Jesus is the “Rock of Ages.” It is wonderful to have a personal relationship with a God who is so stable and never changes.
Whatever is good and perfect comes to us from God above, who created all heaven’s lights. Unlike them, he never changes or casts shifting shadows. – James 1:17
He is our example! We strive to be like Him! “God is good … all the time!” His love is an unfailing love!
Long ago the LORD said to Israel: “I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.” - Jeremiah 31:1
That is the love He has for us today! We need to follow our Lord’s example and strive to be as stable in our emotions, unchanging in our love, trustworthy in our words and dependable in our actions as is He. With the Holy Spirit we can do this!
Instability causes lack of certainty. When you sense this struggle, remember the example of the Lord. Rely on the Holy Spirit within you and maintain your stability. Stay the course. Do what you are called to do. Keep going forward because there is no place else to go! Don’t be sidetracked or distracted by minor issues. Keep your eyes on what is major and important – and always – do it with excellence.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Thursday, October 29, 2009
The Emotional Stability of a Leader
A LEADER MUST BE STABLE
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. – Hebrews 13:8
A. EMOTIONAL STABILITY
We cannot ride an emotional roller coaster of our own and be an effective leader. Emotions are an important aspect of our personality and they are God-given. However, we must control our emotions; we should not be controlled by them.
A popular song said, “It can’t be wrong if it feels so right.” Yes it can! A leader and influencer will do what is right and shun what is wrong regardless of how it feels. The principle of the student not rising above the teacher applies here as well. Emotionally stable leaders influence others to be able to be in control of their emotions and live stable lives.
From Galatians 5:22-23, one aspect of the Fruit of the Spirit is self-control. We must control our moods and our mouth. Once something is said, it cannot be grabbed out of the air and put back. Forgiveness can be asked for and granted, but the pain of words spoken in anger from emotional instability can take more time to heal. This can disrupt the leader’s ability to build into the life of the one they are influencing and hinder their personal as well as spiritual growth. Our words and our actions must be kept in check. We set the example by living according to the leadership of the Holy Spirit in our lives and not our sinful nature. This comes from dying to our natural desires daily and living to the plan of God for our lives.
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. – Hebrews 13:8
A. EMOTIONAL STABILITY
We cannot ride an emotional roller coaster of our own and be an effective leader. Emotions are an important aspect of our personality and they are God-given. However, we must control our emotions; we should not be controlled by them.
A popular song said, “It can’t be wrong if it feels so right.” Yes it can! A leader and influencer will do what is right and shun what is wrong regardless of how it feels. The principle of the student not rising above the teacher applies here as well. Emotionally stable leaders influence others to be able to be in control of their emotions and live stable lives.
From Galatians 5:22-23, one aspect of the Fruit of the Spirit is self-control. We must control our moods and our mouth. Once something is said, it cannot be grabbed out of the air and put back. Forgiveness can be asked for and granted, but the pain of words spoken in anger from emotional instability can take more time to heal. This can disrupt the leader’s ability to build into the life of the one they are influencing and hinder their personal as well as spiritual growth. Our words and our actions must be kept in check. We set the example by living according to the leadership of the Holy Spirit in our lives and not our sinful nature. This comes from dying to our natural desires daily and living to the plan of God for our lives.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
A LEADER MUST BE TEACHABLE
- A LEADER MUST BE TEACHABLE
In order to continue leading, we must continue learning.
Even if it was written in Scripture long ago, you can be sure it is written for us. God wants the combination of his steady, constant calling and warm, personal counsel in Scripture to come to characterize us, keeping us alert for whatever he will do next. –
Never be lazy in your work, but serve the Lord enthusiastically.
A. PRIDE GOES BEFORE A FALL
We may hate to admit it, but we don’t know everything. We don’t want to admit that because we don’t want to look bad. We want to appear as experts in the eyes of those we are influencing. We hate to answer a question with, “I don’t know.” That is pride. If looking bad is a greater concern than learning, the leader will fail or lose a following. Leaders need to be comfortable in saying, “I don’t know, but I’ll try to find out!”
