Take Some 'Me' Time

From the book 365 Inspirations for a Great Life, by Lynda Field:


'"Me" time is spent on yourself alone. This time is not for others, it's just for you. What, you can't find the time? Well if you can't find time for yourself how can you expect anyone else to find time for you? Value yourself and your time alone and you will find that others will value you.

• Prioritize yourself
• Take a few minutes every day this week just to stand and stare
• Enjoy the chance to be yourself
• Create a regular daily slot in your diary for you to relax and just be

You deserve this space, so take it!

Fulfilling Your Purpose

From the Today God Is First devotionals (www.todaygodisfirst.com):


"O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD" (Ps 139:1-4).


'Your purpose in life is chosen by God. It is not negotiable. It is like calling water wet-there is no changing that fact, and there's no changing God's purpose for your life. While you may not fulfill the purpose for which you were made, you still have a purpose that God intends for you to fulfill. This is your blueprint from God. In the same way that He had a specific purpose in mind for Jesus when He sent Him to the earth, He has a specific purpose in mind for your life.


This doesn't mean, however, that there is one highly specific niche for you to fill and that if you miss it, too bad. It is my belief that you can achieve your purpose in many different and creative ways. This should take the pressure off. You won't throw your entire life off course by choosing the wrong college, job or mate. God is much bigger than any miscalculation or disobedience on your part. "The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me" (Ps. 138:8). Isn't that comforting to know?


Defining your purpose will help you to determine the activities that you should be involved in. Like Jesus, you should not involve yourself in activities that contradict His purpose for your existence. Jesus? purpose was to do the will of the Father and become the salvation for mankind.


Each of us must ask why we are involved in an activity. Is it a God-activity, or just a good activity? Remember, Jesus only did something if He saw the Father doing it, and He was able to see what His Father was doing because of His intimate relationship with Him.


Today, take steps to insure you are aligned with your purpose.'

Cut Your Losses

From the book The Management Methods of Jesus, by Bob Briner:


'On several occasions, the Gospels tell of Jesus' leaving a place where He knew He was not wanted - like in Gadara, where the people asked Him to leave, and He did. He instructed His disciples to do likewise. They were to leave any city that did not welcome them and "shake the dust of those cities" off their feet.


This provides a helpful business insight: Don't let pride or stubbornness keep you in a market in which you don't belong, or with a product that is not going to make it, or in a business alliance that is not going to work out.


In our own company we have learned this lesson the hard way, and it has cost us a lot of money. It has also cost us a lot of forward momentum in profitable areas - areas where we could have done even better had we cut our losses on inherently bad deals and invested that time and money in the profitable areas. 


This is not about giving up and rolling over at the first sign of trouble or difficulty. It is about carefully analyzing losing situations and making sure you are not refusing to pull the plug because of stubbornness or pride. 


Cut your losses. Jesus did.'

Cleaning Isn't Clean

From the book Simple Secrets for Becoming Healthy, Wealthy & Wise, by David Niven:


'Even though the point of cleaning your house is to make it cleaner, the process of cleaning your house actually makes things worse.


Cleaning stirs up dust, hair, dander, and other powerful allergens. Ironically, those who schedule their big cleaning of the year to coincide with the arrival of spring are leaving themselves doubly vulnerable, because they will increase the spread of allergens inside their houses just when the amount of allergens outside their houses is peaking.


For most people, allergies can interfere with many aspects of the quality of life, including getting a good night's sleep (68 percent), engaging in outdoor activities (53 percent), being able to concentrate (50 percent), and being productive at work (43 percent). Four out of five people with allergies experience heightened symptoms when cleaning the house.'

More Winning Quotes

"The most drastic, and usually the most effective, remedy for fear is direct action."
   -  William Burnham


"The world is not perishing for the want of clever or talented or well-meaning men. It is perishing for the want of men of courage and resolution."
   -  Robert J. McCracken


"Our energy is in proportion to the resistance it meets. We attempt nothing great but from a sense of the difficulties we have to encounter; we persevere in nothing great but from a pride in overcoming them."
   -  William Hazlitt

A Time to Suffer

From the In Touch devotionals (www.intouch.org):

'Joseph suffered 13 years before he was pulled from adversity. 

Our suffering lasts only as long as necessary for God to accomplish His purpose. He is interested in equipping servants and molding followers rather than in providing carefree lives. Yet the Father deeply loves His children—that's why He shares in their hurts and limits the hardship so it doesn't extend one moment beyond its usefulness.


