Daily Bible Reading
Okay, I admit that I start this every year – pretty much since I was 20 and while I have read every scripture in the Bible, I have never made it through the year with reading the Bible as planned. So this year I signed up to read the Bible daily with the BibleGateWay.com sending me the scriptures of the day in email. I read email daily so it should work for me. Join me here if you want: http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/readingplans/ So today’s reading caught my attention – Genesis 7:15f Pairs of all creatures that have the breath of life in them came to Noah and entered the ark. 16 The animals going in were male and female of every living thing, as God had commanded Noah. Then the LORD shut him in. I thought it was cool that the animals came to Noah – I never really got that in the past. Once again Our GOD is an AWESOME God! Now I can really see the movie Noah in action....
Read MoreWhat’s with the thorns?
Have you ever just felt like – ‘that’s it, I’m done – I don’t know what else to do!’ Well that was how I was feeling yesterday when I left for church. I was asking God things like, ‘what do you want from me?,’ what can I do?’ Then I was crying and feeling like nothing was working… I almost did not go to church, then I realized there would be a message there for me, my message… so I went. You are probably wondering what my dilemma is all about and this is where it gets kind of interesting. Do I tell all here and maybe it helps someone else or do I keep it to myself and just elude to things, you know – play it safe. After all we wouldn’t want everyone to know too much about our privates lives, right?!?! I will share, soon… for now my time is short and I want to write about the lesson. We had a different speaker today, Rod – he is great and I really got a lot out of the lesson. The title – What’s with the Thorns? – had to do with 2 Corinthians 12:7-10: (English Standard Version from BibleGateway.com) So(J) to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations,[a](K) a thorn was given me in the flesh,(L) a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8(M) Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9But he said to me, (N) ”My grace is sufficient for you, for(O) my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that(P) the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10(Q) For the sake of Christ, then,(R) I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For(S) when I am weak, then I am strong. Rod asked, “how can we benefit by being broken?” “When you are broken, you yield, and when you yield, you are empowered.” Jesus said, “My power is made perfect in weakness.” 2Corinthians 12:9...
Read MoreWhat to Say…
9“But be on your guard. For they will deliver you over to councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them. 10And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations.11And when they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. 12 And brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death. 13And you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. New English Standard Version, as found on Bible Gateway I have a very important meeting today, a conference call. I have created the senario over and over in my head about how it will go; what I will say, what the response will be. My Bible Reading today (as quoted above) reminds me that I am far better off, not being concerned about what to say. It is better to say a prayer and let the Holy Spirit take over. In this case it is way past time for me to get out of the way and let Him speak. I am going to post this, even before the call – admitting that God, with the Holy Spirit dwelling in me is far more capable of speaking for me…...
Read MoreStop saying yes to everything
For many years I fought with trying to help and please everyone I came in contact with. I have many skills: publisher, web designer, IT person, trainer, business owner, executive, graphic designer and so much more. I have been blessed by God to be able to do so many things. I am also an excellent clarifier, so I become invaluable when working with a client that does not know what they want. I translate and become that person or business to give them exactly what they want without requiring their direct answers. That gift of interpretation has gotten me into some not so good situations: I say YES to everything because I know I CAN do what they require and want. This can lead to me doing countless hours of work for a person without getting paid, over-extending myself so that I can not get all my projects done and the frustration at the end of the day realizing that I am not taking care of my own personal life (time) and my finances (since I do not always charge for my expertise). Not the best way to use my blessings… Recently I decided to look at what I was doing and see what I could do to make a change in my life. I admitted to myself what I do well: clarifier, web design, giving people what they want, graphic designer, quick at making changes, really good at IT stuff, writer, etc. Then I looked at what I am not good at: billing, selling, asking people to pay me for my services, etc. So I said YES to working with my friend Maureen McBride who is a brilliant sales and marketing person, very good at seeing what someone needs for their business to get the message out, very clear on what the possibilities are, great at getting PAID. Here is the fun part for me – she is not so good at the details, OH and I am! Yippi! So we decided to test out working together – she makes the sale, decides what to do and then I do the details – WOW! This works for both of us. The Results are great – I get to DO what I do best and she gets us paid, I LOVE it! The best part is that neither one of us has to feel the pressure of not getting what we said YES to done. The cooperative match works. It has also helped me to learn how to say NO to projects that do not fit what I do best. I don’t have to feel bad either – this way we both feel good. Consider saying NO next time something does not fit who you are… ...
Read MoreCEO Space Gratitude
Over the summer I have made several trips. On one trip I was in Long Beach to shoot video of Tamara Taylor for her new website. Lisa picked us up from the airport and told us we had to go to a CEOSpace meeting with her. Tamara and I had both been traveling for hours and were not ready to go to a “meeting” of any kind. We were stuck (Lisa was driving) and had to go. We were late and had to slip in the back of the room and at first Tamara and I were not listening or paying attention, then something happened and we both looked at each other. Wow, were we hearing correctly? Could this really be true? A networking group that is cooperative, not competitive; where members ask What are you doing and how can I help you? The speaker was different from anyone else I have heard speak Berny or BJ Dorhman, the CEO and Founder of CEOSpace. Tamara and I both stopped pretending to listen and really started listening. It was amazing. Later we got to do a sort of speed networking and then we found ourselves in a group with others. These people are so loving and truely interested in what we were doing. We laughed, cried, shared our dreams and so much more. You would have thought we had known each other for years. It is really difficult to explain. We were encouraged to meet with BJ the next night to see if CEOSpace was a possible fit for us. Tamara and I were not sure if we wanted to and if we would even have the time to meet – we did go and the meeting was unbelievable, really. I have a video of the conversation between Berny and Tamara, check back later to see it posted. Without Lisa all that happened in the next few months would not have been possible. I will save that for another post, this one is for Lisa. Lisa, I love you, I am grateful. Lisa makes the most beautiful one of a kind jewelry. I got to wear a Lisa Coltman original to the CEOSpace Forum in July – what an honor, you are really special when you own and wear a Lisa Coltman! I will post a photo of my name tag and a link...
Read More