Tuesday, May 31st, at 8:30pm EST. Are you tired of hearing about get rich quick schemes?

 

Are you frustrated with people calling you about multi-level

marketing businesses [MLM's]?

Are you worried about how you’re going to pay the next bill?

Are you frustrated that you haven’t been able to find a job yet?

You may even be tired of some of the prosperity teachings

If any of the questions above resonate with you, you are not alone. I had the same frustrations in the past.

And I hear from countless people who share your frustration.

In fact, I have heard it so much in the last few months that I could not refrain from doing something any longer.

In my business, I use biblical principals to teach, guide and encourage people to live their everyday lives in a practical and powerful manner. That said I decided to do a teleseminar to support you and help you get some cash now!

This is not a get rich quick scheme!

It is not a multi-level marketing business that I’m sharing!

This is about taking what youalready have and turning it into c.ash with good, honest work, using biblical principals.

Many Christians and non-Christians are looking for a supplement, increase or addition to their c.ash flow.  This Tuesday I’m going to provide you with an answer.  I’m going to share how God showed me how to bring in $1000+

using what I already had in my house with the gifts that He had already given me.

You can to!

Your income increase is right under your nose and you just need someone to give you a nudge or bring it to your attention.  Just like God brought it to my attention through II Kings 4:1-7 and my business coach!

If you are ready to get some c.ash now using the gifts God has given you or items that are in your home, just register for the program in the opt-in form at the bottom of the page.

[If you are already a member of Beyond Your Limits teleseminar program, you will still have to pre-register for this special program. Fill out the green floating OPT-IN form above.  If you already deleted, just go to another page and come back and it will pop up again for you]

Too many times I find that people are not willing to step out of their comfort zone and do good honest work, with what God has already given them. I hope that is not you.

I’ve experienced the same money challenges in my life so I don’t want you to feel like you are alone, or as if I have no idea what you are experiencing right now–I do!

Tuesday evening, May 31st 8:30pm EST, I am going to share with you what the Holy Spirit illuminated to me in II Kings 4:1-7 to prepare me for the powerful steps that my business coach shared with me the next day  [Yes, I believe in coaching so much that I have coaches also! :-) ].

I was in need of acquiring over $1000 within a week in addition to my regular business income.  I needed it fast.  I casually mentioned this to my business coach and he casually said “OK! No problem.  This is what you are going to do.”

After reading II Kings 4:1-7, then listening to and implementing the steps my coach gave me, I acquired the $1000+ in not a week, but 3 1/2 days. I was flawed at the same time that I was excited and because I have a teachers spirit, I always want to share and teach what I have learned with whomever is willing and ready to listen and learn.

So here’s what I’m going to share with you Tuesday evening:

  • The one thing that I needed to do that I had been having a problem with all these years, that made a big difference in the c.ash flow.
  • Why it’s important to use your gifts and talents and not that of someone elses.
  • How to create the list that you will work from and the mindset & biblical principal you will have to adopt to work with that list.
  • 3 areas in your home or life that can support you in bringing increase–its right under your nose!
  • How to write your script and the importance of a script–this is about being authentic – building your confidence not being deceptive, but open and honest.
  • What I had to do to create momentum and keep me going —especially towards the end.

I know you will see results, if you follow the steps I share with you Tuesday night.

You may be saying…

“I don’t have time”

“What is this all about?”

“I don’t have the energy right now”

“I need a miracle”

“It probably won’t work for me!”

If you are saying any of these things, then you can not afford to miss this  teleseminar.  My teleseminars are free so it won’t cost you anything to just

listen and take notes.  Your investment will just translate into time, energy and

a positive mindset.

Join me and many others Tuesday, May 31st at 8:30pm EST for

“How to Increase Your Income Now with What God Already Gave You – Your Gifts, Skills or Items in Your Home”

 

It’s Free!!!

You must pre-register for this special class, even if you are a part of the monthly Beyond Your Limits teleseminar program.

I’m looking forward to empowering you and helping you move forward one-step at a time with your finances.

