So, how do we find the greatness that is hidden inside of us? It all has to do with our focus. We must quit focusing on ourselves and begin to focus on others. It is what we do for others that makes us great.
The disciples were arguing this thought in Luke chapter 22 verses 23-27.
“Then the disciples began to ask each other which of them would ever do such a thing. And they began to argue among themselves as to who would be the greatest in the coming Kingdom. Jesus told them, "In this world the kings and great men order their people around, and yet they are called 'friends of the people.' But among you, those who are the greatest should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant. Normally the master sits at the table and is served by his servants. But not here! For I am your servant.”
To become great we must serve others. (O-T-H-E-R-S)
Let’s begin with the “O”.
O – Offer your very best.
Philippians 2:25-30
25 Meanwhile, I thought I should send Epaphroditus back to you. He is a true brother, a faithful worker, and a courageous soldier. And he was your messenger to help me in my need. 26 Now I am sending him home again, for he has been longing to see you, and he was very distressed that you heard he was ill. 27 And he surely was ill; in fact, he almost died. But God had mercy on him-- and also on me, so that I would not have such unbearable sorrow. 28 So I am all the more anxious to send him back to you, for I know you will be glad to see him, and that will lighten all my cares. 29 Welcome him with Christian love and with great joy, and be sure to honor people like him. 30 For he risked his life for the work of Christ, and he was at the point of death while trying to do for me the things you couldn't do because you were far away.
Epaphroditus was a nobody, however he gave his best.
1. He was a people lover, He ministered to Paul and when the people back home heard he was ill it stressed him out to think that they were worried about him.
2. He was a risk taker, he risked his own life to serve Paul—most people would have pampered and served their own need.
3. He was a tireless worker, He worked so hard at the ministry he was called to that it literally caused his illness.
4. He was a servant leader. Paul sends word to the church to give him a hero’s welcome because of his uncompromising servant leadership.
To uncover our hidden greatness we must learn to offer our very best.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Saturday, March 28, 2009
A Touch of Greatness - Part 1
Leadership effectiveness is determined by how we choose to live out our life. The choices we make will ultimately determine who we become—good, bad or indifferent. Our world is made better or worse just by us becoming the person that we choose to become. Therefore, we must understand that when we choose to be less than God created us to be, we are not the only ones who lose. The whole human race loses. The Kingdom of God loses. When we choose to be our best and live out our best, that is when we discover the hero inside of us.
Peter was a classic example. He was a commoner, a nobody…a fisherman. But Jesus called him…Jesus saw in him a touch of greatness. However, in Matthew Chapter 26 we see Peter in all of his failure, his sorrow, his lack of courage, his NOT SO GREATNESS as we watch him deny that he even knew Jesus.
How terrible. How could a man who walked with Jesus and saw the miracles and heard the teaching…how could that man fail so miserably? Easy. Peter was still in the building process, he was still just dreaming, he was still discovering his greatness. It was hidden—but only for a short while longer.
For you see…Jesus was blowing the dust and cobwebs from Peter’s life. He was removing the rubble of failure out of his life and preparing Peter for his greatest hour yet. Just a few pages later we see Peter in all of his success...in all of his GREATNESS! We see him as the most improved disciple and a great leader who delivered the awesome message on the day of Pentecost.
Jesus wants to do the same for you. There is greatness hidden in your life as well. It is hidden under your scarcity mindset, your rubble of failures, your unfulfilled dreams, or your crushed heart.
But Jesus is blowing all that away, He wants to help you realize the potential He established inside of you. Jesus understands that one person recognizing who God intended him to become, one person understanding the potential of a dream lived out is enough to turn the world upside down for his cause. It was enough for Peter and the disciples.
So how do we become great? What must we do to allow God to pull out our hidden greatness? Over the next few days we will use this blog to unpack some truths and take a closer look at what it takes for you and I to truly become great. So get ready to discover your hidden touch of greatness and Lead On!
Peter was a classic example. He was a commoner, a nobody…a fisherman. But Jesus called him…Jesus saw in him a touch of greatness. However, in Matthew Chapter 26 we see Peter in all of his failure, his sorrow, his lack of courage, his NOT SO GREATNESS as we watch him deny that he even knew Jesus.