Adversity is God's sharpest and strongest tool for re-forming believers to Christ's image, but He will not force change. The Lord molds His children in proportion to their willingness to be shaped for divinely appointed work. We can refuse to submit to His craftsmanship, but rebellion only prolongs the pain. The wise approach is to say, "God, I do not understand why You have allowed this hardship, but I am willing to follow You through it."


The faithful child of God emerges from trials prepared and equipped to serve God. This is the believer who values obedience and prioritizes prayer and Bible study long before adversity comes. When the going gets tough, he knows that the Holy Spirit's power is sufficient to carry him through.'

Decisiveness

From the book Minute Motivators for Leaders, by Stan Toler:


"Efficiency is doing things right. Effectiveness is doing the right thing."
   -  Alan Nelson


'Leaders never flinch when confronted with a choice. It's their job to make decisions, and they're good at it. They know that hesitancy is a dangerous malady that infects and eventually ruins organizations. Character is built in the now. Leaders are decisive.


They make calculated decisions. Leaders know there are two important paths. One is a road to possible riches, while the other is the road to eventual ruin. Leaders are skilled in choosing the right path. They assess options, weigh priorities, and consult advisors. They make choices. 


Leaders make objective decisions. They never hedge a decision based on popular opinion. They're willing to move forward without regard to the personal cost. 


Leaders don't procrastinate. When it's time to decide, they pay their money and get on the ride.


Leaders don't put off until tomorrow what they can decide today.


Leaders are decision makers.'

Act on Your Instincts

From the book 365 Inspirations for a Great Life, by Lynda Field:


'Your intuition speaks with a voice that just "knows" something to be right or true, even if there is absolutely no logical reason why you should think so. 


We often find it hard to trust our hunches and flashes of insight because we have been taught to reason things out rationally. But, as you know, our rational mind can't always provide the answers!

• Your intuition works at the highest creative level.
• It can answer all your needs.
• You must trust it and act upon it.
• The more you do this, the clearer its voice becomes.' 

Can Your Boss Say This About You?

From the Today God Is First devotionals (www.todaygodisfirst.com):

'The Bible says that God has defined the place and time in which we are to live. "LORD, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance" (Ps 16:5-6).


God has uniquely gifted you to bring His presence and power in the area of your calling. Once you begin to realize this, God will use you just as He did Joseph with his employer, Pharaoh. Your life should be a testimony of the power, creativity, and servant-hood of Jesus that it impacts your employer to the degree that he says the same thing Pharaoh said about Joseph: "Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the Spirit of God?"


When God accomplishes this in your life He gives you authority in your workplace. You will begin to see others drawn to you. You may begin to be ostracized as well. This too is part of your call. Do not fear this. Embrace it.


We should not be seeking to remove ourselves from the pressure cooker of life, but use that pressure cooker to reveal the power and grace of God through our lives to others. It is here that we will receive our inheritance as we fulfill our purposes in and through our work life call.


Today, ask God to give you supernatural wisdom and discernment to express the Spirit of God through you to your employer.'

Remain Calm in the Storm

From the book The Management Methods of Jesus, by Bob Briner:


'In every episode recorded about the life of Jesus, when outside forces created tumult, He remained calm.


In the life of almost every corporate manager and executive, there will be times when you feel an "armed" mob is coming after you and your company. Labor unrest, product safety breakdown, critical material shortages, takeover attempts, and the dreaded cash-flow crisis are examples of those kinds of times. That is when the effective leader remains calm and provides effective, positive, reassuring leadership. 


Most of us don't inherently have the serenity and assurance to automatically project calm in the face of the storm. That's a characteristic we must cultivate. The most important prerequisite is to recognize the need for this calm spirit. It is amazing how many executives still think that cursing, shouting, and generally running amok are the appropriate and best responses to a crisis situation. 


A word of caution, however. Being calm does NOT mean being detached. You can be calm and still be fully engaged and actively involved.


Next to recognizing the need for calm, the most important thing is to plan for tough times. The wise executive will have carefully drawn crisis plans appropriate to the various challenges that might arise. He will also have a crisis team in place, and each member of the team will know his role. This kind of planning helps insure calm all around.


Another useful but often neglected calm-producing activity is prayer. This...might seem a little mystical to the average business manager. But even spiritual skeptics have noted the empirical evidence of the calm that prayer produces. History, too, is full of anecdotal evidence of the power of prayer to help in times of crisis. It is not coincidental that Jesus spent the hours just before his arrest in prayer.


