Praise in the Marketplace | Jacqui Showers

Inspiration for Marketplace Influencers

Anyone who knows me knows if there is any dancing to be done, I will do it. Praise is simply what I do. I’ve been told that I replicate the dance of David. In essence, I simply enjoy playing with my God.

Praising moves beyond the act of dancing to a state of being. You see, it is more than a dance or running around the church. It is a lifestyle. Every day we praise God with what we do—with our vocations and interactions. This is even more apparent for those of us who work in the marketplace. How we manage ourselves has more to do with our praise than we think.

It is beyond the words we say to encompass the life that we lead. Every single day we go out into the marketplace and encounter people as we meander throughout our day. Our praise has more to do with our interactions with those who come into our spear of influence. How we treat them. The words we say to them. A big-gee is how we act when we think no one is watching.

How well we do our respective vocations provides praise because we realize that we don’t work for men, but God. Everything we do it is to praise Him. Regardless if someone is standing over our shoulders or not, we work heartily unto the Lord because we know that He is watching. It is as exhilarating as when I dance across the floor. Your adrenaline increases and an excitement explodes inside energizing you to keep dancing and never stop praising.

Our vocational praise translates into how well we do our respective vocations. It has nothing to do with if you are a business owner or you work for someone else, everything we do we do it with a spirit of excellence. Excellence always ignites praise!

Praising God with your talents and gifts eliminate procrastination, lack of confidence, and a host of other things that prevents you from praising your way to success. I encourage you to get up and dance…to praise as though you are out of your mind. The more you praise God, everything you do will succeed.

Are you praising God in the marketplace with unbridled excellence of spirit? Or, are you afraid to praise Him with your skills, talents, interactions, and commitment to Him?

Scriptures

Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Colossians 3:22-23 (KJV)

Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power. Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness. Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp. Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs. Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals. Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD. Psalm 150:1-6 (KJV)

Prayer

Father, I am praising You not only in the dance, but in my praise in the marketplace. Every skill, talent and encounter I will praise You so others experience Your glory. With unbridled joy I will praise You with a spirit of excellence executing a precision of rhythmic movements leading to success.  Amen.

 

Visit http://www.jassaipublishing.com to purchase Prayers for Success: Igniting the World to Achieve Success, Affirmations for Success: Daily Affirmations for the Marketplace, and I DECIDED: Move from Resolution to Execution.

Pulpit of the Marketplace | Showers’ Blessing Inspires | Jacqui Showers

I’m always fascinated about the phrase, “wall of separation of church and state.” My fascination was enhanced while working with the U.S. Census mobilizing the faith-based community in southeast Michigan. I came to realize that the majority of people are clueless about what all this means. The murkiness of the statement confuses so many and our society tosses these words around without full comprehension of their meaning.

It is interesting these words do not appear in our Constitution, Amendments or the Bill of Rights. Yet these do, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

I do believe that when the First Amendment of 1791 was written, the government was making sure that government could not establish a universal religion that had to be practiced by every American. It empowered every citizen with the right to worship, speak and assemble without fear of punitive consequences.

The astounding thing about the First Amendment is that many believers do not understand the inherent freedoms it entails. What has transpired is a phrase, that is not written, has become the governing force that drives them in their daily life. You see, no matter where I work when I walk through those doors my faith waltzes in with me. I cannot be sawed in half and the most important part of who I am cannot be left outside of the door—my faith.

This is not to say that we are not to adhere to the laws of the land as well as those that are in authority, but it does mean that we need to be acutely aware of our rights as citizens of the United States. Even more, we need to know our rights that inherent in the Word of God.

The landscape of the mission field is embracing the marketplace as never before. You see, there are many people whom we come in contact with every day who may never be imprisoned, live in a shelter or on the streets. Yet, they are crying out for answers as they seek a deeper meaning of life and seek to establish intimacy with God in an uncertain world and economic climate.

