A Christian Leader’s Prayer: John Calvin
Last spring, I took “Church History Survey” as I’m on the home stretch for my Master’s in Transformational Leadership from Bethel Seminary. As part of our course work, we studied prayers by our forerunners in the faith. This prayer by John Calvin speaks directly to us as Marketplace Ministers and Christian Leaders:
Christian Business Leader
“Almighty God, because we need the teaching and direction of your Holy Spirit each day on our earthly pilgrimage, we ask you that we may, with true humility, depend both upon your Word and on His secret inspiration. Help us not to take too much upon ourselves. Keep us aware of our own ignorance and blindness and stupidity, and may we run to you and not be pulled this way and that by the cunning of Satan and ungodly people. Let us remain so fixed in your truth that we never swerve from it, while you direct us through all the course of our calling and we arrive at the heavenly glory of your kingdom which is won for us by the blood of your only-begotten Son. Amen.”
(Calvin’s OT Commentaries, Vol. 20, trans. T. H. L. Parker, p. 58 / revised trans.)
Marketplace Minister’s Question: How actively do you rely on the help and wisdom from the Holy Spirit in your daily life to remain laser-focused on God’s Kingdom?
Marketplace Minister’s Lesson: The Holy Spirit is our constant comfort and guide when we cry out for help.
Also, check out Speaking Topics on the Marketplace-Ministers.com website. Let me know if you’d like your small group or Bible Study to interact with how to be more effective in living a 24/7 life of worship.
© Copyright 2010, Danita Bye Marketplace Ministers, All Rights Reserved.
Reluctant Christian Ambassador – Light (23)
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 the The Reluctant 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!
(Note: to start from the beginning of the story, go here.)
Letter from Father
Dear Daughter,
It was good to hear from you. I am very pleased with your taking such a wise approach in contrasting the Truth.
In a letter to the Romans many years ago, I wrote:
“I can assure you that they are deeply devoted to God; but their devotion is not based on true knowledge. They have not known the way the God puts people right with himself, and instead, they have tried to set up their own way; and so they did not submit themselves to God’s way of putting people right.”
That is still true today. In their darkness, they search desperately for light, for meaning. Little do they know that the light they choose is as a flicker compared with the real light of Jesus Christ.
You, My Daughter, are being sent into this world to proclaim where the true light is found. Continue your vigilance.
You have not talked much of your family lately or of the job you were looking for. What have you decided to do?
Continue with My work that needs to be accomplished before I come to visit. I desire that everyone be given an opportunity to hear My message prior to My coming back. How is that effort moving forward, Daughter?
Of course, I have to ask how your conversations with My Advisor are going? Have you found him to be as valuable as I had told you?
Remember always the rich heritage that is yours. My Kingdom is yours. Remember that and do not let your eyes deceive you into bondage in this foreign land.
I love you. I care deeply for you. I am coming back soon.
Your Father
Marketplace Minister’s Question: What practices do you have in place in order to remind yourself walk in the Truth that you’ve been shown?
Marketplace Minister’s Lesson: When you’re walking in Truth, the Light of Jesus Christ shines brightest.
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.
Reluctant Christian Ambassador: Truth vs. Lies (22)
Letter from Daughter
(Note: to start from the beginning of the story, go here.)
Dear Father, 
Your last letter was very timely. I went to a meeting last night where the speaker kept uttering these seductive ideas – suggestions that were half truths. Ideas that sounded good, but when evaluated against the truth of Your kingdom, they were the half-truths You warned me about.
I felt I needed to be active in identifying what was not 100 % truthful and so I made a partial list that I thought You’d be interested in.
| Lie or Half Truth | Your Truth |
| We hold divinity within us. | Because of the first Adam, we hold death within us. In the second Adam, Jesus Christ, we have life. |
| Follow your deep desires and you will find good. | Without You, our deepest desires bring death, not eternal life. We need You to give us a “new inner being.” |
| We can choose happiness or sadness. | Yes. However, only You give us deep joy that gives us strength in every circumstance. |
| Practice being the person you want to be. | That will fail as we do not have the power to be who we need to be. We want to do good, but end up doing bad…that’s why we need the “new inner being” that You provide when we come to You. |
| The world isn’t falling apart because people don’t know how to spell. It’s falling apart because people don’t know how to love. | True, but real, life changing love comes from one source only – You. |
| In order to love others, you need to be confident. | To love others unconditionally, we must first believe that You love us unconditionally. |
| Know that you are loved and that you’re OK. | It is in relationship with You that we are loved at our core. It is then that we know that we are 100% OK. |
| The real pearl is the inner experience. | No, the real pearl is a personal relationship with You. |
| Trust the deep interior of yourself. | Trust You for You are faithful and always leads in the right direction. |
| Soul needs eternity every day…so stop to smell the roses. | Soul needs an intimate relationship with its creator every day. |
| We are all expressions of the universe. | Only once we believe in You do we become an expression of our Creator. |
| All the creative energy of the universe wants to manifest itself through you. | You do exceedingly abundantly beyond all that we ask or think. At any time, we can cry “Help” to the Creator of the Universe. |
| Do whatever you need to do to calm your thoughts. | Pray without ceasing to the God of the Universe who loves us beyond measure. |
| We are all unlimited. | We are finite. God is infinite. |
| We can live from the inner place of unlimited freedom, personal power and joy. | Without Christ, we are in bondage to Satan and there is no deep inner joy. |
| Let go of the fears that keep you from Abundant Life.” | “Abundant Life” is available only through a Jesus. |
| Access your intuitive powers, your Creative self. | Trust God to make you aware of your inner strengths, talents and creative capabilities. |
| Discover peace of mind and become “imperturbable” to external events that threaten inner peace. | Inner peace comes only from a relationship with God. |
| Create inner security and mastery over your life. | Let go and let God handle your WHOLE life. By resting in Him, you will obtain inner ever-lasting security. |
| All beings, even animals, are searching for Happiness. | Man is created separate from animals. God has breathed into us. |
| Why do we look for happiness? Because disobedience and sin is our nature. | Our natural state is sin, not our limitations. |
| The real purpose for being on earth is to learn our original state of “Beingness.” | Our purpose on earth is to glorify our Creator, the only relationship which allows complete happiness. |
I’m glad I did the exercise, Father, otherwise I found myself getting sucked in to the seductive thought.
