Become the Legacy Leader God Created You To Be

John Maxwell's 25 Ways to Win with People:
20. Tell A Good Story - Paul (Acts 26:1-29)
In these verses Paul tells his story to King Agrippa because Paul has been jailed without charges. In the speech Paul makes he recounts where he came from as a Pharisee himself, his conversion and post-conversion life. Paul told his story and the story of Christ without fear. King Agrippa was so impressed with Paul's speech/story that he said in verse 28; "You almost persuade me to become a Christian."

Mike's Thoughts:
As a leader, it is important for me to model Paul whenever I speak, especially to groups. I need to speak with authority and have my facts straight and to speak the truth without fear.

Mike's Action Points:
1- Before I speak, I will pray for knowledge on the topic.
2- I will pray for courage to speak the truth without fear.
3- I will pray for wisdom on how to present the speech for the most positive
effect on my audience.

Please see my Leadership blog: http://legacycoach.blogspot.com

Mike's Thought for the Day:
"Life may not be fair; but it's still good. Let's appreciate our blessings."

The Purpose of Elevation

TGIF Today God Is First by Os Hillman
Friday, December 04 2009

And the Lord said to Joshua, "This day I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you." (Josh 3:7-8).

Joshua had been a faithful number two man under Moses for 80 years. Can you imagine serving one man for 80 years? Now that is faithfulness! Even so, when the time came to pass the mantel to Joshua, God knew he needed to be elevated in the eyes of the people in order for Joshua to accomplish his purpose. That is the purpose of elevation - so that you and I can fulfill our purpose and our mission.

We are not called to elevate ourselves. If we elevate ourselves before our time we will short circuit God's plans for our lives. We will not have the same level of grace as we would have if it were in God's perfect timing. Moving into a job or responsibility before we are ready is a formula for failure. We may not be mature enough. We may not have the proper skill set.

Let God elevate you in His timing and you will be successful in the thing He created you to be and do.


Mike's Thoughts:

Patience is so hard to exercise in today's world. I struggle with it all the time. I'm sure that as Joshua served Moses all those years, he thought he would have done some things differently than Moses did. Yet, he served him faithfully. This is a great example to me as I have often struggled with serving leaders faithfully that I disagreed with. Joshua was rewarded for his faithful service when God elevated him to replace Moses when the time was right. Far too often, I have pushed and pushed to elevate myself only to end up frustrated in one way or another. I need to learn to serve diligently and with patience while submitting to the authority of my leader(s).


Mike's Action Points:

1- I need to pray for strength and wisdom to remain diligent in my service and loyal to my leader(s).
2- I need to provide an example of servant leadership to those around me or serving me who will be leaders in the future.
3- I need to pray for wisdom and discernment when elevating others to positions of leadership and authority.

Please see my Leadership blog: http://blogspot.legacycoach.com

Leadership Skills Today For Tomorrows Legacies

Genesis 8:6-13:
6 So it came to pass, at the end of forty days, that Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made. 7 Then he sent out a raven, which kept going to and fro until the waters had dried up from the earth. 8 He also sent out from himself a dove, to see if the waters had receded from the face of the ground. 9 But the dove found no resting place for the sole of her foot, and she returned into the ark to him, for the waters were on the face of the whole earth. So he put out his hand and took her, and drew her into the ark to himself. 10 And he waited yet another seven days, and again he sent the dove out from the ark. 11 Then the dove came to him in the evening, and behold, a freshly plucked olive leaf was in her mouth; and Noah knew that the waters had receded from the earth. 12 So he waited yet another seven days and sent out the dove, which did not return again to him anymore. 13 And it came to pass in the six hundred and first year, in the first month, the first day of the month, that the waters were dried up from the earth; and Noah removed the covering of the ark and looked, and indeed the surface of the ground was dry.


