Posts by Vickie Oakley
What is a calling?
What is a Calling?
What is a Calling?
Some think of a ‘calling’ as the moment when a preacher or evangelists ‘gets the call’ to full time ministry and I think it’s a fair use of the word, but there’s more to it than that.
We are all called.
We’re called to serve, give, love.
You’re an incredibly unique individual. You have a peculiar set of skills, gifts and talents that come together in such an interesting way.
Do you know what your calling is?
If someone asked you today, what you would like to do for a living if making a living were of no account, what would you say?
Would you write poetry to encourage others?
Would you care for lost kittens at the local shelter?
Would you be a friend to the homeless?
Would you garden all day and give the food to needy neighbors?
Would you paint run down houses?
When people retire from work, they often pursue interests that fulfill them personally and these interests may be completely removed from what they did to make a living for forty or fifty years.
When making an income is no longer an issue, we’ll usually do what we enjoy or act to fulfill a need that we see.
Have you ever considered that this is what our working years should be like?
Retirement isn’t a Biblical idea by the way. It’s entirely man made.
I believe if we are operating in our unique calling, we’ll do work that we enjoy, that fulfills us deeply and that utilizes the skills that God has given us.
Hopefully I’m not alone in this belief. I’d like to challenge you, if you haven’t already, to ask yourself what are the things that you enjoy? What skills have God blessed you with that would bless others?
In doing so, I pray your creativity is stirred and your calling is made known to you.
Blessings.
Participating in God’s Economy
Participating in God’s Economy
It’s great to dig into the Word to pull His promises out and claim them for ourselves.
But God is not a magic genie and the bible isn’t a lamp that you rub to get what you want and it’s important that we don’t approach Him that way.
DO believe what God says and DO expect His provision, but ALSO consider what God asks of you in His Word.
Malachi 3:10 reads:
Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this, says the Lord Almighty, and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.
This next question may make you uncomfortable:
Do you tithe?
The Bible has a lot to say about giving and introduces the concept of giving God the first fruits of any harvest.
A title is generally considered to be a 10% offering off the top of your income and offerings are gifts made above that.
There’s opinions on whether that’s 10% of the gross or the net of course and I have to admit I lean towards gross but I totally understand both views.
I would suggest – and you’re free to disagree – that participating fully in God’s Economy would start with honoring His request for the tithe.
Malachi 3:10 certainly seems to send that message.
What do you think?
If you don’t believe in tithing – or don’t tithe now for whatever reason, do you find it hard to ask God for financial blessings in your life and for your business?
Stretch Your Faith
Stretch Your Faith
What you’ve done so far has brought you HERE.
What you’ve done so far will not take you THERE.
Unless THERE looks and feels a lot like HERE.
If THERE does look like HERE, you’re not dreaming God sized dreams!
New levels require new efforts and it starts with stretching your faith.
If you stepped one foot out of your comfort zone last week, how did it feel? A little bit uncomfortable?
I understand uncomfortable. So does God. He knows that you don’t feel entirely ready for some of the big actions He is calling you to.
The good news:
If you took one step, he was right there with you.
When you take another step this week, he’ll still be there.
The cool thing you should know about stepping out of your comfort zone is that it gets easier with a little momentum.
It’s like when you get farther from your comfortable spot, you feel less gravity and more freedom to stretch yourself.
So link arms with your Divine CEO and take the next step with enthusiasm!
Living on God’s Economy
Wherever you live, you are experiencing an Economy.
Economy: Activities related to the production and distribution of goods and services in a geographic region.
If you have ever traveled around our country you know that the economy changes. The price on a gallon of gas changes from place to place based on the local economy and other factors. Housing prices change from one economic region to another, etc.
Travel outside of the world to an underdeveloped country and you experience a whole other change of economy AND sometimes a drastic change in the value of currency.
Some folks love traveling to Mexico to enjoy the increased value of their dollar and the lower prices of their economy.
You get the idea.
A friend of mine here in northern Michigan wasted a bit of her time whining to me about the poor economy and her lack of options to make a good living.
We are God’s.
And as His, we can and must choose to live on His Economy!
Psalm 50:10 reads: for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills.
Do yourself a huge favor today and go read all of Psalm 50.
Let God remind you that HE is the master of this world and everything in it.
The rest of this week drill this fact home in every decree and devotion – freeing you from the limits and restraints of negative reports and small thinking!
Prayers and Affirmations for Your Business
Prayers and Affirmations for Your Business
We’ve learned or been reminded last week that praying for our business and guarding our tongue when we talk about it is super important.
If you tend towards negativity in your speech or simply don’t know a lot about prayer, you can use these sample prayers and affirmations as a starting point.
Write them out on index cards or save them on your computer desktop. Keep them before your eyes and let them serve as a reminder to speak life over your business and pray often!
Prayers for your Business:
(From Deuteronomy 30:8-10)
Father God, I choose to obey you and follow all your commands. I love that as I obey you you will delight in me and make me prosperous! I will take the time to know and obey your word and trust that you will make the work of my hands profitable.
(From Luke 6:38)
Father, show me how and where and to who I should be generous with my gifts and talents. I long to sow good seed into the lives of others for I know that you’ll see it come back to me as a harvest of good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over.
(From Ephesians 6: 5-9)
Lord, I will serve my clients with deep respect and consideration, as if I were serving Christ. I will try to please them and always serve them fairly. I will work with enthusiasm!
Lord, I will treat my employees and contractors with respect and fairness – remembering that we all have the same Master in heaven.
Biblical Affirmations to Speak over your Business:
• I know exactly what I want to accomplish and perform actions that support those goals.
• I do not waste time in confusion and always turn to God for guidance.
• I run my business with honesty and integrity.
• God has filled me with skill and strength to do my work.
• My diligent efforts will lead to plenty.
• Everything matters, I am faithful with the little things.
• Whatever I do, I do it with all my heart to serve God.
• God takes care of my business needs, I do not have to worry.
• I enjoy my work, my clients and partners.
• I am blessed to be a blessing.
Remember to take time out from work to rest and focus on family, your own personal needs and your relationship with God 🙂