How terrible. How could a man who walked with Jesus and saw the miracles and heard the teaching…how could that man fail so miserably? Easy. Peter was still in the building process, he was still just dreaming, he was still discovering his greatness. It was hidden—but only for a short while longer.
For you see…Jesus was blowing the dust and cobwebs from Peter’s life. He was removing the rubble of failure out of his life and preparing Peter for his greatest hour yet. Just a few pages later we see Peter in all of his success...in all of his GREATNESS! We see him as the most improved disciple and a great leader who delivered the awesome message on the day of Pentecost.
Jesus wants to do the same for you. There is greatness hidden in your life as well. It is hidden under your scarcity mindset, your rubble of failures, your unfulfilled dreams, or your crushed heart.
But Jesus is blowing all that away, He wants to help you realize the potential He established inside of you. Jesus understands that one person recognizing who God intended him to become, one person understanding the potential of a dream lived out is enough to turn the world upside down for his cause. It was enough for Peter and the disciples.
So how do we become great? What must we do to allow God to pull out our hidden greatness? Over the next few days we will use this blog to unpack some truths and take a closer look at what it takes for you and I to truly become great. So get ready to discover your hidden touch of greatness and Lead On!
Monday, March 23, 2009
Heroic Leadership
Recent events in my personal life have caused me to become keenly aware of what true leadership is all about. Leadership is such a mixture of vision, character, integrity, motivation, and management. It requires that we engage ourselves completely—from our intellect to our compassion. If we are to truly and effectively lead it will cost us many times more than we are readily willing to spend of ourselves.
But to become a quality leader we will press through and engage ourselves totally—mind, body, and spirit. We will willingly expend whatever it requires to insure that those we lead will become empowered, motivated, inspired, equipped, determined, compassionate, Godly, and full of integrity and high character. We must not only teach and instruct those we lead, but we MUST model the discipline of those teachings in front of those we lead so that they may see and understand that leadership is best lived out integrated in our lives without compromise!
That is why I have come to the realization that real leadership—the leadership that can be referred to as HEROIC LEADERSHIP—must always begin in our homes with our families. You see, if we can’t lead our own spouse and children effectively, we will most certainly be as lost as a ball in high weeds when it comes to leading those we work with and fellowship with outside of our homes.
Come on, you can do it. Get in the game, call the next play, and lead heroically. If you don’t, WHO WILL!?
But to become a quality leader we will press through and engage ourselves totally—mind, body, and spirit. We will willingly expend whatever it requires to insure that those we lead will become empowered, motivated, inspired, equipped, determined, compassionate, Godly, and full of integrity and high character. We must not only teach and instruct those we lead, but we MUST model the discipline of those teachings in front of those we lead so that they may see and understand that leadership is best lived out integrated in our lives without compromise!
That is why I have come to the realization that real leadership—the leadership that can be referred to as HEROIC LEADERSHIP—must always begin in our homes with our families. You see, if we can’t lead our own spouse and children effectively, we will most certainly be as lost as a ball in high weeds when it comes to leading those we work with and fellowship with outside of our homes.
Come on, you can do it. Get in the game, call the next play, and lead heroically. If you don’t, WHO WILL!?
Sunday, March 22, 2009
David Found Strength
"David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the LORD his God." 1 Samuel 30:6
In this passage of scripture we find that David and his men have returned from the Philistine territory where they were willing to go to battle with the Philistines against the Philistine's enemies. However, the Philistine commanders did not trust David and felt that David and his men would turn on them. So they sent him and his men back to Ziklag where David's camp was set up. But when David returned to Ziklag, he found it burned to the ground by the Amalakites. The Amalakites had also taken their wives, children and possessions captive.
In verse 6 we see that David's men have blamed him for what has happened and they are about to turn against him and stone him to death. What I find to be the most intriguing part of this story is the very next line where it reads, " But David found strength in the Lord his God." That is powerful! Here we find David with NOTHING! He has lost his wife and all his possessions to his enemy and now his friends are about to turn on him as well. Most of us would give up and quit. But not David! He turned to God with whom he had a great relationship and found strength to go on in the face of great adversity.
The result? Well, in the remainder of that chapter we read how David defeated the Amalakites and rescued all of the wives, children and possessions completely. In verse 19 we read, "Nothing was missing: young or old, boy or girl, plunder or anything else they had taken." Wow! Now that is leadership at its best. Take heart, find strength...and LEAD ON!
