Marketplace Ministers and the Bottomless Black Hole
I just finished reading Get the Word Out: How God Shapes and Sends His Witnesses by John Teter. Read my Amazon review. This sentence caught my attention : “If we are not hearing the voice of the Shepard, we are vulnerable to the claps and cheers of the world.”
Christian Business Leader
John also writes, “Jesus knows the human heart. He knows we are weak, frightened people who struggle every day. We wobble on the brink of emotional meltdown in one bad glare, one bad lane change on the freeway or one insensitive action from a a friend or foe. Jesus knows that our human hearts want us to be liked. This works well when befriending our world, but it does not work well when the moment to challenge the world comes. The praise and applause we thought didn’t mean much suddenly controls our behavior and acts as a filter to what we say. And, unless our hearts are trained to love God more, they will be filled with the praise of mere mortals.” (pg. 41)
This reminded me of a “Letter from the King” that I wrote in my journal on Feb. 2, 2004, when I was wrestling with the Need for Approval.
Bottomless Black Hole
“Only the great I AM can fill the bottomless black hole in your life, Danita.
Money will not.
Recognition will not.
Status will not.
Your husband will not.
Your kids will not.
Friends will not.
Your career will not.
Knowledge will not.
Success will not.
Only I AM can fill the bottomless black hole in your life.
Will you let me?”
Marketplace Minister’s Question: Where do you seek your approval?
Marketplace Minister’s Lesson: Our identity must be grounded in who we are in Christ. Everything else we leave us longing and searching for more.
To read more “Letters from the King,” start here.
© Copyright 2011, Danita Bye Marketplace Ministers, All Rights Reserved.
Love, Life, Light Series: Help me to Hear, See & Feel
In the midst of the pressing demands of everyday work life, I often find myself a slave to my calendar and ToDo List. Therefore, I must intentionally reminding myself of the more important things, the “good works” that God has prepared. I find these three words to be a great guide for my day:
- Love: Because God loves me, He calls me to love others. (I John 4:12)
- Life: Because of the life that He constantly gives me, I am honored to share that life with others. (John 20:31, Woman at the Well)
- Light: Because He dispels the darkness in my soul with His Light, I can help others who are wrestling with life’s issues. (John 1)
Christian Business Leader
Over the next few weeks, I’m posting thoughts from my journal on these struggle. I trust you find these encouraging in your walk.
Help Me to Hear, See and Feel
I’m so driven, so hard of hearing,
I don’t really hear
the cry of the world around me,
the voices of despair,
the plea for help in those I meet.
I confess that I’ve lost my sense of hearing.
Lord, help me to hear, really hear,
that your love can flow through me and people will know that You are Love and really hear them.
I’m so driven, so out-of-touch & cold-hearted,
I don’t really feel,
the pain of others around me,
the frustration of people imprisoned in their world,
the helplessness of those locally and globally who are desperate for live-giving food and water
I confess that I’ve lost my sense of feeling.
Lord, help me to feel, really feel,
that your life can flow through me and others may know that You are Life and really feel their pain.
I’m so driven, so tunnel visioned,
I don’t really see,
the pain and anguish in people’s eyes,
the lonliness and cry for love,
the desperate life searching for purpose and meaning.
I confess that I’ve lost my ability to see.
Lord, help me to see, really see,
that I may shine your Light so that people can see that You are really working in their lives.
Lord, help me to hear, see and feel that I might join you in accomplishing Your task of bringing Love, Life and Light to the world.
Marketplace Minister’s Question:What spiritual practices do you have that remind you of what’s really important?
Marketplace Minister’s Lesson: It’s easy to caught up in everyday life; be intentional about your walk with God.
Need a speaker for an upcoming event? In Maximizing Ministry Moments, we talk about how to practically share love, life and light.
© Copyright 2011, Danita Bye Marketplace Ministers, All Rights Reserved.
This is My Father’s World
The first time I remember intentionally responding to God was at Camp Bentley in Drake, North Dakota while in grade school. I arrived at summer camp with mixed emotions. I was excited–this was a new experience with new people to meet. However, I was also a bit nervous, not familiar with what “Bible camp” was all about.
