What's in a Leader?

This past week I had the privilege of going white water rafting with our middle school from church.  Our youth pastor has been doing this trip with our youth for as long as I can remember. It is one that all of the students talk about for years later. I know, I for one am thankful for a youth pastor that pours his heart and God's love into these students, into my children! He truly wants to see them succeed as leaders and he does an outstanding job at providing the tools for them to be leaders in their school, community and at home.

Through out the week, the students are encouraged to  participate  in many challenging  activities. Each activity is a build up to WHITE WATER RAFTING class 4 rapids down the Ocoee River. The first of the week they are provided an opportunity to be servants to an Appalachian family by doing repairs or building an addition around their home site. The middle of the week they venture into repelling and rock climbing a wall that is at least 30 to 40 feet in the air. This my friend is a large feat for this old gal! Once I get the nerve to climb the ladder to repel, I must rest a few minutes because I am so out of breath....I still am not sure if it is from the climb or the aroma (and I use that term very lightly) from our repelling guide who is "one with nature" if you know what I mean. I have been on this trip five time now and each year I think the stench gets a little stronger! BUT, as the week progresses it is important for the students to learn that there are challenges in life and either we meet them head on or we sit back and let life pass us by. 

We studied along with our students the importance of becoming a leader with conviction in this society that we live in. A Christian leader is one who soars like an eagle! One who is not afraid of the storms that life may bring, but one who is willing to fly directly into the storm to make an impact.  

John Maxwell once said, "The first step to leadership is servanthood." What greater example do we have than Jesus! John 13:14-16 states, "Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him." Humility....being humble, yes that is what it takes to be a leader; a servant-leader! A servant-leader is one who leads by seeking to meet others' needs first. We must remove our pride, insecurities, lack of love, laziness...I could go on and on, but you get the point. When I think about how Jesus humbled himself, first of all to come to this earth as a human, but to live a lowly life while here just to be a sacrifice for me, I am blown away! My prayer is that I do not take that for granted. 

Oh dear parent, it is crucial that you are an example of a servant-leader to your children! Remember they learn by the examples put in front of them....YOU! Be their mentor, encourager and their protege. How can we ever expect our children to be all that God wants them to be, if they do not see us being ALL that God wants us to be!

"The most challenging step of any journey is the first step."

What's Your Jordan River?

Joshua 3:5
"Joshua told the people, 'Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you'."

How the Israelites must have felt when they came to the Jordan River only to see the waters raging and at flood stage! They had been told this was their next move; they had to cross the river to get to Jericho. For some, it must have been the craziest thing Joshua had ever said, yet to others who had a strong faith this was like taking a stroll through the park. Do you have a "Jordan River", a situation that seems almost impossible to get through? Has there been a time when you have felt so overwhelmed and you did not know which way to go? We all have experienced it! Just like God parted the Jordan River for the Israelites to pass through, He will make a way for us to pass through our obstacle as well. 

The Old Testament is a wonderful book of History! What is so amazing about the Old Testament is how relevant it is in life today. The struggles the Israelites went through are just as prevalent for us today. They walked in circles for years because of disobedience and their lack of faith....sound familiar?

Through the course of marriage, kids, homeschooling...life in general there have been many "Jordan Rivers". There were times we thought we would never see the other side, but through them all God  remained faithful. He, in His sovereignty was teaching us different spiritual and life lessons. For instance; "consecrate yourselves" in other words separate yourself so that you are completely dedicated to God. Don't you think we do not hear God sometimes because we have not consecrated ourselves? Think about it, "Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you." Maybe we are still waiting because we have not obeyed the first part of the command!

I absolutely love this part of History! Joshua 3:15-17, "Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. YET as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water's edge, the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan, while the water flowing down to the Sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho. The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground." I do not know about you, but I feel a Hallelujah, Praise God coming on! Our God is so amazing, even when our Jordan River seems impassable, God, in His Love, in His Sovereignty, carries us through.

There have been times when a situation did not turn out how I thought it should, but after being moved through it, I was able to step back and see that His ways, His thoughts are so much more than mine could ever be! In our marriage, we started trying to conceive at the ripe age of 22. It wasn't until we were 28 that God saw fit to give us the desires of our heart. Looking back, I am so thankful! I was no where ready to be a Mom at 22. I will be the first to tell you that infertility is one of the hardest things I have ever gone through. It put our marriage to the test, it put my faith in God to the test, but there again God is faithful...even when I wasn't!

Life is full of trials and tribulations, but just as God dried up the Jordan River for the Israelites to pass through He will do the same for you! Joshua 4:24, "He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful and so that you might always fear the Lord your God." In the words of Madea, "Amend and Amend!"