Always be ready to ask yourself, "what could I have done differently?" Look at how the past month or year have gone. Write down the data. What was good about it and what was not so good? Did I work hard enough or could I have worked harder? Did I remember to live the verse from the Bible ... “seek ye First the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all other things will be added unto.” This monthly and yearly self evaluation is important. It is time to dissect your ministry and your life in general. Get to the sometimes painful truth of where you are and why? Be accountable and honest. Now start a plan to change or stretch to new levels. Beth and I have always found it important to write down where we need changes and where we feel the Lord is leading. During our years of developing a business, we often shut the door to our “war room” and like two generals, we talked and looked at the possibilities and how best to achieve them. We would pray for wisdom and we would thank God for what we discerned as His direction. We quickly learned we had to change habits. We identified a clear vision and a working plan. We set out to accomplish our goals ....we would often sit down together and write a Systematicllya plan, knowing plans can change. We felt our most important habit was to have a personal time with God and a prayer time ..we were not always successful at this, but we realized it was a very important foundation for what we faced daily. We believe we have the added advantage of Holy Spirit living in us and directing our decisions and choices We also realized we needed to evaluate and question our work ethic continually. We were always looking and listening for those who embrace the vision and we were always ready to Enlist, Enliven, and Encourage. We always looked for the hot spots of growth and potential growth and took the words of Henry Blackaby, “Look for where God is working and join Him” seriously. We knew the importance of communicating, and in our meetings, identified those who needed a note of encouragement or a phone call. We would identify those who needed recognition or a special touch of grace and mercy. Today, we use new tools available to us as a result of God’s gift of technology. Facebook, our web-site www.bbexcellentadventure.com, and other social media. We also believe in attracting talented and gifted people to join the cause and catch the vision to be the added advantage. We are always on the lookout for our replacement or for someone to mentor. Beth and I have by no means arrived and we still struggle in much of these areas, and by sharing this we do not want to imply we have. Far from it, but with God’s help, we keep moving forward and pray these thoughts might help you. When leaders take personal responsibility, they willing to answer for the outcome and they know what they must ask God to help them with. It is often very humbling because you have to put aside personal pride and admit any mistakes that you have made. Accountability is about growing and self refinement. Moving toward being the best you can be. Accountability is simply being responsible for ones actions. The Bible is clear on the the need for personal accountability. Galatians 6: 5-10 KJV “For every man shall bear his own burden. Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” I Peter 3:15 ESV “But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord As Holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.” II Corinthians 5:10 “For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, so that each one may may be recompensed for his (or hers) deeds in the body, according to what he has done , whether good or bad.” Romans 14:12 “So then each of us will give account of himself to God.”