Agape through Leadership

This week has honestly been tough for me as a leader. I have faced some situations in which I have questioned how to do my job effectively, and still love. But I have come to the conclusion that if my actions are not out of love and service, than my emotions and flesh are dictating the situation and when I start introducing character flaws such as selfishness and impatience, I fail to love. My actions should be purely motivated by Agape.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2ZCIp0HiRo
So, where do I draw the line of tough love and being mean? Well this is something I have thought about a lot. Not everyone is going to agree with me and I understand that, but I think we find a clear definition of Agape in the way Jesus discipled and ministered to others.


My friend sent me these verses midweek: Romans 8:14-18 [For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.]

In reading this, I recognized that the Lord, my Father, released me from the slavery I allowed to hold me captive. Because I am His child, I am free in His name from the world. As I reflected on my past, I realized He definitely didn't adopt or love me because I am perfect and have it all together. Rather, He adopted me as His own because I am so completely helpless without Him. Keeping this in mind, our leadership should reflect this kind of Agape.

As humans, we are imperfect and full of flaws. Nevertheless, the same kind of patience the Lord had when it came to my heart is the same kind of patience we should have towards those subordinates we are leading. I have found that when situations were inconvenient for me, the Lord is clearly at work in a broken heart and satan is trying to intercept the work of the Lord. As believers, we are reminded repeatedly to not lose heart when we fail, but day by day take the truths the Lord has placed in our hearts and live by them, then allowing them to become the song in our heart, preaching these truths to not only ourselves but more importantly using them to ministering to others.

Post OCS Lessons:

1. The Lord is ever more present during times of hardship or suffering.
2. No one,  I repeat no one could steal my Joy. Now happiness is a different story; that is solely based on circumstances and OCS isn't supposed to be comfortable and fun.
3. When all else failed and I had given all that I had, God was still in control!
4. On every hike, when I felt my pack was heavy and my mind was weak, I reminded myself of the burden I would be carrying without the sacrifice that Christ carried for my forgiveness.
5. I learned to choose my battles because not every disagreement or frustrating moment is worth sacrificing a friendship over.
6. A man worth marrying will drive 6 hours out of his way before a 14 hour trip in the opposite direction.
7. A pond that constantly pours out is eventually going to be empty. Figuratively when you are constantly pouring out at serving those around you, you will burn out  mentally and physically. I have learned only one person can fill it up and that is Jesus. So when you have worked yourself to the bone, it is okay to take time, rest, and refill!
8. My body is tired, exhausted, and slightly broken. There is a reason God created a seventh day, even He needed rest.
9. Loving the unlovable is hard but so extremely rewarding! His love never failed me. Despite disagreements and frustrations never let your love fail those around you. Your smile could change their day!
10. I kept a journal and wrote down 3 things that made me joyful everyday! It forced me to realize that despite the pain and suffering that the joy of the Lord was my strength and my stronghold.


*still thinking... will add more as I remember :)

Enduring Suffering

I sit here back at school broke, tired, and exhausted. I'm not going to lie, OCS killed me and wore me out beyond compare, but the Lord used that exhaustion, that suffering, and that brokenness to reach a dark world. The military is able to use a uniform to disguise the brokenness within the hearts and minds of those wearing them. I can attest first hand to looking very confident in a uniform but being very broken on the inside.

Naturally, I question my ability to push past this brokenness and mental exhaustion; as well as why the Lord allows me to endure this suffering. In my most exhausting moments the Lord has revealed Himself to me. He has shown me that when my flesh has failed it is only Him and His perfect strength that keeps me going. So why do we endure suffering? Why does the Lord allow us to face these very demanding trials in life?

In 1 Peter 5:9-10 we are reminded that we are not alone in this suffering because our brothers throughout the world are enduring it as well, and that through this suffering the Lord will restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish us.

A few more encouraging verses are in: Romans 5:3-4 [We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts.] Psalm 73:26 [My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever] and finally: 2 Timothy 1:7 reminds us that the Lord equips us with Power, Love, and a Sound Mind. The Lord does not set us up for failure. He believes in us more than we believe in ourselves at times. This sound mind is what pushed me through OCS, even when I felt the odds were against me. The Lord gave me the mental strength to persevere.

I encourage you to embrace this suffering, considering it pure joy [James 1:2] and recognize that the Lord is doing great things through you. The worst thing you can do is, to go internal and lose sight of the eternal perspective; that we serve a Lord who loves us very much and He has a Kingdom waiting for us. So while this pain and suffering may be but a season in our lifetime, this too shall pass and ultimately our Lord will be glorified through us. What encourages me most is maintaining childlike faith. In that I mean not allowing the circumstances of the world affect what the Lord has already told me to do or endure.

A video a good friend sent me during a recent time of struggle:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyUPz6_TciY&nomobile=1