In this passage of scripture we find that David and his men have returned from the Philistine territory where they were willing to go to battle with the Philistines against the Philistine's enemies. However, the Philistine commanders did not trust David and felt that David and his men would turn on them. So they sent him and his men back to Ziklag where David's camp was set up. But when David returned to Ziklag, he found it burned to the ground by the Amalakites. The Amalakites had also taken their wives, children and possessions captive.
In verse 6 we see that David's men have blamed him for what has happened and they are about to turn against him and stone him to death. What I find to be the most intriguing part of this story is the very next line where it reads, " But David found strength in the Lord his God." That is powerful! Here we find David with NOTHING! He has lost his wife and all his possessions to his enemy and now his friends are about to turn on him as well. Most of us would give up and quit. But not David! He turned to God with whom he had a great relationship and found strength to go on in the face of great adversity.
The result? Well, in the remainder of that chapter we read how David defeated the Amalakites and rescued all of the wives, children and possessions completely. In verse 19 we read, "Nothing was missing: young or old, boy or girl, plunder or anything else they had taken." Wow! Now that is leadership at its best. Take heart, find strength...and LEAD ON!
Monday, March 16, 2009
A Good Man
The watchman said, "It seems to me that the first one runs like Ahimaaz son of Zadok." "He's a good man," the king said. "He comes with good news." 2 Samuel 18:27
When people see you coming, what do they say? Are you a good person? Do you bring good news?
As leaders, it is imperative that we maintain a good reputation and always make sure that our leadership is worthy of follower-ship! We need to make sure that we are spending our influence in a way that will produce a quality product in the lives of those we lead. The organization that we are leading will only be as effective and influential as we are. It is a very sobering thought when we realize that the lives of those we lead are dependant upon our leadership.
Spend your leadership as if it was an investment from which you desired a return and you will never be disappointed! Lead on!
When people see you coming, what do they say? Are you a good person? Do you bring good news?
As leaders, it is imperative that we maintain a good reputation and always make sure that our leadership is worthy of follower-ship! We need to make sure that we are spending our influence in a way that will produce a quality product in the lives of those we lead. The organization that we are leading will only be as effective and influential as we are. It is a very sobering thought when we realize that the lives of those we lead are dependant upon our leadership.
Spend your leadership as if it was an investment from which you desired a return and you will never be disappointed! Lead on!
Friday, January 2, 2009
The 'Do Over' Shot
It was a typical day on the links during the 1920’s. The morning air was fresh and crisp as the sun began its work to dry out the yawning blades of grass. The men gathered at the first tee box of the St. Lambert Country Club in Montreal, Canada just as they did every Saturday morning. There was the usual small talk as each one began to swing their clubs in an effort to loosen up their bodies for the upcoming eighteen-hole game. One at a time, three of the four men drove their golf ball nicely out to the middle of the fairway. The fourth man, David, teed his ball up and began to align himself up with the number one fairway. He carefully calculated his practice swings to insure that the ball would land precisely where he desired in the fairway. He approached the ball, drew his club back and swiftly followed through with a mighty swing of his driver.
David had really pounded the ball. It traveled a much greater distance than the drives of his comrades; however, David’s ball did not come close to traveling in a straight line. Therefore, it did not land in the fairway as David had hoped. So, almost instinctively, David teed up a second ball and quickly drove his second tee shot right down the middle several yards further than he had even hoped for. As he reached down to pick up his tee he said to his partners, “that was my ‘correction shot’.” However, knowing David Mulligan the way his playing partners did, they preferred to name the shot after him. Now, many years later, golfers worldwide have benefited from the ‘do over shot’ that is referred to as a mulligan.
The Bible tells of a man named Simon Peter who understood the potential of a ‘do over shot’. When he was placed in a situation of denying Jesus or identifying with Him, he chose to deny that he even knew who Jesus was. It was definitely not Peter’s best shot. After the third crow from the rooster, Peter walked away leaving behind all his dreams, hopes and potential. He walked right back into his previous lifestyle believing that the game was over. Peter assumed that since he looked like a fisherman, sounded like a fisherman and smelled like a fisherman; then perhaps all he would ever have the potential to become was a fisherman. Wrong! Jesus offered Peter a ‘do over shot’. Perhaps the first mulligan ever recorded was granted to Peter. Not only was Peter restored and given a second chance, but he became a great apostle and leader to usher in the New Testament church.
