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Last week, I was blessed to be at a breakfast that was raising funds for an amazing ministry, WorkFaith Connection. I had heard most of the testimonies before and was close to quite a few of those testifying but I was still moved to tears. WorkFaith Connection is all about helping others understand and find the wonderful gift of work. More than a job…a new life!
As I was reviewing one of The Master’s Program books, The Spirit of Disciplines, later that same day this quote by Martin Luther helped me make another connection between Work and Faith.
[Faith] is a living well-founded confidence in the grace of God, so perfectly certain that it would die a thousand times rather than surrender its conviction. Such confidence and personal knowledge of divine grace makes its possessor joyful, bold, and full of warm affection toward God and all created things – all of which the Holy Spirit works in faith. Hence, such a man becomes without constraint willing and eager to do good to everyone, to serve everyone, to suffer all manner of ills, in order to please and glorify God, who has shown toward him such grace. Because of an unwavering faith (i.e. confidence, assurance, belief, knowledge) that God’s grace covers me, it compels me to be a good worker as well as a good friend, a good family member and even a good enemy. My gratitude for having the physical ability or mental capacity (all given by God) to even have a job should motivate me to give my “utmost for His Highest.” Assurance of His grace should not spur me on to slothfulness but to doing all things as unto the Lord!
The profound thing is this…we don’t need to “work” harder but rather have more faith. This increased faith will then impact our work. Of course, our cry will always be, “Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief!”
How is your faith being demonstrated in your work – whether at the office or at home? Do we demonstrate our faith in God’s grace by the way we do “life” with those around us?
October 1st, 2010 Filed under Intentional Living Comments Off
Wahoo! It is the 1st of October! A new month, a new quarter and it is on a Friday! 
It could only be better if it was a Sunday then it would be a new week as well. I LOVE new beginnings. Pulling out the next set of pages for my planner – they are all blank without anything on them but possibility. It is also a great responsibility – this precious commodity of time. In a flash, it will be gone and I can never reclaim it but if I am mindful and aware, stewardship will come naturally and I will hear a “well done.”
We all know that the last quarter of the year flies by because of the “push” the retail world does toward Christmas (I saw them putting up Christmas lights yesterday at Highland Village and it is not even Halloween!) as well as the busyness of our schedules. So, if we are not intentional with our time, the quarter will be gone and we will be eating black-eyed peas and turnip greens on January 1st regretting what we did not get done. I challenge you today to make a plan so that does not happen. Why not rejoice on that day by setting a few simple goals that will help you be a good steward of this commodity called time?
To give you some ideas, here is what can be done in 90 days in some key areas of our lives.
Lose 10 pounds. Ramp up the exercise, reduce your portions of food (some of us can do by half – others may only need 10-20% reduction) and do not indulge daily from the Halloween candy to the Thanksgiving turkey to the Christmas treats.
Save $250. Are you a Starbuck’s drinker? $4 a day times 5 days a week times 13 weeks. You can even make it spiritually and say you are fasting from Starbuck’s!
Save $650. Are you a family of four that eats out regularly? $50 a meal times 12 weeks…you get the picture
Memorize Psalm 32. It is only 11 verses long!
Read 3 books on significant areas of your life (i.e. marriage, faith, family, leadership, teaching, etc.) On average people read 200 words per minute and a book is on average 60,000 words. If you read only 15 minutes a day, you can read a book in 20 days. Why not skip one TV show a night (they will be doing re-runs in January) and read instead? If you are married, why not read it out loud and discuss it? You may not get as many books read but having deep conversations with your spouse is way more important.
Send 26 handwritten note cards to encourage or bless those who are in your life. Don’t be too closed minded about this….include your friends and family but why not write a note to your pastor or to your Sunday school teacher or the custodian who empties the trash in your office? Also, don’t forget to think about those whom you may never hear back from – governmental leadership that you pray for and support; a solider serving in the military or a famous pastor or Bible teacher who has really impacted your life.
Read the Bible in 90 Days or at least the New Testament.
Take your child out on 13 dates or for that matter how about your spouse. (To not throw #2 or #3 from above off, here are 21 cheap dates that you can modify to do with your child or your spouse.)
Train for a 5K (even if you are a couch potato).
These are just a few of the hundreds of things you can accomplish in just 90 days. What about you? How are you going to avoid regrets on 1/1/11? What are you going to do in the next 90 days? Would love to hear from you!
August 2nd, 2010 Filed under Intentional Living Comments Off
In May of 2005 at a retreat for about 60 women, I had the privilege of spending quality time with amazing women such as Jennifer O’Neill, Cheryl Reccord and Vonette Bright. Mrs. Bright as many of you know is the wife of Campus Crusade founder, Bill Bright. During the long weekend together, I was able to visit with Mrs. Bright and during our conversation I asked how I could pray for her. She immediately responded, “That I would finish well.”