The marketplace for years has been like this forbidden terrain that although we spend the bulk of our waking hours there, we have not conquered. Yet it is the marketplace that takes us into another realm of influence and where the wealth transference to fulfill your Kingdom mandate takes place.

Understanding our rights and freedoms inherent in the First Amendment not only liberates us, but our children as well. Then we are able to educate, equip and empower our children with the wisdom and knowledge they need. Prayer was taken out of the schools, but when we empower our children prayer can go back into those same schools.

Our altars, for marketplace change-agents, have transformed into our work environments. Many are not slated to stand behind a pulpit, but to pull people out of the pit one job at a time. This means breaking out of a mindset promulgated from the premise of the wall of separation of church and state that has kept believers from exercising their liberties and freedoms. We have a responsibility to fulfill the mandate of the great commission, but we also have to be equipped to wisely integrate that dichotomy of responsibility with worship and work.

Oh Break Out Empowerment & Leadership Experience’s goal is to equip and educate marketplace change-agents with solid biblical principles for spiritual, professional, cultural and personal empowerment in expanding their sphere of influence. It provides a synergistic spirit-fueled atmosphere that encourages relationship development for further spiritual growth and business opportunities. In essence, it is equipping you to seamlessly integrate spirituality into the reality of the marketplace as you make an indelible mark that can never be erased.

Plan to attend the Oh Break Out Empowerment & Leadership Experience scheduled for November 21-22, 2014. Take the first step to ensure your position at Oh Break Out by registering before September 13 @ a special rate of $55. I will be so happy to see you there.

Do you understand your rights? Do you feel that you can be sawed in half? Will you be a marketplace change agent and carry the gospel to the marketplace?

 Visit our website (www.ohbreakout.org).

Scriptures

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Matt 28:19-20 (KJV)

Doing your work readily, as to the Lord, and not to men: In the knowledge that for every good thing anyone does, he will have his reward from the Lord, If he is a servant or if he is free.Eph 6:7-8 (BBE)

I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, Eph 4:1 (KJV)

Every person should obey the government in power. No government would exist if it hadn’t been established by God. The governments which exist have been put in place by God.Romans 13:1 (GW)

Place yourselves under the authority of human governments to please the Lord. Obey the emperor. He holds the highest position of authority. Also obey governors. They are people the emperor has sent to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right. 1 Peter 2:13-14 (GW)

Make clear to them that they are to put themselves under rulers and authorities, to do what they are ordered, to be ready for every good work, Titus 3:1 (BBE)

Prayer

Father, I have lacked wisdom long enough about the wall of separation of church and state. I know that You have a mandate for me to go in to all the world and that includes the marketplace. You have equipped me to sit at my desk that has become the altar in which I pull people out of the pit who may otherwise not have an encounter with You. Bless me to represent you well at home, work and church.  Amen.

My Enterprise “ME Inc.” | Showers’ Blessing Inspires | Jacqui Showers

My mother used to say, “Jacqui, when you eat, your family eats.” In essence, I was a single woman with no children. When I became full, my whole family was full. When I slept, my family slept. When I worked, my family worked. I was an entity within myself.

Sometimes we can’t grasp the concept that each of us is an entity within ourselves. We are the ones responsible for our future. Now, you may wonder how that can be possible, when I can walk into my job and before the day ends waltz back out with a pink slip telling me that my skills are no longer needed. What type of control is that?

Over the past couple of decades or more I have been right-sized, down-sized and out-sized from myriad positions. Along the way I had to move beyond the mindset of being an employee to seeing myself as ME Inc. When I work, my business works. When I increase in knowledge, my business increases in knowledge. You are a legitimate incorporated business enterprise.

If you are providing any legitimate business service, regardless if you work for someone else, you are incorporated and in business for yourself. It doesn’t matter if you are working at McDonald’s or wherever, you are selling your time and your skills as a business entity. Operating as a business has nothing to do with your education or your occupation. It has all to do with YOU!