This is My Father's World
The first song we sang at chapel that evening was “This is My Father’s World.” Our young, excited and exuberant voices filled the small chapel…it sounded and felt like heaven!
At the end of the service, the pastor invited all those who wanted to follow Jesus to come forward. I was amazed to find myself walking to the front of the chapel….I felt something, someone gently drawing me into a relationship! So, the hymn has special memories for me.
Today, when I hear it, I’m reminded that since this is God’s World, we as Christian leaders, business professionals, and marketplace ministers, have the privilege of being about our Father’s business.
This is my Father’s world’,
and to my listening ears
all nature sings, and round me rings
the music of the spheres.
This is my Father’s world:
I rest me in the thought
of rocks and trees, of skies and seas;
His hand the wonders wrought.
This is my Father’s world,
the birds their carols raise,
the morning light, the lily white,
declare their maker’s praise.
This is my Father’s world:
He shines in all that’s fair;
in the rustling grass I hear him pass;
He speaks to me everywhere.
This is my Father’s world.
O let me ne’er forget
that though the wrong seems oft so strong,
God is the ruler yet.
This is my Father’s world:
why should my heart be sad?
The Lord is King; let the heavens ring!
God reigns; let the earth be glad!
Marketplace Minister’s Question: What memories and spiritual practices remind you that you are about God’s work and expanding His Kingdom?
Marketplace Minister’s Lesson: As you go about your day, be open to what’s God’s purpose’s are for you and your work.
Need a speaker or teacher for an upcoming event: On Friday, I had the honor of working with the 13 college students involved with the OPIN Apprentice Program. We discussed how to practically integrate our faith & work.
© Copyright 2010, Danita Bye Marketplace Ministers, All Rights Reserved.
Christian Leaders: You are not what you do
As Christian leaders, business owners and entrepreneurs desiring to be more effective in impacting the people, companies and systems around us with the Good News, it’s critical for us to be grounded in our identify in Christ.
Christian Leader
For me, this is a constant battle. It’s so easy for me to thoughtlessly yield to the values of the surrounding culture. It takes intentional, focused work to remind myself of God’s truth about who I am in his Kingdom. It seems that living Romans 12:2 needs to be a daily reality, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
In light of this personal challenge, I find this sermon on July 31st, God Cares About How You See Yourself, by Aaron Sorenson, pastor of the Exchange, to be both encouraging and challenging. Here’s how I summarize:
You are NOT what you do.
Jesus was so confident in who he was, God’s Son, that he didn’t need to DO anything to prove it. He didn’t turn the stone into bread, even though he could have. He knew that he was NOT what he did.
How certain are you in your identity as a Child of the King?
You are NOT defined be what you do.
You are defined by whose you are.
You are NOT who others say that you are.
Jesus was so secure in who he was, God’s Son, that he didn’t need others to approve of him. He didn’t need to rely on what others said about him. Because of this, he didn’t take the bait to jump from the highest point of the temple, then call on angels to safe him. In doing so, the people in the crowded temple courtyard would see him and be in awe of his powers. He could have; but he didn’t. He knew that he was NOT who others said that he was.
How convinced are you in your identity as a Child of the King?
You are NOT defined who others say you are.
You are defined by God, by whose you are.
You are NOT what you have.
Jesus was sure in who he was, God’s Son, that he didn’t have to acquire, own, or rule anything to prove it. He didn’t succumb to the temptation to rule all the kingdoms of the earth, even though he could have. He knew that he was NOT what he possessed or owned.
How persuaded are you in your identity as a Child of the King?
You are NOT defined by what you have, own or influence over.
Know you identity as a Child of the King. You are defined by whose you are.
Marketplace Ministers Question: What might you do to continually remind yourself about who you are in Christ?
Marketplace Minister’s Lesson: Regularly examine your motives, actions and reactions to determine when you’re operating out of God’s truth.
P.P.S. My recent series of posting, Letters from the King: The Journey of a Reluctant Christian Ambassador, relates the struggle of how to live out our identity in Christ. You may find it helpful.
P.P.S. Finally, when you’re looking for a conference speaker on this topic, feel free to contact us.
© 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