A Whirlwind Season of Life

The house is strangely quiet today.  Even the air conditioner, which has churned almost continuously this summer with the record breaking heat, is silent.  My productivity is at almost zero.  No household appliances have been set to work this morning, no shipments have been processed, no deals have been made. 

This is margin. Rest. Stillness.

I sit at my desk and look around, amazed at the amount of chaos that has occurred in my home over the last few weeks.  Half-done projects abound.  Household tasks have been sadly neglected, and inventory seems to have taken on a life of it's own, creeping into almost every room of the house. 

Yet inside, I am peaceful.  These are just things. Circumstances.  Results of doing business on the fly while trying to help my last child at home get settled in to the dorms of her university across town.  And it's okay.

It's interesting that during this hectic, sometimes chaotic, season of life, my business managed to break all previous sales records. Without my constant presence, but with my full attention when I chose to work on it.  Is this how George Washington managed to be on the banks of the Potomac leading his soldiers, and at the same time keeping track of how many nails were being used to build each of the new buildings going up on his estate back home? Interesting.

I find we have a greater capacity to be productive when we give our lives in service to the Lord, and let Him guide our daily activities, and choose His ways of doing and being right.  This week's reading recommendation for success in business is the book of Proverbs, which teaches how to do just that.

Take some time each day to study and meditate on the Word of God concerning how to do things His way.  The payoff from study of God's Word is so much greater than any other book that could every be recommended.  It should be a daily part of the life of someone searching for real success!

This Book of the Law...

Now that I've established my belief that God is for us and not against us, it makes sense to tell you that I don't believe that that is enough.  Shocking statement, isn't it?  But , I believe that statement is the truth.  Here's why...

Joshua 1:8 says, "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success."

The responsibility for your success lies with YOU, not with God. 

Religion delays results but faith is now.  Your success depends on you, on the words you speak, on the choices you make, and even by the friends you choose.  You are able to make your way prosperous financially, physically, mentally, emotionally and relationaly by being a DOER of the Word, and not a hearer only.

For business, the doing of the Word involves practicing what is 1) right and 2) just and 3) fair.  It means not only looking out for our own interests, but looking out for the interests of others.  It involves an understanding that a business based on a benevolent free market provides a service or good at a fair, competitive price so that the transaction benefits both the buyer and the seller. (For a biblical understanding of benevolent free market, read the Uncle Eric series by Richard Maybury.)

For example, my first business, a logistics tracking service, provided an opportunity for me to serve another business by providing manpower to schedule delivery details to the importer of goods from foreign countries to their buyer's chosen destination.  I negotiated fees up front, signed a contract, and began working all within a few weeks.  The client was happy to pay me a percentage of each delivery's value as the cost of doing business. I was willing to work for the amount he suggested, and because I was able to work from home, I kept my overhead costs very low and earned a high margin of profit.

But it was still work.

That's part of the key to success.  God's model of prosperity is that we first believe He is for us, (which is hearing), and then we do what He said, (which is the doing). This model works for every area of life. But, YOU have to work it!

So, are you getting the picture?  God wants us to be successful in every area of life, including business.  It doesn't matter the kind of business.  It only matters that YOU FOLLOW THE MODEL for successful business.  It means being a person of good character, integrity, and understanding.  It means believing that God gives you insight into His plan for your life, direction for walking out His good plans, and creative ideas for doing business that, as Bill Winston says, "will outrun your counterparts!"

To be that person, you have to hear God's Word, and you have to purpose to develop your own character and personality.  Another little, but powerful, book that I recommend is The QBQ, by John Miller, and the companion volume, Flipping The Switch, which both teach leadership by personal accountability.  I found them very helpful in gaining an understanding of my own strengths and weaknesses, and in developing the mindset of leadership by servatitude. They are very small volumes, easily read in an afternoon and likely available from your public library.

Purpose from now on to do find out what is right, just and fair according to God's Word, and to do that, even if it appears that it costs you.  God is the God of Justice, and rewards those who strive to do what is good in His sight.  Right-eousness and justice are the foundation of His throne!  If you do what is right in His sight, you will be successful!

I'm Still Walking!

It's hard to believe it's been a year since I've posted on this blog.  During that time, there have been some signifigant changes in my life.  I've graduated my last child from our homeschool academy, started my second business, and worked through some of life's toughest challenges with some of my closest friends. 

I've been tutoring, working, learning, and growing in understanding of the great calling our Father God has placed on His sons and daughters.  More than anything, I've come to understand that our job as Christians is to be the mature ones in Christ.

I've had many opportunities to teach the things I'm learning myself, and have decided to document some of them here in an effort to utilize today's technology to help me accomplish some of what others are asking of me.  So, if you are one of those who has asked me to teach, these next posts will be for you!

My life began to change a few years ago, when my thinking began to change.  After all, "as a man thinks in his heart, so is he."  Look it up in Proverbs. 

The catalyst to my paradigm shift came after reading this small book, Acres of Diamonds, by Russell Conwell, so if you want to know the "secret" to my success, begin here.  And really look up the Scriptures that I post.  Write them down in a notebook.  Commit them to heart.  Think about them, and speak them to yourself, especially when standing in front of a mirror. 

