Showing posts with label Personal Growth. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Personal Growth. Show all posts

July 3, 2023

Don't Shrink

Love is a powerful force that can infiltrate light in the darkness and melt the hardness of a cold heart. It is a force that is supposed to represent God's love on Earth through relationships. However, when people do not understand the purpose of love, they abuse it! They ask people to do things to prove their loyalty and love that is contrary to God's purpose and His love.

On the other hand, when Jesus died on the Cross, He did so to express His unconditional love for humankind. He knew the shedding of His blood on the Cross would be the final time blood would have to be shed for our redemption from sin. Jesus did not shrink or go into hiding. On His journey, He would step away for restoration to continue his ministry and mission. But Jesus never went into hiding because He was clear about who He was, who He was serving, and why He was serving.

Today, many women are in relationships where they have chosen to shrink instead of allowing their love to illuminate because the true purpose of love is not prevalent in their lives. Their spouse or mate is mandating her to negate her identity in the name of love, silence her voice in the name of love, surrender her will in the name of love, and deny her truth and values all in the name of love. These requirements are debilitating! They do not help women elevate to become the best versions of themselves. And our society is replete with women experiencing abuse and being held captive in the illusion of love.

There are four types of love, Eros, Agape, Phileo, and Storge - each type serves a distinct purpose. Learn and study them to discover the ones that have been prevalent in you and your relationships. Allow God's love to guide you on your journey of self-discovery and awareness to evolve into the best version of yourself.

February 15, 2023

Live According to Truth

A student wanted to call his mother to tell her he was not having a good day. A teacher asked him why wasn't he having a good day, and he replied, "because nobody likes me." The teacher asked his permission to ask the class if they liked him, and he said, "no." This student has been operating from the belief that all the students at the school do not like him and that he does not fit in. The sad thing is he cannot provide solid proof to validate his feelings or assumptions.

There are a large number of people living according to the fallacy of their feelings! Feelings are tricky! They seldom can be solidified without facts. However, people would rather live in captivity by holding onto their feelings instead of seeking divine truth that can release them from the lies intertwined in their feelings. We were created in the image of God to serve Him and to live a victorious, abundant life! But if we do not realize why God created us, we will shortchange ourselves from experiencing God's unconditional love, hope, and joy!

John 8:32 (KJV) states, And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. Make time to verify if what you believe is true according to the Word of God! You have one life to live, and you owe it to yourself and God to live according to His truth and not according to your feelings or the opinions of others.

July 20, 2021

Entrepreneurship and Small Business Certification

The Entrepreneurship and Small Business (ESB) certification program prepares small business owners and leaders to succeed in today's competitive business landscape. An ESB certification will validate the skills and knowledge for individuals to work in a middle-skill trade profession, as an entrepreneur, or to pursue small business career aspirations with an understanding of core business principles and essentials to launch and sustain a successful business.

Candidates of the ESB Certification will need to have a conceptual knowledge of entrepreneurial and small business principles with a minimum of 150 instruction hours. However, students are not required to have real-world business experience to take and successfully pass the ESB exam. The ESB core concepts are:
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Recognizing and evaluating opportunities
  • Planning, starting, and operating a business
  • Marketing and sales
  • Business financials and funding
Exam criteria: ESB certification engages and prepares students to further their postsecondary training to enter the small business sector immediately after high school graduation. The entrepreneurial concepts validated by this certification will ensure these students are college and career-ready.

July 15, 2021

Don't Shoot The Messenger

Doctors write medical prescriptions to help patients heal. Training providers design or deliver training modules to meet the learning needs of their trainees. Patients must take their prescribed medicine according to their doctor's instructions. If they don't, the healing process may not reach its full potential. Trainees that participate in training and place their training material on a shelf will abort their potential to apply what they've learned in their training session.

Doctors and training providers are not perfect, but they are skilled in their craft. If patients and trainees do not use or apply the information given to them to heal or perform better at work or in business, the outcome does not rest in the hands of the physician or trainer. It solely rests in the hands of the patients and trainees.

