DeneenTB

Helping you to do MORE for God through your Work

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Practice Sabbath

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Sabbath is one of my favorite Spiritual Practices. It gives me 24-hours to relax, refresh, and remain connected to the Father. Do you trust God enough to take a Sabbath each week? That was the question I needed to ask myself AND I needed God to show me that I could.

Sabbath Begins

My Sabbath has evolved since I first started making this practice part of my week. At first, I wasn’t sure what to do except put away all my ‘work’. That could be hard because my mind does not stop thinking about my projects just because I don’t have it open on my computer.

So, I decided to save certain things for my Sabbath time. They are projects of a personal nature, things that truly relax me, or activities that I can indulge in without guilt. What I have found is that when I take this time apart, I come back to my work (my business) with new enthusiasm and ideas.

Another reason I decided on really showing up in an intentional way for my Sabbath is that I am not always able to go to church services. With my MS, it is not ‘restful’ for me to get up on a Sunday morning, get ready, and go to church. Since I am an entrepreneur, I need downtime for my body to recuperate after a week of working my business.

My Sabbath

What does my Sabbath look like? It starts on Saturday evening between 4-6pm and goes until that time on Sunday. I am trying a new thing by going to the Saturday service at my church as much as I am able. I like that it kicks off Sabbath for me. Each week I plan something that I am going to do. It can be something as simple as a bath to having brunch with a group of girlfriends. I love saving books to read and watching movies with my daughters.

One thing that is super important for me is an extended prayer-time with God. I do meet with God each day for Bible study and prayer, BUT this is time set apart to focus on people, projects, and relationships. It is time for me to listen to what God is impressing on me. Of course, I use my journal and colored pens to give me focus.

Begin Sabbath

What are some activities that recharge you? Think about things you really enjoy and allow yourself to do them during your Sabbath. What 24-hour period works best for you? There is no ‘set’ way to do this. God gave us the example of Sabbath way back in Genesis, not because He needed it but because He knew we would.

I would LOVE to give you a list of Sabbath Ideas to get you started. You can download them by clicking HERE.

Start this week with just one thing you really enjoy. Create the Sabbath that works for you and gives you the rest you need. Trust God that your business will be there (and flourish) when you obey His Command to Sabbath.

Be filled to overflowing,

Deneen

 

Quiet Retreat Day

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Quiet Retreat

But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.   Matthew 6:6 (NLT)

Your Day

The Quiet Retreat day will begin with a group discussion and instructions for your day in a common area. Each participant will have a room and restroom to themselves at the Retreat Center. There are various trails and places to go outdoors as well.

You may leave whenever you wish or need to do so. Before you go you will be asked to write a letter to yourself that will be given to the instructor to mail to you one month after. More detailed instructions will be given at the beginning of the day as to what to write about.

What to Bring

You will need to bring your own lunch and items for use of the beds ‘on top’ of the covers.  Recommended list of possible items: Bible, journal, writing instruments, devotional book, yoga mat, covers, pillow, etc. For outdoor activities: Tennis shoes, blanket, bubbles, etc. You may ‘do’ whatever you like in your room as long as it does not entail any noise. More detailed instructions will be given at the discussion group time if you are lacking ideas about your day.

Connect with God

The Quiet Retreat is a great way to connect your heart to God’s heart. He does speak when you take time to listen. AND, OCTOBER will be a Beautiful time to spend with Him. Do you need a Strategy Session with your CEO?

A Quiet Retreat is a very powerful way keep focused on where God wants you to go and how He wants you to continue this year.

This time is for YOU to connect to God in a way that is intimate and a true time of discovery. I look forward to guiding you through this important Spiritual Practice as you learn true intimacy with HIM.

Be filled to overflowing,

Deneen

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.

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.

 

Promoting God through your Work

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You may know the story of the sisters Mary and Martha from the Bible (Luke 10 & John 11). If you know the story then you also immediately identify with one or the other. Each woman loved Jesus in her own way. Each woman was transformed by the experience.

Here is a quiz for you to ‘just check’ to see if you are more of a Mary or a Martha. I hope it shows you that there is a little of both inside. Read the pairs across and check the one you most identify with in that line, Mary or Martha.

