Bible Study Notes: 06/12/15

Every time we come together more and more is revealed to me. Here are my notes from our gathering on June 12, 2015. Remember to please question what might not resonate with you or match up to scripture.  It is not my intent to mislead or misrepresent in any way.

Luke 8:11 .. the seed is the word of God.

See ourselves as God sees us - fully redeemed. We  live with Christ IN us.  When we accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we [you and me] were raised with Christ.

Our lives are a walk of faith, a stand of faith. Our bibles are the instruction manual [how to] for this walk. Don't let it sit around collecting dust.

• EVERYTHING was created by God for good!
• God's will for all men for all time is represented in Christ.
• God calls all things to be, that aren't.
• We don't have to live with the things we don't want. Turn to the Bible.
• God gave us dominion [sovereignty; control] over our world, our lives, our circumstances, but not over other people. We are to guard and tend to our world and make all things flourish.
• God is not the God of our flesh, our mind (our earth suit). He is the father of spirits

"You will never miss a God opportunity when you're in the house of God."

"Never run at your "giant" with your mouth shut."

Jesus said John the Baptist was the greatest prophet and even the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than John the Baptist.

• The bible is plan A.  There is no plan B.
• Be careful what you hear. No self pity, no sympathy.
• The more self conscious you are, the more pain you are in.  The more God conscious you are, the more victorious you are.
• Self help is God.
• We create our world through our spoken words.  Proverbs 18:20

Spirit man is suppose to be the dominant, the one in control of the earth suit (body) and soul man (feelings and emotions). Soul man makes decisions and is feed by the spirit.

• John 6:63 .. my words are spirit and they are life ..
• We are to feed our spirit with spirit food (The Word).
• To be full of something is different than being being the real thing.
• The Word fills our spirit so we can be more like Christ.
• We're suppose to imitate Christ - own it, believe it, take it in all the way through.
• Don't harden your heart.

Bible Study Notes: 06/05/15

Another wonderful session with WOG (Women of God).  Included below are my notes (and some thoughts) from our time together. Please question what might not resonate with you or match up to scripture.  It is not my intent to mislead or misrepresent in any way.

Genesis 8:22 - The Law of Genesis (Seed time and harvest)

• Seed produces it's own kind
• God's word is the seed - our hearts are the soil.
• God is a God of increase.

Isaiah 55:11 "... goes forth from my mouth ..." God's word.

We live in a word based world; His word - God's word creates

Psalms 107:20 ... sent forth His word ... healed and delivered from (removes) all obstacles.

James 1:17 ... the same today, tomorrow, always.

John 17:17  ... Jesus is the high priest over our words. He intercedes on our confessions/our words. Give him something to work with.

The word of God is the vehicle the Holy Spirit uses to produce. God gives us everything we need.  His word and the Holy Spirit always work together.

The word of God is a seed, planted in our hearts so we can see ourselves as God does. To be operative in our lives, we must renew our minds.  We have the power of God! See ourselves in the Bible. We [I] are complete in Christ. Own it!

Hebrews 11:6 ... God is a rewarder for those how honestly seek him.

God calls us trophies of his grace.

Romans 5:14 ... Jesus has been called "the last Adam."

Romans 8:9-10

Romans 8:32 .. when our prayers are answered God's glory is revealed.  God wants us to ask BIG!

God doesn't use anything "bad" to teach us anything.

Mark 7:13

We are in control of Satan's reign and have POWERFUL weapons to battle him:

The name of Jesus

The blood of Jesus

The word of God

The armor of God

Give no place (not an inch) to the deivl. Be strong in your "spirit man".  We are holy.  The Holy Spirit wouldn't/couldn't live in us if we weren't. Remember, we are BOLD WOMEN of GOD!

Do what the bible says - CAST DOWN [throw off] EVERY thought that is not of God.

Thoughts have no power over us unless we take ownership of them with our words.  We "take a thought" by speaking it - saying it out loud.  Don't be all about feelings [sensual], speaking what you feel, what you think, etc.

"Facts are subject to change. Truths are constant. Speak truth."

Ex: The fact is that we might be struggling with allergies. The truth is that Jesus bought our freedom from sickness (by His stripes we are healed).  We have it. Claim it. Own it.

