Y Tuesday, December 16, 2008Y
7:04 pm
1. Evaluate Your Ministry or Career.Take some time to think about how the various areas of life that you are involved in are going.
What's going well? What's not? Where are you heading?
Think about next year - 2009.
What needs to change? What do you need to do differently? What do you need to do more of ... or less of?
2. Evaluate Your Own Personal Effectiveness.
What are your priorities? Are you using your time to accomplish them?
How is the balance of your life? Consider areas such as your spiritual life, your family and friendships, your energy level, as well as your social and recreation life.
How is your joy? Your enthusiasm? Your love for people? Your vision?
How much are you growing personally? What new things would you like to learn? What training could you consider for next year?
Take some time to think about your life and plan any necessary changes or adjustments for the coming year.
3. Strengthen Your Team.
All of us do life, work, and ministry with other people. We are all part of some sort of team, maybe even as a leader of a team.
Spend some extra time with these important people before Christmas.
* Encourage them and express appreciation to them for who they are and how they have benefited your life. Remember, encouragement is like oxygen to the soul - we all need lots of it.
* Give them feedback on what they have done well.
* If you are a leader, coach people on your team a little by sharing some ways they can grow or improve.
* Talk about the future. What is the vision that you are passionate about seeing become a reality?
December is a busy time. Don't get caught up in only the things that YOU need to do. Be aware of the people around you. Connect and relate to them even more intentionally during this time. Finish the year well together.
4. Do Some Planning for 2009.
Think about some of your main events or activities for next year. What's happening with - your life, your family, your friends, your work, and your church?
Start doing some planning and organisation for the first quarter of the year.
Create some personal life goals for 2009. What would you be excited to have accomplished by the end of the year? What are you passionate about?
How about planning some holidays too! There's something energising about just planning some time off or away.
5. Do Some Pastoral Care.
If you are a leader of other people, take a few moments to reflect on the 'people flow' in your area.
Here are a few questions to ask:
* Who are the interested people who need hope and a vision?
* Who are the new people who need a welcome and some clear direction?
* Who are the core people who need some encouragement and affirmation at this time?
* Who are the disgruntled people who you need to take some time to listen to and help work through some issues that are important to them?
* Who are the people who have dropped out who you may need to go after and see how they are?
Are there any tensions or unresolved conflicts in your world? Make an effort to address and resolve them right away. Make it a priority. Tie up any loose ends before the year finishes so you can start with a clean slate.
6. Get Organised.
Clean your office. Make an appointment with yourself. Block out plenty of time for this.
Sort through any filing cabinets, shelves, or desk drawers.
Clean out your email folders.
Throw away as much as possible.
Get your 2009 diary or calendar up to date.
You'll feel much better for it!
7. Plan Your Holiday.
Hopefully, you're planning on taking some time off around Christmas and the New Year.
Do something different and make it your best holiday yet.
Shut down, turn off, and enjoy your God, your friends, and your family.
I'm sure you have lots to do before Christmas, but hopefully these seven suggestions will be of benefit to you as you finish this year. All the best!