Cultivating Leaders

Leadership happens with or without your permission.

HGQ

Many people associate leadership with a prescribed set of traits. The truth is, whether you are aware or not, you are a leader. Everyone, whether introverted or extroverted, whether given the title or voted in, is in fact a leader. Someone is being influenced by your actions as well as your inaction. I propose that you make the most of your influence. Here are three ways you can cultivate leaders around you. It's as simple as ABC.

Avail yourself. If someone asks you for help, be available to help them. The minute or two you take to give direction could in fact be the life-saving answer.

Become an Opportunist. Look for ways to encourage those around you to step up to the plate, to take responsibility.Make every effort to compliment those around you who are exhibiting leadership skills.

Change your perspective. I often say children are people in little bodies. They will one day grow up with the memory of your respect or your belittling them. See them as keys future succession,  rather than your competition or your replacement.

So, this week, make an effort to Avail yourself, Become an Opportunist, and Change your perspective. You will be surprised at the positive leadership you can grow when you cultivate it.

Lead Now. Cultivate Next Generation Leaders.

Leaders Are: Four OUTstanding Things

Have you ever been in the midst of a crowd of people, yet one person seemed to stand out amongst them? Have you ever been minding your business while browsing a store, and someone came to you for help? Have you ever been reading your paper in a cafe, curled up with a fresh cup of coffee, when you were politely interrupted by someone who thought you had all the answers? Though these instances happen to most of us at some point, they don't usually happen all the time...unless you're a leader.

Here are four OUTstanding things, or simply things that stand out about true leaders. Whether in the classroom, boardroom, or the sanctuary, Leaders, can be identified. Leaders are Readers, Writers, Thinkers, and Speakers. If you plan to be an effective leader, you must take every opportunity to maximize these components. Here are some tips on all four.

Leaders are Readers.

• They read daily
• They read variety
• They read people, not just books

Leaders keep their minds fresh and their knowledge accurate, current, and relevant. They utilize all forms of technology and read a variety of material, the Bible being their primary source against which every other source of "so-called" advice or wisdom is measured up against. They translate head knowledge into people knowledge. It's no  good to a leader to read books, yet not understand people. The best leader synergizes what he knows with who he knows.

Leaders are Writers.

• They write daily
• They write their plan and progress
• They write everyone
• They write using every form of technlogy available

Leaders write daily. They keep before them their to do list, their follow-up list, and they are constantly progressing, filtering out what is priority versus what is trivial. Leaders write their plan and progress. Whether by journaling or Ipad notekeeping, leaders keep written record of their plan, progression, changes, triumphs, and disappointments. Leaders write everyone. By this, I mean that leaders communicate with their Mentors and Mentees, but they also take time to personally thank the little old lady that sent a handwritten note about how their ministry or business impacted her. As Bishop T.D. Jakes stated recently at a leadership conference I attended, "I maximize my waiting time and tweet to individuals who have questions." If the Mega-church Pastor can do it, you can too.

Leaders are Thinkers.

• They think positively
• They think futuristically
• They think in a prepared place
• They think in motion

Leaders spend as little time as possible with Mr.Shoulda, Mr.Would Have, and Mrs. Could Have. They are all about keeping their mental space infused with the strength and energy of positivity. If you are negative, leaders will point you to the door faster than you can say, "goodbye". Leaders think ahead. Not, 1 day ahead. Not one week ahead. Pastor Rick Warren, when planning his ministry, he created a plan 40 years ahead. Why? Because he knows the vision is bigger than one person. Leaders think in a prepared place. There are times when they need to get away to renew their mind and perspective. Leaders think in motion. Leaders understand that constant thought is the key to constant progression. Jesus, spent most of his earthly ministry thinking in motion, and teaching the disciples along the way.

 Leaders are Speakers.

Leaders speak life

Leaders speak purposefully

Leaders speak to everyone

Leaders speak life. They are intentional in what they say and do, and are constantly looking to help others grow, deveolp, mature, and change for the better. Leaders speak to the janitor, the mail carrier, the farmhand, the secretary, the CFO, the significant other. Leaders don't take for granted that a smile, a simple hello, a cordial question can change a heart or an attitude. Leaders see everyone as having signficance and value. It's a huge part of what makes them a leader.

So, take some time to do all four things that make you OUTstanding. May your leadership improve, and your influence increase as you do the things that make you stand out from the crowd.

Keep Leading!

Holiday Driving Tips : On the Road & In The Pulpit

If you want to know the mind of a great leader, watch what he says.