And if you really follow through and read the book, post a comment so I know you are going to be doer, and not a hearer only, and I will continue posting in this series on The Good Success spoken of in Joshua 1.

The Word of God will change your life forever, if you will let it.

Kellogg's $10 Catalina Fuel For Schools

There's a Fuel For Schools promo right now, and here's how I shopped it today:

Get a $10 Catalina coupon on your next grocery purchase of $10 or more, Coupon printed at checkout...when you buy any 10 Kellogg's, Keebler, Sunshine, MorningStar, and/or Eggo products. (3.8 oz or larger, Mix or Match) Purchases must be made in one transaction. Offer valid at participating retailers during select dates between 7/28/10 and 8/14/10.

There are also the $5 off 5 Keebler and Kellogg's item coupons in the ad. One deal per customer per day at the Haskell, OK store.  I had done this a week ago, and still had one $10 catalina left.  Today I purchased this:

5 boxes Blueberry MiniWheats, 5 for $12 - $5 in-ad coupon
5 TownHouse Crackers 5 for $12 - $5 in-ad coupon
One Crest toothpaste $1.99 - $0.75 MQ on any (doubled to $1.50)
3 Avocados on sale for $1
1/2 Gallon Milk $2.05 - $2 MQ wyb 5 Kellogg's cereal
One Pound Round Steak $2.90 - $2 printable found here
Minus the $10 I had from last week

For a total of $7.50!!!  Plus I got a $10 Catalina off my next order, so I can go back and do it again tomorrow.

Out Of This World Waffle Recipe

My friend, Shannon, introduced me to the healthful properties of coconut oil, and I've been working on incorporating it into daily lives.  I was surprised by it's many beneficial uses, and have been experimenting with substituting it recipes we enjoy.

I will start out by warning you that the following recipe is dangerous and addictive.  Eating a whole batch of waffles in one sitting is not healthy or beneficial in any way, and one should never make this recipe while home alone.  There, I've done my duty and warned you all!

With that said, my family has declared these to be the best waffles in the world.  They are easy to make, and the recipe can be adjusted to any type of wheat flour you desire.  I prefer a combination of hard and soft wheat, but these can also be made with straight whole wheat or, dare I say it, straight all~purpose flour. I have not experimented with non-wheat flours, but if you do, please let us know how it turns out and I will reprint that information with a link to this post.

Lisa's Out Of This World Waffles

2 1/2 cups flour (any kind or combination of wheat flours)
1 Tbsp. plus 1 tsp. baking powder
3/4 tsp. salt
1 1/2 Tbsp. sugar
2 large eggs
2 1/2 cups milk (can use fresh or sour)
3/4 cup melted coconut oil, or vegetable oil

Combine first 4 ingredients in a large bowl.  Stir. Combine eggs and milk in seperate bowl and whisk together. Add to flour mixture, then add oil.  Stir with a whisk or beaters just until all ingredients are moistened.  Cook in preheated waffle iron.  Keep warm in low degree oven until ready to serve. 

You can also cool and freeze these yummy waffles, then re~warm in toaster or oven.  They are truly delicious.

Linking up to Beauty & Bedlam's Tasty Tuesday

An Eye For Details

I love barn doors.  For a while, I've had good plans to make our shed door look something like the picture above.  I think the project was a little frightening for my hubby, because even though I talked him into painting the door last summer, he just would N.O.T. tackle putting the trim on the door.

So I did.

Here's the door when we started, 11 months ago...  Ahem. 

Then he became frustrated becase after a coat of pink, yes, pink paint, ( he went and purchased it without me!), he had to paint the door again.   But, alas, I digress.  So I convinced him to purchase another color, and this was the final red. To give him credit, he did get the new paint for free since the pink also started peeling right away.  Maybe that was a blessing in disguise.

Please excuse the hole in the door, with a rope latch.  Someone likes to rig things.

Anyway, after the final red paint was applied, I think he was afraid to mess with the project any more, or he was sick of it.  I was MY idea, anyway, not his.  So it sat like that through the winter, and the spring, and we were well on our way into summer when I finally had enough. 

I hauled out the miter saw, the drill, and all the hardware and trim boards, which were primed and painted last summer.  And I did this:

And it makes me happy every time I look at it.  I still have black, decorative hinges I purchased at the Re-Store that I might add, but I'll have to wait for the weather to cooperate so I can touch up the paint first. 

What do you think?  Huge difference, huh?  And, it cost next to nothing to do. 

Happy July 4th & a Recipe

Make these quick and easy bars then get out of the kitchen and enjoy the day!

Nut Butter Bars. They are so easy and no baking required. Great summer snack.

2 tbs Coconut Oil ( can use canola oil)

1/2 c Honey

1 1/2 c of Nut Butter ( I used Cashew Butter)

Heat in a sauce pan till melted. Add 3 cups of Old Fashion Oats. Mix in what ever extras you want. Ex: Raisins,Chocolate Chips,and etc. I used organic sun drops.Press into a prepared 9x9 pan. Put in refrigerator. Let cool . Then sliced into bars.

Enjoy.