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Suffering to Do Right

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Ready to suffer? No one is. But, as a believer in Jesus we need to be ready to suffer for doing what is right.

Many years ago I was in a job that required transporting mentally ill clients. We were in a residential treatment center so we took them to the grocery store, to their appointments, and to day programs. We were responsible for them and I took the job seriously as I drove the 15-passenger van.

Others who worked in the program were not as diligent as me. When it came to my attention that a few of them were showing up to work intoxicated I knew it would have to be me who reported it. What was even worse, the biggest violator was the boss’s own daughter.

It was not easy, and I did not make any friends. In fact, I stood alone in my accusations because the person who had told me would not back me up. But I knew it was right. After that, we had safeguards put into place to prevent this from happening again.

1 Peter 3:14 says, But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats.

 

When I think about SUFFERING. . . a few thoughts come to mind as I remember back on this situation.

Standing

If I had not been the one to stand up for the clients, then something horrible could have happened. I had to know what was right and be ready to say something.

Faith

Doing what is good is what we are mandated to do. God expects us to live in a way that shows our faith. That means doing the unpopular thing at times.

Risking

I thought about what the consequences would be if I did nothing and it scared me. I also thought about the awkward work environment and that I may have even lost my job.

Intentional

I could not just pray that the situation would go away. I had to make the effort to do the right thing. There could be no shying away from my responsibility.

Growth

By doing this one thing in the way God wanted, I felt empowered. My relationship with Him grew as I took one more step into being obedient.

 

It is not always in the BIG Moments that we become closer to God. It is in our everyday work as we do it with excellence, follow Christ’s example, and continue to do what is right. And the best part? God will reward you.

James 1:2-4 says, Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

So, suffering has a place and a purpose. How are you ‘suffering’ for your faith?

 

Be filled to overflowing,

Deneen

P.S. Grow your Faith with a Personalized Faith Plan. Only by cultivating your vertical relationship with God will you walk in obedience and grow into suffering for the right reasons.

Creating Disciples

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In Jesus’ day a disciple meant that you were so devoted to your Master that you would have gotten the dust of the road all over you as you walked with Him because you followed so closely.

What does discipleship mean to you?

As a follower of Jesus, you are a disciple. And, we are called to make disciples too. How can we do this through our work each day?

Here are four ways to get you started:

  1. Meet with Jesus.

Show you are a disciple of Jesus by making it a priority to meet with Him each day and listen to what He wants to say to your heart. The word discipline comes from the same root as disciple. Make this meeting a priority. You can only do what God is asking you to do if you align with Him for your success.

  1. Model the behavior you want others to follow.

This is a form of discipleship. In your work that may look like working without complaining, being helpful to others, and going beyond the expectations of your clients. It may also include the way you express yourself ‘thanking God’ for good things and talking about faith-based activities.

  1. Grow intentional relationships.

Ask God for the who and start to simply pray for them. Then look for opportunities to meet with them socially. Forming intentional relationships is the first step in discipleship. Relationships take time and can get messy. Look for ways to support and encourage before you ever share Jesus.

  1. Share your own adventure with Jesus.

Part of who you are as a believer is sharing Jesus with those around you. There are many ways to ‘show’ you are a believer, but God expects you to ‘tell’ others as well. Don’t be afraid of answering questions. Give honest answers based on your own experiences and don’t shy away from hard questions. Be willing to find the answers together.

One discipline I love is Silence & Solitude. I go on a ‘Quiet Retreat’ every quarter so I can spend the day with God and check in for a long strategy meeting. This is where I get insights as I reflect on my last quarter and plan for the next. I allow Him to speak to my heart and I evaluate how I am aligning with Him.

The hardest step is always the first one. God is calling you to live for Him 24/7. That means you are the same person in the Sunday School class, at the PTA meeting, and in the Boardroom. What is God saying to your heart about sharing Him with those you encounter every day?

What do you need to do first so that you become the disciple He desires you to be?

Be filled to overflowing,

Deneen

P.S. The next Quiet Retreat is scheduled for Monday, October 8th. Sign up HERE.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4 Ways to Share Your Faith at Work

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The Great Commission says, “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you.” (Matt 28:19-20a)

BUT, look back at the command from Jesus. . . it begins with THEREFORE. That means there is something He said that was important before He got to this part.

