10 Things I Learned In Leadership Class...

Next week winds up the Leadership Class that I have been attending for the past 2 months. Can I tell you, I have learned SO much & it was definitely worth the loss of sleep. =P

I could never begin to cover all the excellent points that were made or lessons learned, but I thought I would share with you here some of the messages that really hit home with me. These are thought-provoking statements that EVERYONE can implement in their lives whether it be in the Church or in the secular realms of our lives:

1) Your IDENTITY should never be about what you do, your degree, or your job title -- and it certainly should not be defined by your past! You have to move on; don't lead others into your bondage; rise up and lead people into freedom.

2) True leadership is about investing in OTHERS and empowering THEM to live up to their full potential. It should never be about US. We have to lay aside our own insecurities and our pride in the "title" and find our significance in the anointing God has put on our life.

3) If you are leading and no one is following you, you're not really leading.

4) It's wonderful to have dreams and ambitions, but if you only keep your eyes on the summit of God's vision for you, you may lose your footing & miss what God has for you where you are NOW. Be faithful to where God has you at this moment, even if it is not your "calling" or "dream," and He will bless you for it.

5) Go in the strength that you have; don't be afraid to step out! Don't look at the situation or circumstance with trepidation -- Keep your focus on God and step out in faith. He will supply the rest.

6) Leadership is more about character -- WHO we are, not what we "do." Character and integrity are a day-to-day process. Character is what comes out when you SQUEEZE someone. Character is what gives us credibility.

7) We can make all the "plans" we want, but without God's anointing, we can't do anything -- no matter how noble we think our plans might be.

8) The WORLD equates leadership with power and fame, but God equates leadership with humility and servant-hood.

9) To whom much is given, much will be required. There is tremendous responsibility that comes with the gifts God has given us. USE YOUR GIFTS. If you don't they will almost certainly be taken from you.
Think of it: What might the world look like if we all used our gifts???

10) Next-level leaders always find a need to fill or a hurt to heal. Making a difference in this life is simply a matter of CHOICE. You have to make a choice to ACT & decide to make a difference in this world.

Lord, help me to use every gift you've given me to make a difference in my world and let me never put power or position before PEOPLE.

Does This Make Me Look F.A.T.?

Tonight -- at Healing Place Women -- Pastor Dino spoke to us about being F.A.T.

Now, before you get all huffy, let me clarify:
As women of God, we should WANT to be F.A.T.
FAITHFUL
AVAILABLE
TEACHABLE

Wow. Talk about a message to hit home!
Despite all my efforts and ambitions to be "all that God has called me to be," I sat there wondering,
"How F.A.T. am I, really?"

(from my notes:)

FAITHFUL

-->When I give my word, do people believe me?
-->Can people count on me?
-->Do I carry out my promises, even when there are "crises" and distractions all around me?
Hmmm... Ouch.

AVAILABLE

-->A disciple of Christ is really called to a life of availability. Jesus didn't wait on those who made excuses or who asked for more time (to sell a piece of land or to go bury their father...); He chose those who were willing to drop whatever was in their hands (even their livelihood -- their fishing nets!) and follow Him.
-->We need to tone it down and stop being such drama queens about every little inconvenience in our life.
3 Baby Steps to Simplify Your Life:
*Go low-maintenance for a while. You don't have to be on-call or on-display 24/7.
*Begin to minimize the ME, so you can maximize the OTHERS.
*Pray & then watch & see. Keep your antennae up. -- Let go of your personal agenda and focus on the agenda of God.
... Getting a little uncomfortable here?...

TEACHABLE

Be open to God's direction and guidance; you never know from where it may come.
Often God will use OTHERS to speak His message to us. If we are always focused on ourselves, we're gonna miss it!
Those who are always looking "down" on others, may miss seeing Jesus.
"When you did this for the least of these..."
Lord, help me to always be teachable!

What an amazing lesson! I was writing as fast as I could, it was so good, I didn't want to miss a single point. I hope this post of Pastor Dino's message speaks to you as much as it did to me.
And I hope that you, too, can become very F.A.T.