Feeling like a tree....

Ever feel like you are a tree? Ever feel like you have to change, be shaped and grown, like a tree that needs to have its branches pruned and cut so that it gets rid of the stuff that is not good, that is dead in order for the new branches to grow and bloom and make something even greater!!

Well thats what I am doing right now and will be doing for the rest of life, but right now I am asking God daily how can I grow as a leader, how can I be more like him, because if there is one leader I will like to be like it will be Jesus, not the Queen (although I really like her a lot), or Obama or whoever else we look at as leaders.

My Bible School studying Nehemiah 

I have been studying for the last number of weeks the book of Nehemiah in the Bible  and it is about a Man that loves God and has lived through the times of Exile but has clung to God, the truth of who God is and has allowed God to shape him. He went through a time of pruning and change of character, to the point that God used him for something very significant and something very great for the nation of Judah and the people if Israel.

Nehemiah was a cup bearer for the Persian King and He heard that his fathers city was in a bad way, it had been burnt and the walls which in these times were the cities defence were in ruins still and the rebuilding of this city and the temple (where Gods presence was to dwell) was not complete and needed to be, so that the People could have somewhere safe to live and rebuild their city and nationals identity at the same time being renewed in heart and spirit by knowing and living in relationship with their God.

In this book, we can see about 19
different qualities of Nehemiah's leadership that are highly admirable and someone that you would want to follow and be lead by, below I will leave a list you can look at yourself.

But he is a man of integrity, of love and patience, he is a man that is selfless, willing to give up his position in the Persian Kingdom to serve his people, he is a leader that is humble and honest. He is one that brings organisation, unity, truth and peace, he protects his people and he creates a place of safety for them.
My bible school here in Mexico have been studying the truth of this book and asking how they can be changed, grown and pruned to be more like Christ, to love, serve and walk like him daily!!

1. Prayed day and night 1v6

2. Identified with his people 1v6

3. Remembered God’s promises ad trusted them 1v8

4. Patience 2v1

5. Took Risks 2v5

6. With God, Gods favour  2v8

7. Kept appropriate secrets 2v11

8. Sacrificed sleep 2v12

9. Analysed facts 2v13

10. People followed him 2v18

11. Wasn’t intimidated ch4,6

12.Works hard 4v23 

13.thought things through 5v7 

14.Generous 5v14.17

15. Wasn’t distracted 6v3

16:No Fear 6v11 

17. Successful 6v15-16

18.Didn’t compromise  13v8,25

19.HUMBLE/humildad !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!