Don’t be defensive about not knowing everything. Be teachable. Continue to learn and study. Lead with humility. Lean on the Holy Spirit, and not your own knowledge. Don’t be narrow-minded. Even with the knowledge we have there are often more way of doing things and looking at situations than our own.
B. LEADERS CONTINUE TO LEARN AFTER EXPERIENCING “SUCCESS”
Often, when a leader achieves “success” – receiving an award, getting a degree, or reaching a certain position – they believe they have “made it.” For them, learning is a thing of the past. They have already achieved. We need to remember that the day we stop growing and learning is the day we give up continued future potential.
Whatever gets us to the place we want to be is not always what keeps us there. Great leaders always see opening doors and new opportunities. Someone said, “As long as you are green you are growing; as soon as you are ripe, you rot.”
C. LEADERS LEARN FROM MISTAKES
We make no progress if we keep making the same mistakes over and over again. We need to
learn from our mistakes, as well as the mistakes of others, so that they are not repeated.
Watch other leaders and influencers. Listen to their stories. It’s better to learn from someone else than to have to learn the hard way ourselves.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
LEADING WITH PASSION
Never be lazy in your work, but serve the Lord enthusiastically. Romans 12:11 NLT
Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. NIV
Not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord. NASV
Don’t burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master. The Message
Someone has said passion is being zealous on the inside.
A. PASSION IS THE FUEL THAT DRIVES THE LEADER
There are many who may not have been successful in a school classroom setting, but they had passion about their gifts, their call, their vocation in life and have become great leaders.
- More than 50% of all Fortune 500 CEO’s had “C” averages in college.
- Nearly 75% of U.S. Presidents were in the bottom half of their class.
- More than 50% of all millionaire entrepreneurs never finished college.
Ordinary people achieve great things – when they are passionate about what they are doing. Passion increases willpower. Passion will keep you going when you don’t feel like going on! There is no substitute for passion in a leader’s life and ministry. You must love what you are doing!
B. PASSION IS THE FIRE THAT OTHERS WILL FOLLOW
Have you ever wanted to follow the fire truck to see the burning house? It has been said that someone asked John Wesley how he got so many people to come to his meetings. He replied, “I set myself on fire and the people come to watch me burn.” He was talking about the passion and fire of the Holy Spirit!
When a leader loses their passion, they begin to lose their influence. If you are not passionate about what you are doing, you cannot lead anyone there. When passion is present, it is contagious. It is like a wildfire that causes what is around it to catch on fire as well. This kind of passion ignites that faith that makes the impossible possible!
C. PASSION CAN ALSO BE DANGEROUS
Passion without knowledge is like heat without light. It is possible to be over-zealous. It is when we do not have the proper knowledge or training for what we are passionate about that it becomes dangerous. Great leaders will always seek continuous training so that they can always become more efficient and effective at what they are passionate about.
Leaders are responsible to keep their fire under control. We must add to our passion wisdom, knowledge, discernment, prayer and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. NIV
Not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord. NASV
Don’t burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master. The Message
Someone has said passion is being zealous on the inside.
A. PASSION IS THE FUEL THAT DRIVES THE LEADER
There are many who may not have been successful in a school classroom setting, but they had passion about their gifts, their call, their vocation in life and have become great leaders.
- More than 50% of all Fortune 500 CEO’s had “C” averages in college.
- Nearly 75% of U.S. Presidents were in the bottom half of their class.
- More than 50% of all millionaire entrepreneurs never finished college.
Ordinary people achieve great things – when they are passionate about what they are doing. Passion increases willpower. Passion will keep you going when you don’t feel like going on! There is no substitute for passion in a leader’s life and ministry. You must love what you are doing!
B. PASSION IS THE FIRE THAT OTHERS WILL FOLLOW
Have you ever wanted to follow the fire truck to see the burning house? It has been said that someone asked John Wesley how he got so many people to come to his meetings. He replied, “I set myself on fire and the people come to watch me burn.” He was talking about the passion and fire of the Holy Spirit!
When a leader loses their passion, they begin to lose their influence. If you are not passionate about what you are doing, you cannot lead anyone there. When passion is present, it is contagious. It is like a wildfire that causes what is around it to catch on fire as well. This kind of passion ignites that faith that makes the impossible possible!
