DeneenTB

Helping you to do MORE for God through your Work

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Grow From Your Overflow Blog

Stay connected every week with my blog that provides helpful insights, encouragement, and tools to get you through your work week. God is Calling you to MORE and this is the place to get AHA moments as you live out your Calling in HIStory.

What do I have to sacrifice?

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Paul says in Romans 12:1-2, “And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”

Let’s tear these verses apart today, OKAY?

  • Give your bodies to God- a living and holy sacrifice

Sacrifice is a word we don’t really like or want to use. But, sacrifice can look like giving up your ambition while you raise your children, it can be moving your family for your spouse’s position, it can be forgiving a debt of one of your clients.

Sacrifice can also mean serving others through your business by leading them well and helping them.

Are you committed to doing everything God is asking you to do even if it means sacrifice on your part?

 

  • This is the way to worship Him

By our willingness to give over everything we are to God and to the Call He has put on our lives, we are worshiping Him through our work. Each time we serve other’s needs over our own we are practicing that Living Sacrifice. It can only be accomplished if we have God helping us.

On our own we are selfish and want our own way. We truly worship God when we put others first. In your business, God is calling you to serve your clients to show His glory.

Are you willing to really serve the needs of your clients so it reflects your heart to the Father?

 

  • Don’t copy behavior and customs of world

There are many ways to do business. We look for methods, processes, and means all the time to do better. God asks us to do things His way. Sometimes that means He brings a resource to us that we can use to improve our businesses.

Sometimes though, we strive to learn all we can about how others have been successful and try to replicate it. God is Calling you to do it His way and that may look very different from how others are being successful.

Are you willing to go counter-cultural to have the success God wants for you?

 

  • Let God transform and change the way you think

This is the most difficult challenge for many of us. We simply are not taught a Christian or Biblical Worldview. We must run our thoughts through the filter of God’s Word. This means we must also know God’s Word.

Only when we sit and allow God to saturate our minds can we truly do business His way. Take time each day to allow God to teach you His promises, His ways, His character. When you are as madly in love with Him as He is with you, then you will be transformed.

Are you spending quality time with God each day?

 

  • You will know God’s will for you

God speaks to our hearts when we take the time to listen. Again, this is counter-cultural, instead of being busy with all the things we think we must do, what we really need is to slow down and sit with God.

Journaling is a great way to allow your brain to calm. By writing, drawing, doodling and coloring― your mind becomes focused and you can hear the stirring God is placing in your heart. By cooperating with Him you automatically align with what He wants you to do.

Are you willing to be quiet before God each day so you can know for sure you are in His will?

 

  • It will be good, pleasing, and perfect

God promises to give us the desires of our hearts. In fact, my experience is that He gives us desires we didn’t even know we had. It is so much MORE than we can imagine. When we are totally satisfied in where God has us, only then He will move us forward.

God wants you to be satisfied in Him, then He will make sure you are satisfied with your work. He will give you the stamina, the passion, the will to go after exactly what He has called you to do. AND, He will make sure you are equipped to live it out brilliantly.

Are you believing that God will work it all out perfectly for you?

 

So, for today I just wanted to share these verses. It has hit me so profoundly this week as I seek to do Business God’s way. I want my perspective to always be God’s perspective. I pray for you today as you work, play, love and grow in God. He is ALL, right?

Be filled to overflowing,

Deneen

P.S. Are you still thinking, “I want to go to the Clarity Leadership Conference & Retreat”? Now is the time to sign up, don’t delay! Click HERE for details.

 

Your Talents & Your Successes

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We have been lied to! There are two BIG lies that we believe:

  1. We can be anything we want to be if we work hard enough
  2. We can be the best in the world

In our American culture we have been led to believe these two lies and it is hurting our view of how God wants us to view success.

The Talents

Remember the Parable of the Talents? There were three servants who were entrusted with different amounts of money while the Master went on a trip. When the Master returned and asked the servants to account for what they had done with the money, it went like this.

Servant One: I doubled the five talents you gave me by investing it here and there.

Master: Well done. You did a great job. I’m going to give you more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate!

Servant Two: I doubled the two talents you gave me by working hard.

Master: Well done. You did a great job. I’m going to give you more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate!

Servant Three: I took the one talent you gave me and buried it.