Can you get to Enough?

When you come to the end of an assignment, a project, is it enough? Do you continually ask yourself, have I worked hard enough? Have I done enough?

Here are a few questions to ask yourself to get the place where you can say "enough".

1. Have you done all you know to do? Step back and look at your work objectively.  Does it make sense? Is it clear, concise? If not, walk away consider it through the eyes of the ultimate reader/viewer and figure out what they need to read/see.
2. Have you asked "what if" and considered other possibilities? If you're thinking there should be more (or less), look at the situation differently. Move to a new location; flip it upside down; ask what if ... and fill in the blank.
3. Do you like what you've done? Or if there are only parts of it that you like, what can you do to change, adapt, rework the parts that you don't like as well.  Say it differently, turn it around.
4. Is it done?  When you can say "yes", it's done.  Push send.

Next time let's discuss letting go.
Until next time ....
Judy

Does it Really Matter?

Recently a friend told me I should be blogging - regularly. I kind of laughed it off and then asked - ok, blog about what? And she said "blog about being the mother of a 4 year old at the age of 48; about training and completing my first sprint triathlon [again] at 48; about life in my shoes." At first I thought she was crazy, but I keep thinking about it. In the scheme of life, would I say anything that really matters? Maybe yes, maybe no. But one thing is for sure, what I say does matter to Emma.

The other day Emma [my beautiful 4 year old daughter] asked me what God looks like [question number 7056]. I respond as I do with everything - "what do you think?" We got into this big discussion as we're driving [which is where all big discussion take place] that included length and color of hair, height, build, clothes, eyes, hands. We have all seen the pictures of God with long flowing robes and long silver hair. I like to think of God more like a grandpa; loving clear eyes, strong yet soft hands, always ready to hold a hand and/or give a hug. His hair is gray and kept short, but there's always a strand or two that doesn't stay in place. And clothes, he's wearing work pants and a comfortable button down collar shirt - all clean, but soft and worn.

Well, that's my picture of God, but how do I help Emma define her picture of God? I'm sure there will be more discussions in the days to come.

What Will You Do Differently On Monday?

I've just started reading Linchpin by Seth Godin and am LOVING IT! I love the way this man thinks - so unconventional and real world. In just the first few pages gems like the following pop out:

• All of us are geniuses sometimes.
• You have brillance in you, your contribution is valuable, and the art you create is precious.
• If you've got something to say, say it, and think well of yourself while you're learning to say it better." - David Mamet

Then I put the book down and login to Twitter. I follow the Harvard Busines Review [HarvardBiz] and while scrolling through tweets, I see a tweet from HRB titled Drucker's Question: What Will You Do Differently on Monday?. In the article, Drucker is quoted as saying "Don't tell me you had a wonderful meeting with me. Tell me what you're going to do on Monday that is different." The article goes on to discuss how attendees of one particular leadership event, the Drucker Institute at Claremont Graduate University's CEO Forum held in October 2009, DID go out and do something different because of what they'd heard at the forum.

So, what about you? What about me? When you "learn, hear, experience" something new, what do you do with it?

The past three months have held a lot of "new" for me. Development of a new business model, rededication to actively growing my faith, and taking my physical well being to a new level. So what will Monday look like for me?

• Taking the new model and adapting it to two more clients [one is up and running - and going well!].
• Taking my newly Bible [new testament] loaded MP3 player to the gym with me.
• Continue with my training [which I started on Thursday] for my first triathlon [sprint] June 6, 2010.

What will Monday look like for you?

Here's to learning and growing. J

Giving Comfort [by Kathleen Kennedy Townsend]

In November 2009 I was looking at the November 2008 issue of Reader's Digest [my Mom doesn't throw very much away] and was struck by an article written by Kathleen Kennedy Townsend titled Beyond Tragedy. The lead in to the article read .. "My father taught me how to handle death with grace and courage. Forty years later, his example still gives me comfort. It touched me.

The sidebar writing on Giving Comfort was something I thought more of us should know. I have copied this sidebar verbatim below.

