DeneenTB

Helping you to do MORE for God through your Work

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Build a Life that is Whole, Holy, & Authentic

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Before Christ went to the cross He prayed for his disciples and He prayed for us too. In John chapter 17 He said, “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me. I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.”

Jesus prayed for you to love Him and the Father and to fulfill you part in His plan for the world. It is possible to live the life God has designed for you. It is possible to live Whole (healed), Holy (correctly), and Authentic (worthy). AND, it can be done as you serve God through your Calling and work.

Whole

We all have experiences, good and bad, that have shaped who we have become. Some experiences gave us confidence in who we are, while others tore at the core of our being and left scars.

God wants to heal you. This happens when we are in relationship with Him. Jeremiah 17:14 says, “O Lord, if you heal me, I will be truly healed; if you save me, I will be truly saved. My praises are for you alone!”

When we look for help outside of God, we can become confused and farther from Him. His ways and reasons are to always point us to Him first. Because Jesus died for us, we now can receive His healing and be whole.

“He (Jesus) personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed.” (1 Peter 2:24)

We can be who God has called us to be when we allow Him to heal the parts of us that were hurt by others, by sin, and by our own wrong choices. Each experience gives us opportunity to depend more on Him for our actions each day. We can live whole.

What hurts are you holding on to that you can give to God for healing?

Holy

Once we are believers in Jesus, God calls us into holy living. Being holy means being set apart to do something special. Our lives need to look different than others who do not know Christ. We can live holy because God gave the Holy Spirit to help us. Paul tells it to us this way, “We can say with confidence and a clear conscience that we have lived with a God-given holiness and sincerity in all our dealings. We have depended on God’s grace, not on our own human wisdom. That is how we have conducted ourselves before the world, and especially toward you.” (2 Corinthians 1:12)

Yes, we are not perfect and there will be times we disappoint God and ourselves. What is truly wonderful, is that God forgives us when we genuinely come to Him with true repentance. Sometimes we find it hard to forgive ourselves and the enemy uses that to make us feel like we will never measure up. But it is a lie.

God promises to be with us when we “. . . cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. And let us work toward complete holiness because we fear God.” (2 Corinthians 7:1) Yes, there are things we need to be doing to live correctly with God. And, as we do them (with the help of the Holy Spirit) we begin to see the fruits of living our life for Jesus: love, kindness, joy, peace, patience, self-control and more.

What thoughts play in your head and keep you from striving to be holy?

Authentic

This word is not in the Bible, but it is a popular word today. Some synonyms are true, reliable, faithful. God calls us to walk in a way that is worthy of Him. Paul reminded the Thessalonians of this, “We pleaded with you, encouraged you, and urged you to live your lives in a way that God would consider worthy. For he called you to share in his Kingdom and glory.”

The word does not mean to be rude because you are ‘speaking your truth’. We are called to place others before ourselves and to meet the needs of those God has placed in our sphere of influence. Being authentic does not mean we get to do whatever we want. Being authentic allows us to show up as the transformed person God has called into relationship with Himself.

God will make you worthy of the Calling He has placed on your life. Your responsibility is to live well, “So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away.” (1 Peter 1:10)

How are you aligning yourself with God to show up authentically in Him?

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God has put you in the marketplace so you can be His ambassador to those who do not know Him. You have a mission to go and make disciples and that comes from living a life that is Whole, Holy, and Authentic. God wants to heal your past, transform your present, and fulfill His plan for your future. Be the believer and disciple who lives in gratitude for all He has done for you by living to show His goodness and glory.

Be filled to overflowing,

Deneen

 

You’re a Woman God can use

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You are a woman God can use for His purposes. No matter what your background, educational status, or experiences- God wants to use you to make an impact for Him.

How can I say this so boldly? By looking at the women God used to fulfill some of the prophesies about Jesus.

Do you know the five women mentioned in the lineage of Jesus? They were women just like you and me. They were real women with real issues. They were not chosen because of their goodness but because it pleased God. They were not perfect, we are not perfect, yet God used them to bring about His plan.

They were part of HIStory and so are you.

