Deneen Troupe-Buitrago

Grow from your overflow

Grow in Faith

When there is no more to offer

By 1 Comment

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.

 

P.R.A.Y.E.R.

By Leave a Comment

Prayer, What does it mean to you when you hear the word? Do you see yourself kneeling in church, lifting your arms toward the sky, or holding hands in a group? What does it mean to Pray without ceasing? How can Prayer help your life and your business?

PRAYER is-

Purposeful. Research shows that prayer is a powerful tool for self-control; making you a nicer person; increasing your ability to forgive; increasing trust; and, offsetting the negative effects of stress. But you probably don’t need to hear this. You know that prayer and praying are good for you, right?

And, prayer is part of your planning process. In the Bible, we learn that God used Rahab, a woman with a questionable reputation, to be part of the lineage of Jesus. She trusted God when she didn’t even know Him yet. She started with a Plan. Her thoughts were her prayers. She wanted to save her family, she wanted a different life, and God redeemed her through her Planning.

Make your prayers purposeful by bringing all your plans to God.

 

Real. Talk to God in the way you would talk to a friend. God wants your vertical relationship with Him to be your most intimate. How do you connect with people in the world? Through conversation, right? When we open up to God and are honest with ourselves before Him, then we are being real.

Our deepest need is that soul longing connection with God. In a conversation with a friend there needs to be authentic communication. Guess what? It works the same way when you are talking to God. He invites you to spend time with Him. You have to agree to have real connection with Him through prayer.

Charles Spurgeon said, “You learn to pray by praying.” That is the best communication practice you have that makes connection with God Real.

 

Adjustment. We are all following a path in this life. Some paths are straightforward while others meander in different directions. No matter where they go or how they are travelled we are each on our own path. It is okay. Galatians 6:4-5 says, 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.

God wants us to align with Him for our success. He will give you the vision for what He wants you to do. AND you know what? He also equips you to do what He is calling you to do. By staying in communication with Him through daily prayer you stay close to Him, know His will, and have no fear for the adventure.

Prayer can look different too. Find a way to pray that helps you connect to God. (For me it is using my colored pens & pencils in my Journal.)

 

Yielding. God’s will for you is better than you can imagine. The vision you have for your business was put there by God. He asks us to be satisfied in the place He has us now; then we are ready to move into the next phase. Do you really believe He has your best interest at heart?

Remember, 10% of life is what happens to you and 90% is how you react to it. So, the more you pray then . . . the better you can handle any situation. Do you see the logic? God wants to transform you into His image. He wants you to see your work as your way of serving Him. AND, He wants you to place Him at the head of life and business. Trust Him by doing what He is asking you to do.

Plus, prayer is your first line of defense so you show up in your business exactly as God planned for you.

 

Expectation. Your definition of success needs to be what God has designed for you. Many times, we can be caught up in the world’s definition of success. God has so much more for you. Celebrate successes along the way. Each time you obey God, success. Each time you make progress, success.

Expect God to show up in BIG ways for you. Ask Him for outrageous things. That vision He gave you when you began your business is small compared to where He wants to take you. And, don’t worry about feeling equipped. He will bring the resources you need to help you when you most need it.

Pray prayers of gratitude for all He has given you so far AND prayers of expectation as you plan the future together.

 

Routine. Have you found it hard to find time to pray? Do you think you are not good at praying? Are you not able to focus when you pray? You are like me (and a lot of others who are not being honest). I want to share a simple technique. Instead of working through an entire hour, stop what you are doing at the end of a ‘50-minute hour’ and allow yourself to switch gears by re-charging your brain. (This is science.)

Sit comfortably and quiet your mind by focusing on your breathing. Close your eyes or focus on an object/picture. Just breath normal and bring your attention to the breath moving in and out of your nose. Then feel the breath moving your chest and stomach as you inhale and exhale. Give yourself a minute or two just focusing on it. This gives your brain needed oxygen (yes, you will start to breath deeper, it is natural).

Now move into intentional thinking: Prayer

  • One thing you are Grateful for
  • One thing that is a Concern for you
  • One Friend
  • One Family member

No more than these four points. You can write it down or just think through it. By doing this exercise at various times during your day you will accumulate several minutes of prayer that will be better for your brain, your body, and your soul.

 

Pray, Plan, Pray MORE.

Be filled to overflowing,

Deneen

 

 

 

3 Ways to PLAN a God-centered Business

By Leave a Comment

There are many ways to create a business PLAN. They can range from simple to complex. Before any of it begins, there are few things to ask yourself.

Why do I have a business?

Who am I serving with my business?

How do I present my business?

Your business must solve a problem for the people you want to serve. Much of the time, those you serve are very similar to you. And, as for the way you present your business, you have choices from products, to downloads, to all forms of coaching.