Mary writes poetry Martha writes to-do lists
Mary paints canvases Martha paints the walls
Mary sings in the rain Martha sings in the choir
Mary likes chocolate Martha likes cheesecake
Mary wears jeans Martha wears heels
Mary goes to amusement parks Martha goes to museums
Mary drives a convertible Martha drives a mini-van
Mary throws a fiesta Martha throws a tea party
Mary dyes her hair fun colors Martha dyes hers to cover the gray
Mary loves tiger lilies Martha loves daisies

 

Did you see that you really do possess qualities of each woman? What I love about the story of Mary and Martha is that Jesus did not ask them to change their personalities so they could serve Him. However, He did change them.

Joanna Weaver in her book Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World says, “Two completely different women undergo a transformation right before our eyes: a holy makeover. The bold one becomes meek, the mild one courageous. For it is impossible to be in the presence of Jesus and not be changed.” That is the real heart of the matter.

In my own book, CLARIFY, I chose to profile Martha. She is the woman I most identify with because her transformation included bringing Jesus into every part of her life. She learns when she needs to take time to be with Him and when she needs to get up and start moving.

Martha is a great example of how God wants us to approach our work. Everything she did was to please Jesus (even in her fussing). As she grew in relationship with Jesus she learned to please Him by pulling her attention away from ‘work first’ to ‘Him first’. That’s the lesson.

Are you meeting daily with the Boss to check in and get the plan? Are you taking longer meeting days to have strategic meetings with Him? Are you learning what it means to connect Faith & Business so you glorify God in your work?

I want to invite you to the Clarity Leadership Conference. It is for women ministry and business leaders. Sign up today (early bird special going on) and get CLARITY by Re-focusing on Who you are serving; Re-energizing your Own body, and Re-connecting to the ONE whose passion is in your soul to do the work you are doing. Take time to learn to be like Mary and Martha.

Be filled to overflowing,

Deneen

 

4 Places You May Not be Showing up Authentically

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Everyone wants to feel accepted, right? No matter what place you are in, you want others to like you and see you as a competent woman. You want to fit into the group. There is nothing wrong with this. In fact, we were made for community and therefore crave acceptance from it. BUT, are you compromising who you really are to ‘fit in’? Are you trading off a part of yourself so that others will ‘like’ you?

There are four places I think we, as women, compromise showing who we really are and it makes us feel disjointed, stifled, and fake. You may see yourself in one or in all four places bringing just a part of your whole self. And, I bet it feels like your authentic self will never emerge. God calls you to live your life in such a way that, “So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31NLT

Place ONE- At Work

This is the first place I see women hiding who they truly are. They are afraid to let others know they have a faith-life outside of the office. Oh, you may have integrity and work with excellence, but unless you are letting others know your WHY, you are not living completely honest with yourself and with God. Jesus warned, “But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven.” Matthew 10:33

Place TWO- At Kid Activities

This place makes it easy to hide who you truly are. There is a surface level type of communication. It is easy to discuss the activity itself- soccer, dance, birthday. It is easy to get caught up in the cause of the PTA for the betterment of the school. It is easy to not voice your opinion about anything. Honesty is not required on this level and so you can become one of the crowd to fit in. But, God wants more from your interactions with those you see on a regular basis.  Paul tells Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:5, “But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at telling others the Good News, and fully carry out the ministry God has given you.”

Place THREE- At Church

This place should be the one where you feel the most authentic BUT it is not. Many of us tend to put our best faces on when we go into worship, attend a Bible study or volunteer. You want everyone to think your life is great. The very place where meaningful relationships are supposed to take place ends up being the place where you feel the most unlike yourself. If only we all let down our facades and really cared about one another. Paul says, “Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.” Philippians 2:2

Place FOUR- At Home

This place is where your role may be to serve everyone else and therefore you are left empty. Women tend to leave their needs last when it comes to family obligations. Doing all that is expected of them so that others thrive. You make sure there is food on the table and laundry is completed. You watch the movie others want to see. You never turn off being the caregiver. But God wants your attention. He wants you to fill up on Him. Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

 

How can you be your authentic self in all these places? By being who God created you to be. He doesn’t ask you to change your personality but He does change you to be His representative here in your places. That is the way to feel authentic.