C. PASSION CAN ALSO BE DANGEROUS
Passion without knowledge is like heat without light. It is possible to be over-zealous. It is when we do not have the proper knowledge or training for what we are passionate about that it becomes dangerous. Great leaders will always seek continuous training so that they can always become more efficient and effective at what they are passionate about.
Leaders are responsible to keep their fire under control. We must add to our passion wisdom, knowledge, discernment, prayer and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
How's Your Serve?
The U.S. Open Tennis Match recently ended. On the women’s side, the favorite was knocked out on the last play because of her attitude (she physically threatened an umpire!). On the men’s side, the favorite was upset by a relative unknown. “HOW’S YOUR SERVE?”
I have been writing the last few weeks about Leadership being a Heart Issue (from a book I wrote called Team With One Another). We have talked about Leadership involving Character and Servanthood. Last week we said
A. SERVANT-LEADERSHIP IS AN ATTITUDE
Now –
B. SERVANT-LEADERSHIP PUTS OTHERS FIRST
When we put our own agenda on hold for others, we are serving them. We must be aware of the needs of those we are leading, or those with whom we share relationships. We must be aware of their needs and be ready to help them. They must know that we see their needs as important.
A servant-leader doesn’t wait to be asked. A servant-leader see the need and jumps into action. They don’t have to be compelled or coerced, but they look forward to seizing the opportunity to be a blessing, especially in times of crisis. They also expect nothing in return.
C. SERVANT-LEADERSHIP IS FROM THE BOTTOM UP
On many organizational flow charts, the leaders will be listed at the top and those who are under them will be … well … under them! But in Christ-like servant-leadership, the serving leader will put himself under others and serve them. This earns the respect of those the servant is leading … and they will follow!
Read Paul’s attitude about himself in 1st Corinthians 15:9; Ephesians 3:8; and 1st Timothy 1:15.
I have been writing the last few weeks about Leadership being a Heart Issue (from a book I wrote called Team With One Another). We have talked about Leadership involving Character and Servanthood. Last week we said
A. SERVANT-LEADERSHIP IS AN ATTITUDE
Now –
B. SERVANT-LEADERSHIP PUTS OTHERS FIRST
When we put our own agenda on hold for others, we are serving them. We must be aware of the needs of those we are leading, or those with whom we share relationships. We must be aware of their needs and be ready to help them. They must know that we see their needs as important.
A servant-leader doesn’t wait to be asked. A servant-leader see the need and jumps into action. They don’t have to be compelled or coerced, but they look forward to seizing the opportunity to be a blessing, especially in times of crisis. They also expect nothing in return.
C. SERVANT-LEADERSHIP IS FROM THE BOTTOM UP
On many organizational flow charts, the leaders will be listed at the top and those who are under them will be … well … under them! But in Christ-like servant-leadership, the serving leader will put himself under others and serve them. This earns the respect of those the servant is leading … and they will follow!
Read Paul’s attitude about himself in 1st Corinthians 15:9; Ephesians 3:8; and 1st Timothy 1:15.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
ARE YOU SERVING SOMEONE TODAY?
So Jesus called them together and said, “You know that in this world kings are tyrants, and officials lord it over the people beneath them. But among you it should be quite different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be the slave of all. For even I, the Son of Man, came here not to be served but to serve others, and to give my life as a ransom for many.” - Mark 10:42-45
A. SERVANT LEADERSHIP IS AN ATTITUDE
Servanthood is not about position or skill; it is about attitude. Manipulation or self-promotion does not motivate the servant, rather love is the motivating factor. The extent of a leader’s influence depends on the depth of concern for others.
In a magazine article I read years ago, Guy BonGiovanni told of an old Dutch tradition where an empty chair and setting were placed at the dinner table. The unoccupied chair monitored the family’s attitudes and actions while also serving as a reminder that Christ was the unseen guest at the table. BonGiovanni told of sitting at the dinner table of Joel Oliver, a pastor in St. Louis. At the table a family argument broke out over who should sit in a special chair at the end of the table. Feisty six-year-old Caleb insisted it was his turn to sit in the “servant’s chair.”
