or Youtube Stitcher:  https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/leading-from-the-edge   Want to know more? Follow me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/leadingfromtheedge/ Join the conversation on my website: http://www.leadinfromtheedge.net

I am so excited about this new series on leadership.  Before you can do anything, you have to know what you are working with, what you have in resources, and what you can accomplish.  Are you tired of not knowing whether you can accomplish something you are dreaming of doing?  Take inventory and let's start making a difference in becoming God's best for your life and those around you!   Let's lead from the Edge   Listen on Spotify Or iTunes or Youtube Want to know more? Follow me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/leadingfromtheedge/ Join the conversation on my website: http://www.leadinfromtheedge.net

I am so excited about this new series on leadership.  It is taking what I have been blessed in serving as a soldier in the US Army, and mixing it in with all the leadership principles the Holy Spirit has placed into my life. It's time to get off our butts, and go after the call that God has placed on our lives.   Let's lead from the Edge   Listen on Spotify Or iTunes or Youtube Want to know more? Follow me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/leadingfromtheedge/ Join the conversation on my website: http://www.leadinfromtheedge.net

This week we talk about how the power of leaning into wisdom creates a cycle of influence for leaders. Instead of working so hard on elevating ourselves, or our roles - we can simply lean in to find the confidence to lead from the edge!   Let's lead from the Edge   Listen on Spotify Or iTunes or Youtube Want to know more? Follow me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/leadingfromtheedge/ Join the conversation on my website: http://www.leadinfromtheedge.net

I believe that this one trait is the single most significant piece to successful businesses, relationships and effectiveness.  The best part is that it doesn't take any work, it isn't something that you have to grow in, and it's not something that some are “born with - we all are given this trait.   It all hinges on whether you choose to…     Listen to this week's solution to taking your leadership level to the top, all the way to the edge. Let's lead from the Edge   Listen on Spotify Or iTunes or Youtube Want to know more? Follow me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/leadingfromtheedge/ Join the conversation on my website: http://www.leadinfromtheedge.net

That was FUN!!!! I am sure that I could say what I just said about almost every podcast, but seriously Are you freaking out over what to believe, what to do, how to handle all the changes? Have you found yourself doing all the right things, but not feeling right on the inside? This podcast was another "as I am feeling it" moment and I believe it will challenge you and encourage you at the same time.     Listen to this week's solution to taking your leadership level to the top, all the way to the edge.   Let's lead from the Edge   Listen on Spotify Or iTunes or Youtube Want to know more? Follow me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/leadingfromtheedge/ Join the conversation on my website: http://www.leadinfromtheedge.net

This one was on the fly- simply sharing from my heart at the struggle that leaders have when it comes to making tough decisions.  Ever feel like you have to take a side, or make a decision that you KNOW is not going to please people you lead?  We talk about how to make better decisions!   Listen to this week's solution to taking your leadership level to the top, all the way to the edge. Let's lead from the Edge   Listen on Spotify Or iTunes or Youtube Want to know more? Follow me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/leadingfromtheedge/ Join the conversation on my website: http://www.leadinfromtheedge.net

Ever had a dream or a goal that got moldy?  You know - that sat in your head so long that you were almost ashamed to bring it out? I hit a wall so hard 3 weeks ago - one of those in your face moments with God concerning my life and my direction...  So, why not just be transparent and share it all with YOU!   Listen to this week's solution to taking your leadership level to the top, all the way to the edge. Let's lead from the Edge   Listen on Spotify Or iTunes or Youtube Want to know more? Follow me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/leadingfromtheedge/ Join the conversation on my website: http://www.leadinfromtheedge.net

Can one person keep an entire company from breaking through the ceiling?  Even if they are not in leadership? Am I missing out on God's best simply because I don't have the right people around me? Yes, Yes, and Yes - In this podcast we talk about the final trait needed to break through the ceiling.  Get out of feeling stuck or in the "same place" and getting back into growth and fun!   Listen to this week's solution to taking your leadership level to the top, all the way to the edge. Let's lead from the Edge   Listen on Spotify Or iTunes or Youtube Want to know more? Follow me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/leadingfromtheedge/ Join the conversation on my website: http://www.leadinfromtheedge.net

