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Catch up on the latest FAITHPRENEUR blog posts and be encouraged and empowered!
 
The FAITHPRENEUR Blog is a 10 week online devotional to build faith momentum for your uncommon results in business and leadership.  To be notified by email of the latest FAITHPRENEUR Blog posts or to learn more about the FAITHPRENEUR online devotional and Free eBook, click below.
 
 
 

FAITHPRENEUR D5W1: EXCELLENCE IS OUR DIFFERENCE

Talents take us into the marketplace, excellence lifts up God in whatever position, place or responsibility that God puts us in.  One marketplace Faithpreneur will encounter more opportunities to fulfill the great commission than most churches do on any given Sunday. 
 
The great commission (Matthew 28:19), is not in the church it’s from the church .  Church is for the building up and equipping of the saints to live righteous, victorious lives and to go out into the world to make disciples (Luke 14:23, Hebrews 10:24, Ephesians 4:12). The marketplace — the positions and places in the world where Christians encounter the lost, the unsaved and the hurting, is where the great commission takes place.  I am not saying that marketplace ministers replace the church, I am saying that marketplace ministers are the church to the world.  Effectively, we are all marketplace ministers, regardless of what our title, job, role or influence is — in the street and in our homes (Matthew 5:14). 
 
This is not a put down of the church, it could actually be a case for why the church should be more active in the development of marketplace leaders.  
 
With That Said…
 
Like most, I don’t and won’t do business with you just because you are a Christian. In fact I won’t do business with you unless your demonstrated difference is superior to your competitor — most of the time.   This is where excellence comes in for the Faithpreneur.  Excellence is, should be, the Faithpreneurs distinguishable asset in the marketplace. Our difference is excellence — our excellence is our difference.  
 
The bible said, “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power” (1 Corinthians 4:20).  Don’t expect respect or to be successful in the marketplace because you believe in Jesus.  Expect respect and to be successful when your excellence honors God: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters” (Colossians 3:23).  
 
Case In Point…
 
Tom started a business consulting firm.  His knowledge was impeccable, his personality exuded kindness.  He was savvy and well versed in business strategies that could impact the bottom line for almost any company — large or small.  Tom’s talent had the ability to put him in front of thousands if not hundreds of thousands of people every year.  Because of Tom’s sphere of influence, he had the potential to impact countless lives for the cause of Christ.
 
There was one small problem.  Tom was highly inconsistent, he lacked follow through, he procrastinated profusely and he dressed inappropriately.  To make matters worse, he used shabby/unqualified vendors, his marketing material was awful — a DIY (Do It Yourself) nightmare proving he needed to stay in his lane, and he approached new business opportunities and clients with a lazy attitude.  I hated it.  I hated to see it.  Honestly, I couldn’t stand it.  Not simply because this was severely hindering Tom’s business opportunities but it severely hindered Tom’s ability to, “Lift up God,” and potentially impact thousands of lives for the cause of Christ.
 
Let’s face it, Christian or not, we don’t want to do business with anybody who is not about their business.  Christian does not give us a free pass, it gives us an opportunity to put God on display through our excellence.  Excellence is the door opener — can be, for conversations about Jesus, and in fact, if God is lifted up He will draw them to you: “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself” (John 12:32). 
 
After some “Straight Talk” coaching and sage advice, Tom never turned it around.  Tom went out of business.  He’s still a marketplace minister but He’s not prepared to be a Faithpreneur. In my 20 years of senior executive management experience and over 10 years as an entrepreneur, I’ve never seen a lack of excellence succeed — and I doubt I ever will.
 
In every area of your business, evaluate your excellence.  If you want God to bless your business aspirations, develop a mindset that honors God through the light of excellence (Matthew 5:16).  Don’t make excuses, do it.  Set standards that meet God’s expectations and you will blow customers, competitors and bosses away.  Put your work excellence on your prayer list and keep it there — everyday should be a renewed commitment to excellence in every thing you say or do in your business, position, opportunity or task.
 
Straight Talk: If you have an area in your business, career or profession that is lagging or suffering, check your excellence.  Excellence is not only what we demonstrate towards others, it’s what we believe.
 
  1. Is your dress/appearance excellent or appropriate for your customer/audience? 
  2. Is your planning, your time management excellent? 
  3. Is your attitude, knowledge, understanding, use of success tools/resources excellent?
  4. Is your work ethic, customer management, consistency and follow through excellent?
  5. Is your investment in self, use of mentors/role models/networks to be successful excellent?
  6. Is your work life balance, rest, prayer life, and church fellowship prioritization excellent?
 