Last week as I read about many of the kings of Judah in II Chronicles, this prayer request came to my mind because most, despite starting strong, did not finish well. I have been there – have you? You know, start a diet on Monday and do great until Wednesday’s lunch at the Mexican restaurant and I go off track. Or start on January 1 to read the Bible through in a year and do great until I get to the list of who is begetting who in Genesis or the laws in Leviticus and I stop. Or I use kind words to those around me until I get cut off in traffic.
Despite the starts and stops, if we want to finish well, we can never quit at a “stop” but we must begin again. There are five months left in 2010 and I want to finish 2010 well so I must finish August well, September well, October well, etc. I think you get the picture. Finishing well does not happen at the finish line but at each day along the way.
Where do you want to finish well? In five months, 20 pounds of weight loss is possible or going from couch potato to 10K race is obtainable. You can read the entire New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs in five months or memorize 20 verses of the Bible. You could send 50 or more encouraging notes to your friends and family or read 10 books.
If you would like to finish strong in 2010, why don’t you take just a few minutes now and write out three goals that you would like to accomplish in the next five months? Take those goals and make a plan each day to work on them. I have done that and, if you do it as well, I believe we will both be amazed at what we can accomplish.
Accountability is one of those areas in my life that I have a huge love-hate relationship. As a sales person and as a development director, reporting my “numbers” (i.e. calls made, appointments held, sales closed or money raised) seemed like such a hassle but when I did not have to report I always did worse than when I did report. Accountability – it can be a burden but it makes me a better person.
In my spiritual life, I also need accountability. Folks that I know will ask me the tough questions and will not be afraid to confront me if they have discerned that I might be off course. They are not my Holy Spirit nor are they the righteousness police just looking for a chance to nail me. First and foremost, they are friends who love me with an agape love. They are looking out for my best interest. They are also men and women whom I have given the right to hold me accountable. I trust them and desire them to speak into my life. I am a better person because of their influence in my life and for that I am eternally grateful.
The psalmist David had accountability in his life in the form of a prophet named Nathan. Nathan helped David process through big decisions (see 2 Samuel 7 as David contemplates building the temple for God.) Nathan rebuked David when he had committed grievous sins (see 2 Samuel 12 concerning his sins against Bathsheba and Uriah.) Lastly, Nathan gently reminds David of his promises (see 1 Kings 1 as David makes Solomon king.)
Nathan traveled with David throughout his life and both encouraged and confronted this giant killer. What about you? Do you have a Nathan in your life? If so, how has your Nathan made you a better person?
As I shared in my earlier blogs, TMPW has impacted my life in profound ways but the last way I want to share is really the coolest way. As an Activator (see earlier blog), dreaming is challenging to me because I don’t daydream, I just do it as soon as I think it.
However, TMPW forced me to get in that settled place and make a list of dreams. What is so amazing about making a list is that things on the list just start to happen. I believe there are two reasons for this…the power of the mind and the awesomeness of God. When we write things down, our mind begins working on it – even if it is subconscious. I also believe that when God sees us write it down He believes us and begins making things happen to accomplish it. He wants to give us the desires of our heart when we are fixed on Him.
Through the exercise I also began dreaming beyond myself. Because of my self-reliance and independence (read “pride” here), I struggle to dream beyond my capabilities. By using the tools given to me by TMPW I can dream on a whole different level and I so look forward to the amazing things the Dream Master will do in my life in the next 12 months, 3 years, decade.
Come start discovering your dreams! First meeting is this week!! Please contact me to let me know if you would like to come or have any further questions.
Earlier I shared of two ways in which the TMPW impacted my life – living intentionally and the process of change. Today I want to share a fantastic blessing of being a part of TMPW – the books we received. As an avid reader (thanks, mom, for instilling that in me), this component was especially meaningful.
Of all the 30+ books we receive, by far, the one book that had the greatest influence on me w
as Strengths Finder 2.0. It was so impactful that I gave about 30 of these books away as Christmas gifts in 2009. My top strengths were Achiever, Activator, Strategic, Communication and Discipline. They all fit me to a tee and others agreed. It was so influential because it gave me clarity on the skills that the Lord had created in me. I was better able to understand myself and why I make a to-do list on vacation and why I can be impatient at inactivity. I cannot use these as excuses to ignore the Spirit of God in me or the Biblical commands He has given us, but they have helped me know exactly what my role is in His Kingdom.
Another area of growth for me has to be the Sabbath. As an achiever and activator, rest is hard for me. But as I learned through TMPW as well as reading The Rest of God by Mark Buchanan, if I want to restore my soul then I have to rest. I also learned that Sabbath does not mean that I am sitting around doing nothing. I might be taking a lesson at the Apple store or getting a massage. I actually signed up as a monthly member of Massage Envy to “force” myself to rest. Now, I am not perfect in this area by any means but by practicing a regular Sabbath these past three years, I know that resting in Him during a significant transition in my life in the Spring of 2010 was possible.
Would so love to have you join me on July 1st for the introductory meeting! Please contact me to let me know if you would like to come or have any further questions.
In my earlier post, I began sharing how TMPW
has significantly impacted my life. Today I want to share another teaching that I think about on almost a daily basis, The process of change. Here are the four steps:
Step 1: Unconscious incompetence.
