Dr. Dale was old, but he still made house calls. One afternoon he was called to the Clyde Thompson house. Miss Ollie Thompson was in terrible pain. After a few minutes of examining Ollie, he came out of the bedroom and asked Clyde, “Do you have a screw driver?”

A puzzled Clyde said, “Yes,” and went to the garage to get a screw driver. The doctor thanked him and went back into the bedroom to care for Miss Ollie.

A moment later, he came out and asked, “Do you have a hammer?”

Clyde smiled and produced a hammer and listened to see what the doc was doing. After hearing

some pounding, Dr. Dale came out again and asked for a chisel, pair of pliers, and finally a pair of scissors. The scissors got to Clyde. He asked, “What are you doing to my wife?”

“Not a thing,” replied old doc Dale. “Nothing yet, ’cause I can’t get my instrument bag open.”

Some of us are like Dr. Dale – we don’t know how to open our hearts. Every believer should have a copy of the Word, a writing pad, a pen or pencil ready for action. Add to this a yearning heart that is waiting to be filled with grace, faith and mercy. Without these tools, living a life of loving service would be like flying a plane without a compass, running a lawnmower without gas or using a hair dryer without power.

Power for daily living comes through Love Talking. Not just our talking but our listening. We must be equipped with hearts to hear what the Lord is saying and ready to record it and deliver it for daily loving and living. “Teach these great truths to trustworthy people who are able to pass them on to others.” – 2 Timothy 2:2

Listen carefully! He is calling you to be a leader. He always starts the conversation with, “I love you!”
© 2011 www.lovetalknetwork.net

While God says, “Call me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things,” most of us spend more time talking than waiting and watching. Waiting and watching includes listening for him to speak. That is Listening Prayer.

Listening Prayer includes hearing and understanding, which requires thinking. That is Meditation or Learning Prayer.

What is the biblical reference? “…When He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on His own, He will speak only what He hears… He will bring glory to Me by taking what is Mine, and make it known to you“ (John 16:13-14).

How does one do that?

1. Put together some tools. A Bible, pen or pencil, a notebook, a comfortable chair or prayer bench.

2. Take the time to be still and enter his presence. This can start with scripture reading followed by quieting your soul (mind, will and emotions).

3. Resist any interruption and the Enemy of Easter. Establish your authority by audibly saying, “In the name of Jesus, I declare this time is his and I prohibit any enemy from speaking or interrupting this time.

4. Invite the Father, Jesus and Holy Spirit to reveal himself and his Word to you.

5. Ask God to search your heart, and let you see yourself the way the Lord Jesus sees you. Ask him to reveal any pride or sin that separates. (1 John 1:9).

6. Ask God to speak clearly. As He speaks write down in your notebook what you hear.

7. Wait in silence until He speaks. Be still, wait and listen.

8. Make notes of your thoughts. Pray those back to him and ask him to confirm your understanding.

9. Praise him in worship or song.

10. Work through your notes and add any impressions or visual images that come into your mind by his still small voice.

“It’s who you are and the way you live that count before God. Your worship must engage your spirit in the pursuit of truth. That’s the kind of people the Father is out looking for: those who are simply and honestly themselves before him in their worship. God is sheer being itself–Spirit. Those who worship him must do it out of their very being, their spirits, their true selves, in adoration” (John 4:23-24) The Message.

Don’t expect headlines or billboards. His Truth will come in peaceful stillness.

© 2011, Evelyn W. Davison, America’s Honorary Prayer Coordinator ~ National Day of Prayer.

What is radical leadership? The Bible gives us a picture of the ultimate radical leader, Jesus, who willingly gave up His life to accomplish His purpose. (John 19:30)

In the book of Zephaniah, we read how God raised up radical leaders such as King Josiah and Zephaniah to call the people to be transformed. It can be all to easy to escape criticism and hide behind external reformation, pretending all is well because it looks well. However, we know that real change, lasting change, life change, begins in the heart.

New Leaf vs. New Life

Just as Zephaniah called upon the Hebrews to repent and reflect on their lives, let us look inward at our own hearts, motives, desires, and private lives.

Do we measure up to God measuring stick? I confess, my life doesn’t always reflect the person I know I am called to be. I like to think it does, but I know I still have work to do before I reach my personal best for God.