Excellent is as excellent does. We cannot be something that we’re not — providing excellence starts with being excellent.  For Faithpreneurs, our business is also our marketplace ministry. Take inventory today of every area of faith and business that deserves your excellence.  There is no way that you can fail at what you were created to do if excellence is your difference.
 
For fun, try this quick online entrepreneur self-assessment test at Entrepreneur Magazine. Click Here
 
Share and be blessed.
 
 
 
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FAITHPRENEUR D4W1: GREAT FAITH

After many years in business and having experienced every high and every low, the one thing that I think all business leaders, entrepreneurs and aspiring professionals will tell you is this, “If you don’t believe in you, nobody else will.”
 
Belief is not simply a matter if thinking we can.  Belief is the foundation that supports what you will do.  Let’s face it, if success, progress or growth were easy, in any area of life, we would see the manifestation of God’s promises everywhere.  But we don’t.
 
The fact is, any endeavor, mission or vision is going to take everything you have and then some.  There will be days where you feel on top of the world and days when you feel like the world is on top of you.  It’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of how… How will you survive the lows, the difficulties, the challenges and yes, the setbacks?
 
A FAITHPRENEUR has a built in plan.  It’s not easy, nothing worth having is but it is absolutely necessary.  Hype does not support hope.  A belief that you will ride every wave with, stay under control with, stand up against every Goliath with and tackle every challenge with is based on Great Faith.
 
Don’t get me wrong, many people succeed without Great Faith.  I’m not talking about momentary or temporary success, I’m talking success from the inside out.  Faith in whatever God has given you to do, your talent or vision is only as sure as your faith in God is.  People tend to fall on one of two sides of Great Faith: They either have it or they don’t, they either want it or they don’t.  And you know based on your own experiences, that there is a difference between believing in what you’re doing and believing that you were created to do it.
 
Every vision, business or career is for somebody but that does not mean that everybody will have the faith to do it.  There are a lot of dreams, talents and visions in the grave yard that did not achieve full potential.  Faith in God’s will and plan for our life, our talent, our purpose is an unmistakable, unstoppable belief.  It drives, rises, steps up and shows up when others give up.  It is uncommon faith or “Great Faith.”
 
Remember the woman in Matthew 15?  She came to Jesus seeking help for her daughter (Matthew 15:22-28).  She believed that Jesus could help and she persisted in asking him for that help.  Jesus ignored the woman and even outright denied her. When our faith is challenged, and it will be, will you give up or will you believe that God’s desire is to bless you? 
 
Finally, Jesus told her, she had “Great Faith,” and He answered her prayer. Notice that Jesus did not say, “You have worn me down with your nagging,” or, “I’ll do it just to shut you up.” No, Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment” (Matthew 15:28). Are you working with Great Faith? Are you working on your faith as hard as you are your business (Hebrews 11:6)?
 
Uncommon or Great Faith, does not come any easier than success at anything else does.  Developing Great Faith is intentional.  If great faith were easy, wouldn’t we see mountains in people’s lives being moved all around us — with just a mustard seed worth (Matthew 17:20)?  It’s not common and it’s not possible without intentionality. 
 
A FAITHPRENEUR first seeks the Kingdom for Great Faith, knowing that everything else will follow (Matthew 6:33).  This is where the rubber meets the road.  Great Faith is the difference between a miserable journey and a powerful journey.  It decides how we deal with turbulence as well as our energy and attitude.  It informs our determination, our motivation and our resilience.  Mind you, this same faith is what empowers the believers life in all things.  A FAITHPRENUER has a faith focus that intensifies the need and the development of Great Faith.
 
Here’s our takeaway for today:
 
  • Identify 3 areas that your faith either needs reinforcement or improvement to influence your attitude and confidence
  • Identify a personal relationship or scenario that you can begin practicing Great Faith
  • Start tomorrow with your FAITHPRENEUR Prayer and include your desire for Great Faith in your prayer.  Ask God to continuously show you and bless you with opportunities to grow your faith
  • Identify one way that your Great Faith can be shared with others
 
Next week we’ll go over some powerful prayers and biblical affirmations that you can use to practice speaking life over your business and keep your words in line with your faith.
 
Share and be blessed.
 
 
 
To learn more about the 10 week FAITHPRENEUR online devotional and eBook, to receive email notifications of new posts, and to read previous FAITHPRENEUR devotionals, Click Here.
 
