Poetic Inspirations and Practical Applications for Blissful Living

Business Tip: Triumphant Trails

Business Tip: Triumphant Trails

Christian Creative Business Tip Mess to Masterpiece

 Image © 2013 Caroline Gavin

 

Purposeful Pathway is a haven for faith-based entrepreneurs. Part of my mission is equipping faith-based businesses with information that is practical, actionable and Scriptural.

The theme of this post is trekking trails with triumph!

Ah, I love this time of year. My children and I have been savoring the summer weather. One way in which we have been summer-savoring is by trekking many a scenic trail. It is both enriching and exhilarating to venture to new places, to breathe deep the fresh air and to soak in the new sights!

Yet trekking beautiful trails does not come without challenges. We most certainly encountered some steep climbs and rocky roads. The breathtaking vistas, nonetheless, were worth all of these.

One trail in particular stands out in my mind as an apt metaphor for business – particularly for the Christian creative business. My children and I recently set out for a trail that wrapped around a tranquil lake. It seemed to be an easy and short trail, and we walked rather casually at the onset. Eventually, after having walked quite some time, we realized that we were not even close to the end of the trail; at points we could no longer see the lake, and we wondered if we were even on the trail any longer. Should we keep going? Or turn around to familiar ground?

Thankfully we trekked on. Eventually we saw the lake again…and traveled to even prettier parts of the trail…and, yes, made it victoriously to the end.

Isn’t this circling trail much like our creative businesses? We begin our businesses with an excitement, yet we often begin without realization of the immense commitment. After some time it can seem we are not making much progress or that we will never make it all. In our minds we hear, “Am I even on the right path? Should I turn around altogether?” During these times it is all the more important to heed God’s voice, to cling to His hand, and to keep on trekking.

Below are seven practical yet powerful steps for trekking the business trail with triumph:

  1. Embrace the challenge. Realize that running a business is not a casual stroll. Running a business is a hike, and it can be strenuous at times. But the vistas are beyond beautiful and richly rewarding.
  2. Study the map and be prepared. Just as one would bring food, water, a map and sturdy walking shoes on a trail, so too one needs to prepare with crystal clear goals and a business plan.
  3. Purposefully pause to appreciate the vistas. Just as trails have special scenic points, so too our businesses have memorable milestones. Take time to savor the sights, celebrate the successes, and rejoice in the rewards. Trails exist not simply to be traveled but to be savored.
  4. Travel with good company. Traveling trails with my children made the experiences all the richer. Travel your business trails with people whom you admire, respect and love. Not only will you garner more insights but you will also experience deeper joy. “Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.” (Proverbs 13:20)
  5. Expect the unexpected. My children and I found that traveling trails is accompanied by many unexpected things. Unusual animals. Strange twists and turns. Rare wildflowers. Learn to celebrate – rather than dread – the unknown. Embrace the awe-inspiring adventure of following God’s lead! “Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and lean not upon your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your path.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)
  6. Seek guidance. Even with the best of maps and the sturdiest of shoes, you may find yourself lost or hurt along the way. Seek wisdom, therefore, from God and from those who have traveled the trail before you.
  7. Celebrate Jesus in every joyful step. Jesus is the One who paves our purposeful pathways, and it is a joy to travel our trails with and for Him!

 

“He holds success in store for the upright,
he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless,
 for he guards the course of the just
and protects the way of his faithful ones.

Then you will understand what is right and just
and fair—every good path.” (Proverbs 2:7-9)

I am excited for you as you travel trails for God’s glory!

If you need help with trekking triumphantly your business trails, I would be happy to assist you. A healthy business involves health all around: body, mind and spirit. Join 3D Vitality Biblical Health Coach Ann Musico and me in a powerful journey for transforming your body, your business and your life here.

Let’s pray. Precious Master, He Who Is our Purposeful Pathway, thank You so much for paving paths of beauty. Help us, O Lord, as we trek our business trails. Cling to our hands as we heed Your voice and follow Your steps. Allow us to savor the vistas and to be strong in the climbs. We love you so much, and our hearts sing for You as we take each step. It’s in Jesus’ Name that we pray. Amen.

