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12
Jan
Discover the Christian’s Secret to Business Success

Sign pointing to successWell dang, I’ve started a new direction in my writing and need to know the secret to success. I’ve check Google for articles and mentors in the Succeeding in Business Department and have received all kinds of advice—most indicating that there is no magic bullet unless I purchase their “Magic Bullet Online Marketing Course” that will guarantee me instant, millionaire, awesomeness business success.

So I’ve gone back to what I know and value. I can do the work of getting my books up in ebook format, updating my website and blog, and learning the ins and outs of social marketing, but none of it will mean diddly-squat if I neglect this one, foundational ingredient for success in business:

Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful (Joshua 1:8 NIV).

First bit of work, which is more important than any other work I do for my business, is to meditate on God’s Word during the day and let it marinate in me during the night.

OH, but there’s more! (I copied that line from the Magic Bullet Online Marketing Course ad.) The next condition is that I have to be strong and courageous—unafraid in the face of economic hardships and a huge amount of competition. *looks for the nearest blanket to hide under*

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go (Joshua 1:9 NIV).

Are you feeling overwhelmed yet? Ready to drop this like a hot potato and purchase that online millionaire’s course mentioned earlier?

Let’s break this down, shall we?

My responsibility:

  • Memorize, meditate, and marinate in God’s Word.
  • Obey the instructions I find written there—think them, do them, and let them adjust my attitude and my actions.
  • Don’t let my self-talk go the direction of discouragement and fear. Grab onto the Word that has been marinating inside of me and let it be what motivates me—not fear.

God’s responsibility:

  • He will be with me wherever I go—through all the twists and turns of running a business and learning new things.
  • Fulfill his promise of making my business prosperous and successful.

So the questions now are:

Will I mind my part of the business and let God take care of his?

Can I keep my mental musings out of his arena of responsibility and focus on mine?

I have a little book of flip cards where I write down all the promises God has for my business. Joshua 1:8-9 heads the pack. I read it, recite it, pray it, and muse on it everyday. Amazingly, the Spirit Holy will bring those words up to my memory when I’m tempted to let discouragement invade my mental musings. (I think that has something to do with the Spirit being the guard of peace around my heart and mind mentioned in Philippians 4:6-7.)

So, what you have found helpful in marinating in God’s Word, and how has that influenced your business? Inquiring minds want, and need, to know.

Susan Gaddis, Helping you build your spiritual legacy

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Category: At work, Brain overhaul, Ebooks, The Backward Kingdom  Tags: , , , , , , , ,
05
Jan
How to Build a Spiritual Legacy You Can Be Proud Of
Eternal Foundations logo

Eternal Foundations logo

Everyone builds a spiritual legacy even if they don’t plan to. Each of the twelve disciples built their legacy as they walked and talked with Jesus and spent the remainder of their years spreading the gospel across the known world. Even Judas left a spiritual legacy; negative, yes, but a legacy we note and from which we learn what not to do.

A positive spiritual legacy is made up of things we do and say that make a difference in other’s lives and draw them closer to Jesus in some way. The people we influence may only meet us one time, or they may be folks we live and work with for years. They might remember our name, which is important if they are family, but our name may not be something that impacts them at all. We know we’ve made a difference if our words and/or actions leave a small imprint of Jesus in their hearts.

Saint Paul said it this way when he wrote to the Corinthians:

You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone. You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts (2 Corinthians 3:2, 3 NIV).

Usually years are needed to build a spiritual legacy because so much of that legacy is made up of the impact we have on people as we slowly change into the image of Jesus. Folks watch us. How we interact and respond in life circumstances, how we spend our money, where we hang out, the way our time is used, the kindnesses we do in Jesus name, and the way we treat the people around us–all these are things that impact those we love and those we stumble across.

What to expect in 2012

This year you will be seeing more posts that relate to building your spiritual legacy. It’s what I do with my life: help people build their spiritual legacies. The post categories will remain the same as we explore how to grow in Jesus, how to make a difference, and how to laugh and enjoy the life entrusted to us by the One-Who-Gave-His. I hope you continue to hang around and grow with me.