At CLASS, we are in the business of changing lives to change lives. We pray the information you find here on our website, and through the courses we offer, helps you take another step toward lasting change, toward transformation, so you will become a radical leader, like Jesus.

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The world needs radical leadership, right now, today!

But what is radical leadership? If asked, I would respond, “Radical leadership is leadership that is way out, far out, out of the box.” Of course those catch phrases date me, but you get my drift.

What is radical leadership, really? By definition, radical means extreme. That’s much easier to understand, or is it?

As I prepare for the year that lies ahead, I have been thinking about leadership. After all, this is my responsibility as the leader of the CLASS organization. I have concluded that radical leadership is transformational leadership, leading to change lives. Changing lives is about as extreme as you can get, if you ask me.

Radical leadership is not new. Was it not radical when Oswald Chambers suggested that we abandon ourselves to Christ? But what does radical leadership look like? A radical leader is one who:

• Relies on God, not the world, for direction
• Is willing to take risks
• Puts people first
• Doesn’t take the easy road
• Gives their all

This is all good, but what does a radical leader really look like? Let me share a few examples.

• A radical leader makes time to spend with the Father, listening and then following His guidance even when others question the direction she is heading.
• A radical leader speaks truth in love and then acts on that truth knowing there will be consequences.
• A radical leader serves those around him equally, no matter their position or past.

• A radical leader carries the burden for us all, whether it’s the challenges of ministry or personal lives, or a cross.
• A radical leader is willing to vote with his life for his purpose.

These are the teachings of Jesus Christ, the most radical leader of all time, who gave His life so that we may live forever. They have but one purpose, to change lives for the better, no for the best!

Are you ready and willing to do what it takes to follow in His footsteps to become a radical leader?

At CLASS we take this very seriously and we strive to practice radical leadership – transformational leadership – knowing that if we want to communicate to transform lives, we must first experience transformation ourselves.

My prayer is that we all model radical leadership for the entire world to see, because right now our world needs more radical leaders!

Join with the CLASS Faculty and family as we focus our hearts and minds on God’s goodness for the next 40 days. We invite you to pray along with us the scripture that is provided for each day.

Prayer: Abba Father, we adore you. Holy Spirit, we implore you. Lord Jesus, we love you. We present ourselves to you in awe of your mighty power and purpose for our lives. Thank you for accepting us as we yield to you as living, loving sacrifices to be used by you in a world that is seeking and searching for hope and help. In your awesome name we pray. Amen.

Prayer: Lord of Love and King of Glory, We give thanks to you Lord, for you are good, and your steadfast love endures forever. We offer praise to you Lord, who by the power of your work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine. We take delight in you Lord, and believe you are willing and able to fulfill the desires of our hearts to serve you and bring honor to you and the work you have given us to do. In your Glorious Name we pray. Amen.

Prayer: Abba Father, We praise You that you give us faith to believe and receive all that You hold in your treasure. We stand in awe of You for You speak, and it comes into being. You command, and it stands firm. Nothing shakes your foundation. We thank you that You have set in place the foundation of CLASSEMINARS. We praise You that CLASS’s passion is to serve You first and foremost, and to make connections and give directions through leadership. We honor You as You give a place of grace to all those whom you have blessed and trained through CLASS who are serving you. We seek you for those yet to be so Your Kingdom may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. In your son’s name we pray. Amen.

Prayer: King of Kings, We give you honor and worship you in humility. We are truly blessed. You are our Rock! We praise You that You love the just and will not forsake your faithful ones. We thank You for the call You have on our lives. We thank You for the provision and protection You provide as we worship and serve You. We serve with gratitude and are honored You claim us as your fellow workers in your Love Fields. In your Powerful Name we prayer. Amen.

Prayer: Lord of all Kingdoms, We bow in awe of your mighty love and power. We are settled in mind, will and emotions as You move to and fro throughout the earth in support of those of us whose hearts are completely yours. We commit ourselves to you totally to strive first for your Kingdom and Your righteousness. We believe that in presenting ourselves to you completely, all these things will be given to us as needed. We thank you that in CLASS, and personally, we will never have a need bigger than YOU! In your Lovely Name we pray. Amen.

Prayer: Lord of Love, Provider of Power and Giver of Grace, We complete this circle of praise, thanksgiving and love by giving you true thanks for the plan you have birthed in us. We commit to believing You and all the promises You are fulfilling. We stand on holy ground trusting only You. You say, “All the promises of the Father are YES in Christ Jesus.” We thank you for that promise. We continue to stand in wonder of YOU believing you for rescue, protection and provision. Thank you for trusting us with such a magnificent mission and victorious vision. That Thy Kingdom may come through Jesus, we pray. Amen.

