So much on my heart and mind—not sure where to begin except to state: I’m not Linda so don’t expect the deep, thoughtful and profound communication she is so good at.
As she prepares for an upcoming speaking engagement she needed someone to do the weekly blog. I thought a good topic to blog on would be about opening doors for others. It’s something that has been on my heart for awhile because I see it happen a lot with the Christian men leaders I get to associate with but I haven’t seen it happen as much for us gals. Why?
I’d like to propose a few reasons, some may have validity and others may just be my way to voice concerns, either way, if you’re reading this I hope it prompts you to think about doors you need others to open for you and doors you need to open for others.
#1: You’re too self-reliant to let others know you need a door open. (This one hurt!)
#2: You may not think you’re worthy to have others open doors for you.
#3: You don’t want to be ” duty bound” to help when others need it because life is just so busy, overwhelming or unpredictable that you can't imagine doing one more favor for someone else.
#4: You’re not sure what the “rules” are for playing.
#5; You’re jealous of the God-given gifts of other women so you can’t possibly open doors for them to succeed because that means you won’t. (What a lie-when we lift Jesus higher, He draws all men to Himself. How do we lift Jesus higher? By walking confidently and assuredly in His gifts demonstrated by our lifestyle).
#6: You’re a perfectionist and nothing others do is going to be good enough, so if you can’t do it yourself, it’s not from God.
#7: You’re indecisive and tossed by every wave that comes your way so you don’t know which door to ask others to open for you.
Do any of these resonate with you? If so, what do you need to do or who do you need to reach out to? Take the next step and see what happens. It’s all a grand adventure when we live outside our comfort zone, anyway!
Monday, November 30, 2009
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Something To Be Thankful For – For Sure!
Acts 10 describes the calling, purification, baptism and Holy Spirit filling of Cornelius’ family and close friends. This was a monumental moment in the early church; God included Gentiles in the blessings originally promised to his chosen people. It changed the face of what the Christian-Jews thought Christianity was going to look like.
(Has God ever radically changed your understanding of His Kingdom?)
Even beyond Old Testament prophecies, this event was foretold within the Jews’ own traditional writings. I find this fascinating:
“the Jews themselves own, that what is now unclean, will be clean
in the time to come, or the times of the Messiah; they say, ‘every
beast which is unclean in this world, the holy blessed God (htwa
rhjm), cleanses it, in the time to come, (the times of the
Messiah,) as they were at first clean to the sons of Noah (Genesis
9:3), wherefore, as the herb was clean to all, and as the beasts
were clean to the sons of Noah; so also in the time to come he will
loose what he has bound, or forbidden.’”
John Gill, biblestudytools.org
I am certainly thankful God has loosed what was forbidden. I am certainly thankful God has included me in his saving purification!
What are you thankful for?
(Has God ever radically changed your understanding of His Kingdom?)
Even beyond Old Testament prophecies, this event was foretold within the Jews’ own traditional writings. I find this fascinating:
“the Jews themselves own, that what is now unclean, will be clean
in the time to come, or the times of the Messiah; they say, ‘every
beast which is unclean in this world, the holy blessed God (htwa
rhjm), cleanses it, in the time to come, (the times of the
Messiah,) as they were at first clean to the sons of Noah (Genesis
9:3), wherefore, as the herb was clean to all, and as the beasts
were clean to the sons of Noah; so also in the time to come he will
loose what he has bound, or forbidden.’”
John Gill, biblestudytools.org
I am certainly thankful God has loosed what was forbidden. I am certainly thankful God has included me in his saving purification!
What are you thankful for?
Monday, November 16, 2009
Are You The Most Effective Negotiator You Can Be?
This past Thursday, That’s Extraordinary hosted Shawn Scudder, an accomplished professional with 25 years of diversified experience in many professional and technological sectors. The topic? The fine art of negotiating.
Through Shawn’s quieting, evaluative style, our discussion flowed from “What are the differences between men and women’s negotiation styles,” to “What are the keys to effective communication with business men and women from different economic, generational, and geographic cultures,” to “What can I do to earn a new contact’s trust?”