Be like Jesus. Be a calm and effective leader, even in the eye of the storm.

Drink Grape Juice

From the book Simple Secrets for Becoming Healthy, Wealthy & Wise, by David Niven:


'Much as the Teflon coating keeps food from sticking to a pan, the bioflavonoid in grape juice interferes with the process by which cholesterol sticks to our arteries. Regular consumption of grape juice therefore reduces the likelihood of clogged arteries and lowers the risk for conditions including heart disease and strokes.


Bioflavonoids, or compounds that act as antioxidants, fight damaging free radicals. They occur naturally in a number of foods, such as fruits and vegetables, especially apples and onions; tea, especially green tea; chocolate; nuts; grape juice and red wine....


...the data suggests that bioflavonoids offer a protective effect against LDL, or the bad cholesterol, and improve endothelial function to keep the blood vessels dilated....


...it would be a good idea for people to look at their diets and determine whether they are consuming foods that contain bioflavonoids....


...Grape juice is the kind of beverage that children tend to consume a lot of, and then people forget about it as they become adults. It's time to rediscover it and put a glass of grape juice in your diet every day.


In studies of people with heart disease, drinking grape juice for two weeks helped widen arteries and reduced cholesterol oxidation by more than a third.'

More Winning Quotes

"Those who attain any excellence commonly spend life in one pursuit; for excellence is not often granted upon easier terms."
   -  Samuel Johnson


"Only he who keeps his eye fixed on the far horizon will find his right road."
   -  Dag Hammarskjold


"A determinate purpose of life, and steady adhesion to it through all disadvantages, are indispensable conditions of success."
   -  William M. Punshon

Our Financial Security

From the In Touch devotionals (www.intouch.org):


Matthew 25:14-28

'Feeling safe is one of our basic human needs. Many people think they are financially secure until a little blip comes along in the economy or in their personal circumstances. Then the reality that they are vulnerable hits home. Contrary to what the world says, financial security is found not in a bank account or a retirement fund but in a relationship with the One who owns everything in heaven and on earth.

The Lord is not too busy running the universe to be concerned about your financial situation. The truth is, He cares about every detail of your life, including your need for economic security. By heeding His directions about how to acquire and use money, you can experience peace, contentment, and joy.

When it comes to finances, three basic truths should govern our thinking:

• God owns it all.
• We are managers of His possessions.
• We are responsible and will one day give an account to Him about the way we used His resources.

True financial security comes only when we use God's money His way for His purposes. He alone knows the future and has the power to provide for our needs, whereas any personal financial strategies are backed only by human effort and wisdom.

Don't you want to experience the stability of internal peace, even during an economic earthquake? Trusting in the Lord's provision and obeying His instructions will fill you with confidence when others are gripped with fear and uncertainty. Rest in the knowledge that He provides for His children.'

Challenge

From the book Minute Motivators for Leaders, by Stan Toler:


"Those who try to do something and fail are infinitely better than those who try to do nothing and succeed."
   -  Lloyd Jones


'Leaders love challenges. While others may see challenges as stumbling blocks, leaders see them as stepping-stones. To them, problems are unformed opportunities to create, to re-invent, and to excel. The juices of the leader really start to flow when an obstacle suddenly appears. Like the football lineman who gets an adrenaline rush when the opposing player charges toward him, leaders are instantly motivated to stand against the problems they face. 


Leaders are proactive. They know that the greater the challenge, the greater the sense of accomplishment when it's met. 


"Impossible" and "undoable" are words that are not usually on the lips of a true leader. They have a different language. "Yes." "I know we can." "Let's try." Great leaders may be afraid at times, but they never allow their fears to keep them from facing a challenge with courage.


When others are throwing in the towel, the leader is going back to the drawing board.


Leaders solve problems others fear.'


------------------


Additional winning comment:


Encouragement, peace, and joy are vital aspects of the Christian life. However, conviction, refinement, and discipline are also necessary. They are the testimony of Christ's hand in our life, and the willingness to be molded to be like Him.

Tips for Relaxation

From the book 365 Inspirations for a Great Life, by Lynda Field:

• 'Don't bring work home.
• Create a real weekend off.
• Turn off your mobile.
• Remember that your mind, body and soul need to relax.
• Turn off your TV.
• Take out your diary and schedule some relaxation time.
• Treat yourself to a massage.
• Consciously slow down your breathing - you will feel more tranquil.
• Don't fill every moment of your waking day; let there be some spaces where you can stand and stare and daydream.
• Consider why you are called a human BEING and not a human DOING - learn to let yourself be.'