Don’t do this alone.  Forward this to your friends to join us.

Want to find out more, contact Clestine, the Purpose Coach at 813-343-4112 or Clestine@DivineDiscipline.com

.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Each day we make choices and perform actions that contribute to or drain our internal energy. There are many contributors to building our energy, but we’ll only touch on a few in this section. What we think can energize us or drain us. What we eat can energize us or drain us. What we do can energize us or drain us. There are many things that can contribute to or drain our energy. I will touch on some of those things and discuss how we can learn to focus more on energy builders instead of focusing on the energy drainers.

Exercise, food, people, things we watch and read or listen to are all things that can either drain or energize us. How we manage those things is up to us.

FOCUS The important thing is to focus. Focus on the things that are positive and eventually the good things will manifest in your life. The same happens for the negative. It’s very simple. However, it is a choice that you –and you alone– have to make in your life.

2 MINUTE RULE Take 2 minutes to breath deep or to pause. Its a short time yet it will make a powerful impact in your life. Taking 2 minutes can be the difference between you making a choice that you regret for life, or making a choice that is a seed that is being planted into your destiny and future. It’s time to make the right choices for your energy sake.

Operating at Higher Energy Levels Learning how to manage our internal energy, can help us in aligning our minds and achieving our goals. When we are operating in our high level energies (faith based emotions – love, joy, peace, etc.), we feel a clearer connection with our positive energy flow. When we operate in our higher level energies, it is easier for us to hear and receive Divine Guidance. When we allow God to guide us, we are in a state of peace and our energy is greater. We then have a greater energy flow. When we are in lower level energies (fear based emotions – anger, worry, fear, etc.), then we feel less than a clear connection with our energy flow. That DOES NOT mean that we don’t have a connection with God, it just means we are not feeling the connection.

Think of God as your Ultimate Coach. He is your greatest energy source. What can you do to tap into this GREAT energy source today? Think of it this way. When we are operating at higher levels of energy we think clearer, our spiritual ear is often sharper, we have more peace and are better equipped to receive the guidance we need to move forward. Use your Ultimate Coach, that Great Energy source, to help align your mind and support you in achieving your goals.

Click here to listen to this 6 minute recording about Your Energy.

If you want to find out more, join me Tuesday, March 22nd at 8:30pm EST. If you are not a Beyond Your Limits member, click here to sign up.

I’m looking forward to empowering you further.

“Well, our ancestor Abraham pleased God by putting his son Isaac on the altar to sacrifice him.  Now you see how Abraham’s faith and deeds worked together.  He proved that his faith was real by what he did.”  James 2:21,22 The Message Bible

 

In December of last year, God dropped in my spirit the endless possibilities that He had for my business.  He showed me where He wanted to take it this year 2011.  I was so excited and was in a place – spiritually and emotionally – where I believed what He was showing me.   So I started to confess it and thank Him for what is to come.  I shared it with key people, people that I know pray for me.  Over a month later, I woke up one morning, and the spirit shared something profound that I want to share with you.

 

My faith talk was expressing my belief in what God had shown me but my actions were not.  My actions were reflecting my old way of thinking.  In order to get what God was showing me in my spirit, my actions had to change in the natural.  I was not going to go to the level God showed me, if my actions didn’t change to produce the results I needed.  I needed to do something different and more than what was done last year.  You may have believed God for something last year that never occurred and you may have been wondering why you believed God for it.

But lets put last year where it belongs—in the past.  Today is a new day.  Do the following to exercise your faith and make your faith visible to yourself and others:

 

  1. Write down what your faith is telling you in your situation
  2. Now write down the actions that match the belief
  3. Don’t allow your fears to cloud your actions
  4. Now be courageous and do what you have written down.

 

This is faith in action. Today choose to turn your faith into action. Let me know how you do with this! J

 

Most people that you talk to are participating in social media for one reason or another.  I’ve met many people that are beginning to feel overwhelmed by the whole thing, so I thought I’d share 3 powerful tips to participate in social media.  Whether you are using Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter to reconnect with old high school buddies, meet new people or build a business, I want to share 3 powerful tips.

