May 23, 2010
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Does the world hate me? – When things go wrong for traders, it’s tempting to believe the market has a personality and a plan to “get you.” Businesses do involve people with a variety of motives and market forces. In general, employers invest in employees and work very hard to see them succeed because it costs money to train them. However there is a competitive side to getting a job in the first place. Senior management positions are very vulnerable and subject to competition, internal politics and market forces that are very unpredictable. That’s why business is described as swimming with the sharks… It’s more realistic to think of it as Kings swimming in opportunity. Here’s why: Learn to take a punch – Life has setbacks, no doubt about it. However, if we come away from those experiences with all of our focus on the works of the devil and defeats, we miss resurrections and even better opportunities. Paul experienced his share of punches. Listen to his view: Our works are revealed by fire and, if our works are totally Kingdom-oriented, you can expect even more resistance!!! …his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. 14 If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. 15 If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved. 1 Cor 3:13-15 NIV We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored! 11 To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. 12 We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; 13 when we are slandered, we answer kindly. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world. 1 Cor 4:10-13 NIV In Romans 8 Paul goes on to make two more points about all these trials and punches: 1) in all these things God works for the good of those who love, who have been called according to His purposes, and 2) we are more than conquerors through Him! Serial opportunities - As Kings, we have to view life as a series of opportunities – even if it takes a resurrection to get to the next one. For Kings, our victories are the result of competence in the market place, wisdom in decisions, and synergism that comes from building the Kingdom. We have the favor of God and the wind of His Spirit in our sails. We are not surprised by setbacks, but when we experience them we simply start looking for the resurrection and the next opportunity created by those events. As Paul said, “If God is for us, who can be against us.” (Rom 8:31) Wise as Serpents, meek as doves – I like this verse in the Message Bible: Stay alert. This is hazardous work I'm assigning you. You're going to be like sheep running through a wolf pack, so don't call attention to yourselves. Be as cunning as a snake, inoffensive as a dove. 17 Don't be naive. Some people will impugn your motives, others will smear your reputation — just because you believe in me. 18 Don't be upset when they haul you before the civil authorities. Without knowing it, they've done you — and me — a favor, given you a platform for preaching the kingdom news! Matt 10:16-18 The Message I spent 34 years working as an engineer and manager, received many promotions and raises, and had many accomplishments. A few years before I was eligible for retirement benefits, I was in a group that was downsized. When we sought legal recourse, the entire contract with our company was terminated. That disaster had a very strange peace about it. I used the severance pay to write Releasing Kings and I’ve found opportunities that have restored everything that was lost. Now I’m on a totally different path that is much closer to the heart of God. In hindsight, there was one senior manager who everyone knew was behind my layoff. God worked good out of his corruption and deceit. Now I’m thankful that it happened. Wisdom – In reality, working for others and contracting with other business partners always carries an element of risk because we can’t predict where people and market forces will take our career and our finances. Investments carry many of the same risks as employment. Our failure point is often that we believe God will make everything go well and we fail to anticipate how wrong things can go. That realistic outlook helps us to have career, business, and investment strategies that address failure scenarios... Our resumes are always updated, our investments are diversified, and our business and contractual relationships are hedged. Kings Manage Risk! (Great prior newsletter on this topic) Setbacks do occur and we can’t allow ourselves to become embittered or fearful or even surprised. God is for us. We're responsible to manage our future and build the Kingdom. Once we take the responsibility, a door is opened in the Spirit for God to walk with us and help us find the wisdom and the anointing to make good decisions.
Desire to Destiny is available now at our store along with reviews. Not sure what your dream is? This book will help you pull the curtain back on your future. Newsletter - If your newsletter comes incomplete (filtered), you can always catch the latest version in our archive along with 200 others. 1800+ people from around the world get Kingly encouragement from our weekly newsletter. Invite a friend to subscribe - they will be blessed. How to Start a Small Group - Kings are increasingly getting involved in Bible study or mentoring groups to facilitate their "Release." Here are some helpful suggestions www.Releasing-Kings.com/Starting-a-Group.html. We've also updated our Vision Brochure with graphics to show how to become a King and how you can help Release Kings. Lastly we've created a guideline to help you take your dream to the next level by considering the elements of a business plan. See Write Your Business Plan. French Translation - Releasing Kings is now available in French thanks to the efforts of Cees Bakker and Support Ministries in the Netherlands. In France, copies can be obtained from Editions Menor or Librairie Chretienne CLC. The Title in French is “Libération des Rois pour le ministère dans le monde du travail”. Cees is also the guy who made the Dutch translation possible - available through his website. He can be contacted for Releasing Kings conferences in France and throughout Europe. Facebook - I'm posting more information on Face book at http://www.facebook.com/john.garfield1
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