One addition to this blog will be a monthly interview with someone who is building an inspiring spiritual legacy. This month we’ll be hearing from Debbie Fuller who has found a unique way to use her key collection to communicate part of her spiritual legacy. She’s an amazing woman, and I look forward to sharing her interview.

I’d love to get to know you better this year. I have so enjoyed connecting with those of you who have made yourself known to me, and I look forward to building a relationship with so many more. You can always leave a comment on one these blog posts, or you can join the conversation at one of my following haunts:

1. Monday through Friday I share a daily tip on building your spiritual legacy and a quote to help you find the Holy in the daily on my author Susan Gaddis Facebook page. Just click “like” when you arrive on my page to receive the tips on your home feed. It’s also a good place to hang out and dialogue with others who are building a legacy.

2. If you frequent Twitter, I share tips and links that help you build your spiritual legacy @susangaddis. I use the hashtag #buildalegacy. Mention that you found me at Holy in the Daily and I’ll follow you back so I can get to know you.

3. If Linkedin is your kind of place, I’ll look forward to connecting with you there.

4. You can sign up to receive my monthly Building a Spiritual Legacy newsletter via email here.

5. And finally, if you’re looking for resources and haven’t checked out my books yet, visit Eternal Foundations. There you’ll find details on:

Ebooks to help you deposit a legacy within your children or grandchildren: Eternal Foundations for a New Generation

A book to help you leave a legacy through prayer: Intercessors, God’s End-time Vanguard: How To Pray Effectively for the Things That Matter Most. Available in paperback ($9.95) or ebook ($2.99) at Amazon.com, Apple, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, Sony, Kobo, Smashwords, etc.

A book on how to leave a legacy through healthy relationships: Help, I’m Stuck With These People for the Rest of Eternity: Christian Advice on Healthy Relationship Characteristics and Making Relationships Work. Available in paperback ($9.95) or ebook ($2.99) at Amazon.com, Apple, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, Sony, Kobo, etc.

So there you have it–what to expect in 2012. I look forward to the journey together.

(And Oh, I almost forgot–I’m going to be doing some remodeling of my website and blog design soon. So please be patient when you find things a little messy. Thanks.)

Susan Gaddis, Helping you build your spiritual legacy

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Category: Ebooks, Mission, News  Tags: , , , ,
15
Jul
Do You Have a Life That is Moving Too Fast?

The Stress of a Writing DeadlineDo you ever feel that life is moving too fast? I do. I know I need to do some things to reduce stress. And I know myself well enough that when I get to this place of busyness, I must cut back, sit back, and listen to the Spirit.

I’ve been working on a new Eternal Foundations website for my books. I’ve also been updating the books into ebooks and new paperback editions—much work and a big learning curve. All of this writing plays out alongside of being a wife, mom, grandma, pastor lady, and chief cook around the Gaddis home.

Later this month we have a son getting married in Finland and another having his first baby here in California. I’ll be rushing home from the wedding in order to walk into the hospital in time for little Sawyer’s grand entrance.

I’ve maintained my daily routine of study, prayer, and musing with the Lord over my morning cup of coffee, but I find myself in a season where I need more time to listen. I need time to catch the still, small voice of the Spirit Holy in unexpected moments and in unexpected ways.

In order to protect my sanity, preserve my life from a mental breakdown, and walk more closely with the Spirit, I’ve decided to only post on this blog on Mondays and Thursdays. So this will be my last Friday post for a while.

*sigh* Thanks—I knew you’d understand.

Now that I’ve spilled my guts, what’s your stress story? How do you find a quiet space in your life to listen to the Spirit Holy when the noise of life seems too loud? Please leave your thoughts in the comment section below—I’d love to hear from you.

