David's Example of God-led Leadership

INTRODUCTION

In difficult times take your problems to God – David, provides some insight on how to handle joy and sorrow...what a great lesson for our children?


We are living in difficult times.  The world economy is in the middle of a deep recession.  There are many hot spots in the world that could erupt into war at any time.  Many people are dealing with financial or physical difficulties. Difficult issues come and go for each of us.  Adversity forces us to make choices and decisions that may affect our lives and others for years to come.


How do you handle adversity?  Do you respond with fear, anger or anxiety?  Maybe your response is why me. How should a Christian handle them?  The answer is in the Bible.  The Bible is full of accounts of people dealing with difficulty.  Some handled it wisely and some foolishly.  We can take comfort in knowing that there is a godly way to handle times of trouble.


The first step in dealing with trouble is to take it to God in prayer.  God cares about us and what happens in our lives.  There is nothing that can happen to any of us beyond Gods control.  David provides us with an example of taking our problems to God (we move from praying scripture to memorizing scipture in our prayer section, vital parts to aid in your communication to God and a life long lesson for your children).  The life of David was full of joy and sorrow.  He endured many trials.  Some of his own making and many a part of life.  We can all identify with that.


I’ve always been fascinated by the life of David.  Musician and warrior, poet and king, he is the only person described in the Bible as a “man after God’s own heart” (see 1 Samuel 13:14).  You know, when you read his story, at least for me, I often find myself wondering: What does it take to become a person who chases after God’s heart?  David offers an answer in the shape of his own life . . . a life lived for the glory of God. In battle, he modeled invincible courage. In decisions, he judged with wisdom and integrity.  In loneliness, he wrote with transparent vulnerability and quiet trust.  In friendship, he was loyal to the end.  Whether a humble shepherd boy, a musician in the court of King Saul, or a King himself, he remained faithful and trustworthy.
But his journey with God began in a very unlikely place, because, Bethlehem was a tiny, unimportant town, eclipsed in the shadow of larger cities. And David was the youngest son of Jesse, living in the shadow of his seven brothers.


As Pastor said this past Sunday, David’s early years as a shepherd were lonely, monotonous, and grounded in the messy reality of daily life.  God placed him in the wilderness outside of Bethlehem with smelly, dirty sheep in order to quietly shape and carefully equip him for a future David never could have imagined.  Over time, he developed into a young man whose heart yearned to please God in every way.


You see, greatness is not made through one trial or one victory, it is hammered out over and over on the anvil of daily demands that we face. Most often this work is done alone—in complete obscurity. But God sees every word, every choice, and every action. Devoted hearts are never wasted. When you look through the Bilble you find that God frequently uses the obscure, the broken, or the outcast for some of His greatest work.  And when God looked at young David, out in the middle of nowhere, obeying his father and tending his sheep, He said, “That's my man.”  Then the prophet Samuel anointed David as king over all Israel.


I believe that God has provided biblical accounts of men like David as models for us to follow as we move forward in our spiritual journeys.  The more I look at David's life the more I am inspired to pursue God with renewed passion.


Sit down with your children this week and go through some of Davids life with them, it will take time but stories of his life with help shape a leaders heart in your child, and you will both learn and grow from your time spent together.


Just as God prepared David for the calling on his life, He has continuously developed our 5+2 club to a calling to reach people with the truth of God’s Word and its application.  And like David, we will spend many years following His leading—moment by moment, day by day, and year after year—so that we might fulfill His ultimate will for the ministry of 5+2.  God has been faithful, consistently using familys and children like yours to prayerfully participate and support 5+2 as we seek to follow Him.


Even when you feel that your work is done in obscurity like David’s once was, God sees it all.  And in the same way, we celebrate each and every person who is standing alongside the 5+2 family. No individuals gifting is unimportant; the ministry of 5+2 is supported by people who simply give with what they are spiritually blessed with!