These tips are especially for those of you that are building a business so please pay close attention and take notes.

1. Build Relationships.   Word of mouth is your best marketing tool in business.  And people remember those who they know.  My sister has started a mediation practice and of course whe is the first person I think of when someone mentions conflict resolution.  I have a friend who owns a web design/graphic design business and when someone needs a web designer, he is the first one that I mention [not just because he's a friend but also because he's good! :-) ]  People remember those who are a part of their lives.  Be a part of the social media conversation.  You don’t have to build relationships with all 5 million, but select a few and get to know them.  Which brings me to my second point.

2. Be Consistent and Sincere. Be consistent and sincere in your sharing and supporting.  Enjoy it.  Have fun with it.  Share valueable information that can support and encourage.  Be sincere and be consistent.  Once a month is not going to build a relationship.  Daily or several times a week will.

3. Have a Plan.  This is probably one of the most important.  It is very easy to get lost in social media and end up there for hours.  That is why you need to have a plan before you go in.  Are you going to be in there for 15 minutes or 60 minutes?  When you go in what are you going in for.  To post encouraging quotes* or to join in the conversation of a “friend”.  If you don’t have a plan when you go into the social media networks, you may end up there much longer than you want to be and leave frustrated or feeling like you wasted time.

Try these powerful tips and you’ll have a more productive and enjoyable social media experience.  Whether its for your business or to build relationships.

*Try www.Hootsuite.com to post quotes simultaneously in LinkedIn, Twitter or Facebook.  You can also schedule unlimited posts or tweets.

Remember when you were a child and you were reprimanded for doing something wrong?  You’re parents or guardian probably said something like this, “Don’t do that again!”.  However, telling you not to do it is not telling you HOW not to do it.  But as we grew, we painfully discovered, if we touched that stove again we would get hurt.  Through our little challenges, we learned to not do it again! ‘  [Of course there were a few things that we just didn’t want to LET GO of! -- BUT maybe I'll talk about letting go in my next blog :-) ]

Fast forward to adult hood.  You are in the 1st month of the year 2011 and some of you have New Years resolutions.  Others don’t.  Here is a message for you.  Don’t do that again!

Don’t make another New Years resolution that you are going to break.

Don’t keep passing up promotions that you want in your heart, but don’t feel you qualify for on paper.

Don’t eat another piece of chocolate cake and then beat yourself up after weighing yourself on the scale.

Don’t remain in that debilitating, unhealthy relationship. Don’t continue to be unreliable and then blame everyone else.

Just don’t!

But I’m not going to just leave you there.

This is a New Year, so we need to use my N.E.W. method to achieving success.

Navigate Empowerment with Wisdom

NAVIGATE THROUGH YOUR CHALLENGES “And I will lead the blind by a way they do not now, In paths they do not know I will guide them.”  Isaiah 42: 16a NASB

Like the captain of a ship who has to navigate through rough seas, so we have to navigate through the rough waters of our own lives. The best sea captains are those who have had to navigate through treacherous seas.  If you were going on a six month expedition on a boat, who would you want to be the captain?  A person that had been a captain for 10 years, but never experienced rough seas only calm waters, or a person who had 5 years experience, but had experienced 10 different storms that he had successfully navigated through.  The latter I’m sure.

See your challenges (rough waters of life) as a way for you to learn how to navigate through challenges so that you will know how to handle the next situation better.  Your challenges are designed to help you to develop your own HOW TO manual.  Don’t just allow the waters of life to beat you up, but learn from your challenges and learn HOW TO rise above that challenge or through it the next time.  In other words, navigation is a choice.  Choose the path that you are going to take.

And remember to SHARE your navigation tactics with others.

BE EMPOWERED! “And for this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.”  Colossians 1:29 NASB.

When you are empowered it gives you the drive you need to reach beyond your limits and press to success. When you are empowered, it is encouraging to your spirit and when your spirit is encouraged, it is more likely to select more positive, wise thoughts that will then drive you to more positive, wise actions.

