Fat Leaders

Several years ago, I attended a leadership class in which the pastor outline the definition of FAT Leaders. Faithful, Available, Teachable.

Whether you want to be a leader or not the truth is we are all leaders in some sense because people around us watch and look to us as examples of Christ. You may not be called to a specific ministry named in the church bulletin but we are all called to show Christ to the world. In Matthew 28 Jesus tells all of us to go into all the world and make disciples. Galatians 5 outlines the Fruit of the Spirit that should be effident, growing, plump and ready for harvest. So let’s get FAT!!

“Fat leaders make the best leaders”, the Pastor said.  Here’s why:

FAT LEADERS ARE FAITHFUL

to God and their fellow group members.

John 15:7-8  “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”

To be faithful is to do what you say you will do. If you sign up to help deliver food to the elderly, show up, be on time, and have a happy attitude. Commitment to remain on course, no matter the distractions or excuses is key.

         FAT LEADERS ARE AVAILABLE

having and being willing to spend the time to serve.

Colossians 3:23-24  “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,  since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”

Our lives are full of busyness whether it be jobs, family, friends, the gym, church, home group, house chores etc.  To do more can tax our time and leave us spinning.  When we decide to help out somewhere in our church or community we need to be sure we have calculated the time it will take and that we have made the adjustments in our schedule.  If not, we will get drained of energy and motivation as well as not meet our commitment.  Some items in our lives might need to take a back seat to this new thing, even if it’s just for a season.  If God has put serving on your heart then He will make room in your schedule and provide solutions for the adjustments needed.  You have to be willing to do the same. The adjustments go further than our calendar and can include our finances, our home life, or our emotional lives.

FAT LEADERS ARE TEACHABLE

open to instruction and willing to learn.

Philippians 1:9-10  “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.”

Habits are hard to break.  New ones are harder to form.  To be teachable we need to flexible to accept the idea of new ways of thinking, doing, speaking, etc.  Then, we have to be diligent to practice those new ways so they become a part of our lives. This is not a natural process for us humans.  We like the same and the known. To do this we are going to need some help.  Help in the form of encouragement from others and, most of all, help from the guidance of the Holy Spirit. 

So, all of you FAT cats…..  Be joyful in your new diet meant to nourish your leadership and your life.   Look for fat all around you and eat it up!  In this case, fat is good for you…..  I can guarantee, others will notice your added fat in just a matter of days or weeks.  Encourage your friends to be fat too.  Jesus needs fat people to carry His fat to all the world.

“ In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!  Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness.  But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.”  Hebrews 5:12-14 Shown ByBrotherhoodSocial Jus

ResponseAffection, ExpressingForgive OthersForgiving Ones EnemiesImitating Jesus

Be Humble!Be Patient!Being Devoted to GodMercyThe Need For MercyActs of KindnessCharacter Of SaintsKindnessThe Gentleness Of God's PeopleSelf DisciplineAttitudes, to other peopleElectWardrobe, SpiritualHumilityAffection, ExpressingClothed With Good ThingsSpirituality

Humility In The Christians LifeNames And Titles For The ChristianPatienceChristiansSympathyHoliness, As Set Apart For GodCompassionCaringPeople Of God, In Ntdiscipleship, nature ofTendernessHoliness, Believers' Growth InGentlenessBowelsCariOUR PRAYER

Lord, thank you for providing the nourishment I need as a follower of Christ and a leader to those around me.  Please help me see where I need more fat in my life. I want to be faithful, available, and teachable. Forgive me for pushing away the fat when you have brought it to me previously and help me see the fat you are bring to others so I can encouragement them to be fat as well.  I love you and I want to be just like you, fat Jesus.    

Click here to see a music video – Jeremy Camp “Christ in Me”  https://youtu.be/b-1Wtrnt-rc

His Story of the Stars

(sorry no photos today. traveling and blogging has its challenges)

I am so glad God loves me. Because if He didn't He probably would have vaporized me by now for my attitude. I didn't have a very good day today. Here’s the story:

The morning was filled with some frustrating and uncooperative clients. So I decided to do a bit of sight-seeing and photography.  I set out on my journey excited for what I might see it turns out, however, there was not much to see.   I whined a little bit to God and asked him why He brought me out this far for nothing. There was no answer.

Fed up with looking for great Hawaii scenery to shoot, I decided to treat myself to a nice dinner by the ocean. However, when I got to the place where I thought the restaurants would be, there were none. Now, I'd already been on the road for almost 6 hours so I was ready to go home. I pointed the car in the direction of the quickest road home and began that leg of my journey.  It began to rain.  Then I hit road construction and the quickest road became dirt.  Rain+dirt = mud. Bad day had turned to the worst night.

My whining again about God’s so-called great plan to bring me all the way out here for nothing, stopped abrutptly as I reached the top of the mountain and then, just at the peak - the fog cleared and the rain stopped and God showed up.  Right there infront of me was a sky full of stars. So close I could almost touch them.  So bright and numerous; I was in awe.  

In this very remote mountain area in Hawaii with no city lights around me, I could see all of the constellations.

I love looking at the stars.  God knows this about me and I was treated to a very special gift. Just witnessing this light show would have been great enough but God went further. You see, on my Hawaii vacation a few weeks ago I was supposed to go to this very mountain top but I got sick on couldn't go on the excursion. But I'm back in Hawaii and had now discovered what my day was all about. It was the restoration of what was lost. He had given me back the trip that stolen by illness. He also reminded me that there has been a lot of recent restorations in my life lately.

As I drove away from the crest of the mountain I was reminded very gently in my spirit (no vaporizing) that God is at work with restoration in our lives in a very personal way at all times. We are His stars and He knows us by name.  Even the most spectacular star, galaxy or Hawaii scenery cannot match the indescribable love He has for each of us.  He sees our loses and hurts and He is there to heal…. even when we are whining about the journey. There I was, His star restored and shining ever so brightly.  I didn’t have to believe I was a star because He created me to be me. I didn’t have to do anything to shine because He provided His light within me. and I didn’t have to work to stay in position for he holds the stars.  I also knew what today's blog should be about - and so I share this story… His Story of the Stars.

The Bible is full of scriptures recounting how much God loves us and knows us well.  Here are just a couple to reflect on this week:

“For our God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness’, has shone in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”                                                                     2^nd Corinthians 4:6

“So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being restored day by day. For this little momentary condition is preparing for us an eternal  glory beyond all comparison, as we look - not to the things that are seen - but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are temporary, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” 2^nd Corinthians 4:16-18

Click here to see a music video – Francesca Battistelli “He knows my Name” https://youtu.be/ZtlDVleJBtA

OUR PRAYER
Lord, thank you for the stars. Thank you for making them one by one just as you have made us. Thank for reminding me of you love, that is so continuous even when I do not appreciate your faithfulness.   Forgive me for those times when I whine and complain and stomp my feet in protest of what you are doing before your plan is revealed.   You have so much healing for prepared for me. Help me watch and wait on your timing.   Just as you have planned the star’s alignment and heavenly position, you do the same for me because I am a star in your eyes. Help me to serve my purpose and shine bright for your glory.

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine.” Isaiah 43:1

Click here to see a music video - Chris Tomlin “Indescribable” https://youtu.be/EuihT9wRc34