Master: What? You are so lazy. You could at least have put it in the bank and earned some interest. Get out of my sight.

Our Talents

Our work is really our way of being ready for Jesus to return. He doesn’t want us waiting around to go to heaven to be with Him and not do something right now to show His love and goodness in the world. Our work is our response to God’s calling on our life. We are stewards of the ‘talents’ He has given us.

If you look in the Parable you will notice that the servant with five talents and the servant with two talents got the same reward from the Master. It is not about being the best, it is about doing your best with what God has given you.

So, your responsibility is to figure out what God has given you to do through your work. What success looks like when you are doing exactly what He wants you to do. AND then, trusting God for the result. The ROI for God is watching you live out your calling.

Your Talents

God wants you to live in His Presence 24/7. His only concern for you is that you are in relationship with Him. He has given you exactly what you need to live out your ‘5-2-1 Talent Life’. Change your mindset and start your ‘Talent Life’ adventure at the Clarity Leadership Retreat.

Be filled to overflowing,

Deneen

 

 

Reach Your Potential

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“The secret to success can be found in people’s daily agendas. If they do something intentional to grow every day, they move closer to reaching their potential. If they don’t, their potential slowly slips away over the course of their lifetime.” John Maxwell

Business & Faith-life

Working to reach your potential begins with working on YOU from the inside out. It is like a three-tiered fountain from which water bubbles up through the center and fills the first cup, you. As this first cup slowly fills it begins to glide over the edges to the other parts of the fountain, this is you, overflowing to the other parts of your life. You cannot be the person you want to be, the person you are called to be, if you have not filled yourself up first.

Ultimately it is your Faith-life that defines how you are filling up because only by drawing from God can you hope to live in the purpose and potential you were designed to live in.

How’s that going for you? Are you setting apart time for thinking, reflecting, and sharing your heart with God?

Faith-life

There is a super-abundance of power available to you by meeting with God each day. Power to handle the day’s stresses, power to overcome the negative thoughts in your mind, power to rise above the temptations that are presented to you. You can access His Power by learning more about Him and communicating with Him.

I have been studying many Spiritual Disciplines and have come up with these eight.

Prayer & Meditation

Bible Reading, Study, & Memorization

Praise & Worship

Service & Hospitality

Fasting

Journaling

Sabbath

Creative Silence & Solitude

You can find a more detailed explanation of each of these Practices as a FREE e-book to download on my website.

Daily-life

Start today with one of these practices. The first two are internal practices. This is where your first cup on the fountain fills up, YOU. Not only do you ‘pencil in’ an appointment with God into your daily agenda . . . come to this appointment with enthusiasm and excitement about what you are going to learn about God and how your relationship with Him will grow.

Where are you stuck? How are you showing up when you attempt Bible Reading and Prayer? You CAN make time for God. You CAN be filled with His presence. You CAN tap into His super-abundance. You CAN live up to your potential. It is all found in your daily agenda and being intentional.

Business-life

John says-

Good Decisions – Daily Discipline = A plan without a payoff

Daily Discipline – Good Decision = Regimentation without reward

Good Decisions + Daily Discipline = A masterpiece of potential

Apply this in your business life as well. Fill up on good things so you overflow in all parts of your life in a way that is meaningful and in alignment with your calling.

God has called you to the marketplace and He wants you to live up to your potential. He has called you to show His goodness to those in your sphere of influence. He can only work through you if He is IN you.

Are you looking for something MORE to help you connect to God’s super-abundance and tap into His power in your life? Do you want to do MORE for God in your day-to-day activities?

Join me for the Clarity Leadership Conference & Retreat. This interactive, hands-on experience will give you the tools to access God’s power in your life and live out your calling as you serve others.

Be filled to overflowing,

Deneen

Philippians 1:9 I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding.

Leaning In and Working Out

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“We hold ourselves back in ways both big and small, by lacking self-confidence, by not raising our hands, and by pulling back when we should be leaning in.” Sheryl Sandberg’s book Lean In: Women, Work and the Will to Lead.

After I read this book I was intrigued with the idea of Leaning In . . . to God. Throughout the book one message rings clear, if you want something or want to do something then you have to stand up for it and sometimes fight for it. Are you, as a Woman of Faith, ‘fighting’ for the ONE relationship that matters most?