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Purposeful Pathways to Success

Purposeful Pathways to Success on “Never Say Impossible” Radio

 

 

I am tremendously honored to have shared the trials and triumphs of my own “Purposeful Pathway” as well as “Purposeful Pathways for Success” on “Never Say Impossible Radio” with the beautiful and inspirational host Myra Goldick.

Myra writes:

“I recently met Caroline Gavin and was impressed by her spirituality, caring, and her mission of helping others change their lives. I was impressed by her honesty. I found my conversation with her evoked certain feelings within myself to once again go deep within and re-examine my reason for living. Finding yourself and finding your real purpose for living is not always as easy as it seems. Everyone wants to prosper in both their emotional and financial life. As children we expect that these things are a given. As we grow and experience what living is all about regardless of where we started or what our backgrounds are, each and every one of us is faced with the task of defining our mission here on earth. Everyone experiences disappointments and adversities to one degree or another. I always smile when I hear people chatting who seem to believe that the grass is greener in someone else’s backyard. Learning to share and give of yourself to others is a starting point that helps self growth and the development of spiritual knowledge. No one has all the answers, however, others who have traveled on their own spiritual journey can offer a great deal of support and guidance if you are open and receptive.

Here is a short exercise that can help you find your purpose in this life. This is work that can be done on your own. However, it is greatly enhanced when you work with another spiritual person like Caroline Gavin.

  1. What do you value most in life?
  2. Could it be a great relationship, financial independence, connection to God, making a difference in other people’s lives, traveling the world?
  3. How do you define happiness in your life?
  4. What would you like people to say about you at your funeral?
  5. If you could start over, would you and how would you change your direction?”

 

 

Read more at http://www.myragoldick.com/2988/purposeful-pathways-to-success/ and listen to the inspirational conversation by clicking below.

 

God bless you on your Purposeful Pathway!

Business Tip: Mess to Masterpiece

Mess to Masterpiece

Christian Creative Business Tip Mess to Masterpiece

Image courtesy Panpote at www.freedigitalphotos.net

Purposeful Pathway is a haven for faith-based entrepreneurs. Part of my mission is equipping faith-based businesses with information that is practical, actionable and Scriptural.

The theme of this post is transforming a mess to a masterpiece!

Have you ever painted with watercolors? Or watched someone do so? The painting often looks not much more than a hodgepodge of colors in its initial stages. There seems to be no semblance of the subject; there seems to be no harmony; there seems to be no hope for a beautiful outcome!

And, yet, out of the mess…slowly but surely…a beautiful masterpiece emerges.

Details emerge from the colors; patterns occur with precision; harmony blissfully happens. The vision once sparkling in the artist’s eye comes to luminous life on paper.

The same phenomenon occurs in our own lives. Messes happen. We stumble through hodgepodges of seemingly meaningless interruptions and trials. We experience random splish-splashes across our canvases.

Then God creates beauty from the splitter-splatter. A treasure from the trials. A masterpiece from the mess.

What does this have to with your faith-based business? Well, as a Christian creative, you surely have a vision sparkling in your eyes. Yet do you sometimes see only splish-splashes in the forms of sporadic successes, inconsistent feedback and less-than-pretty trials? My encouragement to you is that these trials are the timeless colors for God’s precious painting. So, rather than trying to wipe the canvas clean and start anew, step back and allow God to create a masterpiece from the colorful “mess.”

“He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” (Ecclesiastes 3:11)

Let’s explore seven practical yet powerful steps to transform a mess to a masterpiece.