Read books, listen to CD’s or watch positive, empowering programs or information.  Feed your spirit with positive things this year.  Learn how to empower yourself instead of waiting for others to empower you.

And remember, your ultimate empowerment comes from the Almighty Himself!

USE WISDOM “Acquire wisdom! Acquire understanding!  Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth.”  Proverbs 4:5 NASB

When you use wisdom, you may have some mental or emotional frustration (or pain) up front, but you will reap a magnitude of benefits later.  It’s saves you from problems down the road.

Wisdom tells you to be silent when you want to speak.  But then later, you discover your silence reaped you great rewards. (I’ll share one of my experiences later).

Wisdom tells you to be patient when you want to rush on. Wisdom tells you to partner when you want to do things alone.

Three years ago, I had a meeting with a potential client to provide training for her staff.  I had done my homework on sales and how to solicit new business.  During our meeting, the individual asked me the fee for a half-day seminar.  I shared the fee.  The prospect was quiet.  The silence made me uncomfortable and so I decided that I should justify the fee and maybe even throw in another workshop for good measure (I really needed the money and didn’t want to lose this client).  Just as I was about to open my mouth, to justify or rectify, I remembered the article I read on sales.  It said something like this. Silence is golden.  Whoever speaks first win!.  Enjoy the silence and allow the prospect to think about what you have said.  Let them speak first. I immediately closed my mouth and though I was uncomfortable, I decided to choose wisdom this time.  My prospect spoke first and decided to do a full day seminar with me instead of just one or two workshops!!

Imagine that.  I doubled my contract with them.  If I had spoken, I would have had half of what I ended up with, and at a lesser value.

Wisdom maybe painful at first, but trust me, you reap the benefits later.

So in this New Year, decide that you are going to do something N.E.W!

Don’t make the same mistakes or the same habits.

Learn through your challenges.

Apply what you have learned through your challenges and grow.

Navigate Empowerment with Wisdom.  It is another way to say choose empowerment through wisdom.  If you choose wisdom it will empower you to make it through your challenges.  So Navigate Empowerment with Wisdom and have a very Happy N.E.W. Year!

I meet too many people who have desires but are waiting for the right time, the right moment, the right person, the right opportunity.   In Ecclesiastes in the Amplified Bible Version, it says He who observes the wind [and waits for all conditions to be favorable] will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap.  I think that says it all.

I meet too many people who have desires but are waiting for the right time, the right moment, the right person, the right opportunity.   In Ecclesiastes in the Amplified Bible Version, it says He who observes the wind [and waits for all conditions to be favorable] will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap.  I think that says it all.

In other words, stop looking at all the problems and challenges around you as a hindrance.  You are ALWAYS going to have problems and challenges.  Look at them as an opportunity to grow.  God has placed some of them there and allowed the others.   With the clouds comes rain to water the seeds that were planted!

Successful achievement is in direct relation to what you believe.  If you believe that you can, then don’t wait for the will of someone else or wait for the opportunity to come to you on a silver platter.  Pray for the will to make it happen.  Yes, God is in control of this universe and your life, but there are times when He won’t [not can't--there is a difference] do anything until we start to move forward.  I like how Joyce Meyer says it, “You can’t drive a parked car!”

In today’s society, we can sit at our desk and make a purchase via the internet or phone, communicate to a friend, conduct research on a topic, order a meal, perform a bank transaction and more.  We can do almost everything via phone or the internet.  It is almost as if we are sub-consciously programming our will to remain in the ready position but never get to the get set or go position!  Our minds may be active but there is no connection between the thoughts and action.

Will is the mental faculty by which one deliberately chooses a course of action.  Can is the mental ability or possession of a power, right or privilege. (The word is also defined as a metal container).   Many of us are operating in a state of ‘can’.  When we say I can we are saying we have the ability and often times end up containing our abilities.  We take the seeds of our ideas and allow them to shrivel up and die.  However, when we say we will, we are saying that we are choosing to take action.  The word ‘will’ holds you accountable to do something. Now isn’t that more powerful?!

