Lead On

Leading is turbulent.

No one said that being a role model and example and fisher of men would be a cosal drift. Jesus, probably the most well known leader in history, did not have an easy path to travel. He fought persecution, hatred, and the most prestigious—the reason we ca live eternally—, death. I can tell you that in my capacity as a leader I have had to fight for my place a few times. Recently, I had to battle myself. Is that surprising? My old habits wanted to make a showing in a new season of my life. They wanted to come forth and take hold again. I declared war on my desire because I know that the loss of those who are letting me lead them is more important than the short lasting effects of my bodily desires; I am continuing to win the battle. Thank you God.

Today I am not going to talk about a specific movement that God has made in my life, I am going to talk about an everlasting movement. I want to discuss what I believe a leader should be in the world today. Why? Because, God is using me right now to make a movement in my and your life. As you read, continue to ask yourself….are you the leader you want to be? Are you the leader God wants you to be?

I have pulled ten characteristics our of John C. Maxwell’s 365 Days of Insight to Develop the Leader Within You and Influence Those Around You. Of the 365, these ten drew my eyes as the top: Integrity, Patience, Attitude/Energy, Integrity, Togetherness, Reflection, Vision, Sacrifice, Empowerment, Listening, and Tenacity. All of these are star qualities of the leader we all desire to be today. Let me take a minute to remind you that we are all leading someone. It could be your child, your employees, your grandmother whom you care for, your friends, your spouse and so many more. There are infinite opportunities to lead. You should take each person in your life and write down the times in the last three days that you could have led him/her in a better direction. You’ll come up with a response quicker than you think. Try it.

I am reading another book, Coaching Ministry Teams: Leadership and Management in Christian Organizations by Kenn Gangel who lists three characteristics that should not be true of God’s chosen servants and two that should:

1) “do not quarrel,” –instead he suggests practicing meekness,

2) “do not cry out (to make noise/to scream),” –instead he suggests practicing dignity,

3) “do not make a public spectacle of themselves,” –instead he suggests practicing humility,

and

1) “are gentle,” and

2) “are patient” (p. 7-8).

I have taken from these two lists and added to them to create what I think this world needs today to lead the way we all were modeled to do years ago:

A)     Vision – this is so important. If we do not know where we are headed, we will take too long to get there. And if we are not practicing patients along a tiring path we will make misery for everyone to contend with on the journey. The vision is the goal. It may evolve or shift, but the ultimate goal. I think of Moses who was given a vision from God that His people would be taken to a final destination. Moses knew not where he was going, but the vision was there. And, he made it.

B)      Discernment – this is something we all are accustomed to, but may not understand the power behind it. I describe it most times as that gut feeling you get that goes deeper than the gut! That’s because it is going into the soul. Most of the time it leads us away from danger. But, did you know these feelings can actually help direct our path in a good way, too? Just ask God to let you feel that movement next time you are supposed to go against the grain of you personal desires.

C)      Integrity –Seriously this is what makes or breaks a leader. This word can be translated on the Microsoft Word thesaurus as honesty, truthfulness, and honor. I think about today. We are so caught up with backing everything up with multiple contracts and signed forms filed on the computer and in a cabinet because people do not put any weight in a person’s honest word anymore. Years ago a man (and I use this word for all humankind) would say I will pay you back at 15% interest, and that is what he would do; it would solidified with a handshake and they would carry onward. Today, only the best of leaders are honest to their word and actions. So many people want to use excuses and lies. The best leaders own their actions and words and those of their teams.

D)     Sacrifice –  A leader will not always need to make a sacrifice, but should have the ability. S/he will be able to neglect his/her own personal desires for the choice best made to reach the envisioned goal. Giving something up is so hard; it possibly is the hardest, even for the best leaders. A great example is fasting. I read today that the purpose of fasting is to become more in tune with God. The means is to give something up. Most people, however, give up something they can do without. Think of all those people you know that practice lent. Some talk about giving up chocolate, the sports channel, and so on… But the purpose is to give up something you need. This way, through ignoring the personal desire our body makes, we are able to draw closer to the pathway God wants us to take. It has not been an easy task for those who have practiced it. Try fasting. I’m not saying it will be for everyone. And remember sacrifice is not about telling people what and why you are doing, but about the secret meaning God has for you through it.

