vision

Time Management – Overcome the Pressure of Time and Invest It Wisely!

Time Management – Overcome the Pressure of Time and Invest It Wisely!

You Can Overcome the Pressure of Time

Time Management Overcome the Pressure of TimeTime management is an important life skill.

Time is precious; we never seem to have enough of it.

More than that, we tend to be overcome with

the pressure of time, as we continually find

our “to do” list filled with too many tasks and

not enough time to finish them.

Sound familiar?

Well, why not choose to overcome the pressure of time,

rather than let it overwhelm you?

You can manage your time and take control of your life.

“Make the most of every opportunity.”
— Colossians 4:5 NIV

Time is a Gift – Do You Use It Wisely?

Time is one of the valuable gifts God has given us. And even though we may be aware that each day is a gift, none of us know how much of it we have left to use on this earth.

We are encouraged to use our time wisely in Psalm 90 verse 12: “So teach us to number our days, that we may present to You a heart of wisdom.”

The question is: What are you doing with your days?

Time Wasted or Time Invested?

When analyzing how we manage our time, we will most likely find that much of it is spent on “time wasters.” “Time wasters” are those things that soak up our time and distract us from accomplishing our goals.

Games, TV, Facebook, email, phone calls, and surfing the web are all common “time wasters” these days. And if you are procrastinating tackling your “to do” list, these distractions can easily take up way too much of the day.

The next thing we’ll probably notice is that a lot of our time is spent on the daily maintenance tasks of life. Not the most exciting activities to do, but yet necessary.

Keep in mind: without a vision of the future, we can easily get caught up in doing things today that lack lasting investment.

One of the most important principles, in our walk with God here on earth, is that time and activities spent for His kingdom have eternal value. Investing the time God has given us in kingdom work is not only satisfying, but will see everlasting rewards.

Time Management Tips

Managing your time gives you power. Disciplining yourself to improve this skill will reap life-long benefits.

The following time management tips will help you get started:

  • Make a “to do” list of the things you need to accomplish.
  • Prioritize the list and put a “P” in front of the main three to four priority items that need to be accomplished for the day.
  • Focus the first part of your day accomplishing the priority items.
  • Refuse to be distracted by “time wasters.” Remove distractions as much as possible in order to complete the priority items.
  • Motivate yourself to complete the priority items first by considering how great you’ll feel once you have accomplished them.
  • Schedule time for leisure activities and remind yourself they will be a reward to look forward to once you have completed your priority tasks.
  • Ask God to help you throughout the day.

Word of warning: don’t let the seemingly endless “to do” list cloud your vision and make everything seem like a chore, especially when it comes to relationships. Time spent in relationships is a valuable investment. This is no less true when it comes to spending time with the Lord.

The truth is, we don’t have to perform for God when we spend time with Him. It should not be a chore. He wants us to be still and to know that He is God. Spending time in His presence will result in joy. Regardless of how busy our lives become, we must guard our time with Him.

Are you starting to see the light? Time is a precious gift to be valued. How we invest our lives demonstrates where our heart is and reveals what is most important to us. Overcome the pressure of time by learning to manage it and invest it wisely.

May you invest your time wisely and enjoy a life of growing prosperity!

Be blessed to be a blessing –

Cheers,
Brenda

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Powerful Leadership – 5 Crucial Skills Required to Become a Great Leader!

Powerful Leadership – 5 Crucial Skills Required to Become a Great Leader!

Great Leaders Commit to Developing Key Skills

Great Leaders Develop Crucial SkillsPowerful leadership requires a commitment

to developing key personal skills and abilities.

Great leaders must have a driving desire

to make things happen.

If you want to be the head and not the tail,

then you must fine tune key leadership skills in order to become effective so that others will want to follow.

Some people are born with natural talents that lend themselves to becoming a great leader. But despite the fact that you might have been born with some of these talents, it still takes continual enthusiasm, drive, and experience for true development as a leader to occur.

5 Crucial Skills Needed to Become a Great Leader

1. Vision

Leaders need to know the vision of their group or organization. They must have a clear sense of purpose. Knowing the organization’s goals and objectives, how the organization works, and being able to communicate the vision to others, helps put everyone on the same page.

Leaders need to help others catch a personal vision of the big picture, so that everyone is moving in the same direction on the road to success.

2. Encouragement

Leadership is not about using harassment or fear as a driving force to get others to take action. Great leaders encourage others to accomplish the goals of the group. Encouragement is contagious and it benefits everyone when it is flowing freely.