Mike's Thoughts:
There's a valuable leadership lesson for me in these verses and one that should be part of Noah's legacy to leaders forever. The lesson is that it is a leader's responsibility to practice patience when making important decisions. The leader is to make sure they have enough accurate information before taking action. I'm sure that Noah was under pressure from his family to open the ark after being cooped up with all those smelly animals for so long. It's not explained, but to open the ark early might have proven disastrous. Noah waited until he got the correct information and then waited some more to be sure before he acted. Although it is not mentioned, I'm sure Noah prayed daily over the proper timing for his action. His patience and strength were rewarded as his family was richly blessed.

Mike's Action Points:
1- I need to be patient and not make hasty decisions when the situation does not warrant it.
2- I need to pray for guidance.
3- I need to seek the correct information needed on which to act.
4- I need to resist the urgings of others to take hasty action.

Please see my leadership blog: http://legacycoach.blogspot.com

Building Leaders Today, Creating Legacies for Tomorrow

Jeremiah 29:1-14:
This is from a Bible study led by Linda Aubert of Grace Community Church in Houston. I won't show all the text here, but please take a few minutes to read it. It is the story of the Israelites who are in exile in Babylon and through Jeremiah, the Lord sends them a message to move forward with their lives while in captivity and that He will return them to their land in seventy years. They are instructed to make peace with their captors, create a comfortable
and peaceful life where they are at and prepare the next generation for their return to their home land.

Mike's Thoughts:
Often, as a leader, Christians tell me they are just going to pray about a situation and wait for God to deliver them or our nation. This is not Biblical! God always demanded appropriate action from His people in addition to their prayers. In these verses in Jeremiah, God gave his people specific actions to take to improve their current situation and prepare the way for the next generation. Prayer alone was not enough. This is the essence of Legacy Leadership; being in prayer, taking appropriate action for today and preparing the way for the next generation.

Mike's Action Points:
1- I will pray for God to reveal the appropriate actions He wants me to take.
2- I will take the actions revealed to me.
3- I will work to prepare the way for the next generation.

Please see my Leadership blog: http://legacycoach.blogspot.com

Training God's Leaders Today

John Maxwell's 25 Ways to Win With People:
13. Keep Your Eyes Off the Mirror - Joseph and his brothers
(Genesis 50:18-20)

Mike's Thoughts:
As a leader, I need to keep my eyes off myself and focus on being and developing servant leaders for future generations.

Mike's Action Points:
1- I will pray for an humble servant's spirit.
2- I will focus on helping others to become servant leaders.

Please see my leadership blog: http://legacycoach.blogspot.com

Pass the Credit On

John Maxwell's 25 Ways to Win With People:
9. Pass the Credit on to Others - David and his men(1 Samuel 30:21-31)
Mike's Thoughts:
As a leader, it is my duty to develop leaders for future generations ..... Legacy Leaders! Playing off Ken Blanchard's "One Minute Manager", I can help develop Legacy Leaders by offering "One Minute Legacies" such as passing the credit for work well done on to others. This is also teaching leaders to have Biblical humility, a character trait certainly valued by God!

Mike's Action Points:
1- I need to pray for humility.
2- I need to look for opportunities to pass the credit on to others in a genuine, not self-serving or patronizing way.

We Are Our Own Worst Enemy

John Maxwell's Commentary in His Introduction to Genesis:
"Isn't most of history the story of conflict among people trying to lead and
rule one another, independent of God's direction?"

Mike's Thoughts:
This goes well and contrasts with my study of Esther on 8/5/09. When
leaders work together to accomplish God's will, good things happen!
Unfortunately, however this is more often not the case. In my opinion, one
of the two biggest problems we have in society are leaders who are only
interested in how short-term results make them look good and imposing
their self-serving agenda on others. Whether it is between leaders of nations, leaders of states or cities, leaders of business, leaders of homes
and, sadly, leaders of churches; it all boils down to short-term results and
self-serving agendas. While I may not be able to change all of mankind, I
have committed myself to help create Legacy Leaders who look beyond the
short-term to see how their decisions will effect future generations and help
them to create Servant Leadership agendas that will encourage and develop
Servant Leaders for future generations. Please join me in this quest!
Mike's Action Points:
1- I will pray for our leaders and for my leadership agenda.
2- I will look at the long-term effects of my decisions.
3- I will develop a Servant Leadership agenda and strive to influence
Servant Leaders for future generations.