Beth and I want you to know that You are vital to our ministry, so please; don’t count on someone else to do your part. No one can take your place.  Make it a priority to attend each Monthly leadership meeting , Monthly Outreach and attend as a family.


We want to thank all of you for your support and making 5+2 such a success. I believe that you will find our coming meetings to be an inspiring time where we all (as a family) become men and women who diligently seek after God’s own heart.


Thank you for all your efforts you invest in 5+2 with your children. To be who your are today, somebody invested in you..please do the same for your children...




LEADERSHIP


A Leaders Heart


"But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." 1 Samual 16: 7


The selection of David to be Israel's king illustrates how God often disregards human customs and traditions to accomplish His purposes. By human standards, David, as the youngest son of Jesse, appeared least likely to be considered for a leadership position. But God saw the heart of this young man and knew that His people needed a leader with a tenderness of spirit. David might have become a warrior, but gentleness was his defining trait.


David began his leadership journey as low man on the totem pole.  He did what was asked of him with a great attitude. While his own brothers looked down on him, God lifted him up.  David's life illustrates that faithfulness in small things often results in much larger assignments and greater responsibility down the road.  David loved the Lord and lived his life as a man after God's own heart.




PRAYER


We embark on a new segment in leadership prayer, shifting from praying scripture to memorizing Scripture.
We continue to encourage you to practice praying with your children as we continue on with this new series on memorizing Scripture.  Each week we will memorize a scripture that will aid us in our spiritual battle btwn flesh and spirit. This week we center on temptation.


"I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you."  Psalm 119:11


To tempt means, "to draw people toward sin by causing them to hope or believe that they will get something good out of it".  Look at temptation Satan tried with Jesus in Matthew 4:1-11.  Did Satan lie, or did he say something true?  If Satan said what was true, why would it have been wrong for Jesus to do it?  Jesus was tempted more than just this one time.  So, how did Jesus fight temptation?  Why do you think he quoted God's Word, the Scriptures?  If Jesus came to show us how to live based on Matthew 4:1-11, how should we fight temptation?


Memorize this scripture with your kids and say it every time temptation rears its face. Thank you for joining us on this journey of memorzing Sciptures over the next several weeks, I'm sure something very exciting will happen.

Blessings,


5+2, making a difference in the community around us, one step at a time!

Commit and Watch God Move

INTRODUCTION

These lessons will be best used when both parent and child interact together, and who knows perhaps you both learn something about each other and grow a little closer.
The lessons are intended to be short, direct and to the point, with the hope that the parents will make the lesson suitable for their own particular child, but, maintaining the overall emphasis..
Thank you for your time, contributions and the difference you are making in our community through 5+2.


LEADERSHIP
Commitment your first step:
But Ruth said: "Entreat me not to leave you, Or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God."  Ruth 1:16

While every 5+2 project leader needs money and human resources (people) to reach his or her goals, commitment should always precede those resources.
When it is your family's project month, be sure as a leader to demonstrates a commitment to the mission and goals of the organization, for that is when God will move and a whole stream of events will begin to flow.

In the very first chapter of the book that bears her name, Ruth chooses to stay with Naomi, her mother- in-law, even after she loses her husband.  She didn't know it, but her commitment would lead to all kinds of open doors.  Ruth finds work during a difficult time, makes friends in a foreign land, and eventually gains a new husband, Boaz.  Most impressively, God includes her -a Moabite adopted into the family of Israel-in the line of Christ.  The child she bore became part of the lineage of the Messiah.
The key?  Commitment.  Once a leader definitely commits, God moves and all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings, people, and material assistance will begin to stream forth.

