1 Samuel 17:26 "Who is this pagan Philistine anyway, that he is allowed to defy the armies of the living God?"
The giants in our lives have a tendency to reveal who we really are. Many times we are introduced to the "real us" through a confrontation with a GIANT! When Goliath announced his intentions to the Israelite army, there was not a man in the entire army camp who was prepared physically, mentally and SPIRITUALLY to accept his challenge. However, there was this one little shepherd boy who had a history of giants that he had faced and defeated. It was from this history of his past giants that David confidently called Goliath's bluff.
Is there a GIANT revealing a crack in your armour of leadership. As leaders we must learn that a GIANT is not only designed to reveal a weakness; but also to prepare, to develop, to encourage and to strengthen our leadership character and ability. Once we learn to look at situations and challenges with the understanding that on the other side we will stand stronger, better and more prepared for the next giant; then we will be able to look at each challenge as a giant rather than a GIANT. It is from this perspective that we will rise and become the leader that God destined for us to be. And it is then, also, that we will effectively lead others to their God ordained destiny.
Step out and lead...now!!
July 13, 2008
July 7, 2008
Leadership begins with the HEART
"For as a man thinks in his heart, so is he." Proverbs 23:7
I have often wondered why people can seem so totally committed to God, church, ministry---for a period of time---and then the next thing you know they are totally uncommitted and are content to do nothing. A great leader will consciously make a choice to allow the Holy Spirit to change him from the inside out---i.e. "a heart change". The reason we can be hot one minute and cold the next is because we choose to make a change in our behavior without allowing God to make a change in our heart. Since our heart has not been changed, our behavioral change reverts back to where our heart is.
A leader's heart reveals the character of the leader. Without a heart change we are only pretending. Leaders should never be satisfied with their current level of leadership. We should be continuously changing. However, those changes should be originated in our hearts. For in the heart is where leadership begins!
I have often wondered why people can seem so totally committed to God, church, ministry---for a period of time---and then the next thing you know they are totally uncommitted and are content to do nothing. A great leader will consciously make a choice to allow the Holy Spirit to change him from the inside out---i.e. "a heart change". The reason we can be hot one minute and cold the next is because we choose to make a change in our behavior without allowing God to make a change in our heart. Since our heart has not been changed, our behavioral change reverts back to where our heart is.
A leader's heart reveals the character of the leader. Without a heart change we are only pretending. Leaders should never be satisfied with their current level of leadership. We should be continuously changing. However, those changes should be originated in our hearts. For in the heart is where leadership begins!
July 1, 2008
Where?...
"Why all this weeping? You are breaking my heart! For I am ready not only to be jailed at Jerusalem but also to die for the sake of the Lord Jesus." Acts 21:13
The Apostle Paul was committed to doing whatever and going where ever the Holy Spirit chose to lead him (no matter what the cost may be--even if he knew the cost beforehand). He left nothing on the table as far as his service for the Lord. I am totally amazed at people in today's world. It seems that commitment is a thing of the past. The most insane excuses are given as to our reason why we aren't willing to be an active part of the body of Christ. Paul's service to His Savior was of such an impeccable nature that he was able to unapologetically say, "follow me as I follow Christ." I feel that as leaders we should--no, we MUST--ask ourselves the following question daily; maybe even hourly...
...if people are following me, where am I leading them?
The Apostle Paul was committed to doing whatever and going where ever the Holy Spirit chose to lead him (no matter what the cost may be--even if he knew the cost beforehand). He left nothing on the table as far as his service for the Lord. I am totally amazed at people in today's world. It seems that commitment is a thing of the past. The most insane excuses are given as to our reason why we aren't willing to be an active part of the body of Christ. Paul's service to His Savior was of such an impeccable nature that he was able to unapologetically say, "follow me as I follow Christ." I feel that as leaders we should--no, we MUST--ask ourselves the following question daily; maybe even hourly...
...if people are following me, where am I leading them?
June 18, 2008
Just Do It
"See to it that you do all I command you, do not add to it or take away from it." Deuteronomy 12:32
Lord, what will you have me to do today? What does my future hold?
As leaders we are always plotting and scheming, seeking and planning, all in an effort to set up what will be our next great move. When we do this we must use caution--planning for tomorrow can be both good and bad. Often I am asked by people what I think about where they are, what they are doing and if I think they are in God's will for their lives. My first response back to them is "What do you think?". Then I proceed with an answer that I feel God wants all leaders to know and understand.
First is obedience! Plain and simple, God expects us to be obedient to Him, His calling, His Word and His direction for our lives. We don't have to attend seminary, fast and pray in sack cloth and ashes, or seek Christian counseling to understand that obedience to God is far greater than any sacrificial plan we could ever dream up. He tells us so in 1 Samuel chapter 15 and verse 22.
Second is "seeking first His kingdom" and His direction for your life. Are you asking God what He would have you do? If so, then His Word teaches us that He will tell us what He wants from us. When He tells you, you must go back to the first step and be obedient! Do it! Just Do It!! Don't look for something else more glamorous to do and just pass off what He told you to someone else for them to do. And don't start seeking the next thing until He tells you or moves you. You see, His Word to us is...
"...do all I command you...don't add to or take away from..." If you will do this my friend, you will always find yourself right smack in the middle of God's will for your life. And in doing so you will find joy and fulfillment like you have never known!