God has blessed us with the power to achieve but many of us have the ability within us contained.  We think about it.  We talk about it.  We write about it. We discuss it, but then we don’t do it!  The clouds or challenges around you are designed to help the seeds of greatness within you to grow.  If you had to have major surgery, which would you prefer to have?  A surgeon who had successfully persevered through the challenges of separating siamese twins or a surgeon who has successfully performed several simple and easy routine operations.   The first I’m sure.

Make a decision today that you are going to turn your can into will.  Take action!  Turn your thoughts into actions.  Turn your desires into achievements. Decide that you will struggle through the challenges to help you develop your willpower.

You should know me enough by now that I’m not going to leave you there.  I like to provide you with strategic actions or cognitive tools to help you transform.  I want you to join me this year in Reaching Beyond Your Limits.  Bypass your mental limits and visualize the possibilities.

Here are a few tips you can use to create your own opportunity instead of waiting for it to come along. Stop looking at the clouds as a problem and start looking at them as the challenge that will help you to grow.

1. Don’t wait any longer. This is for those of you who have evaluated and re-evaluated. Contemplated and discussed for weeks, months or years.  Stop looking for someone to come along and pull you up out of your ‘can’.  There IS a time for waiting [See Psalm 46:10; Psalm 4:4], but you may have been feeling a nudge lately.  Start looking on the internet, the news, a book or magazine for ideas that you could use to create your own opportunity.  Better yet we often have ideas that pop in our heads that we dismiss. Write these ideas down and run with it. (Check with wise counsel and like-minded people to make sure your idea is feasible. But then again all things are possible to him who believes!)

2. Breath life into it. Have you listed all of your options?  Have you recorded your vision and created a plan?   Consider with whom you can share your vision?  Don’t leave your thought, purpose or opportunity contained in your ‘can’.  Release it to your will to take action.  Is it different?  Creative? What will make you stand out from the crowd? Think about these questions as you plan for your pursuit.

3. Know the value. Whether it is a product or service, a job pursuit or whether you are creating a new habit you need to know the value.  Know why you are doing this.  Make sure your  WHY is strong enough.  If your why is strong enough, you will creatively discover ways to press forward and reach beyond your limits to success. If you don’t believe what you have to offer is valuable (or that you are valuable), then how will anyone else.  Moreover, I might add if you don’t believe it is valuable then might I suggest that you may want to reconsider what you’re doing or do what you must to build up your thoughts of yourself.

4. Do it Afraid! My favorite one.  If you wait for fear to go away, you won’t do much.  Once you know that what you’re doing is what you are supposed to do, do it regardless of the fear that is rising in you.  REMEMBER, “For God has not given us a spirit of [FEAR] but of power and love and discipline.” II Timothy 1:7 NASB .  Doing something new can always create the emotion of fear but do it anyway.  Most often than not, you’ll be glad that you did.

5. Get others excited.  Is there someone that will encourage you and get excited with you?  Once you have done your research and you have mapped out a plan.  Create a story.  It doesn’t have to start out with the local news station.  It can be with a few friends that believe in you and are willing to help you ‘test’ your theory, try your product or prepare for whatever it is you need to do.  It could be rehearsing for a job interview, or doing a mock run for a program you are developing.   Whatever the case may be, their excitement will encourage you to press forward.

6. Create incentive. Create a reason for people to collaborate with you, try your product, participate in your program or support you. Love your neighbor as you love yourself.  “For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thyneighbour as thyself.”  Galatians 5:14 If you love yourself and value yourself enough to do this, then love your neighbor enough to help them do there thing also.  Give back.  Help them out.  Support them in their healthy pursuits.  Later on down the road it may help to create another opportunity for you.