You may be trading authenticity for safety. The safety of acceptance, the safety of no conflict, the safety of . . . BUT, the Christian life is not safe. It is the greatest adventure and you are living it. Show up as the woman God has made you to be. And don’t be afraid. “But as for you, be strong and courageous, for your work will be rewarded.” 2 Chronicles 15:7

Believe that you can be authentically you. Believe God will help you be authentic. Stand in your places as the person you are, living a seamless life that feels REAL.

Be filled to overflowing,

Deneen

P.S. Find your PLACE with the Calling Clarity Course. Click HERE for details about how to show up Authentically in your Calling. Sign Up ends this week. HURRY!

 

Serve God More at WORK

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So, it’s Monday, time to go to ‘Work’.  How do you feel?  Excited? Depressed? Or do you feel just plain tired?  How do you see your work?  Is it something that pays the bills OR are you passionate about what you do?  How do you think God sees your work?

Your Week to Serve

I want to give you some statistics about your week. You have 168 hours to make the most of it. Here is the breakdown (on average):

40 hours- Work

05 hours- Commute

15 hours- Meal Prep & Eating

06 hours- Domestic Duties

35 hours- Sleep

03 hours- Health (physical, mental)

2.5 hours- Bible Reading

10 hours- Kids (homework, driving, talking, etc.)

If you are a numbers person like me I have broken it down into each day too. ?

8 working + .5 commuting + 3 eating + 1.5 cleaning + 7 sleeping + .5 exercising + .5 Bible/Prayer + 2 kids = 23 hours! (You have one hour to do whatever you want!)

Are you tired? Do you see this list and think, How can I do it all? That’s where a little planning can go a looooong way to create space for doing MORE to Serve God Daily.

Look at where you spend your most waking hours, WORK. This may be in an office, factory, store, or in your own business. It is the place you are most engaged with multiple people over the course of the day and week. This is EXACTLY the place you can be the most effective for God.

Your Day to Serve

As a Christian Woman in business or in the workplace you can serve God by serving those you have direct contact with each day. He calls you to use your unique personality, strengths, gifts, and abilities to show up as you. He wants to use you in a mighty way right where you spend most of your waking hours.

Let me give you a tool to begin thinking about this. Ask God to show you 5 people in your everyday life that do not know Him. Write down their names and commit to pray for them each day. Even if it a quick prayer when you see them in passing. Next, start to grow your relationship with them inside and outside of the ‘office’. Pour into those relationships until you have the opportunity to share your story about what Jesus has done for you.

There is no pressure here. BUT, this is what we are called to do as believers in Christ (Matthew 28:19,20). It begins with kindness, interest, affection, caring, and love. For me, Priscilla’s story in the Bible shows me how she not only used her relationships with other believers to give her strength but she also gives me an example of how to reach out, mentor, and tell others about Jesus while I am at work.

The plan is not hard. I am not asking you to preach on a soap box, start a Bible Study, or wear a button to proclaim your Faith. I am asking you to SERVE God by thinking differently about your Work. Don’t make the next volunteer activity at church take you away from spending time with your kids or giving up your exercise time. Make your everyday life count for God. Use the 40 hours of ‘marketplace time’ your place to show others the goodness of God.

Is this the first time you have thought about this way of connecting your Faith & Business? Are you shocked that I would suggest not doing something at church? We have been ‘taught’ for so long that in order to do anything for God it must be through the church. I want to shake you up to think differently and get your Faith ACTIVE in your daily ‘work’ life.

Sharon’s Service

I told this story a few months ago and want to repeat it now.

Sharon came to my Christian Women’s network group one month and asked this question. “How can I serve God at my work?” I began to laugh. Why? Because she had just told me this story. . .

“There is a new woman at work and she is having a difficult time adjusting to the culture of the company. Up until this point I have been the only female in the office. I have adapted my style of communicating and functioning to reflect the male dominated atmosphere. I had not realized how flexible I was at being able to adjust my style based on the person in front of me. I have been working with her the last two weeks to coach her through email language, speaking directly, and confidence issues. She has come a long way in being able to deal with what she has called ‘male abruptness’ and has learned to match her style with the person she is speaking with.”

