Circle of Influence

Do you live you life in darkness? Do you live your life as if the world revolves around you? Do you sometimes say I can do it on my own, I don't need anyone else's help?

In this day of computers, cell phones, ipods, pizza delivery,television and telecommuting; you can very easily find yourself never leaving your house. Your "friends" become a list of names on your favorite social networking website and the only time you see them is when their picture pops up on your computer screen. We have even made it easy to get "Fast Food" from God, we don't have to leave the house to get our Sunday morning sermon.

Is this the life that god intended us to live, free of personal interaction with others?

Do you believe that you can survive spiritually living your life on your own?

God said that we are to reach every last person on the planet and deliver his message of peace and everlasting love. I don't believe that he meant for us to do that by using the internet, dropping flyer's from 30,000 feet or driving by with a load speaker bolted to the top of your SUV. I believe that in order to have the greatest impact the message needs to be shared through personal human contact on a daily basis, while sharing life together.

Hebrews 10 it says,
24And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

If we are to survive this world and grow spiritually, we need to surround ourself with friends and family that we trust to hold us accountable for our actions. We need to live our lives openly for Christ sharing everything with them, the good and the bad. We can not carry the burdens, or fight our battles on our own. The quickest way to stumble and fall is to keep our struggles to our selves and not ask for help. The bible says in Proverbs 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. If we lean on our brothers and sisters in Christ through fellowship, worship and prayer; we will stop the enemy in his tracks.

If you are living your life through technology and not through people, If you are getting your spiritual "fix" from the one sermon on your TV Sunday Morning. If you don't have people you can lean on, to share your life with. You can not live the life Christ commanded you to live.

The group of people you meet with in your church and small group are your spiritual mentors and your personal team of prayer warriors. They have the greatest opportunity to speak Gods truth in to your life. They are your Circle of Influence.

God bless.

Leadership 101

Are you still confused about what a leader is? Do you have difficulty believing that you are a leader? Then take this short quiz?

1. Do you step in and help out without being asked?
2. Do you offer assistance to those who need it?
3. Do you believe that your actions alone can change the heart or attitude of someone else?
4. Do you set a positive example for your family, friends and co-workers.
5. Do you enjoy serving others?

If you answered yes to any of these then you are a leader. You do not have to be in charge to influence those around you. You just have to be willing to set the example.

What is you motivation? As a leader it should be to complete the task. This doesn't mean you need to do it all yourself, it does mean do whatever it takes to get it done. If you're actions are selfish in origin; such as self promotion, limelight, money or just to make yourself feel important, then in the long run you will not be a successful leader.

Your motivation should be the completion of your task by successfully influencing the people around you to join in the vision that was set before them.

A leader doesn't need to prove themselves to anyone. They willingly help others achieve their potential even if it means the people they help will ultimately pass them in skill and knowledge. They know that their true role in the team is to serve, not to be served; by doing this they can focus on giving not receiving. They remain real about who they are, never worrying about a image they need to "keep up". They are authentic and transparent; willing to show their faults for the success of the mission.

I believe that if you are a willing servant in Gods kingdom, and are doing you part to fulfill the Great Commission then YOU ARE A LEADER. You have stepped forward and have freely offered your resources through stewardship and faith; in doing so you are influencing the people around you and your actions will ultimately LEAD them to a better understanding of who Christ is.

Keep up the good work and continue to give the Glory to God.

A Servants Heart

What makes you a leader? It is your skills, your experiences or your position(title). What do you look for in your leader? Is it their willingness please you. Wait did I say that right? Are they there to give you what YOU think you need?

Although the leader's heart should be about service, if they just do what you want, if they are just trying to please you. Then they are not doing their job. If this is what you expect from them then you aren't looking to be led.

I think in order for you to understand how you should be leading, you need to understand how you want/need to be led.

I feel that the people that are leading me need to fit into this description.

Someone that is selfless, a mentor, caring, understanding and willing to forgive. Someone that is looking for excellence not perfection. Someone who lives their life through Christ and is willing to be taught and learn from me. Someone willing to do whatever it takes to bring peace and clarity to a situation. Someone who believes that two head are better then one and a team of heads get the job done faster. Someone that is willing to meet me where I am today and help me reach my potential. Someone that is willing invest their time in me, and in turn allow me to invest in them.