The Work-a-holic

From the Today God Is First devotionals (www.todaygodisfirst.com):


'Living a balanced life is evidence of a Spirit-led life. People work long hours for many reasons which can lead to significant problems in our lives.


One reason people over work is that they often think they must work longer hours to keep up with their workload. This is often the surface-reason people give to the question of working long hours. Like any compulsive behavior, there is usually something beneath this behavior. The root of overworking is often 1) a fear of loss, and 2) a need for self-acceptance created by performance.


The fear of loss issue can be a fear of what will happen if we don't work long hours. A fear that there may not be enough money if we don't work long hours can drive us to overwork. Often an inaccurate view of what is enough makes us drive ourselves to greater levels of achievement, believing a financial reward will insure us against potential financial disaster. This usually operates at a subconscious level. When we operate at this level we often find those around us will feel shamed if they do not work at the same level and can be intimidated by the unspoken or spoken directive that long hours are required. This leads to a whole new set of problems.


The second reason people work long hours is their need to gain self-acceptance and esteem from their jobs. It is rewarding to see something come from our efforts. However, when we begin to be driven to work, it becomes an unhealthy condition. We are looking to gain self-esteem needs from our performance instead of being secure in our position in Christ.


So, in order to avoid work becoming an idol and a compulsive behavior, we must maintain a balance that provides time to spend quality time with the Lord, our families and fellow believers. Sometimes the greatest exercise of faith is to work only forty hours a week. This insures that the outcome of our work is dependent upon God, not our self-effort.'

Take the Narrow Path

From the book The Management Methods of Jesus, by Bob Briner:


'Jesus' admonition to enter the narrow gate with the few rather than go the broad way with the many has great wisdom for those in business. Almost all business successes to some degree are based on this instruction.


Going against the grain, finding a unique way to do something, or seeking out and occupying a special niche are all part of this kind of thinking. Success in business almost always depends on differentiating what you make or what you do from your competitors. In business, the narrow way is the way to success.


Every great business success has in some way found a narrow way, a way others could not or were not willing to go.


The narrow way should be a business goal for individuals as well as businesses. Those managers hoping for success should look for ways to set themselves apart in positive ways from those who walk blithely down the broad way.


Spending more hours on the job than anyone else or working harder than anyone else is not necessarily the way to do this. Try caring more about quality than others do. Try serving both your customers and those who work for you better than anyone else does. Try having the most congenial work environment in your company. These are narrow ways that will lead to success.'

Look on the Bright Side

From the book Simple Secrets for Becoming Healthy, Wealthy & Wise, by David Niven:


'In almost everything that happens, you will have the opportunity to consider the worst or the best implications. Even in terrible setbacks, there are rays of hope you might focus on. And even in wonderful events, there are threads of worry or despair you might cling to. Your focus is not merely a personality quirk, but a way of life. Not only will learning to see the upside, the optimistic outcome, the good in what has happened increase your enjoyment of life; it will lengthen your life.


...a positive mind-set goes hand in hand with good health....


Optimistic people, who credit themselves when things go well and view bad times as temporary, live longer than pessimists. According to a study conducted over a thirty-year span, pessimistic people are 19 percent less likely to reach a normal life expectancy.'  

More Winning Quotes

"Good instincts usually tell you what to do long before your head has figured it out."
   -  Michael Burke


"Every man has his own destiny; the only imperative is to follow it, to accept it, no matter where it leads him."
   -  Henry Miller


"Seek out that particular mental attitude which makes you feel most deeply and vitally alive, along with which comes the inner voice which says, "This is the real me," and when you have found that attitude, follow it."
   -  William James

The God Who Comforts

From the In Touch devotionals (www.intouch.org):

'Look up "comfort" in some form of dictionary, and you will read a definition like this: "Something that promotes a state of ease or provides freedom from pain and anxiety." But God's Word has a different solution when consolation is needed: the indwelling Holy Spirit. In Greek, He is called parakletos, which means "he who stands at one's side; he who comes to one's aid." Believers don't have to seek outward remedies or distractions to ease their mind, because help is available within.


Even before the Spirit was sent to indwell believers (John 14:26; Eph. 3:16), Scripture identified God as the one who comforts His people (Isaiah 40:1; 49:13). The Lord personally provides consolation and reassurance because no one knows our hurts the way He does.