3. Trust

Trustworthiness is vital to great leadership. Your followers must have trust and confidence in you. And if they do, they will go to great lengths for you and the group.

Strong relationships, trustworthiness, and high ethics build trust and confidence. Leaders that deal with people in a positive way, lay a foundation of strength for the group. Stronger relationships equal a stronger measure of trust and confidence in the capabilities of the leader.

4. Communication

Communication is crucial skill of a leader. You must be able to clearly communicate the goals and objectives that you are all about to undertake as an organization. A leader’s vision and plan must be clearly communicated to others in order to keep everyone on the same page.

5. Judgment

Great leaders have great judgment. If you want to grow as a leader, you must continue to improve and develop your judgment and decision making skills.

Leaders need to make wise decisions in a variety of situations. Your followers will come to rely on your judgment. Good, wise decision making is crucial to the success of a leader and the organization.

Keep in mind: In life we all eventually find ourselves in a leadership role, in some shape or form, big or small. And the Lord wants to see His children become strong leaders and He gives them instructions and tells them how they can be.

“And the LORD shall make you the head, and not the tail; and you shall be above only, and you shall not be beneath; if that you listen to the commandments of the LORD your God…to observe and to do them.”
— Deuteronomy 28:13

Conclusion: Leaders lead. Leaders have followers and you’re not much of a leader if no one is following. Being a great leader is about constantly growing, developing, and setting an example, because you are a reflection of what your followers must be. Develop these five crucial skills and demonstrate powerful leadership.

May you develop your skills to grow into a powerful, effective leader and experience much growing prosperity!

Soar higher in Him,
Brenda

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Vision – Why Let a Lack of it Prevent You from Living the Abundant Life of Your Dreams?

Vision – Why Let a Lack of it Prevent You from Living the Abundant Life of Your Dreams?

How to Catch the Vision and Run with it into Your Dream Life!

Vision Your Abundant Dream LifeVision looks forward into the future.

It takes vision if you want to move from…

your present standard of living to –

living your abundant dream life.

A continual focus on…

past problems and defeats,

will only result in fearful paralysis;

and that takes you nowhere.

Where’s Your Focus?

As of today, choose to stop looking at all the things that can go wrong, and instead turn your eyes toward your strengths and assets. Put your focus on what must go right to reach your goals and dreams. Wake up in the morning and go to bed at night, thinking only of ways to do the things you want to do. Do not allow yourself to waste time thinking of all the reasons why you cannot do something.

Kick-start your vision and think repeatedly of the many achievements you are going to accomplish in the future; which will be greater than anything you have ever done in the past. Once you get your focus in the right direction, you’ll find yourself forced to draw upon resources that you previously didn’t even realize you had.

Will You Take the Risk?

Clearly, change is going to involve some risk-taking on your part. But believe me, once you dare to act on your vision and reach toward your dreams, it won’t be long before you start winning in a big way.

Doing things you’ve never done before may prove to be frightening at first. Just keep in mind: Anyone who achieves anything of greatness in their life first takes some kind of risk. Others may not be able to catch the same vision that you have and you’ll find it takes a measure of risk to follow your vision through to your dreams.

Vision of a Dream Life

What is your dream? What vision or picture of a great thing or accomplishment floats to the surface of your consciousness from time to time?

Begin to make your dream a reality by writing it down with as much detail as possible. Write it in the present tense and see yourself as already living it.

“Write the vision, and make it plain, that he may run that reads it.” 
— Habakkuk 2:2

Remember, it makes no difference whether your dream is to start a new business, buy a house, get married, graduate with honors, get a new position at work, or any other goal be it big or small. Whatever it may be, you must step out and boldly go after it.

Sure, there will be times along the way that you miss the mark, but that does not make you a failure. Sometimes plans don’t work out as anticipated, but you still have the capacity to bounce back and try again.

What’s stopping you from walking out your vision into your dream life? Continually remind yourself that you have tremendous reservoirs of potential within you and with God’s help you are capable of doing anything you set your mind to do. All you have to do is decide to do it and know you can. Do not doubt whether or not you can. Simply get it settled that you can and make up your mind this very moment to run with your vision into your dream life.

May you dare to run with your vision and enjoy a life of growing prosperity!

God bless you always –

Soar higher,
Brenda

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A Desire in the Heart and Magnetizing Thoughts

A Desire in the Heart and Magnetizing Thoughts

Dare to Listen to the Voice of God Calling You!