Step 2: Conscious incompetence.
Step 3: Conscious competence.
Step 4: Unconscious competence.
It made such sense to me and I began asking myself how do I move – and how do others move – from Step 2 to Step 3? Often, I would know that I was failing in an area but I would not take the initiative to get better. Unfortunately, the only thing that moves me – and I believe most people – is pain. When the pain gets greater than the ignorance, we are willing to move. So when pain comes in my life, whether it is physical, emotional, mental or spiritual – the first question I ask myself is “Is there an area in my life where I am ignoring what I know to be true?” The longer I wait before making the change the greater the pain. This was big motivation to make changes in my life.
It has become a goal of mine to change before the pain gets too great. When I recognize or am told of an area that I need to work on, I try to go ahead and jump on it so that the pain does not have to increase. It has also allows me to free others that may be doing things, as I see it, wrong. When the pain gets great enough in them they will change. (Of course, I have to remind myself, often, that God is usually NOT calling me to be the source of pain for them.)
Come be a part of the wonderful TMPW experience! First meeting is just around the corner. Please contact me to let me know if you would like to come or have any further questions. Plan on being a part of experiencing The Master’s Program for Women up close and personal. You might learn how to avoid some pain!
As many of you know from my posts and in my blogs, I am pretty pumped about teaching The Master’s Program for Women (TMPW)! Why am I so excited about teaching it? 
I am thrilled because TMPW changed my life and when something that powerful impacts me I not only want to tell others but come alongside and help them experience the impact of living an intentional life. Which leads right into the very first example of how it changed my life….
In the very first session of the three year course, there is a teaching from Ephesians 5:15, 16 that says, “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” (KJV) The keyword to me is circumspectly – coming from the same root as circumference. So I began having a 360-degree look at my life. How was I doing in all the realms of my life (Personal, Influence and Kingdom)? It really prompted me to live diligently and intentionally. I am not one to be loosy-goosy but this really pushed me over the edge to be mindful of every moment of every day.
Over the next week or so I will share three more specific examples of the life-changing impact TMPW had on my life. Please plan on joining me at the next session – it is starting in just a few weeks!! The introductory meeting will be July 1st from 3 pm – 8 pm at a friend’s home, which is located not far from Beltway 8 and Memorial Drive. Please contact me to let me know if you would like to come or have any further questions. Dinner will be served so plan on being a part of experiencing The Master’s Program for Women up close and personal. You will be blessed!
If you read my earlier post, you know that I am on a great adventure!! Since resigning from LifeHouse of Houston in February, the Lord has continued to led me on an amazing walk and through it all He has shown Himself, once again, so faithful. God continues to reveal confirmation after confirmation to not get a “real” job but to do my own consulting and coaching business. God has demonstrated this to me in a really cool way – almost like a postcard in the mail – people have called (and continue to call) asking me to work with them. To date, all of my engagements have been prompted by my clients. How much clearer does He need to be?
One of my clients, The Master’s Program for Women (TMP), is a unique three-year program of life-designing and coaching that encourages women to discover and pursue God’s plans for their lives. It has been developed to answer their deepest questions as well as help them gain a new understanding of their Kingdom Calling – that one thing that God created only THEM to do for His Kingdom. TMP focuses on one’s ability to manage the foremost issues in their life, including their faith, family, career, relationships and the varied opportunities to serve.
I went through TMP as a participant beginning in 2006 and as I applied the tools I gained in the program, I became more balanced in my life. I experienced increased margin in my day to day living and gained a clearer focus of God’s calling on my life. I believe that these last five months would have turned out totally different if not for the coaching and knowledge I received through TMP!!
The time commitment is only a 5-hour class once a quarter that will include lectures, small group activities as well as fellowship over a meal. The same group of ladies stays together throughout the three-year time period and has a great opportunity to experience community. The “homework” each quarter can be a couple of hours or several days just depending on what peaks her interest. On a quarterly basis, I will also meet one on one with the participants to give personalized coaching on her greatest area of need.
The first class is starting in just a few weeks on July 1st!! And so, the adventure continues….
It is amazing what we can do today with the advances in technology!! The “Living Out Loud Intentionally” blogradio interview I did the last Wednesday in 2009 is a perfect example of that. I was sitting in a Suburban in a shopping mall parking lot in Buford, Georgia using my cell phone (I was suppose to be on a LAN line so don’t tell the shows producers.) Meanwhile, Dr. Carolyn was in Houston, TX uploading this live interview to the world wide web. Click here to hear the interview.
The most amazing part of the whole thing is the seamlessness of it all. It was as if Dr. Carolyn and I were sitting across from one another; both to us and the listeners. Yet, we were hundreds of miles apart!! Because of the seamlessness of syncing my iPhone calendars, contacts and tasks I switched to a Mac platform. Now I can schedule an appointment or save a phone number and never worry about remembering to plug in my phone to my computer. It happens automatically! Oh, for all of my life to be as seamless!
What are some of the things you do to make your life more seamless?
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