Letters from the King: Reluctant Christian Ambassador: Intro (3)
Christian Leadership
Introduction: I drafted this story over 10 years ago in the midst of a life transition. I was wrestling with what it meant for me to be Christian 24/7, especially a Christian Businessperson and a Christian Entrepreneur. I decided to write a short letter to God to express my frustrations with life; I wrote for two days straight.
The manuscript of Letters from the King: The Journey of Reluctant Christian Ambassador sat on the shelf. Periodically I took it off the shelf and paged through. Invariably, I returned it to the shelf, discouraged because it seemed too daunting of a task to “clean it up.” However, this is the year! I look forward to our journey together and your insights!
Read Intro 1 here. The Journey continues….
Shocking Request
Without waiting for His answer, a kept asking, “What do you mean? Me? An ambassador?” I was confused. “I’m not trained to be an ambassador. I don’t know what I would do, what I would say?” I continued rambling in disbelief, “Does this mean I have to leave You? How can I live outside the castle? I don’t have a house, or any means of support. How will I accomplish this mission when I am no better than any one of them myself?” I ended my tirade with, “Beside, I love it here, being by Your side!”
Patiently, my Father addressed my questions. “My Son has paved a pathway between the castle and the many villages. The time is right for you to dwell among My people as an ambassador of the King. When they see you, once a poor peasant child lacking as they do, expressing My love and compassion for them as an ambassador for Me, it will be as if the King Himself is proclaiming His own greatness to them. He paused, pleading with his eyes for my understanding, “Do you see? I have given you your new life so you can in turn give them a chance at a new life with Me.”
“Dad, I remember from my childhood that many don’t even believe that you are the King! They won’t accept this message!” I exclaimed. Such an impossible task! How did my Father expect me to make a difference in the lives of a people so lost?
“That is very true. It will be difficult for you. I guarantee that you will at times be overwhelmed by their evil ways and their lack of understanding. But you must always remember that you are My daughter, and that your duty is first and foremost to deliver the message.”
I could only stare at Him in helplessness with tears in my eyes. I did not know how to be an ambassador. Without Him by my side, without the guidance I had come to rely upon, I would feel so alone, so unfamiliar with the strange world I was about to re-enter.
Knowing my thoughts, my Father assured me, “You will not be alone. I am sending My Advisor with you to guide you in all things. He knows My thoughts and My ways. Consult with Him in everything, and He will teach you all you need to know.”
Marketplace Minister’s Question: When have you been shocked by something that you felt God, through the quiet prompting of the Holy Spirit, asking you to do?
Marketplace Minister’s Lesson: It’s OK to be shocked! In fact, it’s OK that we discussed things honestly, openly, freely with God. However, in the end, he’s looking for us to Trust and Obey.
P.S. I’m interested in your comments on this journey. What details would you add? What questions are you asking yourself after reading? If you were in the character’s shoes, what questions would you be asking?
To follow the story go here.
I look forward to your insights!
© Copyright 2011, Danita Bye Marketplace Ministers, All Rights Reserved.
Being a Christian at Work 24/7
Today, I was interviewed to be a TV guest on an upcoming show. During the interview, the host asked me, “If there is one thing that you’re passionate about you’d like to speak on, what is it.” Here’s what I said,
“If Jesus is Lord of our lives, then that means He should be Lord of our businesses also. So, what does that Lordship look like when you’re doing your everyday work as a Christian business person, Christian entrepreneurs, or Christian leaders?
“If you are to worship God 24/7, then what does it mean to worship 24/7 when you’re running our businesses? What does it mean when you’re:
Christian Leader
- Hiring people,
- Coaching and developing people,
- Firing staff,
- Developing new products and services,
- Reading your financial statements, or
- Crafting strategic partners.
“What does ‘Jesus is Lord of my life’ and ‘worship God 24/7′ look like in your everyday life?”
