Leadership of Self and Others – Page 2 – Removing Barriers Releasing Potential

Power of the tongue, life or death!

Life and death are harnessed in the power of our tongue! The bible tells us even though the tongue is a small thing, it can make grand speeches. A tiny spark, also a small thing, can set a great forest on fire. The rudder of a ship is another small thing that can direct the course of a large vessel. Among all the parts of our body, the tongue is the most powerful and can set your world on fire or breathe life into a weary soul. Your choose.

The Word tells us that our words can be like a scorching fire, separating close friends, stirring up anger, and providing the folly of fools. In contrast, the Word also says that our tongue can speak words that bring life’ We have the ability to give life-giving waters to others, believers of not. Our words have an impact for good or ill, again your choice do you want to give life giving waters or think and speak destructive words.

Our tongue and its power to use words is a unique and influential gift from God. When we read the book of Proverbs, we must notice that verse upon verse about the power of our words keep jumping off the page. Proverbs 12:6 teaches that our words have the power to destroy and the power to build up.

Are we using the words from our tongue to build up people or destroy others? Who’s in charge of your tongue? Who can we blame when hurtful things come tumbling out of our mouths? It is imperative that we make a conscious decision to control the output of our own tongues. The bible also says we are to sharpen each other, not to destroy.

Be strong and courageous

A brief blog about being strong and courageous, be it we are leading ourselves or others, simply we just need faith and being confident in who we are in Christ.

Examples of courageous leadership are the stuff of legends and movies. In the film Brave Heart, the portrayal of William Wallace by Mel Gibson, Wallace’s stirring words to his fearful followers, quaking in the presence of the English army, “They may take away our lives, but they’ll never take away our freedom,” were coupled with a willingness to lead his men into battle. His courage inspired and fortified the resolve of his countrymen ultimately leading to a routing of the English forces.

Are You Living A Life Of True Significance?

Following on from my last post on Nehemiah I thought that this hort post full of thought provoking questions would be of value.

An unknown quote; “I may, I suppose, regard myself as a relatively successful man. People occasionally stare at me in the streets. That‘s fame; I can fairly easily earn enough money to qualify for admission to the higher slopes of the Internal Revenue Service. That‘s success. Furnished with money and a little fame… [I] may partake of friendly diversions. That‘s pleasure. It might even happen… that something I said or wrote was sufficiently heeded for me to persuade myself that it represented a serious impact on our time. That‘s fulfillment…

Do you want extraordinary results? Learn from Nehemiah.

We know God is in the business of working through his people to accomplish seemingly impossible tasks. One such man who embarked on what seemed to be an impossible task was, Nehemiah.

God needed him remember Jerusalem’s wall was still in ruins, and the news broke his heart. As he talked to God, a plan began to take form in Nehemiah’s mind about his own role in the rebuilding of the city walls. He willingly left the security of his home and job in Persia to follow God on an “impossible” mission. And the rest as they says is history.

From beginning to end, Nehemiah prayed for God’s help. He never hesitated to ask God to remember him, closing his autobiography with these words: “Remember me with favour, O my God.” Throughout the “impossible” task, Nehemiah displayed unusual leadership. The wall around Jerusalem was rebuilt in record time, despite resistance. Even Israel’s enemies grudgingly and fearfully admitted that God was with these builders. Not only that, but God worked through Nehemiah to bring about a spiritual awakening among the people of Judah.

A Winning Attitude

In the book of Numbers chapter 13 & 14 we read God ordering Moses to choose 12 leaders from each tribe and send them to spy on the land of Canaan. Moses instructed them to find the nature of the country, its population and military strength, degree of fertility and physical security. He also asked them to bring some of the fruits that grow there. (It was the season when Grapes were beginning to ripe) Twelve spies spied the land and their observations were same. They found that the land is rich and fertile, (Numbers 13:23-27) and that the inhabitants of Canaan are stronger and they live in cities that are very large and fortified, (Numbers 13:28-29).

But this is where the similarities end. Chapter 13 says except for Caleb and Joshua every one else had already thrown up the cards. Why did the spies act so weirdly? They were controlled by their defeated attitudes. When you perceive something in a certain way it is called your personal attitude. There are defeating attitudes and Winning attitudes.

Continue reading “A Winning Attitude”

Empowerment 5 ~ Empowered Individuals

This is the final piece in the jigsaw where we will briefly look at “Empowered Individuals”.

The Empowerment (Trust) Matrix

Low trust Entrenched in Bunkers Caged Eagles

High trust Flying Blind Empowered Individuals

Low Enablement High Enablement

The goal of all organisations/churches and its leaders should be to get as many people as possible into the empowered performer category ~ the lower right quadrant.

The message is obvious for those who want to build an empowered organisation/church: reduce the number of people who are entrenched in bunkers, flying blind or caged eagles. Increase the numbers who are fully trusted (EMPOWERED).