If you want to know the character of a leader, watch how he drives. ~sac

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We are in the last days of Holiday hustle and bustle. People are growing more impatient and desperate as the hour grows closer to Christmas day. Whether they are frustrated because they can't find the right size, color, toy, or can't double their coupons, this season can bring out the gripers as well as the good-hearted. Here are a few Holiday Driving Tips to help you keep your cool and your car in good order.

#1 Pretend that the persons in front of you and behind you have bad breaks. This will stop you from tailgating and making those unexpected lane shifts without your blinker.

#2 Slow DOWN unless you want to contribute to the Policeman's Holiday Fund. They would love your extra dollars without the ticket.

#3 Even if you have the right of way, take a few seconds before venturing out for that turn or crossing multiple lanes. It might save your life.

#4 Your family and friends would rather you late and alive than dead on arrival to the annual Family Christmas Party or Get Together. If you live in a metropolitan area or big city, plan an extra 45 minutes into your driving time.

#5 Winterize your tires and windshield wipers. The cost is minimal and can enhance your safety on the road.

I hope these tips were helpful. If you are a leader, then lead by showing good driving habits. Those who follow you will emulate what you do in AND out of the pulpit.

Blessings!

Vulture or Visionary?

This particluar topic is borne out of an unexpected lesson the past few days. Allow me to explain.

Yesterday, on my way driving home, I saw two vultures hovering over the carcass of a dead deer. I was a bit taken back by the sight. It was my first time ever seeing something like that. Yes, I'm a city girl with a country heart, and being new to the great outdoors, this was a wake up call to life in the country. Today, as I drove out on my way to work, that deer hadn't moved an inch (it was dead, of course) but neither had those vultures. In fact, what was yesterday only two vultures feeding on the carcass, there were now nearly a dozen. There was no fuss, no fight. They all munched peaceably on the carcass of the deer in the light of the cold morning.

Now, as a prophetic minister and pastor in the making, I had to ask, "God, what meaneth this? What is the lesson here?" This is what He had to say:

"Vultures feed on dead things. Visionaries feed on living things."

God began to share with me further on the topic:

"When you feed on dead things, things of the past, nothing around you can grow. You get stuck there. Vultures become stagnant, and soon other vultures begin to flock. They too begin to feed on those things. They begin to share in what appears to be a fellowship until there are no more dead things. Then, they begin to disband, and go their own way. Visionaries on the other hand feed off their faith. They focus on the life-giving Word of God, and seek after what God is continually saying about their vision. They continue to move forward, pressing toward the prize that God has set for them. Visionaries are not vultures."

Here are some facts about vultures:

Vultures are such efficient feeders that they can pick the body of a small animal clean in less than half an hour. Some vultures go one step further by eating the bones as well, thus making sure no part of a meal is wasted.

They bask after their meals.

They have keen eyesight.

Initially they fight and bicker over feeding spots. For the most part, many vulture species are relatively silent, but not when it comes to a prime place at the dinner table.

Many species of vultures feed together with little competition, because they do not feed on the same kind of meat within the carcass.

I said to myself, "God, what does this mean?"

"Vultures represent the spirit of the Hireling. Hirelings are looking for those who operate in dead things (works, habits, continual sin) so that they may feed there. Hirelings initially fight over the carcass (people who can be lead astray), but will become partners, realizing they can each have their own species of unregenerated folks. They will strip the easily decieved clean and leave them with nothing in the end. When the mission is complete, they may abandon the flock, start another flock, or cite "irreconcilable differences". They are only leading for their own benefit."

As a Next Generation Leader, I encourage you to do a self-check, as I continue to do. It is vital to those 0-30 that you make sure that you are operating in the capacity of Servant-Leader. If we would judge and evaluate ourselves, we would not be judged.

Let's Pray:

Lord, as we carry on this work of leadership, let us be the Visionaries you are calling for. Help us to equip the next generation so that they would not be victimized by the Vulture, the Spirit of the Hireling, in Jesus name, Amen.

Maximized Humanhood

There is a divide in Christian leadership. A divide that should not be. It's been there for a while, sometimes more pronounced than others. It's a divide over authority, and surprisingly gender. Yes, after more than 40 years, people are STILL divided over this issue that is a non-issue with God.