See my new blog: http://legacycoach.blogspot.com

Say Right Words @ Right Time

John Maxwell's 25 Ways to Win With People:
7. Say the Right Words at Right Time - Mordecai to Esther
(Esther 4:13-14)

Mike's Thoughts:
This event documented in the book of Esther was an incredibly stressful,
life or death situation for the ancient Jews. Mordecai, a leader, came to
Queen Esther, a leader, with words of wisdom concerning the events about
to unfold. Esther was motivated by Mordecai's words to take immediate
action, yet in a calm and well-thought out manner that would bring about the
most favorable response from her King Ahasuerus. This is an amazing story of leaders working together to achieve a positive outcome, even though
great risk was involved. Modern leaders could learn much from studying
this story. Let's look at what had to happen for these events to transpire and
progress to a happy ending:
a- Mordecai, as a leader in his own right, had to have a good
relationship with Esther in order to feel comfortable going to her
with his words of wisdom.
b- Esther, a leader and queen, had to have respect for another leader,
Mordecai and the proper character to listen to and receive the
message from him.
c- Esther, upon realization of the magnitude of the tragedy about to
occur, did not panic. Instead, she devised a well-thought out
strategy to appeal to King Ahasuerus and solicit a favorable
response.
d- Then Esther implemented her plan and did not deviate when
tempted to do so.
e- King Ahasuerus must have had great respect for Esther when she
broke protocol to seek an audience with him.
f- King Ahasuerus also had the character to listen to Esther and
take swift, appropriate action to derail the impending tradedy.
To me, the bottom line of this story is all about relationships. It is evident
that Mordecai worked hard at having a good relationship with Queen Esther
and she respected his leadership. Queen Esther also had worked diligently
at accomplishing an excellent relationship with King Ahasuerus and he
obviously had much respect for her as he was willing to give her half his
kingdom if she just asked for it.

Mike's Action Points:
1- I need to read the book of Esther and pay particular attention to the
relationships between the leaders.
2- I need to pray about my relationships with other leaders and ask for
discernment and wisdom in those relationships.
3- I need to work to form good relationships with other leaders.
4- I need to respect and listen to other leaders who are sharing with
me because I never know when they are "saying the right words
at the right time".

Are You an Optimal Worker?

Ecclesiastes 11:6:
6 In the morning sow your seed, And in the evening do not withhold your hand; For you do not know which will prosper, Either this or that, Or whether both alike will be good

Mike's Thoughts:
I believe Solomon is telling me to be diligent in my work and not to slack off
at the end of the day for the work I do at the end of the day may prosper
more than the work I did in the beginning or both may prosper as a result of
my obedience. Sometimes it is hard to maintain focus all day long and especially at the end of the day.

Mike's Action Points:
1- I need to keep my spiritual life in good shape to work at an optimal
production level.
2- I need to keep my mind in good shape to work at an optimal
production level.
3- I need to keep my body in good shape to work at an optimal
production level.
4- I need to pray for discipline and wisdom in those 3 areas.

Do You Compliment in Public?

John Maxwell's 25 Ways to Win With People:
5. Compliment People in Front of People - John the Baptist
(John 1:29-31)

Mike's Thoughts:
When I read this immediately the thought of my brother in Christ, Mike
Marburger came to mind as an example of a leader who practices this
principle. He has often complimented me in front of others and I must
admit that it makes me feel good. I also remember as a child when I would
go into town with my dad (we lived on the farm) that I was amazed and proud that often people would come up and shake his hand and then turn
to me, just a small child, and compliment him to me. What examples they
are! Me? I have always struggled to express my feelings verbally about
others, especially in public settings. Mike's Action Points:
1- I will pray for God to help me to pay genuine compliments to people
and lift them up in public settings.
2- I will practice giving myself compliments so that I may be better able
to compliment others.
3- I will FORCE myself to do so even if it is out of my comfort zone and
awkward for me at first because it is Biblical and a beautiful way
to show Godly respect and love for others.