Why did it make me laugh when she asked the question? For me it was clear that she was serving God by being a mentor to this woman. She was sharing her expertise and giving insight to this woman. I reminded her that she does not need to be at church, volunteering at a soup kitchen, or helping the underprivileged to be serving Christ. She was showing kindness, hospitality, love, and concern for someone at work. That is enough.

It really is enough.

Your Plan to Serve

God wants you to be in relationship with HIM first. That vertical relationship needs to be fed and nurtured before anything else.

Start with spending more time with God and reading His Word.

Pray for those He puts in your mind and on your heart.

Show those people how much you care about them through your words and actions.

Then be ready to share your Story about what Jesus has done for you.

THAT’s the Plan. God wants you to have an Impact. He wants you to make Him known to specific people, the people in your marketplace. That’s how you SERVE Him MORE.

 

Be filled to overflowing,

 

Deneen

P.S. The Clarify Book will be released this month. If you are interested in being one of my Promoters please send me your name and email address. I need your help to spread the word about the Book. Thanks!

Lessons Learned

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I closed the GFYO Business and Educational Center in November of last year. It was an 18-month lesson in trusting God. When I began, I knew for certain it was what God wanted for me. I had been meeting with my Women’s Networking Group in different locations for a while and felt His leading to have my own space.  But it failed.

I took the month of December to look at what God was asking of me now. I came through the month with these few take-a-ways. Thought you might like me to share.

What does God want from me?

First, God wants me to depend on Him. One thing He continually puts into my thoughts is, “Am I enough?”. My success means nothing unless I am in relationship with Him. I talk about this vertical relationship all the time. Connecting Faith and Business begins with Faith.

The next thing God wants from me is to transform me into the image of His Son. He teaches me through His Word, prayer, worship and more. I love spending time with Him on my Quiet Retreats and meeting with my CEO each day. If nothing else happens in my life, I trust God enough to be okay in this space.

BUT, He does call me to more. He calls me to fellowship with other believers. In real fellowship we experience authenticity, give & take, sympathy, and mercy. I love that God has given me the women in the GFYO Network Group to bring encouragement, support and learning into my life.  We share our business challenges, study God’s Word together, serve our community, and suffer together as we pray for one another. They fill up my life and make me stronger.

Lastly, I know that only by serving God in the way He has created me can I live out His purpose for me. I am taking one step at a time and trusting God for the rest. I know taking the step to open the Business and Educational Center was the right thing. So was closing it.

God wants the best for me

These outward setbacks can be discouraging. I spent most of December just trying to understand what to do next. There was much time alone, an open Bible & journal, and prayer. That’s when an idea formed that has led me through most of this year. I have been writing a book about twelve business women in the Bible.

I have been given a gift. I feel like God is downloading new insights into me about these women and it excites me to write about them so others can learn how to Connect their Faith and Business. The last few months have opened me up to be in deeper relationship with God, learn more about Him, have stronger fellowship with others, and use my gifts, talents, and abilities to do exactly what He has designed me to do.

Exchanging something good for something even better is amazing.

God wants the best for you

What is God asking of you? In what ways are you using your personality, abilities, gifts, talents, etc. to live out the business vision He has given you? What is keeping you from taking the next step to serve God through your business?

Take some time to sit with the Father and evaluate where you are. Pour out those disappointments and setbacks. I did. Listen to what He says to your heart through His Word. The Bible is alive and will speak to you in new ways.

God wants you to be fulfilled in your purpose and He is waiting to unfold it to you. Your responsibility is to take each step as He reveals the next thing He wants you to do. No fear, God is there. No excuses, God is there. No procrastinating, God is there.

If you have doubts, work on knowing God better. There is no way you can have any success in life if you do not know the Father. Allow Him to fill you up and transform you into His image. Then there is room for you to experience true fellowship with others and live out your purpose.

Connecting Faith and Business requires trust. God asks, “Do you trust Me?”. I scream, “YES” and throw myself into the work He has for me because it is what is best for me. He will give you that enthusiasm and passion too.

The Business and Educational Center needed to close so I could focus on the next thing God had for me. I was too distracted to see the next step. God’s lessons may sting but that only gives opportunity to turn to Him and pursue something even better.

Be filled to overflowing,

Deneen