July 8, 2021

Management Essentials

When you’re a manager, there are some basic, essential skills everyone should have. Whether it’s setting clear work priorities, building great teamwork, listening well to others, or performing a performance review. Each of the skills impact how effective you’ll be as a manager. The Management Essentials e-course will help you build these skills and others. By giving you on the job development exercises to evaluate performance, set clear expectations, and create the right level of challenging work, you’ll build the skills required to be a great and motivating manager for each of your employees. This bite-sized course includes:
  • Giving Clear Work Priorities
  • What Employees Need
  • Reinforce Great Teamwork
  • Valuing Employees
  • Listening to Others’ Ideas and Opinions
  • Problem Solving Expectations
  • The Right Workload for Employees
  • The Great Things Employees Do
  • An Ethics and Integrity Discussion
  • Perform a Performance Review
  • Creating Challenging Work
  • Receive Feedback From Your
  • Creating a Great Work Situation
  • Evaluating Performance in the Right Way
  • Perform a Departure Review
After successful completion of this course, you will acquire skills to build basic management practices to coach employees, deliver valuable feedback, and recognize the achievements of others. Click here to learn more or to get started.

April 25, 2019

Communicate with Confidence

Don`t know where to put that apostrophe? Bamboozled by "who" and "whom"?

It`s hard to communicate with confidence with uncertain rules about grammar. And there's an easy and fun way to learn the rules. Packed with fun explanations, examples, and memory devices, Communicate with Confidence is the course that can help you learn the crucial aspects of grammar.

Communicate with Confidence has four lessons that target the most common real-life misunderstandings and mistakes that can surface in the workplace or home.

If you're ready to reverse bad habits and ingrained mistakes to converse with confidence click here.

April 2, 2019

Security

  • Security can be obtained from God’s everlasting arms.
  • God is our best security system from past, present, and future sins.
  • God is our security from life’s storms because He is our refuge.
  • Security is dwelling and abiding in the presence of God.
  • Security is knowing that God is our rock, our fortress, and deliverer in the time of trouble.
  • Security is the confidence that God is always near, and He will never leave nor forsake us.
  • Security is the Sovereignty of God because He has all things under His divine power and control.
  • Security is in God’s omniscience because He knows all things.
  • Security is in God’s word because it will not return to Him void.
  • Eternal security is the belief and knowledge that salvation belongs to Jesus Christ.

March 24, 2019

A Free Gift

Whenever you have to buy something in order to get something for free, are you really receiving a Free Gift? If you think about it, the gift that’s supposedly free has been paid in full by the required purchase.

One of the most valuable gifts an individual can receive is the gift of Salvation. There is a price for this free gift; however, the wage was paid in full by the death of Jesus Christ (Romans 6:23). You see, something was given in exchange for this precious gift, and it can be obtained by confessing with your mouth, and believing in your heart that Jesus Christ died and rose from the dead. (Romans 10:9).

The gift of Salvation seems to be the most difficult gift for some people to receive freely. Who would rather choose death and not life? Who would rather leave this earth not knowing where they would spend eternity?

When God created man, He created Man in His image (Genesis 2:26-27). God’s image (i.e., God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit), and the image of man is (Soul, Body, and Spirit). Mankind was complete and could fully relate to God. However, mankind disobeyed God by eating from the forbidden tree and that day, mankind died spiritually and could no longer relate to God (Genesis 2:17). To restore this union, blood had to be shed. Blood has been shed by Jesus Christ to restore our relationship with God. God gave His only begotten Son so we may have eternal life. Believe it or not, there is life after this one!

Each day we wake is another opportunity to receive this free gift. This is the day of salvation (II Corinthians 6:2). Salvation is deliverance from eternal damnation, the power of Satan, and the power of sin.

There is a saying, “Live with the end in mind.” Are you living with the thought of where your soul shall rest once you take your last breath? Do you believe your spirit has a final resting place after death? Do you believe time is on your side and you don’t have to think about your eternal destiny? What if your life ended right now? Where would you spend eternity?

Why not consider surrendering your will and life to God right where you are? What do you have to lose? An old lifestyle that brings temporary pleasure or false thrills? Don’t allow doubt or fear to make you pass up an opportunity to receive the Free Gift of Salvation. This is a gift we shouldn’t leave earth without.

March 20, 2019

Availability

  • Find time to commune with God daily.
  • Allow your mind to be accessible to God to free you from past negative thoughts, hurts, and sins.
  • Make clear the pathway to your heart so that God may create a clean one in you!
  • God needs available vessels to be used for His glory and to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
  • Make your ears available to God to hear His divine calling.
  • Make your eyes available to God so He can show you where He wants you to go.
  • Make your temple available to God so that He can make it holy.
  • Make your spirit available to receive spiritual truth for spiritual growth.
  • Make yourself available to God to receive His power to enter into a full relationship with Him!