We landed upon what was quickly identified as a hot topic: What is a woman’s role in business interactions with men? (Is a ten-foot pole even long enough for that one?)
Here’s a thought: Way back in Genesis 2:18 God says he created woman to be “a helper suitable.” Helper, the Hebrew word ezer means succor: somebody that provides help or relief. Suitable, neged, refers to: those which are alike, corresponding to one another. In essence, God was saying, “I will make someone like him to provide relief for him.” In context, we see that one of the ways in which the woman was to provide relief for the man was to help him tend to the task God had just commanded - to work the Garden of Eden and take care of it.
Woven throughout scripture are portraits of women carrying the foundation of their purpose into various sectors: Esther used her influence as a liason and lobbyist for her nation, the Proverbs 31 woman successfully negotiated in business dealings, and Deborah exacted her power in government, just to name a few. Deborah, a judge and leader in Israel, knew that the way to carry out God’s will for the advancement of her nation was to provide help for her male counterparts (Judges 4-5).
What if the way to effectively negotiate with, communicate to, and earn the trust of our male business counterparts is to build our approach upon this same foundation? What if we communicate from the viewpoint that our presence is vital in the proceedings because we are there to provide a source of relief; what you have to offer will help them effectively tend to their tasks at hand?
What would you have said had you been in that meeting?
Through Shawn’s quieting, evaluative style, our discussion flowed from “What are the differences between men and women’s negotiation styles,” to “What are the keys to effective communication with business men and women from different economic, generational, and geographic cultures,” to “What can I do to earn a new contact’s trust?”
We landed upon what was quickly identified as a hot topic: What is a woman’s role in business interactions with men? (Is a ten-foot pole even long enough for that one?)
Here’s a thought: Way back in Genesis 2:18 God says he created woman to be “a helper suitable.” Helper, the Hebrew word ezer means succor: somebody that provides help or relief. Suitable, neged, refers to: those which are alike, corresponding to one another. In essence, God was saying, “I will make someone like him to provide relief for him.” In context, we see that one of the ways in which the woman was to provide relief for the man was to help him tend to the task God had just commanded - to work the Garden of Eden and take care of it.
Woven throughout scripture are portraits of women carrying the foundation of their purpose into various sectors: Esther used her influence as a liason and lobbyist for her nation, the Proverbs 31 woman successfully negotiated in business dealings, and Deborah exacted her power in government, just to name a few. Deborah, a judge and leader in Israel, knew that the way to carry out God’s will for the advancement of her nation was to provide help for her male counterparts (Judges 4-5).
What if the way to effectively negotiate with, communicate to, and earn the trust of our male business counterparts is to build our approach upon this same foundation? What if we communicate from the viewpoint that our presence is vital in the proceedings because we are there to provide a source of relief; what you have to offer will help them effectively tend to their tasks at hand?
What would you have said had you been in that meeting?
Monday, November 9, 2009
Do You Have What It Takes?
Paralyzed at times by feelings of inadequacy?
Feeling overwhelmed? Like you might just not have what it takes?
Matthew 25 gives us a glimpse of what God’s perspective on that matter is:
God entrusted his property to each according to their ability.
If God has called you to a task, he has also given you the ability to carry it out!
“(The Kingdom of God) will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. The he went on his journey.”
Allelujah! I need this reminder every day. The King, owner of all talents, distributer of all gifts, entrusts me with HIS property. He knows every hair on my head. He is the designer of this clay pot. He knows what I have the ability to carry out and what I do not. His word says He will not entrust us with more than we have the ability to care for.
I just breathed a sigh of relief.
An admonition follows this encouragement: “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.’ His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’”
Where do you want to be when the Lord comes back to settle accounts? That sounds a little ‘fire-and-brimstone-ish’, doesn’t it? I think mostly it represents the facts that Jesus is coming back; that he expects us to use his property to procure more of the same for his kingdom; and that we will be asked, ‘What have you done with all that I’ve entrusted you with?’
Personal Application: ‘Master, you entrusted me with _______________. I trust that you know I have the ability to carry it out. Using that ability and those gifts, see, I have _____________________.