So, what kind of leader are you looking for? If you can define that, then you should be able to see a clear picture of the person you need to be in order to be an effective leader.


GOD BLESS

Where do you belong?

Have you found yourself wondering if you are doing the thing that make you the happiest? Have you ever wondered if you are doing the "thing" that God has planned for you. Do you find yourself wanning in your spiritual growth, feeling stuck in a position that you volunteered to do but are not happy doing it.

There are a few things that you can do to help clarify the situation.

1. Prayer - Raise up your concern to the Lord our God.
2. Self assurance - If you are not confident in the things you can do, you can become rigid and unwilling to meet changes head on. Instead you need to be secure in you abilities and gifts the God as given you.
3.Self reflection - get to know your self better, asked for feedback from your team and leaders. Take some time to truly understand and meet your abilities face to face.
4. Look to your mentors - The people you have allowed to be an influence in your life will be your greatest asset if you trust them enough to tell you the truth.
5.Look to the vision - You need to see the big picture, once you understand where you and your team is headed then placing your skills and abilities in the picture will be easier. Be careful to make your decision based on a servants heart, if you are doing things for personal gain, your motives will derail the progress.
6.Trust your experience - The only way to really know if the thing you are doing is coming from your heart and bringing joy to you and those around you is to jump in feet first and do it. You may not successed at first, but that is ok; learn for the experiences STRETCH and GROW yourself.
7.Prayer - Continuous prayer is the only way to really get to know God and what he has intended for your life. Be deliberate in your walk with God and you will find everlasting joy.

Philippians 1:6 says
...being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.

Live life for Christ, Live life for others and Live life with others in Christ.

God bless.

Who do you follow?

The people that you choose to follow through life; your parents, your friends, your spouse, your boss, your pastor, all of these people have the ability to make or break your spiritual life.

Parents are the number one influence during the early years in our lives. How they respond to stress, how they discipline and how they generally lived their life had a major impact on who we are today.

Friends; do you remember peer pressure? The biggest mistakes we made as adolescents can almost always be trace backed to a decision we made to follow someone else down the wrong path.

Spouse; he/she in most cases will be the driving influence in our life spiritually. They will either enable us to be a good steward for God or they will make it very difficult to stay on the straight and narrow path.

The boss, for most of us will be several different people through out our lives. They are in a position to have the biggest influence in our day to day life. The power they have over us can cause many stressful days, if they do not know how to use that position of authority wisely.

The Pastor, of all the people in our lives the pastor is the only person, that most people turn to when they are in need. They see their pastor as the neutralizer to a bad week, the channel to god's help and the person GOD has placed into their life that will make it all better.

So where am I going with this, right?

We are; the parents, the friends, the spouse, the boss, and we are all ministers for Jesus Christ.

The influence we have on others directly impacts their future in Christ.

As parents it is imperative we live a Christ like life for our children. They need to see us love each other and serve each other. If we can be deliberate in our walk with Christ it will be natural for our children to follow us.

As friends our goal is to live a Christ like life and support our friends through fellowship and accountability.

As a spouse we need to walk in Christ together. If your spouse is not yet saved, then live your life in a way that truly represents God and allow your life to influence him/her.

As a boss, God has placed you in a position of authority for a reason. He's ultimate plan may not be clear to you. So, care about your employees and their families. Do your best to support them and develop them. If you take the time to truly know them they will begin to trust you. If you gain their trust your influence will be greater.

People tend to reflect their leader, if you spend your day gossiping and talking trash about others, lying and be deceitful, being immoral and lack the fore site to communicate, it wont be long and those who choose to follow you will follow you to their unfruitful end. BUT, if you are of strong moral character, compassionate for others and communicate a strong vision of the future, those who chose to follow will grow both spiritually and professionally.

As a minister in your church and community your life is going to touch many people as you go about your day. These lost souls need to be shown their way to Christs love. They need to be shown that we all have a direct connection with God through prayer and though that prayer all things can be be made whole.


So, who do you follow? I pray that your answer is GOD.

Lord, let our actions lead others to follow you. Give us the wisdom and courage to lead others through our walk with you.