I like this anonymous quotation: "When we have gone into the furnace of affliction, His hand is on the thermostat and His eye is on the clock." God lets us pass through hardship to make us stronger believers, wiser servants, and more humble people. But He stays right by our side through the entire experience, sustaining us and limiting the intensity and duration of our distress. The Holy Spirit's reassuring whisper to our heart gives more comfort than the solace of family or the encouragement of friends.


People who fail to understand the true source of comfort try to escape their pain. They seek out pleasures, material wealth, or drugs and alcohol to soothe their heart. Only God can offer lasting relief from the crushing pressure of heartache. He even brings joy into periods of mourning.'

Motivation

From the book Minute Motivators for Leaders, by Stan Toler:


'There are three ways to motivate people: guilt, flattery, and inspiration. Most of us have been booked on one or more guilt trips. And from experience, we know that the journey wasn't all that pleasant. "But we really need you." "Everyone else is helping." "You really owe it to us." Cooperation by coercion is not true cooperation. It may prompt a desired action, but it certainly does not prompt a desired result.


Even flattery can be a negative motivator. "You'll get a lot of recognition for this." "Everyone says you do this so well." "All the credit will go to you." These comments are praise placebos, one-handed applause. Leaders know how important it is to reinforce the team effort with honest recognition, but they don't hand out bouquets of plastic roses.


Great leaders inspire their followers. "I have a dream!" "Think of what we can accomplish!" "You can contribute to something great!"


Either by word or by deed, the best leaders are those who can inspire others to reach for something greater than themselves.' 

Make This a Special Day

From the book 365 Inspirations for a Great Life, by Lynda Field:


'With hopefulness and an optimistic spring in your step you have the power to change a lot of negative energy into positive energy. Make this a special day and make the following affirmations:

• Today I will smile whenever I remember to.
• Today I will believe in myself 100 per cent.
• Today I will only encourage, I will not criticize.
• Today I will love my life.
• Today I will keep positive.
• Today I will forgive myself.
• Today I will perform a secret act of kindness.
• Today I will be compassionate.

Why not try it again tomorrow?'

The Cost of Unbelief

From the Today God Is First devotionals (www.todaygodisfirst.com):


"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him" (Hebrews 11:5-6)

How is your faith quotient? On a scale of 1 to 10 where would you rank yourself? Everyday, I marvel at the faith most of us exercise without even thinking about it.

We drive our cars 60-70 miles per hour with an oncoming car doing the same with only a white line and six to eight feet separating us. We place our faith that every car will not cross into our lane. We fly on airplanes that take us over oceans, trusting the pilots with our very lives. We ride on thrilling amusement rides that take us several stories into the air and travel fifty to seventy miles per hour down a winding slope. We trust the operators of that ride with our own mortality.

There is a great irony in the fact that we can place our faith in such things but cannot place our faith in the hands of our Creator. God got angry with one of his priests named Zechariah when he questioned his angelic messenger about his wife becoming pregnant with John the Baptist.

"Zechariah asked the angel, 'How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.' The angel answered, 'I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their proper time'" (Luke 1:8-20).

Zechariah was struck mute because of his unbelief for nine months until the birth of John the Baptist. What consequence have you suffered from a lack of faith? Jesus is always looking for faith on the earth. Is there an area in your life where you have not been able to trust God? Why not repent of your unbelief and place your faith totally in His hands today.

Stop Worrying

From the book The Management Methods of Jesus, by Bob Briner:


'Jesus had a lot to say about worry. He saw it as both counterproductive and evidence of a lack of faith. He said firmly not to worry at all. 


Now there is a world of difference between planning and worrying. We are admonished to plan carefully and even to "sweat the small stuff." Planning and paying attention to details are positive activities because we can make positive things happen as a result. 


Worry, on the other hand, is by definition useless fretting about things over which we have no control, and it produces no positive results. Many successful businesspeople recount how they concentrate intently on their businesses during working hours but never worry about them during the evening. This is consistent with Jesus' teaching. In Matthew 6:34 He says, "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things."'


Winners know the difference between planning and worrying.

Volunteer for Yourself

From the book Simple Secrets for Becoming Healthy, Wealthy & Wise, by David Niven:


'Volunteering for a cause you care about is not only a great benefit to others, but also a great benefit to yourself. Volunteering demonstrates our humanity to ourselves and offers a wonderful opportunity for cultivating feelings of connection to our community. Give of yourself to others, because it is the greatest gift you can give yourself. 