Young or old…

it is never too late to reach out and manifest those dreams and desires that God has placed on your heart…

The following is an excerpt from “How to Get What You Want” by Orison Swett Marden…

Enjoy the following, which is taken from chapter 2 of Marden’s book:

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“‘Think the things you want.’ The profoundest philosophy is locked up in these few words.

Think of them clearly, persistently, concentrating upon them with all the force and might of your mind, and struggle toward them with all your energy. This is the way to make yourself a magnet for the things you want.

But the moment you begin to doubt, to worry, to fear, you demagnetize yourself, and the things you desire flee from you. You drive them away by your mental attitude.

They cannot come near you while you are deliberately separating yourself from them. You are going in one direction, and the things you want are going in the opposite direction.

“A desire in the heart for anything,” says H. Emilie Cady, “is God’s sure promise sent beforehand to indicate that it is yours already in the limitless realm of supply.”

No matter how discouraging your present outlook, how apparently unpromising your future, cling to your desire and you will realize it. Picture the ideal conditions, visualize the success, which you long to attain; imagine yourself already in the position you are ambitious to reach.

Do not acknowledge limitations, do not allow any other suggestion to lodge in your mind than the success you long for, the conditions you aspire to.

Picture your desires as actually realized, and hold fast to your vision with all the tenacity you can muster. This is the way out of your difficulties; this is the way to open the door ahead of you to the place higher up, to better and brighter conditions.

When Clifton Crawford, the actor, started on his career in America, he played in one-week performances in small towns and cities. One night he was told by a prominent member of the company that his work wasn’t much good, that he would never be successful, and had better go back home to Scotland.

Notwithstanding this discouraging but well-meant criticism and advice, young Crawford remained in America, continued in his profession and in a comparatively short time reached the coveted position of a Broadway ‘star.’

After his first success in New York he had the satisfaction of meeting the friend who had advised him to return to his own country, and reminded him of the incident.

Clifton Crawford won out because he related himself mentally to the thing he wanted, because he listened to the voice in his own soul rather than to the pessimistic predictions of outside voices.

“Why has the heart restless yearnings
For heights and steps untrod?
Some call it the voice of longing
And others the voice of God.”

That something within you which longs to be brought out, to be expressed, is the voice of God calling to you.

Don’t disregard it.

Don’t be afraid of your longings; there is divinity in them. Don’t try to strangle them because you think they are much too extravagant, too Utopian.

The Creator has not given you a longing to do that which you have no ability to do.

One reason why the lives of many of us are so narrow and pinched, small and common-place, is because we are afraid to fling out our desires, our longings, afraid to visualize them.

We become so accustomed to putting our confidence only in things that we see on the physical plane, in the material that is real to the senses, that it is very difficult for us to realize that the capital power, the force that does things, resides in the mind.

Instead of believing in our possession of the things we desire, we believe in our limitations, in our restrictions.

We demagnetize ourselves by wrong thinking and lack of faith.

We see only the obstacles in our path, and forget that man, working with God, is greater than any obstacle that can oppose itself to his will.” — Orison Swett Marden

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“Be followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”
— Hebrews 6:12

God bless you,
Brenda

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Growing Prosperity – 3 Insights Of What You See By Faith Is What You Get In Abundance!

Growing Prosperity – 3 Insights Of What You See By Faith Is What You Get In Abundance!

Seeing Through the Eyes of Faith

Growing prosperity needs to be in your vision before it can abound in your life.

If you have subscribed to the saying:

“I’ll believe it when I see it”…

then you are probably still waiting around for abundance to be physically manifest in your life.

The fact is: If you only believe the things that you can physically see and touch, then unfortunately you are lacking the faith needed to create a life of growing prosperity.

3 Insights of ‘What You See By Faith Is What You Get In Abundance’:

1. Real Vision to Prosper Through the Eyes of Faith

Looking back through time, we see that the prosperous individuals of real ‘vision’ subscribe to the overriding principle of “What you see by faith is what you get.”

What is the powerful difference here? These people understand that the images in their minds actually precede the images of the physically manifested objects.

Men and women of vision expect the images in their minds to come to pass in the physical world. Regardless of critics speaking contrary to their vision, they have faith in what is initially only visible in their mind’s eye.

“Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” 
— Hebrews 11:1

2. Prospering as Your Mind Prospers

The mind is a magnificent thing and allows us the creative power of thought. Understand that images are mental pictures made from our thoughts and we can choose to create whatever images we desire. We are the directors of our own life movie.