  1. Write about the “messes” in your business. Do you struggle with a lack of clients? Long hours? Lack of joy? Less than crystal-clear clarity regarding your goals? Make a list of your current business struggles.
  2. Ponder the messages of these messes. For example, is a lack of joy actually a gentle nudge to course correct? Is a lack of clients a push to clarify and to work on client attraction? Are long hours a symptom of misaligned beliefs around to-do’s and task treadmills?
  3. Release the timing to God; relinquish also the paintbrush to His hands. Having reviewed the “messes” and their potential messages, prayerfully commit all to God’s timing and ways. Trust in His will to make a masterpiece that will endure eternally. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)
  4. Ask God for guidance regarding your role in this mess-to-masterpiece process. Our Lord is the Master and Creator, yet you co-create with Him your business masterpiece. Ask Him specifically what you can do to transform the mess to a masterpiece. “He leads the humble in justice, And He teaches the humble His way.” (Psalm 25:9) Perhaps it is taking that client-attraction class? Hiring a coach? Choosing to boost the fun factor?
  5. Incorporate your mess-to-masterpiece activities in your business plan and daily activities. In learning from the Lord about your role in the fourth step, write now a list of specific masterpiece-making activities to which you commit. Incorporate these activities into your business plan and break them down into daily action steps.
  6. Expect miracles! Yes, expect miracles when you work with God to transform messes to masterpieces. Open wide the eyes of your heart to see these miracles emerging. Perhaps you are having far more fun in business and in life? That is a beautiful breakthrough! Perhaps you sign on a new client with heightened confidence around your fees? Celebrate! Perhaps you experience an aha-moment about your niche? Smile wide! Yes, expect miracles in this masterpiece-making, and they will most certainly happen!
  7. Document your success and delight in God. Delineate in your journal your mess-to-masterpiece transformations. What are they? When did they occur? Whom did they involve? How did they happen? What did you learn? Most importantly, rejoice in our remarkable Savior. He, after all, is the Master of masterpieces!

 

“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” (Ephesians 2:10)

I am excited for you as you work with God to transform messes to masterpieces!

If you need help with this mess-to-masterpiece process in your business, I would be happy to help. A healthy business involves health all around: body, mind and spirit. Join 3D Vitality Biblical Health Coach Ann Musico and me in a powerful journey for transforming your body, your business and your life here.

Let’s pray. Marvelous Master, thank You so much for creating beauty from chaos; symphony from cacophony; masterpieces from messes. We desire to open our eyes to this miraculous process that we may co-labor with You to create powerful results. We desire to bring You glory in every step of the way, every moment of every day. It’s in Jesus’ Name that we pray. Amen.

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Poem: God of Glory

God of Glory

Christian Poem God of Glory

Image courtesy Gualberto107 at www.freedigitalphotos.net

 

 

“And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb.” ~ Revelation 21:23

 

God of glory,

Love and light,

Lord of lords,

Master with might,

 

Song of songs,

Beauty in all things,

Wondrous Creator,

King of kings,

 

Sweet Savior,

Beloved of mine,

Precious Friend,

Symphony Divine,

 

I lift my arms

In praise to You,

Jesus, You are joy

In all I see and do.

 

Your music graces

The winds ‘round me,

Your love sweetens

The dance of each tree,

 

Your smile brightens

The sun of the sky,

Your kiss is the bliss

Of the birds on high.

 

So with all that breathes,

With all of the earth,

I sing of You, Jesus,

With sweetest of mirth.

 

You are my Savior,

Beloved of mine;

Beating in my heart

Is Your song divine.

 

You are the Son

Making bright the night;

Yea, You are God of glory,

You are love and light!

 

  © 2013 Caroline Gavin

 

 Praise the God of glory! How do you celebrate His glorious light in your life?

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~*~

Want more joy for your journey? Schedule a complimentary “Take Me to Transformation” Consultation with Caroline Gavin via caroline@purposefulpathway.com. Walk away with heightened clarity, renewed energy and a customized action step plan.

 

Business Tip: Course Correction

 Course Correction

Christian Business Tip Course Correction

Image courtesy nuchylee at www.freedigitalphotos.net

 

Purposeful Pathway is a haven for faith-based entrepreneurs. Part of my mission is equipping faith-based businesses with information that is practical, actionable and Scriptural.

The theme of this post is course correction!

Setting crystal clear goals is a powerful practice in our faith-based businesses; in setting goals we delineate the destinations for our journeys. And, in creating the action step plans from these goals, we create our roadmaps – or, as I like to view them, our treasure maps!

Yet, for various reasons, God may have us “course correct” along the way. Although course correction is natural, so often we feel “wrong” for “abandoning” our goals. After all, we set our goals to achieve them, didn’t we?

But let’s look at why course correction is often necessary.