7. Be prepared to work hard. Whenever you try something new or do something different it is going to take a lot more energy than your normal routine.  Why?  You have to deal with the naysayers.  You may even have to fight with your negative thoughts.  You are creating something so that means possibly starting with nothing.  That is hard. Rome wasn’t built in a day and God took 6 days to create the earth, so why should your project or achievement happen quickly?  REMEMBER: “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” Galatians 6:9 KJV

Don’t let another day pass you by without creating your opportunity to achieve your goal.  Get excited.  Get creative. Get going!

Are You Listening to Your Life?

It’s a funny thing about God, He gives us all the bells and whistles that we need to make it through. Are you so busy that you are not paying attention to your own life? Let’s take a closer look at this…

The Nudge When was the last time you felt that inner nudge? When we don’t listen to that inner nudge we tend to regret the decisions that were made. Here’s an example. A woman got up to go for a drink in the middle of the night and she felt that inner nudge. She felt a great need to take her baby out of the crib. She took a baby out of the crib and seconds later there was an earthquake. Where the baby’s crib once stood was now a pile of debris from the roof. She felt and paid attention to the inner nudge. The Holy Spirit often nudges me to do things or not to do things. When I listen I am grateful. When I don’t, I often regret it now or later.

Repeating Circumstances Are you experiencing patterns in your relationships or career? We often inadvertently get ourselves into patterns that we may or may not want to be in. Choosing the same type of people, experiencing the same situations in our career, are things that should trigger us to stop and take a look. If patterns have been reoccurring in your life or over the last few months, is it possible that you are creating or attracting these situations. Is it possible that you need to learn something from these situations to help you get out of your comfort zone?

The Heart Prick Have you ever been in a conversation when somebody says something that pricks your heart or makes your heart jump? Or some people say it’s as if a light bulb went off. I call that the prick of your heart. When this happens it probably means that you have to pay attention to what is being said and find out what it means to you.

All three of these life signals are just ways set up by God to help guide us or to provide us with the help or information that we need to make a decision in a certain area of our life. These signals could come close together or months apart. Or some people only get one signal and get the message.

Whether you are a corporate executive, a house wife, an entrepreneur or a student, learning to listen to your life can help guide you to make better decisions in life.

There are many fads and fashions out there. And let’s not talk about the rapid speed that new gadgets are being released. IPOD, iphone…can anyone keep up? By the way, I don’t have either. I don’t feel behind the times or left out. Why? Because I am very comfortable with who I am and where I am financially, etc. At some point I’ll get one, but right now I’m OK not having one. Having an ipod or iphone does not mean that you are not comfortable with yourself, so lets make sure that is clear. However, there are so many people that are trying to satisfy inner desires or define themselves with things. However, the joy lasts for a short time.

Recently the toy industry has had to recall countless toys from the toy store shelves due to lead paint. Sixty Minutes had what I thought was a great commentary a few months ago that went something like this, How many children play with the toys endlessly anyway? When I thought about it, I realized that was true. When my niece and nephew were small, they were so excited when they received new toys. They would run off and start to play with these toys. Then give them a month or sometimes a week and the novelty wore off. Before you knew it they had a very large (no extremely large) box of toys that they no longer played with. Not because they had out grown them intellectually, but because they had lost the interest. It was no longer satisfying them. However, they always found an interest in dragging my dining room chairs in the middle of my great room, maybe an old box and a blanket and creating a pretend house. That never lost its interest and it helped them to exercise their creative juices. (And yes, auntie was often solicited to be one of the members of the cast!)

I want you to ask yourself a question. Are you comfortable with who you are? Too many adults are still not comfortable or sure who they are? And if you don’t know who you are, then you can’t show up as the authentic “you” wherever you go. Can the real Jane please stand up?!

Have you ever seen the movie, Runaway Bride with Julia Roberts and Richard Gere? Julia Roberts plays a woman who on the outside is confident and loving life but on the inside is unsure of who she is. She comes to that realization when a reporter (Richard Gere) asks her what type of eggs she likes. She is unable to answer that question because for each fiancé that she had (I believe it was four) she would adapt to what they liked so they would like her; only to be afraid at the altar and run (thus the title). She realized she had no clue as to what type of eggs she liked. She had lost herself in trying to be like someone else.