In Him together, Susan Gaddis

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Category: Daily, Ebooks, Quiet moments, Susan Gaddis News  Tags: , ,
25
Feb
Win an Amazon Gift Card by Suggesting Titles for My New Ebooks

Photo courtesy of ©iStockphoto.com

 Well dear friends, I’m almost done with the new ebook editions of my four Family Discipleship Manuals. The ebooks contain many new graphics, new covers, and are updated for a new generation of homeschooling families and churches, but I need your input! My brain seems to go blank when it comes to simple titles. Therefore, I’m running a 10 day contest in the hope that my faithful friends can generate new titles for this series of books. 

Here’s the scoop:

I need five titles, one title for the series and one title for each of the four books in the series. Each chosen title wins the person suggesting it a $10.00 Amazon gift card. This gives you an opportunity to win up to $50.00 on an Amazon gift card. This contest begins today, February 25, 2011, and ends at 11:55 p.m. on Sunday, March 6th. 

Winners will be announced on Wednesday, March 9th after the Word Divas have had time to choose the winning titles. (The prizes will be given according to the decision of the judges. There is no guarantee that five prizes will be awarded. If only four titles win, only four gift cards will be given out.) 

The old titles look like this:

Hint: a person should have a good idea of a book’s subject just by reading its catchy title. 

Click on one of the old titles above for a PDF view of its Table of Contents, a sample lesson, and updated activity page. Click on the series title above for a look at how these books can be used for the discipleship of children in a family setting or see how easily they can fit into a children’s church setting. Your contest entries can be made via the comment box on this post, through Twitter (@susangaddis), or through this contest event on my author page on Facebook. Enter as many times as you like. 

If you know other clever people who might like to try their hand at creating a title for a book (or like to shop at Amazon.com) please share this post on Facebook (via the share button below).  

Thank you for your help and I look forward to your creative suggestions. 

This contest is now closed.

In Him together, Susan Gaddis

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30
Apr
My Gift to You: Quotes For the Contemplative Life–Free Ebook

I’ve been experimenting with ebooks as I plan to publish an ebook called Scripture Prayers to Pray for Your Kids. I also plan update my Family Discipleship Manuals and release them in an ebook format within the next few months. My first adventure into the ebook realm consists of a booklet full of contemplative quotes.

Some years ago I hosted a contemplative prayer retreat at the historic San Miguel Mission. I thought it would just be myself and a few curious friends attending, but I was surprised at the turnout and how eager folks were to learn about this ancient Christian practice.

Many people don’t realize there is a name for the intimacy they experience or desire with the Lord. Contemplation is all about intimacy and holiness with the Lover of our souls. Contemplative prayer is an ancient tradition for gaining a depth of relationship with God. I find it interesting that this practice is exactly what the Spirit Holy is saying to the church in this present hour—intimacy and holiness.

We also touch on contemplative prayer when I teach on Hearing God’s Voice at YWAM’s Discipleship Training Schools and in our own ministry training courses at church. People hunger for this practice that dates back to our ancient Jewish roots. Someday I’ll put these teachings into an ecourse, but for now a short booklet of quotes will have to do.

Definitions of contemplative include:

  • A long and thoughtful observation
  • Meditating on spiritual matters
  • Focusing on the loving God within you through prayer
  • To ponder and consider
  • Inner communion with the Lord

 

I like Peggy Wilkinson’s definition best. In her book, Finding the Mystic Within You, she explains that, “the word ‘contemplation’ is based on the Latin ‘templum—open space for observation of the heavens, which also gives us temple.’ In contemplation we descend into our inner space to observe heavenly things.”  

Moments of contemplation arise during my morning coffee, prayer, and musings. Other times I take an hour or more to practice contemplative prayer in the quiet of my study or garden. I’m still learning much about this ancient practice. Some of the things I write about are birthed during such hours of intimacy with the Lord.

You’ll find Quotes for the Contemplative Life available on my Free Stuff page at www.susangaddis.net. You do not need to buy special software to read this ebook—you can read it right on your computer. The password to open the booklet is contemplativequotes. I hope you’ll enjoy it enough to pass on to your friends.

In Him together, Susan Gaddis

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