Let me be the first to tell you that with one loving and supportive husband, five brothers, ten uncles, three god-sons, and numerous male cousins, and a novel series based primarily around strong, godly, male characters, I am unquestionably pro-male by providence, and then by choice. Though I have experienced abuse at the hand of a man, I have not allowed that to color my opinion on men in general. I respect the God-given purpose and destiny set forth. I encourage my husband daily by word, prayer, and deed to fulfill the complete purpose of God on his life. I can be a lioness when his ministry and profession is insulted, because I see him behind the scenes and can attest to the quality of service and excellent work ethic he abides by. So, I want to clarify that I have no interest in supporting the warped message that women are better than men or without them. It simply is NOT true. What I will say is that we are better TOGETHER in our God-given roles of dominion and co-rulership. What that rulership looks like in my home or church may look different from yours, but in the ministry, there are some strictly held notions that align in the Marriage Covenant that are not expressed in relation to ministry, particulary five-fold ministry.

Recently a prominent Pastor and Church Leader was asked, "Is it okay for a man to listen to a woman?" His response was. "He can listen to her, but it can become dangerous to make her the authority over his life as a Pastor. He would lose his masculinity." I could not believe that someone could think this way. I wondered, "What is he talking about?"  The statement was disturbing  and I continued in prayer for some days on it. As a result, I will share some things God spoke to me regarding this. You don't have to agree, but search the scriptures for yourself. I believe that we cannot afford to get this wrong if we are to minister to the next generation of leaders, which, by the way, according to population growth experts, will be women and those 18-30.

What the Lord spoke:

Maximizing Manhood at the expense of minimizing womanhood or Maximizing Womanhood at the expense of minimizing manhood is not the original order. Everyone who wants to return to the original order yet believe women are in subjection to men paint a paradise picture for men and one of subjection for women. I am coming to Maximize Humanhood. That can only be done when manhood and womanhood both submit to the Godhead (Father, Son, Holy Spirit). When the Godhead rests on your Humanhood, man or woman will begin to maximize their God potential, God purpose, and fulfill God's plan for their lives.

There is a strong notion in most traditional Reformations that a woman should not be a Pastor and God-forbid she claim to be an Apostle. I am looking for this assertion in Scripture. Ephesians 4:11-16, lays out the five-fold ministry plainly. I have seen women Teachers, Evangelists, and Prophets, and Pastors, and Apostles. I respect their ministry because I have never seen them attempting to overthrow any man. Most churches have no problem with women being teachers, or missionaries, or evangelists. But are not all these offices from God? Galatians 3:28 "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus." If we are all one, why are women seen as a separate class of Christians? Ephesians 5:22 "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord." is often quoted as basis for a woman not serving in a leadership capacity, but this is in the context of Marriage covenant. What about the widow? The single mother? The single woman? Let's look closer:

Ephesians 5: 21Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. This verse is rarely mentioned

when women being in subjection is the topic of the day.

Wives and Husbands

22Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. 23For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

25Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26to make her holy, cleansing^b her by the washing with water through the word, 27and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church— 30for we are members of his body. 31“For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”^c 32This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

So, can a woman really lead? I would say based on scripture, if she is married, and following the principles of the Word, she could be a really effective Pastor as she maintains her God-set role in submitting to her husband and respecting her husband in the Marriage covenant.

Well, what about the single (woman)?
1 Corinthians 7 (NIV)

32I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord’s affairs—how he can please the Lord. 33But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can please his wife— 34and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord’s affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband. 35I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord.

Paul speaks this by permission, not by command, but the implication here is that if you can remain a virgin, and single, then devote yourself to the ministry God has given to you. Before I married, I was actively involved in ministry. I devoted myself to it. Now, I am even more devoted! I am married to a man who supports women, who supports women in ministry, who I reverence as Lord in my household happily and without reservation. He is my covering in our marriage covenant. I submit to a local church with the Senior Pastor as my covering. So, what am I saying?

The bottom line is this: If you cannot submit, you should not lead. Male or Female. Period. I asked God, "Should a man listen to a woman? Is there something wrong with her advice?What would happen to his authority? Is this assumption based on a few bad apples in the Bible (Jezebel, Eve, Delilah, Salome)? Could we not make the same assumption about "fallen" men who failed, yet are esteemed as heroes of Faith (Abraham, Jacob, David, Peter)?

This is how He answered:

Where would Barak be without Deborah who counciled him on military strategies?

Where would David be without Abigail who spoke wisdom to him regarding not killing a fool?

Where would the spies be without Rahab who gave them a plan to get out of the city in the midst of their 007 assignment?

Where would Manoah be without his wife who was approached by the angel reagarding Samson?

 Where would Zecharias had been after his mouth was closed by God and his wife had to confirm their son's name (John the Baptist)?

What about Priscilla & Aquilla?

Where would the Jews have been without Esther?

We know what happened when Pilate didn't listen to his wife: He wound up as an accomplice to the Crucifixion.