 

Tamar– Genesis 38

Deceived her father-in-law, Judah, and became pregnant with twins. Though she tricked Judah, he called her righteous because she made him do the right thing.

Prophecy: Jesus from the tribe of Judah.

 

 

 

Rahab- Joshua 2 & 6

Lied to the King’s men for the hope of help to save herself and her family. She was a prostitute who became the wife of Salmon (from the tribe of Judah). Her faith in a God she didn’t know, saved her.

Prophecy: Nations will be blessed by Jesus.

 

 

Ruth– Book of Ruth

A foreigner who devoted her life to her mother-in-law Naomi and to her God. Ruth was poor and worked with excellence. She followed Naomi’s instructions to seduced Boaz and was redeemed.

Prophecy: Jesus born in Bethlehem

 

Bathsheba– 2 Samuel 11

A master manipulator who got what she wanted by becoming the wife of King David after having an affair with him. She may have been seduced by David but she was complicit in her husband’s murder.

Prophecy: Jesus directly descended from King David. 

 

 

 

Mary– Luke 1

Chosen by God to have His son. She was young and scared. She trusted God and stood up for what was right even when she didn’t understand.

Prophecy: Jesus born of a virgin.

God does not call perfect people. He calls you and me to live a life surrendered to Him. It is not important who you were, what you did, or how you used to be. God wants to be in relationship with Him. That’s why He sent Jesus.

He used these five ordinary and sinful women to bring HIStory into the world. AND, you are part of His STORY too. You are here to fulfill the part of God’s Plan that He designed for you.

What will you do now that you know?

Be filled to overflowing,

Deneen

P.S. A great first step is to come to the Clarity Retreat in January! HURRY, this is the last week to sign up, December 28th. Click HERE for details. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

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

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

PRAYER is-

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

 

Adjustment. We are all following a path in this life. Some paths are straightforward while others meander in different directions. No matter where they go or how they are travelled we are each on our own path. It is okay. Galatians 6:4-5 says, Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else. For we are each responsible for our own conduct.

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

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

 

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

 

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

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

Now move into intentional thinking: Prayer

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

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

 

Pray, Plan, Pray MORE.

Be filled to overflowing,

Deneen

 

 

 

Three Ways Your Personality SERVES Your Business

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By Design

God designed your personality so you stand out in your business. What is one thing about you that you know it is ALL you? Own it and use it to show YOU.

In my business it is my LOVE for learning new things and then teaching it to others in a way they can understand. I am especially fascinated with brain research, learning styles, and business strategies. It sets me apart in my coaching by creating personalized plans to meet each client’s needs.

How can your personality help you stand out in your business?

 

By Learning

Knowing your UVP (unique value PERSONALITY) attracts your ideal clients to you. What have your learned about yourself through assessments? Use these tests to get insights about how you function and lead in your business.

When I use my Command Strength to take charge of an event. I watch my tribe relax and become the participants instead of having to be ‘on’. It is FUN to watch these leaders take a break. They trust me to bring refreshing and refocusing to their businesses.

What part of your personality do you think attracts your clients?

 

By Acting

Don’t copy others. Show YOU all the time. Be your wacky, corny, serious, energetic self. How would others describe you to someone you just met? Showing up as your whole self is the way to be authentic so they know the real you. Never bring just part of you to the party.

Being who you are takes courage. Every day when I go out into the marketplace I prepare myself before by meeting with God (my CEO) and making sure I am aligning with Him. I can only be successful being ME by continually connecting with Him. This gives me courage to be ME.

What ONE thing can you do today to be more YOU?

 

By design, God created your personality so you can serve others uniquely. By learning, you can get to know specifically how He created you special and work within those qualities to attract those you were meant to serve. By acting, you can show up doing the things He has called you to do with courage because you know Whose you are and who you are called to serve.

 

Be filled to overflowing,

 

Deneen

P.S. Looking to know yourself better? Start with the Leadership Quiz.

 

 

The Great Commission & YOU

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Take the Great Commission Personally

If you have spent any time around me you know that I talk about how to live out the Great Commission. So, let’s review. ?