Let’s look into this concept LEAN IN. I love acronyms so I have devised this one to help you visualize the actions behind it.

L- listen to God

E- evaluate and reframe your viewpoint

A- access His power

N- note or place your attention, reflect

I- imitate the Father and Christ

N- His name, your reputation and whose you are.

Only by pulling together each of these actions can you grow your faith in a way that is not dependent on your church attendance but is dependent on God.

What is possible by Leaning In to God? Everything. How? First, you need to fill up on Him each day by taking time with Him. Then you can access His super-abundance by creating habits that matter. You take control of your spiritual growth by cooperating with God. AND, you show your commitment to the Father in your actions each day.

Leaning In to God takes your Heart, Soul, Mind and Strength. It begins with looking on the inside. Your Heart represents your feelings and emotions. Your Soul is that part of you that is imaginative and just knows when something is right, your intuition. The Mind incorporates your intellect and also gives you your ability to reason. Your Strength includes your actions and your experiences.

God tells us to love Him with all these parts of ourselves. Only by cultivating practices that grow your faith in a way that makes sense to you will you actually follow through and be consistent in Leaning In to God.

Imagine, Leaning In– to God, in your way; Leaning In to God the way He designed you. Don’t hold back from Him out of your fears or out of a lack of self-confidence. You can do it through the Personalized Faith Plan. Download it now and start your adventure connecting to God in a whole new way.

Raise your hand and say, “I will do it”. Step forward and make a commitment TO do it. And, Lean In to God . . .

Be filled to overflowing,

 

Deneen

 

Fears & Consequences

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Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment. Proverbs 9:10

What do you FEAR? How is FEAR affecting you? AND, How can you overcome FEAR?

Types of Fears

Rejection

The fear of rejection is really the fear of people. If you go through life constantly seeking to please others in ways that will bring you happiness, you may be dealing with this fear.

Even with this fear, you naturally seek more out of life, however, because you are a people pleaser you refrain from making decisions or taking actions that might cause other people to deny you the things that you want.

Does this sound like you?

Failure

The fear of failure means going through life worrying about making mistakes, about hurting other people, and about being judged for your actions and decisions.

You can identify it in yourself if you feel like you are suffering from extreme emotions and reactions. You may be quick to anger. You also seek perfectionism and always try to do whatever it takes to over-please the people in your life.

Does this sound like you?

Success

The fear of success is possibly the most prevalent goal-oriented fear within society today. The truth is, the thought of stepping outside of your comfort zone brings a great deal of uncertainty and unpredictability that naturally stifles your decisions and actions.

You may find that you tend to procrastinate, to be disorganized, and seem to be gifted with a natural lack of productivity. These behaviors are self-sabotaging tools (excuses) you are using to lay the foundation for roadblocks toward your goals.

Does this sound like you?

Minors

Along with the above three fears, you may also deal with fears of inadequacy, change, commitment, confrontation, responsibility, and losing control. Each of these minor fears are powerful self-sabotaging forces too.

Overcoming Fears

Validate

You have no hope in the world of ever effectively dealing with something if you don’t first acknowledge that it exists within your reality. You must validate the existence of your fears (even though they are just irrational projections of your mind) in a way that will throw a little doubt and uncertainty your way.

Ask: Is this fear reasonable? Does this fear make sense?

Understand

The next step is to learn to understand your fears at a deeper and more profound level, which can be accomplished by moving back through time to gain a realization of how your fears came into existence.

Ask: Why does this fear have a hold over me? How did I originally come to fear this?

Consequences

To successfully overcome your fears, you will need to gain some leverage. You must first identify the potential losses that will come to the surface if you continue to hold onto this fear, while on the other hand acknowledging the potential gains that you are likely to achieve if you successfully overcome this fear in a rational and proactive way.

Ask: What am I likely to lose if I continue to hold onto this fear? What am I likely to gain if I manage to successfully overcome this fear?

Plan

This process involves looking ahead in time, identifying and strategically contemplating how you will deal with this fear under the blanket of different scenarios and perspectives. You must effectively determine how you will deal with your fear from an emotional, physical, spiritual, and mental perspective.

Ask: What’s the worst that could possibly happen? How will I effectively deal with this scenario?

