Equipping Thoughts

As we continue to “take charge” to lead our ministries, here are some lessons from Chen that I would like to share with you.

1 Chronicles 15
22 Chenaniah, leader of the Levites in singing, was put in charge of carrying the ark and lifting up song. He instructed about these matters because he was skilled and able.

For all of us in leadership, like Chenaniah (let’s call him by his Chinese name…Chen :), we have been esteemed with the incredible pleasure and responsibility to carry the “ark of God”, His presence, within us. Just as Chen was skilled and able, the Lord has blessed us with gifts and passions to lead and shepherd people with skill and ability.
The Lord will call out and challenge the “Chen’s” in us, around us, to rise and take leadership - to take charge as leaders.

Here are a few things I want to encourage you as you take charge in your leadership:

1. Our priority as shepherd leaders is to carry His presence. How? Steward His presence well in your life. Resolve conflicts within you - sin/flesh issues…around you - in relationships. Also, make worship in song your priority in your private - in the secret place with God. The mantle of His presence abides in you. We have the distinct honor of carrying the “ark of His presence” through worship, to bless Him and His people.

2. Our priority is to be teachers or instructors. 2 Tim 2:24, “And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient.” Leaders are instructors who are patient, kind and gentle to all. Spiritually speaking, we must teach what we can live, not just what we know or have been taught. Have you ever been instructed by a person who knew their stuff, skilled and able, but lacked gentleness and lowliness of heart? Grow in becoming a Shepherd-Teacher, one who instructs well, never compromising the instruction of a person’s heart.

3. Prioritize growing in skill and ability. We never completely “arrive” at perfection do we? But our pursuit is to always be a learner. We are all challenged because pride gets in the way of being teachable which means being correctable. When someone gives us advice that tampers with our personal abilities or inabilities, we become porcupines! Oh yes…the sharp pines rear up - as if to say, “stay away from me, I don’t want to listen to you!” We all love growing in skill and abililty which means we must love growing in teach-ability and correction.

I was thinking about our church services, praying over our various ministries and volunteers. All the brain work, hard work and heart work it takes, blended with the willingness to fulfill the vision of God at New Hope…to present the Gospel in a way that attracts and inspires hearts to draw near to Jesus. All of our volunteers are spectacular and so is their service of worship to God through their ministry.

Robert H. Schuller once said, “Spectacular achievement is always preceded by unspectacular preparation.”

To our New Hope volunteers…thanks for all of your unseen preparation! God has blessed our church through you. You are His heart as we do church as a team. Spectacular fruit doesn’t just appear - the spectacular fruit is a result of your unseen labor and preparation! God is smiling upon you and your hearts.

My prayer for each of you:

• That you would prioritize your relationships well, loving and caring for your family and friends.
• That your love for Jesus will be seen through your spirit of excellence and good work ethics.
• That you would spend time with your Mentor, Life Coach and Lord daily through your devotions and Life journaling.
• That your service to the Lord at New Hope would continue to be part of your worship to Jesus.
• That you would grow in the disciplines to live a healthy life…exercise, eat right and get good rest - Honor the Sabbath.

I’m so tired and drained…I feel like I’m running on “empty!”

Have you ever said that to anyone? Good, I hope you have said that to your accountability partner, because many of us don’t confess this to someone who can listen with a shepherds heart and correct us with firm, loving truth. If you know you are living on “e”, feeling exhausted and overwhelmed, you may need help from someone who can ground your weary, empty soul. Here are some tips:

• Find an accountability person (same gender) you can submit to. Someone who is not a “yes” person but can correct you towards Biblical living.
• Be careful not to spill or bleed negative thoughts or attitudes on others. When you are tired and empty, we’re more vulnerable to being edgy.
• As Pastor Wayne says, “fill your tank.” In other words, find meaningful ways of filling your life, mind, heart with fruitful activities. Such as: rest, otherwise known as the Sabbath. Daily devotions - did I say daily? I meant daily! Doing your devotions daily. Identify activities that will fill or replenish your emptiness.
• Don’t get lazy but rather keep (or build in) the disciplines that will promote growth. Don’t quit. Don’t give up on people. Be a humble, kind, thankful person…even when you are running on “e.”

When you are runnin on “e”, keep running towards Jesus!

As I was preparing my heart before the Lord today, the Lord prompted my heart reminding me of New Hope’s totems. This week, as Pastor Wayne shared life transforming messages at our “The Heart behind Doing Church as a Team” conference, I’ve been challenged and inspired once again. In what way? To live out our New Hope Totems! As you read on, see if the Lord would use some of my personal questions to examine and change your life. When we allow the Holy Spirit to examine our hearts, it’s amazing what He surfaces.

Totems of New Hope applied in my life:

1. Doing Church As a Team - Serve the “shy, lonely, weak, proud, rebellious, needy, etc.” Be a servant at your work, to your family, your neighbors - do life as a friend and team, Rod…says the Lord.

2. Heart first - The thing that I least like doing, may I do with all my heart unto the Lord. The kinds of people and personalities that irritate me…may I repent of my self centeredness and put on Jesus kindness and love. Guard my thoughts and heart Lord, against negative thoughts and attitudes.

3. Undying devotion to God & His Word - Rod…review your devotions at least once per week with a friend or accountability partner. Go the extra step to live out what God has spoken to you through accountability.

4. Gracious in all our dealings - Who am I short fused with? Why? Who am I holding grudges against or being “cold” to? Be gracious and compassionate Rod…in heart, thought, attitude, countenance, body language and words. Am I smiling when troubled? Am I positive in negative situations?

5. The Harvest - Do I have non Christian friends I am being a witness to? Build relationships with those I meet at the gym. Am I home enough to serve and share His love with my neighbors?

6. Invest in and build up Emerging Leaders - Am I building fractals, making room for more people to be involved and investing in training others to do what I do?

Let’s live under the examination of the Holy Spirit, allowing the Biblical principles of our totems to transform our hearts.