Recently, as I was preparing for a teaching on parenting, I was reminded how counter intuitive our God is. Years ago, I wrote four paradoxes in the front of my Bible. These 4 Paradoxes hold the Keys to Success for every area of endeavor. The question is, are we willing to go cross-grained to all that seems logical in our own mind to get to a success where everyone wins?
The first mind-altering statement . . .
We gain by losing
“For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.” Luke 9:24
Some brilliant leaders have discovered this concept and incorporated it into their leadership teachings. One of my favorites follows:
“You can have anything you want in life, if you help enough other people get what they want out of life.” Zig Ziglar
This philosophy is a slap on the face of our “take care of number one” culture. Our mind says, “If they win, that means I lose.” Jesus says we should put others first.
So, which philosophy when applied actually works?
I’m taking a challenge for the next 30 days to deliberately put others first, and I hope you’ll accept this challenge as well. Kind of like Myth Busters, we’ll find out whose philosophy is right, only our results will make an eternal impact.
Try making a list of all the things your boss wants to achieve, the house they want to live in, the car they want to drive, or the vacation they’d like to take and commit to working for them to achieve their goals. Or how about putting your husband or wife first . . . novel concept. What friend needs a win? How about your kids? There is a whole hurting world out there. Find someone and help them achieve their dreams. Sometimes what they need most is for someone to believe in them when they can’t believe in themselves.
The life you change may be your own. This is renewing your mind in brick and mortar.
Next time, we’ll look at another one of Christ’s counter intuitive statements. In the meantime, let me know how it’s going.
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S. Courtney Lawson
Writer and speaker Sandy Lawson recently hit two Amazon.com best-seller lists with the new business book, "Transform," co-authored with best-selling author and speaker Brian Tracy.
Sandy Lawson serves as a Care Pastor at Element Church, in Wentzville Missouri, one of the fastest growing churches America. Sandy recently joined noted business development expert, best-selling author and speaker, Brian Tracy, along with a select group of the world's leading experts, to co-author the book titled, Transform: The World's Leading Entrepreneurs and Professionals Get to the Heart and Soul of Transforming your Life, Business & Health. The book was released on September 18, 2014 by CelebrityPress™ - a leading business book publisher.
On the day of release, Transform reached best-seller status in two Amazon.com categories - reaching as high as #6 in the "Direct Marketing" category. The book also reached best-seller status in the "Marketing and Small Business" category. Sandy contributed a chapter titled, "The Relationship Transformation...Taking Relationships From Terminal to Transformed."
Sandy Lawson has over 30 years of experience partnering with her husband, Kip, in family ministry and outreach. She's had the privilege of serving on staff at three mega churches prior to Element Church. In addition, she and her husband also had the honor of building the bus ministry of the Oneighty Youth Group at Church on the Move in Tulsa, Oklahoma from 400 riders weekly to nearly 1,500 riders each week.
Her biggest joy is coaching people in their personal relationships and helping them reach their God-given potential. She and her husband have helped hundreds of couples turn failing marriages into happily-ever-afters, as well as assisting parents in their quest to create healthy thriving families. In their career, Sandy and her husband have been a major influence in the lives of thousands of children, teens, and adults around the world. Sandy is the mother of three, and the grandmother of eight wonderful grandkids. She and her husband have been married over 46 years.
She is the author of a parenting book, "Parenting Through the Mirror" which explores the concept that great parenting must begin with personal transformation. She is also the author and illustrator of a children's geology book, "Iggy and the Volcano" that teaches kids the cycle of igneous rocks. Sandy is a freelance writer, speaker, blogger and was a major contributor to an internationally distributed children's curriculum.
After such a successful release, Sandy Lawson will once again be recognized by The National Academy of Best-Selling Authors™, an organization that honors authors from many of the leading independent best-seller lists.
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scourtneylawson 
The first part of zig ziggler s comment is very me oriented. I like to help others meet their goals not for what I may receive or what is promised but just because God says love one another…just sharing my thought sandy. Nothing mean or judgemental is meant here.
You’re absolutely right Jeanine, that should be our heart – we do it cause it is right and pleases God. However, when we give we tend to receive. Not that that should be our motivation. We just have an awesome Heavenly Father who loves to bless His kids especially when they have pure hearts and right motives.