How many of you are just like me, Class A+ Procrastinators?

Did you know having good intentions can still be a form of disobedience? Procrastination is very deceptive and Proverbs 3:27,28 instructs us not to do it. Often, we do not see putting things off as disobedience because we intend to obey God; it is just that we are going to do it when–when we have more money, when we are not so busy, as soon as Christmas is over, after we get the kids in school/college, when we return from vacation, after the snow is gone, etc. Remember, the best intentions do not produce results. Ask God to help you take action in a timely manner in every situtation.

So, what are some strategic solutions to helping Class A+ Procrastinators; Proverbs 4:5 instructs us to get “skillful and godly Wisdom,” and here are some of the results that you can expect as you apply wisdom in your life.

Wisdom will always lead you to God’s best. Wisdom teaches that you will not keep friends if you try to control and dominate everything that goes on in your life and theirs. You will not keep friends if you talk about them behind their backs or tell their secrets. Wisdom says, “Do not say things about others that you would not want people saying about you.”

Wisdom will guide you in money matters. You will not get into debt if you do not spend more money than you make. A lot of people never have fruitful ministries because they think they can run a ministry without good business principles. The Holy Spirit does not need to speak in an audible voice to tell us that we cannot have more money going out than we have coming in. Wisdom tells us that we will get in trouble if we do that.

Wisdom will not let us get overextended in our commitments if we listen to her. No matter how anxious we may be to accomplish things, wisdom says we need to take time and wait on God to give us peace about what we are to do and not do. It has been very difficult for me over the years to learn to say no to certain speaking opportunities, but I have learned that it is not wise to wear myself out trying do to so much that I end up not doing a quality job.

To God, quality is more important than quantity. Many times wisdom leads us to say no to things we would like to say yes to. Wisdom may also lead us to say yes to something to which we would like to say no. Having an opportunity that will stretch you outside of your comfort zone may cause you to say no, because you are afraid you might fail. But Wisdom may be telling you that you can do all things through Christ that strengthens you, and although you may have never done this or that, or tried this or that, doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t try. How do you ever grow beyond what you are capable of if you never put yourself in a situation where you know exactly what you are made of. Feel the fear and do it anyway.

Wisdom is our friend; it helps us not to live in regret. I think one of the saddest things in the world would be to reach old age and look back at your life and feel nothing but regret about what you did or did not do. So many people are playing it safe. In case you haven’t noticed, “You can’t get out of life ALIVE!” It’s always more fun on the field than it is in the stands. Failure is merely feedback. The sorrow is not in the falling down, the tragedy is in never having tried in the first place. Wisdom helps us make choices now that we will be happy with later.

A word of advice to all my soon to be reformed Class A+ Procrastinators, don’t put off for tomorrow what you can to today, maximize your moment!

Be Encouraged. [Excerpts from Joyce Meyer Amplified Bible] 

Linda Dillard

Founder/CEO & Relationship Strategist for Power In Progress, LLC

During a time when the key to restoring our nation and renewing the global economy are entrepreneurs, here is a message to encourage the heart of every believer who has had to whether a storm during a very difficult and trying year.

The Bible Wants you to Live Great

Many people think that what’s written in the Bible has mostly to do with getting people into heaven – getting right with God, saving eternal souls. And all those are a part of the Bible, however, equally important that the Bible is concerned with is living here on this earth – living well, living with enthusiastic sanity.

Wisdom is the art of living skillfully in whatever actual conditions we find ourselves in. In Proverbs 3:26 (Message), “No need to panic over alarms or surprises, or predictions that doomsday’s just around the corner, Because God will be right there with you; he’ll keep you safe and sound.” “For the Lord shall be your confidence, firm and strong, and shall keep your foot from being caught [in a trap or some hidden danger]. (Prov. 3:26, Amp).

You Can Succeed in Any Business

I just wanted to remind you that no matter what business your in or service you provide, Jesus says in John 14:12-13, “I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, if anyone steadfastly believes in Me, he will himself be able to do the things that I do; and he will do even greater things than these, because I go to the Father. And I will do [I myself will grant] whatever you ask in My Name [as presenting all that I AM], so that the Father may be glorified and and extolled in (through) the Son. [Exod. 3:14] We know that trials and tribulations must come, and we should welcome them. In our weakness, He is made strong. I believe because of the lack and suffering that many are feeling right now it is creating an opportunity for God to do his best work.

God Promises Us that He’ll Keep us from Danger

I want all of you to know that no matter what you are facing in your business today, what difficult decisions you may have to make, that God has not forsaken you, and when we continuously put our trust in Him because he cares for us, He keeps his promises. He has promised each one of us that he would keep our foot from being caught in a trap or some hidden danger. Knowledge is something you know, Wisdom is something you own! When your confidence, firm and strong is in Him, he will keep you from falling.