 I ask you to go back and search the scriptures through the eyes of God. He doesn't have to use a donkey to lead a man. He can and he will use a Woman, not because we are smarter, or better, but because we are all one in Christ Jesus. God is more concerned about accomplishing His plan in the earth than soothing our egos, Male or Female. He is looking not at gender, but willingness to be yielded and used for His praise, glory, and honor. The best prayer we can pray is, "Lord, use me. Do it through me. Include me in your plan." I believe He will hear you when you call.

Blessings!

Healing Begins At The House

Sin is never an easy subject. Why? All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Our sins were laid on the Lord. We were found guilty and stood deserving of the full measure of judgement...BUT GOD. As I was in prayer, the Lord began to deal with me about OUR Nation. Its amazing that when we talk about the sins of the Nation, very rarely do you hear the word "our" included. When Nehemiah prayed, when Daniel prayed, they prayed that God would deliver, but they didn't leave themselves out. After all, they were Jews, they were dealing with the effects and fallouts of the sins committed by the nation, though they may not have personally committed them. In other words, Sin affects us all. There were 9 things the Lord spoke to me about in regards to the USA. But He didn't stop there. He said, "These sins reflect what is in my House."

As I share these, I hope that you will join me in prayer for the healing of Our Nation and also for the Healing of Our churches. 2 Chronicles 7:14 gives us the secret to healing for the land: The people who belong to God must pray, and seek His face, and turn from OUR wicked ways. My local church body will enter into a time of prayer, praise, and fasting from November 7-11. I will continue on until November 30. I believe the Church is at a make or break point. We are at a precipice. We will either choose God, or choose a Form of God. Either way, a decision must be made.

9 Sins of the USA reflected in the Church

1. Abortion of the unborn- There has been a silencing of the Great Commision in many local bodies. There has been an abortion of new-born disciples.

2. Homosexuality- This is not only sexual sin, but an imbalance in ministry, an unnnatural affection. Male dominated or Female dominated, a subjection of one sex to the other . It is the denial of the opposite sex and the cleaving to of your own sexThere is neither male nor female in Christ.

3. Greed-This is not only dealing with finances, but a hoarding of the Truth. An unwillingness to release revelation that will free people and a deliberate twisting of the truth to manipulate giving.

4. Rape of the Land/Resources- Hirelings are at the forefront of many local assemblies. There is an abuse of the laity, a slave mentality bred into the believer, to live below standard.

5. Murder- Speaking ill of and assasinating the character of the leaders that God has established.

6. Predjudice- Catering only to those who look like us, think like us, grew up with us. Isolating those who don't fit the traditional mold of the local body.

7. Pride- Thinking our denomination or non-denomination, or Movement, is the only true move of God

8. Division- Not settling differences the Biblical way; involving the world in Ecclesiastical affairs.

9. Loveless- Becoming indifferent to your fellow sister or brother in Christ; Running to save the world in an escape to avoid what issues need to be dealt with in the Body. The world will know who we are by our love for one another.

One thing the Lord was very clear on: "It will get worse before it gets better."

When the children of God pray, the prophets prophesy, the Apostles mobilize, the Pastors shepherd, the Evangelists deliver the Good News, and the Teachers equip through the Spirit of God the terror of the Lord will be upon the nations.

God will deal with the Communities of Falsehood, the cities that entertain wickedness, wink at sin, and open the floodgates of His anger and wrath against the ungodly. False prophets and False Communities that allow sin to remain, tolerating, sparing, or shielding, rather than rebuking, reproving, and correcting. There is a reckoning coming between God and Man. My desire is to be found on the Lord's side.

Join me in prayer:

Lord, forgive our sins. Heal our Land. Restore us and cause us to be lights in every place. Begin with Us, your people. We repent. Bring us back to our first love. Help us to continually renounce that which is not like you. Open our eyes. You said if we were otherwise minded, You would reveal it to us. Thank you that as You reveal, we will be honest with our selves and repent. We ask this in Jesus' name, Amen.

Further Reading: Joshua 24:14-15, Deuteronomy 12, 13, 2 Peter 3:14,17,18,

The Entitlement Generation

This is a prophetic message. Let's make that clear. So, if you don't believe in prophets or the voice of God, go ahead and exit.

Great, now we can move on.

This is the "Entitlement Generation", the Lord told me. Knowing God is Omniscient, I asked him to break that down for me and put it in layman's terms.

Entitlement means a guarantee of access to benefits based on established "rights" or by legislation. Yes, we live in the time where everyone is asserting their rights and very few are tuned into the Creator's Rights to define and shape and mold the destiny of His Creation.