Changing your Perspective

At this point I am going to ask you to become a courageous person. That means you are not going to simply accept reality.

A courageous person has a set of distinguishable habits that help them to successfully move through their fears and into a world of unlimited opportunities and potential. This means transforming your perspective about yourself, others and circumstances in ways that will help you overcome your fears.

Self

Believe you will achieve your goals and objectives despite your fears. Believe you will attain a positive outcome. And believe there are hidden opportunities around every corner.

Finally, have the unshakable belief that God is working for your betterment.

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. Romans 8:28

Others

Look at others in ways that will help to further your cause as you move through the fears and obstacles that are standing in your way. This means you must be fully committed to your goals.

Commitment is necessary as it helps you move through your fear-driven obstacles with a greater sense of determination and persistence that will keep you going despite naysayers.

Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else. For we are each responsible for our own conduct. Galatians 6:4-5

Circumstances

Identify the seeds of opportunity hidden within the problems and fears that are currently confronting. You have no limitations. Strive for seemingly insurmountable goals that keep you on your toes and moving forward each day.

Be patient and use rational thinking to encourage better and more proactive decision-making. And, have faith, faith that gives you a sense of confidence so you move beyond any obstacles.

The Lord is for me, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?  Psalms 118:6

 

What are you fearing? How are you allowing fear to affect you? AND, How will you overcome fear?

Want someone to chat with about what you are going through as you seek to live out God’s Calling, connect with me for a Clarity Session.

 

Be filled to overflowing,

 

Deneen

 

 

 

When there is no more to offer

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A while back I felt like I had nothing more to offer. I was going in so many directions, following so many ‘experts’ and trying to do it all to make my business grow.  I thought I was doing it right. I thought this was what God wanted. Then I crashed. The very thing I thought I was to be doing was taken away from me. It was hard.

I decided to rest for a while and regroup. During that time, I felt empty. I didn’t know how to pick up and start again. In this rest-time I also discovered God in a new way and He taught me to put everything before Him, allow Him to fill me, and wait. Waiting is hard for me.

It took about six months and I must say it was worth the wait. As I have given God each of my ideas, my programs, my personality, my gifts, my. . . well, everything, I have seen tremendous growth in my life and business.

Empty

How about you? After a day of kids, carpools, laundry, meal planning, cooking, cleaning, marketing, phone calls, meetings, networking, and clients you can feel like you are going in many directions. And, you can feel a little empty. Let’s face it, a lot of empty. I forgot to mention your self-care that includes exercise, eating well, and spiritual renewal (aka, time with God). Are you there? Do you feel that drain as you read the list?  I feel the drain just writing it.

It was like that for the Widow in Debt. Do you remember her (2 Kings 4)? She had run out of everything and now her sons were in danger of being taken from her. She was at the end of what she felt she could physically do. But what she did have was. . . a little oil.

You might feel empty, but I bet you have a little oil.

Filling

God wants us to trust Him with the little things. He builds our faith on what we hold out to Him. You may feel you have nothing to offer, but you do. Think about those tasks that come easily to you. Give it to God for His use. He will pour it out and bless it.

For the Widow, healing came from acting. She is given a project to do so she is focused on what she has, the little oil, and not on what she does not have. She displayed her complete trust in God by getting to work.

God asks you to offer what you have so He can use it (Rom 12:1). He asks you to start with the small things in your life- your schedule, attitudes, and relationship with Him. Then He expects you to look at the bigger things in your life and hold th’re you do. What qualities has God equipped you with for your business that you need to hold out to Him so He can bless?

Start offering the oil so you can pour it out on all that God has for you.

 

Be filled to overflowing,

Deneen

P.S. Schedule a FREE Clarity Session. I would LOVE to discover how you can use your ‘little oil’ to do MORE for God.

 

Stepping into Challenges for Progress

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My challenge over the last few years has been around making progress toward my vision. After leaving teaching I became a serial entrepreneur. I began with teaching Spanish classes & camps, then went into direct sales & leading a networking group, and now I have transitioned into an author, speaker & Clarity coach.

I look at this line of adventures and ask myself- Have I made any progress?

Progress

For me, progress means taking one step at a time. There is the adage, ‘the journey of 1,000 miles begins with one step’. Looking back at all those years I feel like I have walked those miles. How about you?

