Joanne M Randall

Practical Christianity for Humans

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Defending the business plan, part II: What is the Value of a Business Plan? #businessplan #businessconsultant #value https://www.leapyearmarketing.com/news-notes/marketing-tips-best-practices/2022/2/27/what-is-the-value-of-a-business-plan (at Epsom, New Hampshire) https://www.instagram.com/p/CagI-3iMzEq/?utm_medium=tumblr

[joannemrandall]

Do you even need a business plan? The short answer is yes and no. #businessplan #businessconsultant #businesssuccess #strategicplanning https://www.leapyearmarketing.com/news-notes/marketing-tips-best-practices/what-is-a-business-plan (at Epsom, New Hampshire) https://www.instagram.com/p/CaZ-vbiL7PI/?utm_medium=tumblr

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A Life for a Life

Imagine that you are I are best friends and are walking down the street together. A large truck, driven by your sworn enemy, the town bully, speeds around the corner and you are about to be killed. How would you feel if If I jumped out and saved you by pushing you away, but in the process was killed myself?

At first, there would be shock and guilt, and grief. But once you had worked through that, you would likely decide to live a life worth living, in my honor, so to speak. You would feel that you owed me the effort to not waste your life and use it for good.

Friends take note:

Jesus not only died for us, he sent the truck.

He also died for the bully’s sake.

He wants you to live for Him, not because of guilt, but because by dying, He has kept you from the worst situation you could imagine, an eternity of pain and suffering in Hell with no end. He wants you to live a life worthy of his name, for His sake here, while you have the chance.

There is no leaving Hell. The door only goes one way, and that’s in. Jesus is handing out keys for another place, a better, more glorious place, that He has already prepared for you. Just take it.

I know you don’t deserve it. Don’t let that stop you. None of us has earned the key. We need only to decide to take it from Jesus. There is no catch. It’s only fair to tell you, however, that once you take the key, you won’t be the same. Don’t let that stop you. It’s a good thing.

He loves you so much, he threw himself in front of you so you do not have to bear the cross of the punishment of your sins yourself. He has already done it.

When you begin to comprehend the love and sacrifice of Jesus, you will feel shock and guilt, and grief. This is the beginning of sanctification, of you becoming more like Jesus. Seeing our own sin changes our perspective and motivates us to live a life worthy of his name, for his glory.

Your sin (and mine) has been atoned for and we have a new life. We are free to not sin. One decision. It’s that easy.

Take the key. Live for Jesus. He died so we could live. He’s waiting for you to make your choice. Don’t wait. We’re all going to live a life in eternity. But we get to choose now, where that will be. You do not how much time you have to decide. Do it now.

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The Gift That Keeps on Giving

Consider 1 Peter 4:10 for a moment. 

“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”  (NIV)

Spiritual grace, often referred to as God’s grace (as it should be) is at times allocated to others by God, not by direct application, but through believers, by the gifts He has given them. Utilizing God-given gifts allows believers to be messengers of God’s spiritual grace. God’s purpose is clear. Through this secondary application of grace, believers witness and experience:

Grace given to others by God

God using people to be the bearers of a holy gift

Blessings of using a gift that people are incapable of giving on their own 

The Holy Spirit leading believers to serve others

Acceptable stewardship of gifts

Being blessed as a giver brings the believer to a place of humility. We know that if God had not given us the gift, nor the Spirit to prompt us, that we would not have given it on our own accord. We see how selfish and wretched we really are, or would continue to be, if we did not act in gifting others according to the spiritual gifts God has ordained to us.

Gifts are rarely monetary. God applies gifts to us in areas He knows we need to grow to be more like Him. Once developed, those gifts bless others with spiritual grace. There is no better example of a changed life than one that converts an area of satanic contention into a gift of blessing.

It’s the gift that keeps on giving. 

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Complacent Blessings

Q: When do we arrive?

A: We don’t.

Believers, God is all that matters.

