Whether you need time and space with other supportive women in the beautiful surroundings at Alpine Lake Resort, or whether you want the time and opportunities to network and learn from other businesswomen, this will be a weekend to remember for the food, friends, and quality sessions you will have opportunity to attend. Let us be part of your godly counsel.
A Faith-Based Conference
at Alpine Lake Resort in Terra Alta, West Virginia
Recent Posts
God Knew We Would Have Worrisome Days!
9/27/2020 9:42:00 AM BY Beatrice (Bea) Moore
Your Environment Matters
9/14/2020 2:07:00 PM BY Jotwyla R. Moore
Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash
A few years ago, I was the recipient of a Christmas present that consisted of some cookies and a cutely packaged bulb. On the package was the story of Amaryllis, a love-struck maiden who longed for the handsome but cold-hearted Alteo. Desperate to win his love, she pierced her heart with a golden arrow and then visited his cottage daily, shedding drops of blood along the way. On the thirtieth day, beautiful scarlet flowers bloomed along the path.
Clearly made up, this dramatic tale was meant to provide a narrative of what someone would do for desired love. I will admit the story was interesting, but my curiosity was piqued regarding the beautiful scarlet flower as the packaging failed to provide a picture.
The bulb was planted and soon grew beautiful green stems, but no flower. As it continued to grow and increased in the number of stems it became necessary to transplant it to a bigger pot. This was done with hope that more space would permit a blossom and eventually an emergence of the scarlet flower the package boasts of. Sadly, after three years of watering and care, there was still no flower. My expectation had been cut off without fulfillment. Due to its apparent inability to reproduce, the plant was moved downstairs to provide greenery there until later we decided that the pot could be used for another plant because this flower was just “wasting up good soil”.
My dear Aunt Jackie advised that we should not give up on the plant so soon; so, determined to give it one more try, the Amaryllis made another move upstairs and sat by the window. The green stems grew and became longer and more vibrant, but still no bloom. One day I walked past noticing the soil was full of gnats. Not wanting the pest in my house, I moved the entire pot outside. To my surprise, the new environment proved beneficial as a bloom developed, and although I could not see the flower, the beginnings of it sparked a spirit of expectation and eager anticipation for the emergence of a beautiful red flower head.
Unfortunately, it was early in the Spring season and the frost came again. The next day, unexpected and unwanted snow fell. By the following morning, the flower had dropped off the stem. Anticipating the death of the Amaryllis no concern was given and it was forgotten about. A few weeks later I decided to look outside and was overwhelmed with surprise! The Amaryllis had finally blossomed and showcased beautiful scarlet flowers. The long-awaited blooms had finally arrived, and they were large, vibrant, and beautiful!
The lessons I learned from this process are many and worth sharing.
1. Do not give up. You will bloom in due season. Ecclesiastes 3:11 tells us that “He has made everything beautiful in its time.” Life takes us through seasons. There is a time to plant and a time to reap. [Ecclesiastes 3]. We are here for God’s purpose and He sets the time and seasons for us to produce and bring forth harvest. There is a scheduled appointment for you to flourish. Keep working and pressing towards your goals. You will thrive at the right time.
2. You may experience frost, but it will not kill you. Untimely setbacks are par for the course. We should expect them and plan for them. However, sometimes they sneak up on us and may cause damage. In these inopportune times, we must trust and believe the scripture according to Isaiah 54:17 that “no weapon formed against us will prosper”.
3. Do not allow neglect or negative thoughts to stop you from reaching your full potential. The only one who has divine insight into our lives is God. He knows the plans He has for us. They are plans for good and not evil to bring us to an expected end [Jeremiah 29:11]. We can rest assured that He can and will bring His plans to fruition; therefore, any opinion that does not match his plan should be displaced and ignored.
4. Your environment matters. The Amaryllis was moved several times to different locations inside the home in an attempt to jumpstart its potential when the whole time there was nothing wrong with the plant. The problem was that it was not in the correct environment. The Amaryllis was not an inside plant and was missing the sun, rain, and fresh air it needed to prosper.
