Leadership Qualities..... #1 CHARACTER.

Hello BraveHearts!
I've been so busy with the affairs of life -Family, marriage, children, ministry, working, preaching and teaching that I have been neglectful in keeping up with my post. However..I'm back.
Last night The meeting was awesome. We have focused our attention on Leadership and several qualities that are associated with it. The qualities that we will discuss, focus on, meditate upon, and encourage one another to obtain are taken from the book, "The 21 indispensable qualities of a Leader" by John C. Maxwell. It is a small yet insight book. It is a quick read however we will slowly meditate on the qualities spoken of in the book. I encourage anyone who will be attending the meetings to obtain the book. It is a great add to any library.

We should all aspire to become great leaders in our lives. We are all leading someone in some capacity. Some are leading a business that contains employees or you may be running a company and or department with your subordinates and colleagues. Some are leading ministries with a minor or massive following of people. Some are leading a wife and three children to a destination greater than where they are and some have the awesome task of leading themselves through high school, college and out of home with mom and dad to successful independent living. Everything rises and falls on leadership. I don't believe people are born into leadership. Leadership to me is a trait that can be honed and developed over time. A good leader is something you become on the inside and when that happens it will manifest outwardly and people will see a good leader.
When Jesus walked this earth he strives to teach his disciples leadership. If all he came to do is die on the cross for us then Jesus could have made a "B" line straight there; from the cradle to the grave. However, Jesus didn't just come to die he came also to train 12 men (Bravehearts) to become great leaders.
To lead means "to go before or with to show the way; conduct or escort" and if we are going to lead or go before anyone and show them the way we have to know what type of qualities make up a good leader so we can discipline ourselves to make those qualities a part of our character.
Speaking of character, that brings us to our first quality-The first quality of a good leader is CHARACTER.
What is Character? Character is the combination of qualities or features that distinguishes one person, group, or thing from another. How you deal with life will tell others alot about your character. Going through a tough time doesn't necessarily build character but it will certainly reveal the type of character you have.
Character is more than you just "saying" that you have character. For example, do you tell people that you are an honest person or does your character prove you are honest by your actions. Your actions determine what type of character you have. If you constantly lie, cheat, manipulate, etc. then that will sum up your character. If you are a womanizer, flirt, manipulator, fornicator, then those actions sum up your character. When people hear your name what do you think they say about you? What they are saying might be an indication of your character. If you don't like what they are saying then change your actions which will change your character.
Please make a distinction in what I'm talking about; I'm not talking about making mistakes and learning from mistakes. I'm talking about how you live on a consistent basis- that's your character.

Proverbs 20:11 (NIV) "Even a child is known by his actions, by whether his conduct is pure and right."

In the above text Solomon mentions that people are known by their actions. What determines if you are mature or immature? Not age. What determines if you are a man or a child? Not strength. What determines if you are a Leader or a lump? One word,-- ACTIONS.
Strive to let your character be above criticism. Live right, it's your character, its the first step to a great leader. The people who depend on you are following your character!!