Moving from the mindset of being an employee to viewing yourself as an enterprise, ME Inc., you will begin to have a different work ethic and a different mindset when it comes to future pursuits. When you grasp the veracity of being incorporated, you are on your road to success. Regardless if you were handed a pink slip or not, you realize that it is time to go and sell your most precious commodities, time and skills, somewhere else.

Just like any business, if you lose one account you have to go and get another one. However when you go to the next place, you have increased your skill set and your marketability.

As you move from having the mindset of working for someone, regardless if you may be employed by a company or not to realizing you work for yourself, or even more importantly you work for God, your work ethic changes from being a taker to being a giver. As a giver you provide optimum performance. You no longer work for someone else. You embrace that you are incorporated to succeed and provide viable solutions. You begin to connect the dots and as a result have a more authentic experience as an independent contractor empowered to succeed.

Every business provides a service and in turn they receive some type of currency or compensation. They have to manage their accounts, receivables, cash flow, business relationships and make sure they are positioned for success in the marketplace. So do you!

Similar to when my mother stated that when I eat my family eats; when you work your business is in full operation! The quality of excellence of the service you provide, determines the magnitude of the success of your business enterprise, ME Inc.

The way you keep ME Inc. on top of your game, you must be able to seamlessly integrate your spirituality with the reality of the marketplace. In essence, you need to make sure that your spirit person is built up in order for you to maximize your efforts in making an indelible mark as a marketplace influencer. You must also make sure you stay abreast of the transforming landscape to remain competitive.

You can begin by attending the Oh Break Out Empowerment & Leadership Experiencescheduled for November 21-22, 2014. Take the first step to ensure your position at Oh Break Out by registering before September 13 @ a special rate of $55. I will be so happy to see you there.

Visit our website (www.ohbreakout.org) and SAVE—Sponsor, Attend, Volunteer or Exhibit.

Are you are a marketplace influencer? Do you understand that you are an enterprise? How are you operating in that role? Do you want to learn more about how to be that marketplace influencer? Love to hear your comments. Take a moment and share.

 

Scriptures

Any enterprise is built by wise planning, becomes strong through common sense, and profits wonderfully by keeping abreast of the facts. Proverbs 24:3-4 (LB)

For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another. Psalms 75:6-7 (KJV)

Doing your work readily, as to the Lord, and not to men: In the knowledge that for every good thing anyone does, he will have his reward from the Lord, If he is a servant or if he is free. Eph 6:7-8 (BBE)

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Jer 29:11 (KJV)

I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, Eph 4:1 (KJV)

Be fully aware of the condition of your flock, and pay close attention to your herds. Wealth is not forever. Nor does a crown last from one generation to the next. Prov 27:23-24 (GW)

Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men. Prov 22:29 (KJV)

Prayer

Father, In Your master creation you placed inside of me the ability to succeed. This has nothing to do with whom I work for, as much as it does with the quality of service I provide. Please, transform my mindset to know I am designed to succeed regardless if I am an owner or not. You Inc., me, will provide exceptional service in providing solutions for others as I glorify You. Regardless of my status, I am still an economic entity with the ability to succeed. Bless me, when my services are no longer needed to confidently assess the situation and move on to new economic relationships that need my time, skills and talents as I live out Your program for successful synergistic interactions.  Amen.

Keep Dancing! Praise in the Marketplace | Showers’ Blessing Inspires | Jacqui Showers

My mother used to say, “Jacqui, when you eat, your family eats.” In essence, I was a single woman with no children. When I became full, my whole family was full. When I slept, my family slept. When I worked, my family worked. I was an entity within myself.

Sometimes we can’t grasp the concept that each of us is an entity within ourselves. We are the ones responsible for our future. Now, you may wonder how that can be possible, when I can walk into my job and before the day ends waltz back out with a pink slip telling me that my skills are no longer needed. What type of control is that?

Over the past couple of decades or more I have been right-sized, down-sized and out-sized from myriad positions. Along the way I had to move beyond the mindset of being an employee to seeing myself as ME Inc. When I work, my business works. When I increase in knowledge, my business increases in knowledge. You are a legitimate incorporated business enterprise.