Ahhhh, how sweet the sound: ‘Well done good and faithful servant!’
Feeling overwhelmed? Like you might just not have what it takes?
Matthew 25 gives us a glimpse of what God’s perspective on that matter is:
God entrusted his property to each according to their ability.
If God has called you to a task, he has also given you the ability to carry it out!
“(The Kingdom of God) will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. The he went on his journey.”
Allelujah! I need this reminder every day. The King, owner of all talents, distributer of all gifts, entrusts me with HIS property. He knows every hair on my head. He is the designer of this clay pot. He knows what I have the ability to carry out and what I do not. His word says He will not entrust us with more than we have the ability to care for.
I just breathed a sigh of relief.
An admonition follows this encouragement: “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.’ His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’”
Where do you want to be when the Lord comes back to settle accounts? That sounds a little ‘fire-and-brimstone-ish’, doesn’t it? I think mostly it represents the facts that Jesus is coming back; that he expects us to use his property to procure more of the same for his kingdom; and that we will be asked, ‘What have you done with all that I’ve entrusted you with?’
Personal Application: ‘Master, you entrusted me with _______________. I trust that you know I have the ability to carry it out. Using that ability and those gifts, see, I have _____________________.
Ahhhh, how sweet the sound: ‘Well done good and faithful servant!’
Sunday, November 1, 2009
What is good enough?
Check out this 2 minute clip:
http://www.essentials.tv/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=bqLKI1OKKtF&b=504545&ct=624313
How does it impact you?
I was reminded of it as I read Matthew 19:16-30 about the young ruler who desperately and genuinely sought eternal life. He came up to Jesus and asked, “What good thing must I do to get eternal life?” The Bible reveals this young man lived a stoic and disciplined life, focused on good deeds and following the law – a life worthy of commendation. He had followed the list Jesus reiterated since he was a boy. Yet, there was more. Jesus continued. These more specific actions the young man could not do. (Could not? Or Would not?...)
I think the power and meaning of this story is found in the discussion that follows. The disciples ask, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” There you have it. The gospel message! It is placed in such an understated and subtle way – I love it. It is God who bequeaths eternal life. God saves. Man cannot. Gone is the idea that good acts determine ones eternal fate.
Let's not forget the continuation of this message...John 14:6 "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father but through me."
One of my Bible Study Ladies found this quote on bibletools.org, "Thus, we need to remember that, even though we want to do good works, they will never save us. They are a fruit of righteousness. They are not the ultimate goal or the end. They just show that we have inculcated into us part of God's character, and the natural outgrowth of that is good works (see Ephesians 2:10)."
How do you think Jesus intended this truth to impact our lives?
What place do good deeds play in your spiritual life, business, ministry?
http://www.essentials.tv/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=bqLKI1OKKtF&b=504545&ct=624313
How does it impact you?
I was reminded of it as I read Matthew 19:16-30 about the young ruler who desperately and genuinely sought eternal life. He came up to Jesus and asked, “What good thing must I do to get eternal life?” The Bible reveals this young man lived a stoic and disciplined life, focused on good deeds and following the law – a life worthy of commendation. He had followed the list Jesus reiterated since he was a boy. Yet, there was more. Jesus continued. These more specific actions the young man could not do. (Could not? Or Would not?...)
I think the power and meaning of this story is found in the discussion that follows. The disciples ask, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” There you have it. The gospel message! It is placed in such an understated and subtle way – I love it. It is God who bequeaths eternal life. God saves. Man cannot. Gone is the idea that good acts determine ones eternal fate.
Let's not forget the continuation of this message...John 14:6 "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father but through me."
One of my Bible Study Ladies found this quote on bibletools.org, "Thus, we need to remember that, even though we want to do good works, they will never save us. They are a fruit of righteousness. They are not the ultimate goal or the end. They just show that we have inculcated into us part of God's character, and the natural outgrowth of that is good works (see Ephesians 2:10)."
How do you think Jesus intended this truth to impact our lives?
What place do good deeds play in your spiritual life, business, ministry?
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