If your business or ministry is not progressing an evaluation is necessary. Please do not throw in the towel and give up. But do consider a change in environment. Just like the flower, your goals, plans, craft, ministry, and business will thrive when it has the support that the right atmosphere provides. Refuse to be your own hindrance by being afraid to move your feet and head somewhere new.
Go soak up the sun rays, the fresh dew in the morning, and the cool breeze in the environment that has been pre-ordained for you to flourish!
What does God PROVIDE for my business?
9/8/2020 2:55:00 PM BY Deneen Troupe-Buitrago
God wants more for you. He wants to PROVIDE so many things so you will succeed with His Calling for you. Do you believe that? Do you want more?
Since I LOVE acronyms, I am going to share a one with you. Remember, God wants you to serve Him through your work, your business. AND, these are some of the things He will PROVIDE for you when you align with Him for your success.
PROVIDE
Promises- God gives them to you. “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11
No matter what you are going through there is a reason and God has your best at heart. Stay close to Him through Bible study and prayer. Use your journal to pour out your heart to Him and to hear from His heart what He wants to say to you.
Respect- God helps you earn it. The young stepped aside when they saw me, and even the aged rose in respect at my coming. Job 29:8
Building your business means also building a good reputation. When you are doing things with excellence and integrity it shows. Be known for doing what you say you are going to do and helping others get what they want.
Obedience- God expects it from you. But Samuel replied, “What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and . . .” 1 Samuel 15:22
We all need help to do what is right. God gives you the ability to stand up and stand out in your business when you obey what He is asking you to do. The work He has for you is unique because He created you as the only person able to accomplish it.
Victory- God delivers it to you. But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world. 1 John 4:4
God’s way to do business may look different than the world’s. But that is okay! He will give you the tools you need, the method to follow, and the stamina to see it through. He wants you to succeed and He will do it for you in the way that is true for you.
Inspiration- God breathes it on you. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17
Your idea, that vision for your business came from God. He designed it just for you. He wants you to go after it with passion. He will keep you feeling motivated, even when things get tough, because you will know it is from Him and He is with you every step of the way.
Direction- God shows it to you. Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Proverbs 3:5-6
The way to know what God wants you to do is to ask Him. By staying close to His Word, praying, and talking with God, you WILL know what the next step is to take. He gives you opportunities and allows you instances to trust Him to take that step.
Equipping- God prepares you. May he equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to him. Hebrews 13:21a
He never gives you a Calling without having given you all you need to live it out. Every experience, value, gift, talent and even your personality are perfect for you to do what He is asking you to do. Discover these parts about YOU so you will thrive.
God has PROVIDED all you need to live out your Calling and do it in the way that is BEST for you. He has called you to be a leader in your business and show His goodness in your sphere of influence.
God is calling you; I know He is. Align with Him for your success by understanding your unique design, growing deeper in Him, and by creating a plan that will make you successful.
Learn to better connect and communicate with your clients, team, and tribe. Get CLARITY to design a business that energizes you and serves God while serving your ideal clients. Is God calling you to do more? Is He calling you to have a bigger impact? Clarify your calling and commit to moving forward with the plans God has PROVIDED for you through the Calling Clarity Program.
I would LOVE to chat with you to see if we are a good fit to work together to take you from overwhelm and confusion to focus and direction; to create the business God wants for you. Schedule your appointment today https://deneentb.com/clarity-call.
Be filled to overflowing,
DeneenTB
Christian Business Strategist & Clarity Coach
https://deneentb.com
Today I read the daily devotional from Guidelines For Living- 5 Minute Daily Devotionals, September 9, 2020 entitled “Can God Handle Our Failures?”
As I read the devotional, I immediately thought about how many times I have worried about my business since March 2020. I am sure I am speaking to someone out there who has suffered some level of anxiety and stress over the ever looming bottom line and profit margins related to their business. It’s only natural.