Good People & Intentions = Not Always Good

Ecclesiastes 7:20-21a:
20 For there is not a just man on earth who does good And does not sin. 21 Also do not take to heart everything people say,

Mike's Thoughts:
It is hard to imagine Mother Theresa or Billy Graham as sinners. Yet, most
assuredly they were, as I am. As a Christian leader who strives to commune
with other Christians, I need to be cognizant that, while I'm fellowshipping
with brothers and sisters in Christ, they are all sinners, too. None of them
are better or holier than I am. Yes, some of them may spend two hours a
day in prayer and meditation, and I don't. Some of them may speak in
tongues, and I don't. Some of them may be doing great mission work, and I
don't. But, those are all "works" and don't make them closer to God than me. What makes me close or not close to God is my personal relationship with Him and I am not qualified to judge that in another person, are you?
Whether I am at work, in the home or the community, as a leader, I need to
be aware that while someone is doing great work, they are still a sinner and
I should not take to heart everything they say. Instead, as Joel Osteen
teaches, I need to listen to the "small voice of God inside me" and I need to
test what is being said to me against God's Word and seek God's wisdom,
not theirs or mine, on the subject. Mike's Action Points:
1- I need to take time to pray about the subject or situation.
2- I need to be aware of other's good intentions and seek God's
wisdom on the subject and listen for His small voice inside me.
3- I need to encourage others to share with me, but I still need to
perform steps 1 & 2.

Do You Need Others?

John Maxwell's 25 Ways to Win With People:
3. Let People Know You Need Them - Paul (Galations 4:13-15,
2 Timothy 4:11)

Mike's Thoughts:
God made us to need other people in our lives. That is why He made Eve
as a companion for Adam. In fact, isn't that why God made Adam in the
first place? So companionship and the need for others is Biblical and
natural. I believe that a relationship can't be very genuine if it is a one-way
street. Both participants should need the companionship, encouragement,
confidentiality, support, spirituality and help of the other. Often I have seen
and had and been on the receiving side of a one-way relationship where
one of the participants (sometimes myself) is putting on the facade of
not needing the other person. Often it was in defense of not opening up to
being hurt. This is not Biblical! The Bible teaches that I need to be open
to others, even if it means being hurt from time to time, because the only way to have a genuine relationship is thru openness. God demands it of me
and I should expect and give it in my relationships with my friends, my
family, my spouse (if I had one) and my co-workers. As a leader, I need to
be open to my people and expect the same from them. I should let them
know that they are needed and that I cannot be an effective leader without
them. Mike's Action Points:
1- I need to look at my relationships and see if I have closed myself
to someone I shouldn't. If I have, I need to look for ways to
restore that relationship to openness.
2- I need to look at my relationships and see if someone has closed
themselves to me. If they have, I should approach them in a
loving manner and see if the relationship can be more open.
3- I need to pray for help in all my relationships.
4- If someone continues to be closed to me, then I should remain
friendly and open to them, but draw back from the relationship
and allow God to work on it in His time and according to His
will.

The 30-Second Rule

John Maxwell's 25 Ways to Win With People:
2. Practice the 30-second rule (encourage them during the first
30 seconds) - Jesus and Simon Peter (John 1:42).
42 And he brought him to Jesus. Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, “You are Simon the son of Jonah.[i] You shall be called Cephas” (which is translated, A Stone).