Freedom found in this episode as we continue to build on our breaking through the ceiling.  In this episode, we talk about how the decision to put systemize your business and church (and life) will free up your life to be ALIVE in dreaming, executing, and feeling fulfilled. Listen to this week's solution to taking your leadership level to the top, all the way to the edge. Let's lead from the Edge   Listen on Spotify Or iTunes or Youtube Want to know more? Follow me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/leadingfromtheedge/ Join the conversation on my website: http://www.leadinfromtheedge.net

What does drinking a gallon of water every day for 75 days have to do with predicting?  In this episode, we talk about how the idea of predicting is often misunderstood. Every business, every church, and every leader can become great a predicting if we just follow 3 simple steps! Get some practical tips, some helpful steps and a lot of encouragement (maybe even a workout plan) in this session Predicting Listen to this week's solution to taking your leadership level to the top, all the way to the edge. Let's lead from the Edge   Listen on Spotify Or iTunes or Youtube Want to know more? Follow me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/leadingfromtheedge/ Join the conversation on my website: http://www.leadinfromtheedge.net

I know that "compactity" is not a word, but in this podcast, I talk about one of the greatest fails of leadership and NOT breaking through the ceiling.  The place that we get to as leaders where our lives are completely booked, running all the time, and burning the candle at both ends.  If we are completely transparent about it, we kind of enjoy it. In this episode, the idea of giving ourselves margin is not just so that we have healthier lives, but so that the people, churches, businesses that we lead can grow beyond the ceiling. We want to see our teams grow, and our impact increase, and our successes amplified, but all too often we are slowing it down because we live our lives too compact.   Get some practical tips, some helpful steps and a lot of encouragement (maybe even a kick in the pants) in this session Delegate & Elevate - Compactity Listen to this week's solution to taking your leadership level to the top, all the way to the edge. Let's lead from the Edge   Listen on Spotify @ https://open.spotify.com/show/31bjnrDY9xcfXiKaiSk11F?si=dXJkivB1 Or iTunes https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leading-from-the-edge/id1509775376 Want to know more? Follow me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/leadingfromtheedge/ Join the conversation on my website: http://www.leadinfromtheedge.net

Ever felt like you were just not making progress anymore? Like there was this invisible ceiling above your head, or your church, or your business?   In this week's podcast we talk about part 2 of breaking through the ceiling.  The truth is that we will all hit the ceiling, it is a natural path to growth. Instead of being discouraged, we are going to put our mindset to seeing it as an opportunity.  In this week's episode we put together an amazing tool that will help you see the areas that you need to delegate and the areas that we need to elevate.  It is something that you can do while listening to the podcast, but also something that you can bring to your team as you continue to lead from the edge. Listen to this week's solution to taking your leadership level all the way to the top, all the way to the edge. Let's lead from the Edge   Listen on Spotify @ https://open.spotify.com/show/31bjnrDY9xcfXiKaiSk11F?si=dXJkivB1 Or iTunes https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leading-from-the-edge/id1509775376 Want to know more? Follow me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/leadingfromtheedge/ Join the conversation on my website: http://www.leadinfromtheedge.net

Can we over-simplify?  I know we ALL over complicate, but when we look at all that we do, all the "stuff" that fills our day... Is it any wonder that we feel overwhelmed, or topped off?  Is it any wonder that we feel like we are not accomplishing God's best for us? Take it a step further in our leadership - leading from the edge means that we will be taking our teams to the same place of simplifying.  Let's set up our teams for success - and bring our vision, our goals, our success measurements down to what really matters.  Let's simplify...    Listen to this week's solution to taking your leadership level all the way to the top, all the way to the edge. Let's lead from the Edge   Listen on Spotify @ https://open.spotify.com/show/31bjnrDY9xcfXiKaiSk11F?si=dXJkivB1 Or iTunes https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leading-from-the-edge/id1509775376 Want to know more? Follow me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/leadingfromtheedge/ Join the conversation on my website: http://www.leadinfromtheedge.net