If you are providing any legitimate business service, regardless if you work for someone else, you are incorporated and in business for yourself. It doesn’t matter if you are working at McDonald’s or wherever, you are selling your time and your skills as a business entity. Operating as a business has nothing to do with your education or your occupation. It has all to do with YOU!

Moving from the mindset of being an employee to viewing yourself as an enterprise, ME Inc., you will begin to have a different work ethic and a different mindset when it comes to future pursuits. When you grasp the veracity of being incorporated, you are on your road to success. Regardless if you were handed a pink slip or not, you realize that it is time to go and sell your most precious commodities, time and skills, somewhere else.

Just like any business, if you lose one account you have to go and get another one. However when you go to the next place, you have increased your skill set and your marketability.

As you move from having the mindset of working for someone, regardless if you may be employed by a company or not to realizing you work for yourself, or even more importantly you work for God, your work ethic changes from being a taker to being a giver. As a giver you provide optimum performance. You no longer work for someone else. You embrace that you are incorporated to succeed and provide viable solutions. You begin to connect the dots and as a result have a more authentic experience as an independent contractor empowered to succeed.

Every business provides a service and in turn they receive some type of currency or compensation. They have to manage their accounts, receivables, cash flow, business relationships and make sure they are positioned for success in the marketplace. So do you!

Similar to when my mother stated that when I eat my family eats; when you work your business is in full operation! The quality of excellence of the service you provide, determines the magnitude of the success of your business enterprise, ME Inc.

The way you keep ME Inc. on top of your game, you must be able to seamlessly integrate your spirituality with the reality of the marketplace. In essence, you need to make sure that your spirit person is built up in order for you to maximize your efforts in making an indelible mark as a marketplace influencer. You must also make sure you stay abreast of the transforming landscape to remain competitive.

You can begin by attending the Oh Break Out Empowerment & Leadership Experiencescheduled for November 21-22, 2014. Take the first step to ensure your position at Oh Break Out by registering before September 13 @ a special rate of $55. I will be so happy to see you there.

Visit our website (www.ohbreakout.org) and SAVE—Sponsor, Attend, Volunteer or Exhibit.

Are you are a marketplace influencer? Do you understand that you are an enterprise? How are you operating in that role? Do you want to learn more about how to be that marketplace influencer? Love to hear your comments. Take a moment and share.

 

Scriptures

Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Colossians 3:22-23 (KJV)

Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power. Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness. Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp. Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs. Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals. Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD. Psalm 150:1-6 (KJV)

Prayer

Father, I am praising You not only in the dance, but in my praise in the marketplace. Every skill, talent and encounter I will praise You so others experience Your glory. With unbridled joy I will praise You with a spirit of excellence executing a precision of rhythmic movements leading to success.  Amen.

Keep Dancing! Praise in the Marketplace | Showers’ Blessing Inspires | Jacqui Showers

Anyone who knows me knows if there is any dancing to be done, I will do it. Praise is simply what I do. I’ve been told that I replicate the dance of David. In essence, I simply enjoy playing with my God. Even my place of worship echoes my commitment to praise—House of Prayer & Praise Ministries. There is nothing like it!

Praising moves beyond the act of dancing to a state of being. You see, it is more than a dance or running around the church. It is a lifestyle. Every day we praise God with what we do—we praise Him with our vocations and interactions. This is even more apparent for those of us who work in the marketplace. How we manage ourselves has more to do with our praise than we think.

It is beyond the words we say to encompass the life that we lead. Every single day we go out into the marketplace and encounter people as we meander throughout our day. Our praise has more to do with our interactions with those who come into our spear of influence. How we treat them. The words we say to them. A big-gee is how we act when we think no one is watching.