Our soul (mind) must embrace prosperity first. We must have the will and desire to prosper.

“Beloved, I wish above all things that you might prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers.” 
— 3 John 2

Remember that we are a spirit; we have a soul (mind, will, and emotions), and live in a body. Our soul is the link that connects our spirit with our physical body. Our soul is our conscious mind that guides and directs our physical actions.

A prosperous soul will produce a prosperous image inside of us. If our soul is not prospering, we will have a bad image of failure, lack, defeat, or sickness.

Become aware of the truth that everything we do is preceded by an image. First we think and form an image; then we do the work that will see the image expressed in our material world.

3. Vision That Inspires Prosperous Action

As we program our mind with positive, prosperous images, it eventually inspires us to also speak and confess these things by faith. The power of confession helps deposit the beliefs into our subconscious (heart).

“As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.” 
— Proverbs 23:7

We become the image and beliefs we allow in our heart. Our subconscious (often referred to as our heart) acts on what it has been programmed, and goes to work to make it a reality. Why not program your heart and mind with powerful, prosperous images from the Word of God and let that become a reality in your life?

Bottom line: We control our innermost thoughts, and the images we allow are what we attract. The prosperous images we see in our mind are what we will ultimately get in our life.

May you catch a vision of the abundance of God and create a life of growing prosperity!

Be blessed to be a blessing –

Cheers,
Brenda

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New Year New Focus – The Crowd or The Cross?

New Year New Focus – The Crowd or The Cross?

Renewed Focus on The CROSS!

(The Crowd or the Cross Video by IgniterMedia)

As the new year is almost here, I encourage you to get a fresh focus on the Cross!

This a great time to remind ourselves of what God has done for us. The vision He gave us – our calling – and our purpose. This is big in God’s eyes and so we need to keep it the focus of our eyes and not get distracted…

REFUSE To Be CONFUSED

The enemy came to confuse and distract. He is doing everything in his power to throw us off course. He wants to get our focus off the Word and off our faith in God. He wants to get our eyes on the crowd and off the cross.

Distractions will try to steal our energy, joy, and faith – DO NOT let them.  

Determine this year there is nothing the enemy can do to throw you off course. Determine to renew your focus on the Cross.  

If you are saying, “but I’m not even sure what my purpose and calling is?”  Then just another reason to get into the Word.

This year should be about about living the life God means for us to live. And we discover that in His Word… and the more often we approach His throne and get in His presence the clearer the specific purpose and vision for our lives becomes.

STAY FOCUSED On The CROSS

We need to stay focused on the author and finisher of our faith. (Hebrews 12:2) It is in His Word and His presence that we find strength, blessing, peace, and direction to stay on course. Wisdom, inspiration, and the right answers for every situation come from Him.

Let’s not let the distractions of the crowd become an attraction. People are people. God is God. Eliminate confusion by staying focused on the promises of God.

You know, God is always willing to do His part. It is our faith in Him that allows us to live in His fullness and have abundant prosperous lives. Our part requires focusing on and confessing the Word and realizing the Word works!

POWER To FINISH

Remember, the very same Jesus who God anointed and raised from the dead, lives in every believer. That means we have power! Jesus sacrifice on the cross gives every believer the right to boldy approach the throne of God for help in time of need.

Don’t bend to the pressures of the crowd and the pressures of time. What God said will come to pass – will come to pass. Get to the point of believing the unbelievable and receiving what seems impossible.

What’s stopping you from experiencing God’s goodness this year… and being a light that shines bright and glorifies Him!

May we stay focused on the Cross and have the mind of Christ!

God bless you…

And Have a Safe, Happy, Healthy, and Prosperous New Year!

Cheers,
Brenda

P.S. So what steps are you planning to take to get your focus on this year?

P.P. S. Oh, and the music in the video is by the Robbie Seay Band.

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Abundant Living – 7 Success Tips to Guide Your Journey of Life and Journey to Heaven!

Abundant Living – 7 Success Tips to Guide Your Journey of Life and Journey to Heaven!

Soar In The High Places of God

Abundant Living Journey to HeavenAbundant living on earth is a choice we can all make.

An abundant eternal life is also a choice.

God has prepared a great plan of prosperity for us and now it is up to us to reach out and receive by faith.

As a Christian; life is not a ‘try it out and see what happens’.

It takes faith to become a Christian and faith to live the Christian journey of life.

