DeneenTB

Helping you to do MORE for God through your Work

Love God

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.

 

 

 

 

Choose Your Adventure

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Do you remember the Choose Your Own Adventure books? Those stories were exciting to read. The story was always full of suspense and the adventure intriguing. At the bottom of a certain page there would be a choice to make.  AND, those choices never seemed to be exactly what you would do. What to do next . . .

For me it was always a dilemma to make those types of choices. I wanted to choose the best adventure. Should I flip to the next page or go deeper into the book? Which would be better? Did it matter? The beauty of these books was that you could read them again and again and never have the same thing happen.

Your Christian life can be the same type of adventure. Just like those books, your choices have direct influence on how the adventure goes. Maybe you feel there are too many choices? Serving God can mean showing up for a volunteer opportunity at church. Learning about God by joining a Bible Study. Or, for more adventure, going on an overseas mission trip. What choices have you made that are making this Christian adventure exciting? Is it working for you?

God has so much more. He has created an adventure specifically for you and wants you to choose to be on the ride. The adventure is daily and runs through your entire life, not just at times when you are with ‘God’s people’ learning and serving. God’s plan includes your uniqueness shining in the world.

1 Corinthians 12:12 says that we are all part of the same body. Your function is different from everyone else’s. Your adventure is exclusive to you. AND, you get to complete the picture God has for His Church, His people, by choosing to live it.

How? By inviting God into every day.

Recently, I led a group in the study of Spiritual Gifts and how they can be applied to the workplace. Each woman in the study is a business owner and each desires to live out her own Christian life adventure. This study revealed their top Spiritual Gifts and we discussed how each was or could be applied daily through their work.

Spiritual Gifts are given when we need them. They are meant to edify the group. They can reflect natural abilities but are often surprises on the adventure. Recognizing them can be a challenge; allowing God to use them is your choice.  I wanted to see the diversity of our group and how we complemented one another.

One woman has the Faith gift. She did not know how that fit into her adventure. Faith is defined as belief that God will do things that are impossible for us apart from His intervention. She had been dealing with cancer that had reoccurred. Her attitude has always remained positive. Those in her office see her as calm, steady, and assured that everything will work out. She hadn’t seen that her Faith was sticking out all over the place as she trusted God for the results of treatment.

Another woman has the Pastoring gift. She laughed when this result came to light. At first she felt that she could not possibly have a gift she thought was reserved for Pastors. But the definition for Pastoring is caring consistently for the personal needs of others through personalized counseling and coaching. While she is not a coach, she is a listener. God has given her many opportunities to pour into other’s lives. She is a magnet for those hurting and in need of comfort.

Each has her own adventure. Within our small group we have Administration, Teaching, Connecting, and Hospitality gifts. Each woman contributes to our group in her unique way. Each gives a perspective that brings richness to our group and fulfills the needs of someone else.

You have an adventure too. Your GIFTS are for you to share. Choosing to serve God and others through your gifts brings an awareness of God to the world. You SHINE for Him.

The Christian life is an adventure. It is a daily commitment to see your world through God’s eyes. Ask Him to help you choose the right next step. God is surprising and He will sometimes give you a choice that seems different than anything you would choose. That’s when He says, “Do you trust me with your adventure?”

Your story continues. You may not be able to go back and make a different choice in the adventure, but you can move forward in your story and make choices that create the Christian adventure God has for YOU. You are right where you need to be. Ride the adventure in His strength by connecting to Him. Your choices will be easy.

 

Be filled to overflowing,

Deneen

P.S. Your Personalized Faith Plan is waiting for you. Find your uniqueness and make your adventure count for God.

 

You are Gifted to Live Out Your Purpose

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There is no one that has ever existed that is exactly like you. No one else has your combination of personality, talents, and strengths. That should make you feel special. BUT, I’ll bet you are still trying to imitate someone you admire to get ahead in your business. Ooops!

You have innate abilities, things that come easy to you. God gives you these as clues to your purpose. AND, if He has called you, if you have a pull in your heart to do something, then He has given you all you need to fulfill His calling. Believe it.

Remember, you are called by God first into relationship with Him; then He calls you to go out and tell the world about Him (Matt 28:18-19); your specific method to do that has been given to you by God through your business vision. Woo Hoo!

This vertical relationship starts with you meeting with your Boss. Getting to know Him through a daily time of Prayer and Bible Reading. Don’t neglect this first step to understanding what God says about you so you know yourself better.

I also love taking assessments about my personality and my strengths. They are a fun way to get to know yourself too. What do they reveal about what God wants you to do? How can you show up in your business uniquely you?

