Quote from Forum Archives on October 30, 2003, 8:53 am

Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>

Dear friends,

Patience, courage, and wisdom are character traits that we can
apply just about anywhere - in our homes and families, on the
job, in our communities, and certainly in our local churches.
The principles that lead to patience, courage, and wisdom can
also be applied to more global issues. Each of these things is
completely woven throughout the fabric of God's Word to us, the
Holy Bible. Today's message provides some good illustrations and
context, both from an Old Testament story and from the life of
one local church leader named Curtis. My prayer for today is
that each of us can personalize this to our own lives. I pray that
the Holy Spirit will penetrate our hearts and bring to us
practical application of the Word that we can use in every aspect
of our lives. Most of all, I pray that we draw near to God and
worship His Son, Jesus Christ, so that He may be glorified in
each of us today.

Yours in Christ,
Brian

Patience, Courage, And Wisdom
By: Paul Borden

There is nothing worse than learning how to play the game only
to find that once you know how, someone has changed the rules.
That is exactly what happened to Curtis. After ten years in
leadership he was now the moderator of the church board. He
knew that the role of boards was changing. Instead of keeping
pastors in check, board members were to be the pastor's
cheerleaders and protectors. Curtis knew he understood the
change; however, he was not sure the rest of the board did. How
would he lead his peers to change the way they had previously
related to pastoral leadership?

In the only chapter describing Samuel's leadership (1 Sam. 7),
Curtis found answers to his questions. First Samuel 7:6 says
that Samuel was Israel's leader that day. The text reveals that
being "leader" was more role than position.

First, Samuel both served and confronted his people. For twenty
years Israel had been living in apostasy, and Samuel challenged
their unfaithfulness.

Samuel also understood that it was the people's job to fight and
it was his responsibility to pray. When Israel won the battle
against the Philistines, Samuel erected a monument celebrating
God's victory. Leaders are constantly looking for people who
get it right and serve God well. Upon finding such people,
leaders tell their stories as monuments to God's workings.

Finally, Samuel kept at it year after year.

So did Curtis. The board changed, but not overnight. It took
time, patience, courage, and wisdom. Curtis learned to lead his
board---confronting, praying, celebrating, and
persevering---that is, by learning to do what leaders do.

REFLECTION

Which of these elements of Samuel's leadership---confronting,
praying, celebrating, and persevering---do I need to grow in
most?

PRAYER

God, show me areas in which I need to grow and develop in order
to be an effective leader. And grant me a teachable heart.

"Leaders are ordinary people with extraordinary
determination."---Anonymous

Leadership Meditations
Edited and selected by David Goetz
a~ 2001 Christianity Today International
Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
All rights reserved

Resource: the Devotional from purposedrivenlife.com.

=====
--
Brian Masinick, mailto:masinick@yahoo.com
Home page: www.geocities.com/masinick/

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