Marketplace Minister’s Question: So, what does “Jesus is Lord of my life” look like in your everyday life? And, what does “worship God 24/7″ look like when you go to work tomorrow?
Marketplace Minister’s Lesson: Ask God to show you what these concepts mean.
© Copyright 2011, Danita Bye Marketplace Ministers, All Rights Reserved.
Letters from the King: Reluctant Christian Ambassador: Intro (2)
Introduction: I drafted this story over 10 years ago in the midst of a life transition. I was wrestling with what it meant for me to be Christian 24/7, especially a Christian Businessperson and a Christian Entrepreneur. I decided to write a short letter to God to express my frustrations with life; I wrote for two days straight.
The manuscript of Letters from the King: The Journey of a Reluctant Christian Ambassador sat on the shelf. Periodically I took it off the shelf and paged through. Invariably, I returned it to the shelf, discouraged because it seemed too daunting of a task to “clean it up.” However, this is the year! I look forward to our journey together and your insights!
Read Intro 1 here. The Journey continues….
The Request
The King had only one child, but longed to adopt many more to share in His great kingdom. At one time, years ago, He had many adopted children, but as they grew older, they began to doubt His wisdom and despise His laws. Despite their rejection, He loved them. He refused to pass any law requiring them to return His love.
Because of their disobedience and lack of trust, the righteous King considered banishing them from His kingdom. The King’s orders would have been quickly carried out, for His power was great. However, the King’s only Son approached the King with a plan that on behalf of His Father’s adopted children. Because of His Son, the King had compassion on the adopted children on them and let them remain on the land He owned. However, they were no longer allowed to enter the palace walls unless they were sorry for the rebellion and they vowed to follow the King’s ways.
As time passed in the land, His children made their own rules. Finally, they not only rejected the King’s way, they forgot Him. Now, much of the King’s land was corrupt.
But the King’s heart would always be for His children. He had set out that day for the sole purpose of finding a child who needed to be adopted as His own. I was ready when He called my name.
My adoption had been many happy years ago. As I continued to His throne room, I was once again overwhelmed with gratitude and love for the one that rescued me and invited me into His home.
As I entered the throne room to greet my Father, I called, “Hello, Daddy.”
As always, my Father greeted me with a warm embrace. But today, his wise, loving eyes smiled differently. There was resolute sadness about them, and I knew He had something to tell me. Although I could always sense the wisdom behind the words of my Father, I seldom could understand His reasons. I knew this would be one of those talks.
“What’s the matter, Dad?”
“Child, you know how dearly I love you and how much I treasure you, as I do all my children. But very few of them are even aware that I exist, let alone that I care for them,” The King’s eyes held a look both of longing and frustration.
“But Daddy, I know You exist. I know You care for me. You don’t ever have to doubt that I love You.”
“I don’t doubt you, my child. It is just that even though I cherish your love, my desire is for all my children to love Me. I would like you, as my child, to go to them, to live among them as an ambassador, and – ”
I couldn’t let Him finish. “GO to them?” I burst out with shock.
Marketplace Minister’s Question: When have you been shocked by something that you felt God, through the quiet prompting of the Holy Spirit, asking you to do?
Marketplace Minister’s Lesson: It’s OK to be shocked! In fact, it’s OK that we discussed things honestly, openly, freely with God. However, in the end, he’s looking for us to Trust and Obey.
To keep following the story, go here.
P.S. I’m interested in your comments on this journey. What details would you add? What questions are you asking yourself after reading? If you were in the character’s shoes, what questions would you be asking?
I look forward to your insights!
© Copyright 2011, Danita Bye Marketplace Ministers, All Rights Reserved.
Letters from the King: Reluctant Christian Ambassador: Intro (1)
Introduction: I drafted this story over 10 years ago in the midst of a life transition. I was wrestling with what it meant for me to be a Christian 24/7, especially a Christian Businessperson and a Christian Entrepreneur. I decided to write a short letter to God to express my frustrations with life; I wrote for two days straight.
