Are you perfect?

I recently finished reading an awesome book by John Maxwell "The 360 Degree Leader". I could blog to you all day about the awesome ideas John has but I think you would get more out of it by reading the book for yourself.

But I would like to cover one topic that I think is key to being a effective influential leader.

BE REAL...

Enough said right. You would think so. But many people have this flaw including myself at one time or another.

So lets take a few moments and clarify what it means to BE REAL.

Lets start by admitting your faults. A lot of leaders have a simple issue with this one. They believe that they have to be all knowing and never show any weakness. Problem is that they are fooling themselves if they think the team doesn't know about their short comings. This isn't about being weak this about admitting your flaws so your team sees you as an authentic (real) person. In doing this you will become approachable and trustworthy in their eyes

Next Stop worrying about what others think of you, You need to live your life for yourself and GOD. You will have more people unhappy with you by pretending to be someone you aren't then if you JUST BE YOURSELF. Present the Christ like person you are and you will be happy with yourself and that is what really matters.

Next be willing to learn from others, try to approach each person you meet with the attitude that they have something of value to give you. If you can open your mind and heart to the people around you and let them ADD VALUE to you, you will become more approachable and trust worthy in their eyes. By doing this you have created a connection with them and in turn add value to them.

Last but not least, Do not be Prideful. Influence is not about knowledge and titles. You can not gain a true leadership relationship with someone by impressing them. Being the center of attention will not get you very far with your team. Instead try focusing on the needs of others, lead through service and place their needs before yours.

In others words don't pretend to be perfect, because we are not.

in gods love

How do you set Priorities in your life.

TIME and Priority go hand in hand. Not enough time in the day to do the things you need to do let alone do the things you want to do, so what do you do with the time you have?

I have heard people say "if I only had 2 more hours in a day!" Well I guaranty that if God changed the day to a 26 hour day you would still ask for two more hours. So instead of wishing for more time, lets try and budget our time to be more effective.

Stewardship isn't just about money it is about time as well. God gave us everything we need; we just need to figure out what we are really supposed to be doing with our time and all else will fall into place.

How are you determining where you should spend the time God has given you? What is at the top of your list? NO, don't just say God; really take stock in your life and write it down. What comes first, second and so forth?

Now make a second column and this time write how you think God wants you to spend your time.

Do they match, probably not. So now we need to figure out how to re-organize our time to meet Gods expectations. Just like in your financial budget there is going to be things that you may have to sacrifice to do Gods work.

So lets take a shot at it.

1. GOD
2. Family
3. ????

See here is the issue. God may be number one, but number one has many parts to it, and there may be things that you feel fit into the category of doing God's work but do they really belong on your list? Should you really be focusing your time on them?

Or can you be doing other things that are going to be a greater impact in God's Kingdom?

I challenge you to write it down, then pray on each item and see if God is really leading you to do those things. Then meet with your spouse and compare lists and pray again.

I pray that each of us, are not only leading our life's and family for God, but that we are leading them effectively. We can do so much more for God when our abilities, resources and goals are all in line.

GOD BLESS

First day at new job !!

WOW!! Today was over whelming, so many new faces and names. But I felt very relaxed all the way through the day. That in it self just reaffirmed that it is in GODS hands. Everyone and I do mean everyone I talked to today made me feel like I was the only person that matter at that moment.

Lesson there right? ADD VALUE TO EVERYONE YOU MEET.

I must really be worth something after today. LOL

I went to lunch with the outgoing supervisor who is stepping back down to work under me as a tech. This guy really has a heart for GOD, I asked if we could pray over our food and he took the lead and started praying.

God has so blessed our lives with this opportunity, I know that he is going to do great things through it.

In everything give thanks

There are two kinds of people. Those who wake up in the morning and say, "Good morning, Lord," and those who wake up in the morning and say, "Good Lord, it's morning."

Did you have your quiet time with the Lord this morning?

Have an Awesome day in Jesus.

Living your life through Service and Ministry

Good Morning,

When we live our lives for the fulfillment of Gods glory, we are truly serving our fellow man.

