What Type of Person Do You Want to Be?

Our decisions in tough situations reveal our character. Ephesians asks us to be imitators of God, so one way to make the right decision is to ask, “What type of person do I want to be?” Micah tells us that God demands justice, kindness, and humility. So we can trust that if a course of action makes us more just, kind, or humble, it is probably the right decision.

Sallie Krawcheck had just taken over leadership of Merrill Lynch’s wealth management division when she learned that their “Stable Value Fund” was in trouble. Customers had been sold this fund as a safe place to put their pension investments, but Merrill Lynch had managed the fund more riskily than advertised and lost money. Since Walmart had invested heavily in this fund, Merril Lynch’s loss would be felt most harshly by low-income workers in retirement. Krawcheck saw two options in front of her. One was to say “tough luck” to the Walmart employees; the other was to take money from Merrill Lynch’s coffers to replace the money that was lost.

Which decision embodies justice, kindness, and humility?

Ultimately, Sallie decided that she wanted to be the type of person who apologized for mistakes. She didn’t want to be the type of person who profited from other people’s loss. She reimbursed the fund’s losses from Merrill Lynch’s profits, even though she risked losing her job over it.

When you face a tough decision at work, ask yourself, “What type of person do I want to be?” Weigh each option by its effect on your character, and then make your decision.

Prayer

Lord, I want to imitate you in my actions. Shape my character through your word. Amen.

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What Are the Consequences of Your Decisions?

In the fall of 1982, James Burke, the chairman of Johnson & Johnson, faced the biggest crisis of his career. J&J learned from a reporter that their flagship product, Tylenol, had been linked to seven poisoning deaths in the Chicago area. No one knew how or why the capsules had been poisoned, and Burke didn’t know how widespread the danger to the public might be.

What would you do?

The Bible suggests we should start the decision-making process by considering the potential consequences of our actions. Deuteronomy 28 shows that some actions bring blessings while others bring curses. What actions could Burke take to save his company from potential curses? How could he bless consumers and the Tylenol brand for the future?

Burke quickly considered the consequences of several strategies, with a focus on keeping customers safe. Though it cost Johnson & Johnson $100 million in the short term, Burke convinced J&J shareholders to recall all Tylenol capsules. Burke also directed an expensive media campaign to warn consumers against taking Tylenol until it was deemed safe again.

The effort was costly for Johnson & Johnson in the short term, but it saved the Tylenol brand in the long term. After J&J launched a new tamper-proof packaging, Tylenol quickly regained its lost market share. The public rewarded Burke for the trust he had built up during the crisis through his transparency and ethical decision-making.

When you face a tough ethical dilemma, think about the potential consequences of each of your choices. List all the consequences you can think of, both short term and long term. Does one choice yield more blessing?

Prayer

Lord, give me your insight into the consequences of my choices. Guide me towards blessing and away from curses. Amen.

“Choices determine the consequences.”

One of most powerful attributes of the individual is the power to choose. We are faced with choices all the time, and these choices determine the consequences.

At some point in our lives, if we want to see the victory manifested that Christ already died to give us, we will have to make a stand for God.

The reason the believer is blessed is because they refuse to follow the advice or take council from ungodly men.

God would rather we live in the supernatural, seeing his goodness and power all the time in small portions, and this is how we learn to trust him and remain in him, grounded and unshakable.

Key – We must find delight in and desire the Word of God.

God’s intent from the beginning was for man to operate from a position of victory and rest instead of hard, laborious work. God wanted us to enjoy what we do and He did not want us to be under bondage or commitment by force. He wanted us to choose to serve him from a position of joy and free will. Jesus’s finished work at the cross has put us back to that position.

When Jesus moves into our heart, he equips us with everything necessary to please him. Once this truth is established in our lives that God calls us to be in relationship with him, then he enables us to please him. With this mindset embedded in us, we can now look to the Word with excitement and enthusiasm.

As we meditate on God’s promises, it seems as if the canvas of life comes alive with radiant colors that not only change our world but the world of others around us.

Power Thought: I understand that my choices today will determine consequences so I desire and delight in the Word of God.