The manuscript of Letters from the King: The Journey of a Reluctant Christian Ambassador sat on the shelf. Periodically I took it off the shelf and paged through. Invariably, I returned it to the shelf, discouraged because it seemed too daunting of a task to “clean it up.” However, this is the year! I look forward to our journey together and your insights!
Chapter 1: The King’s Palace
My footsteps echoed as I walked through the palace to my Father’s throne room. I loved the elegant halls with white marble pillars and rich silk tapestries. I reveled in the sparkling chandeliers and the grand guards at every beautifully arched doorway. This was the home I knew so well. Today, however, as I walked the familiar route, I saw a pair of rough, brown leather gloves, perhaps left by the palace staff. I was instantly transported to my unhappy past. I recalled my life before my adoption into the royal family.
I had been a poor peasant child, from the notoriously corrupt village of Amuck. My mother was a barmaid; not sure who my father was. I had two brothers, both older than I by quite a few years, both of whom ran with a rough crowd and were forever in trouble with the law. I had passed my early childhood years virtually unnoticed by my family, and was unsupervised most of the time. I chose to ignore my disheartening family situation, as young children tend to do, and passed most days playing in my grubby clothes by a small stream outside the main village.
One morning, when I had reached the age of seven or so, the royal processional passed by on the road nears the stream. I had never seen such a display of finery in all my young life, and I rose immediately from the puddle in which I had been making mud balls and ran to get a closer look at the King’s brigade. My eyes widened with surprise when the entire processional halted right in front of me! My shock increased, and then turned to fear, as a door opened and the King Himself stepped out to meet me.
“Hello, little one,” he said to me, eyes smiling with love. “How’s the mud today?” As he spoke, my fear of Him melted in an instant.
“It’s real good,“ I smiled shyly, showing the gap where my front tooth should have been.
The King took me in His arms, mud dirtying His fine robes, and held me for a long time. I couldn’t remember ever having felt more loved in my entire life.
Marketplace Minister’s Question: Have you experienced that having-felt-more-loved-in-my-entire-life love from God?
Marketplace Minister’s Lesson: Our core mission is to love. We are to love God with all our hearts, mind, soul and strength. And, we are to love our neighbor as ourselves. Without experiencing God’s infinite love ourselves, it’s impossible to love in the way He asks us to love.
To follow the story, go to here.
P.S. Interesting article in World, Working for Good, by Tony Woodlief.
P.P.S. I’m also interested in your comments on each section. What details would you add? What questions are you asking yourself after reading? If you were in the character’s shoes, what questions would you be asking?
I look forward to your insights!
© Copyright 2011, Danita Bye Marketplace Ministers, All Rights Reserved.
Transform our World Conference Interview: Danita Bye
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Kevin Donlin: |
Hi. This is Kevin Donlin. I’m on the phone with Danita Bye, CEO and Founder of Sales Growth Specialists and Marketplace Ministers. Danita is reporting back on her trip to the Transform Our World International Conference sponsored by Harvest Evangelism. That was in Hawaii last week, I believe.
Danita, hi. Thanks for joining me today. |
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Danita Bye: |
Thank you. Glad to be here. |
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Kevin: |
You’re welcome. When was the conference exactly? |
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Danita: |
The conference was last week in Honolulu. |
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Kevin: |
Good place to be. What was your reaction to that? How did it go for you? We spoke earlier, and it seemed to be a really transformative experience. |
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Danita: |
There were about 1,000 participants. About 60% were from the U.S. and the other 40% were international. I am always inspired and strengthened by the international Christians.