Pastor Oliver said each person takes turns sitting in the servant’s chair when they eat together. The person sitting there is responsible for anything needed during the meal, whether someone needs another teaspoon, napkin, or if the telephone rings. Pastor Oliver said, “I want my family to develop a caring spirit, to be concerned and quick to serve others. What better place to do that than in one’s own home during family dinner?”
In Pastor Oliver’s house, the children were actually fighting over who would get the privilege to serve! What would happen in the Body of Christ if we all had such a great desire to serve one another! This must be modeled by leadership.
PURPOSEFULLY SERVE SOMEONE THIS WEEK!
A. SERVANT LEADERSHIP IS AN ATTITUDE
Servanthood is not about position or skill; it is about attitude. Manipulation or self-promotion does not motivate the servant, rather love is the motivating factor. The extent of a leader’s influence depends on the depth of concern for others.
In a magazine article I read years ago, Guy BonGiovanni told of an old Dutch tradition where an empty chair and setting were placed at the dinner table. The unoccupied chair monitored the family’s attitudes and actions while also serving as a reminder that Christ was the unseen guest at the table. BonGiovanni told of sitting at the dinner table of Joel Oliver, a pastor in St. Louis. At the table a family argument broke out over who should sit in a special chair at the end of the table. Feisty six-year-old Caleb insisted it was his turn to sit in the “servant’s chair.”
Pastor Oliver said each person takes turns sitting in the servant’s chair when they eat together. The person sitting there is responsible for anything needed during the meal, whether someone needs another teaspoon, napkin, or if the telephone rings. Pastor Oliver said, “I want my family to develop a caring spirit, to be concerned and quick to serve others. What better place to do that than in one’s own home during family dinner?”
In Pastor Oliver’s house, the children were actually fighting over who would get the privilege to serve! What would happen in the Body of Christ if we all had such a great desire to serve one another! This must be modeled by leadership.
PURPOSEFULLY SERVE SOMEONE THIS WEEK!
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
#2 LEADERSHIP IS A HEART ISSUE - CHARACTER #2
CHARACTER
TRUE CHARACTER WILL BE REVEALED BY OUR ACTIONS
CHARACTER IS REQUIRED TO INFLUENCE OTHERS
“If you think you’re leading but no one is following, you’re just out taking a walk!” The only way a Christian leader will be able to influence others is by maintaining Christian character. Charisma, giftedness, or a great personality may gain a short-term following, but only true Christian character will be able to keep people with you so that you can influence them for the good. When the leader’s character fails, the trust is broken and the positive influence is eroded.
CHARACTER SETS THE LIMITS
“A student is not greater than the teacher. A servant is not greater than the master. The student shares the teacher’s fate.” - Matthew 10:24,25a
You will never be able to lead someone where you have not gone. You will never be able to take them beyond where you are. As leaders, we must maintain godly character and continue to grow!
Your character will also set the limit on yourself! Some fall after achieving a high place of leadership because their place of leadership was beyond their character. There are 4 A’s that can ring down any leader who is short on character: Arrogance, Aloneness, Adventure-seeking, Adultery.
NEXT: SERVANTHOOD
TRUE CHARACTER WILL BE REVEALED BY OUR ACTIONS
CHARACTER IS REQUIRED TO INFLUENCE OTHERS
“If you think you’re leading but no one is following, you’re just out taking a walk!” The only way a Christian leader will be able to influence others is by maintaining Christian character. Charisma, giftedness, or a great personality may gain a short-term following, but only true Christian character will be able to keep people with you so that you can influence them for the good. When the leader’s character fails, the trust is broken and the positive influence is eroded.
CHARACTER SETS THE LIMITS
“A student is not greater than the teacher. A servant is not greater than the master. The student shares the teacher’s fate.” - Matthew 10:24,25a
You will never be able to lead someone where you have not gone. You will never be able to take them beyond where you are. As leaders, we must maintain godly character and continue to grow!
Your character will also set the limit on yourself! Some fall after achieving a high place of leadership because their place of leadership was beyond their character. There are 4 A’s that can ring down any leader who is short on character: Arrogance, Aloneness, Adventure-seeking, Adultery.
NEXT: SERVANTHOOD
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