It hints at the reason He gave the command to everyone present and for us today. As part of the Church, the bride of Christ, our role is to be an EZER, a helper, to Jesus.

How is this possible? How can we HELP Jesus? That’s where the THEREFORE comes into play. As we say in my Bible Study, “What is it THERE FOR?”

Back up to verse eighteen. Jesus says to his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.” Woah! All authority? What does that mean?

Since Jesus died for us and took His place next to God in heaven He can do and send whomever He pleases. AND it pleases Him to send you and me into the world to be part of HIStory. You live in this time, in this culture, to personally live out the Great Commission.

He wants you to figure out your BEST way to Serve Him through your work. To live out the Great Commission through your business.

Four ways to get started

  1. Do your work with excellence

Show up with a good attitude and being helpful to others. Work with integrity and do what you say you are going to do. Build a reputation as a person who works with purpose, creativity, kindness, and encouragement. Remember, people are always watching.

“. . . shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. . .” Philippians 2:15-16 

  1. Give God space in your workday

Let people know in natural, easygoing, confident ways that you’re a Christian. Express yourself in ways that identify you with Jesus and what He is doing in your life. Don’t mentally censor your Christianity out of your interactions and conversations. You’ll be amazed at how people are often more interested in spiritual things than you think.

“Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.” Colossians 3:23

  1. Build relationships that matter

Ask God to show you one or two people He wants you to be intentional with and begin to develop a deeper relationship. Start by praying for them. Then, begin to have more interaction by inviting them to coffee or lunch. Continue the friendship by seeing them socially outside of the workday. Share yourself with them, show them your care about them, and you will get the opportunity to share your faith.

“We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord.” Romans 15:2

  1. Change your mindset

You are in your job or have your business for a reason. You may be the only person that your coworkers, boss, clients, and team ever meet who is a believer in Jesus. See your daily work as your place to serve God. Take away the guilt about not being at the last church sponsored activity and see your workweek activity as the way you are serving God.

“For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. . .” 2 Timothy 1:9

You can do this! Why? Because Jesus gave you a promise. . . “I am with you always.” Matthew 28:20.

 

Want to learn more about how you can show up in your daily work doing what God is asking you to do? Connect with me for a 30-minute Clarity Session. It is FREE and there is no obligation.

Be filled to overflowing,

 

Deneen

Four Acts of ‘Hospitality’

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When you think of hospitality, what comes to mind?

Entertaining family and friends?

Martha Stewart?

A laborious chore?

Something done by only a few who have the ‘gift’?

Hospitality for me means: welcome, warmth, kindness, generosity, reception, friendliness, taking care of, anticipating needs. It is an action. Something you do for someone you know, or for a stranger.

Martha Stewart didn’t invent hospitality. More radical still, she hasn’t perfected it either.  Hospitality, as presented to us in the Bible, is not a practice for a few but is a way of life for us all.

It is a Kingdom function that offers us an opportunity to show God’s goodness.

Hospitality Actions

1. Get to know someone better.

Food is always a good place to start, right? Remember, food shows love. BUT, it doesn’t have to be at your home, with three other couples, at an appointed time.

It can be with one person on the spur of the moment, it can be a gift, it can be your time & attention, it can be anything that makes the person feel valued by you.

If we all stopped for a moment and thought about who we could encourage today through hospitality it would make a super difference in their life, in your own life, and I would dare to say, in society.

2. Make it a heart connection.

Today’s world is full of people who have lost their sense of real connection. We are wired into the world but separated from one other more than ever. So, the challenge to hospitality is our perception of how we fit into the world with others when we are face-to-face.

We all want to matter to someone else. We want to know that someone cares.

How can you show that care? First, choose to develop a friendship with a co-worker, a business partner, a person in your sphere of influence. It is amazing how far a smile will go to ease tension. An invitation for coffee or lunch is a natural step. Find a way to invest in the friendship through mutual interests and then do it.

3. Learn to use active listening

This type of listening is called ‘listening INTO’ another person. Imagine putting down your phone, turning off the television, not thinking about what you are going to say, and just listening.