How well we do our respective vocations provides praise because we realize that we don’t work for men, but God. Everything we do it is to praise Him. Regardless if someone is standing over our shoulders or not, we work heartily unto the Lord because we know that He is watching. It is as exhilarating as when I dance across the floor. Your adrenaline increases and an excitement explodes inside energizing you to keep dancing and never stop praising.

Our vocational praise translates into how well we do our respective vocations. It has nothing to do with if you are a business owner or you work for someone else, everything we do we do it with a spirit of excellence. Excellence always ignites praise!

I encourage you to get up and dance…to praise as though you are out of your mind. The more you praise God, everything you do will succeed. Praising God with your talents and gifts eliminate procrastination, lack of confidence and a host of other things that prevents you from praising your way to success.

Are you praising God in the marketplace with unbridled excellence of spirit? Or, are you afraid to praise Him with your skills, talents, interactions and commitment to Him?

 

Scriptures

Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Colossians 3:22-23 (KJV)

Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power. Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness. Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp. Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs. Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals. Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD. Psalm 150:1-6 (KJV)

Prayer

Father, I am praising You not only in the dance, but in my praise in the marketplace. Every skill, talent and encounter I will praise You so others experience Your glory. With unbridled joy I will praise You with a spirit of excellence executing a precision of rhythmic movements leading to success.  Amen.

Catch The Thief! Do It Now! | Showers’ Blessing Inspires | Jacqui Showers

Some of you may wonder what in the world is stealing from Jacqui. Or more precisely you probably should pose the question, “What in the world is stealing from me?” In actuality every day each of us are victims to a notorious scam that robs us of our future. At some point, you have to catch this thief. If not, you will look around and realize that so much has been stolen from you that you have no idea how to put an end to it.

Well, the thief has invaded all of our lives and I know each of you are personally acquainted with this thief—Procrastination. Many of us have been fighting this thief for years…even decades. He is so smooth that he slivers in and before you know it so much time has passed you feel as though you will never be able to catch up. Not to mention, you have so much to do you are clueless about where to start.

I’m here to reassure you that you can catch this thief and put a stop to its thievery. How? By simply doing whatever you need to do whenever you need to do it. Why keep putting off for tomorrow what you know you can easily do and complete today. The more you allow it to linger, the less likely that you get it done. Because you will not do what you know to do right now, believe me it will cause other adverse ramifications that will bring undue stress in your life.

You know that you need to go ahead and pay that bill. Yet, you don’t. You end up accruing late fees that you didn’t have if only you had paid the bill on time. In essence, you are just handing it over and the thief is robbing you without a pistol. Actually, you have been an all out accomplice to this heist of your most precious asset.

This young lady encountered a carjacker. He had a gun pointed directly at her and was trying to steal her car. She wrestled with the carjacker until the gun went off. Instead of the young woman getting shot the carjacker got shot. She stopped that carjacker in his tracks from ripping her off. You see, the car was the least valuable possession that he would have taken from her. If the carjacker had his way, he would have stolen her life from her—he would have stolen her time, her dreams, and her goals.

Procrastination is just like that carjacker. Unless you wrestle with procrastination you will look up and everything will be stolen from you. Your time, your goals, your money, your self-esteem, your new house, your new car, your future, and everything else you have been procrastinating about. Unlike that young lady, she could get another car. Similar to her, you can’t get another life nor can you get back the time that has been stolen from you because you have decided to allow procrastination to rob you blind every single day.

Get up! Take control! Catch the thief before you lose anything else! Now, do everything you have been putting off. Guess what? You shot and killed procrastination and you are no longer subjected to its thievery!

What are you wrestling with that prevents you from doing what you should be doing? How are you going to shoot it and just do it? When are you going to do it? Let me now.

 

 

REGISTER FOR OH BREAK OUT EMPOWERMENT & LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE @ http://www.ohbreakout.org!

