Then the LORD said, "Put 'em in leadership...That'll kill 'em!"

After reading that header, I’m sure many hundreds of you out there are already chuckling to yourself, especially those of you who have been in a position of leadership in any shape, form or fashion.  And I certainly know our missionaries on the field will appreciate that statement.

This morning a good friend of mine and I were talking over some things regarding leadership in ministry.

I suppose that the LORD has allowed more flesh to be removed from my skeleton frame through the journey of being in a “leadership role” more than any other way.  In fact, you realize just how much flesh is on these bones as time goes on!  Ha, ha, ha, ha!

For a good picture of what I am talking about, just think about a dead animal (having been hit by a car) lying on the road and buzzards randomly flying in to pick away at the flesh till nothing is left.

Now if you just read this and are a sanguine temperament, you are going to be talking in your head, saying that is a pretty funny word picture and wished you had thought of it yourself (even though it’s gross) because it is relational.  You can understand it! In fact, you will use the principle of the story yourself someday!

If your temperament is more towards the choleric side, you are going to be evaluating it with an attitude of wondering what the animal was doing in the road anyway!  You will also be frustrated with the person who hit it and did not move it off the road.  That was their responsibility!

If your temperament is a little more melancholy, your heart strings have already been moved to the breaking point for the poor little fellow on the road, and you’re thinking that those big bad buzzards need to leave it alone!  It’s bad enough that it’s dead. And even more than that, who killed it to start with?  You want the details!

If your temperament is phlegmatic, you don’t really want to say how you feel about it, because you don’t want to make anyone mad, and you don’t like conflict going on about anything.  You just want it to all go away and everybody be happy!

Ok, having had a little sidebar of fun with the temperaments on the illustration of the road kill and buzzards let me conclude with this principle.  God really does want “nothing” left of our flesh to be at work in our daily walk with Him. He uses our family, friends, peers, circumstances, and yes, the very ministries He has called us to in this world to be a tool not only for lifting up His Name and bringing glory to Him, but also for removal of our flesh! 

So my dear sisters and brothers in Christ, near and far, do not grow weary in doing good!

Stay the course He has purposed for you!

Please be in prayer right now for our sisters in the area of the Dominican Republic. We are praying and working back and forth with a contact in that area for a possible retreat in the spring of 2012. Also, if you are reading this right now and your heart is moved regarding this area of the world and you believe God might be speaking to you about going, please contact me at vickie@purejoyinternationl.org.

Love you guys!

His,

Vickie