That’s where I come in, the synthesizer.  I can put a spotlight on you and magnify your equipping to show you how to use it for His glory. bit.ly/PutMeOnList God has equipped me to equip you; He wants YOU in the marketplace showing who He is to others through your business.

Where are you right now on your Faith & Business adventure? Which describes you?

At the beginning of my adventure  

My relationship with God is not stellar yet

 
On the uphill of my adventure  

I am going slow, not sure what the exact vision looks like yet, I have a desire, and not sure how I am wired so I show up uniquely

 
At the top of the hill of my adventure  

I am excited, I see the possibilities of what I can do with my business vision, but I must make sure, I want more clarity when it comes to how I show up in the marketplace

 
Running full speed down the slope of my adventure  

I want more of God; I want to make sure I am using all the abilities He has given me to do what He wants with my business so I give Him glory in all things

 

 

No matter where you are on the adventure my offer is for you. bit.ly/PutMeOnList It begins with a day workshop where we will explore your business vision and the parts that make up you. You will be given tools to use as we advance together.

Then, 8 weeks of virtual meetings to check in and to mastermind. You will get 8 minutes in the Hot Seat so everyone can pour into you. Assignments will be checklists, assessments, and journaling.

The last part includes a weekend Retreat. We will put together all the things that make up YOU. You will know who you are and Whose you are. There will be a time of Silence & Solitude; time for a one-on-one with me; and time for group sharing.

You will walk away from this course knowing how you can show up in your industry unlike anyone else. You will know God’s plan for you right now and show up whole, holy, and authentic in your business.

Get on ‘The List’ for even more details and information. No obligation. Click bit.ly/PutMeOnList to email me and let me know you are interested.

 

Be filled to overflowing,

 

Deneen

8 Practical Principles to Connect Faith & Business

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Do you ever wonder why you have this idea for a business in your head? Is there a dream that you have had ruminating around inside of you for a while? Do you have vision of doing something greater? It is good.

That God-given vision along with your specific set of skills, talents, gifts, and experiences brings your uniqueness into the world. No one has ever existed just like you and God has given you a purpose, a job, to do what only you can accomplish. Let’s look at God’s design.

A Plan-

God created you to work. From the beginning, Eve was created to be a helper. And, as a helper she was mandated to work alongside Adam for the physical work of caring for the garden.  They are told to be fruitful and multiply as well as subdue and govern it. Both intellectual work and physical work have no distinction for God. There is no mention about which type of work is more important or more ‘godly’.  All work is necessary and Good.

A Perspective-

As a believer in Jesus you have your position, your business, to do something.  God calls you a living stone that He is building to offer spiritual sacrifices pleasing to Him (1 Pet 2:5).  You are chosen as a royal priest to show others the goodness of God (1 Pet 2:9). Like Esther, you are royalty in the Marketplace. God has called you to the marketplace for His specific purpose. No one else has your set of credentials to do the job He has called you to do.

A Personality-

Only you can show up as you in your business and life. God never asks you to change your personality, but He does change you. You are unique and so was Lydia. A woman with her own style!  Flamboyant, friendly and successful. And, she loved God! (Acts 16:15) A woman just like you, merging her two worlds by staying culturally relevant as she stayed positioned to share her faith.

A Prayer-

God gives supernatural gifts so you can live out His calling on your life. Rahab trusted God even when she didn’t know Him. She believed in a power more than herself and put her faith in that power.  She knew she could not control the situation she was in or rely on her own strength for survival. Look to God to do big things.  Trust God to give you exactly what you need, when you need it, to do exactly what He wants you to do to move forward and work in your business.

A Person-

Building supportive relationships is essential for your business. You are never alone. God brings specific people into your life to give you strength and encouragement to do what He has called you to do. Priscilla was that type of relationship for Paul. A friendship that was business and spiritual. By working together each day, you too build relationships with people in the office, in networking groups, and in other business dealings.  This provides an opportunity for you to connect with other believers for mutual support.

A Prudence-

Statistics say it takes ten years of focused study to become an expert in any field and building a reputation can take just as long. Huldah understood this well. She spent her entire life in the pursuit of knowledge.  Her world and today’s world are the same.  Everyone is doing their own thing and there is no moral authority. You may feel like it doesn’t matter what you do or how you act; that no one is paying attention. Know this, the things you do that go beyond the expectations of your customers, clients, colleagues and co-workers builds the reputation God wants for you.

A Promotion-

Seeing the activities of your entire life, specifically your work, to give God glory is the starting point. There is no difference between the sacred and the secular.  Martha shows us there is not.  As she led her household she had many responsibilities.  She was never asked to give that up as she followed Christ.  Her work served the kingdom and is God-given.  It was necessary work to fulfill God’s plan for her and to bring Him glory.  Jesus wanted Martha’s heart but never told her to separate her work-life from her faith-life.  He wanted her work to have purpose and meaning.  He wants that for you too.