Scriptures

That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past. Eccl 3:15 (KJV)

You alone created my inner being. You knitted me together inside my mother. I will give thanks to you because I have been so amazingly and miraculously made. Your works are miraculous, and my soul is fully aware of this. My bones were not hidden from you when I was being made in secret, when I was being skillfully woven in an underground workshop. Your eyes saw me when I was only a fetus. Every day {of my life} was recorded in your book before one of them had taken place. Psalms 139:13-16 (GW)

Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. Jer 1:4-5 (KJV)

For whom he foreknew, he also foreordained to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren: and whom he foreordained, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. Romans 8:29-30 (ASV)

The end of something is better than its beginning… Eccl 7:8

This is what the Lord says, who made you, who formed you in your mother’s body, who will help you: Isaiah 44:2a (TCV)

Prayer

Father, I am so tired of procrastination robbing me of my time and preventing me from honoring my vows that I have made to you and man. No longer, will I be an accomplice to this thievery that wants to see me fail in life. Jesus came that I would have abundant life. That means that nothing will rob me of this gift. Today, while it is yet today, I will do what I need to do in order to fulfill my purpose and destiny to glorify You. I know as long as I am connected to You and led by the Holy Spirit, procrastination has taken its last breath. It no longer has control over me, but I have taken dominion over it. Thank you for giving me the authority to trample on the serpent heads and to live a life of unparalleled victory! Amen.

Past and Present Collides | Showers’ Blessing Inspires | Jacqui Showers

When studying the Word of God a best practice to go to the place when something was first mentioned. Known as the “law of first mentioned,” it provides clarity to what you are studying and enhances it meaning. You are able to better understand the current passage of scripture by referring back to when it was initially introduced. In doing so, you can better understand the message that God is relaying and it helps to apply it to your life.

Almost two decades ago I started down a path of first mentions, or when things first occurred that caused certain behaviors. These behaviors prevented me from experiencing all life had for me. More and more, I found myself succumbing to these behaviors and habits and I didn’t know how to stop. Yet, in my heart of hearts I wanted desperately to get off the treadmill that was going nowhere fast.

It wasn’t until I went back that I was able to go forward. In essence, my past collided with my present in order to be propel into my future. I could only do this when I honestly looked at things that had plagued me and was willing to allow God to take me back to the point when they first occurred. This journey of retracing my past brought such revelation to me that I was able to overcome the very things that had held me in bondage. Some of these things I was able to overcome immediately and others it took some time. Yes, there are some I’m still tackling.

But what if I had never started this journey? What if I had just continued in the manner in which I was headed and remained afraid to look at those things that hung over me like a storm cloud ready to burst open with a torrential downpour?

Well, I had reached a critical crossroads and I knew that something had to be done. More and more apathy was increasing and I found myself feeling as though it didn’t matter anyway. Yet, I knew that it did. Deep inside I knew something had to be done. For so long I didn’t know what I needed, but I knew it was bigger than me. In the pits of my gut I knew it was more than what this world had to offer and it was more than it could ever give me.

Sometimes when everything appears as though it is falling apart is when God is tapping you on the shoulder saying, “Hey, I’m here with all the answers.” It is then that you have to make the critical decision to go back to the first mention of you. It is then that you have to become reconnected to the one that created you. That is God!

It is more than saying that you are saved. There are many believers who profess to be saved, yet they have not truly gone back to the One that created them. Why? Because most people don’t want to do the hard work. It is hard work! But it is necessary work!

I knew when I teemed with God there was no stopping me. One thing after another He began to reveal to me who He created me to be—the first mention of me. Yet, He also would take me back to the place when I started moving away from the person He envisioned and created. It was fascinating to see the many critical points in my life become the very things that drove me to move confidently towards success. In essence, my past collided with my present and was propelling me down a path that I never thought I could go, yet I was doing so with confidence. Had my past not done so, where would I be?

I would still be meandering through life hoping that someone would recognize that this person who appeared to be so confident was screaming for help. You see, I was not one of those people where it was easily visible to see that I was in trouble. I had all the accoutrements of looking successful and confident but in some areas I wasn’t.

