Global Empowerment Enterprises

New Relationship

When developing a new relationship,  you should not assume anything. The only way you will learn about the person is to ask questions, observe behavior and seek clarity on the cloudy situations. Often times, because it is a new relationship, we want to just let things go and see what happens, when, if it was addressed at the beginning, things would have not gotten worse. Because you are responsible for what happens in your life, you should never complain about what you allow. You cannot blame someone else for the misery you endure because you didn’t have boundaries. Your relationship should not be filled with rules that no one can live up to but you should have boundaries that should not be crossed. Both persons in the relationship should set realistic boundaries that will maintain the integrity and promote healthy relationship development.

Circle of Influence

Everyone has a circle of influence. Its made up of persons that are close to us and truly want the best for us, they do not force their own selfish will upon us, they value their friendship with us, they are honest with us and love us, in spite of our faults or shortcomings. Additionally, they are committed to us, helping us to be the best that we can be. We also value their thoughts and opinions and this is why they are in our circle. But there is another curve to this circle. We may have some people in our circle of influence that shouldn’t be that close to us. This is why everyone we meet or have a friendship with will not be a positive influence in our lives. Many times, we can attach ourselves to people that mean us no good.  They don’t have our best interest at heart and can care less about our goals or aspirations. They can literally hinder our progress. As my mother says, “There are some people you have to handle them with a long handle spoon!” Their influence is not an asset, its a liability and we bear the consequences, if us choose to heed them.

Who is in your circle of influence?

Pursue Excellence - Make a Difference!

I want to encourage you to pursue excellence at all times. No matter your job, career or volunteer work, be excellent!. Excellence is not perfection. It means to be exceptionally good; to be greater; to surpass. A person of excellence is rare; but not unattainable.

There’s a story of a woman who was hired as an assistant at a corporation. It wasn’t the most highlighted job in the company but she still set her mind to make a difference. In her cubicle, she decorated it, organized it, used a her own color theme, put inspirational messages on the walls and made it inviting and warm. She took it to another level in the workplace. Because of her initiative and personal pursuit of excellence, she helped to create a work environment conducive to positive productivity and encouraging teamwork. Soon other workers in the office began to make positive changes to their own work area. This woman’s commitment to be greater encouraged others to do the same. Take a look at your life. Are you positively contagious? Are you pursuing excellence, daily? If not, I encourage you to be exceptionally good, go the extra mile and pursue excellence!  You are only one but you can make a difference!

Love and the Domino Effect

Take several (about six) dominoes and stand them up vertically, put one behind the other and continue. After you’ve had at least 6 dominoes setup in this fashion. Tip one domino over in the direction of the other dominoes and see what happens…If you did this correctly; you just saw an effect, often known as “The Domino Effect”. Did you notice one domino fell on the other and this continued until they all fell?

The one domino that was tipped over is “Love”. Love affected all of the other dominoes. So it is with us. When we choose the way of love, we all win. It starts with one person. The love of that one person can affect a whole nation of people. So, never stop loving because someone, somewhere is waiting on a domino to fall on them. They are waiting for your “tip”.

Love is a tremendous gift that we all need.

Just do it!

Let’s start loving more. Let’s keep our vows. Do what we say that we will do. Let’s stop defrauding others and be real. It takes more energy to be who we are not than it does to be who we really are. Let’s help somebody. Offer wise counsel and be a good friend to someone. We should never turn our backs on an opportunity to help and empower others, especially if we have the resources to do so. Any Blessed gift you have will make room for you so, share your gift with the world. Realize that no one has to help you. It is purely the grace of God upon our lives that persons are coming to our aid, building us up, encouraging us and urging us to be men and women of excellence and integrity. Lastly, show appreciation for those persons that have been a blessing to you. Take nothing for granted. Embrace every good and perfect gift you receive.

Give honor where honor is due.

What's Next?

A good friend of mine asked me the question, “What’s Next?” Needless to say, I never thought of that prior to this conversation. At that very moment, I had an epiphany! I realized that asking myself this question on a consistent basis helps me to stay positively focused on moving forward in what is ahead for me.  I must admit, I felt my answer was a bit lame, to say the least. I was thinking in temporal terms. Isn’t that how we tend to think? Instead of looking ahead as far as we can see, we rather focus on simply what is in front of us.Which is not a bad thing; however, we should let go of the past, live in the present and look to the future with hope.  There is a popular song called “The best is yet to come!” This song takes the focus off of our present circumstances; whether good, bad or ugly! It is a declaration that says; in spite of what it looks like, I know that what lies ahead is not a dread. Its an expectancy of only the best to happen.  This best can come in whatever form God chooses to use.

So, what’s next for you?  Let me encourage you to take a moment to pause and ponder this question. Are you on the cutting edge? Are you moving forward in life? Are you teachable and learning new things about your career? Are you seeking a better job, better pay, better education and better relationships? Are you on a continual path of learning about yourself? about others? If not, I exhort you today to get on with it! Whatever your occupation? perfect your skills. Whatever you do, strive to do it well. Get the training, the know-how, use your resources, find the right people, encourage strong, healthy relationships with the people you love. Don’t settle for less that what you deserve. Be the best. Serve the Most. Lead with Integrity. Guide with Love and  Most of all, do what is “next” for you, without prejudice, without hesitation and without regret. So, I ask you again…What’s Next for you? It may be more than you’ve ever imagined!