PRAYER
There are many ways to communicate to God through prayer, and praying scripture is the at the very foundation.  There is no single "right way" to do it. These prayers are appropriate to pray for yourself, a single person, or for two or more people at the same time.  We can pray God's word verbatim, or as a paraphrase using our own words.  Praying scripture keep God's Word at the center of our prayers, so that we are praying according to his will and his ways.  Here is a prayer for Spiritual Growth and Maturity.
Scripture:
"There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love." 1John 4:18
"I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,.." Eph 3:18

Paraphrasing scripture:
Father, I/we pray for______ .
Thanks you for your perfect love. Help ____ to be aware of your love, and
to experience that love in a real and tangible way.
Help ______ to realize that your love is so big, so long and wide, so high and deep, that_____ will
never understand it. Yet, may ______ know how much you love ______ ( him/her /them) with absolute certainty.
Most especially, help _________to return Your love, to love you will all _______(his/her/their) heart, mind, soul and strength. Matt 22:37


5+2, making a difference in the community around us,one step at a time...
Blessings
5plus2kidsclub@gmail.com
http://www.5plus2club.com/

Are You Listening?

INTRODUCTION

As the first installment of our weekly leadership email, this email will start off with a brief introduction on format, content, and intended use of these emails.
Each email is broken into three sections, Introduction, leadership and Prayer.
These emails are intended to better equip our children and ourselves to be better leaders and fuel spiritual growth.

Leadership- Each email will put emphasis on a particular leadership trait that is further emphasized during the monthly 5+2 meeting.

Spiritual Growth- Emphasis on spiritual growth will initially emphasize prayer, the cornerstone of our faith.


Each one of you on this email distribution has been designated as a leader within the 5+2 kids club (or your children have)..
These lessons will be best used when both parent and child interact together, and who knows perhaps you both learn something about each other and grow a little closer.
The lessons are intended to be short, direct and to the point, with the hope that the parents will make the lesson suitable for their own particular child, but, maintaining the overall emphasis..ie this week is being a "good listener"..
Thank you for your time, contributions and the difference you are making in our community through 5+2.


LEADERSHIP
Good Leaders are Good Listeners.
Listen now to my voice; I will give you counsel, and God will be with you.
Exodus 18:19


As the leader of a 5+2 project or a team leader asked to do something for a project , you set the tone for communication.  A leader's communication must be consistent, clear, and courteous.  But leaders must also be good listeners. When leaders don't listen...

• They stop gaining wisdom.
• They stop "hearing" what isn't being said.
• Team members stop communicating.
• Their indifference begins to spread to other areas.
• Ultimately, poor listening leads to hostility, miscommunication, and a breakdown of team cohesion.

How are your listening skills?  Parents, give both you and your child a comprehensive review of your listening skills.  Remember, to expand your feedback to include their ability and willingness to listen to you, their friends, and the kids they lead.  If you don't get good grades on all fronts when you review yourself, then quiet down, listen up, and work to become a better communicator.


PRAYER
There are many ways to communicate to God through prayer, and praying scripture is the at the very foundation.  There is no single "right way" to do it. We can pray God's word verbatim, or as a paraphrase using our own words, or as an inspiration for extemporaneous prayers.  Praying scripture keeps God's Word at the center of our prayers, so that we are praying according to his will and his ways.  His promise is that when we do, we can have whatever we ask!
So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:11


Scripture:"Lean not on your own understanding, but, in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path" Prov. 3:5-6


Paraphrasing scripture:
Father, help______ not try to figure things out on his/her own.
Help him/her to turn to you for guidance in every decision he/she has to make.
Show him/her how clearly you will help him/her understand what to do, if he/she will only pray and ask for your help.


We have chosen to start with paraphrase scripture, that this will help knit your children's heart's desire with the will and desire of our Father.  Perhaps this will even expand and increase your use of scripture in your prayers. May your prayers be strengthened in their effectiveness.
At the end of each week we will provide a paraphrasing scripture along with a leadership trait in an effort to improve our leadership and spiritual growth within 5+2.

Blessings
"5+2, making a difference in the community around us,one step at a time..."
5plus2kidsclub@gmail.com
http://www.5plus2club.com/