One reason for course correction is that our Omniscient Father has other plans for us; He will therefore nudge us to adjust our overall goals. Another reason may be that we need to better align with His timing. Yet another reason may be that our action steps, as well-planned as they are, are not in perfect alignment with God’s will. This does not suggest that they are morally “wrong” but simply that they are not in course with the “big picture” of His will.

So, as uncomfortable as it may be, course correction is a precious process to embrace!

“The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” (Proverbs 16:9)

Let’s move to the practicals of this process. Below are seven steps for recognizing the need for and implementing the process of course correction:

  1. Red flag of resistance. Encountering constant resistance on our paths is often a sign that course correction is necessary. For example, you set a goal to coordinate a certain convention; yet you discover that nearly every item is falling through (the presenters, the venue, etc.) Sometimes the resistance exists to strengthen fortitude and patience. Sometimes, however, the resistance exists to nudge us in another direction. It is necessary, therefore, to pray for discernment about this distinction. Ask the Lord to shed light on whether or not the resistance is a red flag. Joyfully trust in His love and wisdom. “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)
  2. The gut feeling. As entrepreneurs, we can get so busy in “doing” that we tune out “feeling” and “being.” It is important to heed your feelings, subtle as they may be. They exist for a reason! For example: you may find yourself doing everything according to your thoughtfully laid-out plan, yet you sense now on some level that you should be doing otherwise. Ask the Lord to reveal the source of your feelings and where course correction is necessary.
  3. Back to the drawing board. Once you are clear that course correction is necessary, it is time to go back to the drawing board. It is time to redraw your treasure map. Ask the Lord to guide you through any revisions in your goals, business plan and daily action steps. The mission of our faith-based businesses is to serve others and glorify Him. “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:20)
  4. Grow comfortable with the uncomfortable. Changing direction requires energy and focus. Envision a ship changing course. It is not an easy thing to do. It is easier to “go with the flow” of the current course. Expect discomfort in the process; expect also that you may question your course correction. It is important to review the reasons why you decided to course correct. Leaning upon the Lord, reviewing your reasons and conjuring your new vision will provide the necessary fuel to redirect your steps.
  5. Get help along the way. We do not journey in a vacuum. God created us to be in relationship – with Him and with others. As you course correct and embark upon unchartered territory, seek support from others who have traveled similar terrain. Be proactive in seeking support from godly friends, peers, mentors and coaches.
  6. Savor success. Document in your journal the details of your course correction: the steps you have changed, the dates you have implemented, and the fruit you have enjoyed. Savoring our course-correction successes enriches the journey and also provides motivation for future course corrections.
  7. Celebrate Christ. Jesus Christ is the one who paves our purposeful pathways. He is the Director of our course corrections. Let us celebrate our Savior as we savor every step!

 

I am excited for you as you course correct your purposeful path for Christ!

If you need help with course correcting in your business, I would be happy to help in this powerful process. A healthy business involves health all around: body, mind and spirit. Join 3D Vitality Biblical Health Coach Ann Musico and me in a powerful journey for transforming your body, your business and your life here.

Let’s pray. Heavenly Father, thank You for loving us with a perfect love. Thank you for nudging us to course correct when necessary. We ask for the grace to hear Your voice and to heed Your call. May our every step be purposeful and aligned with Your Perfect Path. We offer You our lives, our hearts, our minds, our souls. We desire to bring You glory in every step of the way, every moment of every day. It’s in Jesus’ Name that we pray. Amen.

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Poem: Let Me Count the Ways

Let Me Count the Ways

Christian Poem Let Me Count the Ways

Image courtesy Marin at www.freedigitalphotos.net

 

 

“I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me.” Proverbs 8:17

 

How do You love me?

Let me count the ways.

You love me immeasurably

In warm Sonrays.

 

You love me deeply

In serenade of a bird’s song;

In the cradle of Your arms

Do I surely belong.

 

You love me in the clouds

Who freely dance above;

Yea, too in colorful blossoms

I see Your love.

 

Higher than the mountains,

Deeper than the blue sea,

Stronger than the storms

Is how You love me.

 

So, my Lord Jesus,

Let me count how I love You;

You are Reason and Inspiration

For all that I do.

 

You are the Sonshine

In my bright, beaming smile;

You are the dance in my step

Every moment, every mile.