First: This podcast is a little different as we take the first part to simply pray and stand alongside God's principles of LOVING ALL.  Before getting into what we should be doing as leaders concerning becoming the best versions of ourselves - we pray together for our nation, our black friends, family, and communities. Discrimination is NOT of God, and we have a responsibility to stand against it. Second: Having the practice of pre-deciding the simple parts of our lives we open up our ability to dream, be more creative, make better decisions, and prepare ourselves for weathering any storm of life, leadership, even business.  I believe this will bring you life, encouragement and a LOT more time to become the best God-version of yourself.   For you For your family For your business For your community Listen to this week's solution to taking your leadership level all the way to the top, all the way to the edge. Let's lead from the Edge   Listen on Spotify @ https://open.spotify.com/show/31bjnrDY9xcfXiKaiSk11F?si=dXJkivB1 Or iTunes https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leading-from-the-edge/id1509775376 Want to know more? Follow me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/leadingfromtheedge/ Join the conversation on my website: http://www.leadinfromtheedge.net

The idea of no plan B. I know that we talk about having plans, back up plans, strategizing… But there comes a point when we end up removing all risk from our lives. So - let me put it in spiritual terms - its when we stop living by faith… When I look back in my life at the times that I grew the most, it almost always hinged on the times when I was walking out things that I felt on the inside but had no evidence of it on the outside. A place of faith! What are you doing right now that you really need to Burn the Ships? Listen to this week's solution to taking your leadership level all the way to the top, all the way to the edge. Let's lead from the Edge   Listen on Spotify @ https://open.spotify.com/show/31bjnrDY9xcfXiKaiSk11F?si=dXJkivB1 Or iTunes https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leading-from-the-edge/id1509775376 Want to know more? Follow me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/leadingfromtheedge/ Join the conversation on my website: http://www.leadinfromtheedge.net

I have been asked many times what is the MOST significant thing that a person needs to do or have in order to be the best leader.  I have shared so many different answers because often times it varies with each individual.  However, in this week's podcast, I hit what I believe is THE most important decision that a leader can make in order to be the BEST leader.  Want to know more?  What to stop being lonely at the top? Listen to this week's solution to taking your leadership level all the way to the top, all the way to the edge. Let's lead from the Edge   Listen on Spotify @ https://open.spotify.com/show/31bjnrDY9xcfXiKaiSk11F?si=dXJkivB1 Or iTunes https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leading-from-the-edge/id1509775376 Want to know more? Follow me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/leadingfromtheedge/ Join the conversation on my website: http://www.leadinfromtheedge.net

Every leader has two choices when they go into their day, through a crisis, or simply making a decision; Am I going to going to lead fearlessly, or am I going to get distracted by all the "other" stuff out there. In the middle of a nation-wide crisis, I am challenging myself and everyone I know to find our pattern of success now.  Here is one of my favorite quotes from Stephen Covey - "Our character is basically a composite of our habits. Because they are consistent, often unconscious patterns, they constantly, daily, express our character." Don't wait for everything to be back to normal, let's position ourselves to successfully grow out of this! Let's lead from the Edge   Listen on Spotify @ https://open.spotify.com/show/31bjnrDY9xcfXiKaiSk11F?si=dXJkivB1 Or iTunes https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leading-from-the-edge/id1509775376 Want to know more? Follow me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/leadingfromtheedge/ Join the conversation on my website: http://www.leadinfromtheedge.net      

Super Excited about this week's episode and the responses The majority of the leaders I know can never win - at least not to themselves! Not even in their own minds. Nothing is ever good enough and the sad part - we thrive on this as leaders, we manipulate it, feed off of it, curse it, and then protect the "Drive" that we are not good enough.  In this podcast, we dive into why this is robbing our ability to make the best decisions for ourselves, our authority, and ultimately for others.  Let's start focusing on the RIGHT stuff! Let's lead from the Edge   Want to know more? Follow me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/leadingfromtheedge/ Join the conversation on my website: https://www.benjaminstewart.com/    

Knowledge without grace…hurts.  In this episode, we talk about the responsibility we have in leading - to address issues with grace.  No excuses, and not avoiding correction - but good leaders realize that WHY and HOW we address growth opportunities in others is JUST as important as what we have to say.  And if we are to live on the edge, we have to use God's tactics and not our own.

In this episode, we dive into being intentional about "assimilating" the best practices of what has changed in your daily habits and in your business and personal relationships.  Leaders will lead through a crisis and come out ahead because Proverbs 21:5 tells us that The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty, But those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty.