GPS Series – Recap – Day 1 – Make Time with God a Priority

Hey everyone,

I hope that you have already found time today to spend a few minutes with God reading through the 2 chapters of our reading plan! I wanted you to have my details notes from the message yesterday of GPS – Part 5. I believe it is one of the most important messages I’ve ever shared at Next Level Church. If you didn’t hear it, you can link to it on the right of my blog.

Here is point #1 from the Message: Priority.

“It must be a …”
1. Priority.

Luke 10:38 “As Jesus and his disciple were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him.

v. 39 “She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said,

v. 40 “But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, ‘Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!’”

- Life has a way of providing it’s daily distractions, doesn’t it?
- Martha was distracted, & she was really upset about it.
- She saw this dichotomy happening…
1) Her on one side hustling around &
2) Mary on the other side “just sitting there.”
- So she asks Jesus about it…

v. 41-42 “’Martha, Martha,’ the Lord answered, ‘you are worried and upset about many things. But few things are needed – or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.’”

- Jesus says that there are a million and one things to be distracted with.
- He doesn’t devalue those things at all.
- He just says that everyday there is 1 Priority that we must have in place.
- Sitting at His Feet.

Make It Personal: The same is true for us!!!
- Life has a way of “distracting” doesn’t it?
- We’re the only ones who can prioritize the “1 Thing!”
- Nobody else will! – In fact, every other person or thing will war against the “1 Thing!”

How I Lead Myself – Part 5

To conclude our conversation about Leading Ourselves, I want to drill down in one final way:

#5: I have had to learn to Control My Integrity.

The reality of our life is this: We are the only person who can write our integrity by-line. For example, I’m the only person who can complete the following statement:

“Oh, Matt Keller, he’s the ______________ guy!”

We have the power to fill in the blank. The way we live our life today will determine how people fill in the blank for years to come. How people describe us in the future is directly related to how we lead ourselves in the present.

We can’t ever let off the gas when it comes to our Integrity. The minute you think you’ve arrived is the minute that satan will attack. I heard someone say once that, “Satan is extremely patient. He’ll wait for decades to attack us in our area of greatest weakness.” As leaders, we don’t have the luxury of getting lazy in the area of integrity.

After all, someone soon will make the statement about us, “Oh, (insert name), they are the __________ guy / woman.”

Where have you gotten lazy in your integrity? What are you going to do about today?

Just a bloggish thought,

Matt

How I Lead Myself – Part 4

#4: I have had to learn to Control My Self.

I said it yesterday, but I think it bears repeating:

The Art of Self-Discipline is the difference between Good Leaders and Great Leaders. The undisciplined leader is a leader without longevity. I made the statement in The Up the Middle Church, my first book, scheduled for release later this year that…

“Longevity in ministry is largely determined by mastering the art of self-care. In an Up the Middle reality, the stakes are high and having a grasp on one’s personal life will make or break you.”

It’s too easy to allow our personal lives to be out of control. True Authentic Leadership is determined not by our public appearance, but by our private authentic self. Sooner or later our private self will become our public self. As leaders, we must do whatever it takes to make sure they are one and the same.

Where are there holes in your private self? What will you do this week, to begin filling those holes? Remember, there’s too much at stake, not to deal with them.

Just a bloggish thought,

Matt

How I Lead Myself – Part 3

The Art of Self-Discipline is the difference between Good Leaders and Great Leaders. One of the greatest disciplines of leadership is learning the art of Leading Ourselves. Here’s part 3…

#3: I have had to learn to Control My Decisions.

One of the great indicators of a maturing leader is their ability to own their decisions. Casting blame, pointing fingers & making excuses, makes me sick. Life is too short to blame others. The only way we grow and become better is when we fully own that which is happening in our life. I believe that…

Many leaders never move from the Well-Intentioned phase of leadership to the Well-Accomplished phase of leadership precisely because they never fully own their decisions.

We don’t learn, grow and become better by blaming others. Show me one person who has accomplished great things by making excuses and blaming others… It can’t be done. Truly great leaders are in touch with the reality of the decisions they have made. It really is true that our character is the sum total of the decisions we’ve made.