The devotion’s foundational scripture was “Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs, and don't forget to thank him for his answers.” Philippians 4:6, LB
As I read further, the following passage really resonated with me:
“Have you ever considered the fact that worry is a senseless and futile pastime which only drains your life of energy and siphons off your productivity? A panel of psychologists concluded that forty percent of the things people worry about never happen. Thirty percent of worry, they say, is about past events which are now history. It will not help one bit to worry about things such as: how well you did on yesterday's test, how well you performed at last week's party, old grievances, or last year's opportunities. Twelve percent of our worries, say these experts, are about our health. Ten percent of the things that we worry about concern trifling items that really do not make a lot of difference. That leaves only eight percent of our worries that psychologists would classify as legitimate areas of concern.”
WOW! That leaves only 8% of my worries as legitimate. This was just the gentle nudge I needed to re-establish my focus and prayer life regarding my business. The residual of worrying about my business would be a mountain of stress and anxiety that if left unchecked, would consume my creativity, leave me mentally drained, physically exhausted and stifle my personal life as well as my business. This is not what I want! Is this resonating with anyone out there?
As a believer, I know to cast my cares to God. As humans, this concept is often one of the most difficult things to do and let’s face it, we all handle worry in different ways. Some of us are naturally inclined to want to use our intelligence to “fix” things. Others simply bury their heads in the sand and pretend it is not there.
In planning this year’s Living Your Dreams Conference we actively sought God for direction. We have had some hiccups, the greatest being Covid19. But we pray with intention and specificity, seeking God every time we meet and asking that His will be done in every aspect of the conference. We have put our faith on full display before the Lord!
Reading this devotion today was no coincidence. It was one of those “random” occurrences that provided that gentle nudge I needed today to stay in faith not only with the conference, but also with my consulting business. I have had cancellations galore with contracts, but I continue to stand in faith even during the pandemic and lift it all to God. God knew we would have worrisome days, catastrophic events, and calamities in our lives. In preparation for what God knew was forthcoming, He left us the promise that all things work together for the good of those who love the Lord and are called unto His purpose. Bingo! Many of my cancellations were the answer to a prayer I had sent up last year asking God to give me more time to work for kingdom building. I had needlessly worried when I received the initial flood of cancellations this spring and summer- it was God’s way of shaking, shifting, and sifting me into a new season of spiritual growth and prosperity in the midst of a year that many people want to just go away.
I don’t ignore the fact that year has presented so many of us with challenges beyond the imagination. But when we are weak, that is when God shows his strength; therefore, this is a season where there is tremendous potential for transfers of wealth in the marketplace and birthing of new ideas and companies.
So, trade in any worry or anxiety you may experience for positive expectations- that’s what I did. This is a season where I was shaken into a “new normal”. My consulting business was shifted from in person seminars to nearly 100% online! Was I prepared for that? Absolutely NOT…but God gave me the strength, fortitude and divine connections needed to quickly pivot and provide online training opportunities. And I was sifted- traditional beliefs and strategies of how to run my business were no longer relevant, toxic relationships were released, old ways of thinking were replaced with fresh new approaches - all to make room for the new things God had already predestined for my business and my personal life. Isaiah 43:19 (See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”) has a new meaning for me. Yes, in the wasteland of 2020, God is doing a new thing and I am comforted by this scripture and yield not to worry but to His promise!
As we move closer to the opening of the conference, my excitement and anticipation is growing exponentially. I know God has a word for every participant and every coach that will dismiss worry and send it to its proper place! God’s about to do a new thing and there is no room for worry.
Our coaches are well prepared through their faith and experiences to drop nuggets of wisdom into each participant. I am casting all my worries to the King. Will you join me as I pray for every entrepreneur to be courageous today and tell worry there is no room in your heart for it to dwell. There is a shaking, shifting, and sifting taking place to usher us as entrepreneurs into a new season of growth, maturity, and prosperity. Seek God’s plan for your business. Do not worry. He will not disappoint!