The Great Commission

In Matthew 28:18-19 Jesus says to, “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. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

The way I see it is that you need to ask God who are the five people in your life that need Jesus and just start praying for them. Then begin to have a deeper relationship with one or two of these people. When they know you care about them, you will have the opportunity to tell your story about being in relationship with Jesus.

I have said all this before and I wanted to make sure you remembered. ?

Before the Great Commission

BUT, I want you to 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.

There was a reason He gave them this command. AND, He gave the command to everyone present. He gives the same command to us today. We are not excluded from living out the Great Commission. In fact, we are part of the Church, the Church is the bride of Christ and as His bride 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?”

So, let’s back up to verse eighteen. It says, Jesus came and told 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 live out the Great Commission personally.

Your Great Commission

God has made you a steward of your sphere of influence. He is expecting you to live up to your Calling. And don’t forget, at the end of the Great Commission, He states that He is with you (and me) always until the end.

Do you get how much power has been given to you by God? Do you know He wants you to live out your Calling in the marketplace by being exactly who He created you to be? He wants you to figure out your BEST way to Serve Him through your work. To live out the Great Commission through your business.

I offer tools to help you do just that! The Calling Clarity Course is opening again. Get info by clicking here. We will go through exactly HOW God has made YOU: your personality, values, strengths, spiritual gifts, experiences, expertise, and talents. Through the Course you will pull all your pieces together to show up Whole, Holy and Authentic in your work.

Hurry to get your spot. ONLY five places are in this 8-week Course. Make 2018 the year you start living your Calling and living out your Great Commission.

 

Be filled to overflowing,

 

Deneen

 

 

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!

Trust God for the Results

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God gave you the vision for your business. . . trust Him. Only you can accomplish the purpose of your life. God gives supernatural gifts so you can live out His calling on your life. Are you confident in His plan and His provision for every decision you make?

The Spiritual gift of Faith is the ability to believe God will do things that are impossible for us apart from His involvement. Do you have Faith?

Rahab’s Trust

Rahab did. Her trust in God was real. 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.  She saw a BIG God and was overwhelmed with fear by what He had done.

The rumors and reports were true. The Israelites had wandered in the desert east of the Jordan for 40-years and had defeated all the powerful kings of the land. Now, they were poised to come into Jericho. Everyone was terrified.

This is where we meet Rahab.  Described in many commentaries as a hardworking business woman, labeled a prostitute, but also the owner of an inn. Her residence is in a strategic location on the city wall and she has the attention of the king. This suggests she has a somewhat respected reputation. Even with connections in the community she probably feels on the fringe of society, not really accepted.

We all feel like this at times. Her situation is like yours if you work in an environment where you can’t say no to others and are stuck in a place where you are devalued.  Plus, we have all played the recording in our heads that if someone finds out that ‘one thing about me’ they won’t accept me, they won’t like me.  I imagine she feels stuck with no way out.  And now, with the Jewish nation on the doorstep, she has nowhere to turn.

Rahab’s Plan

But, Rahab is a woman with a plan. This industrious, hard-working, multi-hat wearing woman has a plan. Maybe motivated by fear of what was going to happen, but I think she was motivated by what she heard God could do.  I imagine her sitting on her roof, scutching the flax she had laid out to dry and formulating what she would do if she had the chance, how she could save herself and her family.  As she scraped the wooden knife along the long strands of flax a plan formed.

How do I know? By her quick and decisive actions when she hides the spies and then lies to the king’s men.  She had made the decision to trust God before she even knew who He was. She was watching and expecting God to move and had already decided to follow Him. If God acted swiftly and powerfully in your life right now, would you be ready?

Her actions are courageous and she is given supernatural faith to stand up on the side of God’s people. Using faith in your business means you are looking 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.

Your Plan

Rahab’s plan formed as she worked on her roof, sitting alone, in the quiet of her day. This place of silence and solitude gave her heart time to listen and allowed God to fill her with the supernatural gift of Faith. Where do you go to take time to listen to God so He can fill you with a supernatural Spiritual Gift?

Find YOUR space to connect with God to ask Him the important questions at the CLARITY RETREAT. Start 2018 Listening to what God wants to tell your Heart as you connect your Faith & Business. Sign up today.