March 15, 2019

Responsibility

  • Be responsible for your actions. No one can make you behave the way you do.
  • Be responsible for your thoughts. No one can make you think what you think.
  • Take ownership of your feelings. No one can make you feel good or bad.
  • Be responsible for your life. No one can make you have a fulfilled or dreadful life.
  • Be responsible for your well-being. No one can define who you are or your purpose for living.
  • Be responsible for how you’re treated. You’re treated the way you allow yourself to be treated.
  • Be responsible for how you treat others. No one can make you be respectful.
  • Be responsible for your relationship with God and others. God and no one can make you love them. The choice is ultimately yours.

March 13, 2019

Character Assassination

”And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set amoung our members, that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the curse of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.” (James 3:6)

”But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessings and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.” (James 3:8-10)

The danger of the tongue. James compares the tongue with fire because it cannot be controlled and the damage it causes cannot be reversed. And, sometimes when water is added, it spreads the fire instead of putting it out!

When I worked in the corporate world, a manager attempted to assassinate my “working” characteristics with lies about my inability to perform tasks in a male-dominated career. The manager also stated, “I was not a team player and did not like to be critized.” I confronted my manager about the accusations and he denied them. In spite of his denial, the rumor had already spread.

One of my favorite scriptures that has helped me in my career is, “whatever I so doeth, do it heartily as unto the Lord and not unto man” (Colossians 3:17). After working with this manager, I realized the importance to work as unto the Lord and not man.

I was provided an opportunity to travel to Florida to assist with deploying and upgrading a system. I believe the manager thought he was setting me up for failure, not knowing he had already been defeated.

My travel time was scheduled for three days, but was extended because of my work performance. And, one of the site managers in Florida was sending email messages to my manager’s supervisor, advising him of my good work. As a result, my assasinated character was brought back to life!

Many of us do not get an opportunity to experience life after a character assassination. Some of us only experience death because we continue to eat its fruit or bring back to life the fruit of “death”. Damaging words can leave deep wounds and scars, but it does not mean we cannot receive healing.

We live in a world where people are vicious like roaring lions that thrive on bringing others down. We do not have control of what people will say or think. However, we have control over our response.

The devil is like a thief. He comes to steal, kill, and destroy our character, but he can never destroy our spirit. Satan uses the tongue to divide relationships. John 4:4 tells us, “greater is He (God) that is within us, than he (Satan) that’s in the world.”

Proverbs gives four types of tongues:
  1. The Controlled
  2. The Caring
  3. The Conniving
  4. The Careless
The first two, should be practiced diligently to bring forth life and unity in our homes, work, and church. The Conniving and Careless tongues should be avoided at all times because they’re poisonous, and do not bring glory and honor to God.

Deborah M. Avens

June 23, 2017

The Truth Shall Make You Free

And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. John 8:32

If the truth makes us free, why are so many of us bound? Are we bound because we haven't defined our truth? Bound because we live through the lens of people (i.e., their opinion) and not our values and beliefs? Bound because we govern our lives according to what we're told, which is contrary to who we are, or who we're striving to become.

No one knows us better than the One who created us. We were fearfully and wonderfully created in His image to glorify and honor Him in everything we say and do. If we're not living our lives to please God, are we neglecting His divine plan for our lives? And, if we're choosing to live according to the opinions, beliefs, and values of others, we're not living authentically. We're forfeiting our true divine freedom.

July 31, 2016

Overcoming Indecision

Many people struggle with indecision (the inability to make a decision) and double-mindedness (constantly changing their minds) because of fear or a lack of confidence. However, you can make a decision and stick with it because you have discipline and a calm, well-balanced mind.

You can easily feel overwhelmed by all the decisions you need to make daily unless you have confidence in your ability to make right ones. Don’t ever say again, “I have a hard time making decisions,” because when you think and speak like that you are setting yourself up for confusion. Instead, you can believe the next time you need to make a decision that you will hear from God, be led by the Holy Spirit, and know what to do. Even if you have had difficulty doing so in the past, this is a new day for you, and you are in charge of your thinking—it is no longer in charge of you!

Power Thought: My mind is calm, and I’m in control of my thinking.

From the book Power Thoughts Devotional by Joyce Meyer. Copyright © 2010 by Joyce Meyer. Published by FaithWords. All rights reserved.