As January 2009 rolls around we find that God has done it once again. He, in all His grace and mercy, has extended to each of us a mulligan—a ‘do over shot’. God is the master of the ‘do over’. No matter what you’ve done or where life has taken you, there is always an opportunity to use one of God’s mulligans to get your life back on track and to achieve your potential and reach your destiny. So select your club, tee up your ball and take your best shot now. It’s a fresh new year just waiting for you to stretch your potential, maximize your opportunity and do something of great value for the Kingdom of God.
Swing hard and aim straight!
David had really pounded the ball. It traveled a much greater distance than the drives of his comrades; however, David’s ball did not come close to traveling in a straight line. Therefore, it did not land in the fairway as David had hoped. So, almost instinctively, David teed up a second ball and quickly drove his second tee shot right down the middle several yards further than he had even hoped for. As he reached down to pick up his tee he said to his partners, “that was my ‘correction shot’.” However, knowing David Mulligan the way his playing partners did, they preferred to name the shot after him. Now, many years later, golfers worldwide have benefited from the ‘do over shot’ that is referred to as a mulligan.
The Bible tells of a man named Simon Peter who understood the potential of a ‘do over shot’. When he was placed in a situation of denying Jesus or identifying with Him, he chose to deny that he even knew who Jesus was. It was definitely not Peter’s best shot. After the third crow from the rooster, Peter walked away leaving behind all his dreams, hopes and potential. He walked right back into his previous lifestyle believing that the game was over. Peter assumed that since he looked like a fisherman, sounded like a fisherman and smelled like a fisherman; then perhaps all he would ever have the potential to become was a fisherman. Wrong! Jesus offered Peter a ‘do over shot’. Perhaps the first mulligan ever recorded was granted to Peter. Not only was Peter restored and given a second chance, but he became a great apostle and leader to usher in the New Testament church.
As January 2009 rolls around we find that God has done it once again. He, in all His grace and mercy, has extended to each of us a mulligan—a ‘do over shot’. God is the master of the ‘do over’. No matter what you’ve done or where life has taken you, there is always an opportunity to use one of God’s mulligans to get your life back on track and to achieve your potential and reach your destiny. So select your club, tee up your ball and take your best shot now. It’s a fresh new year just waiting for you to stretch your potential, maximize your opportunity and do something of great value for the Kingdom of God.
Swing hard and aim straight!
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Leader-self Before Leadership
I have just returned from an awesomely refreshing and reflecting week in Maui. I had some time to spend reading, praying and just relaxing. Sometimes we must step out of the everyday-isms of our schedule packed lives and slow down. This allows us an opportunity to listen to God without any interruptions or distractions. Time spent like this generally ends in revelation of changes I need to make in my life.
I talk a lot about leadership. In fact, it is easy for me to talk about leadership, especially when I am telling other people how to become leaders. However, the more I learn about leadership the more I learn the prerequisite to leadership. That is leader-SELF. If I am ever to be a good leader and display good leadership I must first learn how to lead myself. Leader-self requires me to be a great leader to me. If I can’t lead myself how can I lead others?
This past week I read the story of Eli’s sons, Hophni and Phinehas. They were blessed of God to be in direct lineage of the priestly order. They were set to be great leaders of the people of God and follow in the footsteps of their father Eli. However they chose a different direction.
They chose to take the call of God, the provision of God, and the people of God and treat it all with contempt. They abused their position of authority, they shamed the good name of their father, they mocked the house of God, and they raped the people of God. They were unsuccessful in their leadership because they were first unsuccessful in their leader-self. They chose to satisfy themselves instead of seeking God’s plan for their lives and the lives of those God entrusted to them.
We all have choices to make in life. Our choices will determine who we become both now and for eternity. Our choices will also determine the legacy that we leave behind. The choices Eli’s boys made cost them, their father and their children.
