DeneenTB

Helping you to do MORE for God through your Work

Spiritual Life

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.

Four Acts of ‘Hospitality’

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When you think of hospitality, what comes to mind?

Entertaining family and friends?

Martha Stewart?

A laborious chore?

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

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

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

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

Hospitality Actions

1. Get to know someone better.

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

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

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

2. Make it a heart connection.

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

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

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

3. Learn to use active listening

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

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

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

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

4. Let others know you are thinking about them

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hospitality Challenge

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

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

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

 

Be filled to overflowing,

Deneen

Reach Your Potential

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“The secret to success can be found in people’s daily agendas. If they do something intentional to grow every day, they move closer to reaching their potential. If they don’t, their potential slowly slips away over the course of their lifetime.” John Maxwell

Business & Faith-life

Working to reach your potential begins with working on YOU from the inside out. It is like a three-tiered fountain from which water bubbles up through the center and fills the first cup, you. As this first cup slowly fills it begins to glide over the edges to the other parts of the fountain, this is you, overflowing to the other parts of your life. You cannot be the person you want to be, the person you are called to be, if you have not filled yourself up first.

Ultimately it is your Faith-life that defines how you are filling up because only by drawing from God can you hope to live in the purpose and potential you were designed to live in.

How’s that going for you? Are you setting apart time for thinking, reflecting, and sharing your heart with God?

Faith-life

There is a super-abundance of power available to you by meeting with God each day. Power to handle the day’s stresses, power to overcome the negative thoughts in your mind, power to rise above the temptations that are presented to you. You can access His Power by learning more about Him and communicating with Him.

I have been studying many Spiritual Disciplines and have come up with these eight.

Prayer & Meditation

Bible Reading, Study, & Memorization

Praise & Worship

Service & Hospitality

Fasting

Journaling

Sabbath

Creative Silence & Solitude

You can find a more detailed explanation of each of these Practices as a FREE e-book to download on my website.

Daily-life

Start today with one of these practices. The first two are internal practices. This is where your first cup on the fountain fills up, YOU. Not only do you ‘pencil in’ an appointment with God into your daily agenda . . . come to this appointment with enthusiasm and excitement about what you are going to learn about God and how your relationship with Him will grow.

Where are you stuck? How are you showing up when you attempt Bible Reading and Prayer? You CAN make time for God. You CAN be filled with His presence. You CAN tap into His super-abundance. You CAN live up to your potential. It is all found in your daily agenda and being intentional.

Business-life

John says-

Good Decisions – Daily Discipline = A plan without a payoff

Daily Discipline – Good Decision = Regimentation without reward

Good Decisions + Daily Discipline = A masterpiece of potential

Apply this in your business life as well. Fill up on good things so you overflow in all parts of your life in a way that is meaningful and in alignment with your calling.

God has called you to the marketplace and He wants you to live up to your potential. He has called you to show His goodness to those in your sphere of influence. He can only work through you if He is IN you.

Are you looking for something MORE to help you connect to God’s super-abundance and tap into His power in your life? Do you want to do MORE for God in your day-to-day activities?

Join me for the Clarity Leadership Conference & Retreat. This interactive, hands-on experience will give you the tools to access God’s power in your life and live out your calling as you serve others.

Be filled to overflowing,

Deneen

Philippians 1:9 I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding.

Leaning In and Working Out

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“We hold ourselves back in ways both big and small, by lacking self-confidence, by not raising our hands, and by pulling back when we should be leaning in.” Sheryl Sandberg’s book Lean In: Women, Work and the Will to Lead.

After I read this book I was intrigued with the idea of Leaning In . . . to God. Throughout the book one message rings clear, if you want something or want to do something then you have to stand up for it and sometimes fight for it. Are you, as a Woman of Faith, ‘fighting’ for the ONE relationship that matters most?

Let’s look into this concept LEAN IN. I love acronyms so I have devised this one to help you visualize the actions behind it.

L- listen to God

E- evaluate and reframe your viewpoint

A- access His power

N- note or place your attention, reflect

I- imitate the Father and Christ

N- His name, your reputation and whose you are.

Only by pulling together each of these actions can you grow your faith in a way that is not dependent on your church attendance but is dependent on God.

What is possible by Leaning In to God? Everything. How? First, you need to fill up on Him each day by taking time with Him. Then you can access His super-abundance by creating habits that matter. You take control of your spiritual growth by cooperating with God. AND, you show your commitment to the Father in your actions each day.

Leaning In to God takes your Heart, Soul, Mind and Strength. It begins with looking on the inside. Your Heart represents your feelings and emotions. Your Soul is that part of you that is imaginative and just knows when something is right, your intuition. The Mind incorporates your intellect and also gives you your ability to reason. Your Strength includes your actions and your experiences.

God tells us to love Him with all these parts of ourselves. Only by cultivating practices that grow your faith in a way that makes sense to you will you actually follow through and be consistent in Leaning In to God.

