Building People. Spreading Hope.

Showing posts with label Business. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Business. Show all posts

Saturday, April 25, 2020

Living in the Overflow

We are living in a challenging time. People are losing hope and feeling discouraged. However, God’s plan for our lives is to live in the overflow. The overflow is a display of His power and love for us to do exceedingly, abundantly, above all that we could ask or think.

Get ready because the overflow is coming. You will experience an excess of wisdom, favor, relationships, talents, promotion, and resources. Whatever the circumstances, God's plan is to bring you to a place of plenty. He wants you to have an abundance of peace, joy, and resources. Here is the key: He wants you to overflow with His blessings so that you can be a blessing to the world.

Sam was born in 1918 to parents who were farmers. The family was poor and witnessed the Great Depression. The young boy did many chores to help his parents make ends meet. He milked their cow, bottled up the surplus, and delivered the fresh milk to customers. Sam also delivered newspapers and sold magazine subscriptions to make ends meet. After completing high school, he attended college but worked various jobs during that time, including waiting tables in exchange for meals. After graduation, Sam joined the US Army during World War II. When he returned, he managed a variety store at the age of 26. He took a loan in order to buy his first store and developed crucial business concepts that would later become the key to his success. His store offered lower prices and better-stocked shelves than any of his competitors. Soon he opened a second store. Within three years, his sales volume grew to $225,000. Sam went through much trial and testing, before he opened the first Wal-Mart in Rogers, Arkansas, in 1962. Forbes named Sam Walton the richest man in America from 1982 to 1988. In 1992, at the time of his death, he owned 1,960 Wal-Mart stores and employed 380,000 people, generating $50 billion in annual revenue. He served as an elder and Sunday school teacher at his local church. He also generously supported various charitable causes.

When you honor God, He will repay you for your faithfulness. Like with Sam, God has already designed overflow with you in mind. He has lined up the right people, promotions, good breaks, increase, influence, and favor for you. God is going to cause you to stand out, break barriers, and go further than anyone in your family.

You may feel down today. Perhaps you lost your job without savings in hand. God is still on the throne. Heaven’s economy knows no lack, struggle, or shortage. God has promised to meet all your needs according to His riches. You will overflow to the point of bursting at the seams and spilling over. God wants to make you an example of His goodness. Because the goodness of God leads people to repentance.

The Scripture tells us that Isaac, Abraham’s son, lived in a foreign country that was going through a famine. God told him, “Stay in this land for a while, and I will be with you and will bless you. Through your descendants all the nations of the world will be blessed.” Despite the famine, Isaac planted crops, and in the same year, reaped a hundredfold because God blessed him. It sounds like the time we are living in, does it not? Many of us are going through challenges and trying to make ends meet. Let me encourage you that if you stay in faith, praise God in the storm, and thank Him in advance, you will see miraculous provisions. Do not worry about how the economy, Wall Street, or the job market are doing. Remember that God is your source and knows exactly how to bless you! Since the beginning of the year, I called 2020 a blockbuster year for those who believe. I believe that it will be even more miraculous despite the current situation because God will get all the glory! The Bible tells us that Isaac became rich and his wealth continued to grow. The Philistines envied him because of all the flocks, herds, and servants that he had. When you honor God, His blessings will chase you down. You do not have to look for the blessing, the blessing will find you.

During the current stay-at-home order, a friend and ministry partner of mine lost his job. Since last year, his place of employment had been cutting corners. His salary was cut in half. Remarkably, my friend did not panic; instead, he prayed and thanked God for provision and a new job opportunity. Just two days later, on a Thursday, he received a call for an interview the next day. He had an interview that Friday and was hired on the spot. Now his salary is now twice as much as it was before. In addition, he can buy stocks in a publicly traded company.

Friend, God knows how to take you from barely making it to a place of overflow. He wants to give you an abundance of peace, joy, health, and resources. His heart is to bless you so that you can become a blessing to the whole world. Let us declare this confession of faith out loud with me: “My God will supply all my needs. I am living in the overflow. I have a surplus of everything good in my life. I have more than enough. I am furnished in abundance. My storehouses are full and overflowing. My cup is running over. I am overflowing with God’s favor. I will lend and not borrow. I am blessed to be a blessing.”