A Provision-

God calls you to pursue excellence no matter your circumstance. You can never overlook the importance of your work by the size of your bank accounts, your popularity in the market, or by your position at the company.  God is looking at your heart, your devotion to Him, and shaping your character to be more like His.  Ruth’s story shows her doing just that, pursuing excellence, as she worked in the fields, gleaning grain to survive. She is our example of showing a good attitude and doing your best. God is giving you the power each day to get up and go do. Don’t depend on your own ability to make it happen, depend on God to make it all work out for your benefit.

The Bible is full of examples of women just like you. Did you know? God designed you for NOW. Follow that God-given dream and connect your faith and business.

Be filled to overflowing,

 

Deneen

 

3-Steps to Create a Habit and Beat Procrastination

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You are who you are and do the things that you do because of your habits.  Think about how you brush your teeth, the order you shower your body parts, tie your shoes or how you get dressed.  There are even bigger learned behaviors that are habits, like driving your car or checking email every time it dings.

Not convinced you are the sum of your habits? Bring awareness to your day and see how many things you do as routine: get coffee, arrange desk, open social media, etc.  There are things you do each day that do not require you to think, you just do them. That power is what we are going to harness to create a new behavior or change an existing one.

First, look at the problem. Have you ever thought or heard yourself say: “I work better under pressure”, “Forces beyond my control are keeping me from doing this”, “I need to be in the mood to do this”? Those are all excuses for your procrastination problem. You CAN do this.  You are in control of you.

No more excuses for completing the things you really want to complete and getting your life into the shape you want it to be. There are three power words I want you to harness. Reminder-Routine-Reward. These three words can become your mantra to a successful life dong exactly what you want in a way that becomes part of what makes you, you.

So, you are clear. . . developing a new habit is NOT about an exercise in self-control; finding a new dose of willpower; a lack of motivation; or, remembering to do it. It is about creating a structure that WILL make you successful. Once in place you have the tools to make any desire a reality in your own life.

The Reminder-

This is your selected trigger for the new behavior. It can be a timer, an event, an object placed strategically. You need a Plan, write it down. You need a reason for your goal, write it down.

When I was going through a new nutrition plan I set alarms for my supplements, planned meals for the week and drank water at scheduled times. My power reason was to get off high blood pressure medicine.  Now I live my nutrition plan, have lost 50 pounds, and don’t think about what I lost (bread) but what I have gained (stamina).

Give yourself a strong reminder. Something that will trigger the behavior.

Routine-

When the reminder goes off, it is that time of day, or you see your trigger object, just do the behavior.  There is no thinking here.  Don’t allow your procrastination excuses take over. Prioritize it and be consistent.  Do it no matter what.

This will only happen if you have made it a small behavior. Don’t think you will solve all your problems in one big action. These behaviors are small and doable. One behavior at a time for 30 days and you will see an increase in, “This is what I do”. It will become part of your ‘MO’. Then you will start to see progress.

Reward-

Make it something positive, say it aloud and repeat it often. It can be something tangible like a new pair of shoes or more stamina to complete a project. Acknowledge your improvements, celebrate how you feel. Make it enjoyable so you will continue repeating the behavior.

You may also need to know the pain.  What are the consequences if you do not continue to follow your plan? Write down the negative things that could happen. Knowing the downsides can give you motivation as well.

Make your goals personal. Harness the power of Reminder-Routine-Reward. Yes, there will be days of doubt and frustration. Allow yourself to be imperfect. When those negative, procrastination thoughts threaten to take over, reframe them. Turn each into an affirmation of your determination.

Remember, it is the small changes in just one area of your life that reverberate to all the other parts.  Once you have the 3R’s down you can change any behavior, positive or negative, into something beneficial for you.  You have the power to change your world.

Leave a comment below about a habit you want to create using the Reminder-Routine-Reward system for yourself.

Be filled to overflowing,

 

Deneen

The Strength of Power Hours

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You can do almost anything for 15 minutes, right?  I know you can.  I have broken down most activities into 15 minute ‘go for it’ type of tasks.  This includes laundry, vacuuming, cold calling, and paperwork.  I live by the 15-minute-rule.  Do you know it?  If I can’t do it in 15 minutes, then I need to break it down.