Failure to own mistakes makes us unable to learn from them. When we blame or make excuses, we forfeit our ability to learn the valuable lessons that only mistakes can teach us. &

Failure to own successes makes us unable to teach through them. The great thing about successes are that we can help others be more successful too! But when we do the false-humility thing and don’t pause to “own” our victories and accomplishments we forfeit the ability to see the reproducible principles contained within the victories!

I hope you got that, cause that is seriously solid stuff right there. (If I do say so myself… laughing out loud! Is that the false humility part??)

Just a bloggish thought,

Matt

How I Lead Myself – Part 2

This week we’re talking about one of the toughest disciplines for a leader to develop… Leading Ourselves.

#2: I have had to Learn to Control My Attitude.

Our Attitude is our emotional approach to life. Oswald Chambers defines our Attitude as, “Our Emotional Approach to Life.” I like that definition b/c each one of us have one. Each day we not only approach our life from a mental perspective (see yesterday’s blog) but also from an emotional one as well.

Our Attitude is our choice. This is something I continue to work on as a leader. A few things that help me control my attitude are:

• margin in my schedule,
• adequate rest,
• doing things that make me feel strong,
• giving myself permission to not be perfect all the time, and
• having a hobby.

(It’s interesting that none of that has anything to do with my to-do list.)

Our Attitude should reflect that of Christ. True leadership is about adopting an attitude of serving others more than ourselves. When in doubt, our default attitude at any moment should look like Christ. When it does, then we’re leading ourselves effectively.

• On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate your attitude lately? At home, at work, in traffic, etc.
• How do you think those around you would rate your attitude?
• What will you do in the next 24 hours to make an attitude adjustment?

Just a bloggish thought,

Matt

How I Lead Myself – Part 1

One of the most vital disciplines a leader can develop is in Learning How to Manage or Lead Themselves. When a leader learns to lead themselves effectively, leading others comes naturally. This week I want to share some thoughts on…

How I Lead Myself

#1: I have had to learn to Control my Thoughts.

First thoughts, then Actions. I learned a great lesson along time ago that every action begins as a thought. It’s obvious to say, but amazingly true. When we’re sitting at our desk and hear our stomach growl, our first thought is: “I’m hungry.” The next thing we know, we’re walking toward the snack machine, right?!? First Thoughts, then Actions.

My thoughts create my moods. In 2 Corinthians 10:5, Paul tells us to, “take every thought captive…” I have had to develop this discipline over the years. I’m a worrier by nature and I have the ability to play the yo-yo game with my thoughts. I can lay awake at night yo-yoing one possible circumstance after another. When I don’t control my thoughts, I end up allowing my mood to be effected and those I lead pay the price.

My thoughts shape my day. At the end of the day, it’s my thoughts that shape my day. As a leader, I don’t have the luxury of allowing discouraging thoughts or defeating thoughts to run away with me. When I do, I’m done. There are not enough days in a week for me to sacrifice one on the altar of defeating or discouraging thoughts.

Our thoughts make us who we are…today. As leaders, we must develop the discipline of controlling them.

What thoughts have you been allowing to effect you recently? What do you need to do to “take them captive?”

Just a bloggish thoughts,

Matt

5 Words I Use to Describe my Team – Part 5

“Priceless…”

The final word I would use to describe the Team at NLC is Priceless. We’ve all seen the MasterCard commercials where they list off any number of things that cost money, and then at the end, they show an experience of some kind and finish the commercial with, “Priceless…” You truly can’t put a figure on the experience it is to be apart of such a great team at Next Level Church.

1. They make me more successful than I ever could be on my own. Everyday, I am all too aware that my success as a leader, speaker, pastor, & writer is directly related to the strength of our staff. They truly set the stage for me to play to my strengths and be used by God to impact so many lives. For that I’m forever grateful.

2. They make my dreams a Reality. I am humbled to see so many people who willingly serve, sacrifice, give and commit in order that the dreams and visions God has placed in my heart can become a reality. I am so grateful, and I never want to take that for granted.

3. They prefer me, honor me and submit to my leadership in an unbelievable way! Those things are truly beyond measure for me. I watch my friends, choose everyday to serve with me as their boss and leader. Words truly can’t describe the gratitude I feel in my heart for them.