July 22, 2016

Ten D’s of Women Trailblazers

  1. Dreamers – Where there is no vision, the people perish (Proverbs 29:18a). You have to envision where you want to be so your actions can follow.
  2. Destined – Always begin with the end in mind. Women trailblazers predetermine how they want to end their struggle and work towards ending it.
  3. Driven – What's the force behind your actions - your spirit, struggles or faith?
  4. Determined – Women trailblazers have the will power to carry out their mission to improve the social, economical, and educational stance of women.
  5. Devoted – Whatever you do, have a passion for it. When you have a passion, you’ll work without wanting anything in return.
  6. Disciplined – Women trailblazers prepare themselves to face challenges and/or obstacles.
  7. Dignity – Women trailblazers think highly of themselves and present themselves with high regard and honor.
  8. Diligent – Women trailblazers are perseveres. They stay on course regardless of the challenges they may face in life.
  9. Daring – Women trailblazers have unshakable faith and aren't ashamed to be different.
  10. Decisive – Women trailblazers do not waiver in their decisions and actions to advance the lives of all women.
  • October 19, 2015

    Identity

    Have you ever attended a special occasion and observed how individuals describe themselves? “I’m a doctor, lawyer, an accountant, or an entrepreneur." If accomplishments, titles, degrees, or material things were taken away, how would they be identified?

    The social arena is inundated with individuals pretending to be something they're not. And what's startling is people who are normally content with their identity, become discontent after interacting with a new social group or environment.

    The Apostle Paul was a persecutor of the followers of Christ, and was miraculously converted to a follower himself. Paul realized it was God's grace that made him who he had become - an Ambassador for Christ. As an Ambassador, Paul traveled to different countries to organize churches and spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He was not ashamed of being a servant of God and did not waiver in his new identity with Him.

    If you have a relationship with God without titles or a series of letters behind your name, be proud to be His servant. Accomplishments without a relationship with Him are good, but their value outside His will may not hold much weight.

    Praise God for who you are - His workmanship for good works preordained before the foundation of the earth (Ephesians 2:10). And walk boldly in your creation because you were fearfully and wonderfully made in the image of God (Psalm 139:14).

    May 14, 2015

    Pursue Your Greatest Self

    In 1996, The SOFEI Group started in the apartment living room of its current Chief Empowerment Officer (CEO) under the umbrella of Virtuous Enterprises, Inc. The organization’s foundation was spiritually and biblically-based because the CEO discovered the challenges many women faced stemmed from how they viewed themselves and their lack of faith and belief in a Being higher than themselves; not because of limited access to resources.

    We set our heights to empower women to transform their lives by transforming their minds through biblically-based fellowships and our quarterly newsletter - Inspirational Expressions. As we evolved, we realized we lost focus on our spiritual core.

    What was true at our origin stands true today; women cannot achieve or be their greatest without knowing their true power. Unfortunately, this power has been decreased to sexuality and looks, and this power isn’t sustainable like our innate power during seasonal challenges.

    Oprah Winfrey states, “Everyone is trying to pursue their greatest being of their true selves.” If this is true for you, here are a few things to consider:

    • Seek God first and His wisdom (Matthew 6:13; James 1:5).
    • Pray and give thanks always (I Thessalonians 5:17-18).
    • See yourself as God does because we were fearfully and wonderfully made in His image (Genesis 1:26; Psalm 139:14).
    • Get rid of limited beliefs about God and your potential because through Him all things are possible and we can do any and every thing through His power and strength (Matthew 19:26; Philippians 4:13).
    • Govern your life according to God’s will because He will not withhold things that are good from people that walk upright (Psalm 84:11).
    • Live life with abundance filled with joy, hope, love, and contentment (John 10:10).
    • Trust God with your heart, mind, and soul (Proverbs 3:5).
    We are three-dimensional beings and in order to be our true selves we have to connect to our spirit. Our spirit is like our heart, we can’t live without it. If we attempt to live without an ignited spirit, we’re existing and not living the life God intended.

