Why The Blog

Wow, where do I begin?  Well, for those of you who visited this blog before, you see that there have been quite a few changes.  In appearance as well as in content.  I started this blog in 2010, but never really got into it.  The purpose of the blog was to encourage others to have confidence in God and all that He had for them.  I did not want to see anyone live their lives allowing gifts and talents to be wasted by limited thinking, fear, low self-esteem and the like.  This was so dear to my heart, because this was how I lived my life.  I always had a reason as to why I couldn't do anything.  "I need more education", I would say.  I didn't feel like what I had to offer was good enough.  I just lacked the confidence needed to step out and do anything.  Then came.... well, let me give you a little history.          

In 2009, I was introduced to a business opportunity.  That opportunity introduced me to a world that I was not familiar with.  There was quite a bit of self help information, also referred to as personal development.  There was a focus on living the "life that you deserve and/or desire".  It introduced me to people from all over the country and world who provided information on how to grow, develop, and become someone that is "GREAT"!  Whew! Overwhelming!  All along, God was talked about and it was shared that these things, this life, was what He wanted for His children. 

When I started with the company, I was working as a supervisor with Wake County Government.  Prior to that, I was a trainer for their Staff Development department.  It was there that I learned just how much I loved to teach and that I was gifted in that area.  For those who were a part of my classes and for those who would hear me teach in church found it hard to believe that my self-esteem was low.  I remember when Suzanne Bowling, a wonderful woman of God, came to me and said, "When I first heard you speak, I was so excited and loved the way God would use you.  Then, God told me that you had low self-esteem and to pray for you. But, I didn't believe it.  I thought, I must have heard something wrong, so I never said anything to you."  Isn't that something? Lol.  It was a few months later, as she got to know me and I shared openly about my insecurities that she realized that what God told her was right.    I mean, isn't He always right? : )

Okay, getting back to the business opportunity.  I got started, scared and clueless.  I started with the mindset of, 'okay Lord, let's do this, but keep my heart and keep me humbled.'  I began sharing the business with others, with the focus that we are going to do this together and together we are going to win!  The business took off! In 4 months we earned six figures and I had never earned anything like that before in my life.  I wanted it for everyone who had connected with me, but unfortunately that didn't happen.  People wanted to know how I did it.  I didn't know, but that answer wasn't good enough.  People wanted strategies and formulas and I'm telling you, all we did was talk to people and the business was increasing.  We had showcases and meetings and people were just coming.  I can't take credit for that.  I just couldn't.  But, we did our best to try and teach the basic principles of building a team and sharing what we did.

Now let me tell you how it felt. It felt good to not be concerned about money.  It was great to always be able to meet a financial need, whether it was for our family or someone else.  It was nice to have money in the bank.  In addition, I realized later, (much later) how dependent I became on what I had.  I wanted more.  I was afraid to lose it. I would say, "Praise God", but I really was dependent on myself to keep earning.  I really did want everyone to be successful, but our concentration was just off.  It was always about getting more, change your zip code, get the car.  For a lot of us, we just wanted to get out of debt, which is a great thing to do, but at what cost?  It was hard to steer a team in a direction away from this kind of thinking when it's all around you and everyone seems to be in agreement. (Proverbs 14:12: There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.)  And remember, everyone all around me was talking about how good it was.  How God wants this or it wouldn't be happening.  Keep going. Set your goals.  How much do you want to earn?  You aren't thinking big enough! Go for more! Reach the Top!  Be a Platinum!! Focus on your business! If you want to change your life, you better do something different!  Be Laser Focused on your goals! Don't get distracted!  People who sleep are mediocre!  While they are sleeping, you are becoming great! Don't talk to people who aren't going where you are going! Don't connect with people who aren't doing what you are doing! And the list goes on and on and on and on and on!  SCREEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I was dying!  My spirit was dying!!  I have the spirit of God living within me and I was dying.  Understand me, my flesh was living but my spirit was dying.  I put on some tennis shoes and took off running!!!! Yes, I did.  

Now, please understand, the Word of God tells us that "Bad company corrupts good behavior", so yes, we have to be mindful of who we connect with, but the issue here is maintaining good behavior.  You have to identify with and stay connected to what is good.  Too often, we use the scriptures to support poor decisions and bad behavior.  This is what God was dealing with me about.  My connections shouldn't draw me away from His way.  Yes, we have dreams and visions.  We are to be good stewards of what God has entrusted to us.  So, no, it isn't wrong to have goals and to make plans, but what we must not be focused on is ourselves and making a name or luxurious life for ourselves.  Its just not about you.  It's not about me.  Our focus is on God,... and the things that follow,... well they just follow.  He meets our needs. Do good by people and serve them well. The return on that comes from God, not you.  That's what I started learning.

(Titus 3:14) Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order that they may provide for daily necessities and not live unproductive lives.