E)      Humility – This is the last one I will write about today. This is one that I have had to work on my entire life. I remember once winning an award for acting. I ran on stage and grabbed the trophy and started to shake it in the air and jump up and down and yell and shout about how successful I was. I stopped. No one was clapping; no one was cheering with me. At that moment I was embarrassed, but most of all I was learning. I lost all dignity in that moment. And I lost all respect from those who chose me to represent their award program. Because I am so out-spoken and full of vigor, humility remains a constant battle. Yup, I’m okay to admit I am always working on things. I am not perfect. I have come to understand though; humility is not about how I can be, but about how I am.

So I ask you again…Are you the leader you want to be? Are you the leader God wants you to be?

Thanks for taking so much time to read this post; I know it is much longer than the others. I hope it was as valuable for you as it was for me.  

Lead on.

1 Peter 4:8 – “Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love makes up for many of your faults.”  

Your Prayer

I Pray...

that if you have not taken time to feel, you stop moving.

that if you have not taken time to see, you close your eyes.

that if you have not been a martyr, you sacrifice.

that if you have been bound, you find Life.

that You bless everyone who reads this with everlasting love.

that You bless everyone who needs you with grace.

that You bless everyone who is hurting with angel kissed from Above.

that You reign.

'Tis The Season of L.I.F.E.

Before you start on this reading, I want to share a quote I found the other day, "reading is not dead. Far from it," (Horton, p. 32). Even if these are not your personal views, they are the views of some, including mine. I urge you to take time to read about the world around you...


Today is different. I want to talk about what's going on in the world. This time of year people should be talking up the reason for the season, Jesus Christ, but some do not. Instead, people get caught up in the hustle and bustle of worldly whatnots. I am not perfect; I, too, have stumbled and fallen into this trap. This may sound redundant as all spiritualists, religious houses, and church members talk about this neglect during 'the busiest shopping season of the year.' I do not want this blog to be about the negative side of the season, rather, I want it to be about the positive influence of the world around us all. So, let us all for get about the poor influences, and open our hearts to L.I.F.E. today. I want to express to every reader today what God wants us all to remember about this Christmas season. L.I.F.E. is the acronym that will help you remember the reason for the season.

L - Live
Be thankful to have the ability to be breathing. Remember that Christmas is the celebration of the holy birth of the Prince of Peace, the Holy Redeemer, Jesus (God Saves). As the story is written, Mary and Joseph were engaged to be married, and then Joseph found out that Mary was pregnant. "Joseph, chagrined but noble, determined to take care of things quietly so Mary would not be disgraced," (The Message, p. 1554). It goes on to say he began to devise his plan. It does not speak directly to it, but I assume that he surely thought of all options, even if briefly: giving the child away, leaving Mary, abandoning the child in a dump, killing the child at birth, aborting the child, raising the child, and even tucking Mary away until the baby was born. He had a dream and was visited by the Lord's angel who told him that he should marry Mary (no pun intended), and she was conceived though the Holy power of His Spirit. So, as I am sure Jesus was glad to be alive and breathing that day and for His entire life, let us all remember to thank God for the ability to live another day.

I - Imagine
Take a moment and think of a world without Christmas. How does it play in your mind? No Money? No new surround sound system gift wrapped under the non-existent tree? What about the other holiday, Easter? If we fast forward a little over thirty years from the birth of Jesus, we celebrate another day connected to His physical birth, His birth into Heaven. Without the current season's reason we would have no purpose for Easter either. Take a minute to thank God that we have the option to imagine what that will be like one day. Thank God that because we were given the gift of the life of His Son, we now have the ability to dream about all the joy that will fulfill our body at that time.

F - Family
People can have a difficult time taking off work to spend special moments with family. For example, in the employment fields of business and coal mining workers are demanded to put in long, hard hours. We should remember who is most important in our life. Sometimes we forget. We think that we have tomorrow, but we are not promised. "Since the mid second century, Christian tradition has held that Jesus was born in a cave, and, since at least the early third century, a cave at Bethlehem has been venerated as his birthplace...Caves were often used as animal shelters: one cave stable, with its manger has been dated to c. 1200. BCE" (Porter, p. 157). Even under such extreme circumstances the family was together in the manger to birth Jesus. We must take time to create memories, life moments, with our loved ones this year.