WHAT NOT TO DO: Forget to ask questions when invited to speak at an event

For many, just getting a public speaking gig is an accomplishment. But for me getting through it is the real issue. I’ve been asked to share some of my speaking misadventures. The idea here is what NOT to do as a speaker.

My first scenario happened at the 2003 Cornerstone Music Festival in the teeming metropolis of Bushnell, Illinois. I had never heard of Bushnell, Illinois. Just because you’ve never heard of a place means that you shouldn’t be any less professional in your approach to an audience. Just like I knew nothing of where in the world Bushnell was, I also knew nothing about this event that I was asked to speak at that summer. That should have been the first clue that I needed to find out more.

But, no, I was so flattered to be asked that I never bothered to get details other than how to find Bushnell, of course. Unaccustomed to invitations, I focused so much on my transportation needs that it didn’t occur to me that as a speaker I might want more information on the speaking part of it! It was my first big event where I would be speaking seven times over a four-day period. I was hot stuff, now!

After a long day that included my flight to Chicago and a three-hour train ride to central Illinois, I arrived at the hotel the night before my first big gig!

Before heading off to rest, I had the serendipitous chance to visit with a colleague who was a veteran teacher at this event. While we were chatting, he slid this line into the conversation that made my heart stop, “You know, Christine, some people are going to attend all seven of your workshops.” He wanted me to know this so that I wouldn’t be too repetitive.

Repetitive? Repetitive!

I planned on giving the same talk seven times. Now that’s repetitive!

I needed six more hours of material for the next day! Talk about a disaster! Just a short while ago I was hot stuff – now – not so hot. How does that happen?

Disasters like this can happen when you don’t ask pertinent questions when invited to speak. Questions other than what I asked, like when and where.

I felt confident this would be my first and last time to speak at the Cornerstone Music Festival. I was going down in flames. Panicked, I shared the truth with my colleague that I hadn’t prepared seven separate messages, but one message I planned to deliver seven times.

A seasoned veteran speaker, he spent the next hour brainstorming with me. We came up with four more topics. So, with the one I prepared to repeat seven times, plus the four new ones, I had five.

Mercifully, he offered to co-teach the sixth one with me. Though I didn’t tell him, I decided he would teach it by himself, because after five hours, I would have dispensed all my wisdom. I was grateful to know I’d have company as I scorched my way through the day. Somehow, that just made me feel better. I wouldn’t be alone as I went up in smoke.

Finally, we decided the last hour would be one long Q & A. Certainly after six hours of non-stop Christine, I would have confused my audience enough that they would have an hour’s worth of questions!

So there you have it–seven hours of presentation all decided in less than one hour. I would say this is not the best way to start your speaking career and I don’t recommend this approach.

I begged God to get me through this event without humiliating myself or my colleague. God answered my prayer in a big way. I not only got through it, the event planners asked me back. Again and again. Last summer was my seventh time teaching a series of workshops (I’m clear on that point now) at the Cornerstone Music Festival. I’m practically a fixture!

WHAT TO DO: Ask LOTS of questions when you’re asked to speak to a group-any group.

Christine Sneeringer is in parachurch ministry, specializing in sexual redemption. She is a freelance writer for Lifeway, and is published in Charisma, Decision, Campus Life and Spirit Led Woman. A CLASS faculty member, she is frequently asked to speak at conferences and to various church groups and now knows the right questions to ask! She lives in South Florida, where she is a big fan of winter.

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Questions to Ask

When invited to speak at an event, be sure to ask to following questions to avoid the Mis-Adventures of Old Christine.

Contact Information?

Client Name?

Client Organization?

Address?

Office Phone?

Cell Phone?

Event Information:

Event Title

(Your Name)’s Topic

Session Names

Start Date of the Event

Length of the Engagement

Time Event Starts

Time you have to arrive

Length of your presentation

Number of attendees expected

Denomination of Hosting Church (if applicable)

Dress Code

Event Location/Address

Also you may want to ask about a product table, sound, and visual aids such as PowerPoint.

This information was adapted from Gigfolder.com. For more information on Gigfolder and a free trial, click here.