MySpace.com Blogs - Daniel Southern MySpace Blog

MySpace.com Blogs - Daniel Southern MySpace Blog

The Message of Leadership

I wrote the Message of Leadership as an inspirational book for leaders of all kinds. It contains 31 daily readings on different topics inspired by the 31 chapters of the ancient book of Proverbs which was written by the wisest man who ever lived.

My goal was to combine these proverbs with pithy personal insights and stories that will make a leader think about the way they exert their gift of leadership on those around them. It is suitable as a gift for those graduating from school, leaders in government, teachers, business associates, moms or anyone who leads others or aspires to do so. I originally intended it as a special way to say thanks to those who give of themselves for our benefit.

Not only will you get my inspirational thoughts, but you will also receive the entire book of Proverbs as translated by Eugene Peterson in "The Message." The volume comes either in the regular paperback edition or a special first edition cover and I will gladly autograph it to you upon request. This book is available directly from me (Daniel Southern)for $15 post paid for the regular edition or $20 for the special edition cover. Just send your check and request to me at:

1314 West McDermott Drive
Allen Texas 75013

Blessings,
Dan Southern

Don't Do It "Your Way"

"Mistakes: I've made a few, but then again too few to mention." Oh, how I have wished the lyrics of Frank Sinatra's song were true in my life. For example, I can hardly watch a football game without being reminded of the handful of big plays that I blew when I was playing. If they had just gone the other way, I might have ended up playing football instead of working for Billy Graham. But upon serious reflection, that wouldn't have been a good thing.

In fact, if my life had gone the way I wanted it to go, none of my dreams would have come true and I would have ended up going down the wrong path entirely. Funny how my mistakes weren't really mistakes at all but only turning points upon which my entire life has hinged.

When I was 16 years old my parents were divorced. At the time I could not have given you one positive outcome that would have resulted from such a catastrophe. Yet as I look back on my life almost four decades later, it is so obvious how God used this disappointment in my life to put me on the path He had chosen for me – the path I really wanted!

Psychologists tell us that it is not what happens to us, but how we interpret the events of our life that determine the effect they will have on us. I believe that is true based on my personal experience. We will either grow better or bitter – the choice is ours.

Learn to step outside the "moment" of the setback and realize it is an opportunity to go in a different direction than you had originally planned; that is not a bad thing but can be a "fresh start" moment in your life that can revolutionize everything for the better if you will allow it to.

Here is a legitimate prayer to say to God; "Lord today I give you permission to change my schedule and interrupt my plans if it is better to move me in a new direction that will bring more glory to your name." We really don't need to give God permission to do anything, but by submitting our will to His, we place our self in a position to accept his "better plan."

What would you rather have; your own way or the best way? When put in this context, the answer is obvious. Learn to step outside the emotion of the moment; the disappointment; the anger and frustration; and embrace the wisdom of going with God's game plan – it is never a mistake and always the best thing that could have happened if we will embrace it. And there is a big difference between merely accepting God's way and truly embracing it with all our heart.

Don't do it your way; do it God's way. Embrace the failure and mistakes and you will have no regrets because they will take you places you never even dreamed of. You will go places you could not have gone and have experiences that would have been impossible if you had your own way and were allowed to follow your flawed dreams without interruption. Mistakes can be magical and transformative if you learn to embrace them.