Lite It Up!!
Posted by Colston | | Posted On Tuesday, October 14, 2008
I have been reading the book Courageous Leadership by Bill Hybles, and actually we are reading it as a staff. This book has been the greatest book I have ever read on leadership and if anyone that is going into ministry I believe should read this book. I will not ruin the book for any who want to read it however I want to share a story and a small section of one chapter with you.
As a leader it is your job to keep your passion burning for the calling that God has put on your life. Each and everyone of us have a calling by God to do something amazing through His power for His glory but so many of us lose sight of what that calling is. Hybles says that this is why so many "amazing people" that we think are going to rock ministry end up quiting or messing up. When you lose focus of your calling you become complacent and then when tragedy or even just a hard time comes along you throw in the towel. Notice what Jesus did all the time throughout the Gospels, he would find a place alone and pray. He would leave his friends, leave society and he would get on His knees. He needed his batteries recharged. You and I need to do the same thing. We need to get away from everything and get on our knees and allow God to speak and reaffirm the calling on our lives. Its up to you as a leader to keep your fire hot! No one can do it for you, only you have that ability to keep the passion burning and lit. Go to conferences or read all kinds of books, or watch some sad horrible documentary on all the people dying or whatever, just do what it takes to keep the passion and the fire burning.
I will close with a story that Hybles told in his book.
He went to a church to dedicate the building. It was a nice brand new building that Hybles had help start the campaign for so they asked him back once it was finished to dedicate that building. He walks in the door and one of the elders of the church walks over to him and pulls him aside. He thanked him for coming and for all that he had done for their church. Then the elder took Hybles over to a corner of the new lobby of the building. He then reaches down and pulls the carpet back. On the concrete were names written down and Hybles asked what that was all about. The elder said that everyone in the core of the church came and when the concrete was wet they wrote down names of friends and family that needed God. He said that once a month the core of the church meets and pulls that carpet back and prays for each one of those names that they would meet Jesus.
Now, I dont know about you but that just does something to me. That lites my fire just a little bit. Every now and then we all need a little gasoline to throw on the fire.
NEVER LET THAT FIRE GO OUT!!!
As a leader it is your job to keep your passion burning for the calling that God has put on your life. Each and everyone of us have a calling by God to do something amazing through His power for His glory but so many of us lose sight of what that calling is. Hybles says that this is why so many "amazing people" that we think are going to rock ministry end up quiting or messing up. When you lose focus of your calling you become complacent and then when tragedy or even just a hard time comes along you throw in the towel. Notice what Jesus did all the time throughout the Gospels, he would find a place alone and pray. He would leave his friends, leave society and he would get on His knees. He needed his batteries recharged. You and I need to do the same thing. We need to get away from everything and get on our knees and allow God to speak and reaffirm the calling on our lives. Its up to you as a leader to keep your fire hot! No one can do it for you, only you have that ability to keep the passion burning and lit. Go to conferences or read all kinds of books, or watch some sad horrible documentary on all the people dying or whatever, just do what it takes to keep the passion and the fire burning.
I will close with a story that Hybles told in his book.
He went to a church to dedicate the building. It was a nice brand new building that Hybles had help start the campaign for so they asked him back once it was finished to dedicate that building. He walks in the door and one of the elders of the church walks over to him and pulls him aside. He thanked him for coming and for all that he had done for their church. Then the elder took Hybles over to a corner of the new lobby of the building. He then reaches down and pulls the carpet back. On the concrete were names written down and Hybles asked what that was all about. The elder said that everyone in the core of the church came and when the concrete was wet they wrote down names of friends and family that needed God. He said that once a month the core of the church meets and pulls that carpet back and prays for each one of those names that they would meet Jesus.
Now, I dont know about you but that just does something to me. That lites my fire just a little bit. Every now and then we all need a little gasoline to throw on the fire.
NEVER LET THAT FIRE GO OUT!!!