Set Your New Year’s Goal for 2010

Trust that every setback is a setup. 10 symbolizes totality or all inclusiveness. For all that we have endured in ‘09, it’s time to get excited because in 2010, it all comes together. It is your time, it is your season. When God is for you, it’s better than the whole world against.

Always Seek Wisdom

Be encouraged my brothers and my sisters, “Above all and before all, do this: Get Wisdom! Write this at the top of your list: Get Understanding! (Prov. 3:6 Message) What the enemy meant for evil, God will use for good. Let us return to childlike faith, that if he said it, then it will come to pass. Rejoice, this is the day that the Lord hath made, we will rejoice and be glad in it. (Psalm 118:24)

Linda Dillard
Founder/CEO Power In Progress, LLC
Tap Into the Power, Walk Into the Light

Suggested Reading:

Your Road Map for Success

John C. Maxwell. Thomas Nelson 2006, Paperback, 256 pages, $3.99

Spiritual Steps on the Road to Success

Linda Seger. Monarch Books 2009, Paperback, 188 pages, $7.67

Society say Happiness is determine by money, sex, drugs

Today’s society tells us that happiness is measured by external pleasures or “temporary highs”; success, money, “friends”, sex, drugs, appearance, etc. As long as we are solely relying on external pleasure to make us happy, real happiness is unfortunately very unlikely. The deceptive belief is that “our problems” are mere inconvenience and can be “fixed” by indulging in external pleasure.

True happiness is determine by internal peace

Does this concept really work? Think about it… we are all searching for external pleasure to make us happy but yet we are all still searching for happiness at the same time? Fact is, external pleasure just isn’t enough. Venting to your girlfriends or getting your nails done may feel good in the moment but will not make your problems go away. Your true person is not who you portray to the world but who lies beneath the surface. And true happiness is not defined by external pleasure but rather internal peace and achieving true love thru Jesus Christ. No matter who or what we are, we ALL have wounds and struggles in life. Without them, there would be no need for God.

Can’t Replace Internal Wounds with External Pleasure

If we are not seeking God to heal our wounds then we are relying on external pleasure to make us happy, we live life in circles, making the same mistakes over and over, never really experiencing unconditional love for ourselves or others. So the bottom line is this, no matter how hard we try, we cannot escape our problems, and we cannot replace internal wounds with external pleasure.

The good news is that your wounds can be healed thru the blood of Jesus Christ! Isaiah 53:5 says: “He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our sins; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by His wounds we are healed.” True healing comes from Jesus, not people, or things. Trust in him!

Suggested Reading:

The Pleasures of Loving God

Mike Bickle. Creation House 2000, Paperback, 215 pages, $5.00

Intended for Pleasure

Ed Wheat. Revell 1997, Hardcover, 288 pages, $11.25

This article really intrigued me. I discovered it on Church Marketing Sucks‘ website. A site that I follow to keep me up to date on marketing strategies for churches for my freelance company. Send me an email if your church or business needs help with marketing Pedro.

For all of the wisdom in the book of Proverbs, the word “marketing” is not found. Furthermore, a key word search through 18 different Bible translations returns just one finding with the word “marketing.” In The Message version, 2 Corinthians 10:4 says, “The tools of our trade aren’t for marketing or manipulation, but they are for demolishing that entire massively corrupt culture.” While I am not going to insert or extract a certain theology from this one verse (not to mention one translation), it does make for some interesting arguments, especially given its context.

The bigger picture here is the word “marketing” and how it relates to today, given its non-existence in word-form (at least how we understand it now) centuries ago.

Ray L. Edwards does an interesting job attempting to argue 5 adcopy principles pulled right from the pages of the Bible. David T. Pope does an even better job at convincing people why churches should not be marketing themselves.

Arguments on both sides of the coin exist everywhere. Obviously, the issue of marketing the church is a hot one.

Perhaps for a moment you could take off your hat on either side of the conversation and face the reality that people need to be reached. There are people right now in your community that don’t know God. There are children without fathers, families without hope. How are you reaching them? How do they know your church exists, and what it exists for?

If you’re against creating a brochure or postcard, how about just walking the streets, talking to people? How about doing an event in the park? How about actually going to the people instead of waiting for them to come to you? The Bible has plenty to say about that.

And if you do decide to create some marketing materials, please don’t create stuff that sucks.

Originally Posted: Is Marketing in the Bible? By Brad Abare. Please leave your thoughts.

Suggested Reading:

Faith-Based Marketing

Bob Hutchins. Wiley 2009, Hardcover, 256 pages, $15.74

Brands of Faith

Mara Einstein. Routledge 2007, Paperback, 256 pages, $27.00

The Social Media Bible

Lon Safko. Wiley 2009, Paperback, 840 pages, $16.79

The Facebook Marketing Bible

Justin Smith. CreateSpace 2008, Paperback, 170 pages, $38.45