Thanks for Your timely words of wisdom.
I’ll write more later.
Your loving Daughter
Marketplace Minister’s Question: What process do you have to discern that which is Truth?
Marketplace Minister’s Lesson: Be diligent to renew your mind with Truth.
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.
Reluctant Christian Ambassador: Truth (21)
Letter from The King
(Note: to start from the beginning of the story, go here.)
Dear Daughter,
I received a letter from My Advisor today and he informs that things are getting worse in this land I sent you to. He talked of all the fighting that is going on. All the wars. So many people are getting hurt. If only they would follow My ways! 
He also talked of some of the strange beliefs that many people follow who don’t know Me and aren’t reading My letters. This is what happens when people are left to their own imaginations. They imagine themselves as god, as infinite, as all-knowing, as all-wise. They talk of great powers that they can tap into, according to them, all is one – there is no creator of this land. This is false and these thoughts will only lead to ruin. This saddens My Father heart.
It is even more important in light of this, Daughter, that you remind yourself daily of the truth you have learned from Me and are still learning daily. Truth is a belt that girds you for action. Knowing truth will help you to easily identify the falseness that surrounds you.
Sometimes the falseness is very insidious, hardly perceptible. Yet, please believe that this falsehood can distract you from your mission and can bring much sadness and confusion into your life.
I encourage you to talk openly with My Advisor daily. You cannot afford to let anything that is not truth cloud your thinking and perception. Truth is what sets you free. Truth allows you to see.
When you find yourself caught up in some untruth, quickly confess. Do not allow this to take root in your life. It will destroy you, My Love.
Many who espouse these strange ideas are very charismatic people, talking about how renewed they are, how free they are now that they are rid of the old, outdated ideas about Me and My Kingship. Do not be deceived, My Daughter, it is only temporary. It is not lasting peace or lasting joy. It will fade. You will see.
Embrace the truth. Do not ever let it flee from you.
Your Father
Marketplace Minister’s Question: What are the practices that you have in your life that help you to discern truth from falsehood?
Marketplace Minister’s Lesson: Seek to have a renewed mind that is focused on truth. (Romans 12: 1-2)
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 keep following the story, go here
I look forward to your insights!
© Copyright 2011, Danita Bye Marketplace Ministers, All Rights Reserved.
Reluctant Christian Ambassador: Study (20)
Letter from Daughter
(Note: to start from the beginning of the story, go here.)
Dear Father,
When are You coming to visit this land, Father? It is spring time here and the land is beautiful. The birds are singing so melodiously; they form a wonderful choir. The fresh, sweet fragrance and the brilliant beauty of the spring flowers is exhilarating after the long, cold winter!
Christian Celebration
It is with an upbeat heart that I write You today. It could be just it’s spring and the winter-blues are gone. Or, it could be that I can see You at work where ever I turn.
Last night, I got together with Your people again to reread and study Your letters. One of qualities that I admire most about these people is that they not only want to reread Your letters, but they also want to actually change their lives to reflect Your teachings. They also want to spread Your message, Father. When I informed them that the message You were sending was that You love, You care and that You are coming back soon, they all got excited. They can’t wait to meet You face to face. This is the longing of their hearts!
They also feel a need to be more active in spreading Your message. They have the same struggles I do about how to share Your message in a world that doesn’t believe that You really are King. One person explained that no matter how articulate she is in explaining the facts of Your existence and Your Kingship, many people choose to not understand. It’s like they are blinded, incapable of seeing. This is sad.
Our conclusion is that love is the most powerful tool in proclaiming Your message. Love. We need to love our families; others will see and believe. We need to love our neighbors; they will see and believe. We need to love even those who hurt us and make fun of us, that they too will see and believe. We need to love all of Your People….then everyone else will see and believe in You.
What other suggestions do you have, Father? Oh, yes, I will ask the Advisor what his suggestions are also, although I haven’t done so yet.
I am still in the process of deciding where to work and what to do. I wish You were here and would just say, “Do this, Daughter. This job fits you.” Even more than that, I wish you would say, “Here, I’ve created the ideal job for you, My Daughter. One that allows you flexibility to be with your family, one that maximizes your skills and talents, one that allows you to build relationships with people so that you can proclaim My Message, and one that you won’t get too stress out and one that will quickly pay off our debt.”
At this point, I don’t believe there is a job that can provide all that! Could You surprise me, Father? Could You pull some strings behind the scenes to cause that to happen? You are the God of the Impossible, aren’t You?
Even though that is my desire, Father, I trust Your wisdom in choosing me for this task. Your way is the right way.
As I mentioned in the beginning, Father, I look forward to Your coming visit. I want to hug you forever! My children talk of You often also. Can we all sit on Your lap at one time!!!!!
Love.
Your Daughter
Marketplace Minister’s Question: If love is the main tool in proclaiming the Good News of Jesus, then who has God called you to love?
Marketplace Minister’s Lesson: God is love. That’s how other’s know that God is alive–by our love.
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 keep following the story, go here
I look forward to your insights!
© Copyright 2010, 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