We are living in the "I deserve it, it's my due, it's my time, it's my season" generation. Well, there's a few problems with this sort of manifesto: What happens when the benefits you have been guaranteed access to are not available, or better yet, simply don't exist, and won't exist for another 10-20 generations? The other issue is many think they "deserve" benefits

• without any effort on their part
• without any work input
• without any character to maintain what they recieve
• without any permission or authority obtained

Much like the prodigal son who sqandered his inheritance, we find a generation who "do what is right in their own eyes." This type of thinking is not new under the sun, but the intensity at which we see this attitude and the behaviors associated with it has increased and become unprecedented. We have breastfed a generation on "B's & H's" , "thug life", and "do what thou wilt". The Just Do It slogan has rapidly morphed into Just Take It. If we dig into the sciptures, we will find a young prophet in training, who had fallen into this Entitled Mindset:

20 Gehazi was the servant of Elisha, the man of God. Gehazi said to himself, "My master was too easy on Naaman from Aram. He should have accepted the gift he brought. I'm going to run after Naaman. I'm going to get something from him. And that's just as sure as the LORD is alive."  

21 Gehazi hurried after Naaman. Naaman saw him running toward him. So he got down from the chariot to greet him. "Is everything all right?" he asked.

22 "Everything is all right," Gehazi answered. "My master sent me to say, 'Two young men from the company of the prophets have just come to me. They've come from the hill country of Ephraim. Please give them 75 pounds of silver and two sets of clothes.'

23 "I wish you would take twice as much silver," said Naaman. He begged Gehazi to accept it. Then Naaman tied up 150 pounds of silver in two bags. He also gave Gehazi two sets of clothes. He gave all of it to two of his own servants. They carried it ahead of Gehazi.

24 Gehazi came to the hill where Elisha lived. Then the servants handed the things over to Gehazi. He put them away in Elisha's house. He sent the men away, and they left.  

25 Then he went back inside the house. He stood in front of his master Elisha. "Gehazi, where have you been?" Elisha asked. "I didn't go anywhere," Gehazi answered.  

26 But Elisha said to him, "Didn't my spirit (heart) go with you? I know that the man got down from his chariot to greet you. Is this the time for you to accept money or clothes? Is it the time to take olive groves, vineyards, flocks or herds? Is it the time to accept male and female servants?  

27 You and your children after you will have Naaman's skin disease forever." Then Gehazi left Elisha. And he had Naaman's skin disease. His skin was as white as snow.   (2 Kings 5)

What got Gehazi into trouble? His false sense of entitlement. I won't go into great detail because there is much to pull out of the text, I'd like to mention a few things God told me:

• What you think internally about what you deserve will determine your outward actions
• Blessings are supposed to run you down, not the other way around
• Name dropping can get you cursed or killed; if you are name dropping to get what you want, that may be an indication that your gift hasn't made room for you to recieve it
• Don't disguise your greed as benevolence; Gehazi invented a need to gain access to gifts illegally
• Just because it is offered to you, doesn't mean you have a right to it, especially if you used deciet & manipulation
• Those who are connected to you know what's in your heart, whether it be good or evil
• Recieving out of time what God has promised can curse you and your future generations

Gehazi, as Elisha's successor stood to recieve the mantle passed down by Elijah. Instead of the mantle, he and his future generations recieved a malady, an illness that was passed down due to sin. Aren't you glad that God doesn't give us what we deserve? Through the blood of Christ, we can be set free from the curse of sin, not just our own, but those committed by our previous generations!

There are three major things plaguing the Entitlement Generation. Many are Directionless, which leads to Hopelessness, which brings forth Lawlessness. But, praise God, who has given us the Spiritual weapons to combat all three.

We must instill

The Word of God which brings Direction

The Life of Prayer which fuels our Hope & Faith in God

The Life of Self-Discipline which  establishes Boundaries

Please join me in prayer:

Father, thank you for speaking this Word. I pray for those who are without direction, without hope, and without boundaries. I pray Father that you will give them vision, clarity, direction and purpose. I thank you that they will operate through Your Empowerment rather than entitlement. I thank you now, that this is the generation that seeks Your face, humbles themselves, casts their anger and frustration at Your feet, and allow you to place in their hands, hearts, minds, and mouths, the Word of Faith, Life, and Peace. May those who have sat back rise up and Empower their generation beyond a movement or a moment, beyond murmuring and complaining. May they occupy themselves in knowing You so that Your will can be done in the Earth. Amen & So Be It!