It's Time to Change our Mindset

Written by: Barbara Hill
Before we delve in, I have a couple of questions for you to ponder and at the end of this blog, please leave your comments: Do you believe that the "body of Christ" can really unify their "buying power"? What do you think it will take?

Well for sure, just as I've had to, I submit, that we will have to do some "changing and rearranging" of how we think. A mind shift and/or changing our mindset. Accomplishing this is as easy as making a decision and as difficult as "being a doer and not a hearer only".

1. To change, a mindset requires fortitude as we may have to change habits that's been around for a loooong time. Mindset is defined as: a habitual or characteristic mental attitude that determines how you will interpret and respond to situations. Simply put, it is the habit or habits we've created over time that kick in when we make decisions. They are solely based upon what we've done in the past. This feels like we've placed our brains on auto-pilot.

However, when we fortify and flip the switch from auto-pilot, re-engage and start our engines of thinking; a right mindset or a "kingdom mindset" has the potential to change every decision we make and have an "everlasting" impact on the world for the better. Can you imagine that? So, having the right mindset is extremely important since it has this kind of power over our lives and world. On the other hand, a wrong mindset is just as impactful. Continuing on a path of a faulty mindset can lead our lives and world in a downward spiral and keep the people of God struggling and only "faking to make it" instead of "faithing to make it".

2. Changing or shifting our mindset is not as difficult as it may seem. Many times we allow the circumstances around us to determine what we're going to think inwardly, but actually our lives are supposed to be lived "from the inside out". This is called, "conviction." We are a product of our thoughts, and as our thoughts change, our lives will change. "As a man(woman) thinketh in his/her heart so is he/she." So, we began to break the habit of "stinkin negative unproductive thinkin" by unlearning the negativity in our lives. Since we've learned it, we can unlearn it. Somewhere in the past negativity was programmed into our mind. "But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose." Matthew 9:25 So, in the same way Jesus put out unbelief, we too, will have to serve eviction notices to some of our habitual ways of thinking which in turn effects our decisions which in turn has had an adverse effect on the advancement of kingdom of God! In short, the only way to have positive changes in our mindset is to kick the negative ones out!

3. We must be aware of what we say. The words that come out of our mouths go into our ears. If we're being critical of ourselves and or others, particularly of the efforts of "kingdom work" this feeds the cycle of negativity. It can only bring us and others around us down. We can only become ONE when we speak words of encouragement, uplift, and make a decision to support one another.

WARNING: While God has not given us a spirit of fear doesn't mean that fear doesn't and wont show up. To handle fear, speak to it by the authority of the name of Jesus and because fear is a spirit it has to "flee". Once done, don't look back. It's when we look back that the old patterns start to look good, because they're what we know. If we want to have a permanent change of mindset, then we can't go back. If we go back it will change, but for the worse. When we allow a negative mindset to rule it always gets worse never better. There's nothing right about wrong!

The beauty of "new mercies every morning" is that we have an opportunity, yes even today to begin to break the cycle of a wrong mindset to changing and shifting to a "kingdom mindset". "It's time, time to make a change, we are the people who can do it" Yes it's TIME! There is yet sooooooo much work to be done.

Hey don't forget to post your comments. I look forward to the exchange!

Until next time,
Barbara Hill

Kingdom Builder's Assignment - by Barbara Hill

"Kingdom assignments are decided by God and discovered by us the individual. They are geographical and are always to a person or people. Our assignment is always to solve a problem."

In 2004, Kingdom Builders Enterprises was formed to create a vehicle that had the potential to be an "everlasting" cycle of wealth for the kingdom of God. Patrons/consumers would safely seek out and support kingdom businesses for their services and products.

This vehicle has evolvled into the online Royal Directory located at http://www.kbeusa.com/ where kingdom businesses list their business. Patrons are encouraged to first patronize those businesses in the directory that are affiliated with their local church, thereafter any of the kingdom businesses listed in the directory. The point is to "CHOOSE" a kingdom business for as many of their goods and services as possible.

"The kingdom remains a mystery to people who really don't want it... However, the people who have a heart for God and want to know more about Him and want to serve Him will see something that the world can't see." -- Dr. Bill Winston

What Happens When You Get Busy? by Brandi Grays

Guest Blogger, Brandi Grays

I guess you all have noticed that I have been a bit absent from the blog for a week or two.
I have been really busy with client work and while that is great, I should have had a better system in place to avoid things like a quiet blog. This is one of those areas that small business owners must have in place, otherwise when business increases (which we all pray for) something is going to fall through the cracks.

I am a prime example of why planning is such an important small business task. Really it is an essential business task, however, when you are the only person responsible for everything planning becomes even more important. But back to me (and you)…Without a schedule and some sort of time management tool, the less pressing items (even if they are more important or valuable) will get neglected due to the more urgent. Therefore, we have to have a way to evaluate the items we are spending time on.

Helpful Tools

Calendar
A calendar is great for giving you the broad picture. When you can see weeks or even months ahead you can better plan the time you have so that you aren’t behind schedule and nothing creeps up on you. A basic wall calendar or even one of those big desk calendars can help you keep track of important dates and obligations. You can also use a calendar to create deadlines for recurring work.

Lists

I am a list LOVER. I keep all sorts of lists for everything that I have to do business-related and not. Lists can be very effective because you can scratch off something as soon as it is accomplished. The downside to lists is that they still need to be integrated into some sort of time management system. Which list are you going to do what day? How much time is the list going to take to accomplish? MS Outlook and Remember the Milk work great for integrating lists into a tool that will help you actually achieve them.

Appointment Book

I am sort of new to the idea of an appointment book. However, I think that this will be a helpful tool. If I block out the amount of time I plan to spend working for the day and allocated a time-slot to each of my tasks it is easier to get stuff accomplished in a days work. If there are certain things that need to be done everyday like prospecting or making phone calls, you can block that off immediately and get a sense of the amount of time you have left for your other tasks. I think that setting an exact time for specific tasks can make them easier to accomplish. I think you will find this true as well.

How have I made changes?

If you have read my blog for any length of time, it is clear I struggle a bit with planning and keeping all of these things in order. I have get myself back on track quite often, especially if I have an influx of work. So, what have I done to try to get me back on track for good this time.

• I have integrated my lists into a daily appointment book. Most tasks have a pre-determined time slot. This helps me address the things that I need to doing at a given time. I am using Google calendar for this. It integrates alerts through gmail so it works good and alerts me to when I need to be working on something else.
• I have created an editorial calendar for my blog. The calendar is laid out on a monthly basis and gives me an idea of what I should be writing about. The calendar also helps me keep track of special topics, such as things related to holidays, that I need to keep in mind.

What happens when you get busy? How have you stopped things from falling through the cracks?

Brandi Grays