Life had dealt some hard blows. It had nothing to do with rather I done something right or wrong, it was life. Sometimes it just didn’t seem fair. Maybe it wasn’t.

Yet, you come to a place where it is not about being fair, but it is about you becoming the person God envisioned. At the first mention of you, in eternity, he envisioned you being whole, vibrant and living an abundant life here on earth. So go back to the first mention of you and allow your past to collide with your present as you are propelled into uncommon success.

What’s holding you back? Are you willing to do what it takes to over them? Are you willing to go back and find out where it all started?

 

 

REGISTER FOR OH BREAK OUT EMPOWERMENT & LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE @ http://www.ohbreakout.org!

Scriptures

That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past. Eccl 3:15 (KJV)

You alone created my inner being. You knitted me together inside my mother. I will give thanks to you because I have been so amazingly and miraculously made. Your works are miraculous, and my soul is fully aware of this. My bones were not hidden from you when I was being made in secret, when I was being skillfully woven in an underground workshop. Your eyes saw me when I was only a fetus. Every day {of my life} was recorded in your book before one of them had taken place. Psalms 139:13-16 (GW)

Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. Jer 1:4-5 (KJV)

For whom he foreknew, he also foreordained to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren: and whom he foreordained, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. Romans 8:29-30 (ASV)

The end of something is better than its beginning… Eccl 7:8

This is what the Lord says, who made you, who formed you in your mother’s body, who will help you: Isaiah 44:2a (TCV)

Prayer

Father, There are so many things preventing me from moving forward. Please reveal to me the first time these things occurred for me to be successful in conquering the fears of my past. I know in order for me to go gallantly into my future, I must revisit the things holding me back so I can conqueror them. Also reveal to me who You created me to be so I can embrace and become all You envisioned. Amen.

Perfectionism Impedes Excellence | Showers’ Blessing Inspires | Jacqui Showers

My sister Portia would state that I wanted everything perfect and I would not stop until I felt that it was perfect. I would retort back to her that I was not trying to make it perfect, but I wanted it to be done the right way.

Sounds like semantics to me. Both of us were saying the same thing, but I didn’t want to admit that I was suffering from a spirit of perfectionism. Years later, I would say I was striving for excellence and would belabor over a task or project way too long. In essence, I wanted things perfect.

Many of us suffer from the debilitating limitations of perfectionism that causes us to work on something way too long. We want everything to be perfect. Perfection is when we operate in our own might and power, but excellence is when the spirit of God is the guiding force in our lives. There is a difference between the two of them. Don’t get deceived there is a close alignment—one uplifts (excellence) and the other condemns (perfection).

According to Dr. John Castelein, a professor at Lincoln Christian Seminary, perfectionism has standards that continually crush people. Excellence lifts our spirits and makes our souls feel noble. Perfectionism keeps prodding us from behind, making us feel guilty. Excellence inspires and motivates. It says “come”. It draws us in. Perfectionism is always commanding, “you must.” Excellence invites us and says, “you may.” Perfectionism orders, “here is the pattern, copy this pattern.” Excellence challenges saying, “all I ask is that you give your best, your personal best.” Perfectionism is artificial. It neglects the heart and it motivates by guilt. Excellence is authentic and heart-driven and it is motivated by God’s greatness. Perfectionism is done out of a sense of duty. Excellence is contagious and inspires people. (http://www.resurrectioncenter.com/blog/tag/inspiring-people/)

Striving for excellence you may sometimes fall short of your goal, but you don’t stay down. You get up, access your mistakes and keep moving forward. A perfectionist lives in constant condemnation, but when you strive for excellence you realize God created erasers because He knew in the process of getting where He intended for you to go you would make some mistakes.

You must also recognize that there is a difference between striving to be perfect versus endeavoring to perform with excellence. Achieving perfection is an impossible task because it never makes allowances for errors or missteps. Consequently, condemnation and discouragement often follow one’s pursuit of perfection because these unrealistic expectations lead to feelings of worthlessness and inadequacy.