Imagine, Leaning In– to God, in your way; Leaning In to God the way He designed you. Don’t hold back from Him out of your fears or out of a lack of self-confidence. You can do it through the Personalized Faith Plan. Download it now and start your adventure connecting to God in a whole new way.

Raise your hand and say, “I will do it”. Step forward and make a commitment TO do it. And, Lean In to God . . .

Be filled to overflowing,

 

Deneen

 

When there is no more to offer

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A while back I felt like I had nothing more to offer. I was going in so many directions, following so many ‘experts’ and trying to do it all to make my business grow.  I thought I was doing it right. I thought this was what God wanted. Then I crashed. The very thing I thought I was to be doing was taken away from me. It was hard.

I decided to rest for a while and regroup. During that time, I felt empty. I didn’t know how to pick up and start again. In this rest-time I also discovered God in a new way and He taught me to put everything before Him, allow Him to fill me, and wait. Waiting is hard for me.

It took about six months and I must say it was worth the wait. As I have given God each of my ideas, my programs, my personality, my gifts, my. . . well, everything, I have seen tremendous growth in my life and business.

Empty

How about you? After a day of kids, carpools, laundry, meal planning, cooking, cleaning, marketing, phone calls, meetings, networking, and clients you can feel like you are going in many directions. And, you can feel a little empty. Let’s face it, a lot of empty. I forgot to mention your self-care that includes exercise, eating well, and spiritual renewal (aka, time with God). Are you there? Do you feel that drain as you read the list?  I feel the drain just writing it.

It was like that for the Widow in Debt. Do you remember her (2 Kings 4)? She had run out of everything and now her sons were in danger of being taken from her. She was at the end of what she felt she could physically do. But what she did have was. . . a little oil.

You might feel empty, but I bet you have a little oil.

Filling

God wants us to trust Him with the little things. He builds our faith on what we hold out to Him. You may feel you have nothing to offer, but you do. Think about those tasks that come easily to you. Give it to God for His use. He will pour it out and bless it.

For the Widow, healing came from acting. She is given a project to do so she is focused on what she has, the little oil, and not on what she does not have. She displayed her complete trust in God by getting to work.

God asks you to offer what you have so He can use it (Rom 12:1). He asks you to start with the small things in your life- your schedule, attitudes, and relationship with Him. Then He expects you to look at the bigger things in your life and hold th’re you do. What qualities has God equipped you with for your business that you need to hold out to Him so He can bless?

Start offering the oil so you can pour it out on all that God has for you.

 

Be filled to overflowing,

Deneen

P.S. Schedule a FREE Clarity Session. I would LOVE to discover how you can use your ‘little oil’ to do MORE for God.

 

Stepping into Challenges for Progress

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My challenge over the last few years has been around making progress toward my vision. After leaving teaching I became a serial entrepreneur. I began with teaching Spanish classes & camps, then went into direct sales & leading a networking group, and now I have transitioned into an author, speaker & Clarity coach.

I look at this line of adventures and ask myself- Have I made any progress?

Progress

For me, progress means taking one step at a time. There is the adage, ‘the journey of 1,000 miles begins with one step’. Looking back at all those years I feel like I have walked those miles. How about you?

Another thing I have come to realize is that progress only happens when you take on the next challenge. That means trusting God to provide help. Now, I am a risk-taker. That doesn’t always mean the risk pays off the way I thought but it does mean I trust God so I can take the next step into what He is calling me to do.

Making progress also means having patience. I have my timelines, and I work hard to achieve my goals, but sometimes I am anxious. That’s when I turn to Philippians 4:8 and use it as a check list and filter. What is true? What is right? What is lovely? What is praiseworthy? It really works to take those thoughts captive and turn them into Truth.

And, never forget to celebrate progress! Celebrate when you accomplish a step in your plan. The most beneficial times for me have been when I have taken time to look back and see all the small steps I have taken to get to where I am right now. God wants you and me to be satisfied in our work, not just satisfied when we finish the work. Jesus came to give us a rich and satisfying life (John 10:10).

Steps

What step are you wanting to take in your business? Are you trying to get started? Are you wanting to grow? God has you, He gave you the desire and He will give you direction. Trust Him and take the step.

What challenge are you facing right now in your business? It could be He is asking you to do something that is out of your comfort zone. Leadership? I know this is one area that God has challenged me. We can only make progress if we believe we are working as a leader. The Clarity Leadership Conference & Retreat can help you Clarify your leadership style and how to best use it for your business or ministry.

I guess I can say YES, I have made progress over the years. Each step I have taken has taught me a skill for the next. Each time I have waited on God the results have gotten better. And, it has been worth every step because I am doing it with God.

Look at your past week- What progress have you made for your business and other projects? Give gratitude to the Father for His help. 😊

 

Be filled to overflowing,

Deneen

 

 

 

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

 

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