E - Example
We should, we must be an example to those around us. The whole testimony of His life is about how He portrayed perfection when other were and were not looking. So, when we have the opportunity to be the light, we need to shine. "After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi, from the East came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him"" (New International Version, p. 1554). As the symbolism of the North Star guided those to Jesus, so should our actions. We should be the light that guides people though this time of year that can be dark as night for some.


Take a break from this bustling season and share the L.I.F.E. that Jesus would want to see. Live, Imagine all the goodness, spend time with Family, and be the Example.



Today I want to leave you with one thing:

John 13:15 as found in Prayer: The Mightiest Force in the World by Frank C. Laubach,

"I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done."  

If you could, please do two things for me:

1) In the comment box below share an emotion or inspiration that you felt as you were reading or when you finished the reading. It does not have to be long. Only share a few sentences; three to five will be plenty.

2) During this Christmas season, take note of the L.I.F.E. in and around your own life. Before the course ends, please come back and share a heart warming story of how you shared one of the four or saw someone put into action one of the four components discussed today.

Understanding...

Well, I was sitting in my living room tonight thinking. I was thinking about all of the things God has done lately for me and with me. Slowly, my thoughts began to regress into the past, and then focused in on one specific incident. Does God talk to you? he talks to me. My friend spoke last night at church on this subject. Personally, I believe like he said that everyone can have a better connection with God. That our "cell signal" as he put it, is not the strongest at all times. So, the memory...

A few months ago...well... almost a year ago, I was driving home from work. At that time I had a long drive to and from work each day--about an hour. My life was naked and I felt alone. I began to talk to God out loud saying, "If you are the same yesterday as today why can't I hear you talking to me?" No response..."You talked to Adam and Even and Cain and all the earliest of my family...why do I not hear you?" No response... "Lord, I'm not challenging you." And I wasn't; I had not intended or wanted to make a quarrel with God. He didn't want to either. "You know God, Something that I've always wondered is...how did you speak to Moses through the burning bush? How does fire talk?" No response... "Just talk to me through fire God." And I heard nothing again. I was driving around a bend in the road when a flicker of light caught my eye. I thought what is that? On the opposite side of the highway...it was becoming clearer...it was...fire. My jaw must have dropped to my knees, and I am surprised I didn't veer off into the median. I was astonished. I drove past he flames with my eyes attached wondering if it would disappear...wondering if it was my imagination.

I focused back on the road and searched for a place to turn around. A moment later there was an 'emergency only turn around' I deemed this necessary. As I approached the flame, now growing larger on the right side of my car...I questioned "what am I doing...this is crazy." I pulled off on the shoulder with my hood of the car only feet from the flames. I sat with both hands still attached to the steering wheel; I couldn't move. "Get out" I heard God speaking to me. I took a deep breath like a diver before the big one and opened the car door. Stepping out I saw an array of things... just random: a baby crib, a coat, a box of cereal...just the most random things you can think of...all on fire. "What is this?" I asked God.

"What is this? This is ridiculous. I thought you were going to speak to me...this is just junk..."
No cars were passing and the world around was silent...everything seemed to fade completely away... I only saw light for a moment. And then the world came back to me. "Go."

I jumped into the car and sped away as fast as possible. Someone must have phoned 911 because as I was pulling out the fire department was pulling in...I drove up the road and turned around when I could--about three miles later. I followed back on the same route and the fire was still lit. I spoke to God out loud again, "What was that? You can't do something like that and not give me an explanation. That's not fair." It was only silent for a second before I heard,

"I am God, do not doubt what I can do."

That was my message that day. And I haven't since.

I try to remember that message everyday...I sometimes forget...see, I am human. He is God. My error is in lack of understanding. But everyday I feel closer to knowing who I am in Him.

That is the connection my friend was talking about last night. The connection between God and me....between God and you... It really is a powerful. He relayed this one point... Ask and you shall receive. You may not understand or like it at first but you will receive. I did...