 
 
 Join us Resurrection Sunday at FAITHHILL for a powerful push into destiny with the life changing message, “It’s Finished.” 
 
 
 

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FAITHPRENEUR D3W1: PRAYING FOR GROWTH

Some people will look at you sideways, odd or even strange if you talk about praying for your business growth.  For a poverty mindset, it can sound vain. For those convinced that the bible did not say, “Beloved, I pray you to prosper concerning all things and to be in good health, just as your soul prospers” (3 John 1:2), this might be hard to accept.
 
Without question, God receives the glory for increase in our personal or business life as followers of Jesus Christ. 
 
I think what causes a lot of confusion around this issue is humility or a lack there of.  How many really successful people do you know personally who glorify God publicly through their testimony, spiritual fruit, service and sacrifice for the body of Christ.  There are thousands that do but I’m not referring to them, I’m referring to the one’s you know personally.  The sad fact is that most of us don’t know but a handful personally — if that many.  And don’t misunderstand me, just because someone is not “Materially Wealthy,” that does not mean that they aren’t successful in faith.
 
What I am saying is, a FAITHPRENEUR is successful in Christ — first, before they are successful at anything else (Matthew 6:33).   The key is glorifying God.  Giving God the glory through our story.
 
Our lives, our businesses take us into the streets, the marketplace and into positions that enable us to influence the world by our faith.  The most powerful ministry happens in the street, through our everyday interactions, expressions of faith and conversations — verbal and non-verbal.  The lost and the majority of believers don’t go to church — the most impactful discipleship happens in the marketplace through lights of faith (Matthew 5:14). 
 
Money is not our end-game.  Money is the end result of our end-game — Glorifying God.  A FAITHPRENEUR knows that effective people do not chase money, money chases effective people.  The bible says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters” (Colossians 3:23).  When we honor God through our work, whatever our work is, and our stewardship, we give God thanks: “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).  
 
Do you know many marketplace leaders who rep God in the streets, business and social circles — with tact and effectiveness?  With a reported 6.9 Billion believers in the world, shouldn’t we be overwhelmed by spiritual fruit in the marketplace?  But we’re not, and that’s the problem — that’s another way we rob God and hurt the body.  Repping God is not just through shout outs and the occasional, “I’m a Christian,” but heart, intentional behavior, testimony and, giving back as a lifestyle and not just an event?  
 
Our faithfulness builds each other up.  In Hebrews 11:1-40, God gives us examples of faithful leaders to imitate, and you are called to do the same — be examples of great leaders of faith for everybody to see and to be inspired by.  A FAITHPRENEUR, like all of God’s faithful, models the word by being a doer of the word, by living the word, by applying the word (James 1:22-25).  Somebody is watching you, the God in you.
 
What does all of this have to do with praying for growth?  A FAITHPRENEUR must align business growth with Kingdom growth, business prosperity with Kingdom prosperity.  God is the end game.  A growth prayer includes a God impact — “God bless the work of my hands to support 3 women’s shelters.”  “God bless the fruit of my labor to have enough overflow to send 50, 100 youth to camp this summer.”  “God increase my territory to show more people the love of Christ.”  This is your end-game.  Your end-game is not your church tithe or church service, your end-game is what keeps growth grounded.
 
Whatever compassion God has put on your heart, it is the reason why God wants to increase your territory. The bible says, “A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed” (Proverbs 11:25).  
 
Put This In Your Spirit: Favor is God’s ability to trust us to do His will with His increase, blessings and influence. (Hebrews 11:6)
 
This weeks FAITHPRENUER Challenge:
 
  • Identify 1-3 marketplace leaders that role model faith
  • Identify 1-3 areas that your faith can be better role modeled in the marketplace
  • Identify 1 way that God does or can use your talent/wisdom/faithfulness to serve the body regularly
  • Identify 3 God purposes for increasing your territory (Impact to others through your overflow)
  • Identify time frames that you want to see a harvest in these areas (Continually increase these bars as you accomplish them)
(A prayer journal will come in handy for these critical seeds that should be watered daily)
 
When this backs up our prayers for growth, growth is not simply a matter of being rich, growth is a matter of being a powerful Kingdom influencer.
 
Share and be blessed.
 
 
To learn more about the 10 week FAITHPRENEUR online devotional and eBook, to receive email notifications of new posts, and to read previous FAITHPRENEUR devotionals, Click Here.
 
 
 
 Join us Resurrection Sunday at FAITHHILL for a powerful push into destiny with the life changing message, “It’s Finished.” 
 
 
 

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