For instance, the first person I met at the conference was from China. He talked about his story of being raised a Hindu and then encountering Christ. He has now been a Christian for three years. He and his wife, in that three-year time-frame, have lead 600 people to the Lord. |
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Kevin: |
Awesome! What should folks here in Minnesota take away from this? What can we be doing? How can we be energized from what you learned there? |
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Danita: |
I learned much by listening to the Christians from China, Malaysia, and Africa pray. One of the names that they often call Jesus when they’re praying, is Mighty Jesus: “Thank You, Mighty Jesus!” And, the emphasis is on MIGHTY!
Often when I’m praying, my prayers are much more cerebral. They pray with a different level of conviction, “Jesus, our life depends on You. We need You. Mighty Jesus, come to our rescue. Come help us.” They’re living out your life in a country where there’s opposition every day. That changes the depth of their prayers. |
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Kevin: |
It’s kind of like that old farm adage that strong winds make for strong trees. |
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Danita: |
Yeah, that’s really true. |
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Kevin: |
We take it for granted that we can worship without interference. You’re exactly right. It’s so wonderful to get another perspective on how to address Jesus and God. Wow. I think you really saw some incredible things.
Are there any final words or impressions you’d like to share with the readers? |
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Danita: |
Yes. All of the people I met are business leaders. So, they recognize that in order for them to be effective ministers in the marketplace, they need wisdom and courage to interact with all people whom God puts in their pathway, whether peers, bosses, or employees.
One organization that I talked with out of Singapore, is looking to build a network of 1,000 distributors. The owners are also hiring a chaplain in order to minister to those 1,000 distributors. They feel it’s important to meet the spiritual needs of their 1,000 distributors and mentoring them so that they can meet the spiritual needs of those who work for them. It was an inspiration to see how they are looking to be very intentional about ensuring that their business relationships are relationships where the Kingdom of God can be expanded. |
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Kevin: |
That’s insightful. Danita, I know we can talk for quite a few minutes more, but I think our space will be limited for this issue of the newsletter. I hope you can share your experiences with us at the next Christian Chamber meeting. Thanks so much, Danita |
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Danita: |
Sounds great. Thank you. |
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Kevin: |
You’re welcome. |
© Copyright 2011, Danita Bye Marketplace Ministers, All Rights Reserved.
Blessing for Christian Business Leaders
Do you find that God often communicates in sets of three, especially when there’s a key point that you need to really “get” at the core of your being?
Blessing for Christian Business Leaders
For those Christian business leaders and Christian entrepreneurs who follow my Marketplace Minister Story, you’ll recognize the set of three as God gets my attention in order to shift my focus.
1.) In January 1984, while pursuing a Master of Divinity at Bethel Seminary, with a full intent of becoming a pulpit minister, my world is rocked when I read Anointed for Business by Ed Silvoso. Read about this experience at The Floor is Flat Before the Throne.
2.) In April of the same year, the Holy Spirit gently reminds me of a “conversation” we had in April 1981 when I was finishing a pre-med degree from the University of Sioux Falls. As I’m leaving a final interview where I’ve turned down a job offer from Xerox Corporation, I hear a small, still inner voice say, “I am calling you to be a missionary in the business world.” This instruction reversed 15 years of focus to be a physician, a medical missionary. When speaking to Christian Business Groups, I often speak about this life-changing decision.
3.) While prayer walking in the breathtakingly beautuful north woods of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan during late Sept of 1984, I sensed the Holy Spirit had another “message” to imprint on my life.
It is this blessing, this call, this anointing that I pass on to you.
As you’re thinking and praying about what God is doing in 2011 and where He’s inviting you to join His work, I invite you to take this message as your anointing:
“I am calling you;
I am anointing you;
I am setting you apart for a divine purpose.
Rise up and walk in it.
Behold, I am making all things new.
Turn your back on how you’ve done it before.
I am opening new vistas and opportunities.
Walk in confidence.”
Marketplace Minister’s Question: Where do you need to recognize that you have God’s Blessing so that you can step out in confidence?
Marketplace Minister’s Lesson: Be confident that you are a Follower of Jesus Christ.
© Copyright 2011, 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