Take time to read this...it will change you life: 1st John 4:12

Last Ride

The ring master asked everyone to, "stand and remove cover." A cowgirl, dressed in all denim, rode her stallion through the gate opening and into the arena. She rode close to the railing following its circular pattern and held the American Flag strongly in her right hand. There was no chance it would touch the ground. Her horse in a fierce and steady gallop dusted the sky with dirt. As she rounded out the third lap "The Star Spangled Banner" hit a final chord and she came to a halt in the center. She bowed her head and the announcer prayed...

"...Lord please give these cowboys and cowgirls the strength to ride as if it were their last ride..." These words played on loop in mind the rest of the night, "last ride...last ride...last ride..." I thought about my death. I thought about the death of Jesus. Some people are unaware that Jesus made a "death-bed" promise a few days prior to his death and resurrection. He promised that the Spirit of God would comfort, dwell in, teach, remind, testify, convict, and speak though his disciples (John 14-16 & Matthew 10) Powerful Huh?

When the announcer asked for strength for the riders of the night, I deemed it an appropriate prayer. Most would think about the physical strength...the mental strength...the emotional strength. Those are the thoughts I had. But I had one more...the Spiritual strength. I wondered how many riders, workers, on-lookers prayed for Spiritual strength. Who asked for the comfort? Or the reminder? Who asked to be taught? Or to be used as a vessel? Who asked for real strength on their "final ride?" These questions led me to this decision:

I will not only thank God everyday for the blessing of another day to fulfill his work, but now I also will ask for strength to make it all happen.

Everyday is a step closer to our final destination. We are on that final ride. Everyday people ask for frivolous things in life when we should be asking for strength of the Spirit of God. The power of the Spirit of God will guide you safely to the end that awaits...But what is that end? You have to know where you are going in order to appreciate the ride of your life.

Heaven Awaits...

To those that believe. (John 3:36)

I'm so excited...

Lock and Key

Church let out around 8:45 last evening and the Spirit of the Lord was heavy in my soul. I did the normal, "Hey! How's it going? Good to see ya," shin-dig with some fellow peers in Christ and got in my car. All day I had been torn on what this first blog was going to discuss. An idea would come, however, faster than I could write it down the idea was gone. I kept hearing, "No." Driving home (it's a twenty minute haul) I was praying to God because I knew that the Spirit was speaking to me. When I have that feeling I have to stop and pray; I find that sometimes, when I don't stop and pray, I get lost in my mind and hear the message incorrectly. It came out...Lord, I'm so afraid that I will not find you in common places...God please show me the way. Over and over I prayed and prayed...Please show me the way God. It was strange because all of the surrounding noise began to hush...the exhaust, XM channel 63, air funneling trough the windows...it all quieted. Thinking about it now, I feel as though this is how the disciples must have felt on the boat with Jesus when the waters subsided to His command. In the silence I knew God was there and I was being told, "Where is your faith?" (Luke 8:25).

My eyes began to see things clearer. I was now on my street and was noticing the life around me in a new perspective. Things I had seen so many times before were in such a vibrant life. Trees, my neighbors yard, the glow from the streetlight in front of my home was all...alive. Now it was as if I had TOO MANY examples of where God was in common places. I got out of my door and thought to my self how much enjoyment that final part of the ride brought me. And I noticed this...

This is the building to the right of my home. All I ever thought about it was, "Someone needs to paint that...it's such an eye sore...glad that's not my responsibility." But last night I saw it differently. As I looked at it (the neighbors probably thought I was odd staring at and snapping photos of this building), the lock pulled me closer. At one point it was in my hand. I wanted to free this open doorway from it's binds. I could see that this building had so much potential. The grain was carefully crafted by God in the tree from whence it was cut. The building now after years had been locked up and is breaking down. The weeds and vines are now sucking it into a wrap of darkness and separating it from it's cause. I thought, "Well I could paint it...I could cut the grass, and I could tear down the vines." But what good would that really do? The building would then look pretty and useful, but it would have no substance. I only wish I had the key to unlock it's purpose...

I leave you with this today...

Q: Are you locked up Spiritually?

A: We all have the key... Revelation 3:20.

listen...