I have a set of lessons learned about how to console those who have suffered a loss, based on my own personal experience and observations over the years.

First, go to the funeral. Thirty years ago, Mayor Richard Lee of New Haven, Connecticut, told me that he always went to funerals. "It's there that you see people, he said, and that they see you. It's there that you mingle with families, listen to them talk, and lend your full support. I had never heard that advice stated so explicitly, but he was exactly right. Death opens an enormous hole in the heart. A funeral service brings together those who can help fill that hole.

Second, call or write your friend when someone close to her or him has died. It is remarkable how few people actually reach out in tough times. Perhaps they don't know what to say; perhaps they think the person would prefer to be left alone. It is better to try and be rejected than to never try at all. Your friend can always resist the effort - not answer the phone, not open the letter. But it is hard to imagine anyone not appreciating it.

Third, never say "You will get over it." People rarely do.

The death of a loved one rips us apart, shakes us up, hurts terribly. So my fourth tip is to embrace the person who suffers. I think of the kiss my mother would give me when I would scrape my knee or cut my finger. Her act of love was more healing than any antiseptic.

Make it clear in the letter or phone call to your friend that she or he is wonderful. The outstretched arm, the warm embrace, the freshly baked cookies, or the fragrant flowers do not replace the life. Not by any means. But they do say to the grieving friend, "You are loved. You are cherished."

I felt convicted after reading this. I am guilty of not reaching out to friends when they have been suffering. I've thought "I don't want to bother them." But, this writing is proof again - it's not up to us to worry about "bothering" someone in need. it's up to us to "be there - fully."

The Basics

Everywhere you click there’s information on “the new” ways to communicate and market products/services, organizations, people, and ideas. I’m amazed at the number of consultants, coaches, agencies, etc. that have something to say about online marketing and social media. Many are screaming the message that if you aren’t utilizing ALL of the “new” technology, you’re missing the boat … If you aren’t on Facebook your business won’t survive … LinkedIn is where professionals find other professionals … Sign up for Twitter and make sure you “tweet” every day… it goes on and on.

It seems there are as many ways to get a story out as there are stories to tell. But, in the back of my mind, there’s been this nagging thought - the basic principles of marketing, leadership and good solid relationships still apply. It’s not all about the tools. It’s about the story.

So what are the ‘basics’? Let’s look at it from a business owner’s perspective.

1. What are you really selling? Or asked another way, what are your customers/ clients really buying from you? What needs are you superbly meeting for a defined group? Spend some time in their [your clients’] shoes and see, hear, touch, experience what they experience when they are purchasing from or working with you. Choreograph the process. The more you understand about “you” [your people, the organization, your products/services] the better you will understand your clients – and how to serve them. In other words, sweat the small stuff.

By the way, you need to be remarkable. What you’re doing and the way you do it has to be amazing. There’s no room for “so-so” or “ok”. There are too many choices in the marketplace to not be the very best you can be. And something to really shake you up - your very best might not be good enough. I read something just today from Seth Godin: You must make something work in the small before you bet the farm and market it to the masses. If you can't sell to 1 in 1000, why market to a million?

2. Who are you selling to? Who is the audience(s) that fits your product/ service offering - perfectly? Here’s a hint: The answer can’t be “people”. It has be people who _____ [are college professors, drive used Volvos and enjoy Thai food – Trader Joe’s target audience (Thank you Jim Carroll from the Small Business Development Center)].

3. What’s your message? Or asked another way, what is your target audience(s) interested in? What is your target audience telling you [and have you asked them]? What problem are you solving? What are the words that need to be communicated so that you are addressing their wants, needs, and desires? What is the part of your story that connects with each of your audiences? And to make sure you’ve got all the bases covered, what are you not? What are you not going to do, sell, be, etc?

4. How can the message best be communicated? What tools will get your story and message out to the audience(s) who wants what you have to sell [and you want to reach]? In what format does that message need to be delivered? What are the best vehicles to move your message to each target audience? Where do they go? What do they read? Who are their friends? What’s important to them? What’s not important to them?

5. Where are you going to start? Step 1, step 2? This is your “to do list.” So, step 1 is start answering the questions above. Start today!

Here’s to learning and growing. J