Mike's Thoughts:
I'm always amused by motivational speakers and self-help gurus who
give the impression of having some new revelation that we can all grasp
on to and become better at whatever we are seeking. In reality, if you look
at any worthwhile motivational or self-help theory or thought it has its roots
in the Bible, whether that is acknowledged or not. One that we hear often is
to compliment people on something when you meet them. Well, here is the
foundation for that right here in the Bible! Of course, most of the time when
we meet people we don't have divine revelation or knowledge of them as
Jesus did with Simon. So, we are to look for something about them to
compliment them on; their clothes, their hair, their teeth, their demeanor, etc.
Personally, I struggle with this because I'm generally nervous about meeting
new people in the first place and remembering their name; and to make my feeble mind search for something to compliment them on, too, throws me in
to overload! However, if done with sincerity, I know that it is powerful in
winning people over. Mike's action points:
* I need to pray and ask God to remove the barrier in my mind that is
keeping me from remembering people's names when I meet
them and allowing me to pay them sincere compliments.
* Practice, practice, practice. Work with some friends or work mates
and practice paying each other compliments. When you see
people, even if you aren't going to meet them, look at them and
see what you can sincerely compliment them on and then
rehearse doing so in silence to yourself or in front of a mirror at
home.
*** Important Note: Telling someone you are not already intimate with they are sexy or something related is not a sincere compliment, but a pickup line and can get you into trouble.

All that You Know May Not be Wise!

Ecclesiastes 1:17-18:
17 And I set my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is grasping for the wind.18 For in much wisdom is much grief, And he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.

Mike's Thoughts:
I get "burned out" sometimes and I'm sure you do, too. It is a natural
human emotion and I believe that Soloman was experiencing such emotions
in the book of Ecclesiastes. Rick Warren teaches that my life is not to be
about me, but it is ALL about God. It is obvious in the verses above that
Soloman has lost the focus on God in his life. God blessed Soloman as
the wisest man to ever live and unfortunately, Soloman in all his wisdom,
lost his focus on God and, in his pursuit for more personal wisdom, found
knowledge that depressed him. Many times in the Bible God talks about
seeking wisdom, NEVER does He ask us to seek "madness and folly".
These are pursuits of the flesh and not Godly pursuits. As a leader I need
to keep my focus on heavenly pursuits that are in line with the vision and
mission of my company, community and family. Of course, I must also
create visions and missions that foster heavenly pursuits. Please note that there is an important distinction between wisdom and knowledge. All wisdom is knowledge, not all knowledge is wisdom, just ask Adam and Eve!
Mike's action points:
* When feeling down or depressed or burned out, I need to ask
myself if my focus is on me or on God?
* Study 2 Corinthians 7:1 and 2 Peter 1:2-11.
* A friend of mine is writing a book to be released late in 2009 and in
this book he makes a profound statement: "Ask him (God) to
show you barriers and then help you remove them." I need to spend quiet time with God asking Him to do just that especially as it relates to maintaining my focus on Him.
* Check the vision/mission(s) I am pursuing to make sure I can
pursue them in a Godly manner. If not, change them.

Start With Yourself

John Maxwell's 25 Ways to Win With People:
1. Start with yourself - King Soloman.
1 Kings 3:9-14:
9 Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?” 10 The speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. 11 Then God said to him: “Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked long life for yourself, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice, 12 behold, I have done according to your words; see, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you. 13 And I have also given you what you have not asked: both riches and honor, so that there shall not be anyone like you among the kings all your days. 14 So if you walk in My ways, to keep My statutes and My commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.”

Mike's Thoughts:
God wants me to ask of Him not out of selfishness, but from a servant
heart, as did Soloman. God rewarded Soloman for his servant heart with
great understanding, riches and a long life. Sounds like a pretty good deal
to me! Mike's Action Points:
* I cannot be self-serving in my prayers. I need to seek His will for me
as Jesus did in the Garden. For example, if I'm suffering
financially, I should go to God in prayer and be thankful for His
blessings in my life and ask that His will be done with my finances and that He guides my actions in this area.
* I need to seek God's will in my life with a servant heart. Again, if I'm
struggling financially, I should go to Him in prayer and ask how
I can learn from this experience and use it to bless others.

Is Your Work Vanity?

Ecclesiastes 1:14:
I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and indeed, all is vanity and grasping for the wind.