The INTO also means using not only your ears and eyes to listen but using your heart and body. Physically positioning yourself for a ‘good listen’. This is when the person feels heard and you can discover what’s going on inside them. It is listening from their there instead of your here.

It also requires you to pause often from your own thoughts and reactions, eliminate distractions, and be mindful. Stay present in the moment. When you are with another person this can mean asking probing questions about how they feel or think about the situation or, ask for clarification on what it means to them.

You will forge the stronger connections you crave. AND, in the process, you will become the best listener your family, friends, clients and colleagues have ever known.

4. Let others know you are thinking about them

We are all busy, yet we all crave attention. God came to us to give us His love and now we are to share that love. How can we do that? What are some practical ways we can use hospitality as a tool to serve and love others?

  • Talking over the fence to the neighbor; asking how they are
  • Shooting off a text, email, fb message to say you are thinking about them
  • Meeting someone after work for an hour for a drink
  • Hosting a game night at home or somewhere else
  • Organizing a get-together at the park
  • Meeting at a restaurant with someone

We don’t know how much people think about us because we are too busy to tell them.

Like I said, this is not about a dinner party. It is not about impressing someone with your clean house, expensive dishes, or terrific recipes.

It IS about letting people know you care about them and in return they will show you that they care about you.

Jesus is our biggest example of displaying hospitality. Not all the people he welcomed were welcoming to him. Yet, he still extended hospitality to each as if the outcome didn’t matter. AND, since we don’t know the outcome, we need to extend hospitality to those in our lives.

Hospitality Challenge

Write down one goal for yourself about deepening relationships through hospitality. This could be a person at work, a person you see often, an acquaintance, even a family member. Write down the steps you will take to reach your goal. Make the steps small and attainable.

Keep this information where you will see it and remember to continue to work on it. When you have reached your goal, thank God for His provision and then set another goal for yourself.

Creating goals and actionable steps allows you to see progress. Need help in this area? Connect with me for a FREE (no obligation) Clarity Session. Together we can get you on the path God designed for you.

 

Be filled to overflowing,

Deneen

Everything God makes is GOOD

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For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:10

You are His masterpiece. Let that sink in . . . everything God makes is good.

When you understand that God created you unique and then learn exactly how He put you together, an amazing thing happens. You begin to believe that your TRUE self is what God wants to shine through.

Get to know you

I remember the first time I took a personality assessment. All those things I thought were weaknesses and things I should change about myself were actually the very things I could embrace and use to move forward in my life and do MORE for God.

There is nothing about you that God cannot use to bring about His story in your life. You can follow His Calling no matter your background or how many times you think you have ‘messed up’. He has allowed every experience and every situation to grow you into the person He wants you to be.

What do you feel God is calling you to do that seems WAY out of your comfort zone?

Get to choose for you

Another powerful tool I use in my life is a values’ assessment. By understanding which things are important to you, it gives you the power to say NO to many things. I use my values as a filter for whatever activity, event, or opportunity arises. I pull it through my filter and if it does not align with any of my values, I get to say NO (with no guilt).

I remember a time when I was super busy and super stretched. I was always saying YES to things because they were all things that came easily to me. BUT, this is what I realized, just because you CAN do something doesn’t mean you SHOULD do it.

If you had the power, What would you LOVE to say NO to right now?

Get to show you

Showing up in any situation authentically allows you to be who God has created you to be. He wants you to bring your whole self to the Sunday School class, the PTA meeting, AND to the Boardroom.

Never apologize for being the person God created you to be. Realize that we are all on a journey to discover our best selves. Forgive others (forgive yourself) and ask for forgiveness but never stop being your brilliant self, the one God created, because He loves you.

What are you trading of yourself to only bring part of yourself to the table?

Get to grow you

Celebrate your uniqueness. Discover your personality style. Create the business you want and that God wants for you. Design your future with Him. Develop your skills so you can be ALL that God is calling you to be.

Do all this at the Clarity Leadership Retreat! Register by FRIDAY. Get moving . . .
www.deneentb.com/clarity-leadership-conference

 

Be filled to overflowing,

DeneenTB

 

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.