"Now a man of God came to Eli and said to him, "This is what the LORD says: 'Did I not clearly reveal myself to your father's house when they were in Egypt under Pharaoh? 28 I chose your father out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to go up to my altar, to burn incense, and to wear an ephod in my presence. I also gave your father's house all the offerings made with fire by the Israelites. 29 Why do you scorn my sacrifice and offering that I prescribed for my dwelling? Why do you honor your sons more than me by fattening yourselves on the choice parts of every offering made by my people Israel?' 30 "Therefore the LORD, the God of Israel, declares: 'I promised that your house and your father's house would minister before me forever.' But now the LORD declares: 'Far be it from me! Those who honor me I will honor, but those who despise me will be disdained. 31 The time is coming when I will cut short your strength and the strength of your father's house, so that there will not be an old man in your family line 32 and you will see distress in my dwelling. Although good will be done to Israel, in your family line there will never be an old man. 33 Every one of you that I do not cut off from my altar will be spared only to blind your eyes with tears and to grieve your heart, and all your descendants will die in the prime of life. 34 "'And what happens to your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, will be a sign to you-- they will both die on the same day. 35 I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who will do according to what is in my heart and mind. I will firmly establish his house, and he will minister before my anointed one always. 36 Then everyone left in your family line will come and bow down before him for a piece of silver and a crust of bread and plead, "Appoint me to some priestly office so I can have food to eat."'" 1 Samuel 2:27 – 36
Our choices can become investments or expenses. Investments reap great rewards while expenses cost time and resources. What choices are you making? I pray that you and I will make the decision to become great leaders of self. Then, through God’s grace, we can become great leaders of others.
I talk a lot about leadership. In fact, it is easy for me to talk about leadership, especially when I am telling other people how to become leaders. However, the more I learn about leadership the more I learn the prerequisite to leadership. That is leader-SELF. If I am ever to be a good leader and display good leadership I must first learn how to lead myself. Leader-self requires me to be a great leader to me. If I can’t lead myself how can I lead others?
This past week I read the story of Eli’s sons, Hophni and Phinehas. They were blessed of God to be in direct lineage of the priestly order. They were set to be great leaders of the people of God and follow in the footsteps of their father Eli. However they chose a different direction.
They chose to take the call of God, the provision of God, and the people of God and treat it all with contempt. They abused their position of authority, they shamed the good name of their father, they mocked the house of God, and they raped the people of God. They were unsuccessful in their leadership because they were first unsuccessful in their leader-self. They chose to satisfy themselves instead of seeking God’s plan for their lives and the lives of those God entrusted to them.
We all have choices to make in life. Our choices will determine who we become both now and for eternity. Our choices will also determine the legacy that we leave behind. The choices Eli’s boys made cost them, their father and their children.
"Now a man of God came to Eli and said to him, "This is what the LORD says: 'Did I not clearly reveal myself to your father's house when they were in Egypt under Pharaoh? 28 I chose your father out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to go up to my altar, to burn incense, and to wear an ephod in my presence. I also gave your father's house all the offerings made with fire by the Israelites. 29 Why do you scorn my sacrifice and offering that I prescribed for my dwelling? Why do you honor your sons more than me by fattening yourselves on the choice parts of every offering made by my people Israel?' 30 "Therefore the LORD, the God of Israel, declares: 'I promised that your house and your father's house would minister before me forever.' But now the LORD declares: 'Far be it from me! Those who honor me I will honor, but those who despise me will be disdained. 31 The time is coming when I will cut short your strength and the strength of your father's house, so that there will not be an old man in your family line 32 and you will see distress in my dwelling. Although good will be done to Israel, in your family line there will never be an old man. 33 Every one of you that I do not cut off from my altar will be spared only to blind your eyes with tears and to grieve your heart, and all your descendants will die in the prime of life. 34 "'And what happens to your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, will be a sign to you-- they will both die on the same day. 35 I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who will do according to what is in my heart and mind. I will firmly establish his house, and he will minister before my anointed one always. 36 Then everyone left in your family line will come and bow down before him for a piece of silver and a crust of bread and plead, "Appoint me to some priestly office so I can have food to eat."'" 1 Samuel 2:27 – 36
Our choices can become investments or expenses. Investments reap great rewards while expenses cost time and resources. What choices are you making? I pray that you and I will make the decision to become great leaders of self. Then, through God’s grace, we can become great leaders of others.
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