So, why is this post called a Power Hour then?  It is all in the quarters.  First Power Hour of the day is to get you going.  We all have lots of Goals.  In fact, I teach about crafting eight goals for your life in the area of Faith, Finances, Relationships, Business, Fun, Personal, Health, and Contribution.  AND, I can get two of my daily goals completed in the first Power Hour of the day.  I do two 15-minute blocks of Exercise and the next two blocks on Bible Reading and Prayer.  I use the exercise time to think as well as plan the course of action for the day.  It is all about using time wisely and packing more into your Power Hours.

What have you learned about Power Hours?  This ‘get moving hour’ is vital to your day.  It has been studied that if you start out your day with productive activity then the rest of your day goes that much better.  Wouldn’t it be great to get more done and feel more accomplished at the end of your day?  Crossing off all those tasks that are moving you in the right direction toward completing your Goals?  I am getting excited just writing about the possibilities!

When I was in Direct Sales I learned about another type of Power Hour. Again, it breaks down into 15 minute segments: Calls for Parties, Hostess Coaching, Customer Care, and Team Connections.  Like I said before. . . I can do anything for 15 minutes.  This way of working also lends itself to the ability to be interrupted and not lose focus.  Your Power Hour does not have to be a continuous hour.  It can be broken up throughout your day.  Perfect for me when I was Homeschooling and working.

Challenge yourself to Power Hours.  What do you want to accomplish?  It can anything from cleaning your house, working on your business, to writing a book.  Select four activities that would accomplish a goal, each activity should take 15 minutes.  (Yes, some goals are more ongoing than others.) Write out the four activities and when you are going to do them.  Set a timer and GO!

Here a few more examples for you:

Goal: 15 minutes 15 minutes 15 minutes 15 minutes
Creating Content for Social Media Find and/or take photographs that appeal to your ideal client Write out sayings, quotes, questions that pertain to your message Combine photos and sayings to promote your business (use programs like Canva.com) Create a posting schedule or use a service like Buffer, Hoot Suite, or Meet Edgar (fill the schedule)
Ongoing Marketing for Business Write & Post on Instagram (push to Facebook & Twitter) Write & Send email Newsletter to your list Facebook LIVE or Periscope broadcast Answer Messages & Emails
Daily Mental and Physical Exercise Read a Non-fiction book related to your Business Walk or Run on the treadmill Think about and journal about one idea that is on your mind Walk or Run on the treadmill again or choose another activity
Clean Kitchen Clear dishes & load dishwasher Wipe counters, surfaces, tables, etc. Vacuum & mop floor Have a cup of coffee J (not everything takes an hour)
Plan an e-book Decide on a topic Create an outline Research specific areas Write first 500 words

 

 

The idea is to just do it for 15 minutes.  When the 15 minutes is over, stop.  You can pick it up the next day or even later in the day if you want to return to it. By doing Power Hours the STRENGTH is in the 15-minute muscle you are working.  And just like any muscle that is worked repeatedly it will grow.  You will create days filled with Power Hours that move you forward to complete your Goals.  Can anyone say, SUCCESSFUL?

 

Be filled to overflowing,

 

Deneen

Tell me about yourself . . .

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How do you identify yourself when someone asks, “Tell me about you?”. What is the first thing you think of when you are asked, “What do you do?”.  Now, I don’t want to put you out or anything because I know that you Network and people expect you to tell them your Business.  I also know that in social situations they are expecting answers about family and hobbies.

But this post is about your Business and your Faith.  How are you living that out each day in your Marketplace?  Do you know there is a way to have the mind of Christ even in the boardroom (1 Cor 2:16)?   There is a way to be connected and pray constantly even when working on a project (1 Thess 5:17)? Are you leading your life in such a way that others notice you are different? Are you living in a way that makes you the person they want to be around?

Part of this attraction is really doing your best. It is about doing ALL to His glory (1 Cor 10:31) and that means going beyond the standard and become, as Seth Godin says, the Linchpin.  It is a plain and simple GREAT Business practice.  By being the most helpful, the most enthusiastic, the most trusted, the most remarkable and the most reliable you will stand out as someone different.

But I am bouncing around here.  Let’s go back to answer the question, “Who are you?”. It is easy to say you are ‘your profession’.  It easy to say ‘a role’ you have in your life.  Let’s go deeper.  . . How do you want people to see who you are?  How can they see Christ through you?

One, bring your best self to the job.  Attitude is something you can control.  Have the attitude of Christ (Phil 2:1-5) and serve others. By being in His Word each day you will develop a better attitude. Filling yourself up first with Him transforms your attitude, You, into your best self.  The one that attracts others.

Two, connect to others in your marketplace that are like-minded. This may mean actually talking about your faith so you can find one another.  Having a conversation that includes not only your tailgating adventures over the weekend but also your church attendance.  Carve out time to connect with other Christians that can support and encourage you (1 Thess 5:11).  God has placed you in the same environment to shine a light.  Together that light burns brighter than just you alone.

