Deneen Troupe-Buitrago

Grow from your overflow

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A Prudent Step is a Trusting Step

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In the dream I stood on the edge of a great cliff. The tightness in my chest told me I was in a scary place (because I am afraid of heights). But I also felt very excited. An almost palpable anticipation ran through me and I tingled from head to toe.

Have you ever had a dream or vision of something God wanted you to do? These dream images followed me into the waking world and I felt the excitement of being involved in something new, something BIG. God was asking me to trust Him and take the next step He was showing me.

That was over eight years ago. The vision was too BIG then, I didn’t understand it all. It was like a huge gaping ravine out in front of me that at any minute I might fall into or be asked to throw myself into. I knew I was going to be involved in God’s plan if I trusted Him and took the steps He was asking me to take.

Is God giving you a vision? Is there a tug at your heart to do something more for God? Something BIG?

I remember that feeling, it was exhilarating and terrifying. There were times I doubted it would happen. I allowed the enemy to rob me of my progress because he always had me looking at how far I had to go. I sometimes forgot to stop and celebrate victories along the way.

But God. . . He always comes through. He always makes a way for us to see the path ahead, even if it is only a little piece. Now when I look over the precipice, I see foot stones going out across the opening. God is creating the path for me and I don’t have to be afraid (even though it is a long way down and I am still afraid of heights). Each time I obey and do something He is asking of me; another flat stepping stone appears.

That first step was hard. It took quite a long time to get moving, I can admit. But now it is fluid and I can almost glide onto the next stone before I know for sure it is really there. I trust God that much.

For me this adventure has been full of twists and turns and I have learned new lessons along the way. Some of the most important lessons have been about getting to know myself better, how I operate, how God has designed me. Now that I know ME, I see how God is carefully transforming me into His image. Christlikeness.

So, what IS God asking you to do? Create a business? Lead a team? Go into a new field or job? Write a book? Create a course? What small vision of yours is God turning into a BIG vision for Him?

What would be your first step? Take it. Say YES to God and throw yourself full force into it. It will be amazing.

Be filled to overflowing,

Deneen

P.S. I would LOVE to help you explore this next step at the Clarity Leadership Conference. We are ALL called to Lead. Get to know your leadership style at the Conference & Retreat.

 

 

 

 

Creating the HABIT of Bible Reading

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I have talked before about the Power of Habit.  By creating a habit we can accomplish whatever we put our minds to do.  That means YOU can also do exactly what you want to do with the Power of Habit.  The fundamentals are simple: Reminder, Routine, Reward.  But that was the subject of another blog post. Today I want to address your Bible reading and study.  How are you doing?  Is it daily? Is it meaningful?  Are you learning something valuable that you can use in your every day?

I hear the sigh. That’s okay, please don’t beat yourself up.  We are all guilty of not having the super faith-life we think someone else is having.  Actually, most of us are in the same boat; we just think we are in that boat alone.  However, You can change that.  By creating a daily habit of Bible reading, study, and memorization you become equipped to handle Every situation that comes.  It is in the peaceful times in your life when you must establish this habit so that when the problems come (and they will come again and again) you are already in a pattern of seeking God.

Start small.  One verse.  I have the YouVersion App on my phone.  Each day there is a new verse to read.  Find your time of day to spend two minutes reading and thinking about this verse.  Extend that time to five minutes by writing the verse down and thinking about what it is saying to you personally.  Go even further by using up to 10 minutes to write the verse down and then write what it means to you.  There is a great method known as REAP for you Bible reading: Read, Evaluate, Apply, and Pray.  One verse each day.

And, creating the Habit is easy.  Set your Reminder (an alarm) then do the Routine (actually read your verse) and before you know it the Reward will be evident.  You will have the stamina, the confidence, the ammunition to go through the next difficult situation because you have God’s Word inside of your heart and head.  It fills you to overflowing because you are connected to His Super-abundance.

Be filled to overflowing,

 

Deneen