 

You are the pure joy

That sings in my heart;

You are Alpha and Omega,

The end and the start.

 

So let me keep counting,

For in counting I sing;

You are my Lover, my Light,

My Master, my King.

 

Here in Your strong arms

I most surely belong;

You are bliss of my being,

My eternal life song.

 

So how do we love each other?

Let us count now the ways:

Endlessly and infinitely,

Yes, today and always.

 

  © 2013 Caroline Gavin

 

 Countless are the ways that Jesus loves us! How do you celebrate His eternal goodness and love?

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~*~

Want more joy for your journey? Schedule a complimentary “Take Me to Transformation” Consultation with Caroline Gavin via caroline@purposefulpathway.com. Walk away with heightened clarity, renewed energy and customized action step plan.

 

Are You Lying to Yourself?

Are You Lying to Yourself?

 

Image courtesy Ann Musico at www.threedimensionalvitality.com

 
 

Guest Post by 3D Vitality Health Coach Ann Musico

 

“I can’t lose weight.”

 

“I’m too busy to exercise every day.”

 

“I have no time to cook healthy food.”

 

“I can’t afford healthy food.”

 

“(Fill in the blank: diabetes, arthritis, obesity, cancer) runs in my family.  There’s nothing I can do about it.”

 

Do any of those statements sound familiar to you? Before you dig your heels in and argue that you really are too busy to exercise or cook healthy food, I would ask you to take a deep breath and be really honest – with yourself.  You can tell me anything and I won’t know the difference.  But you know, deep down, if you are being honest or making excuses.

 

Because truth be told, even without knowing you or your situation I can confidently say you could easily replace the “can’t” in those statements with “don’t want to” and then you would be speaking honestly.

 

If you really don’t want to lose weight – just be honest – especially with yourself and with everyone else. Because if you try to lose weight when you are not ready to or don’t really want to for whatever reason, you will sabotage your own efforts – every single time.

 

Maybe you believe you truly want to eat healthier, or exercise daily or make some other healthy change but you seem to fail every time and don’t know why. Here’s an easy way to determine what your true belief is:   if you consciously believe one thing – yet consistently do something else, your true belief is in conflict with what you consciously believe.

 

So let me leave you with the positive truth for each of the statements that opened this post:

 

            “I can’t lose weight.” Either you don’t want to or are not ready to – yet. You may feel overwhelmed and not know where to begin.  I can help with that.

 

“I’m too busy to exercise every day.”  Let’s be honest – you just don’t want to! But do you realize that even doing some kind of activity for 10 minutes at a time, 3 times a day will give you the same benefits of a 30 minute workout.  Surely you can find 10 minutes here and there!

 

“I have no time to cook healthy food.” Again, maybe you just don’t know where to begin and get overwhelmed before you even start.  It doesn’t take a huge amount of time and learning some easy, healthy recipes might be step one.

 

“I can’t afford healthy food.” You can’t afford NOT to buy the healthiest food you can! There are many ways to get the highest quality food at a good price.  See this No-Nonsense Nutrition Report for some ideas.

 

“(Fill in the blank: diabetes, arthritis, obesity, cancer) runs in my family.  There’s nothing I can do about it.”  I talk about why you are not a victim of your genes here.  Research proves heredity accounts for about 20% of your risk and lifestyle and habits 80%! You do the math.

 

Are you settling for excuses when you could be enjoying results?

 

Ann Musico is a holistic health coach who helps women, at every age, to exemplify lives of vibrant health and wholeness – spirit, soul and body. Her mission is to show women how to adopt a healthy lifestyle in a way that is simple and achievable, empowering them to take responsibility for their own health in order to be a positive influence on their families. You can visit her website at http://www.threedimensionalvitality.com.  Be sure to subscribe for her free weekly No-Nonsense Nutrition Report  and the 7 Days to Feeling Great Challenge!

Biz Tip: The Fun Factor

The Fun Factor

Business Tip The Fun Factor

Image courtesy Chrisroll at www.freedigitalphotos.net

7 Steps for Fruitful Fun

 

Purposeful Pathway is a haven for faith-based entrepreneurs. Part of my mission is equipping faith-based businesses with information that is practical, actionable and Scriptural.