Another thing I have come to realize is that progress only happens when you take on the next challenge. That means trusting God to provide help. Now, I am a risk-taker. That doesn’t always mean the risk pays off the way I thought but it does mean I trust God so I can take the next step into what He is calling me to do.

Making progress also means having patience. I have my timelines, and I work hard to achieve my goals, but sometimes I am anxious. That’s when I turn to Philippians 4:8 and use it as a check list and filter. What is true? What is right? What is lovely? What is praiseworthy? It really works to take those thoughts captive and turn them into Truth.

And, never forget to celebrate progress! Celebrate when you accomplish a step in your plan. The most beneficial times for me have been when I have taken time to look back and see all the small steps I have taken to get to where I am right now. God wants you and me to be satisfied in our work, not just satisfied when we finish the work. Jesus came to give us a rich and satisfying life (John 10:10).

Steps

What step are you wanting to take in your business? Are you trying to get started? Are you wanting to grow? God has you, He gave you the desire and He will give you direction. Trust Him and take the step.

What challenge are you facing right now in your business? It could be He is asking you to do something that is out of your comfort zone. Leadership? I know this is one area that God has challenged me. We can only make progress if we believe we are working as a leader. The Clarity Leadership Conference & Retreat can help you Clarify your leadership style and how to best use it for your business or ministry.

I guess I can say YES, I have made progress over the years. Each step I have taken has taught me a skill for the next. Each time I have waited on God the results have gotten better. And, it has been worth every step because I am doing it with God.

Look at your past week- What progress have you made for your business and other projects? Give gratitude to the Father for His help. ????

 

Be filled to overflowing,

Deneen

 

 

 

What does God PROVIDE for my business?

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God wants more for you. He wants to PROVIDE so many things so you will succeed with His Calling for you. Do you believe that? Do you want more?

Since I LOVE acronyms, I am going to share a new one. Remember, God wants you to serve Him through your work. AND, these are some of the things He will PROVIDE for you when you align with Him for your success.

PROVIDE

Promises- God gives them to you. “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11

No matter what you are going through there is a reason and God has your best at heart. Stay close to Him through Bible study and prayer. Use your journal to pour out your heart to Him and to hear from His heart what He wants to say to you.

 

Respect- God helps you earn it. The young stepped aside when they saw me, and even the aged rose in respect at my coming. Job 29:8

Building your business means also building a good reputation. When you are doing things with excellence and integrity it shows. Be known for doing what you say you are going to do and helping others get what they want.

 

Obedience- God expects it from you. But Samuel replied, “What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and . . .” 1 Samuel 15:22

We all need help to do what is right. God gives you the ability to stand up and stand out in your business when you obey what He is asking you to do. The work He has for you is unique because He created you as the only person able to accomplish it.

 

Victory- God delivers it to you. But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world. 1 John 4:4

God’s way to do business may look different than the world’s. But that is okay! He will give you the tools you need, the method to follow, and the stamina to see it through. He wants you to succeed and He will do it for you in the way that is true for you.

 

Inspiration- God breathes it on you. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.  God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Your idea, that vision for your business came from God. He designed it just for you. He wants you to go after it with passion. He will keep you feeling motivated, even when things get tough, because you will know it is from Him and He is with you every step of the way.

 

Direction- God shows it to you. Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Proverbs 3:5-6

The way to know what God wants you to do is to ask Him. By staying close to His Word, praying, and talking with God, you WILL know what the next step is to take. He gives you opportunities and allows you instances to trust Him to take that step.

 

Equipping- God prepares you. May he equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to him. Hebrews 13:21a

He never gives you a Calling without having given you all you need to live it out. Every experience, value, gift, talent and even your personality are perfect for you to do what He is asking you to do. Discover these parts about YOU so you will thrive.

Provision

God has PROVIDED all you need to live out your Calling and do it in the way that is BEST for you. He has called you to be a leader in your business and show His goodness in your sphere of influence.

Align with Him and grow your leadership abilities (for your business or ministry) at the Clarity Leadership Conference & Retreat. God is PROVIDING this opportunity for you.

Learn to better connect and communicate with your clients, team, and tribe. Clarify your calling and commit to moving forward with the plans God has PROVIDED for you.

 

Be filled to overflowing,

Deneen