“May every one of you overflow with the grace and favor of our LORD Jesus Christ” (Philippians 4:23 (TPT).  
 
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Saturday, March 28, 2020

How to Avoid Drought in Your Business

Many businesses are experiencing a slowdown due to the corona virus pandemic. In such distressing times, it is easy to feel discouraged and overwhelmed. However, what the enemy means for harm, God can turn around for your good.
 
In the 1860s, Mark Twin described Palestine–now Israel–as “a desolate country given over wholly to weeds.” The Negev Desert in Israel’s southern region accounts for half of the land mass. In 1948, the Jewish nation was born and has since become one of the world’s leader in agriculture. How can a desolate wasteland become a thriving nation in which 90% of its food supply is locally grown?
 
1. Creative thinking. Plato the Greek philosopher said, “Necessity is the mother of invention.” When we are faced with a challenging situation, we can either conform or confront. Israel’s success in agriculture started with innovation. Your brain is the most valuable asset in your business. You have the freedom to think. You can offer products and services to your customers in ways that others cannot through creative thinking.
 
2. Outsource. One of the keys to Israel’s agricultural achievement is outsourcing its labor force. Did you know that Israel has a contract with the government of Thailand who provide laborers to work on their farms? When they return home, they bring these success methods back to their country. It is a win-win situation for both countries. Can you identify parts in your business where you can outsource? Do only what others cannot do and let the experts handle the rest!
 
3. Embrace technology. One of Israel’s success secrets lies in the implementation of high-tech drip and micro-irrigation. If they had continued using conventional irrigation methods, it would never have worked in the vast deserts. Likewise, we are living in a fast-changing world. The good news is that technology can help you better serve your clients. Are there any areas in your business where you can automate and let technology take over?
 
4. Find a niche market. If you are not comfortable with high-tech, focus on high-touch. Do not try to cater to everyone. In 1979, Israel’s agriculture represented 6% of GDP. In 2017, that number shrunk to approximately 2.3%. Israeli farmers are not trying to drive the nation’s economy, but they produce enough to cater to their own population. They do not have to import basic food. What about your business? Can you provide a more personalized service? Can you reach out to a more specific group of clients?
 
It was a lazy Friday afternoon when Diane got a call from a distraught woman who was sobbing on the phone, “I’m getting married tomorrow. My wedding dress was supposed to be delivered by noon but it’s 3:30 PM now. Can you please help me?” Diane comforted the young lady and promised to locate the package. She successfully found it in Detroit, more than 300 miles away from where the young woman lived. Her supervisors had gone home for the weekend and there was no one else to ask for help. So Diane found a Cessna pilot to pick up and then fly the wedding dress to Wilmington, IN.
 
On Monday morning, Diane got a call from the new bride who thanked her profusely while on her honeymoon to Mexico. Undoubtedly, it cost the company a large sum to deliver that package but here’s the beauty of the story. At the wedding, the bride told the guests how her wedding gown arrived just in time. Word spread quickly. There were high-powered executives in attendance who asked their employees to learn more about this exceptional delivery service. Soon they began to use them for all their deliveries. Today FedEx covers 220 countries and thousands of service centers globally.
 
It all started because Diane took a personal interest in one customer, providing high-touch service, and the rest just followed. If you focus on high-touch customer service, your business could reach great heights of success as well.
 
5. Make God your CEO. I believe the main reason for Israel’s success is because God blesses them. They are His chosen people. You, too, are handpicked and elected by God to do business. Listen to God’s voice and let Him guide you. When He leads, you will take new ground. One client can make up for your yearly revenue. Expand your mindset. If you can see it, you can achieve it. God is breathing life in your direction. Get ready for a stimulus package from heaven prepared exclusively for you. Can you thank Him for it? If so, I believe your business will continue to prosper and you will become a blessing to others.
 
"Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes” (Isaiah 54:2 NIV).
 
Help Us Spread Hope: www.buildinternational.org
Building People. Spreading Hope.