The theme of this post is the fun factor!

As faith-based entrepreneurs we often go into business with glorious visions of serving God and blessing others while enjoying fun and freedom. We follow this blissful spiritual lead…as though walking on air! Yet the day-in and day-out of business can deflate this delight. Disappointments can cause us to question. Tight schedules can sap our joy. So, unlike the fun-shining horizon for which we set out, we can grow weary with laborious lists and “to-do treadmills.” Yes, the very thing which was meant to provide freedom can itself become a burden.

On a spiritual level we know that it is possible to serve God with grace and balance, yet too often we experience the “no pain, no gain” mentality. Now I wholeheartedly agree there is a benefit to suffering: joy blossoms from tears, as “those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy.” (Psalm 126:5) Crowns spring forth from crosses, and triumphs emerge from trials. God indeed uses the pain of this world to create gain for us. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

Yet the essence of our existence is not suffering. Our all-loving Creator did not create us to suffer. Our Divine Daddy created us to be in joyful union with Him. And, as Christians, we are no longer under the curse. “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, ‘CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE’—in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” (Galatians 3:13-14) Indeed Jesus promises us that His “yoke is easy and [His] burden is light.” (Matthew 11:30) Yes, in this life we will encounter suffering, but we need not add to ourselves a burden by embracing a belief that there is no gain without pain.

If we are aligned with God, our fun is fruitful!  “Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” (Psalm 37:4)

How can we practically apply this concept of fruitful fun in our faith-based businesses? How can we release the no-pain-no-gain mentality to further our fun while simultaneously boosting the bottom line?

  1. Commit to having more fun. Choose to believe that having fun is important. If you see having fun as a trivial afterthought, you will not go out of your way to have fun. Choose to view having fun in your business as a component just as important as your highly-focused business-generating and client-attracting activities. After all, having fun is the window by which we connect to the truest bliss of being human, to the joy of being loved by God, to the beauty of being who we are. Our fruitful fun allows our creativity to blossom in Christ.
  2. Ask yourself often “am I having fun now?” Whenever you are engaged in a task ask yourself if you are having fun. For example: when you are writing, are you having fun? If not, how can you make it fun? Take your writing outdoors? Write about different topics? In a different tone? In a different genre? Is writing simply not fun for you no matter what you do? If so, how can you outsource or delegate it? In all your business tasks, ask “am I having fun?” and choose to heighten the fun factor.
  3. Schedule fun in every one. While you are heightening the fun factor in every activity, also add a pure fun block to your every day. Do something you simply love, something that brings out your fun-loving, God-loving child. “And he said: ‘Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.’” (Matthew 18:3) Is your fun watching the clouds? Sitting in the sun? Singing? Writing? Walking in nature? Taking a scenic drive? Basking in a bubble bath? Playing freely with your children? Picking blueberries? I realize that some of our fun activities may be easier to incorporate during one season versus another. But the seasonal changes provide all the more opportunity for being creative. Do you dread winter? Take up a winter sport like ice-skating or skiing. Make snow angels again. Bake something that will fill your home with a sweet and heartwarming aroma.  Choose to make the process of determining your fun activities a fun activity in itself!
  4. Be caring by sharing. Share your fruitful fun with many! Invite others to join you in your fun activities. Bless others with the wisdom you garner from your fruitful fun. Smile more, laugh more and rejoice more. You will find that everyone has more fun when you do!
  5. Capture your creativity. Enriching your days with fun will naturally boost your creative juices. Keep a notepad near you at all times so you can capture your creative thoughts while you are out and about. Are you on a nature trail and sensing a poetic line? Write it down. Are you taking a scenic drive and experiencing a great aha-moment to share with your following? Pull over and write it down. You can transfer your quickly-written notes to a more formal journal later in the day; at that point you can expand or explore the ideas. By capturing your creativity in a notepad, you will make your fun all the more fruitful.
  6. Track the fruit of your fun. Having fun bears fruit, and this step will prove just that! Journal specifically how and when you have heightened your fun; journal also specifically how and when you started to bear the fruit of your fun.
  7. Smile in Sonshine! While you are enjoying fruitful fun, be sure to give glory to God and to smile in His Sonshine! Surely our Father is the Source of fun. Thank Him for the beautiful blessings He bestows!