Ephesians 4 11-13

11It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

2 Corinthians 3:2-3 (New International Version)

2You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody. 3You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

Our actions are seen by everyone, how we conduct ourselves when we go about our daily duties will directly impact the Church. Being Christ like is not easy; it is takes hard work and perseverance. You must be deliberate in your walk with God.

God has given each of you skills and abilities which can be used in his service. Once you have accepted the Jesus into your heart your spiritual gifts will begin to grow. Using these gifts and abilities to the glory of God through service and ministry will not only help your loved ones and neighbors, but it will bring you closer in your walk with God.

I challenge you to make your walk with Jesus personal and deliberate. If you still need to find a ministry to serve or you not sure what ministry best suites your abilities, Feel free to contact me. Also on NOV 18^th I will be teaching another 301 Class (Discovering My Ministry) you can sign up for that class on your Connection Card.

GOD is about to do Something So Big in your life!!!

God Bless

A kind word or act is some times all it takes.

A kind word or act is some times all it takes.

Or the reverse; a smart remark or off colored joke even though not intended to hurt someone, may have on unexpected effect.

Have you ever been talking to a friend or co worker about someone else (not gossip) just a passing conversation about them?

What do you do when they walk in to the room right then? Do you joke and say something like "Well Speak of the Devil" or just stop talking all together.

Ever wonder what that person is feeling right at the moment, or have you ever been on the receiving side of that situation?

They might already be having a emotional day and that small thing could be the "straw that broke the camels back". Your remark or action at that point can cause insecurity or self doubt. It could cause anger and a whole slew of other negative emotions.

I challenge you to lift up the people around you.

Tell them how much you value their work or their spirituality.
Thank them for all that they do.
Wish them a wonderful day.
Offer to help them and mean it!

Add value to those around you and in doing so you will increase your value to them. This builds trust and strengthens the connections we all ready have, and just may create new connections your weren't even trying to build.

Drive into work this morning.

This morning I was driving to work and listening to the river, there was a commercial running about some school and the kids where say what they wanted to do in life, like be a teacher, painter, and so on. they ended the commercial with a saying.

One day "I" want to make a difference.

I think that we have all been saying one day or someday for to long.

This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

Today is the day I start to make a difference.
Today is the day that I begin impacting lives for Jesus.
Today is the Day that Something So Big will happen.

Ministry, Service and Something So Big!

I had a life changing/AWESOME time at Catalyst, We (I) can no longer sit ideally by and hope for our church to grow. We can no longer pretend that our current actions are going to be enough to reach a dying nation. It is time for us to stand up for what we believe and live it. It is time for us to reach out to our community and extend GOD's glory and redemption. It is here and now that we must draw a line in the sand, Romans 12:6-8 says In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. 7 If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. 8 If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.

Our Church's Vision is:

Connect with God

Connect with Others

Connect others with God

I feel that as we move into the Season of "Something So Big", we have an opportunity to seriously impact our community. That can only be done by EVERYONE taking on a servants heart and LEADING this community in to the future.

We must SERVE somewhere in order for that to happen. Every Ministry, the Church is actively supporting today is in need of help, We MUST find the resources to succeed. In a couple of weeks we are going to have a Service centered around Ministry and Serving.

I challenge each of you to make the time to serve. I know that there doesn't seem to be enough time in the week to get all the things completed you would like, but true giving of our TIME will be a sacrifice.

I believe in the vision of SOMETHING SO BIG.
I believe it is a commitment worth giving.

The three points of this Campaign are easy to remember.

1. Life long stewardship (for you and your family)
2. Campus with 25 Acres of land and the buildings to support our ministry
3. A Regional Church; meeting the needs of and providing services for the people between Austin and San Antonio

We must own this campaign
We must lead our families first
We must Pray
We must believe
We must walk a Christ like life

We will start with our families
We will add value to our neighbors
We will add value to every person we touch

If we do this I believe that this will be the result

We will develop an environment that transcends age and culture
We will start a cultural shift that impacts every part of our lives
We will raise up a generation of leaders that will take action
We will birth a culture that impacts every generation to come

God bless each and everyone of us. Keep our hearts and minds centered on God, we know that there will be attacks but in his name we will be triumphant.