What about you? There may be one area in your life that you are sure and comfortable. You know the career that you are pursuing is your passion, but you have never thought about what style of clothes or hair you really like. You have somehow adapted to what your parents said, or corporate America said or society is saying at that time. Or maybe you are comfortable with your fashion statement, but are realizing that the career that you are pursuing is not your passion and you are unsure what your purpose is.

Don’t despair. Let’s look at 3 areas (there are more) that you should consider to find out who you are.

1. Be honest with yourself. In my book, Knuggets of Knowledge to Get Unstuck, Knugget #7 is Be Honest with Yourself. I discuss how we often do a good job of excusing our weaknesses or negative character. I go on to say that we should not justify but rectify. Be honest with yourself and God. Go in the bathroom, stand in front of the mirror and tell yourself the areas that you need improvement. That does not make you a bad or lost person. What it does is brings things to the surface so that you know what needs to be worked on. We all have areas that we need to work on. That is life. That is growth. You and God can work them out.

2. Discover your passion. In discovering my passion, it helped me to find my purpose and also find myself. I discovered that I love encouraging others. I discovered that I am free spirited, creative and that I am not conservative. I discovered that I have a zest for life and that I am an extrovert. In other words, I get energized around people. This helps because I am a speaker. See how everything ties in together? In my book, in the section Getting Unstuck; Making It Personal, at the end of Knugget #8: Discover your purpose. Know your gifts, I ask some key questions. For example, ‘If you were told you were going to receive one million dollars each year for the rest of your life, what would you do with that money?’ Another question, ‘what games did you play as a child?’ How about, ‘List something people tell you that you are good at doing or that comes naturally to you.’ These are a few questions or commands that get you thinking about who you really are.

3. Ask the Designer. One day I was having problems with a software program that I was using. My technical friends couldn’t help me. I asked around but no one was able to help. I tried figuring it out also (that’s the analytical side of me), but to no avail. So I eventually decided to contact the software design company. After sometime, they were able to assist me with the troubleshooting to figure out the problem.

Your creator knows who you are. He is the one that designed you. So if you are stumped, ask the designer. Over time, and step by step, you’ll start to see, hear and discover things about yourself. Look at it as a fun discovery project.

Enjoy evolving and discovering. Age doesn’t matter. You’ll be surprised how many senior citizens have come to me saying that they are lost and not sure who they are or what they should be doing next. Try the three things above for starters and enjoy what you discover.

“I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His Word I put my hope.” Psalm 130:5 NIV

How many times have you dialed a business only to hear, “Please hold, your estimated time to wait is…?” I wonder how many times you have waited, then decided you can’t wait any longer and prematurely hung up the phone just before the operator or attendant is coming on the line. Probably more times than you know.

Waiting is something that is almost a curse word to many of us. We’ve made it offensive to our soul. We are surrounded by things, systems and people telling us to do it quickly or else you will miss out. Everything seems to be moving at light speed. Fast food. The internet. The microwave. Instant food. Because everything else is getting faster, we expect God to lower His standards and rush through everything as well. Not so. He does things perfectly and He has His timing. The truth is, if we don’t wait on God, we may end up with a business, church or ministry that is thriving because of our persistence and God –given gifts, but not because of the perfect plan and timing that God has for us. And I might add, they won’t last. There is a time to do and a time to wait.

Many of us intellectually understand that there is often a waiting period between a dream and the fulfillment of the dream.  Between receiving God’s promise or command and walking in the fulfillment of that promise, but it is not emotionally received or spiritually understood. Thus, our actions begin to display what we really believe. We tell ourselves, ‘God can’t possibly want me to be out of work right now, while the bills are piling up’, or “He couldn’t possibly want me to wait and keep silent while they are speaking untruths about me and my business.” Abraham, David and Joseph provide us great yet different examples of waiting. God speaks His purpose then it appears as if He forgets about the promise He made. Their examples show us the molding that we have to go through during this time and that though waiting may appear too long (see II Peter 3:9) , the rewards are exponential.