Three, develop relationships that bring others to God.  This involves getting into others’ lives.  Ask God to reveal to you that one person at work you should reach out to and strengthen that bond of friendship.  Just one person, one family, one at a time.  Share your life with them.  Show them you (2 Cor 6:3-4).  Watch God work.

So, how do you identify yourself? As a believer in Jesus Christ?  As a person who has a relationship with the creator of the universe?  As a child of the King? Be proud of your life in Christ.  Do everything for Him.  Use His principles in your everyday life at work, at home, at the gym, at the store, wherever.

Three easy steps to the Christian life: know who you are by studying His Word; seek others like you to build a foundation and gain support; and, reach out to others and show them there is more in life and share that they can have it too.

Matthew 5:16 says, “In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”

Be filled to overflowing,

 

Deneen

 

Leaning In takes Courage

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For me, this journey, this real Leaning in, began fourteen years ago with a diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis.  At the time I was Homeschooling my two elementary aged children, running a successful teaching business with High School Level Spanish, and going to Graduate School.  It was July 4th that year.  For four months I suffered through debilitating fatigue and a cascade of symptoms that included a burning spine and falling because my leg just seemed to have vanished.  I was only able to function because everywhere I went I would lay down.  This included the sofa at home during ‘school’, the floor at piano lessons, and the seat in the car during dance class. I had help keeping the house clean and I managed to feed my family. On top of everything I continued to have a headache at the base of my skull and a severe auditory sensitivity.  The pain continued for more than two years with varying degrees of pain killers that never quite got rid of the headache. I was devastated.

For that first year after diagnosis I was mad at God for allowing this to happen to me.  I felt He had abandoned me and I could not find Him. I was lost.  It was like He was out there, somewhere, but hidden from me; like the clouds were obscuring Him from my view.  I asked for advice and sought council only to get the pat answers of ‘pray more’, ‘ask God’, or ‘get into the Word’.  Ugh!  I needed answers to my questions, not platitudes. Having been in the religious world my entire life this was a real crisis of faith for me and no one could help. George Barna in his book, Maximum Faith, identifies ten stops along the path toward wholeness. I was at stop seven, ‘experiencing personal brokenness’.

And believe me, I was broken.

God uses these times of ‘brokenness’ to teach us important things.  For me it was that I REALLY needed to depend on Him. This manifested itself first in my sleep patterns.  At the beginning I was actually afraid to sleep.  By googling and reading stories about other people with MS I realized that I could go to sleep one night and not be able to move the next morning.  I couldn’t imagine waking up and being totally paralyzed from the neck down!  I had to take sleeping pills for a while.  I felt terrible that I didn’t seem to have enough faith and that my attitude was horrible.  Then, I decided to just start thanking God each morning when I did get out of bed.  I thanked Him that He allowed me to take care of my family.

I didn’t keep a journal then.  I wish I had so I could remember the step-by-step process God brought me through.  I look back and see the growth that happened because I needed to work in my strength, my mind. I looked at what I could do and rationalized it by thinking it through.  An important sanity measure at the time.  I cried out to Him, looked more earnestly for Him.  My Bible became the only thing I could turn to in order to find Him. I still do this, I take time each day to reflect on Who God is and what He is doing in my life to change me, no transform me, into the woman He wants me to be. By seeking God through His Word, I was still able to find Him and listen to Him, discern the right thing to do, be teachable. And most of all, have courage.

C.S. Lewis says, “Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point.”  God was testing me, and I wanted to win.

I do know this too, if I had not been on this journey I would not be in the sweet spot with my Savior that I am in now. These years have been a filling of Him in a way I never experienced in all my years in the church and as a believer in Jesus.  I have searched for Him with all my heart, not just my head, I have learned many things by studying His Word, I have witnessed God moving in the hearts of people that I was privileged to minister to, and I have experienced His love so profoundly in my life that I am secure in Him, forever.

So my dear friend, Are you at a place where there is a disconnection between having the peace of God in your life and your actual faith-walk? Are you longing for a deeper relationship with Christ but don’t know just what to do next? Do you crave more meaning in your day-to-day as you represent Christ in your home and marketplace?

If you answered ‘yes’ you are not alone.  I searched for a long time and have gone through many Bible Studies, Retreats, Books, and such to find my answers.  I don’t want this for you.  Let me help you discover your best way to connect to the Father.

 

Be filled to overflowing,

 

Deneen

P.S. Connect with me to set up a 30-minute discovery appointment.  I want to chat with you.