Choose wisely…OnPurpose!

Circle of Friends

1 Corinthians 15:33 ~ Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”

Your relationships will either make you or break you. You will soar in some and spiral in others! Spoken yesterday by Pastor Charles.

Minor setbacks can be devastating if you are surrounded by the wrong people where the things meant to destroy you can strengthen and mold you if you are supported and guided by the right people. 
This is true for relationships with family, the friends you keep and the mates we choose. Especially the mates we choose…boy someone there can bring you way down doing out of character madness, or way up helping you see a better way to view circumstances, act and be! Choose your circle of influence well. If you want to be better and do better choose those that will challenge that in you and want that for you. Stop settling,  be a person that uplifts and desires to be surrounded by others that love healthily! Serious tho, CHECK your circles!

Written by: Cybill

Sing this song with me:  We were made to love and be loved
But the price this world demands will cost you far too much
I spent so many lonely years just trying to fit in
Now I’ve found a place in this circle of friends
In a circle of friends we have one Father
In a circle of friends we share this prayer
That every orphaned soul will know
And all will enter in
To the shelter of this circle of friends
If you weep, I will weep with you
If you sing for joy the rest of us will lift our voices too
But no matter what you feel inside there’s no need to pretend
That’s the way it is in this circle of friends
In a circle of friends
We have one father
In a circle of friends we share this prayer
That we’ll gather together no matter how the highway bends
I will not lose this circle of friends
Among the nations, tribes and tongues we have sisters and brothers
And when we meet in heaven we will recognize each other
With joy so deep and love so sweet
Oh we’ll celebrate these friends
And a life that never ends
In a prayer
That will not be long before
All will enter in
To the shelter of this circle of friends
That it will not be long before
All will enter in
To the shelter of this circle of friends

Making friend choices…OnPurpose!!

 

#IWantToSeeYouWin

Galatians 6:9 ~ And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

Life is about choices and relationships. Often when we reflect on these decisions we see how the trajectory of our lives are impacted by people. Too often we choose to fight for those that should go and not fight for those that should stay. Then when the damage is done and hind sight is kicking you in the behind we invest energies in regret and should have would haves. That time has passed move on, learn, grow and make better choices. More than ever we are witness that time is not our friend. Each day turns to weeks and then years and we are still hung up on the hurts and disappointments. When will you turn the mind set around, clean house, be accountable and walk into a healthier space, possess the promises and successes. Don’t let the past detour the future and fight hard for those who are worthy to call you friend and release those that aren’t. It’s time! Be wise! Choose love! I want you to win. 

Pray this prayer with me: Lord, Be a fence all around me everyday, In Jesus’ name, AMEN!

Written by: Cybill

I want to see you win…OnPurpose!!

What role are you playing in my destiny?

What is your role in this story of my life: Are you Abraham, Issac, the Ram, the Thicket, the Alter, the Knife, one of the two Servants or God?  In fairness, it would depend on what role I’m playing…I’m constantly changing… (Praise God)

In this season of my life I am being intentional in everything I do and purposeful in what I say.  As God deals with me and my fears, I am being bolder in my faith and in trusting Him with what He gives me to do and say.

One of my first stories from the Bible that I understood as a child is Abraham & Issac: the Testing of My Faith.  Each time I read it, I get something new.  I have been stuck on the “THICKET” for a while.  Just this morning it came to me…the thicket in my life are the people who I have allowed to dilute my dreams and poison my hopes. I have lived in fear of everything my entire life! I have held back from doing great things because I allowed other people’s fears and doubts of their life to shape mine.  I remember the first time I stepped out on faith and did something HUGE that someone said I shouldn’t do – I DID IT!!  That was 11 years ago.

Since then, I have accomplished things that were centered around my son. When it comes to him, nothing is impossible for me to do for HIM, in the past I didn’t have that same drive for myself…Until TODAY!

On this day, I will play the role of Abraham – I will do what God asks me to do.  My passion (Issac), I will offer it up to God, trusting Him with it…stay tuned to see how the rest of my story unfolds!!