    February 2, 2015

    Twelve ways to ‘C’ your way through 2015

    1. Clarity – Get clear on who you want to become and what you want to achieve.
    2. Completion – What will be the positive or negative result if you achieve or don’t achieve your desired outcome?
    3. Confide – Tell at least one person that will hold you accountable to creating change in your life.
    4. Commitment – Create a plan and system to be steadfast and unmovable.
    5. Chase – Pursue only your dreams; not the dreams of others.
    6. Control – Take control of the forces (e.g., habits, people, or substances) that can create barriers to achieving your inner-most desires.
    7. Confidence – You have everything within you to succeed. Do not base your success on external conditions.
    8. Condition – We are what we think. Defeated thoughts will lead to a defeated life. Train your mind to win.
    9. Courage – Be audacious and create your own path for success.
    10. Contentment – Be satisfied with what you have and don’t compare yourself to others.
    11. Character – Who are you or who will you become as a result of you reaching your goal(s)?
    12. Contribute – Sow into the lives of others as you strive for success. You will be amazed of what you will reap.

    December 2, 2014

    Invest in yourself

    "I only take classes my job pays for."

    "If my company wants me to stay, they should pay for my training."

    "As soon as I get my MBA, I’m out of here!"

    "I only enroll in workshops or classes that are free."

    If your company pays for training, who’s investing in your professional development, you or your company? If your company pays, what do they get in return? If you pay, what’s the ROI (Return on Investment) for your growth and development?

    Imagine hiring a contracting company that specializes in home renovations showing up at your doorstep without the skills, tools, or resources to perform the job. Would you pay for the training and resources the contracting company needs to complete the job? Or, would you hire another contracting company equipped with resources and expertise to meet your requirements and deadline to renovate?

    Corporations are discovering better ways to yield returns on their resources and investments. And unfortunately, this doesn’t include ‘human’ capital because too many corporations have witnessed and experienced their education and training investments walk out the door.

    If your career has come to a screeching halt, evaluate where you invest most of your time and money. If you plan to excel in your current or future place of employment, you have to transition to self-directed and life-long learners. The library is replete with ‘free’ resources for professional or career development and some organizations are replete with ‘fee-based’ resources. The resource you choose would be based on what you’re trying to achieve and why?

    Education has been recognized as an integral path to economic empowerment and wealth. Not designer bags, shoes, or acrylic nails. If you’ve been blessed with these things great! But, if you invest more in these things than yourself, evaluate how these things have positioned you to create the foundation to your financial independence and stability?

    Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. stated, “We buy what we want and beg for what we need”. Education is a needed commodity to evolve and thrive in today’s society and your growth will be measured by what you endow to yourself.

    November 10, 2014

    Advancement via Individual Determination (AVID)

    In 1980, Mary Catherine Swanson (an English teacher) created AVID - a program designed to help underrepresented students succeed in high school and college. The program's philosophy is: "Hold students accountable to the highest standards, provide academic and social support, and they will rise to the challenge."

    A group of AVID middle school students completed their assignments fifteen minutes early and wanted to watch YouTube videos which were unrelated to AVID. When asked to turn off their videos, a student responded with: "My mom watches YouTube videos all the time at work, so why can't we watch them at school?"

    What legacy are we leaving our children in reference to work, finances, or service? Students need role models to coincide with their lessons to advance academically, socially, or economically. And their parents should be their first point of reference.

    The industrialized workforce is depleting and individuals that choose to watch YouTube videos instead of seeking opportunities to serve will be challenged to advance via individual determination.

    October 31, 2014

    Things or Experience?

    A survey from Eventbrite found that 78% of Generation Y respondents would rather spend money on an experience than a thing, and 77% say their best memories come from experiences.

    In addition, 72% of millennials shared they would like to increase their spending on experiences, and 69% say that their experiences make them feel more connected to their communities, other people, and the world.

    In 1998, B. Joseph Pine II and James H. Gilmore published an article - The Experience Economy. In this article, they state businesses must orchestrate memorable events for their customers, and that memory (i.e., experience) itself becomes the product. Savvy businesses use this model and charge for the value of their "experience" product because they know if they create experiences that are exciting and transcendent, they can build a community of fans that will rave about their 'experience.'

    Jesus Christ created a community of raving fans because He always gave people what they needed - a spiritual transformation. Example, a Samaritan woman went to Sychar to draw water from a well where Jesus was sitting. Her encounter with Jesus transformed her life when He told her about herself and offered her a drink of 'living' water that would quench her spiritual thirst forever.

    After her encounter and transformation, she returned to her town and told everybody about her 'experience' with Jesus. As a matter of fact, she left her pail of water at the well.

    Matthew 6:19-21, states, "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

    Experience is what transforms, things pile up. What are you willing to invest in that will lead to your stronger 'inner' being?