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

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.