After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar. Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you.”  Genesis 22:1‭-‬5 ESV

Pray this prayer in agreement with me:  Heavenly Father, I am having trouble putting all things into your hands. I am having trouble trusting you. Things are unraveling right before my eyes and there isn’t anything I can do about it. How do I trust? How do I take all things and put them over to you? Do I just sit here and let things slide while I tell myself you will take care of things? I can talk to you but generally speaking you don’t talk back to me in an audible voice. You can see me but I can’t see you. Do I wait until there is nothing to be done? What do I do and how do I do it? I know I am rambling, Lord. Sometimes things pile up over me until I am gasping for air and I don’t know what to do. So, I need your help.
Like always, I need your help to trust you. Sounds pretty pathetic to tell you I need help trusting you. However, the really great thing is that I know you will help me.
Is this goofy or what? Already I am beginning to get one of those little moments from you.
Already I hear you tell me to use what I have for your glory. Already I hear you tell me to glory not in myself or be depressed about myself but to glory in You. As always, you are right. Thank you Lord. You never disappoint.  All these things I humbly pray in the name of my most Blessed Lord Jesus Christ, Amen!!

Written by: Michelle while in the cocoon!

Walking into my destiny…OnPurpose!!

Happy Birthday to my son…Mommy Loves You, Kiddo!!

BOUNDERIES…

Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat. —Genesis 2:16-17

I watched as a young mother tried to get her 2-year-old child to make a choice. “You can have fish or chicken,” she told him. She limited his choice to just two because he was too young to understand beyond that. Choices often allow a wider variety of options, and it also must allow the person to reject the choices.Adam and Eve were in the best possible environment. God had given them freedom to eat of all the trees in Eden. He drew the boundary lines around only one tree! They had a choice, and it should have been a no-brainer to choose wisely. But their choice was tragic.

Some blame God for what they see as His restrictions. They may even accuse Him of trying to control their lives. But God gives us a choice, just as He did Adam and Eve.

Yes, God draws boundary lines, but they are for our protection. David understood this. He wrote, “You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies . . . . I understand more than the ancients, because I keep Your precepts. I have restrained my feet from every evil way, that I may keep Your Word” (Ps. 119:98-101).

God cares so much about us that He gives us boundary lines so that we will choose what is right.

Join me in this prayer: Most Precious Lord Jesus, Gentle And Wonderful God, Truly Awesome And Ever-present Holy Spirit, Precious Lord Jesus, I love you.
Precious Lord, you have given me more than I could have ever imagined.
In my lack of money, you have given me riches of life beyond compare.
In my world of war and conflict, you have given me your peace.
In my world of insecurity, you have given me a firm foundation.
In my world lacking in hope, you have given me a hope for the world to come, all of which will come true. Your boundaries of my life are not burdensome.
Your rules for my life are a joy to observe. Your future for me is a place beyond compare.
You speak to me night and day. You speak to me when I get up in the morning.
You speak to me when I retire at night. You speak to me at midday when I stop to praise your name. Because you are at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
Because you are my Lord and Savior, my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices.
Because you are my Lord and Savior, my body finds rest secure.
You will not abandon me to the grave. You will, at the last second of my life, pull me up and up and up until we stand in the highest heaven, face to face, embraced in love for all time. You have made known to me your path of life. You fill me with joy when we are together. I give you praise from a heart always seeking and wanting to be true.
I give you praise from a heart that does not lie. Your law, so old, so ancient, is still as perfect today as it was perfect in the very beginning. Your law revives my soul and makes me a new person as I accept you as Savior and Lord. Your statutes are trustworthy.
Your commands are radiant, giving light to my path, just as you are the Light of the world.
The fear of you is pure, enduring forever. Your ordinances are sure and altogether righteous. For all the blessings you have given me I shall sing to you a new song and I shall shout for joy. Your word is always right and always true. You are faithful in all you do. All these things I humbly pray in the name of my most Blessed Lord Jesus Christ, my Mighty God, and my Ever-present Holy Spirit upon whom I can rely. Amen!!

Written by:  Michelle

Respecting GOD’s boundaries…OnPurpose!