Thanks team for giving me the ability to live the dream, everyday. There’s no one else on the planet I would rather go to work with each day! You guys are the best!

I love you guys!!!

When was the last time you thanked your team for all they do and are to you?

Just a bloggish thought,

Matt

5 Words I Use to Describe my Team – Part 4

“Learners…”

When I think about the people I have an opportunity to lead at Next Level, I can’t help but think of them as Learners. Even though they are my friends, I take seriously my role as developer and teacher in their lives. I know that in the Divine order of things, I have a responsibility to God to help my team learn and grow into their full calling and potential. Three thoughts…

1. Teachability is huge. I long to create a culture within our organization of Teachability. We define Teachability as, “being willing to relearn that which you think you already know.” The team we have are amazingly teachable most of the time!
(Hey, nobody’s perfect, right!!!) Their teachability makes my life as a coach and developer so much easier.

2. Moldable. I love that the attitude of our team is so pliable. They’re willing to be pressed and shaped into a new form in order to become the leaders they are called to be. They’re like Play-Doh, they don’t mind being shaped into new shapes in order to accomplish new goals!

3. Open to be Stretched. Our team is like Silly-Putty. They are willing to be stretched to the limit at times. I firmly believe the hardest growth is the last 10%! That which separates great leaders from really good leaders, is the last 10 percentage points. These are the hardest for any leader to get. They require a tremendous amount of stretching in order to get there. The NLC team is willing to be stretched to reach their last 10%!

Are the team members on your team Teachable, Moldable, & willing to be Stretched? What about you? How would your supervisor rate you in those 3 categories?

Just a bloggish thought,

Matt

5 Words I Use to Describe my Team – Part 3

Word #3:

“Teammates…”

I love thinking in terms of sports analogies when it comes to ministry and leadership. I often think of a basketball team when I think about our church leadership team. Each person plays a unique role, has unique strengths, & is needed in order for us to win Championships! Here are a few thoughts on my NLC teammates:

3 reasons I love my teammates:

1. They have different strengths and skill sets. Just like on a basketball team, each player has a different set of skills where they excel, so does every leadership team. It’s a joy to see each player bring their unique passions and skill sets to the table to make our team great!

2. They have different Roles. Every player on a basketball team has a different role to play. The forward’s job is different than the center’s job. and the point guard is different than the shooting guard. In fact, there is even a role known as the 6th man, that any great coach will tell is invaluable to the success of the team. At NLC, each staff member plays a different role & each role ultimately contributes to the success of our organization.

3. They have Different Passions. I’ll talk more about this one tomorrow, but I love being able to see different areas of passion emerge within a leader’s heart. I take my job very seriously to mine out those passions and create opportunities for our leaders to play to those passions often.

Do you have clearly defined roles for each of the people on your team? Do the members of your team know their role?

Just a bloggish thought,

matt

5 Words I Use to Describe my Team – Part 2

Yesterday, we started a series of blogs on the words I use to describe the team I get to do life with at Next Level Church. Word #2 is:

“Individuals..”

As a leader, I don’t just see our team as a team with a job to do, but I work very hard to see each member of our team as an individual.  Here’s what that means to me…

1. They’re not me. I recognized along time ago that I bring a few things to the table that I do well. But there are alot of other areas where I need a team to make them happen with excellence. Our team at NLC brings their strengths to the table and that makes them great! They’re great because they’re not me! It makes passing the ball easy when you know where you’re strong, and when you know where your teammates are strong!

2. They have their own Hopes & Dreams. As a leader, I want to always be in tune with the fact that every teammate at NLC has a unique calling and vision for their life. In many ways, their vision overlaps the NLC vision, but in some ways, it’s my responsibility to know their vision and help them realize that dream! That’s true success for me as a leader.

3. They need affirmation, belief and encouragement. One of my primary responsibilities as a leader is to cheer on my teammates. They are absolute champions of the vision of NLC and I’ve got to let them know it in as many creative ways as I possibly can! I never want my team to doubt for a minute that I’m not their biggest fan!

Who are the teammates in your life? When was the last time you told them they’re doing a great job & that you are their biggest fan?

I love these guys,

Matt