7 Guiding Success Tips for Abundant Living:

1.)  Allow the Spirit of God to Reveal – Let the Spirit of God help you know what has been freely given to us. God reveals to us by His Spirit; the things He prepared for those who love Him. (1 Corinthians 2:9-10, 12)

2.)  Live a Life of Excellence – Be determined to live a life of excellence and go all the way up the mountain! Don’t live a mediocre life and be content to only go half-way.

3.)  Get in The Word – It is the Word of God that gets on us and in us that creates success. Get in the Word and do what it says and your journey will become prosperous and you will have good success in life. (Joshua 1:8)

4.)  Catch the Vision – Be a person of vision and dare to do things others aren’t willing to try. Have an eye of an eagle to see a far off. Living by faith requires using our spiritual vision to see what has not yet manifested in the natural. Wait on God to get your vision. (Habakkuk 2:1-2)

5.)  Understand Your True Identity – Know who you are, the authority you have, and the promises made available to you because you are in Christ. There are over 130 “In Him” and “In Christ” verses in the Bible that help you with this. Dig them out and discover what you have been missing!

6.)  Live in Victory – Have wings to soar like an eagle above the storms that come. Overcome the accuser by the testimony of the blood of Jesus in your life. Submit yourself to God and resist the devil to make him flee from you. (Revelation 12:11, James 4:7)

7.)  Pray Always – Be a person of prayer. Build yourself up spiritually before you do anything. And in everything we do it should be by prayer. (Philippians 4:6)

Why not choose to live in the high places of God? God wants His children to have the very best.

Your journey on earth and your journey to heaven can be thrilling! Do not settle for anything less than the very best. 

And don’t be fooled; wishing and hoping does NOT result in blessings.

Bottom line: God’s dealings with people are always based on covenant. Discover what belongs to you and claim your inheritance by opening The Book, praying, and listening to God. God will let you know what to do. Just call on Him and act on His Word by faith and enjoy abundant living.

May your journey of life be filled with growing prosperity!

Soar higher,
Brenda

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Leadership – Do You Utilize these Top 3 Powerful Skills?

Leadership – Do You Utilize these Top 3 Powerful Skills?

Discover the Top 3 Powerful Skills of Successful Effective Leaders!

Leadership is required in many different arenas of life.

Key Leadership SkillsA small number of people seem to be born with a built in set of skills for being an effective leader and it comes naturally to them. However, for the majority of people, study and training is required to bring out the true leader in them.

It has been said that “The person who says he is leading but has no followers is only taking a walk.”

That being said, I would also add that good leaders require good followers.

Effective leaders teach their followers how to step up and be all that they can be. As others imitate a leader, and follow their steps, growth and progress should come to the organization as a whole.

Top 3 Powerful Skills for Effective Leadership:

1.) VISION – It is vital that a leader be a person of vision. If you do not have a clear vision of where you are headed and what you plan to accomplish, how can you expect to get yourself and others there?

This type of vision is actually a spiritual vision.

When the Bible talks about vision it is about what will be; not what we see. Spiritual vision equals seeing what will be. Natural vision equals seeing what already is.

We are told that vision comes from God and that it should be written down and made clear to others. That way everyone can grab hold of it and run with it. (Habakkuk 2:1-2) It is vitally important that you stay focused on the vision.

2.) PLANNING & PREPARATION – Another key skill of an effective leader is the ability to plan. Before you start something; plan, make preparation, and look ahead.

What is the long-term impact of what you are about to do? Sit down and count the cost. Fully consider the project you are about to take on to be sure you can complete it.

Planning and preparation helps fulfill the vision. It is never wasted time. Learn to plan ahead, prepare, and be organized.

3.) PRAYER – Great leaders that stand the test of time are leaders that pray. Prayer is not just for your personal life, but also for your employment, business, family, school, etc.

In everything we do it should be by prayer. (Philippians 4:6)

Why would you not want to be built up spiritually before you do anything? In everything you do; be prepared in prayer and get God involved.

Keep in mind: Your vision may be so big that it seems impossible to ever attain it. Remember though, that vision tends to run in advance of your ability to fulfill it.

As a leader you have strength that can be tapped into through the resource of prayer. When God is your partner, nothing is impossible!

Your next step? Take what you have just learned and whether you are a leader of a business organization, or any type of group, ministry, or family begin to grow in these key skills. Start applying these powerful skills in your life and watch yourself become a successful leader.

May your leadership skills improve and your life overflow with growing prosperity!

Cheers,
Brenda

P.S. If you have any comments or thoughts to expand on this, please feel free to share…I’d love to hear them…

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