There is no need to seek Greatness.  We are Great, having been made in God's image.  As in my case, there may be some who have no idea of just how precious they are in God's sight and yes, God want's us to know that.  He wants us to know that we have purpose and gifts and that He has equipped us with all of these things.  I mean, who can disagree with that?  But, to think that my business opportunity is necessary for you to reach your next level in life.  Really?  To say that there is more for you than that "dead end" job you are working and you can really find yourself if you join with me.  Really?  When I want a burger from McDonald's, I need someone to be there working.  That is a good job for whomever has it.  Be great in it! Serve well while you are there!  Be identified not by what you do, but how well you do it.  I will see the real YOU in how you do what you do, not by your function. This is character.

I agree that many times people have abilities and talents that they have not tapped into.  And I believe that God wants you to know about them and use them for His glory.  Not our own.  Our gifts will make room for us and will bring us before great men.  Your life and your story can and should be shared with others.  How would God have you to do it?  Are you doing it now?  If not, what are you waiting for?  There are people around us everyday that we can pour into and should.   Our purpose is to bring Him glory.  It is to make Him known.  It's a loss of self-control when our focus shifts from God to us.  In addition, God wants us to focus on others more than ourselves. 

(Proverbs 25:27-28) It is not good to eat too much honey, nor is it honorable to seek one’s own honor. {28} Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control.

There are a lot of good opportunities out there, but what we have to do is identify why we are doing what we do and how we are going about doing it.  I couldn't lay aside who I was as God's child to earn a paycheck anymore.  When I read the Bible it exposed my heart.  I had to determine what I was pursuing and why.  I saw that riches were not to be pursued nor desired.  I saw warnings about the confidence that riches would bring, so be careful.  The thing is, money isn't bad and we need money and God tells us to take care of our families.  Especially your immediate family and the widow.  But without truly understanding the purpose of our creation we can find ourselves so focused on living a luxurious lifestyle right now, that we miss the true meaning of our existence and then think that God wants it that way.  Again, there is nothing wrong with having as long as the things don't have you.  And GIVE!  We work so hard trying to keep things and we feel that we should never lose anything.  Why? Those who try to keep anything ultimately loses it.  Including our lives. (Luke 17:33) The Word teaches us that a heart that tries to hold on to its stuff is foolish.  (Luke 12:15-21)

(Ecclesiastes 5:10-12) Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless. {11} As goods increase, so do those who consume them. And what benefit are they to the owner except to feast his eyes on them? {12} The sleep of a laborer is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but the abundance of a rich man permits him no sleep.


(Proverbs 23:4-5) Do not wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint. {5} Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle.


(Psalm 52:6-7) The righteous will see and fear; they will laugh at him, saying, {7} “Here now is the man who did not make God his stronghold but trusted in his great wealth and grew strong by destroying others!”


(James 5:1-5) Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you. {2} Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. {3} Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. {4} Look! The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. {5} You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter.

Earning an income doesn't mean that it was earned in a bad way.  That is to be determined by the individual and the Lord.  Again, it's the motives behind what you do.  For instance, am I working the business to help you or is it because helping you would  help me?  Would you help them if it wasn't benefiting you?  A friend of mine shared with me about a church that sat someone down based on Paul's instructions in 1 Corinthians 5 on how to handle a person who is living immorally within the church.  (Unfortunately, in my opinion, they did not apply scripture appropriately, but at the time they believed that what they were doing was right.)  Some time  later, the same incident happened with another member of the church.  But this time, it was a church member's daughter.  This church member was the highest paying tither in the church.  Instead of applying the same discipline to his daughter, they held meetings of how to best handle the situation because they did not want to lose this member nor his offerings.  You see, when money is the focal point, it can cause us to be led astray by fleshly desires.  The biblical  warnings are clear.  When making money, desiring riches and the like become our mind's eye, then we are subject to fall away from our faith. (1Timothy 6:9) So, no matter what we are doing, whether it is operating a business (of any kind), pastoring a church, leading a community program or anything that we take part in, we must make sure we are not motivated by money, because that motivation will likely move us to pursue it at ALL cost.  But, when we are motivated by God, we won't compromise our faith, integrity or character for any amount of money.  If that church really believed that they were doing what God would have them to do, then no tithe paying person should be able to stop them from doing what God instructs just because they give a lot in the offering each month.   See what I  mean?  Motives mean a lot.  On that great day when we are all judged, our works will be judged based on the heart, our motives.

So, I recently returned to the marketplace to honor God with my gifts.  To bring Him glory.  I may get a chance to service you with them.  I may get a chance to just meet you and hook up.  Allow iron to sharpen iron.  : ) Who knows, but you can best believe that my mind has been renewed. As a result, my behavior has been transformed.  I will continue to renew my mind through the study of the Word of God and I will continue to be transformed into His likeness for as long as I am here.  Without the study of His Word, seeking Him and His righteousness, I would still be fulfilling my fleshly desires opposed to walking according to the spirit.  Yes, we do perish for a lack of knowledge.  The truth is at our fingertips.  If you want to know what God thinks about something..., ask Him and pick up the Word.  The answers are delightful!  : )

 

So, that's a little about me and why the blog has changed.  Just want to talk.  To share. To grow.  Keeping God first in everything.  He is the Main Thing!!! God Bless You!!!