20
May 2013

Motivation Monday: Be Full of Flavor

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Have you ever been to a restaurant and ordered food and once it came it looked so amazing, but once you took a bite it had no flavor? What did you do? I know when this happens I immediately reach for the salt because it helps enhance the flavor of whatever it is seasoning.

So what are the characteristics of salt?

1. Salt never takes on the characteristics of which is being seasoned. Think about it, you never say something tastes chickeny or steaky in the words of Pastor Jamal. Something always tastes salty

2. Salt is never bland. Bland is characterized as being easily agreeable, non-irritated, tasteless, lacking in individuality, casual)

This past Sunday at church one of the pastors gave a great sermon about the importance of relationships and being the “salt and light” in the world. At my church one of the main principles they preach is bringing Christ in culture. In order to do that you have to form relationships with all types of people and you can’t compromise your values to take on the characteristics of the world. God set us apart and called for us to be in the world not of the world.

When you are full of flavor people in the world can see God through you. Sometimes a person won’t pick up a bible or go to church, and you may not be able to use words to preach the gospel, but your lifestyle should reflect the gospel you are trying to preach.

When you are full of flavor you are a fragrance rather than an odor because people enjoy and respect your presence. When you are full of flavor you never consume the atmosphere you enter; you always set the atmosphere.

So as this week goes let us reflect on our lifestyle. Are we living a flavorful life according to God’s purpose? Or are we bland, lacking individuality and conforming to the atmosphere around us?

Categories: HGB Go Getter, HGB Lifestyle Tags: , , ,
13
May 2013

Motivation Monday: When Life Gives You Lemons…

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I know many of you know the saying, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” Well that is exactly what I have been doing. Over the past few months God has been making major moves in my life. Some of these moves I did not think I was ready for, but they were the answers for my prayers.

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I love how God still finds ways to amaze me in situations that I least expect. Last week, I began to put the pieces of certain parts of my life together. Over the past few years God has placed me in situations and I didn’t know why and would be miserable, but now everything is falling in to place. Many of the conflicts that I have had all make sense now. He was just preparing me to move to another stage in my life. Many of my failed relationships (not only romantic) aren’t failures after all. I am realizing that I had to go through some of those painful experiences to be where I am today.

I can say that I truly see God’s hand at work in my life. It wasn’t that I couldn’t see it before, but the way in which everything is coming together just amazes me. Sometimes we look for grand events to see that God is working, but pay attention to what some consider “the small things.” I felt lost, confused, and unappreciated in certain areas of my life. The level of stress I was experiencing was affecting me mentally, spiritually, socially, and emotionally. I am now able to see that those situations were necessary in order for me to draw closer to God. Those situations enabled me to step out on faith and praise God under all circumstances. The saying “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade” isn’t only about turning a negative in to a positive. It is also about developing yourself through the hardships to come out victorious.

Now I can sit back and enjoy my lemonade.

Categories: HGB Go Getter, HGB Lifestyle Tags: , ,
22
Apr 2013

Motivation Monday: Overcoming Limitations

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Too often we do not fulfill our destiny because of the limitations and restrictions that we put on ourselves. Limitations can come in many forms, but the most detrimental limitations are self-inflicted. Doubt, regret, fear, guilt, and not forgiving are what usually prevents us from accomplishing goals and living the best life we can live.

We may not be able to control what happens around us, but we can control is how we react to what happens around us. We have to stop allowing people, our circumstances, and sometimes even ourselves from having negative control over our lives.

Limitations aren’t are only true if we believe them. Of course you have to take in to consider your gifts, talents, and abilities. So I wouldn’t suggest you try out for a basketball team if you have no idea what it takes to play the sport. We have to use what God has given us to the best of our abilities and stop putting limits on things.

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13

Do you believe those words yourself? We have to become people of faith. Saying you have faith is different than acting like you have faith. If you want a promotion, act like you already have the promotion? Who want to start your own business, act like that company is on the Forbes 500 list. You want to go back to school, don’t wait until you get an acceptance letter. Start educating yourself today.

2 Corinthians 5:7 For we walk by faith not by sight

We have to constantly have this mind set. When grounded in faith there are no limitations.

Categories: HGB Go Getter, HGB Lifestyle Tags: , , ,
15
Apr 2013

Motivation Monday: Increase Your Productivity

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When God said in Genesis 1:28 “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground,”  many people interpret that as populating the earth with humans, but that is not the case.

Fruitful is defined as

producing good results; beneficial; profitable; producing an abundant growth.

In other words, fruitful means be productive and when you are productive, you are following God’s word. Being productive involves using your gifts, talents, and abilities for a greater purpose in order to serve. A simple definition of productivity is how much work we have done in specific time unit.

Sometimes it is hard to see if we are being productive because the results are not immediate, but we need to understand that productivity doesn’t always equal some grand result. So how do you measure productivity? I’m glad you asked that question :)

Here is a simple formula to help

Time Worked/ Time Available = Productivity Percentage Rate

45 minutes of work / 120 minutes of available time = 37.5%

Which means I wasn’t very productive :(

So here are tips to help increase your productivity!

1. Make a plan for your day- Get organized!
2. Break larger tasks down into easy to accomplish bits
3. Prioritize- Use To Do Lists
4. Block out distractions
5. Set a timer to define uninterrupted work stretches
6. Take breaks to recharge and refresh
7. Don’t make excuses or procrastinate
8. Reward yourself to reinforce success
9. Maintain a positive outlook
10. Know how hard you work, and when
11. Say no more often
12. Ask for help

Source

 

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08
Apr 2013

Motivation Monday: How Strong is Your Support System?

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As humans, we were created to be social, to work together, and to support each other. As you progress through life you build relationships with new people and in most cases strengthen the relationships that you have with the people you meet first, your family. Because we are social, we need strong support systems.

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A support system is defined as

A group of people who are available to support one another emotionally, socially, and sometimes financially.

We need strong support systems to get through life. There will be times where we are lost, heartbroken, confused, and we need the comfort of another to let us know that we are not alone and whatever hard time we are facing, we will get through. There will be times when great things happen in our lives and we want the people we care about to be happy for us as well. Sometimes when we think someone is in our corner, that is not always the case. Jealousy and envy are real and may surface in your life in the form of “frenemies.” I know this may seem a bit extreme, but this happens everyday.

In order to build a strong support system you have to do what you wish someone would do for you. So for me that includes correcting me when I’m wrong, being encouraging, leading by example, giving sound advice, celebrating achievements, making sacrifices, and the list can go on.

Having a strong support system is important especially when it comes to one’s mental health. It will help with the following

  • Alleviate stress
  • Improve the decision making process
  • Improve how you relate to others
  • Improve confidence and feelings of value
  • Decrease the feelings of loneliness and isolation (source)

We cannot grow in isolation. We can only grow in community and we need to be there for each other during the good times, the bad times, and the ugly times. When we see our brother or sister down, don’t leave them down or beat them down even further, be there to offer a helping hand.

Here are a few bible scriptures showing why we need to be there to support each other, especially in a time of need

1 Peter 3:8
Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.

Luke 6:38
Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

1 Thessalonians 5:11
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

Ephesians 4:29
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

So in order to have a strong support system, you must be the example. You cannot expect to receive what you are not willing to give.

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