Do things appear to be going south?  Bills piling up? Clients diminishing? Problems with colleagues? Congregation dwindling? Family issues? I could go on about what our challenges look like and what you could experience, but I want to share three (3) ways to walk through your waiting period. Notice I said, walk not run.

Stop! (See Psalm 46:10) Stop “doing”. Stop trying to figure things out. Stop trying to do something to get out of this situation. Stop listening to everyone else. Stop worrying (See Jeremiah 17:8) Know what season you are in. Just stop. There is a time when God wants us to act or “do”. He’s quite capable of telling you when it’s time to act. Right now it’s time to wait.

Trust God (See Romans 10:11) . He created this universe. He created you. He allowed your situation. He designed your destiny. Trust Him. This may take every fiber of your being, but develop a new habit, by saying each moment, “Lord, I’m going to trust you even though this doesn’t make sense and even though my flesh does not want to. I’m going to trust you. Help me Lord” If you don’t know what it means to trust God that’s good, because now you can spend time getting to know Him, so you know what it means to trust Him. Your waiting period is a time to get to know Him on a different level.

Prepare (See Psalm 1 & Luke 2:52). This is your preparation period. This is where God purges you and curtails your character so that you don’t embarrass Him or the body of Christ in the next level. Learn all that you can during this time. Write, study, listen and observe during your waiting period. Glean as much wisdom as you can. Just don’t start “doing” because clearly God doesn’t think you are ready yet!

Many of us get STUCK in our habits or thinking thus making it harder to wait. In my book, Knuggets of Knowledge to Get Unstuck, I share 16 nuggets to help one GET UNSTUCK in their thinking and beliefs, so you can walk into what God has for you with the right attitude and habits. Our waiting period is designed to RENEW OUR MINDS and develop the Godly habits [wisdom, peace, power, love, patient, joy, etc.] we need for our next level. I encourage you to wait patiently and with expectation so that He can fashion you for the perfect destiny that He has designed for you. Whether it is starting a business, creating a new ministry, or taking your church to the next level be patient during this time. He is doing necessary work in you. Don’t abort the wonderful experiences that He has for you. Be patient and just wait a minute!

Ask Yourself the right Question!

If you don’t ask yourself the right questions then how can you consciously get the answer? Many of us are asking questions but the questions are not leading us to where we need to go. Sometimes we ask a good question but not at the right time or in the right order. Let me explain what I mean.

Imagine you are a business woman who is considered to be successful in many peoples eyes, yet you are feeling unfulfilled. You feel as if you are living someone else’s life. When you started on your career path you knew you were multi-talented and you wanted to be successful. However, you didn’t ask yourself the right question, so every so often, like a weed the results of the unanswered question show up in your life over and over again– in different areas of your life. You jump from job to job, never quite climbing as far as you desire. Or maybe you are a woman who is in a relationship that is unhealthy, yet you continue to be in this relationship.

Both women probably both failed to ask the important question. “What don’t I want?” This question helps you to bring your fears to the surface.  We often acknowledge where we want to go. We create goals and discuss them, but we don’t often talk about what we don’t want. Our fears are always lurking behind the scene, or below the surface. If we don’t acknowledge our fears, then they will continue to show up in our lives, in different ways. You have to give your fears to God. Tell Him about them. Then trust Him to guide you through it. Our fears will anchor us to where they showed up. Many remain stuck there for years and years.

You don’t have to stay stuck. Sit down and ask yourself the right questions. Pray and ask for guidance. Be open and honest with yourself. Don’t blame and don’t make excuses. Get quiet and listen for the answers to your questions. Pay attention to people and things around you to listen for your answer. Listen for that still small voice.

Be open to receive and act on what you here. If you have to let go of a mindset, then let go. If you need to embrace something new, then embrace it. Be willing to receive the answer and then act on the answer.

As a life coach, I find join in supporting others to find the right questions, then answer your questions so you can move forward in your life.

Don’t delay anymore. Get support from your friends or a life coach to answer those questions and get unstuck.