The challenge is knowing when you have crossed over from performing with a spirit of excellence to operating in perfectionism. You always need to be prayerful about whatever you are doing. If not, you find yourself easily in the grips of perfection that is rooted in fear. You have moved away from serving others and moved into self-service.

Perfectionism impedes your progress. Excellence propels and sets you a part for greatness. Recognizing the dichotomy of these two forces operating enables you to move beyond the limitations of perfectionism and propel forward with the liberating spirit of excellence.

Do you find yourself always wanting everything to be perfect? What fears cause you to feel imperfect? I just have to be perfect in _____________?

Scriptures

He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit. Proverbs 17:27 (KJV)

Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm. Daniel 6:3 (KJV)

If you are going to achieve excellence in big things, you develop the habit in little matters. -Colin Powell

Prayer

Father, Thank you for exposing the glibness that causes me to think I am doing what is right, but I am not. It may be dressed up to look like the real thing, but underneath it is nothing but a cheap copy. I will no longer be deceived causing me to get caught up in the inertia of doing. I will not confuse the liberation of performing with a spirit of excellence with the limitations of operating in a spirit of perfectionism. Amen.

Un-Orchestrated Precision | Showers’ Blessing Inspires | Jacqui Showers

Driving is more than just putting my feet on the gas and going. It takes a lot of thought because you are multitasking constantly. You have to be aware of what is ahead, what is behind and always cognizant of what is happening on each side of you. Not to mention myriad things you’re doing inside of the car from reading signs, adjusting the heat and air-conditioning, managing the radio and cd, singing, talking, texting (hopefully not) and on and on. Your feet are constantly in motion as well moving from right to light to press the gas and putting on brakes. You never give it a moment’s thought as you maneuver from one decision to the next with un-orchestrated precision. You simply do it and keep moving.

While traveling up the highway the other day and unconsciously multitasking, my mind was anticipating the exit where cars come on but they don’t have much merge area. Not wanting to wait unto the last minute to avoid a collision, I automatically got into the next lane anticipating cars might try to merge into traffic.

Every day we’re driving through this journey of life. As much as some folk say they do not multitask, we can’t but do it, because it is an innate part of our makeup from the day we were born. While just living life, as we do when we’re driving, we are doing so many things in anticipation of what will come next. Sometimes nothing happens and sometimes it does. We are always in a place of anticipation even in the midst of multiple occurrences in our lives.

It is this anticipation that causes us to adjust our plans along the way. In essence, it is the contingencies of life. Inherent in anticipation is our ability to decipher and manage the what if’s. The what if’s bring us to a point of decision. It is no different than when I’m driving and anticipating that there may be cars trying to merge onto the freeway. All I have to do is move into the other lane to make sure they can enter safely and I can keep moving forward without a collision occurring.

Most of the times when you find yourself in a collision, it is because you didn’t anticipate and make the necessary adjustments. Sometimes it can be caused because of the myriad things happening simultaneously. Yet, you cannot become so overwhelmed you lose sight of what is ahead. Like driving, there is so much activity happening around, yet you can’t just stop.

If you decide while driving that you are going to just stop in the middle of the road, more than likely the car behind you is going to ram right into you. You can’t just put the brakes on in life because of all the things happening. You have to understand something very basic.Life happens! It is as simple as that. However, anticipating what will come next provides you with what you need to access what is ahead and make a decision to avoid a possible collision.

 

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Scriptures

And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state] to which as [members of Christ’s] one body you were also called [to live]. And be thankful (appreciative), [giving praise to God always].Colossians 3:15 (AMP)

He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red. And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times? Matthew 16:2-3 (KJV)

Prayer

Father, Multitasking is an innate part of me because I have been created in Your image. When I anticipate what’s ahead, I avoid overwhelming feelings of being out of control regardless of myriad tasks that require my attention. Anticipation enables me to prepare and make the right decision to adjust my course of action for optimum performance.  Amen.