For me, a God-centered business means I ask Him first what direction I should go and then decide together how I should offer my services.

The three ways I PLAN for a God-centered business is to actually PLAN with God. Here’s how. . .

Make Him the CEO

This involves having a relationship with Jesus and making Him the boss, the Lord, over all in your life. This includes your business. He has a place for you in His overall PLAN and you have such a specific part to play in His Story.

Only by being close to God can you have the understanding and wisdom to follow in that PLAN. God is there to guide you every step of the way. By reading His Word, journaling, and through prayer, you can align yourself with Him and cooperate with His PLAN for your success.

Follow the Vision He is giving you

God has placed in your heart that pull to do something more. He has orchestrated your life so you have acquired skills, experience, abilities and knowledge about your areas of interest. He created you to be satisfied when you work in those certain sectors and industries.

Proverbs 29:18 says, “When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild. . .” Divine guidance is also translated as Vision. God has a purpose for you to fulfill. He has placed the vision in you and now it is up to you to live it out, one step at a time. That is where getting to know Him and sitting with Him as your CEO allows you to make the PLAN He wants for you.

Create a business that is uniquely suited to you

You have been created as a one-of-a-kind masterpiece. There is no one else that can bring your part of God’s PLAN into the world. He has reserved it for you. Getting to know how He created YOU unique allows you to create a business that will energize you each day.

God will help you build your business in a way that will attract your ideal clients and customers. He wants you to use all those special things about YOU (personality, values, talents, gifts, experiences, strengths, expertise) to show up authentically in your business. Get to know yourself better and you will experience CLARITY as you PLAN for the future.

 

Take the time to make God the CEO of your business by meeting with the boss; follow the Vision He has given you for your business and trust Him for the results; and, create a business that highlights all your wonderful skills and abilities so you shine for Him through your business.

Proverbs 21:5 says, “Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty.” Don’t try to do it like everyone else. Be true to who God has called you to be. PLAN with Him, PLAN to build, and PLAN to do it your way.

What is your PLAN for your business?

Be filled to overflowing,

Deneen

P.S. Take the Leadership Quiz to see how you LEAD your business AND then check out the Clarity Leadership Conference & Retreat coming in September.

The Person Driven Life Can Be Your Life

By 2 Comments

I have read through the Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren twice now. I went through the book the first time with a group at my church when it first came out. Then recently, I lead my Christian Women’s Network Group through the book for our Bible/Book Club.

What did I learn the second time around?

I want to change the wording. . . instead of Purpose-driven life I want to change it to the Person-driven life.

AND, I want to give you three ways to look at this Person-driven life for your Business.

Relationship

First, God has created you to be in relationship with Him.

This is the easy part for me because I truly believe that if you don’t fill up on God each day you will not overflow in your life in the way you are meant to. The vertical relationship with God is what He calls us to FIRST when we accept Him as Savior and Lord our lives. Don’t think anything will go the way it is supposed to go if this relationship is not consistent and growing.

Plan

Next, God has created you to do something specific.

You are part of God’s story. You are alive now to fulfill your part in that story, HIStory. I don’t want you to think though that it is ONE thing you are to do. God leads us to different parts of our ‘something’ as we live our lives. We can only stay on the path if we are willing to meet with our ‘boss’ and align our lives with Him. Staying in God’s Will means carving out time to allow Him to speak to your heart. Listening to what His heart is for you.

Belief

Last, God has created you equipped to live out your Calling.

You are the only YOU that will ever exist. God has given you the unique qualities that are designed to help you live out your Calling. He brings ideas, resources, and growth opportunities into our lives so that we can show up as our authentic selves. Your values, strengths, gifts, and experiences all work together so you are equipped to do what satisfies you most. He really does give you the ‘desires of your heart’.

All In

God is calling you to a life that is ALL for Him. There is no division between the personal, professional and spiritual parts of your life.

Does this mean you have no ambition? No, God has given you a will to be successful.

Does this mean you don’t utilize good business practices? No, God actually brings resources that are best for you.

Does this mean you have to give all your money away? No, God wants you to be financially independent.

It does mean that you have been given the opportunity to BLESS others through your business. God has given you a way to SOLVE the problems of your clients. That’s what a business is all about, solving problems. AND, as you build your business you can BLESS others who join your team.

By focusing on this Person-driven life you have your priorities in order. God filling you up in relationship with Him. Growing in your spiritual life as you become MORE like Jesus. God revealing your part in His story. Growing in your professional life with MORE of a passion for your business. God equipping you to live out your Calling. Growing in your personal life as you learn MORE about how He created you.

God’s vision for your life if so much bigger than yours. Trust Him and take the first step. Where are you not aligning with Him: in relationship, in His plan, in belief in yourself? Get these first three things in order; be Person-driven, you will succeed.

Be filled to overflowing,

Deneen