 

I am excited for you as you enjoy the fruit of your fun!

If you need help in upping the fun factor in your business, I would be happy to help in this powerful process. I offer to you a complimentary “Boost my Business” session. You will walk away with clarity, renewed vision and a completely customized clear-cut next-step action plan. Simply email me at caroline@purposefulpathway.com to schedule a time or click here.

Let’s pray. Heavenly Father, thank You so much for creating us to be in joyful union with You. Thank you, Divine Daddy, for transforming our pains to precious joy. Thank You also for allowing us to bear fruit from those very things we find fun. We delight in You, and we desire to bear fruit for Your glory. Help us to add more fun to our lives that we may bear more fruit for You. We love You with all our hearts, souls, minds and strength. It’s in Jesus’ Name that we pray. Amen.

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Is the Person You See in the Mirror Really You?

                     

Is The Person You See in The Mirror Really You?

Guest Post by Heart and Soul Health Coach Mike Fenton

     When you look in the mirror do you see the person you really are? Or do you say to yourself, I am only a shadow of what I once was, or what I could be? Many times what we feel on the inside does not mirror what we look like on the outside. On the inside we have this energy and drive, but on the outside we do not display that to ourselves or to others.

     We can still be the person we once were and/or the person we envision ourselves to be. William James (US Pragmatist philosopher & psychologist 1842 – 1910) once said “Human beings, by changing the inner attitudes of their minds, can change the outer aspects of their lives”. It is never too late to change, if you are unhappy with where you currently are at make plans to change things.

     Ask yourself, what is it I want to change? Is it my diet, making some form of physical activity a part of my daily life, getting better sleep, having a better relationship with God, a new career…etc. the list goes on and on.

     Once you have decided what changes you want to make set smart goals. Smart goals are:

 S (specific) – Goals should be simplistically written and clearly define what you are going to do.

M (measurable) – Goals should be measurable so that you have tangible evidence that you have accomplished the goal.

A (achievable) – Goals should be achievable; they should stretch you slightly so you feel challenged, but defined well enough so that you can achieve them.

R (results-focused) – Goals should measure outcomes, not activities.

T (time-bound) – Goals should be linked to a time frame that creates a practical sense of urgency, or results in tension between the current reality and the vision of the goal.

     After you have set your smart goals now set a date to begin your journey to a “new you” and stick to it. Before long the person you see in the mirror will be the person you really are.

    

“Change your thoughts and you change your world”.

-Norman Vincent Peale (1898 – 1993)

Mike Fenton

 Mike is a certified health coach who inspires, empowers & helps people create desired lifestyle changes that will give them healthier alternatives to prescription medications.  Contact him at mike@heartnsoulhealthcoaching.com to schedule a free health breakthrough session today.

Forever Unchanging

Poem: Forever Unchanging

Christian Poem Forever Unchanging

Image courtesy dan at www.freedigitalphotos.net

 

“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven…” Ecclesiastes 3:1

 

There is a season

For all things under the sun;

Yet forever unchanging

Are You, Almighty One.

 

Trust You may I

When rivers of change flow;

Cling to my hand, my Lord,

Wherever I go.

 

Comfort my heart

When all transforms ‘round me;

Remind me You are my Rock

For now and all eternity.

 

For surely like grass

All things will wither away;

Yet forever-enduring

Are the words that You say.

 

So when the leaves fall,

When flowers lose their bloom,

When sunny days pass

As time’s sands consume,

 

I will look to You,

To the Sun who does shine,

I will sing of Your light

Ever delightful and divine.

 

I will cling to Your hand

Wherever I go,

I will rejoice in Your way

Which I follow…

 

Yea, though there is a season

For all things under the sun,

Yet forever unchanging

Are You, Almighty One.

 

  © 2013 Caroline Gavin

 
 

How blessed we are that God is forever unchanging! How do you celebrate His eternal goodness and love?

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Want more joy for your journey? Schedule a complimentary “Take Me to Transformation” Consultation with Caroline Gavin via caroline@purposefulpathway.com. Walk away with heightened clarity, renewed energy and customized action step plan.