It Rips The Fabric of Our Lives
“It rips out the fabric of our lives and leaves a gapping, ragged hole.”
I had coffee today with a women whom I recently met while speaking at eWomen Network on SISU Thinking: Turning the Conditions You’ve Got Into the Business You Want. She was frustrated with her job; it seemed to demand 50-60-70 hours a week from her, robbing her of time with her husband and three young children.
Our conversation reminded me of a sales consulting trip that I took with a colleague to London last May. This was not a pleasure trip; this was planes, trains and automobiles for 5 days!
Of course, we had a great time with clients!
However, there were no family dinners for relaxation at the end of the evening. I missed my foreign exchange daughter’s graduation. My colleague missed his daily workouts. At the end of the trip, he commented, “Travels rips out the fabric of our lives and leaves a gapping, ragged hole.”
His comments hit a bull’s eye with me.
I’ve chosen to organize my life so that I don’t travel extensively. However, I wonder what other items I allow to rip the fabric of my life, disrupting key personal relationships with my family, friends and God.
How often do I blur the boundaries between work and family, answering e-mails or text messages while I’m at dinner with my family? How often do I have great intentions of spending time with God, only to decide to meet with a client instead? In my effort to balance the demands of life, am I really serving two masters and ripping out the fabric of my life, leaving a tattered soul.
High impact leaders develop strong relationships, strong relationships with their families, with themselves, with their followers and with God.
What kind of boundaries do you have in place that protects your relationships with your family and those closest to you?
“No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money. Matthew 6:24
“For updated insights, comment on Danita’s upcoming book manuscript, Letters to the King: The Journey of a Reluctant Christian Ambassador. If you need an upcoming speaker for an event, check out her speaking topics.
© Copyright 2009, Danita Bye Marketplace Ministers, All Rights Reserved.
The Valiant Marketplace Minister
“They can take my life; but they can never take my faith.”
In I Peter 3:15, we are called to share our faith gently and respectful…that takes courage…it requires us to be valiant.
Every day, Landa, a young woman growing up in Yugoslavia (now called Croatia) in 1980 where it was illegal to share her love for Jesus, would sit on the park bench in city square, read her Bible, and pray…waiting for the Holy Spirit’s direction about whom she was to share her faith-walk with.
When I asked Landa about the risks of getting caught, she said, “They can take my life; but they can never take my faith.”
Fellow believers in the persecuted world regularly risk their lives to spread the great news of Jesus’ love. Are we willing to risk feeling a bit “uncomfortable” to share the Good News with our co-workers, our colleagues, our clients?
It requires that we be Valiant.
Where will you be Valiant today?
P.S. I wonder if Valiant flows out of having SISU?
“For updated insights, comment on Danita’s upcoming book manuscript, Letters to the King: The Journey of a Reluctant Christian Ambassador. If you need an upcoming speaker for an event, check out her speaking topics.
© Copyright 2009, Danita Bye Marketplace Ministers, All Rights Reserved.
As a Marketplace Minister, Can You See the Invisible?
“Can you see me? ”
My 17-year-old daughter and I were waiting in a crowded station to board the L in Chicago when she caught sight of a homeless man walking toward her asking, “Can you see me? Can you see me? Can you see me?”
Not knowing stranger-homeless protocol (having been raised in the suburbs), she locked eyes with him, “Yes, I see you!” And…we were engaged in an engaging, eye-opening conversation!
As the train approached, he said, “You know, I’m invisible to everyone else. Thanks for seeing me.”
It was then that the homeless man’s words hit me! How often do I NOT see people in MY world.
What would happen if I, as a Marketplace Minister, followed my 17-year old daughter’s example…what if I followed Jesus example and saw the “invisible” people in my world?
Are there people in your work and neighborhood that are silently asking you, “Can you see me?”
Will you choose to see people like Jesus would?
“For updated insights, comment on Danita’s upcoming book manuscript, Letters to the King: The Journey of a Reluctant Christian Ambassador. If you need an upcoming speaker for an event, check out her speaking topics.
© Copyright 2009, Danita Bye Marketplace Ministers, All Rights Reserved.
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About Danita
Bold and Refreshing
Danita has a special gift of igniting others into action. Her skill and experience, partnered with ministry insight, makes Danita a powerful marketplace minister! Her sharp precision cuts right to the heart of business matters – assisting others in breaking new ground for Kingdom Advancement!- Rhonda M. Kalal, President
MN Christian Chamber of Commerce
Connects in Conversation
"Danita delivered a powerful, insightful and thought-provoking talk that dramatically kicked off the new semester with great success. She is a polished, professional and prepared speaker, yet connects with her audience as if she were having a conversation with a good friend. Thank you, Danita!"- Heather Lam
Communications & Marketing Director
Moms In Step, Woodridge Church
Medina, Minnesota