Words of Life!

I urge you to live your spiritual best and do not allow anyone else to suppress you and keep me from being the best you can be. May your words be seasoned with salt, your relationships healthy, whole and full of substance, May you and your family live in peace; loving and forgiving one another. Know that, in spite of some would-be obstacle, you really do have everything you need to accomplish what has been set before you. You do not walk in confusion and doubt. You have soundness of mind and precision of thought. Your future is bright and your life is full of wonderful possibilities. The vision that has been set for your life will not allow you to perish before its time.

Without a doubt, you are equipped for every good work.

Be Prepared

Preparation is a key to success!

I remember the motto as a Girl Scout, 'Be Prepared'. This was more a state of your mind than physical preparedness but both are important. In the business world, one of the keys of networking as an entrepreneur is to always be prepared to share information about your business. When hunting for a job, the HR experts encourage potential applicants to 'be prepared' with resume ready. If you are in sales, you must be ready to present the fine selling points of your product and service so have your "elevator speech" ready to go! Basically, you cannot be ill-prepared for such tasks.

There is a quote, often used in the althletic world: "When the student is ready, the teacher appears".  Oftentimes, we are "caught off guard" when something that we have been seeking, praying and inquiring about appears before us, either through a person or organization. We have to believe in the good of our prayers; that they shall come to pass and prepare ourselves for it. When we pray, we should act like the answers to our prayers are going to spring forth.

So, I encourage you this week to discipline yourself to be ready in mind and spirit to step up to the plate and rise to the occasion when the opportunity presents itself. You can do it!

Shine On,

Frenetta

Church Leaders and Members

I have found through my experience while working at one of the largest churches in North America that all bishops, pastors, ministers, deacons and other church leaders are first and foremost, human. I believe that we, as church members, make a grave mistake of placing prominent figures in Christiandom on a pedestal and expect that they not make a mistake or be tempted to sin. This is naivety at its best. This does not excuse ungodly behavior because these leaders are held to a higher standard because much is required of them (Luke 12.48). This is no secret to these leaders. They know full well their responsibility and thus, already suffer the consequences before another human being has uttered a word. It is between that leader and God, alone. Only God can judge man (Ecclesiastes.11.9, Acts 10.42) and man should judge himself lest he fall prey to the devil's devices (I Corinthians 10.12)

Church members must understand the role of the pastor and the role of the church in their lives. Bishops, Pastors, Ministers, Deacons and other Church Leaders are in the church to guide and shepherd the people of God (Acts 20.28, John 21.16). They are not mini-gods. They do not have all of the answers to life. They seek God (Deuteronomy 4.29) just as the church members should very well do.

If one has been born again, he or she should have a personal relationship with the Lord. The church is designed to help, support, uplift, encourage, care, feed, love and carry forward the message of Christ. So, it is available to enhance the personal relationship that he or she is already developing. The Church is also a place where one should be able to run to and feel safe, where all people are welcome because there is no partiality with God (Romans 2.11).

If one is not born again, then the Church should reach out to the un-churched (never been to church) and the de-churched (left the church) and share the gospel of Jesus Christ (Matthew 28.19-20).

Now, in light of the recent events in the Body of Christ, as a fellow Christian, I want to encourage those that are guilty of placing well-known figures in Christiandom on a pedestal and when things happened that revealed their humanity, you were crushed in your spirit man and some may have made some internal determinations not to return to church, doubting your faith and THE faith. I know it is difficult to understand what has happened and what is happening in the Body of Christ but I want to encourage you to focus on your personal relationship with the Lord (I Timothy 6.3 - 21)

The Selah Moment: Take some reflection time, how is your personal relationship with the Lord? Is it strained? Is it on track?

Action Steps: Make a commitment today to focus on what God is calling you to do at this time. The most important contribution you can make to the Body of Christ is fervent prayer (I Timothy 2.8), a willing spirit and a forgiving heart (I Peter 4.8, Micah 7.18, Matthew 6.14-15)

Do your best

“All I expect of you is that you do your best!”

When I was in high school, my parents would sternly say this to me when I starting to slip up in my school work or when I’ve become lazy and unproductive.  Believe it or not, it took some pressure off of me because I did not have to be perfect; I just had to do my best. Have you ever found yourself becoming lax in an area of your life? Are you doing just enough to get by? Well, let me exhort you today not to do that. When you consistently do just enough to get by, you condition yourself to accept the mediocre. If you are never challenged beyond the scope of the familiar, you will never realize your full potential. I challenge you in that whatever you set your mind and hands to do, do it well.

Don’t settle for mediocrity, instead, strive to be above average and remember that what you do is representative of you, whether physically present or not. Leave a good legacy behind.

The Selah moment: Are you doing "just enough" to get by or allowing your children to do "just enough" to get by?

Action Steps: Begin doing more than the average person, set the best example to your children by being the above average leader!