Mike's Thoughts:
This certainly presents a paradox for me. As a leader I'm supposed to push
my people to stretch their comfort zones, embrace the vision and mission of
the organization and continually strive to fulfill them, to constantly be looking
for better ways to do things, to work hard on relationships and devote
themselves to on-going personal improvement. And yet, Soloman is telling
me that it is all "vanity and grasping for the wind"? Well, if I just look at these causes by themselves, then yes it is vanity. However, if I look at a
larger picture with God in it, it makes much more sense. Rick Warren, in his
book, A Purpose Driven Life, tells me that EVERYTHING I do should be
about God and EVERYTHING that happens is a spiritual event. God is very
interested in HOW I go about my life and not so much what I accomplish in
my life. Do I put God first in everything I do? Do I live my life to please Him
with everything I do? As a leader I need to work with my people to achieve
the above causes, but only within the parameters of pleasing God with their
work and mine.

Bigger Leadership

John Maxwell's Commentary in His Introduction to Ecclesiastes:
Our leadership must be about something much bigger than us. If our
leadership advances merely our own "kingdom," only increases the profits
of our company, or only benefits ourselves - we have failed the higher call
of leadership. All leadership must bring honor to God, serve and benefit
others, and utilize the gifts of each team member to their fullest potential.

Mike's Thoughts:
This paragraph really speaks to me as a leader and a coach. In my opinion,
one of the two biggest problems we have in society today are business,
community and political leaders who only strive to advance their self-serving
agendas and short-term profits to make themselves look good. Our
leadership service must be about creating leaders for future generations and
leaving strong Godly legacies that will not wilt under the pressures of the
world. Leaders are to serve to benefit others, not themselves! Finally, this
paragraph ends with one of the biggest challenges leaders face and that is
to utilize the gifts of their people to their fullest potential. How do we do that? Well, the following steps may make a good start:
1- Identify their individual gifts/talents/strengths.
2- Encourage and help them to develop and use those talents.
3- Help them to understand how to work around their weaknesses.
4- Give them the foundation to grow in the areas of their leadership
strengths.
5- Help them to grow in their Spiritual walks.

Are You a Confronter?

John Maxwell's Commentary on Jude 3-4:
Confrontation: Jude Admonishes People to do Right
Confrontation is a necessary evil. No one enjoys it, but it must be
done in order to rectify, purify, and unify the organization. When
leaders refuse to confront wrongs, the atmosphere can become
lethargic and unfocused. When leaders don't stand for something,
their people will fall for anything.

Mike's Thoughts:
As a leader, I must have courage to confront wrongs and set the ship on
the right path. Sometimes wrong happens innocently, sometimes
purposefully. Regardless, it must be confronted and dealt with. As a leader
I must reflect the values and vision of my organization/family and
communicate such frequently to the people so that they may stay focused
and not stray from the course.

Can You Deal with Contention?

John Maxwell's Commentary in his Introduction to Jude:
Jude also teaches leaders how to communicate values. Every organization
has values, whether they talk about them or not. Jude urges his readers to
"contend earnestly for the faith" (v.3). He communicates simply and with
great humility, making an example of Michael, the archangel, who
contended with satan, but who spoke only in the authority and power of
Jesus' name.

Mike's Thoughts:
Of course this caught my attention because of my namesake. There are a several leadership lessons in this paragraph for me.
1- As a leader, I need to communicate the values of my organization
and/or family.
2- He speaks of "contending earnestly for the faith." In light of the
current economic, political, social and foreign relations challenges we are experiencing today, I have been calling for
Christians to stand up to the forces of evil and push them back.
Seems that Jude was calling for much the same in his day.
Perhaps it will be the major struggle of man until Jesus returns?
3- When confronted with a contentious situation, I am instructed how to respond .... to communicate simply, with great humility and ONLY with the authority and power of Jesus' name. Obviously,
in the secular work and family environment I usually cannot say out loud "in Jesus name", but I can certainly think and believe it. I
should seek His guidance before responding and then do so
simply, with humility and in Jesus' name, even if it is said so
silently. God will hear!