Researchers have found that volunteering improves life satisfaction across the generations. Notably, the effect is even greater among those over age sixty, who enjoy 72 percent greater life satisfaction and 54 percent more positive feelings about themselves when they volunteer.'

More Winning Quotes

"Few are they who have never had the chance to achieve happiness...and fewer those who have taken that chance."
   -  Andre Maurois


"Change and growth take place when a person has risked himself and dares to become involved with experimenting with his own life."
   -  Herbert Otto


"Be yourself and think for yourself; and while your conclusions may not be infallible, they will be nearer right than the conclusions forced upon you."
   -  Elbert Hubbard

What Jesus' Blood Can Do

From the In Touch devotionals (www.intouch.org):

'There are five words that every believer should know and be able to explain. I have defined and discussed all of them many times in sermons and writings, but I am doing so again because they are so essential. Being confident in our beliefs is ever more important as cultures become bolder about persecuting Christians.

Jesus' shed blood redeems believers (1 Peter 1:18-19). This means that we are purchased from a life of slavery to sin. Furthermore, we receive forgiveness—the wrongs of our past, present, and future are totally washed away (Eph. 1:7-8). For the rest of eternity, God views His children through the "veil" of Christ's blood, which makes them pure and holy. Everyone who trusts in Jesus is declared no longer guilty (justified—Rom. 5:8-9) and brought into relationship with God (reconciled—Col. 1:19-22). This unalterable change in status from sinner to saint happens the moment a person receives Christ as Savior.

The final word, sanctified, describes the life-long maturing process that begins when a person trusts in the Savior (Heb. 13:12). A saint is set apart from the rest of humanity for the purpose of making him Christ-like. Through discipleship, testing, and teaching, God "drains out" our old self and pumps the life of Jesus into our heart and life.

These five words tell the story of our faith. Meditate upon the verses related to each one, and pray that God will write the meanings on your heart. When we're confident in our beliefs, we can be a light to others instead of crumbling at the threat of pain.'

Counsel

From the book Minute Motivators for Leaders, by Stan Toler:


'...the leader who advises himself has a fool for a counselor. The Scriptures teach us that there is wisdom in many counselors. Each of us has a "web of wisdom" that we may resource for the solution to a problem or the direction of a plan. The web consists of wise and learned relatives, friends, or associates who have graduated from the school of experience. 


Nobody succeeds alone.


The best leaders surround themselves with bright lights. They know that they are not above the advice of their subordinates. Since their team members were chosen because of their knowledge and skill, they are a well of ideas. Good leaders will draw confidently from that well with quiet regularity.


Good leaders know they need advice, and they seek it.'

Every Exit Is An Entry

From the book 365 Inspirations for a Great Life, by Lynda Field:


'Every cloud has a silver lining; there is a meaning and a purpose to everything that happens to you. 


When you are facing a problem ask yourself the following questions:

• How did this happen?
• How can I view this situation differently?
• In what way can this loss work for me?
• What can I learn about myself here?
• What is there that is positive in this situation?
• What is the first step I need to take so that I can bounce back quickly?

As one door closes another opens. Look for the newly opening door; look for the silver lining.'

Kingdom Economics

From the Today God Is First devotionals (www.todaygodisfirst.com):


"So I gave you a land on which you did not toil and cities you did not build; and you live in them and eat from vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant"  (Joshua 24:13).

'In the world of business we are taught to do whatever it takes to produce a desired outcome. Competitive forces can drive companies to go beyond the limits of ethics and integrity to achieve a desired outcome. Men and women can become work-a-holics as the need for competitive advantage is passed down the various management levels in order to meet sales and marketing goals. This sweat and toil mentality contradicts God's Kingdom Economy.


The Kingdom Economy is found in the above verse in Joshua. When the people of Israel were coming out of Egypt, a place of sweat and toil and slavery, God was trying to teach them a new economy of receiving. Instead of sweat and toil, He wanted them to learn obedience. Now their income would be based on their obedience, not their skill or their sweat and toil.


This new Kingdom Economy meant that there would be times when what you receive from your efforts might be less than the commensurate time invested. Yet, there would also be times when you would receive more compared to your time invested.


God says we are to determine if He wants us to meet with that person or be involved with an endeavor based on His leading alone, not based on the perceived outcome. It is His responsibility to bring fruit from the activity.


This will result in a new freedom in your work life. Stay vertical with God and let Him determine your next activity.'