Our entire lives seem to be spent trying to get to that next step; a bigger salary, new car, more kids, new business. We plan and work toward a place where we can receive as many blessings as possible. Attending church, we hear that blessings are from God, so when our lives are full of love and family we think God is blessing us, when in reality, we have purposely positioned ourselves take, take, take. The blessings and good life are a distraction from God when we focus on what God can give us because we’re good.

Hint: we’re not good.

When God seems to stop blessing us, we think that it’s because it is something we’ve done, maybe a bad decision we made. Wrong. Lack of blessing is not the same as consequences of sin.

God is all that matters. Blessings or no, we are to worship Him and give Him glory for who He is. NOT for what He has done.

When you read the book of Job, do you shake your head? How could he still give glory to God? God took it all away! God allowed Satan to remove all earthly blessings from Job because Job knew that God is all that matters. God knew Job’s spiritual maturity. If you don’t understand how Job could have praised God through massive loss, you have not reached that level of maturity. God will stop blessing you and may start removing the blessings that have become an idol to you. He wants you to grow in spiritual maturity. Being in a place of complacent blessing is spiritual immaturity.

The wealthy man asked Jesus, “What must I do to enter Heaven?” Jesus tells the wealthy man (who had followed all the commandments) to give it all away in order to go to Heaven. Why? Because he had reached the place of complacent blessing. Jesus wanted this man’s heart, which had become slave to the idol of blessing. The man knew it but was not willing to part from his idol. So he went away, very sad.

God is continually preparing us for what is to come. I don’t mean here on earth. I mean He is preparing us for eternity by getting our hearts focused on Him. He wants you in Heaven for eternity. He wants your heart, mind, and soul while you are on earth. That only happens when we see that God is all that matters.

Joanne M. Randall

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Wise Decisions

Not all my friends are of the Christian faith and that is ok but I want you to know that when you are stuck in indecision, you have a source for wisdom outside yourself that will plant options into your head that you hadn’t considered. In the moment you may only see one or two ways to resolve something, and none that seem good. God is the Counselor who is the source of all wisdom. That wisdom is not reserved for special occasions. It’s meant for all decisions in all circumstances.

God is Practical

God says that the only thing we should ask for is wisdom, because at all times we already have what we need, we just need the wisdom to appropriate it. Today I needed ideas to resolve a problem but couldn’t see the forest for the trees. I read James chapter 1. I asked God for wisdom regarding what was on my mind and instantly an idea came to me that I had never before considered. It was not only a viable option but it basically resolved the issue totally.

Stay Calm

James also says we should not doubt because then we become like a wave in the ocean, tossed around in indecision with no direction. Planning is a way of deciding in advance what to do when things happen. It keeps us from the pain and anguish of having to make a decision in the moment, when we are emotionally charged about it. With God, planning looks like this:

1. Reading the Bible in the morning to learn or be reminded what God says

2. Praying to ask God to be in charge of your day, including all those decision points

3. Believing that God does all things for the good of those who believe in Him and trust Him

Ask for Help

Are you feeling pressure? Too much on your plate? Deadlines looming? I’m there with you. You have responsibilities but God is responsible for you and He loves you. Let Him take over the pressure so you can calmly go through your day. I am living proof that God fulfills this promise. Not just once, but every day, throughout the day.

James‬ ‭1:5‬

“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”

‭‭Don’t be That Guy

Do you have a friend who constantly comes to you for advice but never takes it? And then they continue to make bad decisions, just to come back to complain and ask for more advice? When we pray, we are asking God for direction. For once, take His advice. Don’t keep praying for direction and then making bad choices. God will give you the best answer, but you need to ask, listen, and act on it.

Best Friends

What a friend we have in Jesus. We can tell Him what is on our minds, He listens, and will intervene to help. It’s overwhelming to think that the same God who created the universe cares about my stupid little decision but it’s true. I can’t be effective for Him if I am stressed out.

Read, pray, believe. It isn’t any more complex than that.

God bless.

Joanne M Randall