The Leader in You

Sometimes it takes a while for me to figure out the topic of the week and how the Lord may be speaking to me about what to write.  At other times, the topic is clear by Wednesday.  Last week, I attended a Franklin Covey Leadership Training where we learned the 4 Essentials Roles of Leadership.  Trust is at the core of leadership.  It was emphasized that leaders must be models of trust and character.

On last Sunday, I was to assist with baptism, and saw a group gathered in the room adjacent to where we check-in the baptism candidates.  I assumed it was the candidates for baptism and their families gathered for prayer before we walked them all into the sanctuary.  I tipped inside, and was immediately called out - “Hey Everyone, make room for Kim!”  As I listened to the commentary and the subsequent comments by others in the room, it was clear that I was at the wrong gathering.  These were leaders in the church who had all read the same book about leadership and they were sharing their thoughts about particular chapters.  I had not read the book, I didn’t even know what book they were referencing, but I identified with many of the comments being made.  Eventually, I raised my hand and confessed that I was crashing their party.  They all laughed, but insisted that God had meant for me to be in that room!  Near the end of the session, we were all to turn to Matthew 25:14-30 - yep, the Scripture that caused me to restart my blog - about talents.

On Wednesday, I was registered to attend the Women’s Leadership Summit hosted by our local Chamber of Commerce.  A few months ago, when I first heard of this event, the draw for me was that the President of York Technical College, Dr. Stacey Moore, where I work, would be the Keynote address!  She advised that we figure out our strengths and capitalize on them.  She said too often we exert our energy on trying to overcome our weaknesses, when we could really have more impact by focusing on our strengths.  She said our strengths are the areas in which we are able to provide consistent, near perfect performance in a variety of situations.  Then she did it, too - she talked about talent.  She defined talent as our natural patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.  She said the things that come easiest for us are our genius!  

That’s a lot of leadership training in a short period of time!  Our local school district subscribes to a program called the Leader in Me.  Its aim is to help students find the leadership skills they possess and begin to put them to use.  Paul tells us in Romans 12:6-8 “We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.”  

According to Romans, we each have different gifts.  According to the parable Jesus told in Matthew 25, we each have been given talents according to our abilities.  1 Peter 4:10 says “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”  I’ve been to all the leadership training, but there’s a leader in you, too!  In your quiet time this week meditate on your natural patterns of thoughts, feelings and behaviors - what activities come easy for you?  Once you have identified them, write them down.  How can you use what comes easy for you, your talents, to serve in the Kingdom of God?  How can the leader in you be used to lead someone else to Jesus?  

​A few more Scriptures to meditate on this week as you try to identify your talents:

~John 15:5
I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
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~Philippians 4:8-9 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Thank you for reading!  Please share with others you know and love.
Kimberly G. Massey
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