Lord, what will you have me to do today? What does my future hold?
As leaders we are always plotting and scheming, seeking and planning, all in an effort to set up what will be our next great move. When we do this we must use caution--planning for tomorrow can be both good and bad. Often I am asked by people what I think about where they are, what they are doing and if I think they are in God's will for their lives. My first response back to them is "What do you think?". Then I proceed with an answer that I feel God wants all leaders to know and understand.
First is obedience! Plain and simple, God expects us to be obedient to Him, His calling, His Word and His direction for our lives. We don't have to attend seminary, fast and pray in sack cloth and ashes, or seek Christian counseling to understand that obedience to God is far greater than any sacrificial plan we could ever dream up. He tells us so in 1 Samuel chapter 15 and verse 22.
Second is "seeking first His kingdom" and His direction for your life. Are you asking God what He would have you do? If so, then His Word teaches us that He will tell us what He wants from us. When He tells you, you must go back to the first step and be obedient! Do it! Just Do It!! Don't look for something else more glamorous to do and just pass off what He told you to someone else for them to do. And don't start seeking the next thing until He tells you or moves you. You see, His Word to us is...
"...do all I command you...don't add to or take away from..." If you will do this my friend, you will always find yourself right smack in the middle of God's will for your life. And in doing so you will find joy and fulfillment like you have never known!
June 11, 2008
They Did Not See...
"Remember today that your children were not the ones who saw and experienced the discipline of the Lord your God..." Deuteronomy 11:2
When you get to be my age, you can look back through the chronicles of your life and reflect on those "Narnia" like experiences when you knew without doubt or question that God's presence and intervention were the reason (and the only reason) that you were able to survive.
However, our children were not there to witness the hand of Almighty God when He broke you out of bondage, rescued you from certain death, and redeemed you from total destruction and damnation. So, how will they know and learn to trust God since they have not seen with their own eyes?
"Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit down, and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." Deuteronomy 11:19
Teach them...and when necessary use words!
When you get to be my age, you can look back through the chronicles of your life and reflect on those "Narnia" like experiences when you knew without doubt or question that God's presence and intervention were the reason (and the only reason) that you were able to survive.
However, our children were not there to witness the hand of Almighty God when He broke you out of bondage, rescued you from certain death, and redeemed you from total destruction and damnation. So, how will they know and learn to trust God since they have not seen with their own eyes?
"Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit down, and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." Deuteronomy 11:19
Teach them...and when necessary use words!
June 10, 2008
Live, Love, Serve, LEAD...
"...what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all of His ways, to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the Lord's commands and decrees...for your own good?" Deuteronomy 10: 12-13.
I was reading this scripture in my daily devotion today. I believe that this scripture can be summed up in 4 words--1) Live, 2) Love, 3) Serve and 4) LEAD! If we could ever really totally comprehend the love of God, the sacrifice of Christ, and the total encompassing guidance of the Holy Spirit; then we would not only know and understand what God ask of us, but we would also completely submit to a life of obedience to what God ask of us.
You see God ask of us for our own good. He desires that we live a life of abundance while learning to fear God (and only God) and walking in all of His ways because His ways are higher than our ways. He wants us to know and accept His totally unconditional love so that we can love Him in return and also love other humans in a way that is unknown to this world. He also longs for us to wholeheartedly serve Him and other humans in a way that is unconventional and irrational to the standards of this world.
And while this uncommon, heart changing personification of Christ is occurring in our lives, God uses our foolhardy humanity to simply and passionately LEAD others to...
...live, love, serve and LEAD!
So...lead on...
I was reading this scripture in my daily devotion today. I believe that this scripture can be summed up in 4 words--1) Live, 2) Love, 3) Serve and 4) LEAD! If we could ever really totally comprehend the love of God, the sacrifice of Christ, and the total encompassing guidance of the Holy Spirit; then we would not only know and understand what God ask of us, but we would also completely submit to a life of obedience to what God ask of us.
You see God ask of us for our own good. He desires that we live a life of abundance while learning to fear God (and only God) and walking in all of His ways because His ways are higher than our ways. He wants us to know and accept His totally unconditional love so that we can love Him in return and also love other humans in a way that is unknown to this world. He also longs for us to wholeheartedly serve Him and other humans in a way that is unconventional and irrational to the standards of this world.
And while this uncommon, heart changing personification of Christ is occurring in our lives, God uses our foolhardy humanity to simply and passionately LEAD others to...
...live, love, serve and LEAD!
So...lead on...
June 5, 2008
Leadership Character
According to John Maxwell, leadership is influence, nothing more and nothing less. I agree with him totally on this brief synopsis. However, that influence can be either good or bad, depending on the heart of the leader who is influencing. Therefore, when discussing Christian leadership, one cannot stop with this short description of leadership. The leadership abilities of a leader ultimately come from the heart of the leader. Therefore, the heart of the leader is of paramount importance to the followers whom the leader is leading. The heart of the leader is formulated from the character of the leader. Character is probably and should be considered the most important part of a leader's DNA. Without impecable character; including integrity, honesty, trustworthiness, etc.; a leader's ability to lead in the Christian community or anywhere else for that matter has been tarnished. In an effort to discover what others consider leadership characteristics, I would like to take a survey of what you may think. Please respond back to this posting with your top 5 qualities for a leader of excellent character and tell me why you consider them so.
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